Close to Closing

Debra, our absolutely amazing mortgage lady, said that we could be signing today!! If that is the case we could start moving in as soon as tomorrow (we have to wait for it to record after signing).

This process has run so quickly and it is thanks to so many different people including our realtor Shannon Railsback of First USA and her partner in crime Maredith Whatcott, Debra Castor of iMortgage, also a huge thanks to Dave Capshaw of Pillar to Post Home Inspections and to many others who have helped along the way.

We are so excited and cant wait to begin making our house a home! We'll let you all know as soon as we find out.

Boxes are packed and ready to go...

Maria and I may be jumping the gun just a bit. We have boxed up our entire house and are living off of paper products and microwave meals. We have packed up the majority of our clothes and just about all of our furniture has been moved out of the condo. We have boxes stacked up in our living room just waiting for the moment the keys are handed over to us.

Today is the last day of our inspection period and the pivotal moment for us. Little over a week ago when Queen Creek and the whole east valley was hit with the rain storms the basement of the home we are trying to buy flooded. There was not a foot of water covering the entire room but the carpets were damp and there was some water damage to some of the baseboards.

In response to this we have asked for a reduction on the price of the home or for a claim to be made on the current owner's insurance. Today is the day that the bank and homeowner should get back to us and we will then have to decide what we want to do.

Last night we went and looked at the home again and drove around the neighborhood. We really liked what we saw and can really see ourselves living in that community and in that home. We hope that all goes well and that the issues get resolved allowing us to move in as soon as this weekend.

Keep your fingers crossed for us.

Would that be rude of me?

I am currently on the phone with someone trying to get some information about a loan Maria and I have so they can continue processing our home loan. I can not understand a thing this man is saying and I don't know if he understands me. I know we borrowed the money and it shows on our credit report that we have borrowed money but this man says I don't exist.

When in this or similar situations is it rude to ask for someone who speaks better English?

F.H.E.

Maria and I decided to spend Monday night at the labor and delivery room at Banner Gateway Hospital after she had been in a car accident hours earlier. Fun, eh?

Maria was on her way home from work for lunch when the car in front of her braked suddenly to make a right hand turn. Maria braked and came to a stop and the driver behind her was unable to do the same. The other driver said that he just was not paying attention. After they had pulled off the road into a parking lot Maria called the police and then me (eight times to be exact - I had left my phone in the car). After retrieving my phone I called her and learned what had happened. I left work and went to where they were still waiting for the police to arrive. When I got there Maria and the other driver said they had been waiting for an hour and Maria was uncomfortable waiting. I suggested to the guy that we call his insurance and make the claim now and we could both provide information and leave with out a police report.

We did just that and called Maria's doctor. She said that although Maria was not feeling any pain and could feel Davis moving around that she should go to the hospital and have a check up just in case. After more than two hours in the hospital we left having been reassured that all is OK. If nothing else we got to spend the afternoon together and get an extra ultrasound.

The ultra sound tech was so nice and after taking all the measurements she needed I asked if she could get a profile shot of Davis. The tech humored us and spent an extra five or ten minutes showing us his hands, feet, face, nose, and more. We got to see Davis play with his feet and watch his hick-ups. It was fun.

And if you are wondering about the truck it is fine. I had my bike rack on the back that took most the damage (which is cool because the bike had already been stolen!) and the window in the camper shell shattered. All together I think it is only about $300 worth of damage. The other guys gar on the other hand will be pretty costly. The bike rack basically cut through his bumper, grill, and radiator, buckling the hood a bit on the way.

Davis Reunion Continued...

We made it home from the reunion last night and it was good times out there at Lyman Lake. The weather was overcast and cool and off course plenty of wind. There were about 85 people there. Some events that took place were card games, swimming, tubing, water skiing, and of course eating. We celebrated Grandpa Davis's 80th birthday by releasing 80 balloons and eating a camera cake.

Davis Family Reunion

This weekend we are heading up to St. Johns to hang out with my Mom's side of the family for a reunion. Actually we are headed up to Lyman Lake to be a bit more accurate. For those that have never been up to Lyman you just have to make sure you don't skewer yourself by jumping onto any rebar in the lake. Oh, and the brown/green color is completely normal, just don't eat more than one fish a year out of the lake because of mercury poisoning (nasty carp). We'll give a full detailed report of the weekend on Monday of all the singing and card games that will take place. Have a great weekend! ~Maria

Rod's going straight...

