Finally some good news...

Ok, so today we ended up getting some good news, just not the news we really want. We got a really good deal on our home owners insurance. YAY!!! And it went really easy and the lady there was super nice and fast. AND SHE CALLED BACK WHEN SHE SAID SHE WOULD!!! My poor Realtor is sick of dealing with the bank and the underwriters. She'll call them with something, and not hear back for hours- sometimes not for days. She got so sick of this that she called both the girls who are working on our loan, then emailed them, and then faxed them. And guess what... She received a call back. The second inspection was done this morning and now we've heard that it's under review and so *HOPEFULLY* we will have an answer today!! I know, I know... but I can always hope... and pray... and beg... and borrow... and plead... And I guess if that doesn't work I can always sit down and have a good long cry.

(Just kidding on the whole crying thing...)

Then again, maybe not. lol

We are hoping to get most of the house packed this weekend. That is assuming we have an answer by Friday. I have also boycotted packing any thing else until we get an answer. I didn't pack anything yesterday and today we got the first bit of moving forward good news that we've had all week, and for the last week too. So it's gotta be that I was jinxing it.
That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

So we have 10-- count them-- 10 days until we move, 8 until we close!!! I'm kinda starting to freak out a bit- I'm not gonna lie.

As soon as it's my house, I'll post some moving pics and then I'll feel like it has been totally worth it.

Hopefully my next post will be to tell everyone that it's our house!!! :)

The continuing saga...

So we heard back from the bank and they did adjust the price, but not as high as it was. It's right in the middle. The sellers are happy, we are happy and the bank is happy. So everyone is happy right? Wrong! Cause then the bank was asking for more paper work, which we provided. Now it's the stupid underwriters that are jerking us around.
I have been run through the ringer with this house deal. I know that buying a house is a big deal, but honestly, can you make it any harder?? Now we are being told that the underwriters want an engineering report on the house and because there isn't one, we have to pay $400. for it! And our financing deadline is TODAY! But they said this isn't anything that has to do with our deadline, which I don't understand, but whatever. It doesn't have to be done by today which is good because if it did, they'd be hearing a lot from me. We've been trying to get in touch with them for 2 days making sure that we were meeting all their demands. But it does need to be done before we can get a for sure YES. Everyone keeps saying that everything looks good, and that they don't see any problems, but I want the for sure YES!!! I honestly can't take it anymore. I am stressed to the hilt. I am sick of this apartment, sick of all the boxes everywhere, some packed, some empty.
I have a confession.... I am not packing as much as I would normally be packing because I'm afraid of jinxing it. If I pack it and then we don't get the house I really don't want to unpack everything. :(
I am tired of my neighbor sitting outside yelling at her kids all day because she's too lazy to go and actually get them. Instead she sits on her porch and yells as her kids wander farther and farther away. Her kids are 2 and 3ish.
I really want to sit outside on my patio enjoying the evening air as it cools off, (saying that it will might help it really do it, right? I didn't think so either but it's worth a shot) and not hear her yelling all night long.
I want to start decorating my house. Repainting walls, taking off the horrible wall paper, picking out curtains.
This house has been sold twice since it was built. You would think that if it wasn't sound, someone would have noticed by now!!! All the money they are sucking out of us, it's any wonder people aren't buying houses now and the housing market is in such bad shape.

Our new house or not?!?!

