My great idea of Christmas shopping without any kids last week came to a screeching halt when the local schools closed for TWO DAYS due to a mild ice storm! It was quite crazy because on the second day, all the streets were clear and dry. Everyone I know was frustrated that school was still out. I finally went shopping with Arden on Friday morning, and Stuart is still wrapping up buying kids' gifts today (yes, three days before Christmas!).
On top of that, Arden has now gotten another bad cold with yucky nose and crankiness. She has also had a really bad diaper rash for almost two weeks now, so I am taking her to the pediatrician today to get that checked. The boys have never had one that wouldn't clear up, and hers is pretty bad. From what I've read, it might have turned into a yeast rash that needs medical treatment. I hope we can get her feeling better before we travel for Christmas on December 24.
We closed on the Cabot house today and are in the midst of taking everything off the walls and doing touch-up painting, etc. It will be a crazy remaining six days to get everything loaded up, but we are excited that the end is near!
Keep us in your prayers, and please pray that Arden gets better and no one else gets sick this week!
P.S. I must make sure I dress Arden in more pink because she has been mistaken for a boy three different times this week when I've had her out!
Monday, December 22, 2008
Sunday, December 14, 2008
14 days and counting . . .
We are getting down to the final 14 days before out big move! It has been pretty busy, as I just finished my semester at the college (where I'm an adjunct instructor of Comp I) on Friday and entered my last grades this weekend. Last week was a blur of trying to grade final exam essays every night after the kids were in bed, while dealing with title companies and packing during the days!
This next week, I intend to shop . . . Christmas shop that is! If you know me, then you know that in my entire life, I have never, ever been this late in doing my Christmas shopping. Usually, I'm done before Thanksgiving. This year, I have absolutely had no time with the house selling, house buying, and my job (which is normally very relaxed except for the last two weeks of each semester). So, I am aiming to hit Target on Tuesday between 12-2 p.m. That is my only window without kids before school gets out on Friday for Christmas break, and every other daytime hour is booked with three dental appointments, school Christmas parties, a haircut appointment, and a photo session for the kids. So, Target had better have the items I need, or Christmas won't be very merry!
Stuart headed back to Bentonville today for his last week apart from us. He comes home on Friday and will be on vacation leave until January 2, in order to make the big move. Next weekend, we will have to wrap up some final Christmas shopping. We close on the Cabot house on Monday, Dec. 22. Then, we will head to Stuart's parents on Dec. 24. Then, we will have Christmas Day alone back in our house (for one final time). We will visit my mom on December 26 and prepare for the packers (ie: put aside everything we don't want them to put into boxes, so we have clothes for the next four days). Then, the packers arrive December 27, and the truck is loaded on December 29.
If anyone would like to volunteer to take my children(one, two, or all three), on Saturday, December 27, or Monday, December 29, we could really use a few hours of childcare, so the kids aren't here in the house and underfoot while the packers and loaders are working. Let me know if you feel charitable! Ha ha.
This next week, I intend to shop . . . Christmas shop that is! If you know me, then you know that in my entire life, I have never, ever been this late in doing my Christmas shopping. Usually, I'm done before Thanksgiving. This year, I have absolutely had no time with the house selling, house buying, and my job (which is normally very relaxed except for the last two weeks of each semester). So, I am aiming to hit Target on Tuesday between 12-2 p.m. That is my only window without kids before school gets out on Friday for Christmas break, and every other daytime hour is booked with three dental appointments, school Christmas parties, a haircut appointment, and a photo session for the kids. So, Target had better have the items I need, or Christmas won't be very merry!
Stuart headed back to Bentonville today for his last week apart from us. He comes home on Friday and will be on vacation leave until January 2, in order to make the big move. Next weekend, we will have to wrap up some final Christmas shopping. We close on the Cabot house on Monday, Dec. 22. Then, we will head to Stuart's parents on Dec. 24. Then, we will have Christmas Day alone back in our house (for one final time). We will visit my mom on December 26 and prepare for the packers (ie: put aside everything we don't want them to put into boxes, so we have clothes for the next four days). Then, the packers arrive December 27, and the truck is loaded on December 29.
