Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Cady's new bag...
We picked up this little elephant rolling backback this weekend. She LOVES rolling it around. We put some books and her pink bird in it last night.
Friday, June 10, 2011
Very cute on a very ugly couch...
So, when we moved to the cottage on the Christmas tree farm, we didn't have any furniture. We had stayed at Mary Dean's place for a month, and then at the Residence Inn for a month, there was no need for furniture. Now, since the company is going to pay to move all of our stuff up, we figured it didn't make sense to go back to LA just to pick up a couch. We went to the Salvation Army instead. We don't think this couch was ever really used. It's in fantastic, like-new condition (new from 1980 something). It also has a hide-a-bed, which is great when we have visitors, since our cottage is only one bedroom. We also picked up a couple of dressers, one of which is really cool, probably from the 1950s. It will be getting a makeover later, and will go with us to the new house, probably in Cady's room. But enough about the ugly couch you're going to be seeing in the photos (we are looking for a slipcover).
Cady fell asleep on the couch last night and Chico jumped up about 5 minutes later to be by her. He likes her a lot when she's sleeping. He likes her a little, when she's awake. Sometimes, he doesn't like her at all and snarles at her. That's usually when she's coming at him full speed ahead with something that makes noise or poses some sort of physical threat to him. It's understandable since she's bigger than him now.
Cady fell asleep on the couch last night and Chico jumped up about 5 minutes later to be by her. He likes her a lot when she's sleeping. He likes her a little, when she's awake. Sometimes, he doesn't like her at all and snarles at her. That's usually when she's coming at him full speed ahead with something that makes noise or poses some sort of physical threat to him. It's understandable since she's bigger than him now.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Cady at 1 Year & 1 Month
The 7th of another month has passed, Cady's officially 13 months old! Here she is on the 7th of June. We had just come back from looking at some more houses, just in case the one we're trying to get through the short sale process doesn't happen. Cady's done with her first ear infection, and is back to her normal, happy, active and talkative self. Her appetite is back too!
This is her tunnel & tent combo. She loves crawling through the tunnel and watching Chico go through the tunnel. We got this when Grandpop was still in town at an "End of the World" yard sale down the street. I also got a great pair of cowboy boots.
This is her new, really, really, big book of animals. She enjoys opening and closing it, and turning the big pages. She also likes the purple necklace you see in the book with her. She puts it on, takes it off and makes noise with it on the floor or the door.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Good Riddance
Meaning:
An expression of pleasure on being rid of some annoyance - usually an individual.
In our case, not an individual, but a rental property. Today we officially closed on the boat anchor, I mean house, we had in Ohio. The buyer, underqualified, and most likely to be default in a year or so, nickel and dimed us up to the very last minute. We're curious how he's going to afford putting new air conditioning units in the building, when he struggled to put 3.5% down on the house.
We are glad to be done with the nickel-dime buyer and a real estate agent who doesn't know her head from a head of lettuce. We're displeased, but will be writing letters to the real estate board in Ohio, as well as to the manager of her office. Not that we expect anything to happen, but at least we will be doing our part.
Now, about our new house, or what will hopefully be our new house. It's scheduled to go to auction next Thursday. Not good! The seller's agent is trying to postpone the "trustee sale" - which is where it would actually transfer back to the bank. If the agent's not successful, the bank will likely take posession of the house and put it back on the market in 60-90 days as a bank-owned property.
With that, we'll be leaving the Residence Inn this weekend and moving into a lovely country cottage. The owners are very nice, and we're looking forward to being their neighbors. We've signed a three-month lease, and hope that's long enough to find something permanent. If not, we'll probably negotiate more time at the cottage.
An expression of pleasure on being rid of some annoyance - usually an individual.
In our case, not an individual, but a rental property. Today we officially closed on the boat anchor, I mean house, we had in Ohio. The buyer, underqualified, and most likely to be default in a year or so, nickel and dimed us up to the very last minute. We're curious how he's going to afford putting new air conditioning units in the building, when he struggled to put 3.5% down on the house.