So.... We have decided to buy a house. It's actually been pretty easy, with a few hick ups here and there. We did the whole pre-qualifying, in the middle of the week. Then I started to try and find some houses to go look at. I looked online, at several really good sites. Found several that we really liked. Now being new to the whole home buying experience we had no idea what "short sales" were, and go figure almost all the houses we liked in this area were short saled. So we looked closer to our parents and found several that I was willing to walk through. Oh the joys of that. I had no idea what to expect, but it wasn't what I found.
House #1 was in the area I grew up, just down the block in fact. It was a nice looking house -- from the front. It was down right scary from the back and inside. It was decorated in the 50's or 60's and hasn't been done since. Including the appliances that they were leaving with the house. It had been empty for quite a while and was in sad shape. The carpets through out were that green shag carpet, stained in several places, I wasn't even sure the oven or range top (which were separate, the oven was in the wall which I was excited about until I saw it) would actually work they were so old. The basement was a big scary mess!! AND it had a BROILER in the basement instead of a furnace. I've never dealt with a boiler before. I'd rather not start now. For the condition the house was in, they wanted WAY WAY too much money. Now I know that you can talk them down, but with all the things we'd have to replace before we could move it, it was a big fat NO!
House #2 was a nice 4 bed, 2 bath with a huge yard-fully fenced- with a 2 car garage. Now we had appt's to see all these houses with our Realtor Kelly who is FABULOUS!! I just love her!! Anyway, we show up at this house to find out that the people renting some of the rooms were in various degrees of dress and being ready. ***CONFESSION*** I really liked the outside and upstairs of this house, but I was terrified by this house.
The lady who owns it was renting out single rooms, so there were 3 mini fridges, downstairs was so terrifying that I wanted out as soon as possible. They had set up a couple hot plates down there in a make shift laundry room and kitchen. The basement had a mother in law apt without the kitchen part. They had a closet that used to be the coal room, complete with a coal shoot opening outside, which they had made a bed in there and was renting it out as a bedroom. All the doors had dead bolts on the them and everywhere they could stuff a body, there was a body stuffed there. We had to knock on bedroom doors, ask to look inside, which we peeked in and left, and them we were asked if we wanted renters. UMMM.... NO WAY IN HELL!! We are looking for a house that we can move our family into, not to share our house. The downstairs bathroom made me laugh so hard, but given the condition the house was in, I'm not at all surprised. Right when you walked down the tiny steep steps, you walked into the huge laundry room/their mini kitchen. If you turned to your right, there were 2 bedrooms, a bathroom that just had a toilet and sink, and right out in the middle of the open area was a communal shower!!! You could see over the top, and under the door, it was that open. I was so amused that I seriously laughed for at least 5 minutes and then again when we were outside looking at the yard. I was almost 3000sq ft but felt so cramped and tiny because of how full it was.
House #3 I LOVED!!! But it was also partially unfinished. And more work than we wanted to take on. It was 6 bedrooms- I know we don't need that many rooms, but it was in our price range because it needed some work. The house had such history- I could tell- just when you walked in and looked around, you could feel it in the air. It was weird, it didn't feel bad at all, but just walking through the rooms it felt like I was trying to walk through water. My lungs were laboring like I had just spent 30 minutes exercising. I loved the layout of the house, the huge yard, mostly fenced. But it had only 1 working bathroom and one under construction. The original part of the house was built in 1864 and it had been added on to several times. And not very well in some places. Like I said, I loved it, but way too much work to make it comfortable for us to live there. Plus, it didn't have any air conditioning except a small window one and that meant that the 3 rooms upstairs were going to be hot in the summer and cold in the winter. We'll pass this time around.
Now house #4 was perfect! (It's also the house we put an offer on, I'm just sayin')
It is a 5 bedroom, 2 bath house with a full basement, a nice sized lot-fully fenced- and lots of great little things, like ... A gas fireplace in the family room downstairs, a storage room (we even talked them into leaving their upright freezer-bonus!!) My only complaint about the whole house, is the size of the bedrooms. They are pretty small. Though, it's hard to say for sure because they had all the rooms FULL of furniture. I must say that I love LoVe LOVE the kitchen. It isn't big, but it's just right. All new appliances and a gas stove which I am super happy about. They are leaving a swing in the back yard, and there is a fire pit back there and a nice big patio. I think we'll be spending a lot of time on the patio so I'm very happy.
House #5 was nice, a 4bed, 2 bath house even closer to our parents than the one we are trying to get. It had a newly remodeled kitchen, which was nice, but you could tell that they did the work their selves and in some places, not very well. The yard was smaller and I didn't like it as much. It just wasn't our house even with a nicer, bigger, newer kitchen. OK, nicer isn't really comparable because I liked the other kitchen better. It was brighter somehow. This one wasn't even clean. They had swept cereal under the cabinets which you could still see.
The owners of the house we are trying to get really know how to stage their house so that it was welcoming and bright and cheery and lovely.

We like house #4 so much that right after we got done looking at houses we followed our Realtor to her office (on a Saturday and my birthday to boot) put an offer on the house, and less than 3 hours later she called me to tell me that they had accepted our offer, happy birthday to me!!
We found out that someone else had put an offer on the house before us but their financing feel through, so we were able to snatch it up.

Now comes the stress... We are doing everything they want us to do. We got the inspection, we gave them our earnest money, and we were just waiting for the appraisal. When it came in, we had a slight problem. The house didn't appraise for what we offered them. It appraised for $8,000 less. Now the stress really begins to have fun. The sellers agent wants a review of the appraisal because she doesn't think that the guy was very thorough. And all this is happening while banks and offices are closed for the 4th of July holiday. We are starting to get close to our deadlines which is making me nervous. The sellers have already put another house under contract and have paid for their inspection as well. They want out. They said that if they can't get a review or if it doesn't change than they are willing to drop the price. Which is good for us, but I need to know ASAP- If we need to back out we need to do it before the middle of the month. We are less than 3 weeks from the day we are supposed to close. I've taken in our 30 day notice to the apartments, I want to start packing non-essentials so that I'm not rushing to pack last minute. And now, I'm like- do I keep going, do I wait for word from them or the bank!?!?
UGH!!! It's enough to knot my shoulders and make my tummy in knots. I'm actually better now than I was before. When I found out on Friday I was pretty nasty- I know it's hard to believe, but yes it's true. I was down right bi%!hy.