If anyone would like to volunteer to take my children(one, two, or all three), on Saturday, December 27, or Monday, December 29, we could really use a few hours of childcare, so the kids aren't here in the house and underfoot while the packers and loaders are working. Let me know if you feel charitable! Ha ha.
Sunday, December 7, 2008
A Great New Blog
If you know me, then you know that I love to decorate. I love fabric . . . the kind that is $50 per yard. I love expensive fringes and ribbons. I drool over the thought of new furniture, and I enjoy browsing in stores like Norwalk and Ethan Allen. One of my favorite catalogs is Pottery Barn. I enjoy making things for the house . . . window treatments, table runners, fringe trimmed lampshades.
Well . . . I also have the problem that I can't afford to buy full price, or even new most of the time. I have that "champagne taste" on a "beer budget" problem. I do enjoy a good bargain, flea market, Ebay auction, etc. I love to be able to share that I bought all my living room furniture used, that the boy's valance is actually just stapled bandanas from Walmart that I spent $8 on, and that Arden's custom made crib bedding was purchased used from an Ebay auction. I do have "splurge" items every once and awhile (like Arden's custom made drapes . . . but I can count that as money well spent to get a baby to sleep!).
I came across this wonderful blog about decorating. She's a Christian gal in North Carolina who also does the "crazy, Dave Ramsey, only pay cash for everything" plan that I also do. She gets my philosophy! She has a house to die for . . . and she makes everything with tacks, a glue gun, and remnant fabric! She's my new hero!
I'm excited to find some new ideas to implement in our new house, which is a great time to repurpose some old items and try something new.
Check it out!
Friday, December 5, 2008
Quick Update
**Update, 12/5/08, 8 p.m.**
We just found out that the appraisal for the Bentonville house came back slightly above the sale price, so there is no issue with the mortgage! We are now waiting on the roofer's report on any potential repairs (hopefully minor) and are moving towards closing on that house.
**Update, 12/10/08, 2 p.m.
The roofing report on the Bentonville house showed no significant damage and no repairing needed. Everything on both houses is going smoothly; we are ready to close on the Cabot house with the title company already finished with their end.
Just a quick update --
Everything is pretty much done to close on the Cabot house on time. We've finished the appraisal, inspection, termite clearance letter, survey, title work, etc. Since the buyer's are paying cash, their funds have been verified, and there is no lender to deal with. It's been a bit of a headache this week, as our appraisal on the Cabot house came in under the sale price we'd agreed to. That was quite a shock, as we thought we had priced low. However, only two homes in our neighborhood have sold in the past year to use as comps since we live in a small neighborhood with relatively low turnover. Those two sales were priced low and did not have the upgrades my home has, but they were all the appraiser had to compare for sales prices. We came to a compromise with the buyers since they didn't have to satisfy a lender, and we met in the middle for a new sales price (they came up from the appraisal, and we came down from the original sale price). The inspection went well, and the buyers are not making us fix anything. We are on schedule to close on December 22 and vacate by December 29.
The Bentonville house was inspected this week, with some damaged shingles as the only issue. The sellers got a roofer out there yesterday, and we are awaiting his report today. It appears to be minor damage, and all the other inspection items were small. The main things we are waiting for is the appraisal! Since our Cabot house appraisal was low, we are concerned about the Bentonville appraisal. That house is in a similar situation to our Cabot home, in that there aren't any good comps from 2008 sales in that neighborhood for the appraiser to use. Only five homes in that neighborhood sold in 2008, and all of them were significantly smaller than the one we are buying which can skew the comp figures in an appraisal. We expect to get the report today or Monday, and we are praying it appraises close to the sale price, so we don't have to walk away from the property, as our mortgage is tied to the appraisal value. If the appraisal is low, we are going to ask the seller to lower the selling price to the appraisal value and see what happens! If this house falls through, we will live in temporary housing in Bentonville for 2-4 weeks while we try to close on another property (which we would have to locate!).
