Not much new to report. The med boards are still running behind. Which sucks! The more they are behind the longer we'll be here. I think now we're looking at the end of the year timeframe. Not October like originally thought. After talking to the AW2 lady again we think it will be Dec/Jan. Sucks!!!! I don't want to spend another half a winter here. Ugh. And that is an awful time to be moving...during Xmas time. Blah. Oh well. Looking on the brigher note, we can save even more money and be able to do more with our new house once we get down there. :)
Curt took his GT improvement test this week. He got a 106. He wanted a 110 or above. He raised it 12 points from his previous score though. It just is no good for him, since he needs a 110 or higher to go OCS. Even though they do have a GT waiver available, but he wanted to get it on the first try. Now he has to wait 6 months to take it again. It'll happen though. I mean we have plenty of time, he doesn't even have his degree yet!!
It feels great to have internet back. We were just without it for the past two days as our router died and we had to wait for Verizon to ship us a new one. Pain in the ass. Now I'm behind on school work! I wanted to have my paper done before my brother got here today, but obviously that didn't happen. We were able to connect Curt's blackberry to the laptop and get on that way, but it ran extremely slow, and I HATE that so I gave up.
I've been doing my 30 day shred workout religiously for the past 5 days straight. I feel good about it and I feel myself getting more toned because of it. I haven't lost any weight yet though, which is disheartening. I am not comfortable with where I am at. I am working on changing my eating habits to be more healthier which is just hard, because I love food. I love it too much. It's hard to change those habits. But I'm working on it. I have 18 lbs to lose to be where I want to be. Yep, since having Brandon I have gained 15 lbs. Sad. I lost it all minus three lbs. when he was a few months old, and now I've gained it all back. It makes me disgusted at myself. I have never, ever been this big in my life, and I refuse to let it happen. I'm doing my best to change all that. So wish me luck!!
My brother's here visiting for the week. I'm excited about that. We have lots planned so hopefully we'll be able to have some fun, while at the same time trying to relax and enjoy the time. Kaylie's last week of school is this week too. Finally! Ugh, damn blizzards gave us too many snow make up days!
Brandon is still growing and changing every day. He loves the stairs a little too much, so we need to buy another gate. I get sick of chasing him away from the stairs. He is cruising along the furniture and stuff already. He'll be walking before I know it! He never sits still. He's so busy! He definitely keeps me busy! I'm exhausted at the end of the day.
That's about it in my boring life!
Friday, June 18, 2010
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Things
So we've gotten our pre-approval through both USAA and Wells Fargo. I think we're going to go with USAA. At this point they are giving us a better deal. And really what does it matter? If we go with USAA we get a check for $950 three weeks after closing. If we go with Wells Fargo the builder will contribute $1000 to closing costs. Which closing on the loan we want is 4300. So really it makes no difference which one we choose. Both of the money will do the same thing and serve the same purpose.
I think we have also decided to choose the Sonoma Pointe subdivision. This subdivision is across the street from Greystone Farms. We've driven through there numerous times and we actually even looked at a house for rent in that subdivision in 2008. We're making this choice for several reasons. One, it's actually in Columbus unlike Ivy Park which is in Fortson, GA. It's close to the "secret" Walmart and a Publix. All three of the schools (elem, middle, and high) are excellent for the kids and within 5 miles (the middle school is actually directly across the street) or less of Sonoma Pointe. It's cheaper to build there than in Ivy Park also by three thousand for the floor plan we want.
We have chosen NOT to live in Alabama. We thought about it and seriously did consider it because yes, it's much cheaper over there, but in the long run I want to be happy where we are living and so does Curt. We both prefer Georgia to Alabama so that's final.
Anywhoo...so we'll be heading down there end of July/August to meet with the realtor and builder face to face and get the ball rolling.
I'm hoping Curt's med board will be done by then. This is my guestimate. His full physical is July 7th and then after that we just wait for a decision I guess. Which shouldn't take that long. As soon as he is found unfit we'll submit for COAD and then head down to GA to work all the details of the house out. Then we'll probably move in the Octoberish time frame. This is all my total guestimate though! haha
Other than that. Tonight is Kaylie's last Daisy meeting. :(
This Saturday is our troop event where were taking the girls to this place called Club Bella and they can get manicures, pedicures, nails painted that sort of thing. Should be fun for the girls! They earned it. :)
The next Saturday is the Bridging Ceremony where all the Daisy's moving up to Brownie's next year go through a special ceremony where they walk across this bridge (a Junior troop is constructing at the outdoor rec center) and when they get to the other side a Brownie troop is waiting to welcome them and give them their Brownie vests. It's gonna be an adorable ceremony! The 1st graders will feel so accomplished that they are going to be Brownie's next year.
