Saturday, December 31, 2011

Ummm.. We bought a house??

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So... we bought a house. Are you surprised? SO ARE WE! It feels incredibly surreal for many reasons..first, we didn't think we'd buy a house until the summer or fall. The timeline got altered when we realized we had more money than we thought we would and Grant's relocation benefits expire in April if we don't use them. Also surreal because we met with a realtor mid-november and bought a house by mid-december! Lastly surreal, because OMG this market and this particular house could send anyone into an emotional tail-spin. The market in the area of town and price-range we were looking in is HOT - as in you have to look at the houses and put an offer in often the same day it hits the market. So stressful! When making a decision this big one should take their time and ponder and visit the home many times. Nope. Totally not an option. 

Now let me tell you the story of this house... We looked at it on a Saturday morning, just hours after it hit the market. We were at another house and checked the new listings on our phones. The realtor thought we should check this house out so we drove to take a look. We liked it. It was different from the bungalows we had been checking out - seemed more spacious and was super cute. We also liked the other house we looked at that day. We spent ALL DAY driving back and forth all over the parts of town and mulling over which house we should offer on. Finally we decided we wanted to offer on this house. The next day we met with the realtor to submit an offer - the selling realtor had let us know there were already two offers on the table and one was very strong. We put our best foot forward, but we didn't have high hopes. Within an hour of submitting the offer we were told it had been rejected - there was a full-price cash offer on the table so the seller (an estate) logically went for that. We were sad, but moved on. The next day we went to look at a great house in the Hollywood district - i loved it! We were driving home trying to decide if we should offer on it or wait when our realtor called - the cash offer had fallen through and they wanted to know if we were still interested in this house. What? okay... yes we are still interested! And so the papers were signed and they accepted our offer. We were shocked - we'd totally moved on from this house the day before and then it was back in our lap just like that! I was happy, but it took me a week or so to get excited. The house was a different style than I pictured us in and it was not as 'close-in' as we'd hoped to be. And I just wasn't convinced it was THE ONE. I kept mulling it over though and eventually got really excited about this being OUR home. Edrie's FIRST home! Anyway, We moved forward scheduling lots of inspections since the house was built in 1924. Amazingly, most things turned out great...structurally the house is very sound and has been well maintained. There are a few things we will have to repair and the major thing that came up was that the house needed a new roof. We knew the estate wanted to sell the house as-is, so we hadn't planned on asking for any help from the seller for repairs. Turns out the roof is just too expensive for us. We had to ask the seller to repair it or we couldn't buy it. So we did. And then we heard nothing. For days. We only had until last Friday to complete all inspections and any negotiations resulting from those inspections. Friday afternoon we heard from the seller's realtor that the estate rep is on an island without internet service and can't sign any papers, but that they verbally agree to extend the inspection period so we can negotiate. Ok. The problem with that is we are taking someone's word and our earnest money hangs in the balance. We just couldn't risk losing any money and the seller's realtor was pretty confident that they wouldn't agree to the roof repair anyway. That made it all a moot point - if they didn't do the roof we couldnt' buy the house anyway. So last Friday we signed termination papers. We walked away. I'd finally gotten all excited and then we had to drop it. We spent all of the holiday weekend kind of bummed about starting to look at houses again - nervous that we wouldn't find one in time for the relocation benefits, etc. We worked hard to convince ourselves it was for the best and we didn't want it anyway. THEN...on Monday afternoon we got a call from our realtor. They seller had returned from the island (so funny, right?) and agreed to repair the roof - did we still want the house? OH WOW! What a roller coaster - yes we still wanted it. If for no reason, than to not have to go through this craziness again! 

So that's the story - We've been 'involved' with this house for several weeks, but we just made it official a few days ago. I'm still getting used to the idea. Would you like a little tour?

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This is the view from the front entry. There are oak hardwoods throughout. The only major thing we hope to do before moving in (that is cosmetic) will be to take up the carpet and refinish the floors. Love the built-ins and french doors to the sunroom! One of the things we like about this house as compared the bungalows I'm obsessed with is that the spaces are SO MUCH bigger. We can fit our stuff in this house, which would have been difficult in a bungalow. Anyway...the door straight ahead in the middle is to the stairs going up. The door that is open on the right is to a little platform/mudroom thing which has to a door to the backyard, a door to the kitchen, and stairs to the basement. Hard to picture, I know. The door that is closed on the right is a closet.

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This is the sun room off the living room. We are excited that even though there are only two bedrooms in this house - we have this extra space to use as a craft/office space.

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Looking back toward the entry you see the opening into the dining room. I'm so excited and nervous to get those carpets up. I hope the floor isn't all damaged! I think it will look so pretty with wood flowing between these big rooms!

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The dining room is giant and will totally accommodate our table - super important!

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The dining room leads to the kitchen...my least favorite of the rooms. Its cute and quaint but needs some work. We hope in a few years to do a complete remodel. If you saw the stove you would pity me. I'm begging my husband to replace it. Straight ahead you can see a little eat-in nook. We will probably just use it for extra kitchen storage for now and then include it in the space when we remodel to make the work space of the kitchen larger.

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A better view.
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Remember the door to the stairs in the first tour picture? well the bathroom is at the top of the stairs. A little weird not to have a bathroom on the main floor, but we decided it wasn't a big deal. We figure we'll get used to it fast and its more exercise which is always good, right? Pretty cute with the honeycomb tile and built-in cabinets. Hoping to just spruce it up with a good cleaning.