Ahhhh.... I feel better, having gotten that off my chest. When I find out for sure, I will post pics of my house!! :)

So Sweet!! but WAY too soon!

So tonight when I picked my little man up from his dad's house he showed me a note. I could tell that he had been wanting to show me since he got in the car. His note said: "Dear K, I <3(that's a heart) U. Call if you want." Then she gave him her phone number. "You are so smart so call when you get off the bus. I <3 <3 <3 You are so cool call if you dare. From ? ? ? ? ? ? ? " It is the sweetest thing ever. He walked in the house and announced to Pat that he had gotten a love letter! He's even been trying to work out the clues as to who it might be. We looked her number up through Dex and it's unlisted, so he sat there trying to work out, "Ok she knows that I ride the bus, but I didn't ride the bus today, so I'm pretty sure that it's one of two girls and if it's them I'll call, but if it's so&so I'm not going to call because I don't like her" I asked him why he didn't like her and he told me that she doesn't like him either and when I again asked why he told me that he didn't know. That they were friends in 3rd grade but then over the summer "She had a mood swing" and hasn't ever gotten over it. LMAO!! Oh that boy is so funny!! I asked him where it was and he said that the final bell had rung and he'd started to leave but then remembered that he forgot an assignment so he went back to his desk and the note was on top of his homework. He keeps taking it out and looking at it and carries it around with him every where he goes. It's the cutest thing I've ever seen. Although, it makes me sad too cause the boy is getting too big. Granted not old enough for dates but I remember the harmless first love of elementary school first love. "Check yes or no" with the boxes and everything. lol His not didn't have boxes but she did draw hearts. OH, my baby is growing up.

Happy Halloween!

Normally this is my favorite time of year, however this year I'm not as excited for it but I am trying. I love the cute costumes, the smells of fall, the colors of the leaves, and I even love the crispness of the air. (most of the time, lol) I think we're going to try and go see "Arsenic and Old Lace" tonight at the Heritage Theater. I absolutely adore this play. I know that we're going to my dad's and my mother in laws house, but Cameron is sick so we wont be going trick or treating.(Kelly is with his dad this year)
I was thinking of seeing if I could write a post roughly once every couple of weeks. Like on Thursday or something. I'm still not sure but I feel bad that I have been neglecting my blogging. My sister called last night and while she didn't really tell me anything new, because her days are pretty much the same, I was pretty shocked that I didn't really have anything new to tell her either. I like it when she calls because I know that it does her good to be able to talk with her family, but when I write her at least one letter a week it's hard to have as much news. She sounds good, and was in pretty good spirits so that's really good. She is still a non-smoker, (though I'm not 100% sure if that's cause she wants to be or because cigarettes cost 8.99 there) But she has also been drug free for over 2 years now. YAY for her!!
I've also decided that I am going to set a goal to read a certain amount of new books next year, as well as the few that I read every year. I love some books so much that I read them often. I thought about making it 50 books a year, but I am not sure I could read that many with all the stuff we always seem to have going on. So I was thinking maybe 30 books or maybe 34 books to go with my age. I am going to make sure that several of them are classics that I've never read before, as well as modern ones that I want to read. I will finish "The Count of Monte Cristo" by this time next year! It's really hard to get into. I am reading "Interview With the Vampire" and it's killing me to finish it. It really is. I liked the movie and all, but holy crap! This is one of those books that is so hard for me to read because I just don't care to examine every single emotion that Louis is feeling every time he feels it! I know that it's one of those depressing emotionally drawn books that lots of people just love, and it's a good story and I like it too, it's just not my cup of tea! I guess I prefer my books to be happier. I use books to get away for a few hours to live in a different world so I'd like that world to be a happy one. lol
So if you have a book you think should go on my list for next year, feel free to let me know and I might add it! :) I'll be sure and post my list when it's finished and then at the end of the year I'll see how well I did.

Again, it's been awhile so here goes...

So nothing new has happened yet, except one of my aunt's, (my mom's sister again) passed away, my sister is in jail until the middle of June next year. She got busted for a probation violation and I this one time, actually side with her. Her probation officer wanted her to pay more on her fines than she was making and when she tried to tell him this he asked her for proof so she brought it to him and he didn't seem to think it was enough so when she continued to struggle, he violated her. But I think it was a good thing anyway because even she admits that she was just getting more and more depressed and she said it was only a matter of time before she started using again. So now she's been clean for like 2 years.

