He's just a little fishy in the sea... at 7:30am on a 55 degree morning!
Coming out of the swim getting ready to bike
His specialty- the bike... look at that determination;) p.s.- his shoes are off because he's about to transition to the run
Monday, August 24, 2009
Island Lake Triathlon August 23rd, 2009
He's just a little fishy in the sea... at 7:30am on a 55 degree morning!Coming out of the swim getting ready to bikeHis specialty- the bike... look at that determination;) p.s.- his shoes are off because he's about to transition to the run
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Updates and such...
Well we just finished a fantastic week of having Jeff home. Sorry for those of you who didn't know... we wanted to keep him all to ourselves! It was a great end of summer vacation:) We went up north for a few days to his parent's house. We ALL had a blast in Lake Michigan swimming, oh how refreshing that was. Then there was just a lot of relaxing. Lots of QT.
We headed back to the hunt club for a night so the boys could ride quads. Then after a few days of projected rain, we decided to pack it up and just head home. So we spent the last five days of our vacation at home, as a family. It was nice to have everyone just be together, in our home, for probably the last time (hope and pray) in this house.
-sidebar- we have had more drama with the house, too much to constantly keep you abreast on! Let's just say we are hoping and praying for good news to come Monday or Tuesday.
This morning, Sunday, Jeff did a triathlon here in Brighton. He was originally going to do the Traverse City one, but that didn't work out with timing and him driving home to make it to a class that starts Monday. So he did the local one- AND HE ROCKED IT!
He ended up placing 5th overall and medaling 2nd in his age group!!!! The kids and I dragged our butts out of bed at 6am to be there for his 7:30 start and we got to watch the whole thing. It's alot of fun for all of us:) I got some great pictures that I'll post soon. (hey, no chuckling under your breath with a "yeah right"... I WILL post them!)
Anyway, there you have it. The lives of The Carter Family. Stay tuned for more house updates soon:)
THINK GOOD THOUGHTS
We headed back to the hunt club for a night so the boys could ride quads. Then after a few days of projected rain, we decided to pack it up and just head home. So we spent the last five days of our vacation at home, as a family. It was nice to have everyone just be together, in our home, for probably the last time (hope and pray) in this house.
-sidebar- we have had more drama with the house, too much to constantly keep you abreast on! Let's just say we are hoping and praying for good news to come Monday or Tuesday.
This morning, Sunday, Jeff did a triathlon here in Brighton. He was originally going to do the Traverse City one, but that didn't work out with timing and him driving home to make it to a class that starts Monday. So he did the local one- AND HE ROCKED IT!
He ended up placing 5th overall and medaling 2nd in his age group!!!! The kids and I dragged our butts out of bed at 6am to be there for his 7:30 start and we got to watch the whole thing. It's alot of fun for all of us:) I got some great pictures that I'll post soon. (hey, no chuckling under your breath with a "yeah right"... I WILL post them!)
Anyway, there you have it. The lives of The Carter Family. Stay tuned for more house updates soon:)
THINK GOOD THOUGHTS
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Quotes from Sir Deagan
"If you go all the way to the bottom and touch it in the deep part, will you die?"
Said, Super SUPER serious from the little man who is learning to swim!
Said, Super SUPER serious from the little man who is learning to swim!
Friday, August 14, 2009
Thursday, August 13, 2009
I want to vomit!
I haven't felt this nasty in a long, long time. I mean more years than you can count on a hand. That puking sick blank stare take your breath away sick! My head is fuzzy, tears are flowing and I have a GIANT headache that just won't go away.
So the ride we are on with our Michigan home has been a roller coaster. First we're up, then we're down... then we're back up, oh no wait down again. Well this time the track is ending and it's on a HUGE down...down...down..... will it stop?
To bring you up to date here's a short recap of the last two weeks:
First we were told we finally have a case manager on our short sale
Next we were told the offer was too great to refuse, should have a closing date set within two weeks.
A week later the bank countered our buyer's offer, the buyers countered back with a perfect market value offer
Five days go by, the bank responds- Nope, sorry, we won't accept ANY short sale at all.
