Sold!!

I usually make a running list of little home projects and improvements I'd like to accomplish during the summer.  This summer our list looks a little different as we are settling into a new home!  Just unpacking and getting settled has provided enough projects to keep us plenty busy.

The Scoop:

Matt and I had been stalking the real estate websites (we prefer Reece and Nichols site) and dropping in on open houses for a few months--it was kind of just a hobby to see what was out there.  We wanted to be informed about real estate in different neighborhoods and didn't want to miss out on a good deal where we could gain more room for a good price.  The kids actually enjoyed house shopping with us and loved getting to hang out with "Realtor Bob" in the evenings.  (Sidenote: They were disappointed to find out that Realtor Bob wouldn't be living with us in our new home.  They assumed he would since he was with us at all the houses we looked at!)  As real estate heated up in the KC area this spring and the walls seemed to be closing in on our current home we started praying for clarity and God's timing as we got more serious about actually selling our home and moving.

The market was moving so quickly it seemed whenever we looked at a house we needed to decide right at that moment if we wanted to make an offer.  That made me nervous.  There were several homes I wanted to like but just wasn't sure they were worth a bidding war.  We were looking for more room and were willing to make renovations along the way if the price was right.  Clearly, we've been watching far too much Fixer Upper--'cause Chip and Jojo we are not.  And God knows that.  

Thankfully, we ended up with the perfect home for us!  One that does not need any major updating, 'cause let's be real, that would have been a nightmare.  We also were able to stay in south Olathe, gain quite a bit of square-footage, and decrease our mammoth-sized yard!  I knew when this house popped up on the realtor website that it would go quick and we needed to act fast.  We knew this was the one!  Our offer was accepted and it was time to (quickly) get ours ready to sell. 

Our parents (as always) were a huge help in sprucing up our home.  We cleaned out closets and de-cluttered by putting things in a storage unit.  We hauled all of the baby things (TWO cribs, a changing table, baby swing, bouncy seat, bumbo seat, high chair, TWO rockers, and 14 tubs of clothes, toys, and who knows what else) as well as off-season clothes, seasonal decorations, etc. to the storage unit.  (That was a very helpful step in making our current home look bigger...yet it was AWFUL to unpack all the stuff we had quickly thrown into tubs and shoved in the storage unit at the new house.  Moving is hard work!)

We put the house on the market on May 4th for about $3,000 over what we hoped to get for it.  We camped out at Chuck E. Cheese one evening and the Hepker's the next.  After over 20 showings in about 2 days, we accepted one of six offers for $10,000 over our asking price and much more than we ever thought we'd get for it.  A major answer to prayer!  We clearly saw God's perfect timing and provision as things fell into place for our move.

Our first home worked great for us for the last six years but it was time for new owners with fresh ideas and a renewed enthusiasm for it.  (Someone ready to finish that basement ceiling!)  We are so thankful that God provided a nice couple who are expecting their first child soon and are excited to make our house their home!

Here are the realtor pictures of our first house.  (So I can remember it as clean and clutter-free as it ever was, ha!)   

 
 


 
Once the house sold, we started letting the kids swim in the hot tub.  They would have begged to swim in it 24/7 and that wasn't a can of worms we wanted to open before there was an end in sight!




 

Last pic with the end of the flowering phase for the lilac tree.  It always bloomed around Cade's birthday and smelled so nice!
 

All cleaned out and ready to pass on to the new owners.

We moved on June 7th and while it has taken some convincing (they didn't sleep well for awhile), they've decided the new place isn't half bad!  We are enjoying making this new place our home and are so thankful for God's provision and blessings.

Cade the Baller

Cade participated in the Rookie Basketball League for 4-5 year olds through the Olathe Parks and Rec this Spring.  They worked on drills and "scrimmaged" each other for an hour every Friday night for 8 weeks.

Look at that shot!

Cade was on the orange team that was named the Jayhawks.  Cade was disappointed about having to be on the Jayhawks...but that's what happens when you are taking a bathroom break while the rest of your team is coming up with the team name.  Lesson learned.  LESS hydration is necessary.

The Jayhawks did not win many games, but since no official score is kept, Cade was certain they won every game.  

He enjoyed the chance to play and has now changed his future vocation of choice to be a basketball player.  

He was very proud of his medal.  We all enjoyed getting to watch him play.  Here's to many more years of 'ballin!!

Preschool Fun with Cade

I was happy to get to join Cade at his school for "Muffins with Mom" in early May.  I saw the date approaching on the calendar and took the morning off of work before knowing the details.  Wouldn't miss it for the world!  When we did get the invitation I had to chuckle that the event was from 9:00-9:20.  Twenty minutes.  But a very important twenty minutes nonetheless.  Worth the much-longer-than-twenty-minutes I had to spend on sub plans preparing to be gone for the morning this close to the end of the year.

I was excited to get to take Cade to school since I usually can't do the drop off.  We had a blast!

We had breakfast goodies and they had gifts for the moms and put on a little program for us.

The following week, Cade "graduated" from preschool.  (Which for us is just moving from preschool to pre-k as we won't be venturing off to kindergarten just yet.  No way am I ready for that!)

Isn't this picture the sweetest thing ever?!  

Cade's little buddy in his class

Ms. Amy has been an excellent teacher for Cade!  She definitely just seemed to "get" him.  Cade has mentioned a couple times this summer that he misses Ms. Amy which I think is so sweet!  

We also celebrated Mother's Day when I got to eat out and pick the restaurant not once but twice!!  I also received this lovely picture they colored of me.  How sweet of my little family.  While it does make me question my make-up routine a little I couldn't be more thankful for the gift of this journey of motherhood that God has blessed me with!

College-life Weekend

Many moons ago, Gentry and MaKenzie (who we often affectionately refer to as "The Kid") came to spend the weekend with me in the dorms at K-State when I was a wee, little freshman.
We kept the tradition up reuniting for sleepovers in Boyd Hall with Gentry and occasionally at the G-Phi house.
We realized that after MaKenzie's approaching college graduation our opportunities for college-life weekends were, well, non-existent (without being overly creepy anyway).  We knew we had to make the short trip to Stillwater, OK to soak it up while we could!

The Pi Phi house welcomed us.




And they don't welcome just anyone, you know.


Our hostess, The Kid!

We enjoyed shopping in the cute little boutiques and being Stillwater tourists.

Touring the campus

Hangin' at "Aspen"--coffee shop for hip people like us.  (Does anyone use the word "hip" anymore?)

We had a great time hanging out with MaKenzie's friends and seeing her stomping grounds.  I must say, OSU is not messing around with their Ag affiliation.  They truly are "cowboys" down there.  

Not sure how this pic ended up on Facebook...but what can I say...we Sauder girls love a little karaoke.  I believe this was Backstreet Boys, I Want It That Way.  Classic for sure.  It should also be noted that it was like 8pm at this point and there were about 4 other people present.  

This is apparently the cool place.  Note to self: light up palm trees = happenin' place in the eyes of college students. (Does anyone use the word "happenin" anymore?)

A few weeks later we found ourselves back in Stillwater again to celebrate MaKenzie's graduation.

I can't believe our little MaKenzie is a COLLEGE GRADUATE!  Was this not just yesterday?!  Congrats to MaKenzie for all of her hard work.  I know I'm biased, but MaKenzie is one cool cat.  She is such a thoughtful, caring, witty, not to mention fashionable and beautiful, woman of God!  Her contagious smile and infectiously fun personality make her one of a kind!  As always, we are so proud of you!  Thanks for helping me (try) to be a hip, happenin' cool cat!