House Hunting

Going house hunting can be very frustrating. In the first two days of being in St. George, we looked at over forty houses! That's enough to drive anyone crazy! Cameron and I discovered that we didn't really agree on what makes a good house. For me, it's all about the kitchen. For Cameron, it all depends on the lot. He wants a house that doesn't have anyone else behind it, and a few of his favorites have had cliffs with no fence to keep Eli from tumbling to his death! *Gasp!*

Rather than focus on the bad, here are the top three things about looking for a house.

3. Our Realtor is very fond of a particular phrase and Eli now has it down pat! "Alwighty Den!" is now one of the most common things he says.

2. Eli has been marking his territory at most of the houses we have gone to. Don't worry, it's not what you're thinking. He picks up a rock outside and drops it somewhere inside in just about every house we have gone in.

1. One of the houses we came to (which was still occupied) had puppies in the backyard. When we got there, they ran out to see us. They especially liked Eli. Cameron was lamenting not having our video camera with us, but our Realtor used his camera phone to take this video. The music and credits are courtesy of our Realtor, and you can hear his comments in the background.

We haven't found our house yet, but I think we're getting close. We might actually build one, but the contractor we have found to be the cheapest wants us to get our own construction loan. Does anyone know if that is normal? All of the other builders we have talked to said that we didn't have to do that. They would get the construction loan themselves, and the house wouldn't be ours until it was finished and we closed on it. Several said that we needed to put money down before they would start building, but I don't think the risk is as great. Maybe we shouldn't be going with the "cheapest" anyway. *Sigh*

P.S. Happy Halloween!

This is a little belated but...

It's a girl!

We found out just before we left Ithaca!

My sister is also pregnant, due at almost the same time. She told me a few weeks ago that she was having a boy. As the story goes, she had gone in at about 16 weeks and had an ultrasound. They told her then she would be having a boy. She went in again for her 20 week check and they said, "Oops! Just kidding! It's a girl!" Well, maybe not with those exact words....

In any case our new little one will have a cousin the same age to play with. Now if only we lived closer together!

Yummm!!

I volunteered to host book club for October here in Ithaca. Being the slightly over-excitable person that I am, I got a little carried away in the planning of it. First of all, I called my mom and asked her to send me her copy of Dracula, which is a very beautifully illustrated, if slightly used copy of said novel.

Then I started brainstorming on what I could make food-wise to satisfy the sweet-tooth of all of the guests. I immediately decided on Pumpkin Cheesecake. After all, who doesn't love Pumpkin Cheesecake? I was also considering a party mix that usually has melted white chocolate chips covering it and holding it together. But I was planning on dying the chips orange, and serving it in a black bowl.

Next, I thought that I would need something on the healthy side, in case someone didn't want all of those sweets. I started looking for some ideas on the internet, and I saw this and thought it would be perfect. But then, I saw these and thought they might be better. Then I saw this gem and, thinking I could make them into vampire mouths, thought they might be the most perfect of all! Hmmm.... could I make them all?

What about decorations? How would I seat everyone? Would I need to start the conversation on the book? Maybe I should read it twice? What to drink?......

Don't worry, I would have calmed down before the actual date. I wouldn't have made all of the food. Cheesecake definitely, and probably one other dish. Maybe the apples with some sort of dip. I would probably have also forgone the decorations (except what I usually put up for Halloween, which isn't much).

Since book club is at the end of the month, I obviously won't be hosting it. I decided to make the cheesecake anyway, since I had leftover pumpkin in the freezer that needed using. Just looking at that yummy cheesecake (and it is VERY good. believe me), don't all you Ithacans wish I was still hosting it?