I'm looking forward to be the Brownie leader for next year. I have a ton of books and papers I've been reading and trying to get a head start and plan the initial meetings. I'm excited to get back to GA and be involved in girl scouts. I'll prob start a troop up there when we move. And I'll start looking for a co-leader. So if any of you wonderful ladies would like to help out let me know!! You don't have to have a kid in the troop or even have kids to help out!! It's open to ALL ;)
Kaylie's school year is winding down. The last day is June 24th. I know, crazy! Next week they are having a field trip to the movies to see "Oceans" a disney movie about the planet's water supply I guess. Then they have Field Day next week as well. Also their class party should be the last week of school. I can't believe she is gonna be a 2nd grader already! Time sure does fly.
so yesterday also around 930, Brandon was sleeping for his morning nap, I was doing my 30 day shred when I hear tons of commotion outside and sirens. At first I thought it was the school so I opened the door to see what was going on and my neighbor behind us was running down the street and I asked her what was going on when I hear ma'am get out of your house now! Then my neighbor says hurry, get your baby and get out the whole alley is on fire!! I'm thinking "what???" So I run upstairs to B's room, peek out the window and sure enough flames sky high four houses down. Their entire garage is engulfed in flames. My first thought was holy shit, that is gonna spread FAST. It was windy too and I just imagined the entire row of garages and houses burning down. I grab Brandon who is still sleeping and bolt downstairs. I grab my cell phone and race outside. As soon as I got across the street to where everyone else was standing I thought...shit! The cat, my purse, I should've grabbed everything!!! I know its not important but those are the thoughts running through my head. The firemen meanwhile are evacuating houses and getting the huge ladder with the water house all the way up in the air to put out the fire. It was awful.
We live in two row townhomes, so two houses are connected each along with the garages. But we are built very close together. The lady who lives in the connected house that was on fire was hysterical. She was bawling. Trying to call her husband and just sobbing. Her car was in the garage. (Burnt to shreds, its just a shell now) She was terrified the entire house was going to burn as well. Which they didn't thank goodness. But the back of the houses are burnt. The siding is completely black and falling off or melted. Along with about 7 other garages. It's horrible. A lot of extensive damage to not only the burnt down garages but the garages in the direction the wind was blowing and the surrounding houses and garages. One lady can't even open her garage door, its melted shut.
Apparently there is a big investigation going on. Early gossip is that it was arson. I'll keep you posted on that. We just have to be thankful that everyone is safe. It could have been a lot worse if that would have happened during the night while we were all sleeping!! Thankfully it happened in the day and people saw it, even from as far as four blocks away at the office! Crazy.
Anywhoo...that is the shenanigan's so far!
I think we have also decided to choose the Sonoma Pointe subdivision. This subdivision is across the street from Greystone Farms. We've driven through there numerous times and we actually even looked at a house for rent in that subdivision in 2008. We're making this choice for several reasons. One, it's actually in Columbus unlike Ivy Park which is in Fortson, GA. It's close to the "secret" Walmart and a Publix. All three of the schools (elem, middle, and high) are excellent for the kids and within 5 miles (the middle school is actually directly across the street) or less of Sonoma Pointe. It's cheaper to build there than in Ivy Park also by three thousand for the floor plan we want.
We have chosen NOT to live in Alabama. We thought about it and seriously did consider it because yes, it's much cheaper over there, but in the long run I want to be happy where we are living and so does Curt. We both prefer Georgia to Alabama so that's final.
Anywhoo...so we'll be heading down there end of July/August to meet with the realtor and builder face to face and get the ball rolling.
I'm hoping Curt's med board will be done by then. This is my guestimate. His full physical is July 7th and then after that we just wait for a decision I guess. Which shouldn't take that long. As soon as he is found unfit we'll submit for COAD and then head down to GA to work all the details of the house out. Then we'll probably move in the Octoberish time frame. This is all my total guestimate though! haha
Other than that. Tonight is Kaylie's last Daisy meeting. :(
This Saturday is our troop event where were taking the girls to this place called Club Bella and they can get manicures, pedicures, nails painted that sort of thing. Should be fun for the girls! They earned it. :)
The next Saturday is the Bridging Ceremony where all the Daisy's moving up to Brownie's next year go through a special ceremony where they walk across this bridge (a Junior troop is constructing at the outdoor rec center) and when they get to the other side a Brownie troop is waiting to welcome them and give them their Brownie vests. It's gonna be an adorable ceremony! The 1st graders will feel so accomplished that they are going to be Brownie's next year.
