Wow, I need a new update~Crazy times 'round here

Here I am with Cali at the Design Center with some of our choices.

Here is our lot. Tree on the far left will by right by the fence in our backyard--I told Michael it is perfect for a fort. Unfortunately, the tree in the middle will have to go for the home to sit there. The other trees are at the back of the lot, and will probably eventually be in our backyard neighbors yards, but will still shade ours.
This is one of the many times (and surely not our last) that we took the kids to the Sales office at the model home. They came into our meeting (as they watched a DVD or ran rampant) and said, "come take a picture of us." How could I resist? I love it!

Crazy busy around here! Our house has been on the market for 22 days and we've had 14 people come through to look at it. Still no offers:( Thats ok...we have time. Everyone says our pricing is, "exact" but complaining about the road behind us, O'Connor. Not a major road, but the neighborhood entrance road that gets a good number of cars through.

We have gone to the design center twice and painstakingly decided on all the details of our home. We had a minimal budget for "upgrades" and stayed within it, which made me happy. I think it will be funny to walk around my future neighbors home (who all had the same builder) and think...."ahh, you opted to do the cap and riser stair system for $700 and even the starter step for an additional $700" or "hmmm, they upgraded from brushed nickel to brushed chrome for all of their faucets, that is a good $500." So many new terms that I learned.
This past week I was agonizing over our wood floors. We want them, budgeted for them, then realized what we budgeted through the design center wasn't very high quality wood floors. It would be a major leap to get a nice floor. We found a contracter where we could get the good stuff for a lot less than the cheap stuff through the builder.
We like the sample on the bottom left.
Problem is, we can't use our contractor until after we close on the house, and we can't close on an unfinished house.

Sooooo, since carpet is "standard" they will put it in, and we will pull it out the day we close. Painful, yes, but we will still use or sell that carpet. Also, get this, we will carpet our kitchen. Yes, you heard that right. When I told the design lady we wanted to do that, she said it was, "against code." To which I fought it and ask why. She sais because the kitchen is a "wet area." To which I persisted with "why is that against code?" She asked her bosses, and guess what??? We got approval! So the kitchen will be carpeted, because I want wood in my kitchen. I almost consented to tile in the kitchen, but realized its just not what I want, I want to go all the way, baby. I spent hours on the phone and email and asking people about what exactly comes "Standard" in our future home, so I could be fully educated.

These are our selections. Cabinet is kitchen and all bathrooms. I wanted white, but it wasn't an option. Michael wanted dark wood. We'll see how I like it after a while. Love my granite. Good Frizzay (not sure the spelling) carpet was a standard. Brick became an upgrade after we selected it, but we get to keep it at the standard price. To the left of the brick is our exterior paint.

There were already a great deal of Standard features in this home. A local custom builder, Scott Felder Homes, just recently bought out Newmark Homes here in Austin. Just in July as we were looking (the prices went up during our negotiations, but I held firm on that original price).
Cindy--our design specialist. She was nice and not pushy, I appreciated that.
As standard, we already get granite countertops in the kitchen, 5 inch baseboards throughout the house (I didn't realize this was so nice) 8 foot doors downstairs (again, didn't realize it was such a big deal), a drain in the laundry room, round edged corners on all the drywall, 42 inch kitchen cabinets, black wraught iron stairwell bars (what are those called again?), and crown moulding in 2 rooms. All the hardware (door knobs, lighting) is a silver, which we are coming from shiny gold hardware so we are thrilled about the silver. We would have loved to upgrade to a brushed silver, but decided not to.

