http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4AWRHBHDVlQ
Mindy Gledhill. Love her music! So soothing and beautiful. Give her a listen!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URR_4i5gIFU&feature=player_embedded
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Friday, March 25, 2011
Nostalgic
If I were to describe myself to someone, nostalgic would not be a word that I would normally choose. I've never been that way. I threw away all of my old boyfriend's letter's when I got married, I rented my wedding dress, and I am constantly cleaning out my house of things that are not being used.
But as I think about packing my house I start to get sad. I think about how I had my kids bedrooms painted with murals especially for them, or how they played with their toys in the front room. Or how they flooded the bathroom because they were playing in the bathtub. Or how my beautiful tree in the backyard turns a brilliant gold in the fall.
I think the hardest thing to leave has little to do with my house though. It has to do with the people that surround my house that I won't see anymore. Everyone says they'll stay in touch but we all know it doesn't really happen that way. People get busy. It's no one's fault really, it just seems to happen. The people we have come to call friends are the most humble, kind, supportive, genuine people we have ever had the pleasure to know. Whenever I've needed someone to talk to, or help with corraling my animals, or turning off a smoke detector on a vaulted ceiling, or watching my kids so I could go to the doctor, or buying meals from me, they have always been there to help. There are some wonderful people here in Queen Creek.
The next chapter promises to be even better though. I am so excited about being able to build a house which is a dream of mine. The ability to be closer to the kid's school, the amount of land that we get to have, and the possibilities of the property are all amazing and I am very grateful for these blessings. As the next faze of our life begins it's hard to not look back and get a little nostalgic. After all some of my worst and best times were spent in that house. So here's hoping to more of the "best times" and not too many "worst times" in our new home.
But as I think about packing my house I start to get sad. I think about how I had my kids bedrooms painted with murals especially for them, or how they played with their toys in the front room. Or how they flooded the bathroom because they were playing in the bathtub. Or how my beautiful tree in the backyard turns a brilliant gold in the fall.
I think the hardest thing to leave has little to do with my house though. It has to do with the people that surround my house that I won't see anymore. Everyone says they'll stay in touch but we all know it doesn't really happen that way. People get busy. It's no one's fault really, it just seems to happen. The people we have come to call friends are the most humble, kind, supportive, genuine people we have ever had the pleasure to know. Whenever I've needed someone to talk to, or help with corraling my animals, or turning off a smoke detector on a vaulted ceiling, or watching my kids so I could go to the doctor, or buying meals from me, they have always been there to help. There are some wonderful people here in Queen Creek.
The next chapter promises to be even better though. I am so excited about being able to build a house which is a dream of mine. The ability to be closer to the kid's school, the amount of land that we get to have, and the possibilities of the property are all amazing and I am very grateful for these blessings. As the next faze of our life begins it's hard to not look back and get a little nostalgic. After all some of my worst and best times were spent in that house. So here's hoping to more of the "best times" and not too many "worst times" in our new home.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Baby Steps
I am learning to be patient. I don't have a choice! If I had my way I would be building this dang house by now! Unfortunately there is a process to building a house and I feel like we are taking baby steps.
Pretty excited about the house plan though. It's functional and easy to build plus it looks nice. Now all we have to do is figure out a magical way to keep it under budget and still get everything we want in the amount of time we have. Yay! Wish us luck!
http://www.houseplansaz.com/ (It's the 1613 plan.) We are going to add a second sink in the kids bathroom, take out the fireplace, push the family room and nook out, combine the laundry and small closet together, maybe change the configuration of the master bathroom, make a large single closet in the back bedroom, and enclose the garage to make a media room making the square footage around 2200. Not too shabby. Easy to build and it has a really simple floorplan. Yay!!!! Now hopefully we can get then plans ordered and start getting everything approved and bid out.
Pretty excited about the house plan though. It's functional and easy to build plus it looks nice. Now all we have to do is figure out a magical way to keep it under budget and still get everything we want in the amount of time we have. Yay! Wish us luck!
http://www.houseplansaz.com/ (It's the 1613 plan.) We are going to add a second sink in the kids bathroom, take out the fireplace, push the family room and nook out, combine the laundry and small closet together, maybe change the configuration of the master bathroom, make a large single closet in the back bedroom, and enclose the garage to make a media room making the square footage around 2200. Not too shabby. Easy to build and it has a really simple floorplan. Yay!!!! Now hopefully we can get then plans ordered and start getting everything approved and bid out.
Friday, March 11, 2011
We Got It!!!!!!
Yay! Our offer was accepted! Our own 3.3 acre parcel. Amazing! Now we have to close which should happen around April 8. Then after we close we have to clean the lot up and decide if we are going to build a house or buy a mobile home.
Mobile Home
Pro's:
1. They are cheap! We can get a really nice one that has a walk in pantry, living room, family room, 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, etc. Plus we could have our mortgage paid off a lot sooner.
