Today I made my biggest return yet--a house! After lots thinking, praying, and talking we decided to back out of the Centex home we were building. Talk about a relief! There were so many issues burdening us and when we signed the termination papers today a big weight was lifted. Thank you to all of you who left encouraging comments; I appreciated them!
So what now? The house from the previous post is still available. We've seen it several times now. It appears to be in good shape, it's just in need of some updating. With the $8,000 we'll get for being first time buyers, we should be able to complete the needed updates. I'd post some of the pictures I took the other night, but they're not that great. The battery on the camera was dying so I was running around like crazy just trying to get a basic idea of the house. We're waiting for the owners to get back in town so we can talk prices. I'll let you know how it goes!
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Stressed!
So I'm totally freaking out about our house which is currently under construction. Eric and I knew that when buying a home one makes compromises. By building in our current area we are definitely compromising trees as well as house individuality. All of the houses in the area look practically identical with the exception of the shape of the porches. We are also building in a neighborhood that is still growing so we don't know what it will be like after a few years. A couple of other drawbacks are the smallish backyard and no storage space, i.e. no attic. To top it off, last night we got an email from our field manager telling us that next Monday will be his last day and so two other guys will be finishing our house. I'm sure that's not a big deal and that it happens all the time in construction, but I don't do change well and it makes me nervous for someone to come in and finish up our house.
Now you may be thinking, "So if you felt like you were compromising so much, then why are you building there?" Well, at the time that we were looking for houses we didn't come across any in our price range that we liked, not to mention I didn't want to have to clean up somebody else's mess. In my mind, if we built a house than it would be clean and would have a floor plan that we liked. I still like the floor plan of the house we're building with the exception of the garage that is only big enough for 1 normal sized car and a Smart car. I love that it has 3 bedrooms plus a study so that we don't have to create an office in the living room. Eric likes the bathroom that has a separate shower and garden tub. We both liked the incentives--free washer and dryer, refrigerator, and $10,000 of upgrades. Although I do have to say, we had to "upgrade" for some silly things like window sills and an operating garage door.
Eric would prefer to live in the neighborhood we are currently living in because it is established. Well because I was freaking out this afternoon, I decided to drive around and see if any homes I liked were for sale. I have seen tons of homes for sale in our area recently and I as I was driving by today I noticed that nearly everyone has been sold. Then I found a house that is still available and for sale by owner. They had fliers on the sign, so I grabbed one and took it home. The asking price for the house is close to what we're paying to build. The strange thing about the house is it has the same floor plan as my aunt's house. Would that be too weird? The drawbacks are that the house is only 3 bedrooms which is okay, but not great. If we have a couple of kids one day, we'd have to put the computer out in the living room. Also, a refrigerator does not appear to be part of the deal. The good things: it has at least one tree, separate garden tub and shower, floored attic for storage, patio, 2 car garage, fireplace, a larger backyard, and it's in the neighborhood Eric likes. I haven't called to make an appointment to see it. Perhaps its dumpy inside. Perhaps it already has sold, but the sign is just not down.
Aaaahhhh! Dilemma! I don't know what to do! After reading what I just wrote, I'm thinking, "Obviously you prefer this home you found today. Forget the other one!" If we "forget" the other one, we'd be out at least our earnest money. :( This is stressful. I wish someone could just tell me what to do! Wouldn't it sometimes be nice if life was just that easy?
If you made it this far, thanks for reading my rant. All comments and suggestions are appreciated.
Now you may be thinking, "So if you felt like you were compromising so much, then why are you building there?" Well, at the time that we were looking for houses we didn't come across any in our price range that we liked, not to mention I didn't want to have to clean up somebody else's mess. In my mind, if we built a house than it would be clean and would have a floor plan that we liked. I still like the floor plan of the house we're building with the exception of the garage that is only big enough for 1 normal sized car and a Smart car. I love that it has 3 bedrooms plus a study so that we don't have to create an office in the living room. Eric likes the bathroom that has a separate shower and garden tub. We both liked the incentives--free washer and dryer, refrigerator, and $10,000 of upgrades. Although I do have to say, we had to "upgrade" for some silly things like window sills and an operating garage door.
Eric would prefer to live in the neighborhood we are currently living in because it is established. Well because I was freaking out this afternoon, I decided to drive around and see if any homes I liked were for sale. I have seen tons of homes for sale in our area recently and I as I was driving by today I noticed that nearly everyone has been sold. Then I found a house that is still available and for sale by owner. They had fliers on the sign, so I grabbed one and took it home. The asking price for the house is close to what we're paying to build. The strange thing about the house is it has the same floor plan as my aunt's house. Would that be too weird? The drawbacks are that the house is only 3 bedrooms which is okay, but not great. If we have a couple of kids one day, we'd have to put the computer out in the living room. Also, a refrigerator does not appear to be part of the deal. The good things: it has at least one tree, separate garden tub and shower, floored attic for storage, patio, 2 car garage, fireplace, a larger backyard, and it's in the neighborhood Eric likes. I haven't called to make an appointment to see it. Perhaps its dumpy inside. Perhaps it already has sold, but the sign is just not down.
Aaaahhhh! Dilemma! I don't know what to do! After reading what I just wrote, I'm thinking, "Obviously you prefer this home you found today. Forget the other one!" If we "forget" the other one, we'd be out at least our earnest money. :( This is stressful. I wish someone could just tell me what to do! Wouldn't it sometimes be nice if life was just that easy?
If you made it this far, thanks for reading my rant. All comments and suggestions are appreciated.
