We FOUND the ONE!

Amazing news, people! We are currently in the process of purchasing our VERY FIRST HOME! (Pictures at the bottom.) Earlier than expected, we found exactly what we were looking for in a home and at a price we could manage this early in the game. At a killer deal and meeting all of our expectations (and more), we couldn’t possibly pass it up. The current owners bought it less than 2 years ago at a foreclosure price and now they have to leave and are passing on those same savings to us. Talk about blessings.

We are so excited and anxious to start living there and make it our own. Our closing date is December 16 and move in on December 18. We’ve been approved for a conventional 80-10 loan at an excellent interest rate and all the scary stuff is over, like the inspection. The house has no significantly major issues that would deter us from buying. Now we just have to be patient for this whole process to be completed.

So, without further ado, let me tell you about our new place and why we fell in love with it! It has:
-Two stories (one is partially underground)
-4 bedrooms (generally small, but that’s ok)
-3 full baths (that means a master bath! Great!)
-Walk-in master closet
-2000 square feet
-Large family room downstairs (living room and kitchen/dining upstairs)
-2 fireplaces (one wood, one pellet stove)
-Decks in front and back (composite deck in front)
-1 car garage with storage closets and work space
-Large storage shed in backyard
-Wine cellar (ha, probably for food storage)
-Good sized back yard, fenced in, with specified garden area and 2 fruit trees
-Stucco with pitched roof
-Newer double-pane windows
-Decent landscaping in front
-Newer kitchen (no need for updating)
-Great neighborhood
-Great schools

The house was built in 1979 (we didn’t expect to be in a new home), and yes, could use some updating, which is actually what we wanted. We wanted some projects to keep us busy and apply our own touch. The first priority is to get rid of the spiral staircase, which is cramped and dangerous for children, and replace it with a conventional one. Following that are other projects that have no particular order and we will get to them soon as they can be afforded: Buy washer/dryer, New water heater, Fix bowing in the front deck, Update flooring upstairs and down, Paint, Expand downstairs bedroom while decreasing bathroom, Update master bathroom with large shower and double vanity and a toilet that is more than 1 foot off the ground!

We are so thrilled to get started and I only hope I can be patient enough for us to acquire the necessary funds. This will certainly be a merry Christmas for us! …and just in time for the new baby, too!

Front
Front Deck
View from the front
Living Room
Kitchen
Kitchen/Dining
Hallway
Master Bedroom
Master Bath
Bedroom
Bathroom
Family Room (much bigger than shown here)
Back Deck (the rest of the yard is not seen here)

A Happy Halloween

This year, Avery was a bear and I was a hunter (thanks to Brian's gear). On Friday (29th) we took Avery down main street for trick-or-treating with the town. It was super packed! (Probably because of the nice weather.) On Saturday (30th), we had our ward trunk-or-treat. Brian created this super cool Adam's Family House (Thing's house) for the trunk and put his hand through the swinging doors to give candy. Avery enjoyed the trunk-or-treat the best because it was less crowded.

Great News!

BRIAN received his Security Clearance YESTERDAY! That took less than two months (record time here)!!!! Now he's ready to work on all the classified stuff he's meant for :) We're so excited!

Also, we got Avery a bunk bed and she's loving it! What a big girl!

Just a cute smile.

Regarding a house

I was really excited on the previous blog about this one house. Brian saw it and was equally excited about the potential it has. HOWEVER, there are MAJOR problems (mold, roof, heating) that would make it impossible for us to get a loan for this thing until it's fixed. Poo-ie. The bank that owns the house is unwilling to touch it (they're selling it as is even though no one can get a loan for it due to the major problems).

All in all, we decided to drop it for now. If the bank decides to get these issues taken care of then we could look at it again, and we certainly would. I still dream about this particular house (maybe its the first-time home buyer in me), but at least I can sleep now!

It's really a good thing that we take a step back anyway. Brian is attending an all day first-time home buyer class in Santa Fe by Homewise on Saturday. It's free! It'll be very helpful.

Can't Sleep...

We began (or rather I began) our house hunting to get a scope of what's out there. We're not quite ready to buy (need some more $ for a down payment)... BUT it doesn't hurt to get an idea. I've seen about 12-15 houses so far and enjoyed telling Brian all about them.