2. We could move right in. We wouldn't have to stay with anyone.
Con's:
1. It's a mobile home. Their value depreciates the minute it leaves the lot. Kind of like a car.
2. It's not made as well as a stick built home.
Building a house
Pro's:
1. I've always wanted to build my own home just the way I want it.
2. It will be built better than a mobile home.
3.It will hold it's value better than a mobile home.
Con's:
1. We will have to live with family while it's being built.
2. We may not have enough money to finish it.
3. We will have a higher mortgage payment.
4. I will have to drive the kids to and from school everyday from Gilbert for at least 2 months respectively.
I don't know. What do you think? What would you do?
Mobile Home
Pro's:
1. They are cheap! We can get a really nice one that has a walk in pantry, living room, family room, 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, etc. Plus we could have our mortgage paid off a lot sooner.
2. We could move right in. We wouldn't have to stay with anyone.
Con's:
1. It's a mobile home. Their value depreciates the minute it leaves the lot. Kind of like a car.
2. It's not made as well as a stick built home.
Building a house
Pro's:
1. I've always wanted to build my own home just the way I want it.
2. It will be built better than a mobile home.
3.It will hold it's value better than a mobile home.
Con's:
1. We will have to live with family while it's being built.
2. We may not have enough money to finish it.
3. We will have a higher mortgage payment.
4. I will have to drive the kids to and from school everyday from Gilbert for at least 2 months respectively.
I don't know. What do you think? What would you do?
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
We Need A Break!!!!
Can I tell you how happy I am that Spring Break is almost here and we are actually going somewhere? Life is so stressfull right now and this is just what we needed. The last time we took a vacation with just our little family was over 5 years ago. We went to Disneyland and our boys were too little to enjoy it. This time though they all can enjoy it! Our youngest is exactly 40" tall and can ride the rides so nobody has to miss out on the fun! I am so excited!!!! My aunt and uncle live there so we are going to stay with them. Visiting them is a party in itself! They are always taking us to amazing places! It's going to be a quick trip but so worth it. Hopefully I can figure out how to post pictures when we get back.
We put an offer in on some property and are waiting to hear back. The realtor informed us that there was already a verbal offer made. Huh? Verbal? What a load of crap! We got our offer emailed to them first! We should get top priority! I tell you what, if we don't get this deal then so help me I will live in a rental! Don't push me, cause I'll do it! That has been our biggest fear though. We have all of these animals and the rural lifestyle that we love and we might have to get rid of it. Sad. My husband might actually suffocate living in a tract home. No joking.
In all honesty, I am just hoping and praying that things settle down soon. If we could get a house squared away, then we wouldn't be running ourselves ragged looking for one. The funny thing is, Chad is a real estate agent. It's hostile out there. Everyone is buying houses right now. As soon as we find one, there has already been 2 offers made on it. It's like a tank full of sharks and the house you want is in the middle of the tank. Another fun thing is that real estate agents are using investors to purchase houses. Good luck with that one. The only thing that I want to hear right now is that we got the property. That's what would make me happy for a very long time. Wish us luck!
We put an offer in on some property and are waiting to hear back. The realtor informed us that there was already a verbal offer made. Huh? Verbal? What a load of crap! We got our offer emailed to them first! We should get top priority! I tell you what, if we don't get this deal then so help me I will live in a rental! Don't push me, cause I'll do it! That has been our biggest fear though. We have all of these animals and the rural lifestyle that we love and we might have to get rid of it. Sad. My husband might actually suffocate living in a tract home. No joking.
In all honesty, I am just hoping and praying that things settle down soon. If we could get a house squared away, then we wouldn't be running ourselves ragged looking for one. The funny thing is, Chad is a real estate agent. It's hostile out there. Everyone is buying houses right now. As soon as we find one, there has already been 2 offers made on it. It's like a tank full of sharks and the house you want is in the middle of the tank. Another fun thing is that real estate agents are using investors to purchase houses. Good luck with that one. The only thing that I want to hear right now is that we got the property. That's what would make me happy for a very long time. Wish us luck!
Friday, March 4, 2011
Clean enough to be healthy, Dirty enough to be happy?
I have a problem. A big looming, never ending problem. I can't function normally unless my house is clean. Wierd? Totally. I know other mom's who can get through their days just fine with a complete mess going on around them. Why can't I? I sit in the mess staring at everything making mental notes about how I am going to tackle this growing mess. First, the bathroom's (of course) because I am a total germ affobe. Next the bedrooms because they smell and it's time. Third, dusting because I sneeze a lot! Fourth, vacuuming because the nice lines on my carpet make me a little too happy. Next, folding laundry and actually putting it away. Finally my kitchen, because I like to have it all clean and organized. I want to be able to lick my floor and not worry about getting sick from it! Favorite cleaning product? BLEACH! It kills 99.9% of germs and that is the only way that I would trust something to be clean. I bought the cutest cleaning gloves from Ross awhile back. They are black with cherries on the cuffs. A little throw back to Mary Englebright. The best thing ever is to sit down with a good book and smell the bleach in the air and know that your house is clean and finished. Amazing! And yes I know I have issues.
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