We are glad to be done with the nickel-dime buyer and a real estate agent who doesn't know her head from a head of lettuce. We're displeased, but will be writing letters to the real estate board in Ohio, as well as to the manager of her office. Not that we expect anything to happen, but at least we will be doing our part.
Now, about our new house, or what will hopefully be our new house. It's scheduled to go to auction next Thursday. Not good! The seller's agent is trying to postpone the "trustee sale" - which is where it would actually transfer back to the bank. If the agent's not successful, the bank will likely take posession of the house and put it back on the market in 60-90 days as a bank-owned property.
With that, we'll be leaving the Residence Inn this weekend and moving into a lovely country cottage. The owners are very nice, and we're looking forward to being their neighbors. We've signed a three-month lease, and hope that's long enough to find something permanent. If not, we'll probably negotiate more time at the cottage.
Friday, May 13, 2011
Our Girl is ONE!
We had a wonderful time at Cady's first birthday party. We had it at a beautiful park by a river, it was the perfect setting and we couldn't have asked for better weather! We had raspberry lemonade, cucumber-lemon water, wine, tomato-cucumber-feta salad, macaroni salad, a variety of sandwiches, cookies, dried papaya, chocolate dipped pretzels and cake. 
Here she is opening her presents!
And eating cake!
Here are the birthday girls with Jenny.
We're going to do Cady's hand print on canvas every year on her birthday. Here was the process on birthday #1. It didn't turn out as well as I had hoped. Next year, we'll do a practice print first :)
We're still waiting on our house. We are supposedly in the final stage of the short sale approval process, once we get approval in writing, we can get on with our inspections and get a closing date set. Keep your fingers crossed for us!
Here she is opening her presents!And eating cake!
Here are the birthday girls with Jenny.
We're going to do Cady's hand print on canvas every year on her birthday. Here was the process on birthday #1. It didn't turn out as well as I had hoped. Next year, we'll do a practice print first :)
We're still waiting on our house. We are supposedly in the final stage of the short sale approval process, once we get approval in writing, we can get on with our inspections and get a closing date set. Keep your fingers crossed for us!
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
We're on the move....
Well, actually, we've been here and there and everywhere in between. Dan's still going between Southern California and Northern California, with a trip to Cincinnati in the middle. Mom, Cady and I are mostly in Northern California, with my exception being a quick overnight trip to LA and then a trip to Memphis next week. We're in contract on a house! It's literally just across the street from the house I grew up in. It's a really nice sized lot, and a house that will be just right for us, for the long haul. It's a short sale, you'd fall over if I told you how much money the seller had in it. Let's just say that if the bank approves the short sale (which is what we're waiting on), they will be selling it to us for just under 50% of what the people owe. OUCH! But it would be good for us. 
Cady will be starting at her fancy pants day care next week. We are all so excited for her. She's going to love it. We LOVE the place and are looking forward to seeing all she learns and experiences there. She is eating "big people" food now, and all kinds of things. We still haven't found anything she doesn't like. We took her to dinner at Super Taqueria last week and she devoured it (smart girl). You'd think we never fed her. She tore into her tortilla, avocado, and chicken with both hands. She's extremely close to walking! It won't be long at all!
Cady will be starting at her fancy pants day care next week. We are all so excited for her. She's going to love it. We LOVE the place and are looking forward to seeing all she learns and experiences there. She is eating "big people" food now, and all kinds of things. We still haven't found anything she doesn't like. We took her to dinner at Super Taqueria last week and she devoured it (smart girl). You'd think we never fed her. She tore into her tortilla, avocado, and chicken with both hands. She's extremely close to walking! It won't be long at all!
Monday, March 7, 2011
10 Months Old!
Another month has flown by! We've been busy with pre-move planning. Thank GOD for my mom. She's been so unbelievably helpful with Cady, and making this transition as smooth as possible. And thanks to my Dad too, because he's ok with my Mom being here as long as she needs to be. We're so lucky.
