I've been "pinned!"

I haven't had time to post anything this week or even check my computer for that matter.  I currently have 300+ emails waiting for me!!  But hey-I have all the kitchen and clothes boxes cleaned out.  It felt so good yesterday to see empty boxes that I happily threw out in the garage. The swing set has been put back together, so happy that project is OVER!!!  Last night, Scott and I tackled the toy room and 2.5 hours later it was a livable space. So to congratulate myself this morning, I thought I would get out on my blog and see what was going on.  Well, I  noticed that I have been "pinned" (not sure if that is the right word to use or not...) on pin interest that is.  Appears someone out there in cyber world liked my old mantle decor and a grouping of pics that were in Natalyn's room.  Funny!!

That's all I got for today!!!



All under ONE roof!!!

OK. We have been busting it to get out of the old house and into the new one.  I haven't checked my blog or posted anything in like...ummmm.5 days -ish?  I feel like I am a little out of the loop!  So...we handed over the keys to the old house this morning and we are done....DONE!!! Now I just have to focus on one mess (a huge mess might I add) but at least we are dealing with one house, not two!!  I hope to get the kitchen all set up by the end of today, but we'll see. I keep thinking I am close to being finished and then find another box.  When I started packing the old house, I carefully labeled each box with the contents, etc.... But by this weekend, I was just ready to get moved (plus it was like 103-ish outside)so I resorted to a very sophisticated way of packing called "grab it and stuff it in a box or anywhere!!!"  I am seriously thinking that a garage sale is in my near future.  We have too much junk!!!!  And I DARE the girls to tell me they have nothing to play with!! I think we had three truck loads of toys only!! 

I would share with you the disaster condition the house is in currently, but I can't find the cord to down-load the pics, so that will  have to wait for another time.  I will add a pic of the front of the house though.

Oh- and our new neighbors greeted us with cookies this morning! You gotta love that!!!!

NEW HOUSE

OLD HOUSE

I just had to add a pic of the girls.  I know I mentioned the loads of toys we hauled to the new house and look what they want to play with.......a box!!!!



NEVER BUY A HOUSE FROM.........

OK. The moment you have all been waiting for.......I hope I can meet your expectations as I am tired (I am running on large amounts of Dr.Pepper!) and my sentences may/may not be complete or even make sense for that matter.  Bottom line ----we closed on the house yesterday so now I feel comfortable to "spill the beans!"

For those of you that have been following our building journey, you are well aware that it has been a bit of a struggle.  We knew when we decided to build that it would be stressful, but this was just ridiculous!!!!

 It started with the frame work and plumbing not being correct.  At that point we met with the builder, his foreman, his assist and and our realtor on site to discuss.  Our builder claims that he was blind sighted with all the issues, even though we had sent several emails explaining such to his realtor/brother, whom we had been under the impression that he was the actual builder until 45 days into the build!!!!  The "discussion" got a  little heated shall we say!  The conversation ended with the builder agreeing to reduce the house price  (we were told a % and verbally agreed to such on site.)  We immediately went home and recapped the conversation with our numbers and requested the credit amounts via email so we could get an addendum to the contract.  No response..........The builder just seemed irritated with us the entire build as we made him adhere to an addendum of house changes that he signed with the original contract. Let me note that we literally picked out everything for the house BEFORE the foundation was poured and DID NOT change anything!!!  I practically emailed his assistant everyday with things that were wrong and needed changing.  Example: brick mason's ran out of brick so another pallet was delivered.  I went out to inspect the brick, the invoice said the brick was correct, but the label on the pallet was a different brick. It visually was a different brick. I emailed to not put this brick on the house and it went up anyway!! I am talking about 1/3 of the house was bricked in the wrong brick!!!! It took who knows how many people to look at the brick before it was decided that it needed to come down.  Bottom line- it should not have went on the house to begin with!!!!-OK..let me get back to the point!!!  Basically, he just doesn't seem to think that he has to communicate with his customers and this was a custom build!!!

