I had several people praying for a fast sale of our home. Well, we officially went 'on the market' on Thursday, by Sunday we had an offer on the table, and last night we signed our agreement of sale! How's that for fast?We still have some hairy details to wait on and settlement isn't until June, but praise God!
We are specifically praying now that our home will appraise for the sale amount. (which it is entirely possible it won't and then I think we will pull out of the sale). I go back and forth about being in a panic about it. During the day, I tell myself that God has it under control and that I have faith that it will go smoothly. But being the ever positive person that I am, never thinking of all that could go wrong, HA!--My dreams tell me how much anxiety I have over the sale I have. Last night, all of my fears played out in my dreams. I dreamt that the house didn't appraise, and Scott left me. LOL. Gotta love your subconscious.
But anyway, Thank you God for the first step being completed so quickly! Thank you for your continued blessings.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Well, What's Up?
Not much. I have been busy cleaning and cleaning. Then my Realtors came over and messed my house up, moving things around to take pictures, and then didn't put them back the right way. Which only annoyed me a little. Well, a more than a little. Especially when they moved the area rugs and disturbed the dirt that lived and bred underneath them. Same thing with my bed and nightstands. Stuff grows under there. I seriously vacuumed under and behind my bed, but these nasty dust bunnies multiply faster than a rate of real bunnies, and more appeared when they came, causing me embarrassment. But I digress.
We haven't done much but purge, clean, re-do, and move things to our storage unit for the last month or so. I haven't talked to people on the phone much or blogged, or do much of anything else and I'm tired. Phyicially tired.
The house 'should' be on the market today or tomorrow. Just waiting to hear from my realtor, who has mysteriously not called me back for a two days now...hmm. I'm a little anxious to see the pictures they took of our place to see if I even recognize it. I know they photo shop things for the Internet, so I'm interested to see what they did to make our house look sell able.
Yo, and Realtors are a funny bunch. Super positive about the house one second, then nit pick about the color of my throw rugs at the front and back doors. Really, you want me to buy a floor mat and lamp shade because they are the wrong color? Puh-lease. When we bought this house the deck was green with mold, the fence was falling down, the basement had no carpet and they listed it as a fourth bedroom, and the entire family was IN the house when we walked through it. Including this beast of a dog that smelled. But we looked past that and saw the gem we have come to call home. So you can look past the floor mats that may be a 'little dark', oh and the horrid red color on our hallway walls(which I didn't hate enough to ever paint), and our dark basement (which we painted dark to give us a cozy feeling and Scott's dream of a manly room, but whatev.) If you can't look past paint, then don't go house shopping. Granted, I know we bought in a crazy market where people would have bidding wars at the open house, and bid over asking prices, but really. Paint is paint. And I will take my dark floor mats with me when we leave. Thank you.
Anyway, I'm a little bit cranky. Can you tell.
Real Estate has to be a fascinating business. I love the psychology behind things in marketing, and I feel like Realtors really think they know how a person's mind works when it comes to buying a house. I just must not be a typical buyer. Because when they tell me how they plan to attract buyers by reducing the price on our house by $1,500 every 7 days, I'm like, "that would just make me think something is wrong with the place, and what's $1,500 when it comes down to a mortgage of much more than that?" But they assure me, its worked for them. I'll have to trust you, cause the last time I sold a house was, um, never.
So that's what's up. Aren't you glad you asked?
Did I mention I was cranky?
We haven't done much but purge, clean, re-do, and move things to our storage unit for the last month or so. I haven't talked to people on the phone much or blogged, or do much of anything else and I'm tired. Phyicially tired.
The house 'should' be on the market today or tomorrow. Just waiting to hear from my realtor, who has mysteriously not called me back for a two days now...hmm. I'm a little anxious to see the pictures they took of our place to see if I even recognize it. I know they photo shop things for the Internet, so I'm interested to see what they did to make our house look sell able.