Rodney came over tonight for dinner and Karen could not resist the urge to straighten his hair!!

He sat patiently as Karen worked her magic. The end result was pure genius.

Tube the Salt River

I have wanted to tube the Salt River for some time now. I did it for the first time two summers ago and had a blast. I tried getting Maria to do it last summer and although she wanted to it never became a reality.

I want to do it this year and thought this weekend would be a good time to do it. I have asked a couple people if they wanted to go and everyone is worried because of that guy you drowned last week (did they ever find the body?) Any way, I am still wanting to go and if any of you would like to join me you are welcome to. It really is a good and relaxing time. I have three others who say they want to go so we have a group of at least four and can accommodate many more.

If you'd like to go let me know by calling, emailing, or posting below.

Foods from around the world...

We regretfully announce that nothing blog worthy has happened in the last week or more. Maria and I have been so busy that after getting home from work we eat and go to sleep.

This last week we have enjoyed several meals as a family... extended family. Friday we had dinner at my brothers, Saturday everyone came over for Venezuelan, Sunday we went to Lara's for home-made pizza, Monday we went to Josh and Kirsten's for Chinese, and tonight I think it is going to be just me, Maria, and Karen for meatballs.

25 Weeks and Still Not Showing

It would be great to post a picture of my growing belly on the blog, but I am just over 6 months now and am hardly showing. I certainly feel and see the difference as I feel like I have a bowling ball in my tummy. Here at work those that don't have the general knowledge that I'm pregnant, have no idea from looking at me. I thought about it and these are some of the benefits that I have come up with.

-Not as many freakos touching my belly.
-I can still see my feet.
-I still fit in some of my clothes.
-Hopefully, it is that I am just losing belly fat and gaining baby.

It is so hot outside I have been going to the gym by my work at lunch to walk on the tread mill. It is a funny sight because the gym is very close to ASU. There are all these single college students running furiously on the treadmill and then there is me waddling at a slow walk.

Dia de Independencia

After celebrating America's Independence Day on Friday with John and Kelly in Queen Creek, Maria and I decided to throw our own little Independence Day party on Saturday, July 5th.

Venezuela declared its Independence from Spain on July 5, 1811. We decided to invite over, again, Josh, Kirsten, Lara, Yerbua (Aubrey's new nick-name), and Karen and her Mom, who were/are in town as well. We cooked the ever popular Arepa and listened to some Latin music as we played some card games.

I think we might have to make this a tradition and I can't hardly wait for the bicentennial year in three more years to really throw a party!!

Our New House (possibly)

Maria and I have put an offer in on a house. It is a short sale which means it could be a long and drug out process before we get it if our offer is accepted. The selling agent says that the bank usually requires two weeks to approve or decline an offer. The house is out in QC and we are still not sure we want to live out there but if our offer is accepted we are going to take that as a sign and go for it. The house is about 2,800 square feet (compared to our 833sqrft condo!), it has five bedrooms and three baths. It also sports a finished basement with home theater. They were asking $155k and we offered $150k and asked them to pay all closing cost. Should we get it we would only be financing $145,000 which is only about $8,000 more than what we payed for our condo!!
I found the builder and the floor plan on the Internet. The floor plan did not include the basement so I added the stairs, basement, and block wall to the floor plan.

July

I can hardly believe that it is already July. It is amazing how quickly time flies. I have been looking forward to July just as much as I have been dreading it. Maria and I have so much going on. It is nice to know that the month starts with a four day work week and a three day weekend though!!

Later this month both the Wilhelm and the Davis families are having family reunions at the ever exciting and beautiful Lyman Lake (only a hint of sarcasm... I like Lyman Lake aside from the wind and mercury). I think for reasons of days off and cost of gas (what are we complaining about, right Jan?) we are going to only be able to attend one of the two reunions.

Also in July is when Maria starts her final two classes before she completes her Bachelors Degree!! I am so excited for her and know how hard she has worked to get this far.

Towards the end of July I am going to Seattle with some friends to see what there is in Seattle. None of us have been there and a friend of mine works for the airline and we are flying there for next to nothing.

Not to mention all the stress and mystery we have added to our lives in looking for a new home and the possibility of moving.

I have a feeling that July is going to be a fun but long month.