For our kitchen, we got a Level 1 granite. Level 1 consisted of 4 choices---black, black, black, and gray. I couldn't believe they were so similar. I had my heart set on the brownish yellowish granite, so that was one of our big upgrades--we jumped to level 3 granite. We also upgraded to have them paint our ceilings white to match our baseboards instead of the same color they are painting the wall (a tan color I chose). I wasn't sure about this one, but after some research, realized I wanted the ceilings white because it makes the room seem bigger, and lightens the room, too. I like to see the edges. Another upgrade we chose was to cut down the tile for our kitchen backsplash, to "bullnose" the granite edges in our bathrooms (that was minimal, but it makes it round instead of straight/right angle at the edges), double flood lights at the soffit (DID NOT know what that meant, but it is the backyard lights at the corner, under the gutter. Also upgraded our front door just a touch so I could get the cute Texas star glass.
Close up on our granite (the small one) and cabinet.
I was glad the design lady wasn't pushy. Our sales guy just didn't understand why we would want to pay cash for our wood floors instead of rolling it into the price of our mortage. I kept telling him we were happy with the monthly payment and didn't want to go up anymore. I told this to my friends and they said, "That is why we have the housing crises that we do--pushy people trying to talk homeowners into more than they should try to afford."

We are anxious to sell our home, as we've decided--it just doesn't feel like ours anymore. We de personalized it quite a bit, and have to leave at a moments notice for people to come walk through. I do try to soak in the last bit of it, though. As I walk into the beautifully clean rooms, I have the constant thought...."I'm really going to miss this place." I'm able to drag out the goodbye, which I think will make it a tad easier in the end.

Now to share some pictures from the past month or so....

This is the Sister Missionary who helped me paint some rooms before our house went on the market. Her companion left before I could get a picture. That day, they spent 3 or 4 hours in my bedroom touching up paint on the ceiling that I should have done years ago. It was painstaking, so I had them do it:) Alyssa was in there the whole time talking their ears off. This Sister pictures was very cute with Alyssa. The other one was annoyed, it made me laugh.

We went to Russ and Kim's (in San Antonio) twice in August. Once for Kim's shower/Michael's bike race, and once because I photographed a wedding. We love to hang out with them.


On a neighborhood stroll--Alyssa got tired (no surprise at all).
Asleep on Russ' floor (soon to be Bennett's room)
Kim's Shower below...Alyssa got to help select the presents to open.

While the girls were at the shower, the boys went to the community pool with a high dive.


Back home in RR, Alyssa took this of me....

Matthew was holding Cali and walking around, then I found him reading his book, her just next to him. Tyler came to join in. Once she saw me, it was all over.



After months of drought in our area, our Stake at church held a fast for rain. About 5 days later, it flooded in some areas. We got the rain we asked for. It rained for nearly 48 hours straight...and HARD RAIN! No lightening, so they had a grand time playing in it...











Did I ever post my apple green kitchen? I loved it, but painting over it was another part of my goodbye to this home. That color just won't work with dark chocolate wood cabinets.

Kids watching tv on a summer morning. Notice the breakfast "picnic blanket" on the floor behind them.

Yesterday we took a quick day trip to San Antonio to meet my new little nephew, Bennett Isacc Hill. He was born September 16th, the day before Cali's 5 month mark. Kim and Russ will be such great parents. I took a bunch of other shots that are on my "big camera" and I'll soon post.

The cousins...
Me and my little bro and our babies (Cali, the giant).

Whew--I feel relief that I'm caught up now. Michael and I are headed on our trip in a week and a half, and I've been planning that trip amongst everything else. Now to go to bed.

The Alcott

Here is the floorplan for our home. We saw it first and really liked it. The Texas Basement is a storage room that is unfinished, but we plan to eventually finish it off. Michael says he can do that..."easy." We would have loved a 3 car garage (who wouldn't?) but just got a 5 ft. extention b/c the lot we picked on a cul de sac wasn't quite wide enough. We hope/plan to park both cars and bikes in the garage. We transformed the kitchen into "gourment kitchen" which gives us a HUGEmongous pantry and tech center which I am quite excited about. We love the open-ness between the kitchen/family room just like we have in our current home.

This is the exterior that we plan to get--brick and shades of brown. This is our floorplan on the outside--some random persons home across town, but same builder. When we walked into the model home, Michael and I instantly felt like this was our home. I took pictures of the inside, but I am not a fan of the decorations, not my style. There are some upgrades on this home that we won't do, but I'll try to explain that as pics are viewed.





