Monday, March 28, 2011
What do teacher's make?
Please take three minutes out of your day to watch this. http://whinewinewhine.tumblr.com/post/4085560480/the-most-aggressive-defense-of-teachers-youll
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Inspection
James and I had our home inspection today. Everything went really well. Just a handful of little things....but nothing big and unexpected. It was nice to get to spend the morning looking around our future new home.
While we were there, the seller's realtor came by. Nice guy....who turned out to be from Hillsboro, KS (tiny town 9 miles west of my even tinier town) of all places. We had a fun time teasing each other about the rivalry between Marion and Hillsboro.Also, while we were there, we got Ding-Dong DITCHED (thank you, Lisa) by one of the neighbor boys. I couldn't help but laugh.
After our inspection, we met up with Jen and Juliana and had lunch at Firehouse Subs. Then we headed to Nebraska Furniture Mart and spent way too much money. However, we now have delivery scheduled for a new king-sized bed (and mattress), two nightstands, a dresser, 2 bar stools for the kitchen island, and a refrigerator on June 6th.
Can't wait!!!
Monday, March 21, 2011
Well, that's good news!
I have a Japanese student this year whose family moved to the US last July. They're great people. Despite her limited English-speaking abilities, the mom is always one of the first people to volunteer to help out in the class. I love her!
I'll be honest, the second I heard about everything going on in Japan, the first thing I thought of was them. I know they have a great deal of friends and family that still live back in Japan. I can't imagine the fear and panic they must have gone through when they heard.
We were on Spring Break at the time all this happened, but today we returned to school. I saw the mom after school in the car line. I told her that I had been thinking of her and her family and asked her if they were all okay. She told me thanks for the kind thoughts and informed me that all her friends and family were safe. Such a blessing!
I'll be honest, the second I heard about everything going on in Japan, the first thing I thought of was them. I know they have a great deal of friends and family that still live back in Japan. I can't imagine the fear and panic they must have gone through when they heard.
We were on Spring Break at the time all this happened, but today we returned to school. I saw the mom after school in the car line. I told her that I had been thinking of her and her family and asked her if they were all okay. She told me thanks for the kind thoughts and informed me that all her friends and family were safe. Such a blessing!
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Our House
Yesterday I was so excited to tell everyone we bought a house that I forgot to disclose any of the details!
It has:
2 stories 4 BR 2.5 BA 2 car garage Hardwood floors on main level (except in livingroom) Finished, walkout basement New stainless steel appliances in the kitchen Vaulted ceilings Walk-in closets HUGE fenced backyard with a deck
It has:
It's located at the end of a culdasac in Olathe, around 151st & Black Bob. We can't wait for June 6th to get here. Only 78 days away!!!
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Home Sweet Home
Today was a very big day for The Ashers. Today we found our future home. We've been actively looking for about a month. We've seen 19 houses...some of which we liked, some of which we didn't.
Last week, we thought we had found "The One". We made an offer but the seller wouldn't come down from his original asking price. We felt it was priced too high and had to walk away. I was so bummed out at that time. Now I know that house wasn't our home. I thought it could be. But today, when we saw this house...
...we knew. We had 2 more houses to look at after we saw this one and we were both so distracted when we looked at those 2 other houses because both of us had our hearts on this one. So, we sat down with our FABULOUS realtor and made an offer. We only had to sit by the phone for about 2 hours before she called us back with a counter offer. We went back and forth a couple times, as you do, but the end result was us agreeing to their final offer. We still have to complete the rest of the paperwork and do our inspection. But assuming that all goes well, we will close on June 6th! We could not be happier!
Last week, we thought we had found "The One". We made an offer but the seller wouldn't come down from his original asking price. We felt it was priced too high and had to walk away. I was so bummed out at that time. Now I know that house wasn't our home. I thought it could be. But today, when we saw this house...
...we knew. We had 2 more houses to look at after we saw this one and we were both so distracted when we looked at those 2 other houses because both of us had our hearts on this one. So, we sat down with our FABULOUS realtor and made an offer. We only had to sit by the phone for about 2 hours before she called us back with a counter offer. We went back and forth a couple times, as you do, but the end result was us agreeing to their final offer. We still have to complete the rest of the paperwork and do our inspection. But assuming that all goes well, we will close on June 6th! We could not be happier!