Anyway-as the closing date came closer, we needed to finalize everything!! We even gave a punch list 2 weeks ago to help get this house closed last Friday!!  Technically, per the contract we did not have to give a punch list until 5 business days after the C of O was received (which wasn't until last Thurs-the day before the original closing date!) the builder then would have 5 business days to comply with the punch list items.   We felt this put our builder in default of the contract.  Then we finally got our final credit amounts last Thursday, so on Friday our plan was to have an extension of the closing date signed (to allow for the bank and title comp time to prepare the closing doc) and my husband is welcomed with a Friday the 13th surprise!!!!!  He is told via phone and email from our builder's assistant that they cannot reduce the sell price because they don't have authorization to do so.  The options that were given to us were we can pay the full amount or terminate the contract, either way they will not reimburse us any monies that we have already paid.  TALK ABOUT A MAJOR BLOW!!!! When Scott called me, I thought at first he was kidding, just trying to get me worked up!!! I called the assistant and explained that is not what was verbally (with witnesses) agreed upon and that we have 3 inches of emails pertaining to this house (we made sure everything had a paper trail) so if they want to stick to this story that's fine!  My husband then sent an email that we take this as their termination of the contract.  15 minutes later Scott get a call from the builder- he is yelling and throwing a fit- calling my husband heartless and such.  Apparently, the builder's 8 yr old son was dx with cancer 2 weeks ago and is in LR at Children's undergoing chemo ( let's stop there for a sec---please pray for healing for his son-- this situation has nothing to do with our house)  Now back to my story-------Scott was a little shocked and said he was sorry about that - he didn't know about his son, in fact this is only the 2nd time he has ever talked our builder, regardless we have been asking for his credits to get a new contract written up for 10 weeks.  The builder then said he would take "X" amount off the house ( I guess he suddenly had authorization again!)- we can take it or leave it--- either way we will have to sue him for our money if we don't buy the house.   Do we feel our builder is totally a liar??? OH YEA!! ( we feel he most likely offered this to save himself any future litigation). We went home and discussed the situation and felt that we were backed into a corner.  If we start over, Nat loses her spot at her new school and such.  There were some other factors that I am not going to get int  that made us feel like we needed to go ahead and proceed with the purchase.  We could have sued and probably recovered our loss, but since we were not sure if we could recover our attorney's fees, it could end up a total wash. ( OK- my fingers are aching here!!) So ....Saturday, we signed an extension of closing and the builder waited until Monday afternoon to sign as well.....

So we closed FINALLY yesterday at 2:30 and are now working our tails off trying to get into the house.
If you are in the NWA area- buyer beware-----our builder is RIGGINS CONSTRUCTION.  The nicest thing I can say about this company is that if you buy a spec house you might be fine, as you don't have to deal with the builder AT ALL!!!!!
A co-worker of Scott's found a rating on yellowpages.com on Riggins-it was a story similar to ours. Apparently he is also building in Joplin, MO, due to the tornado damage from May 2011 and gave the run around with that customer too.
Ya know word of mouth advertising can be your best friend or your worst enemy!!!
So........like I said we are currently getting moved into the house and plan to make the best of it and "move" on with our lives!!! Ya live and ya learn, huh?

 I hope to start showing decorated rooms  next week!!!!

House craziness!!!

I have no weekend update nor any cute photos of the girls to share with you today.

What I will express is that we had a "bomb" dropped in our laps in regards to the new house on Friday.  All I will say at this time is that we have not closed on the house.  I will have a post explaining all the details that have transpired by Wednesday.  So get ready.......you may want to find a comfty seat, bring a snack.........because you'll be reading quite a lengthy post when I spill my guts!!!!



Just say NO!!

Just say  NO TO CRACK that is.........

When I saw Elerz in this situation I couldn't resist!!!!



SUYL-Mantles

HEY!! To those visiting from Kelly's Korner!!!!

OK. So this week is focusing on mantles.  I am horrible when it comes to changing up my decor in this area.  In fact, I haven't rearranged a thing on my fireplace mantle since...hmmmm......2009-ish?!   Well, except at Christmas time that is.  Anyway-I can't wait to see what the rest of y'all are doing around your fireplaces!!! I know many of you decorate this area seasonally and I can't wait to "nose around" your space!!ha ha

These pics are super up-close as we are moving next week and I have crap, junk, very organized boxes all in front of the fireplace.

 Christmas mantle decor.  I usually just add some greenery and ornaments to my usual decor.  The stockings I got at Hobby Lobby for $5.00 each-SCORE!!

Here is the fireplace in our new house that we will be moving in next week (fingers crossed!)

Sorry the picture is bad, it's the only completed room pic I could find right now!!  Any decorating suggestions???

THANKS FOR STOPPING BY!!

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!!



Just some random awesomeness!!

Let me start with this......Alittle D&D

As in DILL PICKLES & DR.PEPPER!!!  I found some great spicy ones at a local place called House of Webster a few years ago.  Of course, they have stopped making the pickles and are now making spicy mixed veggies, which is fine, but I also want the pickles too!!! Back to the point-I saw these at Wal-mart and decided to try them out.  LOVE THEM! Nat and I have already finished these off!! This is a great snack to meet and exceed your daily (probably weekly) recommended amount of sugar and sodium!!

HALLOWEEN IN JULY?!

I bet you have seen alot of posts about Christmas in July, but Halloween in July?!hhhmmmm..

Nat decided we needed to make sugar cookies yesterday, I agreed!!  She chose to use an owl and pumpkin cookie cutters.  I tried to talk her into using something more seasonally appropriate, but there was no talking her out of it!