I'm looking forward to be the Brownie leader for next year. I have a ton of books and papers I've been reading and trying to get a head start and plan the initial meetings. I'm excited to get back to GA and be involved in girl scouts. I'll prob start a troop up there when we move. And I'll start looking for a co-leader. So if any of you wonderful ladies would like to help out let me know!! You don't have to have a kid in the troop or even have kids to help out!! It's open to ALL ;)
Kaylie's school year is winding down. The last day is June 24th. I know, crazy! Next week they are having a field trip to the movies to see "Oceans" a disney movie about the planet's water supply I guess. Then they have Field Day next week as well. Also their class party should be the last week of school. I can't believe she is gonna be a 2nd grader already! Time sure does fly.
so yesterday also around 930, Brandon was sleeping for his morning nap, I was doing my 30 day shred when I hear tons of commotion outside and sirens. At first I thought it was the school so I opened the door to see what was going on and my neighbor behind us was running down the street and I asked her what was going on when I hear ma'am get out of your house now! Then my neighbor says hurry, get your baby and get out the whole alley is on fire!! I'm thinking "what???" So I run upstairs to B's room, peek out the window and sure enough flames sky high four houses down. Their entire garage is engulfed in flames. My first thought was holy shit, that is gonna spread FAST. It was windy too and I just imagined the entire row of garages and houses burning down. I grab Brandon who is still sleeping and bolt downstairs. I grab my cell phone and race outside. As soon as I got across the street to where everyone else was standing I thought...shit! The cat, my purse, I should've grabbed everything!!! I know its not important but those are the thoughts running through my head. The firemen meanwhile are evacuating houses and getting the huge ladder with the water house all the way up in the air to put out the fire. It was awful.
We live in two row townhomes, so two houses are connected each along with the garages. But we are built very close together. The lady who lives in the connected house that was on fire was hysterical. She was bawling. Trying to call her husband and just sobbing. Her car was in the garage. (Burnt to shreds, its just a shell now) She was terrified the entire house was going to burn as well. Which they didn't thank goodness. But the back of the houses are burnt. The siding is completely black and falling off or melted. Along with about 7 other garages. It's horrible. A lot of extensive damage to not only the burnt down garages but the garages in the direction the wind was blowing and the surrounding houses and garages. One lady can't even open her garage door, its melted shut.
Apparently there is a big investigation going on. Early gossip is that it was arson. I'll keep you posted on that. We just have to be thankful that everyone is safe. It could have been a lot worse if that would have happened during the night while we were all sleeping!! Thankfully it happened in the day and people saw it, even from as far as four blocks away at the office! Crazy.
Anywhoo...that is the shenanigan's so far!
Sunday, June 6, 2010
What to do, what to do, that is the question!
So we got pre-approved for our mortgage! yay!!! We got pre-approved thru USAA first for $188990. More than what the house we want is worth. We also are getting approved through Wells Fargo. I was told to get approved through two different lenders so they can be competitive. Also, USAA has a program called Movers Advantage where if you use one of there preferred lenders you get cash back which happens to be Coldwell Banker (kpdk). For us it would be $950.
But if we use one of the builders preferred lenders they help pay some or all of the closing costs. And one of the preferred lenders for Bill the builder (haha) is Wells Fargo, not USAA. We are supposed to get our approval letter from them tomorrow Tammy said. I also want to work with Erickson realty (his preferred realtor) and not kpdk.
Our builder is Grayhawk Homes Inc. He's the number one builder in Columbus/Phenix City. We have it narrowed down to two floor plans. And I was intent on living in GA and not AL. BUTTTTT Alabama for the exact same house is 30G's cheaper. Yes that big of a difference. I just like the idea of GA though. And I want to make the best decision possible and I want to be happy where we are. So my heart tells me GA, but the price difference and tax difference is amazing and I can't deny that! So when we go down there in August to meet with the builder and all that I will scope out this AL subdivision and see. I just hate to be in the middle of nowhere. I like the convenience of having a grocery store or shopping within a couple minutes drive.
Another problem I'm having is deciding whether or not I like the laundry room upstairs or downstairs. The bigger floorplan has the LR upstairs. Which I kinda like the thought of not having to drag laundry up and down the stairs. But then again I spend most of my time downstairs so do I want to keep running up and down with laundry?? And I like the option on one of the floor plans to have a front porch built that wraps around half way. I LOVE that.