Keep praying! It's a crazy, wild ride with real estate in this market!
We just found out that the appraisal for the Bentonville house came back slightly above the sale price, so there is no issue with the mortgage! We are now waiting on the roofer's report on any potential repairs (hopefully minor) and are moving towards closing on that house.
**Update, 12/10/08, 2 p.m.
The roofing report on the Bentonville house showed no significant damage and no repairing needed. Everything on both houses is going smoothly; we are ready to close on the Cabot house with the title company already finished with their end.
Just a quick update --
Everything is pretty much done to close on the Cabot house on time. We've finished the appraisal, inspection, termite clearance letter, survey, title work, etc. Since the buyer's are paying cash, their funds have been verified, and there is no lender to deal with. It's been a bit of a headache this week, as our appraisal on the Cabot house came in under the sale price we'd agreed to. That was quite a shock, as we thought we had priced low. However, only two homes in our neighborhood have sold in the past year to use as comps since we live in a small neighborhood with relatively low turnover. Those two sales were priced low and did not have the upgrades my home has, but they were all the appraiser had to compare for sales prices. We came to a compromise with the buyers since they didn't have to satisfy a lender, and we met in the middle for a new sales price (they came up from the appraisal, and we came down from the original sale price). The inspection went well, and the buyers are not making us fix anything. We are on schedule to close on December 22 and vacate by December 29.
The Bentonville house was inspected this week, with some damaged shingles as the only issue. The sellers got a roofer out there yesterday, and we are awaiting his report today. It appears to be minor damage, and all the other inspection items were small. The main things we are waiting for is the appraisal! Since our Cabot house appraisal was low, we are concerned about the Bentonville appraisal. That house is in a similar situation to our Cabot home, in that there aren't any good comps from 2008 sales in that neighborhood for the appraiser to use. Only five homes in that neighborhood sold in 2008, and all of them were significantly smaller than the one we are buying which can skew the comp figures in an appraisal. We expect to get the report today or Monday, and we are praying it appraises close to the sale price, so we don't have to walk away from the property, as our mortgage is tied to the appraisal value. If the appraisal is low, we are going to ask the seller to lower the selling price to the appraisal value and see what happens! If this house falls through, we will live in temporary housing in Bentonville for 2-4 weeks while we try to close on another property (which we would have to locate!).
Keep praying! It's a crazy, wild ride with real estate in this market!
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
A "Must Read" Christmas Favorite
If you haven't read the short book The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson, then you need to do so this holiday season!
This short, seven chapter book is written at about a 3rd grade reading level and is readily available in the children's section of all bookstores and libraries. It is best read out loud, so everyone can enjoy the humor and dialogue!
We traditionally read this book to the boys sometime between Thanksgiving and Christmas over a one week period, with one chapter per night at bedtime. We just finished it last night.
Here's a short synopsis:
"The Herdman kids lie, and steal, and smoke cigars (even the girls). They also talk dirty, cuss their teachers, and take the name of the Lord in vain. The last place anyone expects to see them is in church.
So no one is prepared when the Herdmans storm Sunday school and take over the annual Christmas pageant. Before anyone can stop them, they're plotting revenge on Herod, frightening the angels, and burping the baby Jesus. They've got the whole town up in arms.
How the Herdmans turn a series of disasters into what everyone agrees is the best Christmas pageant ever is a hilarious, touching, and unforgettable tale from a beloved storyteller."
It is family-appropriate, and it gives lots of opportunities for good discussions on sharing the gospel, forgiveness, redemption, and acceptance of others who are different.
If you choose to take on the challenge to read this book with your kids over this holiday season, post and share how it went!