Yo, and Realtors are a funny bunch. Super positive about the house one second, then nit pick about the color of my throw rugs at the front and back doors. Really, you want me to buy a floor mat and lamp shade because they are the wrong color? Puh-lease. When we bought this house the deck was green with mold, the fence was falling down, the basement had no carpet and they listed it as a fourth bedroom, and the entire family was IN the house when we walked through it. Including this beast of a dog that smelled. But we looked past that and saw the gem we have come to call home. So you can look past the floor mats that may be a 'little dark', oh and the horrid red color on our hallway walls(which I didn't hate enough to ever paint), and our dark basement (which we painted dark to give us a cozy feeling and Scott's dream of a manly room, but whatev.) If you can't look past paint, then don't go house shopping. Granted, I know we bought in a crazy market where people would have bidding wars at the open house, and bid over asking prices, but really. Paint is paint. And I will take my dark floor mats with me when we leave. Thank you.
Anyway, I'm a little bit cranky. Can you tell.
Real Estate has to be a fascinating business. I love the psychology behind things in marketing, and I feel like Realtors really think they know how a person's mind works when it comes to buying a house. I just must not be a typical buyer. Because when they tell me how they plan to attract buyers by reducing the price on our house by $1,500 every 7 days, I'm like, "that would just make me think something is wrong with the place, and what's $1,500 when it comes down to a mortgage of much more than that?" But they assure me, its worked for them. I'll have to trust you, cause the last time I sold a house was, um, never.
So that's what's up. Aren't you glad you asked?
Did I mention I was cranky?
Sunday, March 11, 2012
The End is Near...
However, its just the beginning.
The kitchen just needs touch up work. Like paint touch up and caulk. And then I just need to purge and clean a little bit more inside, then we have some yard work to do and we're done. I'm not sure Scott and I are on speaking terms right now, but the end of the endless home improvements is almost here. We have a date for the realtor to come out and take pictures and list this place for Friday.
Whereas that date signifies we are done, it also signifies the beginning of me actually keeping a clean house ready for perspective buyers. Something that I'm sure will actually kill me. But I think I'm recalling me actually praying for God to make me a more organized and structured mom. This just may be his way of answering that prayer. People, be careful what you pray for...
The kitchen just needs touch up work. Like paint touch up and caulk. And then I just need to purge and clean a little bit more inside, then we have some yard work to do and we're done. I'm not sure Scott and I are on speaking terms right now, but the end of the endless home improvements is almost here. We have a date for the realtor to come out and take pictures and list this place for Friday.
Whereas that date signifies we are done, it also signifies the beginning of me actually keeping a clean house ready for perspective buyers. Something that I'm sure will actually kill me. But I think I'm recalling me actually praying for God to make me a more organized and structured mom. This just may be his way of answering that prayer. People, be careful what you pray for...
Monday, March 5, 2012
Please Save Me From My Kitchen
I'm working with a toaster oven, and coffee pot. What can one make for dinner in a toaster oven and that's it. I'm sick of take out, going out is worse...
Help!
There are glimpses of hope that its almost done. But punch list items are the worst. The little details like, trim being painted, and the under counter lights installed. I won't mention that initially Scott told me this all could be completed in a long weekend (president's day to be exact). But I know his time estimating skills for home improvements are always off. Like when he says he needs two hours to change the brakes and oil on his car, I can count on a whole 8 hours. Scott has this curse that has been laid upon him. If it can go wrong, it will, if the person before him left out a step, he will correct it, and if it needs a special tool, he won't have it, and will have to run to the store approximately 9 times and begin cursing (my cue to leave town with the kids). And all this has happened to him with this kitchen thing, except the people who put in the old tile floor did such a great job, it was impossible to get the floor up and took 3 times longer than expected to remove it.
And please please please pray that all this work is worth it. Like, have our house sell at the first open house. I told the realtor that I know that selling quickly is unlikely, but that we have a God that can make it happen!
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
I Fished What I Wished!
So baby #4 is another boy! And I am delighted! Not that I would hate a girl baby, I just fear girls. I was one (or I am one), and I was not easy on my mom. But anyway.
We are excited, the boys especially. Q specifically said, "at first I wanted a sister, but then I figured something out. You have to play girl things with girls, and I don't want to do that. Like, tea party and dolls." I laughed at that. I do have pipe dreams of watching all my men play hockey in the driveway, and dragging everyone to every one's sporting events. I can't wait!
We do not have a name. We won't have a name. Cause you know how Scott is. I will wait for him to come down from the mount with a perfect name about 2 days after this baby is born. I did tell him though, the name HAS to end with a letter 'n' cause we can't have 3 with 'n' ending names and then a Bob, Fred, or Jehosephat. People will just know we gave up! Haha.
