Cherry Blossoms

David was able to get a rare mid-week day off so we could see the cherry blossoms in Washington, DC.  It was a lovely trip!  Our only complaint was that it was cold (in the 40s with a chilly wind), but seeing as it was the warmest and driest day predicted this week (except for the weekend, which we really wanted to avoid since we know the crowds will be crazy), we went ahead and braved the cold.

The cherry blossoms were really beautiful.  We went to the Tidal Basin area near the Jefferson Memorial, and the walkways all around were lined with cherry trees in bloom.  There were a fair number of people out taking pictures, attempting chilly picnics, and enjoying the scenery.  They were also setting up tents and tables and bike racks for the main part of the Cherry Blossom Festival which I think is happening later this week.  The metro was pleasantly uncrowded, and we had a good trip.  The boys' legs, especially Thomas and Peter (we forgot his stroller!) tuckered out pretty quickly, so it was an effort to keep them walking and cheerful.  Thomas is a wanderer and dawdler on his best of days, but when his little legs get tired he really tends to trip on his own feet, not look where he's going, swerve into oncoming walkers/joggers, etc.  Peter needed to be carried for a good bit of the way, although he actually did better than I expected.  Walking on busy sidewalks next to cars whizzing by on even busier roads meant that David and I really had to work hard to herd the boys away from danger.  We were all exhausted when we got home, but it was definitely a good adventure and we got some beautiful photos.

On the house front, I am officially tired of the parade of realtors and prospective tenants coming through our home since Monday.  Fortunately, they all call ahead of time, but they just seem to pick inconvenient times.  Yesterday a few came right during dinner, and today some are coming during Peter's naptime (although I did tell them his bedroom is off-limits during the tour, and they respected that).  All the realtors and lookers have been very pleasant and even apologetic about interrupting our day, so that part has been OK, but honestly I just have a thing about strangers in my house.  I'm always a little uneasy when new handymen or repairmen have to come fix something.  I've never had a bad experience with one, but I just feel unsettled while they're here and so relieved when their work is done and the house is mine again.  So, day after day of strangers wandering around my house has been a little wearing.  Thankfully, we are moving out next Thursday or Friday at the latest, so I don't have to feel unsettled for too much longer.

Unfortunately, I really don't have any update about our next rental home.  We are moving forward on the lease, so that's good, but we haven't actually signed anything (we've been waiting and waiting for the owners to get the documents together), so we don't actually have the house yet.  We were supposed to sign the lease today, but it's nearly 3PM and I haven't received it or heard anything yet, so I'm guessing that probably won't happen.  I'm a little nervous that the owners will suddenly backout and we'll be in a tight spot in terms of finding a whole different house and signing a lease before we have to leave our current home.  On the upside, the worst case scenario is that we'll end up living in a hotel for a few days and put out stuff in storage (fortunately, not too much -- mostly toys and clothes, since we left our furniture back in CA).  David's company would pay for our hotel, and maybe we could even score a place that serves free hot breakfast :).  So, we certainly won't be homeless no matter what happens, but it sure would be nice if we get this home secured.  I'll update when we know more!