#500, Baby

This is my 500th Post! I guess that proves I can truly write about. . . nothing much. . .a lot. But one day I will print off these blog posts and hopefully have a really nice journal for my family.

Here's where we are now:

Garry: He misses his old job. I think he misses his old responsibilities, and he was really good at what he did. On the upside, I think that since his grandmother's health is failing he is relieved to be here and be able to help. And tonight is his debut of being a SOCCER COACH! He's coaching seven little kids.

Then there's me. Still a Republican! Still reading a lot. (Have you checked out my book blog? bloggingonbooks.wordpress.com It's fabulous!) Still dreaming of my Esperanza house. We're supposed to hear from the bank next week, so here's hoping!

My Emma. So smart, so helpful, so genuinely kind. She misses her Pre-K class and riding the bus, but we are lucky that in South Jordan kids have year-round school so she starts in July! I see spending July getting the right backpack, the right clothes, the right pencils. We'll have a great time! Oh, I hope we get a house soon so she can have playdates and ride her little bicycle up and down the block!

Macey Gracey Puddin' Pie: SO SMART. So funny. She really misses school and asked me this week if I thought Ms. Douglas (her Preschool Teacher) would move to Utah. No, Macey, I do not think so. I call her My Politician because she's great with names and makes a new friend wherever she goes.

Molly: My trouble maker. She wants to tackle things too early. This month she has started walking down the stairs going forward. Not on her tummy. Not on her bum. Sixteen months old and WALKING downstairs. It scares me to death. I've taken away her bottle and she is doing better at sleeping through the night but still wakes up occasionally. She LOVES to talk on the phone. Give her a call -- she's a hoot!

The Back Up to the Back Up

Yesterday we put another offer on another house (and yes, even though it's a new construction it's still a short sale because even the builders are upside down). For those of you keeping track, this house is the fifth house we have put an offer on. I'm not crazy about this house. You cannot tell from this great picture but the neighbor to the East is only about two feet away. The lot size is only .16. The backyard is not landscaped -- just dirt, the fence is not in, there is a road in the back, the driveway is only about six feet long which means I'd have to keep ahold of my kids the minute I opened the front door because the road is RIGHT THERE.

The main floor is only 900 square feet, and that takes in the kitchen, dining room, living room, family room, and the master suite. In other words, it's tight! The saving grace of the whole house is the upstairs -- four bedrooms up. Which means each girl could have her own bedroom and we'd have one left over for a playroom.

So with all that is not great about this house, why did I put in an offer? The price. The asking price was $258,000. You can forgive a lot for $258,000.

They LOVE ME Here

Garry's brother and his uncle married sisters. Uncle Barry married Michelle Wilson and Brother Jeremy married Meg Wilson. For that reason, the Cunningham and Wilson families are very close, and we have been very lucky to get together with the Wilsons a few times since we have moved here. Below is a picture from Christmas Eve at the Wilson's. On the way to their home for Easter dinner, Macey fell asleep in the van. We were worried because when she falls asleep she will be SO CRANKY and SO WHINY when we wake her up.

We pulled into the driveway, turned off the van and she woke up. Macey looked out her window and got so excited, "OH YEAH! THEY LOVE ME HERE!" she said.

They love you everywhere, Macey Grace.

Constant Bathroom Duty

While we have been looking for a house, I have been duped many times by a great photographer.

I'll get really excited about a house and then find out that it was not very well thought out: there's no room for a dining room table, the garage is not accessible, the bathroom is part of the master bedroom -- no wall, no division, just hello toilet!

So we have gotten better at reading the property details before we go and look at a house or get too excited. Like this house. Isn't she pretty? I think it's a great house! But, we never looked at this house because we found out under the property details that it only had three bedrooms. . .but seven bathrooms.

SEVEN!

Why would you put seven bathrooms in your home???

The Beautiful Back-Up

We've had some good news lately! HOORAY! The home we have been waiting for, lovingly known as the Esperanza house, had its third Best Price Offer (BPO) done on Friday. It's an appraisal for banks that tells them what a good offer is for the home. This is one step closer to a decision from the bank, and we are grateful it is done. What we hope for now is that it is a low number, something we can afford!

We found a back-up though, this beautiful home in Riverton. The current owner is a general contractor, and he put in some beautiful finishes in this home. It's actually 1000 square feet smaller than Esperanza, but its layout makes sense and so you do not miss the space. It has four bedrooms and a laundry room upstairs, a nice great room, a den, and a finished basement. The deck needs some work, but the landscaping is 100 percent done! We're actually third in line for this house (it's another short sale) but it's taken a long time to process and so the other offers may have given up and moved on. At least that's what we hope!

We are grateful for the good news and pray more is coming! We cannot wait to move into a home!

Macey's Three Wishes

We've been watching Aladdin lately in the Cunningham household. This morning Macey picked up a magic lamp that was part of her castle kit. She asked if it was real and I told that that unfortunately it was not the real one -- the real one was much, much bigger.

But I was interested and so I asked her what she would wish for:

(1) First on her wish list was to go and see Grammy;

(2) Second, she would like to play. BY HERSELF. (There was a lot of tears this morning as Macey had to share toys with Emma).

(3) To have fun. (See #2 above).

She's cute.

Tender Mercies, My Style

I told Garry the other day that I really missed my radio station from Washington, D.C.: Mix 107.3 Forgive me, but all of the radio stations around here seem to be. . .a little. . .family friendly.

While I was cleaning the girls' room, Molly was playing with the stereo. She found a radio station for me: 107.9 MIX 107.9 Could it be??? Are they here???

I am happy.