If you've ever tried to sell a house, you know it can be tough.

If you've ever tried to sell a house and have kids - you know it can be even tougher.

We all know what goes into putting your house on the market:

The packing.

Storing.

Decluttering.

The never-ending cleaning.

And of course - the waiting

Now add two energetic little boys to mix – and you’ve got yourself a full time job!

You’re not only trying to constantly keep you house clean for any prospective buyers, you’re also trying to keep your kids happy – because they have had to watch a lot of their things get packed up (including some of their favorite toys). On top of that, they have to get use to the idea of leaving the only house they’ve every known – for a new one.

And as much as you try to explain and focus on the positive, they’re not really sure what to think about this moving madness. They just know it’s taking a lot of their parents’ time and energy.

Moving with kids also means you hear things like, "We have got to sell this house!" randomly come out of your four-year-old’s mouth.

I guess really they do listen to every thing we say.

When you move with kids – you always have to be prepared for those little hiccups…like your centerpiece “somehow” breaking just hours before an Open House ( I still don't know how that happened). And it means my husband and I are always watching - trying to avoid spills and stains. But even with two sets of very watchful eyes - we just found a new, bright orange creative crayon illustration on our guest room closet. Yikes!!

The bottom line is - kids don't care about selling a house...

They just want to play and bounce their balls and leave crumbs whenever and wherever they eat - even if you just mopped.

So after three weeks of trying to sell our house, we have now child-proofed our moving plan.

We have figured out how to keep the bathrooms clean: The nice towels and mats only come out when we know the house is going to be shown to house hunters.

We've figured out how to keep the kitchen clean: Eat out (my mother would be so ashamed).

And we've come up with a compromise for the kids toys: New video games.

Now we don't have to worry about those idle hands.

So with our new strategies in place, we have decided we're not going to worry about the news recently released about existing home sales being down - and closing costs up.

We're just hoping someone will eventually fall in love with our house the same way we did…

And that our new home in our new city will provide just as many memorable moments our old house has.

After all, we were newlyweds when we moved in.

Now we're a family of four.

The boys are beginning to get excited.

The oldest can't wait to have his own room.

The youngest can’t wait to get his toys back!

So... keep your fingers crossed for the sale.

Meantime - got any suggestions on how to keep the house in tip-top shape and keep the kids happy?

Better yet - any suggestions on getting a house sold?

I'd love to read your advice.

Until Next Time,

Serese