We are excited, the boys especially. Q specifically said, "at first I wanted a sister, but then I figured something out. You have to play girl things with girls, and I don't want to do that. Like, tea party and dolls." I laughed at that. I do have pipe dreams of watching all my men play hockey in the driveway, and dragging everyone to every one's sporting events. I can't wait!
We do not have a name. We won't have a name. Cause you know how Scott is. I will wait for him to come down from the mount with a perfect name about 2 days after this baby is born. I did tell him though, the name HAS to end with a letter 'n' cause we can't have 3 with 'n' ending names and then a Bob, Fred, or Jehosephat. People will just know we gave up! Haha.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
DIY Without Divorce
About a month ago, we received Scotts February issue of Handyman Magazine. I happen to love this magazine. There are "great goofs" on the back page, where people write in about the dumb things they've done while diy'ing. Its funny, but not my point here.
Well, in February's issue, one of the main title's read "DIY Without Divorce". I laughed. It had all sorts of suggestions from readers and experts on how to avoid fighting while working on construction projects around the house. Some of them were funny. There is always one guy that just says, "Learn how to say 'yes dear' and give your wife whatever she wants." I hate that. But anyway. It was quite appropriate timing. We are in the midst of some DIY projects here. Like every weekend, something is on Scott's list. This past weekend was the kitchen.
Initially, we intended to redo the entire kitchen, like gut it and start over with new cabinets and granite counter top, new light fixtures and the like. Well, after shelling out a ton of cash in December for a new furnace and not getting as much back as we thought for our tax return (yes we already have it!!Thank you free turbo tax online!), we have had to re-think our kitchen makeover.
The thing about DIY that brings me to fight with Scott, is the decision making processes, and the multiple trips to Home Depot to pick out materials. I hate this job with a passion. In fact, speaking of passion, we did this very event on Valentine's Day with all three kids in tow. It was enough to want to make my head explode. At least I was rewarded with Chinese food later! After that, I told Scott I didn't want to be involved in anymore decisions. Seriously, I didn't want to pick out the hardware or grout color or whatever. I was done! So my man took over and wouldn't even let me see his choices.
This weekend Scott scrapped up the old tile floor which was pink, and put down a new one and re-painted the cabinets, and put in new pulls and knobs. Easy, he thought, and I thought. Something that could be accomplished rather quickly. HA! Wrong. Because we have a small house and 3 kids and actually need use of a kitchen, I had to vacate the premises for the weekend to let him get it done. And he did a great job, worked his butt off. My least favorite part of doing it yourself, is the clean up aspect (mainly cause its my job to do that), and that Scott works so hard I feel guilty. Cause while at my mom's this weekend, I didn't have to cook, and clean up and I got to go out for dinner with a friend!. It was nice, but the guilt sets in later.
It turns out, ripping up a tile floor is seriously labor intensive and installing one, equally intensive. I guess that's why people get charged thousands of dollars for the installation of one, when the tiles aren't that expensive. Scott has claimed he will never do it again. I returned home to this, and a house COVERED in dust. Its everywhere, in the bedrooms, on all the dishes and floors. And the dust in the kitchen doesn't come off cause it has mixed with the layer of greese and has to be washed off of everything. We will be getting a granite counter top and maybe a new back splash, but I'm feeling we won't do that cause I think Scott is over tiling.
On a positive note, the cabinets look nice and the floor looks awesome. But its not done, and I have to vacate with the kids AGAIN. Which sucks, even though I had an OK time this last time. The problem is, that J doesn't sleep well when we are away and its always a tough time for him at night, and i worry he'll wake the whole house.
And on a side note: we have our big ultrasound tonight to see what type of baby dwells in my uterus. I'm praying all is healthy with this baby. I always fear the worst with this. I will keep you posted.
Well, in February's issue, one of the main title's read "DIY Without Divorce". I laughed. It had all sorts of suggestions from readers and experts on how to avoid fighting while working on construction projects around the house. Some of them were funny. There is always one guy that just says, "Learn how to say 'yes dear' and give your wife whatever she wants." I hate that. But anyway. It was quite appropriate timing. We are in the midst of some DIY projects here. Like every weekend, something is on Scott's list. This past weekend was the kitchen.
