MM - Housing

So I thought I was good and planned some blogs ahead, even wrote a few to post later and jotted down some ideas for other days. But then I got here and just didn't care as much as I thought I would :) so here is what I had written for this weeks MM.



Two things I never wanted: to own a rental property and to live on a military installation.

Two things that will soon be true: we will own a rental property and we will live on a military installation.

Lessons, lessons, lessons. What I stand to learn is yet to be known, but I’m sure there’s some lesson waiting to be unveiled.

In 2009, when I was 6 months pregnant, we found out we were being relocated to Sierra Vista, AZ. It was a nightmare. I can’t remember if I blogged about it or not – the entire nightmare was luckily short lived – but I dreaded every aspect of that move. Arizona sounded utterly miserable, and Sierra Vista must rank at the very bottom of Arizona’s “places to live” list. The weather is terrible. It’s the DESERT. I could go on and on. The ONE upside to the situation was that our realtor guessed we would make between $20,000-$30,000 profit on the sale of our house. Perfect.

Not even 3 years later the same realtor came over to discuss selling the same house and the picture is very different. Best case scenario: we bring about $2,000 to closing to sell the house. Best case.

PAY to sell the house.

No. Not an option. I’m not paying to sell my house. I was hoping for maybe $15,000 profit…I knew the housing market had taken more of a hit since 2009 but come on…a $30,000 hit????? No.

After the realtor left Austin brought up the option of renting the house.

No. Not an option. I’m not going to pay someone else to find someone else to live in MY house. To let their dog pee in MY house. To let their cat destroy MY blinds. No.

Ok, wait. One of those has to be an option seeing as ME living there is not. And as much as I tried to think of a fourth option, I realized there isn’t one. That’s it. I live there, I sell it, or I rent it. No, no, no. So we have to go with the less of the evils here.

We have signed a contract with a local rental management company who does a lot of business with military members at Buckley. They are confident the house will rent quickly at the price we want as they manage many homes in our neighborhood and the location is very convenient for service members. The management company will handle finding the renter, credit and background checks, securing the deposit, collecting rent, and checking in periodically to make sure the house is being taken care of. We can almost wipe our hands of it and at the price we are asking we can walk away with a whopping $25/month profit. Wow. I almost feel like we’ve struck gold. What ever will I do with such hefty earnings?

The second element to the housing situation is where we will move. The first thing you think of when you think of California (well, maybe after you think of Hollywood and Pretty Woman and surfing and rich housewives and the broke government) is the insanely overpriced houses. Insanely overpriced. Insane. Did I say insane? We’ve looked at some houses to buy in the area and for a house smaller than our current house, in an area that is less than desirable, the price is more than double what our house is currently worth. Buying just doesn't seem to be the smartest choice at all and we really haven't even entertained the idea. We’ve looked at rental houses in the area and to rent a 1400 square foot house it could cost anywhere from $2,000-$3,000/month. TO RENT A HOUSE SMALLER THAN THE ONE WE OWN. What?!?! Oh, and most don’t allow pets.(aren't liberals supposed to be animal lovers??? I better stop with the political associations/opinions for the next few years) so they don't like pets and We have 3. Nancy we could maybe get away with, but its Kind of hard to hide an 80 pound dog and a 25 pound cat.

The most economically feasible and sensible solution is to live on base. I’ll briefly explain military housing in case you don’t know how it works. Service members are entitled to receive either an on post (post, base, installation - whatever word you like) house free of charge or a housing allowance which is adjusted based on the cost of living in the area. If you choose to take the housing allowance you could potentially pocket some of the money depending on how much your rent or mortgage is, and in some cases you get a bigger home than what is available on the military installation. We have been paying $200 less per month for our mortgage than what Austin's allowance is, so we have been profiting from it do to speak. If you choose to live on post, you have no utilities and no rent, but you also have no monthly tax-free allowance to try to profit from. The houses vary in quality and size from place to place, and there doesn’t seem to be a rhyme or reason to how or why some places are nicer than others. The size and quality of your house does depend on your rank and size of family, so an E7 (the 7th level of promotion for an enlisted soldier) with 4 dependents will have a much nicer home than an E3 with 1 dependent. I’m not going to explain why we have never had interest in living on post, we just haven’t. It does have its perks – never paying a water or electricity bill sounds nice, and living that close to the grocery store, gym, and PX sounds good too. But we've just never wanted to.