THANKS FOR WAITING THREE MONTHS TO TELL US. GAME OVER. YOU'RE SCREWED.
So now you're up to date. We're screwed. It's a nasty, dirty game between us, the banks and the govn't.
You see we have a govn't backed FHA loan on this home. The mortgage company WANTS us to go into foreclosure (and even told our agent over the phone). It's in their best interests if we go into foreclosure. (sidebar- NO we are not late, nor are we missing payments... just trying to sell the damn thing and move to be with Jeff. Those of you not in MIchigan, the housing values in our county have dropped almost 50% since we purchased our home, so we can't sell it for what we owe and we are essentially "underwater"). You see if it goes into foreclosure then the mortgage company gets reimbursed from the govn't for every penny that they lost. Which would be more in their pocket than if they accepted our short sale!
It's a cruel game, and they are winning it.
So now we are left up SHIT CREEK without a paddle and our hands tied behind our backs.
We can't foreclose on the home and just walk away and deal with the 'usual' 7 year credit hit. Oh no, that'd be too easy. Since Obama's rule, the govn't has been losing too much $ and now they want it back. So if we had to foreclose on this house, once the bank did sell it and get that $ plus the difference from the govn't, we are responsible for paying back that difference to the govn't. To the tune of $100,000 that they would set up a "payment plan" for. A payment plan, automatically deducting a certain amount from his pay for the rest of his life. Sahweeet! That option is out.
Renting you say? Sure, in a perfect world. But as we all know, The Carter's World is NEVER perfect.
Because our county is spiraling out of control right now, the most we could get for a rental would be about $300-500 less than what our mortgage is. Come on, we're in the military- do you think we can cover a house in Virginia as well as any extra $500 bucks a month to cover that difference? Ummm No.
And even if we did get renters in here... what if they lose their jobs? What if they stop paying? Then what? We foreclose? Yeah, No. See above....
SO there is where we are.
Pissed off, with no options and left feeling like this just isn't right. We're a perfect middle class family. We have outstanding credit scores, no bills, never late on payments. Jeff took the military job to provide for his family and look where it's gotten us.
Living Bi-Costal with no end in sight.
So as for now, we have no choice. The kids and I stay here!
Got any ideas?
p.s.- thanks for listening, I'll pay you my therapy bill in sweet baby pictures- Lord knows that's about the only happy thing we have going for us right now!
So the ride we are on with our Michigan home has been a roller coaster. First we're up, then we're down... then we're back up, oh no wait down again. Well this time the track is ending and it's on a HUGE down...down...down..... will it stop?
To bring you up to date here's a short recap of the last two weeks:
First we were told we finally have a case manager on our short sale
Next we were told the offer was too great to refuse, should have a closing date set within two weeks.
A week later the bank countered our buyer's offer, the buyers countered back with a perfect market value offer
Five days go by, the bank responds- Nope, sorry, we won't accept ANY short sale at all.
THANKS FOR WAITING THREE MONTHS TO TELL US. GAME OVER. YOU'RE SCREWED.
So now you're up to date. We're screwed. It's a nasty, dirty game between us, the banks and the govn't.
You see we have a govn't backed FHA loan on this home. The mortgage company WANTS us to go into foreclosure (and even told our agent over the phone). It's in their best interests if we go into foreclosure. (sidebar- NO we are not late, nor are we missing payments... just trying to sell the damn thing and move to be with Jeff. Those of you not in MIchigan, the housing values in our county have dropped almost 50% since we purchased our home, so we can't sell it for what we owe and we are essentially "underwater"). You see if it goes into foreclosure then the mortgage company gets reimbursed from the govn't for every penny that they lost. Which would be more in their pocket than if they accepted our short sale!
It's a cruel game, and they are winning it.
So now we are left up SHIT CREEK without a paddle and our hands tied behind our backs.
We can't foreclose on the home and just walk away and deal with the 'usual' 7 year credit hit. Oh no, that'd be too easy. Since Obama's rule, the govn't has been losing too much $ and now they want it back. So if we had to foreclose on this house, once the bank did sell it and get that $ plus the difference from the govn't, we are responsible for paying back that difference to the govn't. To the tune of $100,000 that they would set up a "payment plan" for. A payment plan, automatically deducting a certain amount from his pay for the rest of his life. Sahweeet! That option is out.