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Then we have the two bedrooms. Only two, but most of the houses in our price-range and location only have two bedrooms so we weren't new to the consideration. What is good about this house is that they are HUGE. Totally doable rooms and we also have that sunroom to utilize, oh and the unfinished basement! This is the master bedroom - do you love all the natural light? It has a mini walk-in closet that is also much more practical than some of the other homes we have considered.

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And Edrie's room that she will, hopefully, share with a sibling or two...

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And Olive's yard. CAN NOT WAIT TO SHOW IT TO HER! We are hoping to put a doggie door in the back door which will give her access to the backyard when we aren't home! In this house we can let her go in and out from the basement when we are away so we won't have to worry about her tracking mud in! So excited for that!
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so that's it! What do you think? Are we crazy for putting a growing family in a two-bedroom house? Its 1375 square feet without the basement and 1975 with it. That'll be plenty, right?? This was a GIANT home for its time so people used to make it work!

Peacock Lane

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A few weeks ago we took Edrie to see the lights at the classic Peacock Lane. Edrie slept right through it - kind of sad because I think she would have loved the lights. Grant had never been! Scoff! For those of you who don't know, Peacock Lane is a street famous in Portland for its Christmas light display. It is crazy busy for all of December every year. I wasn't overly impressed, but it was a fun outing on a clear night. There was lots of mistletoe so that was fun.

The Cuteness!

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Love a baby in mama-made things! I can never seem to get a smiley picture that isn't blurry - she likes to giggle and squirm simultaneously!

These pictures are from a little bit ago, but I want to post Christmas pictures so we have to get things caught up first...I like it all to be in chronological order!


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I'm mildly obsessed with this hair clip...I want to make a hundred more. 

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Sunday, December 25, 2011

Merry Christmas!


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much love this holiday season! xoxo

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Three Months

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1/4 of a year! This girl's favorite things include chewing on any hands she can get a hold of - hers or yours. She is just starting to grasp at things and we LOVE to watch her try so hard. You can almost see the connections being made. While taking this picture she noticed the elephant and tried SO hard to get his trunk! She continues to get more fun all the time. She has an awesome giggle and is still a super cuddler. We have made no progress in terms of a bottle...she is quite stubborn! The carseat is still a struggle but she is getting better all the time. Mostly we are just in love and in awe! Love you little girl!

A visit with Santa

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For my birthday this year we decided to spend the evening downtown. We bundled up and met at Pioneer Place to see the big Christmas tree. The night was perfect - crisp, clear, and no rain! 

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We took lots and lots of pictures... my husband is so sweet to oblige and even helps ask strangers! 

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Then we went in Macy's Santa Land so Edrie could have her first visit with Santa Claus! 

 
She was completely oblivous to the big bearded man holding her and we couldn't get her to smile to save our lives! So glad for the memory though! Her shirt says I {heart} Santa...from the lovely Aunt Lindz
 
Then we walked to the Pearl District for a lovely dinner just the three of us. It was such a nice break from the crazy that is our life right now...house hunting, G commuting 4+ hrs a day, piles of medical bills, AN INFANT! life is so crazy but good! Here's to my 29th Year!

Monday, December 12, 2011

Civil War: Edrie's First Duck Game

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We were so excited, but anxious to take Edrie to her first duck game! In our dreams we have season tickets and Duck games are a part of our kids' childhoods, but right now it is limited to a select few games we can afford or are gifted tickets to. I was also anxious because of all the driving involved (2 hours each way) and we know that this kid isn't in love with the car! We decided to be strategic... leave REALLY early when Edrie would still be sleeping and hopefully she'll sleep all the way down. It was also a little nerve racking because Grant couldn't do any of the driving due to a minor surgery a few days before. ANYWAY... our strategy worked and it was awesome! I got myself a dutch brothers and my two loves slept in the backseat while I drove the familiar stretch of I-5 between Portland and Eugene as the sun came up. I really can't tell you how much I needed those two hours to myself. I just thought and caught up with myself. So dreamy.


Once we arrived and little miss woke up, we got her all dressed in her duck gear so we could tour campus. 
 
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Good 'ol Esslinger Hall...where SO much of our history lies!

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We thought this was funny

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Happy little bean chillin' while we ate our lunch

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And then made the trek to Autzen. So nostalgic... I love it! Pretty insane to think about how many times I've been to that stadium and under all the different circumstances... from a jello shot filled freshman college student to a married mama enjoying a game as a family!

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the tickets we got were sweet - we were in these little temporary boxes. It was nice because we could get up and walk Edrie around - there was also free beer!

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One of her new favorite things is to chew on hands..

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After the game we met Lucas and Leslie for dinner! Love them! You can almost picture them with their own little one huh?! ;)

A Few December Randoms



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Thanksgiving 2011

We hosted Thanksgiving for both sides of our family and had a great time! We used all the same recipes we've used the past several years. And we have so very much to be thankful for...Edrie, back in Oregon, after a few scary weeks - our health, and a marriage that is stronger than ever!

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A list and some DB...great way to start the day! 

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bread for stuffing


I think there were 12 adults... lots of food was made!
 



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LOVE this picture of our girl! so cute in her dress and headband!

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we are kind of in love with this kid!

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And so are her grandparents... she got passed all around and loved it!

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Bub just days after surgery carving the turkey!

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PW dinner rolls...so good!

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still workin' on the turkey!

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quite the spread!


sometimes its still hard to believe that is my kid up there! insanity.