Fate would have it that we have found one that we think is perfect for us-- and we could afford it within 2 months! So- Brian hasn't actually been inside himself, but we walked around the outside together yesterday and he's liking it. Hopefully he can see it on Friday. It's at the low price end of what we thought we'd purchase because it is a fixer-upper, yet we like that idea. It has some real potential we think (as long as there aren't any MAJOR problems). There are actually 4 bedrooms (not 3) and the square footage is twice the other houses I've looked at. Having the extra space would be wonderful; now all the 3-bedroom places seem so crowded inside. The yard is also a good size. We would do a lot of upgrading, but I think it would be fun (of course that's what I say NOW, but still, we could put our own touches- fun!).

I must be out of my mind because I haven't been able to sleep these past couple of nights just thinking about this house and the possibilities. It's been on the market for a long time and it's bank-owned, so I think we have a chance at this one... Oh brother, it's so exciting to think about! I realize an inspection could make or break this house, and we'll see what Brian truly thinks after he's been inside himself, but regardless- I still can't sleep over it!

Some of Avery

We are happy and healthy in Los Alamos! No more summer clothes for us; it's now time for jackets.

You MUSt see the video above! This is Avery saying "Please." Below is a picture of her on the toilet. We're practicing.... not getting very far, but practicing!

At Avery's last appointment, the doctor asked how many words she knew and I was like... uh, 15-20? So I went home and started a list.... it's more like 40+! The list below is only the beginning. She's saying new words everyday... like yesterday was write ("righ") and paper ("papah").

Words:

Mom/mommy
Dad/Daddy
Uh-Oh
Ball “Bah”
Hi
Bye
Outside “Side”
No
Book “Boo”
What’s That “Whas dat”
Shoe
Owie
Dog “Daw”
Baby
Nose
Eye
Ear
Down
Up
All Done
Yes “Jes”
Apple
Yay
Wee
Cracker “Ka-ker”
Hat “Ha”
Eat “Ee”
Good “Goo”
Binki ‘Bee”
Goodnight “Nigh-Nigh”
Belly Button “Bah-ee”
Teeth “Teet”
Cheek “Chee”
Bite “Bie”
Please “Pees”
Thank you “Tan-koo”
Rock “Ock”
Cat “Ka”
Cheese “Chee”
Beans “Bee”
Spoon “poon”
Fork “Ork”
Mouth “Mout”
Hands “Han”
Bread “Bed”
Duck “Uck”
Color/Draw “Caw”
Cookie
Milk “Mih”
Sock “ock”
Bath “Bat”
Shower “Sh-ow”
Toy
Wow!
Cool! “Coo”
Play “Pay”
Hooray “Rah-ray”


Commands she understands:
Dance
Hold this
Sit down
Throw it in the trash
Take it back
Put it in
Pick it up
Turn it on/off
Wash your hands
Hug
Squeeze
Kiss
Let’s say Prayers
Fold your arms
Kneel down
Lick your fingers
Bite it
Show me your… eyes, nose, mouth, ears, teeth, tongue, cheek
Go spank mom

Tidbits

I'm at the library again (this time child-free) and spending much-needed time with my online needs. As you know, we don't have internet at home! Good thing the library is super close (10-15 min. walk).

Latest tidbits on us:

- We no longer have our at&t cell phones. We now have altell/verizon and one cell phone between the two of us. No land line. I will email the number, along with our address.

- We're casually looking at houses here and going to get an estimate from the loan officer at our new bank to see what we could afford. We'd really like to buy a house while the interest rates are so low, but don't expect to find one until next summer (which is okay cause we could use some time to save more money for a down payment). We have a one-year lease at our apartment we'd have to sell if finding a home early.

- I just discovered freecycle.org and am so excited! You should check it out- it's a way to exchange free items with people in your community.

- There are 3 uncertified doula's an my ward who would be my doula for virtually free. I am choosing one this week. Yay!

- We had dinner with two young families in our ward last night. Great people here!

- I'm looking into Amazon.com/mom for cheapness on diapers... looks like a good deal.

Wish I had pictures for you, but not this time! We miss all our people and hope life is going well for everyone. :)