Renting you say? Sure, in a perfect world. But as we all know, The Carter's World is NEVER perfect.
Because our county is spiraling out of control right now, the most we could get for a rental would be about $300-500 less than what our mortgage is. Come on, we're in the military- do you think we can cover a house in Virginia as well as any extra $500 bucks a month to cover that difference? Ummm No.
And even if we did get renters in here... what if they lose their jobs? What if they stop paying? Then what? We foreclose? Yeah, No. See above....
SO there is where we are.
Pissed off, with no options and left feeling like this just isn't right. We're a perfect middle class family. We have outstanding credit scores, no bills, never late on payments. Jeff took the military job to provide for his family and look where it's gotten us.
Living Bi-Costal with no end in sight.
So as for now, we have no choice. The kids and I stay here!
Got any ideas?
p.s.- thanks for listening, I'll pay you my therapy bill in sweet baby pictures- Lord knows that's about the only happy thing we have going for us right now!
Monday, August 10, 2009
Deagan's Sister
I must take at least ten photos a day with my iphone of my sweet babies! If you're a member of facebook, find me! I update that daily. For some reason I just can't get my butt on blogger much lately!!! I'm in a slump. I know. I'm on my way out of it and promise that I will update soon. When the big kids are back in school and I have time to breathe. In the meantime, I couldn't resist sharing this adorable picture of Deagan and HIS sister.
Sunday, August 09, 2009
Quotes of the Day, by Deagan and Olivia
Deagan: "Mom, I want one of those magic wands on Disney. So I can turn Livia into a frog!"
Olivia: "What if there was a five year old, but not me- just another five year old, that wished on a star to get married to a boy? Would it come true, I mean if another five year old just like me, but not me wished for that?"
She has been muddling over what to be for Halloween this year (due to the influx of magazine's we've been receiving in the mail with costumes). This week we have settled on her being a bride. She's obsessed with brides, weddings and getting married. Enchanted, not obsessed. So of course I told her yes, hypothetically speaking a five year old, just like her- but not her, could wish for that and it probably would come true. Adorable!
p.s.- He used to call her "sissy" 24/7, but now he calls her "Livia" or "O-livia" with the longest "O" you've ever heard. The adults in her life call her sissy more than he does anymore!!! :( Except when he's frustrated with her, then she's sissy.
Olivia: "What if there was a five year old, but not me- just another five year old, that wished on a star to get married to a boy? Would it come true, I mean if another five year old just like me, but not me wished for that?"
She has been muddling over what to be for Halloween this year (due to the influx of magazine's we've been receiving in the mail with costumes). This week we have settled on her being a bride. She's obsessed with brides, weddings and getting married. Enchanted, not obsessed. So of course I told her yes, hypothetically speaking a five year old, just like her- but not her, could wish for that and it probably would come true. Adorable!
p.s.- He used to call her "sissy" 24/7, but now he calls her "Livia" or "O-livia" with the longest "O" you've ever heard. The adults in her life call her sissy more than he does anymore!!! :( Except when he's frustrated with her, then she's sissy.
Thursday, August 06, 2009
Good News
First off, day one of the garage sale was a FANTASTIC DAY! Made few hundred dollars:) Can't wait till tomorrow....
Second, but should be first- I just got an email from our VB realtor. The people selling us their house have decided to WAIT. Yes, it's like we are on a ping pong table... back and forth back and forth. One day we have it, one day we don't.
Today WE DO. I guess that after thinking about it, they've decided it would be beneficial to all parties if they just waited for us as originally planned. They are moving out over the next two weeks and do not want to mess with new showings. So they've extended our contract by a few weeks and will wait for us! YAY!!!!!
Now if we could just ensure a response from our MI house in that time frame....
Second, but should be first- I just got an email from our VB realtor. The people selling us their house have decided to WAIT. Yes, it's like we are on a ping pong table... back and forth back and forth. One day we have it, one day we don't.
