Going once, going twice, SOLD!

So, our home has been on the market since the beginning of March. The average townhome is on the market for 90 days. After one offer fell through, no activity during spring break, and a general lack of action, we decided to rent it out. So, we put a "For Rent" sign on the lawn. Within four days, we had our choice of renters who were thrilled to be here and happy to pay the $2100 we were asking. We agreed to leave our house on the market over the weekend and sign a lease agreement on Monday, April 30. So, on Thursday, of last week, four different sets of people came to see the house. The last one wanted to come between 7:30 and 8:00 at night which is just annoying and late for me. So, I told them they could come, but they'd have to deal with us because we weren't leaving! So, I was actually gone and Rick showed the house to a woman. She had looked at 9 other houses already but Rick charmed her! He pointed out all the fabulous details we've worked hard on and even walked her down to the community pool! The next morning, they made an offer. We countered, they accepted, and it's sold! So, barring disaster, we will have to be out of here the middle of June (the week after the kids get out of school).

So, I guess it's all about timing. Now really is the time when it had to sell, or we had to go to plan B. This escrow will close shortly after Rick is due up there for work. And, the kids will get to finish school here which is very nice for them. So, in the end, paying tithing and doing what you're supposed to pays off...I've learned a lot from this experience, most importantly, LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION. I will never buy a home on a big street again!

Happy Birthdee Justin!

Happy Birthday Justin. I know you tried to avoid this dee, but it's like that "Monster at the end of the book" thing...Days just keep passing until WHAM, you're old like the rest of us!

Look at my talented daughter...

Ashley, the multi-talented, is capable of picking her nose and saying prayers at the same exact time. Am I the only one glowing with pride? She also announced in the middle of the prayer for dinner on Easter Sunday, "I TOOTED!" and when she got little reaction she said it a little louder in case nobody had heard. It was great fun. My two cousins were there with their wives and nine (mostly teenaged) kids along with a family friend and her son, plus us and my mom. Everybody loved it.

Another recent funny bunny of Ashley's was this last Sunday morning when Justin was chasing the girls and they all scrambled into their room. Emma and Camille got to the top bunk in no time but the tiger was too close on Ash's heels so she dived into the bottom bunk, then pointed up and said, "get them!"

And Lastly, today is the big dee for Justin, here's a fun shot of him at his party Sunday night, as Ashley says, being "Nicky."

A little stress relief anyone?

I was telling Tammy this yesterday because I though yesterday was a bad day. I was right, but today was worse. So, I was thinking a good stress relief would be to get a bottle of anti-depressants and chomp them down like tic tacs. That sounded pretty good. But, then I thought, even better, I could dip them in chocolate and then chomp them down. And, if I wash them down with a diet Coke, I think I can achieve complete euphoria. Does anyone else think this is a good idea? I'm handling this well, right?

Just glad to be here...

Hey,

Justin and I are trying to figure out how this all works. PS my typing sucks. Maybe I can get better by keeping everyone updated about what we are doing. Justin studied for his CPA all day and I ran around getting ready for his big 30 birthday, which we will be celebrating with my family tomorrow night. Wish you all could be there. If anyone has advice about accepting your 30th with grace, it might be helpful. Turns out Justin is a little stressed about that.

The picture is of us getting stuck at DIA at 11pm when we were coming home from CA right after Christmas--it has nothing to do with anything except I wanted to see if I could put a picture.

Pets

Today was your average Saturday...you know, the kind where we have to leave the house for a couple hours so someone can look at it and then NOT BUY IT. Love it. So, today we made a visit to the local pet stores. The first one was at the mall. The kids loved it because they had tons of puppies. We had them take out Rick's favorite, a bulldog, for the kids to play with and she was adorable. Then we went to another pet store where they have everything you could think of. The store lets you hold anything except for fish. So, the kids held a turtle, guinea pigs, a tarantula, a scorpion, a bearded dragon, a snake, a frog, and a lizard. They loved it! We decided if we get a pet we're going to get a bearded dragon or a turtle because they are so mellow. They're expensive...like $100 for a baby bearded dragon and $150 for a turtle! We won't do it soon, but I would actually rather have either of those over a hamster or something smelly like a guinea pig...anyone else have pets?

Bad Hair Day?

No, not really a bad hair day. Bella did this to her. She likes to help Malia get dressed and do her hair. This time, she decided to go with extra hairspray. Good look, huh?