If you go to this website and look at the York or Derby floorplans those are the two we are interested in...
http://www.grayhawkhomesinc.com/community.asp?CommunityID=13
Curt likes the Derby better and I do too as far as the layout is, but I also like the York and the porch option. I also like the way it looks on the outside better than the Derby. More windows and LOOKS bigger even though its not
This is the York:
http://www.kpdk.com/property/property.asp?PRM_MLSNumber=110665&PRM_MlsName=ColumbusGA&VAR_AgentCode=&VAR_OfficeCode
This is the Derby:
http://www.kpdk.com/property/property.asp?PRM_MLSNumber=108911&PRM_MlsName=ColumbusGA&VAR_AgentCode=&VAR_OfficeCode
See what I mean??
I lean more towards Alabama because of that 30grand price difference in prices, but then again I love Georgia, not Phenix City. I think it's pretty trashy honestly.
And I love the floorplan better on the Derby than the York. But I like the outside of the York better than the Derby! Ugh..Opinions are welcome hahaha
Please! :)
But if we use one of the builders preferred lenders they help pay some or all of the closing costs. And one of the preferred lenders for Bill the builder (haha) is Wells Fargo, not USAA. We are supposed to get our approval letter from them tomorrow Tammy said. I also want to work with Erickson realty (his preferred realtor) and not kpdk.
Our builder is Grayhawk Homes Inc. He's the number one builder in Columbus/Phenix City. We have it narrowed down to two floor plans. And I was intent on living in GA and not AL. BUTTTTT Alabama for the exact same house is 30G's cheaper. Yes that big of a difference. I just like the idea of GA though. And I want to make the best decision possible and I want to be happy where we are. So my heart tells me GA, but the price difference and tax difference is amazing and I can't deny that! So when we go down there in August to meet with the builder and all that I will scope out this AL subdivision and see. I just hate to be in the middle of nowhere. I like the convenience of having a grocery store or shopping within a couple minutes drive.
Another problem I'm having is deciding whether or not I like the laundry room upstairs or downstairs. The bigger floorplan has the LR upstairs. Which I kinda like the thought of not having to drag laundry up and down the stairs. But then again I spend most of my time downstairs so do I want to keep running up and down with laundry?? And I like the option on one of the floor plans to have a front porch built that wraps around half way. I LOVE that.
If you go to this website and look at the York or Derby floorplans those are the two we are interested in...
http://www.grayhawkhomesinc.com/community.asp?CommunityID=13
Curt likes the Derby better and I do too as far as the layout is, but I also like the York and the porch option. I also like the way it looks on the outside better than the Derby. More windows and LOOKS bigger even though its not
This is the York:
http://www.kpdk.com/property/property.asp?PRM_MLSNumber=110665&PRM_MlsName=ColumbusGA&VAR_AgentCode=&VAR_OfficeCode
This is the Derby:
http://www.kpdk.com/property/property.asp?PRM_MLSNumber=108911&PRM_MlsName=ColumbusGA&VAR_AgentCode=&VAR_OfficeCode
See what I mean??
I lean more towards Alabama because of that 30grand price difference in prices, but then again I love Georgia, not Phenix City. I think it's pretty trashy honestly.
And I love the floorplan better on the Derby than the York. But I like the outside of the York better than the Derby! Ugh..Opinions are welcome hahaha
Please! :)
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
June 1st and other thoughts
Yes, today is June 1st. This is a big day for my family. Curt and I started dating eleven years ago today! We went and watched Star Wars Episode 1 at the movies and he asked me out that night. Good memories :)
On June 1st, 2007 he was seriously injured in Iraq by an IED blast. We spent a long three emotional months at Walter Reed. Last year June 1st he got his TKR done. A month later it got infected and they almost had to cut off his leg. Thankfully they were able to salvage his TKR and spent another two weeks in the hospital at Bethesda. Sigh...I can't believe all that we have been through in the span of eleven years. It's amazing when I think about it. And I'm equally amazed that I haven't been institutionalized yet because of all this anxiety, stress, and depression over the past three years. I hate reflecting on it, I want to move past this stage, but I know it is going to haunt us and we are reminded of it everyday regardless.
So, anyway, I am now officially the Brownie Leader for next year. I'm very much looking forward to this! I've done three levels of training and I have a 3 hour training class I have to go to this Saturday all the way up in Frederick, Maryland which is about an hour or so from here. That was the only class left with seats which sucks because I would have definitely preferred to stay closer to home in Virginia. I've been thinking about where I want to have my meetings and I do believe I am going to hold them at the school. I think there is more room to do activities there. I doubt I'll be holding very many meetings here before we move anyway, so I'm not too worried about it. At least when we move back to Georgia I'll have all the training done and be ready to go! I also have to take a first aid course in downtown DC soon. I haven't signed up yet for that.