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Hunger Games Movie
For those of you who are interested:
http://www.pinkisthenewblog.com/2011/03/jennifer-lawrence-has-been-cast-as-katniss-everdeen-in-the-hunger-games/
http://www.pinkisthenewblog.com/2011/03/jennifer-lawrence-has-been-cast-as-katniss-everdeen-in-the-hunger-games/
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
"Dating" again
In my last post, I compared the emotions I was going through from losing our house to that of a break-up. We were flying high when we put down our offer. It was like the butterflies you feel in your stomach at the beginning stages of a relationship. Then there was the sitting by the phone...waiting. Let's be honest, every girl has found herself in that position. And to make matters worse, last night I saw that the house we had put an offer on has now sold. It was like seeing your ex with another girl.
But, you know what? I'm over it. Really! Now, less than a week later...I feel like I'm ready to "date" again. Normally, the healing process would take longer, but I decided I'm done moping around, feeling sorry for myself. People have kept telling us "something better is out there". I'm finally at a place where I can believe that. Saturday morning, James and I are scheduled to see 5 new houses. I'm feeling very optimistic. I really think it's possible that we might see "The One" that morning.
So yeah, I'm pretty excited...but at the same time, I'm trying not to get my hopes up. Prince Charming may not reveal himself quite yet.
But, you know what? I'm over it. Really! Now, less than a week later...I feel like I'm ready to "date" again. Normally, the healing process would take longer, but I decided I'm done moping around, feeling sorry for myself. People have kept telling us "something better is out there". I'm finally at a place where I can believe that. Saturday morning, James and I are scheduled to see 5 new houses. I'm feeling very optimistic. I really think it's possible that we might see "The One" that morning.
So yeah, I'm pretty excited...but at the same time, I'm trying not to get my hopes up. Prince Charming may not reveal himself quite yet.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Broken Hearts
Everyone is saying right now "It's a buyer's market" when it comes to real estate. If this is the case, why are we currently experiencing the heartbreak we're going through?
Last week on Tuesday we went and looked at five houses with our realtor. The previous week she had taken us out to see seven houses. Out of those seven, there were two we liked but weren't sold on. When we went last Tuesday, once again there were two we liked....one of which we both REALLY liked.
It was just...cute. It had an adorable front porch and it just seemed to have everything we wanted in a house: 4 bedrooms (though one was smaller and in the basement), a good sized FENCED in yard with a deck, a kitchen with granite countertops, a great master with a big master with his and hers closets, master bath complete with whirlpool tub, and a spectacular finished basement that had a really nice wet bar...perfect for entertaining. It was in a great neighborhood. Close to my work. The only real downside was that it was 16 years old and still had its original wood shake roof. So we had decided we liked it but were going to have to negotiate the roof situation with the seller. Our realtor notified the seller that we were interested and informed his realtor that we wouldn't be able to close until June because of our current lease. His realtor said she'd talk to him about doing a 90 day closing but that she thought he'd be okay with it. Things seemed to be going so perfectly.
Wednesday, James found another house online...a foreclosure that we wanted to take a look at before our realtor left town for vacation on Thursday. So she called to make an appointment to show it only to find out it sold earlier that day. She also informed us that two of the other houses we'd been interested in had sold as well. It seemed like things were going fast and we decided to take quick action on the house we'd seen the day before. She told us, if we wanted to, we could go ahead and put an offer on that house. It seemed so soon but we both loved the house and knew we'd be heartbroken if someone else got to it before we could.
So, our realtor met up with us...we went to Mi Ranchito and sat for a couple hours and made an offer on the house. James and I were both giddy with excitement. The next day I sat by my phone all day waiting for "the call" from our realtor. She called us that night and informed us that the seller had countered with an agreement to allow for a 90 day closing, pay closing costs, and provide a one-year warranty. He did not, however, offer to come down on the original asking price. As much as we loved this house, it was definitely priced too high. Our realtor pulled up a bunch of comps and he was asking much more for the house than it's currently worth. The seller provided us with an appraisal that stated the house was worth 10K more than he was asking. However, the appraisal was over 2 years old and thus didn't really prove anything. From the research we've done, most houses have gone down 15-20K just in the past year...so that house definitely wasn't worth what it was 2 years ago. We countered his counter offer and again waited by the phone the rest of the day.