Initially, we intended to redo the entire kitchen, like gut it and start over with new cabinets and granite counter top, new light fixtures and the like. Well, after shelling out a ton of cash in December for a new furnace and not getting as much back as we thought for our tax return (yes we already have it!!Thank you free turbo tax online!), we have had to re-think our kitchen makeover.
The thing about DIY that brings me to fight with Scott, is the decision making processes, and the multiple trips to Home Depot to pick out materials. I hate this job with a passion. In fact, speaking of passion, we did this very event on Valentine's Day with all three kids in tow. It was enough to want to make my head explode. At least I was rewarded with Chinese food later! After that, I told Scott I didn't want to be involved in anymore decisions. Seriously, I didn't want to pick out the hardware or grout color or whatever. I was done! So my man took over and wouldn't even let me see his choices.
This weekend Scott scrapped up the old tile floor which was pink, and put down a new one and re-painted the cabinets, and put in new pulls and knobs. Easy, he thought, and I thought. Something that could be accomplished rather quickly. HA! Wrong. Because we have a small house and 3 kids and actually need use of a kitchen, I had to vacate the premises for the weekend to let him get it done. And he did a great job, worked his butt off. My least favorite part of doing it yourself, is the clean up aspect (mainly cause its my job to do that), and that Scott works so hard I feel guilty. Cause while at my mom's this weekend, I didn't have to cook, and clean up and I got to go out for dinner with a friend!. It was nice, but the guilt sets in later.
It turns out, ripping up a tile floor is seriously labor intensive and installing one, equally intensive. I guess that's why people get charged thousands of dollars for the installation of one, when the tiles aren't that expensive. Scott has claimed he will never do it again. I returned home to this, and a house COVERED in dust. Its everywhere, in the bedrooms, on all the dishes and floors. And the dust in the kitchen doesn't come off cause it has mixed with the layer of greese and has to be washed off of everything. We will be getting a granite counter top and maybe a new back splash, but I'm feeling we won't do that cause I think Scott is over tiling.
On a positive note, the cabinets look nice and the floor looks awesome. But its not done, and I have to vacate with the kids AGAIN. Which sucks, even though I had an OK time this last time. The problem is, that J doesn't sleep well when we are away and its always a tough time for him at night, and i worry he'll wake the whole house.
And on a side note: we have our big ultrasound tonight to see what type of baby dwells in my uterus. I'm praying all is healthy with this baby. I always fear the worst with this. I will keep you posted.
Monday, February 6, 2012
I've been busy.
I've been up to my eyes in poo. Really. I'll spare you the details. But 2 out of 5 of our immediate family members have been to the E.R. for i.v. fluids and its been so fun!
When B recovers from any illness, he is a bear. Truly. Scott and I both want to hang him by his toenails. Thankfully he is a cute thing, and must know that he's being a tush pain and when he does this, he's always randomly coming up to me "Mama, I want to kiss you. Or I want to sit in your lap."
J has been sick for a week. He has also been a very laid back, easy going thing while sick. After getting fluids on Saturday though, he's back to himself and scratching and hitting and not easily entertained. But I'm thankful the little devil in him is back. It was sad seeing him so peaceful and calm. LOL.
He still has symptoms of the stomach bug, and now has croup on top of it, but he's happier. So I"ll take it.
Next week I'll be writing about my 10 day long vacation to some place warm and tropical which I will take without permission and go by-myself.
When B recovers from any illness, he is a bear. Truly. Scott and I both want to hang him by his toenails. Thankfully he is a cute thing, and must know that he's being a tush pain and when he does this, he's always randomly coming up to me "Mama, I want to kiss you. Or I want to sit in your lap."
J has been sick for a week. He has also been a very laid back, easy going thing while sick. After getting fluids on Saturday though, he's back to himself and scratching and hitting and not easily entertained. But I'm thankful the little devil in him is back. It was sad seeing him so peaceful and calm. LOL.
He still has symptoms of the stomach bug, and now has croup on top of it, but he's happier. So I"ll take it.
Next week I'll be writing about my 10 day long vacation to some place warm and tropical which I will take without permission and go by-myself.
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