So here we are. We can pay $2,000 to sell our house then turn around and pay $2,000/month to rent a smaller house, or We can rent our house and live for free on the military installation. Right now it looks like the second is our best combination. Once we’re settled there, if I find a job or we don’t like the house, we may look for rentals in the area but for now this seems the most seamless and most sensible.

I know I said home is where the heart is and my heart is with Austin. I know family is the only thing that matters and whether we sell our house or rent it out, and whether we live on or off post, I will be with my family. I know that God has plans for us and will provide for us and that all of my worry amounts to nothing in preparation for the move. I also know I’m a very stubborn, strong willed person who really, really likes things to go my way. And I can throw a pretty good fit, if you ask me.

So for now I’m working through my trust, knowledge, and faith battling against my worries, expectations, and concerns. I just need to remember that. I recently saw a quote (that I'll surely butcher here) that said the biggest thing that gets in our way is our expectations of how things should be. I think We SHOULD be able to sell our house and make some cash to stow away and I think we SHOULD be able to rent a comparable home for just slightly more in california. Clearly I need to wipe the slate of all of my expectations and wait patiently for what the Lord has to tell me next.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

A special love

I always knew my Aunt Mandy loved me a lot, but I always figured it was because I was named after her. How special would that be to have someone named after you?

I know Brian adores William and they are practically best friends, but come on - its William. Who WOULDN'T want to be his best friend?

I just didn't know how special the love can be for a niece or nephew.

I got to see baby Kelli for a little while yesterday and I could just eat her up. My heart feels like it could burst with love and excitement for this little girl who doesn't even know who I am.

I have so many thoughts and plans and dreams of what our relationship will be like, but for now this is enough. Just holding her itty bitty precious hand looking at those sweet sweet eyes is more than enough for me.




I love my 'lelli' :)


- manda

Funny moment

Last night I woke up a few hours into our drive because we were stopping. It was too soon to need gas again so I asked Austin why he was stopping. He said he was being pulled over by a state trooper. Here is their conversation:

Officer: do you know what the speed is here in town?
Austin: 30
Officer: do you know how fast you were going?
Austin: 30
Officer: I clocked you going 34 or 35
Austin: I don't believe I was going faster than 30
Officer: sit tight for a minute

He goes to his car for about 10 minutes then comes back.

Officer: here's your license and my business card. I want you to know we have a strict speed enforcement here in town to reduce the number of accidents.
Austin: ok
Officer: have a good night

So he clocked him at 34 OR 35? Or is he just really proud of his super cool business cards?

Thanks trooper smith, next time we are in Lamar, CO we will be sure to give you a call.

- manda

And why not a few pics too?

Potato head's parts also fit in the sides of this tractor (all yellow equipment is called tractor) who knew it'd fit? Not me!





Fish in the water for the third week in a row



Not looking very injured at oh gosh's house


Sleeping with his 'ponk-a-dump' (which really means 'honk says the dump' which comes from little blue truck book)


- manda

A long brief

Today will be brief because I’ve got a lot going on. But I thought I’d write a quick post about the quirky and silly things William likes to say.

We have hit the age of repetition. Sing the Thomas song 10 times. Read the blue truck book 3 times. Watch Thomas on repeat (even though he isn’t even really watching it). When he wants us to repeat something (like the song or book or episode or tickling or whatever) he says “up again”. So we hear a lot of:
Thomas song up again
Blue truck book up again
Thomas up again
Mommy tickle up again
Baby rides up again
So its not just his speech you have to decipher, but his little language too. It sounds like English, but phrases are all different. I bet you don’t have a clue what “baby rides up again” even refers to. It’s a secret code.

He also likes to joke about breaking things. This weekend his favorite thing was to say “William broke oh gosh bike”. He alternates between saying he broke something and saying “kaboom” something. So we also heard a lot of “kaBOOOM Melvin!” He loved my reaction when he either broke Melvin or Melvin went kaboom. I’d always respond in a high pitched, shocked voice, “oh NO! not MELVIN!!!” He’d laugh and laugh, then he’d say “William fix it”. Austin started to interject, “That’s ok dada will fix it” and he quickly replied, “no dada fix it, William fix it”. This conversation happened about 1,000 times this weekend. He broke Oh Gosh’s bike, he broke Oh Gosh’s truck, he broke dada’s truck “the boss”, he broke “baby jackl” (that’s the name for his little Harley tricycle), he broke Melvin, he broke dada’s bike…he even broke mommy. But don’t worry, William will fix it all.

