Jam packed July

Wow! July came and went. So much took place that I am not sure where to begin.

I guess to follow up on the cliff-hanger of my last post, I got the house! They accepted my offer and just over a week ago the inspection was done. There were a few minor things that I asked them to fix: 1) the radon levels tested high. So that means that they need to install some type of toxin filter in the basement. 2) In one of the full bathrooms upstairs the diverter valve doesn't work (this is the valve that makes it a shower or a tub). Those two things are getting fixed before we move any further in the process. But they are being worked on as I type this. The next step is to get a bank appraisal. If all appraises fine (which it should) then we close. It is all moving so fast, but I am so excited.

So also in July I turned 30! Yes, that big mile-stone took place. I thought the birthday would be harder than it was. But maybe it was easier because 3 days after I turned 30 I headed off to Vegas. Yes! Vegas baby! My sister, father and best friend from college all chipped in and sent me and Kathy (best friend from college) to Vegas.

Kathy and I in the Bellagio Hotel Lobby.

Kathy and I visited a lot of hotel lobbies, we ate at some great restaurants, and had fun in some night clubs. We were there for a total of 4.5 days. Just enough time. I don't think my body could have handled anymore Vegas. It was very hot (in the low 100's) but that didn't stop us from venturing outside to the pool or walking the strip a few times. I have to say if you have never done Vegas, do it at least once!

The Vegas strip!

After returning home from that vacation I worked 3.5 days and left on a family vacation with my sister and her 3 boys to my Aunt and Uncle's lake house in Virginia. The trip was an 11.5 hour drive and Amanda and I decided to do it over night. The way down that was a great idea. The boys slept, I am a night person so I didn't mind driving then. Amanda took over around 3 am and we arrived in Virginia around 7:30am, just as the boys were waking...perfect. The way back, not so much. We thought they would sleep easily b/c they would be tired from being at the lake and out on the water all day. They fell asleep fast, but didn't stay asleep. 

We stayed there 7 days, split between the lake house in northern NC and my Aunt and Uncle's place in Southern Virginia. The two houses are about 30 min apart. All three of my cousins on that side live in the same town. So we had large family dinners every night. It was great to spend time with all of them. When I lived in NC I saw them a lot more. It had been 2.5 years since I had seen them. So this was a much needed visit. Now that I am closer it will be an annual thing. 

Arlo chillin' in sun glasses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 The boys loved the lake. They went last year with Amanda and Matt for four days and had a blast. This year we were there longer so they could do a few more things. We also had many days were we just swam and hung out at the dock. But on the days when we got out on the lake, we did it right.

Sam tubing with Camryn and Adam.

 

 

 Pretty much the whole time was fun in the sun with family. Couldn't have asked for a better vacation!

Waiting Game

So it is July 1, 2 days away from my 30th birthday and one of my life goals is one step closer to being complete. I always said that I wanted to own a home by the time I was 30. I might not own one by 30, but I put an offer in today (click on offer to see the house). I have been looking for quite some time. Online looking started back in December, actually taking trips out with my Realtor started sometime in late April. I hadn't really found a place that felt like home to me. Everybody kept saying to me, "Oh you will know when you find it. When it is THE ONE, you will just know." I thought that was a load of crap.

Those sayings have never made sense to me. "You will know the right man instantly, or within a few dates, you will have a feeling about the right wedding dress, you will know the second you enter your home."  I trust my gut on a lot of decisions but I also don't think I will instantly know some of the larger of life's decisions, just like that.

With this house, I kind of did just know. I had looked at it online a few times in December of 09, right after I got offered the job. I started looking at homes to see if I wanted to rent or buy. I found this house. I loved it from the pictures. So when it came time to get serious about looking, I looked for it but I couldn't find the house again. Then one night I was just messing around on some sights and I found it, under contract. :-(  I was bummed, but moved on. Then a few weeks ago I was back to looking online and found it again. I instantly emailed my Realtor and told him I had to see this one. So we went yesterday and saw a few places. I spent an hour looking at this house. I wasn't ready to leave. But we had to go see the others. I spend 1 hour after looking at 6 other houses. They just didn't compare and I didn't need to waste my time. So I had my brother-in-law go back last night and look at it again. And of course, I had to see it again. I came home (after seeing Eclipse of course) and talked it over with him and heard his thoughts. An offer was drawn up this morning around 10am.

The house has a lot of history. It is over 100 years old and has been redone by the state. At one time the house was parceled with the School of Blind here in Lansing. The school was up and running around 1859 and a guesstimate is the house was built around 1870. It was used as the Principal's house. It has since been renovated on the interior, but all the old woodwork/detail, and hard woods are original. The school is now closed and the State owns the campus (almost directly across the street from the school). They are looking to develop it into urban lofts or town homes. But the history is still there and will remain with the house.

So the offer is in, and now we wait. Of course my Realtor and I wanted to get it in before the Holiday weekend, hoping to hear something before then. But you never know and now we wait....and wait....and wait.