Let's see, Cady's using her "walkers" a lot, but not really trying to walk on her own yet. Every once in a while, she lets go and finds herself standing, but then plops down. She has a new high chair, and really likes to be in it. She's eating all kinds of things, and LOVES feeding herself things like cheerios, steamed carrots, egg yolks, and avocados (which might be her favorite). We'll sure miss our avocado tree when we move up north.
Here's her Valentine's Day photo, if you haven't seen it.
2. The first house-hunting trip was a complete flop. Eight houses, none quite right (and one or two were downright wrong - like should be knocked down). Our search was primarily in Gilroy.
3. Cathi spent last week working in Salinas and staying in Gilroy. The job is going to be great! Saw another six houses, this time in Morgan Hill. Sent dozens of pictures home for Dan to look at, and had her good friend Jenny walk through one of them as a second set of eyes and sanity check.
4. We put an offer on that house, it was verbally accepted, but then came with a written counter offer with a number of "as is" conditions. We did not accept their counter offer, because we're worried about just how bad things must be if they aren't even willing to consider any repairs or a home warranty. We know there is some termite damage, so we're worried it might be pretty bad. The home was on the side of a big steep hill, which posed some earthquake concerns in itself.
5. The people who were going to do a lease with the option to buy on our current house flaked out. Probably a blessing in disguise. Come to find out their marriage is a bit shaky and they've had some credit problems in the past. Better that we found out now, rather than a few months into this program when it's too late! When a man's word is worth nothing, that man's worth is nothing more.
6. We're going to explore selling our current house. Our house in Ohio is still on the market. We're going to drop the price soon, just to get rid of it. That can't happen soon enough!
7. We're looking at the MLS every day. We have two new houses on the list to go see, and one other that's priced way too high for the neighborhood it's in, is on our watch list. I'll be taking a look at those next week when I'm up there working.
8. We'll be moving up north soon, we're just not sure exactly where we are going and for how long. Keep your fingers crossed that we find our new house soon! We know we will, and it will be perfect for us.
Let's see, Cady's using her "walkers" a lot, but not really trying to walk on her own yet. Every once in a while, she lets go and finds herself standing, but then plops down. She has a new high chair, and really likes to be in it. She's eating all kinds of things, and LOVES feeding herself things like cheerios, steamed carrots, egg yolks, and avocados (which might be her favorite). We'll sure miss our avocado tree when we move up north.
Here's her Valentine's Day photo, if you haven't seen it.
Here she is at 10 months, eating her avocados like a good California girl.
If you're not up-to-date on what's happening with our move, this should catch you up:
2. The first house-hunting trip was a complete flop. Eight houses, none quite right (and one or two were downright wrong - like should be knocked down). Our search was primarily in Gilroy.
3. Cathi spent last week working in Salinas and staying in Gilroy. The job is going to be great! Saw another six houses, this time in Morgan Hill. Sent dozens of pictures home for Dan to look at, and had her good friend Jenny walk through one of them as a second set of eyes and sanity check.
4. We put an offer on that house, it was verbally accepted, but then came with a written counter offer with a number of "as is" conditions. We did not accept their counter offer, because we're worried about just how bad things must be if they aren't even willing to consider any repairs or a home warranty. We know there is some termite damage, so we're worried it might be pretty bad. The home was on the side of a big steep hill, which posed some earthquake concerns in itself.
5. The people who were going to do a lease with the option to buy on our current house flaked out. Probably a blessing in disguise. Come to find out their marriage is a bit shaky and they've had some credit problems in the past. Better that we found out now, rather than a few months into this program when it's too late! When a man's word is worth nothing, that man's worth is nothing more.
6. We're going to explore selling our current house. Our house in Ohio is still on the market. We're going to drop the price soon, just to get rid of it. That can't happen soon enough!
7. We're looking at the MLS every day. We have two new houses on the list to go see, and one other that's priced way too high for the neighborhood it's in, is on our watch list. I'll be taking a look at those next week when I'm up there working.
8. We'll be moving up north soon, we're just not sure exactly where we are going and for how long. Keep your fingers crossed that we find our new house soon! We know we will, and it will be perfect for us.
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