Some Things Are Worth Fighting For

Well, it took 37 years, a lot of cussing and screaming, stress and tears, but we are finally homeowners!!!

Buying your first house (or any house) is supposed to be a fun process. You know, looking at different houses, realizing what you want and what you are willing to compromise on. Seeing weird floor plans and trying to figure out what you would do different. Writing a contract and the anticipation of getting a good deal. Signing closing documents and drinking champagne in an empty living room! What a bunch of crap!

Buying a house in this new economy SUCKS!!! It was probably the worst experience of our lives. The underwriters (the elusive ghost people that get to decide whether or not you are worthy enough to be granted a loan) are asking for everything short of DNA and your first born. We had to jump through our assholes to get proof of EVERYTHING! I mean it was absolutely ridiculous! I won't bore you with the gory details but to say the least, they turned me into a screaming banshee that cussed out every person involved. My poor lender, who was working his butt off for us, got the brunt of it. He was cussed out probably 2-3 times a day by the end of this process. I used words that would make a sailor blush.

We went under contract on September 11th (should have been a sign). The financing deadline was September 30th (mom and Eric's Bday) and we were supposed to close on October 27th. But because of the stupid underwriters and their bullshit, the financing didn't get finished until the 27th (closing) so we couldn't close until our anniversary (the 28th). And because we didn't know if they were going to give us the loan until the very last minute, we couldn't pack or plan to transfer utilities or anything. And to top it off, our landlord at our current house put it up for sale and they were showing it almost daily. AAAAGGGGGHHHH!!!!!

Anyway, some things are worth fighting for. After years of saying, "if it was our house, we'd do this..." it's real. It's not just on paper anymore and, honestly, it's still hard to believe. We are moving today with the help of our neighbors and friends and should be sleeping in the house tonight! All of our hard work over the past 5 years of rebuilding our credit, staying diligent on the budgets, paying off debt, and a strong push at the end...it's rewarding to know you didn't give up and that's the only reason why you succeeded.

I hope to see you all at my new house soon! I love you and miss you all! Thank you for all your prayers during this process...I know it helped to push it along in the Universe (and kept me from the verge of a breakdown also!).

HAUNTED CANYON

Last night we took a haunted train ride up Provo Canyon on the Heber Valley Railroad. It was super cute and fun! We took Jack (Gage's friend) and went with our neighbors, Jeff and Allie, and their 2 year old, Blake.

As you are heading up the canyon, you are listening to different ghost stories about the canyon over the PA. Outside the train windows, there are scenes that correlate to the ghost stories...the woman in the wedding dress looking for her husband's body after they crashed into the train, the carniverous cavemen from long ago, the crazy cat lady that turns kids into cats, the headless conductor...and so on. It was cool cause all the scenes were backlit and they had real actors out in the woods. Most of them were kinda far away but there was one scene about zombies and they were right up next to the train...it was a little freaky!! But the conductor said as long as the train doesn't stop, they can't get on so we should be ok!!

At the top of the canyon, the train stops (of course) and all the kids are screaming "don't let the train stop". It gets moving again, back down the canyon while more ghost stories are playing. It starts going fast, then jerking to stops, then fast again, then the conductor comes on and says there are problems with the brakes and everyone needs to hold on. All of a sudden the train comes to a stop and the lights go out! We sit there for a couple of minutes before the lights come back on and the train starts moving again.

The next thing you know, all the ghostly characters from the stories are on the train!!! They are running up and down the cars scaring all the kids and making a scene. It was pretty funny. The carniverous cavemen got in Gage and Jack's face and freaked them out a little bit; then they scared the crap out of Blake...poor kid! He was shaking and crying all the way back down the canyon!

PLEASANT GROVE VIKING FOOTBALL

After many years of soccer history in this family, Dylan decided to play football this year. As many of you know, they were on a winning streak at the beginning of the season, taking the first 4 games to victory! Their 5th game was close and they lost by only 1 point. During the next week's practice, Dylan dislocated his elbow and we spent the night in the emergency room. Luckily, nothing was broken and he is just in a splint for a few weeks, but that meant no practice or games. And the Vikings lost their last 2 games. (we like to think if Big D had been in the game, it would have helped) He is their best defensive lineman, after all! Regardless, the game today was exciting! It went into OT and they ended up losing, but not by any fault of their own. The refs made really shitty calls all game and the kids suffered at their stupidity.

They have one game left to play in regular season. If they don't win, they won't make it to the playoffs. Even if they win, they have to win by a lot in order to make up the point difference and make it into the playoffs. Dylan has one more week in ths splint, so he won't be able to play in this last game. If the Vikings can pull it off, there is a week between that game and the playoffs and Dylan should be cleared to play.

Keep your fingers crossed!

I am really going to try to keep up on this blog more often. At least, more than once every 4 months! Love you all and miss you tons! Keep your eyes out for the football videos to come your way!