Saturday, November 29, 2008
School Days
I think the only thing that concerns me about our impending move to Bentonville, AR, is transitioning Owen to a new school during the middle of the year. I remember moving around his age, and then again after fourth grade. It wasn't fun to be the "new kid" for the first few months. Stuart bought the boys a Wii to soften the blow of the move, and we will give it to them once we get into the new house. I am also praying that God will provide Owen with some great friends during the first few days of school.
I remember taking him to kindergarten two years ago, and he was so brave. His smile was the nervous kind, and I could see his chin quiver a few times, but he didn't cry. Luckily, when we picked him up, he had had "the best day ever" and didn't even want me to walk him to his classroom after the second day. Now, I have to take him to a new school during second grade, and I think it's going to be harder than leaving him at kindergarten. At least when he started kindergarten, I knew all about the teacher he had from my other friends whose children also attended the same school. Also, all the kindergarteners were having their "first day" together, so it didn't seem strange to be nervous or shed some tears when your mother left.
Now, I am navigating the line between wanting to shelter him and provide security, yet not hover or embarrass him. He has already said he doesn't want me to walk him to his classroom . . . at all. "Mom, it's second grade!" he told me emphatically. I know he'll be brave, yet I hope the kids can include him. I will worry about him sitting at lunch and recess all alone with no one talking to him.
I'm nervous because I don't know anyone at his school either. When he started kindergarten, I had already toured the facilities, taken him to the playground, and met the principal and office staff before the first day of school (yes, I'm one of "those" parents!). Now, I'm sort of nervous too! I don't know the directions for picking up and dropping off in the car lanes. What if I hold up all the traffic? What if it takes me a lot longer to go through the carpool lane, and Owen thinks I've forgotten him? What if I get lost trying to find my way back to the school from our new house (if you know me, then you know that is a real possibility, as I'm "directionally impaired").
The other issue that I'm praying about is which school Owen will actually get to attend. Bentonville (and Rogers, too) have a problem with their schools being full. Even for kindergarten, there is a "lottery" to decide who gets to go to the nearby school and who has to go to alternate schools! We began to hear from our realtor that Owen might not get to attend the public school he is zoned for because it is full. I've never heard of this before! I always assumed that if you live in the neighborhood for a particular school, then you get to go there. However, when I talked to the people at the Bentonville public schools administration office, they informed me that because of the extreme growth in their county, only TWO out of eight elementary schools have any openings right now in second grade. Neither school with openings is near us! So, we are expecting Owen to have to go to an "overflow" school and be put on the waiting list (yes, a waiting list for public school!) at his zoned school. When he gets a spot, he will transfer over. I'm not thrilled with this option because of the extra driving to transport him to a school on the other side of town, plus the fact that he will have to be the "new kid" all over again and make new friends for third grade.
Please pray for the school situation! I know the Bentonville schools are top ranked, and I've checked all the test scores, and Bentonville's schools are always listed in the top ten districts for Arkansas on all the lists I've found. Bentonville High School was a national Blue Ribbon School for 2007 which is an honor only given to the top 33 schools in the nation. I am amazed at their curriculum and feel Owen will love it. I just want him to get into our neighborhood school quickly and be accepted easily by his classmates. Hopefully, he'll come home and say that it was the "best day ever" again!
I remember taking him to kindergarten two years ago, and he was so brave. His smile was the nervous kind, and I could see his chin quiver a few times, but he didn't cry. Luckily, when we picked him up, he had had "the best day ever" and didn't even want me to walk him to his classroom after the second day. Now, I have to take him to a new school during second grade, and I think it's going to be harder than leaving him at kindergarten. At least when he started kindergarten, I knew all about the teacher he had from my other friends whose children also attended the same school. Also, all the kindergarteners were having their "first day" together, so it didn't seem strange to be nervous or shed some tears when your mother left.
