House Update...

The Inspection on Margaret took place monday. A few minor things need to be done (GFI outlets in the bathroom and bedroom, and the gas line to the stove needs to be changed to stainless steel or something). The house inspection on Huntington will be Monday at 3. We can't wait to go back cause we forget what some things are like in the house. We were there about 30 minutes when we knew it was the best house in our price range and best neighborhood by far. Sofia will come too so she can get to know the new place that we will call home on May 28th. Happy May Everybody!!!

New Zip Code

S: Yep... we're moving. That's pretty much all we talk about now. I packed this morning as planned and tomorrow I'll do the same. We are asking for all to save their newspapers so we can use them to wrap breakables. I will have plenty of boxes, I think, since the cafeteria is always getting food and the janitor's are always getting supplies. As far as the title of our blog... we went from our zip code ending in 04 to 14. The zero changed to a one and that is a BIG DEAL people. We are moving up in the world. Feels good. We also looked at paint swatches thanks to our current WONDERFUL neighbor who we will REALLY miss: Georgia. She collects those paint samples at Lowes, Menard's, Walmart, etc. and keeps them in a book about painting rooms. We think we will paint the kitchen "guacamole". Yummy! I feel it is fitting for a kitchen to be painted in a "food" color. We will have to take out the wall paper to do this. BTW- this is just "Sandra is bored stuff". We won't be able to do this project for a while after we move in. As stated in previous posts, there are bigger priorities than painting the kitchen "guacamole". When you all come over you will all just have to deal with the ugly wall paper in the kitchen, the RED carpet in the dining/living room and hallway (yes... it's red carpet...dark red), and other minor stuff. This shall be another adventure.

In other news, Sofia is learning some fun words. Next time you talk to her ask her who is her favorite Cubs player. She will answer Fukudome (those non-baseball fans out there- he is a new guy we picked up this season from Japan). Vince just smiles ear to ear when she says it. Too cute to miss (Sofia and Vince). Also, she is also asking "Why?" these days. Love it! And the other day I hit a pothole and she said, "be careful mami, slow down". Don't you just love 2 year old backseat drivers???

We are no longer homeless!!!!!

Check out our new "crib"

S: Ok, so we made an offer.. right you read that already. We were told that the agent would be meeting the owner at 3:30pm. The clock ticked and ticked and it became almost 6 o'clock without a phone call. PANIC!! We thought, this can't be good. The seller must have gotten other offers (we were told earlier in the day that the house had multiple showings yesterday and today). Finally, Vince had to call because we were ready to pull our hair out. Turns out that the owner's daughter had somekind of meeting and had rescheduled their appointment. Thanks for notifying us Mr. Seller's Realtor. We finally got a phone call. We had to do a counter offer from what they offered, but were thrilled!! They even included an AWESOME antique piano that we asked for that is sitting in the basement (there is no way they wanted to move it anyway) AND a bonus.. a ping pong table. SWEET!!! I also asked for the patio furniture for a low price, but we have not settled for that yet. The seller's daughter was so thrilled about the piano and the furniture because none of the kids wanted the furniture and they didn't know what they were going to do with it. She kept saying, "this was meant to be." I think so too!!

Here is the best part... our house closes on May 28th and to be honest I didn't think that this new house would be able to close on the same date. GUESS WHAT?? They agreed for the closing date of May 28th!!! Hooray!! So we are moving in 5 weeks. We are packing the basement this weekend and whatever else we find that we don't really need. It will go fast, but we can do it. I'll be up at 6am tomorrow morning to start us off and stop when Sofia wakes up around 8am. Fun!! We will need to do a couple of things to the house right away... put up a fence along the back of the house for the ravine, change the electrical to a 200amp service, and buy a new refrigerator (can't wait to see our economic stimulus check). We are so happy and can't wait to have a BIG party at the new house in the middle of summer. You're all invited!!

We put in an Offer!!!

Thursday night we put in an offer on the Huntington House. We looked at the house last night and liked what we saw. It needs a little updating into the 21st century, but it's the best house in the best area in our price range. We love the neighborhood and fell in love with the screened porch that overlooks the wooded ravine behind the house. The immediate upgrades needed are the electrical box and a fence in the backyard to keep Sofia from going down the ravine. Hopefully we can get the offer accepted this weekend and we won't be homeless come May 28th.

