Choosy moms choose . . .

If I were a smarter and more creative woman, I'd make one of those little Cosmo quizzes where you could pick house options out multiple-choice style and then add up your total answers at the end and I'd tell you your personality type and we'd have great fun.

It would be something like this:

In a kitchen, the most important feature is:
     A. Tuscan style cabinetry with crackle glazing that can only be touched with gloved fingers
     B. White appliances, since they show the least amount of toddler fingerprints
     C. A fridge big enough to hold all the amazingly talented art work your above average children spew produce daily
     D. A locking cabinet high up that keeps your kids out of your chocolate stash
     E. A full-time cook

It would be kind of a hard quiz because every answer would CLEARLY be a tie between "D" and "E". Actually, let's try another one:

The most important room in a home is:
     A. The formal living room with down lighting to illuminate the objets d'arts you've accumulated in your world travels
     B. A play room not in direct line of sight of the front door so the chaos is hidden while you chat your home teachers up on the doorstep and leave them wondering why they weren't invited in.
     C. A conservatory/library/study where your children can practice their instrument/pre-Kindergarten SAT flashcards/encyclopedia reading skills
     D. The garage where you can send your husband to putter when he's "helping" by playing with the kids until every last one of them loses all volume modulation and sense of boundary
     E. Your own bedroom. The husband can share with the kids.

But I'm not that creative or clever, so I'll tell you in simple, straightforward terms what we're looking for: 2000+ square feet, a decent sized back yard, 4 bedrooms, a kitchen with decent storage, an open floor plan, and in general, minimal termite damage. And yes, it's HARD to find that in the city we've decided on. So wish us luck. I couldn't care less about the size of the master bedroom, whether the garage is 2 or 3 cars, I HATE formal living rooms and dining rooms, and proximity to the grocery store is a bonus but not a requirement.

So here we go . . . another week, another dozen houses to go through.