All of William’s shoes have special names. He has 6 pair of shoes right now and he has donned them as:
Dada shoes (tennis shoes that look like Austin’s tennis shoes)
Blue shoes (blue tennis shoes)
Man Boots (brown boots that look like little workerman boots)
Thomas boots (duh)
Dada boy boots or cowboy boots – he uses them interchangeably. They are cowboy boots that belonged to Austin when he was this age.
Brown soft shoes – brown crocs with the fur lining
The sad part here is that all of these shoes are size 6, besides the cowboy boots which are 6.5, and his toes are touching the edge of all of them. I spent more than normal on the shoes I bought, and Yaya and Cici each bought a pair which cost more than I think kids’ shoes should cost too, so we’re talking about boxing up $150 worth of baby shoes. And that doesn’t include the cowboy boots. I don’t know if I should be jealous of his shoe collection or embarrassed by the value of shoes that he started wearing a short 6 months ago. But he’s worn them out – so I guess that means we got our money’s worth right? And I think those Thomas boots are going to be worn even if they’re too small…I can’t break him away. The other sad part is that I have enjoyed him having 6 pair of shoes to rotate between, so I doubt I’ll give it up now. I hope you’re seeing one of the many, many reasons I need to find a job – and fast! This boy’s feet need some variety.

He is starting to learn/memorize his books so he likes when we pause and let him finish the pages. The little blue truck (the current #1) says “beep” on almost every page and he LOVES to make the beep sound. And now the noise for oh gosh and dada’s bikes is “beep” too. But its not just the blue truck book that he likes to recite, its any one of the books that can be found in his blue bedtime book bucket. And we have to go through all of them. (man, what will this spoiled little boy do if he ever has to share time with a sibling?)

He’s learning how to boss our pets around to. Reagan gets yelled at more than the other two pets, which should come as no surprise, and William has learned that when Reagan starts scratching on the door mats he is supposed to yell “REAGAN!” as he claps his hands. He also hits the floor and yells “nancy” (which sounds more like scentsy) whenever Nancy is scratching her neck, or he yells “ugh LAYLA” if we ever walk past a pee spot. As you read this, I hope you focus was on William’s cuteness and not our pets’ destruction. Ahhh, our poor house.

William had his first real injury on Monday and I’m not sure who was more upset: him, Austin, me, or Oh Gosh. Austin was upset because he wasn’t holding William’s hand as he walked up the stairs to Oh Gosh’s porch which resulted in him slipping and busting his gums on the concrete. William was upset because – uh, OUCH. Oh gosh was upset because it was at his house, and because the reason William slipped was from getting so excited by seeing Oh Gosh’s face in the doorway. Mommy was upset because mommies feel their baby’s pain ten times over. I can’t count the number of times I’ve rubbed my gums and winced over the last few days, as if I am in true physical pain. I wish I could take it though! If I could I’d rip my gums apart to heal his. But, for now he just has to deal with a swollen upper lip, swollen and sore gums, and some extra blue bell along the way. Poor guy!

Well, my “brief” post isn’t quite as brief as I’d planned. I’m sure you’re as shocked as I am. And even though I went longer than I hoped I’m sure I still missed some of the silly things he says and does. Never a dull moment in the life of a toddler.

- manda

What's an appropriate thank you?

I've talked - and talked and talked - about how humbled I was throughout Austin's deployment by the love and support that was poured over us. I've been silenced by the unexpected gifts, cards and flowers and I don't think I've ever felt more support than in 2011. But when the love and support came from my friends it was easy to think 'well maybe I've been a good friend to them too. Maybe I've been there in their times of weakness and need. Maybe I'll be there in the future. Maybe I'll pay it all back someday'.

But what do you do when you are overwhelmed by the gifts of appreciation you receive from virtually a stranger?

Austin's stepdad works in the oil business and he has a lot of vendors he contracts with. A couple of months into Austin's deployment Herb told me that one of the employees at one of the companies he contracts, who has also become a good friend to herb and Candace, had asked for Austin's address to send him care packages. Tony proceeded to send Austin 1-2 packages per MONTH for the rest of his deployment. Socks, candy, magazines, etc. A complete stranger. I was amazed. Being diligent and dedicated in sending packages isn't alway easy and certainly isn't cheap. I know he makes quite a bit more money than me but still - to sacrifice the time and money for a stranger amazed me.