The boys are all good. They are growing like weeds! Cameron just turned 3 and is so smart! Though, I know that all parents think that of their kids and I'm ok with that. Pat is still in school but he's getting ready to take two major tests soon and he's pretty excited about that. I am trying again to lose weight and this time it's actually working. Granted it's small amounts at a time, but hey, every little bit helps right?!?!? I'm also getting in better shape and am training, (though, not as well as I should right now) for a 5K marathon next year. I'm pretty excited about that.

And I know I'll probably catch hell for this, (from all my Twilight loving friends) I am so not interested in seeing the new movie. New Moon was my least favorite book so I'm sure since they stick fairly close to the books story line that it will be my least favorite movie as well. I know I'll go to see it eventually but I just have no desire to go sit for hours for any of the midnight showings. Call me crazy if you wish.

I've started taking pictures for a relaxing hobby and I'll try to post a few pics of my favorite ones so far. The one on the top is one I took in my mother in laws yard this summer.

You all have Shelly to thank for my post because she was very subtle in her hint that it was time I updated it. So I am...

I love the fall, but I hate all the rainy days we've gotten so far. I think the fact that I haven't been able to really get out and walk through the trees with all the changing leaves has something to do with it.

We've gone to my dad's sister's new house up in Logan to have a family dinner and then because his oldest sister was here from Texas so that was nice getting to see everyone again. A few of my aunts and uncles are on Facebook now and I keep getting told how much I"m like my dad. I am not in the least bit surprised by this because I have known for a very long time just how much we are a like.

So I have another confession.... I didn't finish "The Count of Monte Cristo" It is so hard to get into when I have so many other books that are demanding my attention that I know will be if not better, than at least faster and easier to read!! I just found a Jane Austen-ish type book that people in Shelfari SWEAR I will love. It's called "Frederica" by Georgette Heyer. I guess she wrote a whole series too and so it gives me more period romance/funny books to read.
I just updated my blog layout and realized that my shelfari widget isn't there anymore. I'll have to go get it again. If you are a member of shelfari please add me. I only have one friend though I LOVE Amber to death and am thrilled it's her that's my friend I'd still like some more. :)

I think that's all for now. I can hear the baby moving around wanting to get up so I'd better finish this all up later!

I know that I haven't

Posted in a long, long while..... I just haven't really felt like a lot of news worthy things have happened lately. I know I'm pretty boring, huh?? lol I have read a ton of books lately since I haven't felt very good. I am currently reading "The Count of Monte Cristo" and it's so far with all my 11 pages in, is already quite different from the movie I saw. Which was the 2002 version with Jim Caviezel, which I LOVED!!! But I haven't seen any of the other versions so I can't say how the book compares to them. I just recently finished "Jane Eyre" and "Wuthering Heights". I loved "Jane Eyre" and I really liked "Wuthering Heights" but it's not my favorite. So far out of all the classics I've read, my favorite is still "Pride and Prejudice". I have been trying for almost a year to finish reading Mary Shelly's "Frankenstein" but I hate admitting that it is very, VERY slow going because I am so bored. I just can't get into this book. I am 80 pages in and still don't rememeber them even mentioning Frankenstein at all... Maybe I should just start over and try to read it faster. Who knows. But I have a few other classics as well as some modern books still on my list for this year and it's only the beginning. I'm glad that there are a ton of books in the world, or I might get bored. lol

I am very happy that Kelly is very into reading, and Cameron shows signs of a good reader. Though, I'll have to wait till he can actually read before I can know for sure. :)

And I am surprised that I enjoy some romances. I used to reuse to read any but I have found some that I really like. They aren't those cheesy Harlequin romances or anything, but I do like some. My dear sweet cousin Leone suggested I read the "Sookie Stackhouse" series and I started to, I've only read the first 2 but I think I like another series that the author writes about a girl who can sense where dead people are buried. I know I'm weird, but I just like it better, She also suggested I read "Uglies" but I haven't read that one yet. It's one of the next ones on my list. Along with my sisters suggestion of the Janet Evanovich "Stephanie Plum" series. I've read the first 4 of those. I don't think that I like them as much as she does. I made her read the "Harry Potter" and "Twilight" series and she loved them, so she decided that since she read books that I made her read, I should read books that she wants me to read. She'll be upset when I tell her that they are ok, but not my favorites. I made her read the "Harry Pottor" books cause she claimed that she hated the books and the movies just cause everyone else made a bog deal about them, even though she'd never seen any of the movies or read any of the books. I don't have a problem with someone not liking a series or movies, but you should at least try to read one or see the movie before you make up your mind.

Well It's not much of a blog but at least I wrote one. I had a bunch more but I deleted it cause it sounded a bit grumpy. I wonder why, I'm not in a bad mood or anything.