Zone This

I have downgraded the house building experience from merely Pain In the Ass to Gigantic, Flaming Pain In the Ass. I knew that my posterior was in for a rough bit with this process, but never did I imagine the rigmarole involved, and we're only the teeniest way into the thing.

We had an appointment with the Planning and Zoning Department in our county-to-be last week. I set the appointment with one guy, and figured it would be about 30 minutes, wham-bam, we're out of there. After an hour and a half in a little room with three of the county's finest zoners and planners (watching them for the most part figure out how to use their new mapping software), I now know I must plead with the County Commission for zoning mercy, and, if my pardon comes through, plead again with the Planning and Zoning Department and then AGAIN with the Planning and Zoning Board (the Board, of course, not to be confused with the Department). There shall be much zoning, and even more planning!

All this, to build this little orange rectangle here (note the the general lack of houses, trees, or really anyfuckingthing around):

I guess the coyotes give a fuck if your easements are planned in. Little bastards.

I also met with 3 builders last week and talked with 2 more over the phone. I feel like I'm making progress there, though after walking through so many model homes I'm sure when I get my allowances for floors and counter tops I'll be so sad to find I can afford only linoleum and other plastic products instead of the lovely granite and slate I've been seeing. And then I will pout.

In non-house related news, the Little Miss is one hell of an Easter Egg hunter. She was up before any of the other kids and found every one of the eggs hidden under two feet. She then quickly learned to squirrel the jellybeans out of each and every one. My girl, she likes her some jellybeans. She was absolutely adorable in her little yellow polka-dot Easter dress. It was so cute that, in a stunning feat of suburban housewifery, I made everyone else in the family wear yellow to match her yesterday. It was like the Von Trapp family, but with less whistles.

The Little Man had his four-year-old checkup last week. He was so excited to go because he wanted the doctor to tell him how tall he is. He's been obsessed with his height and his "long legs" lately. And for good reason. The child is 43 1/4" tall! And weighs 40 pounds. Did I mention, it was his FOUR year old checkup? He is kind of an Amazon stick person, and proud of it. The scary thing is that he's only a few inches (for him, a couple of months) from riding all the big kid rides at the amusement park. Yowza.