Today WE DO. I guess that after thinking about it, they've decided it would be beneficial to all parties if they just waited for us as originally planned. They are moving out over the next two weeks and do not want to mess with new showings. So they've extended our contract by a few weeks and will wait for us! YAY!!!!!
Now if we could just ensure a response from our MI house in that time frame....
Tuesday, August 04, 2009
I'm putting together a garage sale this weekend and man it's alot of work!!! I've spent a few days hauling up crap from our basement, cleaning and pricing it. The kids are less than patient right now and are crawling all over each other. Why do they have to fight? How do I stop them from beating each other- I mean deagan hitting Olivia?!?!?
Well let's just hope no one tells them that we will be tied to the house for three days of the sale and not able to leave.... Shhh
Well let's just hope no one tells them that we will be tied to the house for three days of the sale and not able to leave.... Shhh
Monday, August 03, 2009
Sunday, August 02, 2009
Pictures!
Tessa's super awesome wicked cool comb-over hair, what can I say- she's a rockstar!!!!
A picture of me on my blog! Woah!
An Adam and Brynn Reunion Weekend
Tessa hanging out in her Moby Wrap
The girls
Part strangle, part innocence, pure love
The best cousins in the world!
Deagan and Aunt Brynn
Saturday, August 01, 2009
House Update
Ok, well there really isn't an update. Well sort of...
As you may know, we've had an offer pending on our Michigan house for two months now. We are waiting on the bank to make their determinations and set a closing date. We were supposed to have the closing date set this past Wednesday, but that DIDN'T happen. When Tessa and I went to Virginia to visit Jeff and go house hunting we put an offer down on a house. They accepted the offer with a contingency on the sale of our house. Well now they decided they don't want to wait anymore and they want out of the contract. Crappy! Because we LOVED this house. It was perfect, but poor timing. So we are pretty sure we lost that one and will have to start over. Will it all come together by the time school starts? We don't know! Will Olivia start school up here or in VA, we don't know! Will be buy a new house or rent one so we can move in asap before school starts, we don't know!
So basically right now the housing situation is one big stress ball that changes daily! Some days we get good encouraging news and then the next it's bad news again. I've learned to just block it out and not take anything too seriously, because it does change so much. If anything concrete comes up, I'll let you know.
And yes, check back soon, I WILL POST MORE PICTURES. I know I'm slacking, probably the worst history of slacking in my blogger history! And I just sent out the birth announcements.... so you're all checking this right? Ha! But I do have a tiny 11 lbs excuse, right?!?!?!?!
As you may know, we've had an offer pending on our Michigan house for two months now. We are waiting on the bank to make their determinations and set a closing date. We were supposed to have the closing date set this past Wednesday, but that DIDN'T happen. When Tessa and I went to Virginia to visit Jeff and go house hunting we put an offer down on a house. They accepted the offer with a contingency on the sale of our house. Well now they decided they don't want to wait anymore and they want out of the contract. Crappy! Because we LOVED this house. It was perfect, but poor timing. So we are pretty sure we lost that one and will have to start over. Will it all come together by the time school starts? We don't know! Will Olivia start school up here or in VA, we don't know! Will be buy a new house or rent one so we can move in asap before school starts, we don't know!
So basically right now the housing situation is one big stress ball that changes daily! Some days we get good encouraging news and then the next it's bad news again. I've learned to just block it out and not take anything too seriously, because it does change so much. If anything concrete comes up, I'll let you know.
And yes, check back soon, I WILL POST MORE PICTURES. I know I'm slacking, probably the worst history of slacking in my blogger history! And I just sent out the birth announcements.... so you're all checking this right? Ha! But I do have a tiny 11 lbs excuse, right?!?!?!?!
Friday, July 31, 2009
Jeff
Jeff left today on a small deployment overseas! It's never easy getting used to the idea of anyone flying over an ocean and being in a foreign country where you might not exactly be welcome. I'll be holding my breath waiting for him!
Keep him in your thoughts and prayers for safe travels!
t
Keep him in your thoughts and prayers for safe travels!
t
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Friday, July 24, 2009
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