Upon entering, the dining room is on the right. We plan to have it as a living room for our piano and reading enjoyment. Cross hatch on the wall, not included (yay, don't care for it). I like the tall window, almost to the floor.
Turn to the left and you have the study. It has double doors. Hall bathroom right next to it (no picture).
This is turned around looking at the front door (dining on the left) and stairway. Far left you can see the door to the under the stairs closet.
This is the closet. The kids loved the "secret hiding place."
The picture below, Michael is standing right by the same under the stairs hall closet. Our builder, Greg, is talking to him. I am in the breakfast nook right by the utility (laundry) door. This is a view of the kitchen (obviously) and the family room to right. Right by Greg in the archway is the entrance to the Master bedroom. Very left sliver is the garage door entrance. The wine rack on the island will be a bookcase.
Laundry Room. I'm glad it isn't attached to the garage.
This is standing by the garage door looking at the breakfast nook/kitchen.
This is the tech center off to the side of the kitchen, just to the right as you enter from the garage (see floor plan above). I love this, I'm sure it will house all our bills and etc. stuff as well as a laptop.
This is the other side of the tech center, great for backpack hooks and a shoe bind, also the pantry door entrance.
THIS is the pantry:) Isn't she pretty?
From pantry door looking at tech center.
Master Bedroom

Master Bath
Master Closet
I wonder how much we will use this tub, I am not a bath person, I'm sure the kids will like it.

Another view of the kitchen. I'd love to do white cabinets, but it isn't an option from the builders, so Michael wants a dark wood. We'll do it with the idea that I may later paint them white. Granite countertops come standard, I am going to do a yellowish/brown color.
From kitchen sink--view of Family/fireplace/Master entrance. The fireplace will not be stone.
Understairs closet with narrow hall that leads to dining/living
Upstairs bedroom that will be our guest/craft room
Girls room--Alyssa thinks she is getting a Cinderella bed in the new house.
This wall won't be happening either, but its cute.

The TX basement/storage for a while until we get garage shelfs hung and finish this out. Possibly a media room later? Not sure.
The gameroom at the top of the stairs.

Trying to do a jumping happy picture!
Looking down from gameroom balcony
Looking up to gameroom from front door. I really liked the openess of this floorplan. When we have guests, it may be a bit loud, but I love it for our everyday family togetherness.

We are excited, but it seems so far away.

Not complaining, just purging

Yesterday I felt like I was spiraling out of control. I keep adding to my "plate" and I should just slow down a little. I like to go fast, I like a lot going on, I like to be busy, its my nature. But sometimes I realize its too much. Michael and I view our time so differently. On weekends when we have just 1 thing going on, he thinks its too much, while I'm excited to have something to do. I laugh that he says that while I think totally the opposite. Right now, we really have a lot going on. Our house has been on the market exactly one week today. We've had 5 showings which I hear is pretty good. I guess I expected 10 just the first weekend. It's a slower time of year, too, and we knew that. I'm hoping Labor Day weekend people will be out looking. Out of the 5 that came, 3 left very minor feedback to our realtor. I think all 3 mentioned what I figured would be mentioned--our house backs to the neighborhood entrance road and it is busier. It looks GREAT on the inside, I've kept it so clean and so proud of myself for that. But I can't do anything about that road. It didn't bother us, so it won't bother someone else. That house selling thing is always on my mind. Everytime I leave my house, I want to pick up every little crumb or paper that I see, just in case while we are out someone wants to see it. Those little crumbs never bothered me much before, now I hone in on them. At first I became a little bit of a psycho clean mean mom, but the kids have done really well in keeping clean, too. I told Michael he's going to miss the laid back/not worried about the mess "me." Once its clean, its kinda easy to keep it up. Just can't let it slip. http://www.8017manx.com/