Monday, April 6, 2009
What would I do if you weren't here?
A student left the following letter on my desk:
Dear Mrs. Thornal,
Thank you for cheering me up when I was crying the other day. You are always there for me. Thats why you and Mrs. _________ are my favorite teachers. What would I do if you weren't here? I'd probably throw up thats what I'd do. God Bless you.
Love,
____________
Haha. . . Isn't that too cute?! I love that girl!
Dear Mrs. Thornal,
Thank you for cheering me up when I was crying the other day. You are always there for me. Thats why you and Mrs. _________ are my favorite teachers. What would I do if you weren't here? I'd probably throw up thats what I'd do. God Bless you.
Love,
____________
Haha. . . Isn't that too cute?! I love that girl!
Monday, March 30, 2009
A Fourth Grader's Reasoning Skills
Today I was teaching my class how to fold and cut paper to make a book that does not require staples. While I was in the middle of explaining the instructions one of my students called out (with an attitude):
"Mrs. Thornal! Can't you please just be quiet so I can think!"
WHOA! If I had been quick on my feet I could have responded to the usually chatty girl with, "Can't you please just be quiet while I try to teach?" Good grief! When I talked to her about this later, she responded with, "Well at least I said please."
Looking back on the situation I can laugh, but at the time I didn't find it so funny.
"Mrs. Thornal! Can't you please just be quiet so I can think!"
WHOA! If I had been quick on my feet I could have responded to the usually chatty girl with, "Can't you please just be quiet while I try to teach?" Good grief! When I talked to her about this later, she responded with, "Well at least I said please."
Looking back on the situation I can laugh, but at the time I didn't find it so funny.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
My Kids Made the News
Today my fourth graders participated in a video conference with a local weatherman. In their eyes he's a celebrity. One of my students told me how nervous he was about meeting someone so famous. :)
The video conference went surprisingly well and the kids seemed to really enjoy it. After all, who doesn't like to learn about tornadoes and thunderstorms? The weatherman even spent 20 minutes answering questions that the students had prepared for him. One of the questions that the kids thought was most important to ask was "What do you do if a tornado is coming towards the news station?"
About ten minutes into the conference, the weatherman asked us to wait just a second while he listened to the information that was coming to him through his earpiece. He then announced that our county was just put under a tornado watch. It was serious, not just a part of his show, and the wide-eyed look on some of the kids' faces was priceless. How appropriate for a conference named Project Tornado!
At the end of the video conference a group picture was taken so it could be aired on the evening news tonight. Let me tell you, that's a pretty cool thing when you're in elementary school.
Here's a picture of the group, all 60 of them, holding up their weather booklets during the conference. Below the picture is a statement the weatherman put on his website in regards to our group. I must say that I am quite proud of them!
Super job! This was a well-prepared group of 4th graders. I am always impressed with students who come to the session so well prepared. Thank you so much for sharing these students with me. I have to get to the studio now and check on the latest updates on the weather system that is moving into our area. Kudos!
The video conference went surprisingly well and the kids seemed to really enjoy it. After all, who doesn't like to learn about tornadoes and thunderstorms? The weatherman even spent 20 minutes answering questions that the students had prepared for him. One of the questions that the kids thought was most important to ask was "What do you do if a tornado is coming towards the news station?"
About ten minutes into the conference, the weatherman asked us to wait just a second while he listened to the information that was coming to him through his earpiece. He then announced that our county was just put under a tornado watch. It was serious, not just a part of his show, and the wide-eyed look on some of the kids' faces was priceless. How appropriate for a conference named Project Tornado!
At the end of the video conference a group picture was taken so it could be aired on the evening news tonight. Let me tell you, that's a pretty cool thing when you're in elementary school.
Here's a picture of the group, all 60 of them, holding up their weather booklets during the conference. Below the picture is a statement the weatherman put on his website in regards to our group. I must say that I am quite proud of them!
Super job! This was a well-prepared group of 4th graders. I am always impressed with students who come to the session so well prepared. Thank you so much for sharing these students with me. I have to get to the studio now and check on the latest updates on the weather system that is moving into our area. Kudos! Sunday, March 15, 2009
Uh-oh
I'm experiencing buyer's remorse :( This is normal, right? I'm so used to being able to take things back if I'm even the slightest bit doubtful. Returning a house isn't so easy. . . .
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Quick Update
Not a whole lot has been going on, but I thought it was about time for an update:
Eric and I went to Houston for Valentine's weekend. It was so nice to get away! We saw Coraline in 3-D, hence the above picture. The movie was a bit on the strange side, but I still enjoyed it and Eric stayed awake the majority of the time. We also visited the Bodyworlds exhibit at the Houston Museum of Natural Science. The exhibit featured numerous displays of plastinized cadavers. Romantic, I know! It was also on this weekend that I officially become a Banana Republic fan.
Eric and I went to Houston for Valentine's weekend. It was so nice to get away! We saw Coraline in 3-D, hence the above picture. The movie was a bit on the strange side, but I still enjoyed it and Eric stayed awake the majority of the time. We also visited the Bodyworlds exhibit at the Houston Museum of Natural Science. The exhibit featured numerous displays of plastinized cadavers. Romantic, I know! It was also on this weekend that I officially become a Banana Republic fan. I received this lovely arrangement at school on Tuesday. It was from Eric just because he was thinking about me. :) By the way, he has a blog now. The more you comment, the more he'll write.
And finally, we are beginning to see progress on our new house. It was "released" today, whatever that means. We will be meeting with our builder next Friday for the first of several meetings that we will have throughout the building process. Yay!
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