We got it!!!

We got the approval! I'm going down to meet with the builder's agent tomorrow afternoon to sign the contract.

Oh my goodness. This is unreal. We're so excited. And a little nauseous. :)

Hoping for new digs

The home ownership bug has bitten. We've gone through this before, but the timing has never felt right. Many opportunities have passed us by and we have really not done ourselves any favors by waiting. We've spent the last month or so browsing the MLS websites, checking out mortgage calculators, crunching numbers. Our options in the valley are limited, we really can't get what we want here. The prices are obscene. Yesterday we got in the car and drove South to check things out. We checked out several model homes and builders while we were out and about. We came upon one particular builder by accident, really, and walked into a model that just felt like it could be our home. I love it! We are really hoping this is it. We went through the pre-qualification process with a mortgage broker last night, he was really optimistic but isn't able to give us a confirmation until he talks to some lenders on Monday. If this does work out, we're anywhere from 6-12 months out from the home being done. They're finishing up one phase and starting on another, our home would be built in yet another phase. They're building like crazy in this area. I really feel like the timing is right. We'll be hoping and praying all weekend! :)

8 things about my trip to California

1. Mucinex is a lifesaver. I had a chest cold and sinus infection and felt horrible the day before we left. The antibiotics kicked in and Mucinex helped me feel almost 100%.
2. GPS systems in an unfamiliar area are a bad idea. "Where2" led us right into South Central L.A. and it was a little scary! (It's a good thing we were there at 9:30 in the morning and not 9:30 at night)
3. Pinkberry frozen yogurt is worth a bit of a drive.
4. My cousin and I still laugh and giggle like we did when we were teenagers. LOL.
5. To date, nothing I have done as a parent has made me feel as guilty as going to Disneyland without my Disney fanatic 4 year-old. :)
6. Going on the Tower of Terror with someone who is totally clueless about what it entails is a priceless experience.
7. I missed my girls (Aaron too) so much that I opted to drive home rather than stay an extra day or two in California. Standby airline tickets aren't a reliable way to travel.
8. Aaron did fairly well while I was gone. He admitted it wasn't as bad as he thought and they were all in one piece and happy when I got home.

Spring Fever

I am so ready for some sunshine! The weather has been pleasant the last few days. A little cool, but the sun has been out and I broke out my capris and tees. Yay! This morning I had to run out to the car and it was raining a little bit. I love spring rain. It makes everything feel so fresh and it brings so much promise of things to come. We have some daffodils blooming in the yard. MIL loved her flowers, it will be fun to see what pops up this year. I thought of her today as Maddie was enjoying the new colors popping up out of the dirt.

I am headed to Southern California next week for a couple of days with my cousin. I am so looking forward to the break from my normal routine. We are flying into Long Beach, staying in Anaheim. One day will be spent doing the Disney thing (of course!) and the other day we're up in the air about...maybe heading down to San Diego or checking out some of L.A. Jess and I have a great time together. We're two weeks apart and spent a weekend together every month when we were teeanagers(she lived a couple hours away). We travelled to Europe together when we were 15. This trip will be a lot of fun.

It will be interesting to see how Aaron handles the girls for two days on his own. This is a first! Lucky for him, the girls have started sleeping through the night the last little bit. They're on a good schedule so as long as he sticks to it things should go smoothly. We'll see how it goes!