She also added some triangles "pizza slices" for Elerz.  Isn't your mouth watering at the sight of these beauties?!  Let's just put it this way, they would make really great bricks!  Which would go "awesome" with the cream style corn that I forget about on the stove and was cooked into an oatmeal like-state! OOPS!!

CATCHING UP ON SOME READING!!

Elerz was being unusually quiet, which means that she is probably into something, so I went on the search to find her and found her doing this...........

 Isn't this so cute!!! She was just in her room looking at her books.

 I tried to get a sweet pic of Nat to go with the precious one of Elerz, but this is what I got!  OK Nat!! See if I ever share my pickles and Dr. Pepper with you again!!!

The girls relaxing after playing outside yesterday afternoon.  I moved their table over to them to rest their feet on.....they get a 10 rating on the spoiled meter!!

STRANGE PLACE TO PUT A GUTTER!!

OK. This is just so weird that I had to add it to the all the awesomeness that you have enjoyed so far in this post! haha  We requested that the guttering be lengthened about a foot from the spout to clear the house and this is what I literally walked into yesterday evening.......

12 inches.......hmmmmm more like 12 feet. This guttering is just laying on the sidewalk. GEEZ!! Scott will have some DIY projects to deal with if we EVER close on this house!! (which will not be this week after all!!URGGGGGG!!!)

HAVE A GREAT THURSDAY!!!!!



Let there be light!

OK. All the fixtures went in the house the end of last week.  Let me narrate as I give you a little tour around!!

Girl's bathroom-the hall bathroom has the same fixture.

I picked my exterior lights from a catalog and was a little nervous with not actually seeing them before they were installed on the house, but they turned out great. 

 The pendant light by the front door is my favorite light in the whole house.

 Back porch light. 

Entryway fixture

 Kitchen chandelier

 

OK. Here is where things get interesting.  Let me explain to you how we ended up with the fixtures in the Master bathroom.  We were at the lighting showroom picking out the fixtures for the house and I had no trouble finding fixtures to go over the mirrors, but did not like any of the pendant lights that were on display.  Natalyn had to go to the bathroom, so I took her and when I came back Scott said that the lighting guy could get the lights I had been looking at on-line (we had printed copies of the lights to use as examples).  I got real excited and said ok order them.  And here is what I got........

I walked into the Master bathroom last Thurs and actually jumped back. The pendant light actually scared me, it was not what I had envisioned and it was a bit....hmmmm. huge for the room.  The finish is more rust than brown like the fixtures over the mirrors.  It was at that moment that I realized I had ordered my pendant from a different series than the fixtures over the mirrors.  But if this is the only OOPS so far, that's pretty good, huh?  (let me clarify, the pendant is not ugly, it is just gigantic)

Here let me introduce you to this light fixture.  I think it look like a boob!! Am I right?!

The non-matching fixtures to the pendant.



10 PM

10PM.......

That's what time I recorded the girl's Sunday night.  Don't they look oh so sleepy?!

I can't get Elerz to wear socks/shoes for longer than 5 seconds, wait! I mean, she WILL wear Nat's, Scott's or my shoes, just not hers.  And I guess technically she likes to wear socks, just not on her feet, but on her hands.  She is copying a new fashion trend of Natalyn's.  Socks on hands as gloves is very princessy!!!!  That poor burpie, as Elerz calls it "bahbie" has seen better days, but it is her favorite!

Does anyone else have "night-owl" kiddos?!



SUYL- Bathrooms

It's time again for another SUYL linky party!!!!  This week's topic is bathrooms!!  If you are bored, nosey or just can't sleep at 4am, stop by KellysKornerblog.com and check out some amazing (mine will not fall under that category) bathrooms!!!

Let me get right to the point!!! First I will show our current bathroom's, then scroll on down to see our works in progress in the new house.

~Our current Master Bathroom~

~Our current hall Bathroom~

~As of next week (finger's crossed) is our new Master Bathroom~

These pics were taken last week.

The only things that are incomplete/missing currently is that the mirrors framing needs to be stained and the lighting fixtures. 

~ Girl's Bathroom~

~Hall Bathroom~

THANKS FOR STOPPING BY!!!

VISIT AGAIN NEXT WEEK AND I SHOULD HAVE COMPLETELY FINISHED BATHROOMS TO REVEAL!!!

HAPPY JULY 4th!!! (on the 5th!!)

OK.  So this is a day late, almost all my blog posts are.......

When I think of the 4th I think of my great grandma, my Nannie.  Not many people have a great-grandma until they are 26.  She wasn't one of those cranky old people either.  She was a hoot!!!She was one of those people that loved parties, family and friends, basically she loved life in general.  When one would walk through her door, get ready for a big ol'kiss (with some shade of bright lipstick!)  She would start almost every sentence with "now hon...."  If you asked her about one of her recipes, she would refer to measurements as a "a little of this or that."  I mention my Nannie because her birthday was the 4th.  We used to all get together for a birthday celebration!! Nannie would show up head to toe in something patriotic! And rhinestones.....lots of rhinestone jewelry!!!! I wish I had a picture to add, but they are all packed up in a box ready for the move.

