Shane's Babblings

So we decided to add a pug to our household. I have added plenty of new photos in the phot section.

It seems we are growing into our new home rather well. There have been plenty of discoveries post the euphoric we are buying the home we want point. Overall, it is an awesome decision. My wife is getting along spledidly with our neighbor and I am glad as she tends to struggle getting to know people as we first move into new areas. Dennis is still really being a pest, but with the addition of the animal, Pippen, he is immensely better. He has been trying to get sick with whatever I have. I don't know what this is but it sucks. I am still not convinced to get a 'flu shot' simply to imfect myself in a manner to try and protect. Westernized medicine techniques are a little bizarre still. In most scenarios, we try not to allow infection and if something of the sort occurs, we try to remove all levels of residue despite the purported benefits.

Anyway, we have a trip to make this weekend to Boise to see our good friend Reed get married. I hope that things go well and there aren't too many complications or drama. He tends to attract it and likes to breed it as well. He's a great friend and we hope to see him and his spouse be happy and successful.

Easter is this weekend and it will be fun to see little Dennis actually hunt for eggs. We will be coloring eggs this week and then hiding them as well. Hopefully the yard clears up but the weatherman tends to think differently. Anyway, I think that is plenty for now.

Comfortably Numb. That is the feeling after walking into a mortgage. Everything is now all done and official. We had a small problem with the other party (go figure) as the wife had been signing with a 'Power of Attorney' and didn't bring the legal proof of this to signing. The seller's agent never checked or verified this document. Besides being beside myself, our agent was about to go through the roof when she heard this.

Well we are moving the 'big' things today. It's not like we have a bunch of stuff and the majority of it is already over here in the new home with us now. It's quite nice to migrate ~ 1000 sq feet into 2000 sq feet. The interesting thing about this is that we have been doing the small things since Tuesday and I think our neighbors are a little confused. I guess we will have to shake the condo mentality and next time we move (hopefully not for a good long 7 - 10 years at least) we'll have to actually get a truck. The trips aren't bad but moving with a 2-year-old is always an adventure. Dennis has been a great little trooper and is saying 'home' and buh bye all the time now. you can just see the excitement in his little frame as he has not one, not two but about 5 new running paths. He loves the space.

Keoki are cat is now getting into the swing of thing here as well. She was all hunkered down for about a day and a half as she learned to trust that this is a permanent thing. We have been able to move her litter box where we want it now and the adventure that Liz is about to begin with cat potty training will commence after her parents leave.

Liz appears to be rather pleased. I am grateful to be able to have given her a home for Valentine's. I know she didn't want just that for the gift, but c'mon now, that's a pretty dang good gift. At signing she only had to sign one doc, while I signed about 50. We're very comfortable with our decision and in fact are rather confident this is exactly what we are supposed to be ding right now. On Wednesday we had super storm and had a 3 foot drift of snow across our new driveway, welcome to the city I guess. Our next door neighbor came chugging over with a huge smile on his face as he pushed his over-sized snow-blower into the mess I was shoveling. In less than 5 minutes our driveway was a clean as it was when we first moved in. Bill was quite pleased with the work he cut down and introduced himself and let us know that he'll try to do this most snowstorms. Our other neighbors struck up a conversation the first day and seem rather cool as well and have an awesome looking dog named 'Annie'.

Well, I am going to cut this as i need to get up and start moving. The day is quite young and we have a lot to accomplish. the in-laws get in today as well sometime this afternoon. i think we may have them sleep in the 5th unfinished bedroom. I doubt they would take to the levity very well but i almost had my wife convinced that we should tell them that is where they will be sleeping for the next week. Who knows, maybe Liz will surprise me and actually try to tell them just for a good reaction from the parentals. I think as we grow older we get more confident about pranks such as this with our parents to get back at all the years of various things that they pulled on us.


Cheers.

On Tuesday, Liz and I become homeowners. Strapped complete with a 30 year mortgage and all other benefits and fears of an initial home purchase. We are walking into a 4 bedroom, 2 bath, 2 floor and ~2100 sq foot home (with 1 unfinished room ~ 11 x 17) at ~ 158k. So al in all it is a wonderful deal for us. The home is about 11 years old and I believe it is a Kartchner home (the same developer that was asked to do the Pauni's home in our area for American Home Makeover).