Now, I am navigating the line between wanting to shelter him and provide security, yet not hover or embarrass him. He has already said he doesn't want me to walk him to his classroom . . . at all. "Mom, it's second grade!" he told me emphatically. I know he'll be brave, yet I hope the kids can include him. I will worry about him sitting at lunch and recess all alone with no one talking to him.
I'm nervous because I don't know anyone at his school either. When he started kindergarten, I had already toured the facilities, taken him to the playground, and met the principal and office staff before the first day of school (yes, I'm one of "those" parents!). Now, I'm sort of nervous too! I don't know the directions for picking up and dropping off in the car lanes. What if I hold up all the traffic? What if it takes me a lot longer to go through the carpool lane, and Owen thinks I've forgotten him? What if I get lost trying to find my way back to the school from our new house (if you know me, then you know that is a real possibility, as I'm "directionally impaired").
The other issue that I'm praying about is which school Owen will actually get to attend. Bentonville (and Rogers, too) have a problem with their schools being full. Even for kindergarten, there is a "lottery" to decide who gets to go to the nearby school and who has to go to alternate schools! We began to hear from our realtor that Owen might not get to attend the public school he is zoned for because it is full. I've never heard of this before! I always assumed that if you live in the neighborhood for a particular school, then you get to go there. However, when I talked to the people at the Bentonville public schools administration office, they informed me that because of the extreme growth in their county, only TWO out of eight elementary schools have any openings right now in second grade. Neither school with openings is near us! So, we are expecting Owen to have to go to an "overflow" school and be put on the waiting list (yes, a waiting list for public school!) at his zoned school. When he gets a spot, he will transfer over. I'm not thrilled with this option because of the extra driving to transport him to a school on the other side of town, plus the fact that he will have to be the "new kid" all over again and make new friends for third grade.
Please pray for the school situation! I know the Bentonville schools are top ranked, and I've checked all the test scores, and Bentonville's schools are always listed in the top ten districts for Arkansas on all the lists I've found. Bentonville High School was a national Blue Ribbon School for 2007 which is an honor only given to the top 33 schools in the nation. I am amazed at their curriculum and feel Owen will love it. I just want him to get into our neighborhood school quickly and be accepted easily by his classmates. Hopefully, he'll come home and say that it was the "best day ever" again!
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Real Estate Rollercoaster Ride
After about 50 plus home tours and 4 written contracts, we finally have a house in Bentonville! When we went back to Bentonville this past weekend, we narrowed down our search to our top three houses. Unfortunately, two of those three houses went under contract during the weekend while we were there! Our realtor was shocked that two houses sold within hours of each other when the market had been so slow there recently.
We made an offer on the only house left that we really liked (there weren't many houses in our price range with the size we were desiring), but we encountered some "hard ball" negotiating from their forceful agent. We wrote multiple offers and counter offers back and forth over price for four, long days! We finally walked away from the house on Tuesday after they returned the same counter offer back to us twice without any drop in price. However, after we walked way, the seller suddenly became much more willing to negotiate! They called our agent with a lower price the next day to see if we would reconsider. Thankfully (no pun intended!), we signed a contract this morning, right in time for the Thanksgiving holiday! The best part is that we got the house for the exact price that we had been praying for! God continues to lead so clearly!
We close on our house in Cabot on December 22, and we close on the Bentonville house on December 23. We plan to get the Cabot house completely packed the weekend after Christmas and have the movers load the truck on Monday, December 29. We will unload in Bentonville on Wednesday, December 31, after we take possession on December 30.
Please pray for us throughout the rest of the move. There are still inspections and appraisals that must be done, and we pray that everything goes smoothly through the two closings. We're very excited about the new house and think it will be a good fit for our family. Stuart moves to Bentonville this weekend to start his new job on Monday, December 1, and he'll be living in temporary housing for the month of December. Please pray for him as he is there for a few weeks by himself, and pray for me as I deal with the kids alone!
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