We went to Kings Dominion this weekend. It was unbareably hot. I was so uncomfortable. And I was worried about Brandon being out in the heat with minimum shade. Plus Kaylie is terrifed to go on anything so we ended up only staying for two hours and then left. The heat definitely got to all of is though. Lesson learned again I guess.
Last night Curt was grilling our dinner of hamburgers and we ran out of gas. So we ended up having just my cheesy potatoes for dinner. hahaha it was a great dinner. It was kinda funny to sit down and only eat that. But everyplace was closed yesterday on post so we couldn't run out and get another tank.
Also this weekend I got our credit reports and credit scores. I was extremely happy when I saw our scores. Mine are better than Curt's so I was extra happy and gloating about that. haha It was like a huge weight was lifted after two years of working very hard to raise our scores to above 700 it has happened! No more bad scores! This means so much, lower rates, better buying power! I'm so happy :)
We disputed two things on our reports so once they are taken off it will help even more! As soon as the disputes are done we are going to get pre-approved for our mortgage so we know our buying power limit. I'm impatient to know what we qualify for! I've talked to the realtor and builder already in Columbus so were set on that end. I've looked into both the conventional loans and VA loans. We've looked at floor plans and demographics and got our choices narrowed down to two different subdivisions, both in Columbus. I'm sooo excited. Once we know 100% were going back to Georgia we are going to start the whole process. Hopefully by the time we get ready our house will be almost ready so we won't have to stay in an apartment for too long. I can't wait to be homeowners!
:) :)
On June 1st, 2007 he was seriously injured in Iraq by an IED blast. We spent a long three emotional months at Walter Reed. Last year June 1st he got his TKR done. A month later it got infected and they almost had to cut off his leg. Thankfully they were able to salvage his TKR and spent another two weeks in the hospital at Bethesda. Sigh...I can't believe all that we have been through in the span of eleven years. It's amazing when I think about it. And I'm equally amazed that I haven't been institutionalized yet because of all this anxiety, stress, and depression over the past three years. I hate reflecting on it, I want to move past this stage, but I know it is going to haunt us and we are reminded of it everyday regardless.
So, anyway, I am now officially the Brownie Leader for next year. I'm very much looking forward to this! I've done three levels of training and I have a 3 hour training class I have to go to this Saturday all the way up in Frederick, Maryland which is about an hour or so from here. That was the only class left with seats which sucks because I would have definitely preferred to stay closer to home in Virginia. I've been thinking about where I want to have my meetings and I do believe I am going to hold them at the school. I think there is more room to do activities there. I doubt I'll be holding very many meetings here before we move anyway, so I'm not too worried about it. At least when we move back to Georgia I'll have all the training done and be ready to go! I also have to take a first aid course in downtown DC soon. I haven't signed up yet for that.
We went to Kings Dominion this weekend. It was unbareably hot. I was so uncomfortable. And I was worried about Brandon being out in the heat with minimum shade. Plus Kaylie is terrifed to go on anything so we ended up only staying for two hours and then left. The heat definitely got to all of is though. Lesson learned again I guess.
Last night Curt was grilling our dinner of hamburgers and we ran out of gas. So we ended up having just my cheesy potatoes for dinner. hahaha it was a great dinner. It was kinda funny to sit down and only eat that. But everyplace was closed yesterday on post so we couldn't run out and get another tank.
Also this weekend I got our credit reports and credit scores. I was extremely happy when I saw our scores. Mine are better than Curt's so I was extra happy and gloating about that. haha It was like a huge weight was lifted after two years of working very hard to raise our scores to above 700 it has happened! No more bad scores! This means so much, lower rates, better buying power! I'm so happy :)
We disputed two things on our reports so once they are taken off it will help even more! As soon as the disputes are done we are going to get pre-approved for our mortgage so we know our buying power limit. I'm impatient to know what we qualify for! I've talked to the realtor and builder already in Columbus so were set on that end. I've looked into both the conventional loans and VA loans. We've looked at floor plans and demographics and got our choices narrowed down to two different subdivisions, both in Columbus. I'm sooo excited. Once we know 100% were going back to Georgia we are going to start the whole process. Hopefully by the time we get ready our house will be almost ready so we won't have to stay in an apartment for too long. I can't wait to be homeowners!
:) :)
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