Things are looking up!

S: The house we looked at yesterday for the second time is definitely out. Our dining room table would be too small... and overall I just didn't feel like home. I know I know, you can't always rely on that "feeling", but honestly... it just didn't seem right.

On a good note, Vince found another house for us to look at. This one is in Sherwood Forrest, which for those of you who are not from the area should know is one of the nice areas of Peoria. The house we are looking at tomorrow is situated among some NICE "pimp" homes. It is one of the smaller ones on the block and it has some good stuff for us. It's cute...

3 bedroom 1.5 bath Ranch Vaulted living room/dining room combo with exposed beams. Full basement that needs to be finished. Master bedroom has a walk-in closet. Corner fireplace in living room. 25 X 12 screened porch. Pretty cool.

Sounds good, but just like other houses we have looked at, this could be bad one once we see it. Paul the builder (Vince's step-dad) will be going with us tomorrow to check it out. At this point in the game, I want all the help we can get on the first showing. We don't have time if it's a good buy to make another showing, someone might snatch it from us. Anyhow... maybe it's this one... maybe it's not. If not, I'll probably post the next picture of the next house we look at.

Good game and good house....

S: Hello to all! Yesterday we had our second game of the season. Once again we went to extra innings, but were defeated by a run. DARN IT! We had a great game though. Vince had a single AND a double. I hit my first hit of the season (thanks to the first baseman who got an error!) and I had an AMAZING double play that had most of my team with their mouth open (They of little faith).


Before the game we took a look at a cute house in Rolling Acres. Here is a picture and below are some are some stats...


Year Built: 1960, 3 bedrooms and 2 baths. Style: Ranch Walk-out basement with a WET bar (in awesome family room in the basement) Family room is 26 X 24 One Car Garage. Master Bedroom Bathroom, Eat-In Kitchen, Dishwasher, Garbage Disposal, Range/Oven, Refrigerator, Utility Sink, and more. The minuses... it is sitting next to what I call a HUGE ravine. The backyard NEEDS a fence or else we could lose someone. There is a wall in the basement that has a crack that has been filled and has somewhat of a bent in it. It looks like it could work. I think that even though I ruled it out because of the ravine, I wouldn't mind a second and third opinion (Paul the builder and Jose Villa?). Vince made a good point, it has everything we need and in our price range. I don't' know, I mean we did sell our house so we kind of need a new one.....

Cubs win 13-1

V: We went to the Cubs game yesterday and the cubs beat the pirates 13-1. Sofia did not go with us because she had a fever that she was just getting over.














We found our brick paver at Wrigley that is about 7 feet from the Ernie Banks statue. A picture of me impersonating Ernie's swing is below. (Where I am standing is where the paver is located)

It was also Dora the Explorer day at Wrigley. All kids 7 and under get a dora plush doll wearing a cubs uniform. Since Sofia wasn't with us it was doubtful we were getting one. Sandra asked the usher for a doll and explained how our daughter couldn't come because she was sick, but the lady didn't care and denied us. We walk with our heads down and go find our seats. Dora is on the field and throws out the first pitch, WOW. Sofia would of loved it.

I leave to use the restroom before the game starts, and also secretly in pursuit of a dora doll for Sofia. I head to the nearest entrance into Wrigley where people are still filing in. I watch as people head in and see 2 dads with 2 young boys around 6 years old or so. I see one boy make a face, like what am I gonna do with this doll. I jump in and tell the kid and dad how my daughter is sick and couldn't come. I offer to buy it from him for the $1 i had in my wallet. The dad refused the money and said just take it. The kid of course was willing to take the dollar. I gave the kid the buck and had the dora doll for Sofia. That's right Father of the Year.

S: We did have a great time yesterday and I can tell you that Vince does deserve father of the year. I was tearing up and everything because Vince went to get the doll and Sofia would have loved to see Dora with the Cubbies. The only thing Vince didn't say is that they have COTTON CANDY at Wrigley and I got to have some. $5 for the bag was TOTALLY worth it!!

GO CUBBIES!!