It's finally going to happen. Our final walk through is Monday morning. We hope that the previous owners are smart and nice and not walk away from the home in a messy state. the negotiations were fairly smooth but honestly given the steal of a deal we are getting we didn't overly press for too many things, other than the things we did request were met with some resistance through the process. The only thing I am unsure about in this home is the backyard. t has been under snow since the first time we chose to view the home. Its quite true about the cliche statement when people say 'I just knew this was the one'. It isn't completely perfect by any means but the home suits our needs and has everything we suspect we'll need as our little family grows larger if we are so blessed to have that opportunity.

I keep hearing from various friends that they know people that live in the neighborhood and how the children of these friends love the area as do their parents. I just hope it isn't the typical apathetic community that tends to foster in America. Those that are blinded by the false pretense and ambitions that money correlates directly into personal and family happiness. Rather, we hope to discover a community that is trying to make things work, struggling together as trials come and playing hard together when the opportunity presents itself. I know of about 3 colleagues that live in the neighborhood which will be kindly welcomed.

I'm hoping that this home will present Liz and Dennis with more opportunities to grow and be happy. The idea of not sharing a wall space with another residence is immense. It will be very cool to not hear Liz complain about the sound coming from next door unless there truly is a reason to be concerned about noise pollution. Other than that, onward and tally hoe.

Our big moving day is scheduled for Saturday although we will begin the migration to our new home on Tuesday. We imagine through the week we will be able to move most things over, except for maybe our HUGE sectional couch. It really does seem that we'll get most of the things needed to live and feel comfortable in the new space moved in less than 2 days with the use of our Isuszu Rodeo only. Should be a nice transition. All other things such as the utilities, gas, cable and internet are all onboard and ready to transition on Tuesday. Liz and I are pleased and hope the rest of everything goes smooth into Tuesday.

Wish us luck, we'll need it. I have posted the pictures of the homes in the photos section of this blog. Cheers.

Well all the fun stuff about purchasing a home isn't really clear cut and dry. Regardless we are moving forward and proceeding. Some of the steps seem a little murky as it is our first time into this home buying realm, but it appears we will make it through. We are currently in the inspections and repair phase. A few things have occurred to the property after our initial offer, meaning for example the front panel of the entry door is now broken. A few other notable things that need to be repaired (broken window in third bedroom main level, two bedroom doors with un-repairable damage to the door, electronic garage door doesn't open without some sweet love, a few holes in the drywall in various areas, small wood rot on main floor back entrance). Mostly things are fairly straight forward, but when it comes to real estate in the area where we leave people are clueless. There are a few other things that we can live with regardless, its not like we just built the home ourselves. Our agent has really come through for us in the past little bit and has proven her worth in integrity and honesty. I am thinking that we are not of the normal mold for her general clientele and I am not sure if it is because Liz sought her out or she is just a genuine natured person.

Dennis went to the pool with us today and after a few apprehensions had a great time. He was a clinger for the first little bit, then he relaxed and let me bounce him around and then also let us dip him a bit underwater. He also enjoyed the vertical feeling. He isn't the water loving baby he once was, but we hope that it will come back.

It is late and I have had a cold bug, more flu like in nature. I have been achey all over right down tot he toes. I think Liz and I are ready for this move into the new home and it seems it can't get here quick enough. I have just completed our taxes and e-filed them for the 2007 tax season. We hope to see the return quickly so we can use it to our advantage to eliminate some of the debt we have accrued but also toward some of the new needs the house will bring.

The in-laws are due to arrive the saturday that we have the property. If all goes well after signing on Valentines day, Liz and I will have moved many needful things on Friday so that we can just start living there asap. We have until the 20th to be out of our condo and that should prove to be just the right amount of timing.

Anyway, tomorrow or now is Sunday and it should be a welcomed day of rest, reflection and worship. I have read a few good books lately and it has just increased my trust in sacred things. I am glad that Liz and Dennis are part of my family and hope to keep them safe and healthy the best I can throughout our lifetimes.

Cheers