Then there is the house we are buying. I am excited that we "have it" but we don't technically "have it" until this one sells. We are going next week to the design center to pick out details. Wow, are their details. I mean, we had heard there were, but.....lots of details. We don't plan to do a whole lot of upgrades. This house already has some great upgrades as standard. But we have to choose between a handful of those standard options. I've been doing lots of research and asking around to get help and better understand this process. I want to be informed and on top of it. We really want to put wood floor on most of the downstairs--including the kitchen, but if the builder does it, it is twice as much. So because they won't let us have our own contractor do work before we close, my plan is to have them carpet (code says it has to be done) everything--including the kitchen so we can pull it out the next day and do our wood.

I started a walking club--we walk and talk for an hour. A nice way to exercise. I'm itching to run, but when I did a month ago, my knees hurt. I am anxious to lose a few pounds. It's fun to meet up with friends in the mornings when otherwise we'd be home with me on the computer and Alyssa watching cartoons.

Found out yesterday that Tyler's 3rd grade class is too big and the school has to add another teacher and subsequently will pull 3-4 kids from each class to form that new class. Tyler loves his teacher an got a little emotional at the idea he could be moved. Me, too. Crossing our fingers and toes on that one.

I just found out that in my new ward are a few other photographers. One that has a studio attached to her house. I'm not so bothered by this for reasons that some might think. I'm happy to share the photography love. In fact, I prefer to photograph strangers. But people tend to try to "dance around" the photography issue with me. Afraid to tell me they had their kids pictures taken and Kiddie Kandids or JC Penney. They think it will hurt my feelings or something that they didn't come to me. Not true, not true. I won't feel competition with them, but I worry that others may think that I do. Weird, I know. I recognize that I may possibly come across in a way that I don't want to by this chosen job I've started. I've worked hard on the inside to try not to care if people think I'm snobby just because I charge a healthy sum to take pictures. I had someone tell me once that if I charged less I'd "get a lot more business." Is that what I want? No way! My JOB is a stay at home mom. My creative outlet that funds my creative outlet is just that. It doesn't support us, nor do I NEED it, nor do I WANT to be BUSY!!! I am happy to photograph 1 session a month, maybe 2. I don't want a lot of business, and I'm getting what I want with how I am currently priced. I just worry how others think of me for doing so. Oh well.

Now onto the business--because of all the details for our home, and wondering if all the money stuff falls into place as it should (Michael is sure there will be lots of surprise costs) I AM wanting to fill up and photograph lots of sessions. So with all of the above, I am looking at wanting about 2 a week. To save up, afford that wood floor to cover that carpet in the kitchen:) Maybe this will cause me to go crazy, but we'll just see.

I am still the scout leader, and I am worn out from it. Moslty because I have to plan things. If it were a schedule all laid out for me, that would be superb! Yesterday I had scouts and pictures in the evening. At scouts I was so weary from staying up til 2 the night before, and worried I'd keel over at pictures, but I didn't...yay!

To top all of that off--Michael and I are going on a trip in a few weeks!!!! Well, Cali is coming, too. I was up til 2am 2 nights ago researching B&B's because we are headed to Vermont!
We actually fly into New Hampshire, but Vermont sounds more exotic to me. A friend of mine said NH sounds more exotic. Anyway, we celebrate 10 years of marriage this year (Dec. to be exact) and I told him I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to go to the east coast for the Fall Foliage. I thought maybe we shouldn't with the house stuff and trying to save, etc. but he still wanted to go. SO, we booked our tickets and we are going. I am SO stinkin excited!!! I love the fall, my favorite, and I haven't seen the leaves in 8 years. I am looking for cool looking covered bridges to photograph. We plan to drive to the birthplace of Joseph Smith in Sharon, VT but other than that, I am open. If anyone knows any great spots, let me know!

Now off to Dallas for the Labor Day weekend. I like trips b/c I forget everything else. We are staying with Michael's brother first, then to see my dear friend Natalie and her week old baby, Mia.