Then of course, we should all take the time to remember all the soldiers that HAVE and ARE protecting our FREEDOM IN THIS COUNTRY!!  This brings another person to my mind.  My grandpa, my Pappoo.  He served in WWII, entering the service in 1942.  He was wounded by German mortar fire on the Anzio Beach Head in Italy in April of 1944.  He loved Jesus, his family, his friends and his church.  He was one of the most patient and wise people I have ever known.  I will quote him from a paper my cousin wrote about him..."Do not be afraid of hard work and hard times. Be honest, keep your family around you, lean on your friends and get all the education that you can.  Everything will fall into place then."

This is a picture of Pappoo and Natalyn from May 2010.  I just love that the American Flag is in the background.  I keep bugging my aunt K-K to paint it!!!

We had a pretty relaxing day yesterday.  We slept in (Nat did not surface until 10am!!)

We then went to the Promenade to look for holiday deals (now if that's not "American" I don't know what is! HA HA).  Basically we came home with nothing, it's was just too hot!!!  Sooo..we Scott grilled hot dogs, watched Robin Hood (Disney movie) and ate popcorn.  We did make it to our city's fireworks display (no individual fireworks this year due to the fire ban) it was pretty good!  Elerz kept looking for "crackers" because I made the mistake of calling the fireworks, firecrackers.  She kept saying "cackr mor".  I would say "they're all gone." She would say "OHHHHH.."(that's a new response she is using now.)

Just another Manic Monday (& weekend)

OK.  Here's the deal.  We go to our new house on Thursday evening and notice that there is a water stain on the tile in the kitchen.  The trim was wet by the refrig. nook and on the other side of the wall in the living room. I immediately thought there is a water leak (the water was turned on that day in the house) due to the builder having to cap and re-direct water lines because the kitchen/girl's bathroom/laundry room was originally plumbed wrong!!   We went home and emailed/left v/messages for the builder's assistant.  I got NO SLEEP that night, all I could think about was going by the house on Friday morning and seeing water running out the front door and down the driveway!  Scott went by the house at 6am on Friday morning and called to let me know that all the water was dried up, but some of the trim work would need to be re-installed and painted.  The hardwoods and the kitchen cabinet fronts looked fine.  We went ahead and scheduled for an indep. inspector to come in and check to make sure there is no moisture under the cabinets and in the wall this coming Friday.  The builder's assistant called and explained that a refrig.valve was open when the water was turned on and that is where the water came from.  We met with the builder's foreman and the assistant (which went well) this morning to go over some punch list items and it looks like we may be closing on the 13th.  As in.......Friday the 13th!!! Isn't that the icing on the craptastic cake!!!!  Do you think it's a good idea to be moving heavy furniture on that date?!Hmmmmm.......

After our meeting at the house, I get in my car and there is a warning light on and a tire sign.  I thought that due to the extremely hot weather we have been having my tire pressure must be off or something, so I decide to go ahead and head to Honda and get it checked out.  The conversation with the repair guy goes something like this.........

Repair guy: "You have a nail in the rear passenger side tire that is in the side wall and can't be repaired. It will have to be replaced."

Me:  "Oh no!! Do I have to buy two tires?"

Repair guy:  "Nope, just one...........oh wait I found another nail in your driver's side front tire. So...yea, you need two tires."

Me: "1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.10"- (the repair guy looks at me like I'm an idiot)

Repair guy:  "Have you been in a construction area lately or something?"

Me: "URGGGGGG!" I love having to buy new tires to replace tires that have less than 12,000 miles on them!!!"

A few minutes later the repair guy comes back over to me with the work order for me to sign.  Before looking at it I say (half jokeing) "If you tell me there is a 3rd and or 4th nail/tire needs to be replaced story I am going to kick you in the shin." He just kinda laughes, he may have thought I was more serious than jokeing.  The good news is that the dealership has a jump-jump so the girls were entertained for the 1.5 hours we were there.  The bad news is that one of the kids that was playing in the jump-jump got out and said "I don't feel good" and BARFED!!  Her mom just cleaned up the mess and her child and let the girl back in the jump-jump.  I pulled my kids out quick and squirted them down with antibacterial hand lotion which doesn't do much good since they have played with the girl for the prior 30 minutes!!!! GEEZ!!!!!

Sorry this post is forever long....but that's the way it goes sometimes.... I am not even going to get into the story about Elerz sticking a match stick carrot up her nose...I'll save that for another day. Here are some pics of the girls at the dealership.

Elerz with her monkey on her back!

 Nat, Elerz and another girl (NOT the one that barfed!!)