Friday night, around 8:00, our realtor called us with the news. The seller turned down our offer, said there was nothing wrong with the roof and would not agree to replace it, and said he still was not willing to come down in price at all. So, as sad as we were to do it, we had to walk away. Everyone keeps saying "it wasn't meant to be" and that "a better house will come up". But right now, I feel like someone just broke up with me. Sure there are "better fish in the sea" but we both really liked this fish.
Last week on Tuesday we went and looked at five houses with our realtor. The previous week she had taken us out to see seven houses. Out of those seven, there were two we liked but weren't sold on. When we went last Tuesday, once again there were two we liked....one of which we both REALLY liked.
It was just...cute. It had an adorable front porch and it just seemed to have everything we wanted in a house: 4 bedrooms (though one was smaller and in the basement), a good sized FENCED in yard with a deck, a kitchen with granite countertops, a great master with a big master with his and hers closets, master bath complete with whirlpool tub, and a spectacular finished basement that had a really nice wet bar...perfect for entertaining. It was in a great neighborhood. Close to my work. The only real downside was that it was 16 years old and still had its original wood shake roof. So we had decided we liked it but were going to have to negotiate the roof situation with the seller. Our realtor notified the seller that we were interested and informed his realtor that we wouldn't be able to close until June because of our current lease. His realtor said she'd talk to him about doing a 90 day closing but that she thought he'd be okay with it. Things seemed to be going so perfectly.
Wednesday, James found another house online...a foreclosure that we wanted to take a look at before our realtor left town for vacation on Thursday. So she called to make an appointment to show it only to find out it sold earlier that day. She also informed us that two of the other houses we'd been interested in had sold as well. It seemed like things were going fast and we decided to take quick action on the house we'd seen the day before. She told us, if we wanted to, we could go ahead and put an offer on that house. It seemed so soon but we both loved the house and knew we'd be heartbroken if someone else got to it before we could.
So, our realtor met up with us...we went to Mi Ranchito and sat for a couple hours and made an offer on the house. James and I were both giddy with excitement. The next day I sat by my phone all day waiting for "the call" from our realtor. She called us that night and informed us that the seller had countered with an agreement to allow for a 90 day closing, pay closing costs, and provide a one-year warranty. He did not, however, offer to come down on the original asking price. As much as we loved this house, it was definitely priced too high. Our realtor pulled up a bunch of comps and he was asking much more for the house than it's currently worth. The seller provided us with an appraisal that stated the house was worth 10K more than he was asking. However, the appraisal was over 2 years old and thus didn't really prove anything. From the research we've done, most houses have gone down 15-20K just in the past year...so that house definitely wasn't worth what it was 2 years ago. We countered his counter offer and again waited by the phone the rest of the day.
Friday night, around 8:00, our realtor called us with the news. The seller turned down our offer, said there was nothing wrong with the roof and would not agree to replace it, and said he still was not willing to come down in price at all. So, as sad as we were to do it, we had to walk away. Everyone keeps saying "it wasn't meant to be" and that "a better house will come up". But right now, I feel like someone just broke up with me. Sure there are "better fish in the sea" but we both really liked this fish.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
House Hunt
We recently started looking at houses and I've been meaning to blog about how it's been going. Needless to say, work (and everything else) has been exhausting so I just haven't had the energy. So this won't be a detailed recap on how it's all going. Just short and sweet. Enough to let you all know that:
We put an offer on a house tonight!!!
More details to come.
We put an offer on a house tonight!!!
More details to come.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Only in 1st Grade...
Today I was teaching reading to my kids on the carpet. We were adding sight words to our Word Wall and the word we were adding was door. The kids were trying to guess what word I had in my hand. So I gave them a clue. The clue I gave was: "This word rhymes with more".
The first guess: "Whore?"
The funny thing is...the kid had no clue what the word meant and neither did any of the other kids. They are 6 and 7 years old, after all. So I quickly said "That's not it, any other guesses?" (while silently laughing in my head).
It gets better.
The next guess was one of my ESOL students. She doesn't speak much English but she loves to participate so her hand is always up. I called on her and she answered...
"Octopus!"
Only in 1st grade...
The first guess: "Whore?"
The funny thing is...the kid had no clue what the word meant and neither did any of the other kids. They are 6 and 7 years old, after all. So I quickly said "That's not it, any other guesses?" (while silently laughing in my head).
It gets better.
The next guess was one of my ESOL students. She doesn't speak much English but she loves to participate so her hand is always up. I called on her and she answered...
"Octopus!"
Only in 1st grade...
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