Then when Austin's uncle passed away last fall I had the privilege to meet Tony. He showed up at the viewing and stayed the entire time - visiting with Herb and checking every so often to see if Candace needed a refill of water or a laugh or a hug. I was so happy to be able to shake his hand and thank him personally for the packages Austin had been receiving. I know Austin loved the packages William and I sent, but I also know it was motivating to know the support was from all around. So I thanked Tony over and over. He explained that he spent 10 years in the navy and appreciates anyone who is willing to give their time and lives for the service of our country.

Then he unexpectedly pulled out an iPad and showed me a picture of a multi-million dollar beach house in Galveston that is owned by his company. We're talking Galveston, not San Francisco, so multi-millions go a long, long way remember. He said the company rents it out or lends it to clients, but he would like to extend it to Austin and myself for however long we want when he gets home. I thanked him and said Austin and I would talk about him, assuming it would be dead in the water after the funeral.

But it wasn't.

In fact, a few short weeks after the funeral we received an email reminding us to pick dates for the beach house. The email included a link to a site where we could see pictures, and at the end Tony said 'my wife would love to stock the house up with groceries for you so please send us a grocery list before you arrive. Oh, and Austin attached is a picture of my mistress which I'm lending to you for your stay'. Attached was a picture of a beautiful Z06 Corvette. (which just happens to have always been both Austin and my dream car).

Floored.

We were originally planning to go to Jamaica and knew we couldn't have 2 long vacations, so we talked a little about how to decide. We finally decided it was such an overwhelming and personal offer that we would almost feel rude declining, so we decided we will go to Jamaica some other time. God sure is smart isn't He? Now knowing we are moving that $4,000 is more useful being put towards the move rather than a private butler. (maybe)

But the point of all of this is to ask - how do you thank someone for that? Arranging for us to use his company's rental property is one sort of gesture but throwing in groceries from his wife (which I still feel very weird about) and offering his $70,000 vehicle to someone he has NEVER MET...all because he served our country...how do you thank someone?

Suggestions please because nothing I've thought of seems appropriate yet I'm do grateful.

And thanks again - I may say it forever - for your love and support this last year.

- manda

William Wednesday from 2/15

After our celebration week I wasn't surprised that William got sick. Not only were there 2 cases of strep throat in his class, but all 3 of the people I work with who have toddlers all had sick kids too. I think William was doomed to at least get a virus. He didn't have strep, but he did have to stay home from school for 2 days.

But he was better by the weekend and dada thought they needed to go BACK to see the fish in the water. Dada is dangerous in that store when I'm not there to reign him in :) William got an adorable carhart jacket (more than I'd ever spend on a 2 year old's jacket but it sure looks cute!) and William had lots of fun in the boats again. He's a fan!!!

Sunday we went back to church and he is really starting to enjoy going to nursery. He likes when we drop him off, but of course he's still very happy when we pick him back up. The nursery worker on Sunday told us that William is a VERY good helper, but I'm not surprised because that is what his day care teachers tell me every day. William loves to help clean up and put things back where they belong.

Austin took William to his 2 year check up this week. We had to change doctors because his old doctor no longer accepts our insurance. Austin said all of the nurses were gathering around William and mesmerized at his flirting and his speech. Usually in new groups he's a little more reserved, but apparently he was putting on quite a little show. He showed off his speech, counting, alphabet, and coordination. Our little star :)

His vocabulary has just exploded and he is building 4 and 5 word sentences. I can't believe some of the sentences he makes. He is also making spacial recognitions very well. A few nights ago he said "Melvin tires outside William inside". I didn't know he remembered Melvin would have tires when we were in the car. But I'm impressed!

For Valentine's day mommy and dada both got to go to his little class party and Austin was the spectacle of the day. All of the kids swarmed around him and almost every book in the room was on his lap at one point. William was VERY happy to share dada and show him off and kept looking at him with such amazement. I know my baby loves me, but he doesn't look at me the way he looks at Austin. He just adores him. The kids were all hyped up on sugar and the excitement about the holiday and wearing pajamas to school...I don't know how the teachers ever calmed them down for nap time. They are puppet masters I think!!!

I'm hoping that at my next job I can blog again because this is getting challenging without my phone app. It makes me actually have to get on the computer at HOME - what a pain. Keep your fingers crossed with me :) Hope you all had a happy valentine's day too!