Some of you have probably heard every detail of this story until you are blue in the face, but if that is not you, here is our story of buying our first house, or trying. We are supposed to close on Friday...so we're down to the last lap and waiting with great anticipation to see how this week ends.
From the very start, we had a rough time trying to make negotiations. A few times the seller didn't even respond unless we contacted her agent. Then, after we came home to CT, thinking we had a done deal - although she had yet to sign the final documents, she said she wasn't sure if she wanted to sell anymore. She finally signed the contract after we said we were fine pushing the closing date back a month. We went forward with inspections, radon and termite on top of the usual one- so THREE inspections, had someone come in and give an estimate on a few small repairs, gave our earnest money, etc. So she allowed for all of this to take place and then contacts us with a request to cancel the contract in a fairly relaxed manner via email. She had a story that she has an aging mother who is ill and can't possibly find another home to move into in the 2 1/2 months from the time we signed the contract and the closing date. Lest you think we're totally heartless, she had previously, we found out, had other offers and done the same thing to those people. She had also contacted us the week or so before and asked if we would be interested in renting the home back to her after we became the owners. Um, no. Do we look crazy? From our previous experience we felt like we would never get her out. So we felt confident that she wasn't in dire straits and that she was using this an excuse. We also felt like it would be easier for her than for us to find another home, living in the same state, and us living 10 hours away and having 2 children for whom to find a place, or travel with by myself if I was to come down again, plus a growing baby on the way, which would make it increasingly difficult to move if we had to postpone moving into a home when we got down there. We decided not to accept her request to cancel. Most recently, she's asked us to pay her unexpected expenses ($2,000) of possibly having to store her things while she rents and the cost of having to move twice. Certainly an unusual request to which we didn't agree either.
I'm sure our real estate agent thinks we're nuts but we have such a good feeling about this house and neighborhood. So, we're holding our breath, and praying, that she's moving out this week. Otherwise we may have to take her to court and the whole process could take several months (right around when our baby is due:), either to get her to stick with the contract and move out, or to get our money back that we've already put into buying this home. We have a good feeling about things, like either this house will work out or something else great will have come on the market that fits our needs even better. We'll find out Thursday when Doreen goes to walk through the house to see if she's moved yet. If nothing else, the whole thing makes for a fun story of buying our first home. We'll see what happens...
Some of my very favorite people in the whole world! Wish I had gotten more pictures of the Jarrettown (the ward I grew up in) Crew!
Almost all the Rolph women
Kristina, Jeannette, Josh and Grandma
Sweetie Pie
Jill with Grandma Champion 
I'm trying to go through my picture files and delete to make room for more. I'm having a hard time though because of each little nuance on the kids' faces. Hundreds of difference expressions and unique things about each of them. How can I possibly remember them all?
Maybe Mom should set some rules for Dad's swing pushing. That's Pete upside down:)
We went this time with our ward playgroup and a big group came. It was so refreshing to look at this picture and think "When I first moved here I wouldn't have fathomed having made so many NEAT friends in just one year. If you know these people, you'll notice people's kids are in all different strollers, being pushed by people who aren't always their parents. We paced ourselves S-L-O-W-L-Y and watched out for each other to make sure everyone was keeping up, had someone to talk to, etc. It was just fun to be with these courteous and fun people for the day. Even if the zoo was a MADHOUSE since it was one of the first free Wednesdays that was beautiful:)
A couple of cute monkies
We love this fun zoo. Probably partly because it's surrounded by a bustling city but it doesn't feel like it. Also, partly because you feel pretty hardcore when you make it there without getting lost, find a parking spot, and feel like you can navigate crazy city driving:)
Some of you have probably heard every detail of this story until you are blue in the face, but if that is not you, here is our story of buying our first house, or trying. We are supposed to close on Friday...so we're down to the last lap and waiting with great anticipation to see how this week ends.
We really talked up the whole "camping experience" all day and the days leading up to it. I think it made Peter a tiny bit apprehensive. He wasn't sure what to think about where they were going and why just he and Dad were going. We realized afterward he never really goes anywhere without me, and definitely not without Jill. If Kevin takes the kids somewhere, it's usually because I'm busy with something else and they're both with Dad. Otherwise, if Kevin's with us, we're all going. Kevin said he was very quiet in the car and wide-eyed in anticipation.
But as soon as they got there he realized he was in for a treat! He was SO excited to help set up the tent! Kevin also described the moment they got out of the car and Peter saw it was all men and boys. Apparently sometimes Moms just get in the way of fun. Like if Moms had been there, we would have put a stop to the mudsliding going on:)
Kevin said the older boys were really sweet with Peter, who was by far the youngest one there. Kevin was smart and made Peter in charge of handing out the marshmallows:) At one point, someone commented on his Diego jammies, asking if Peter liked that show. He said "Yes," and the older boy said "Yeah, it's a really good show. I like it a lot when I was your age, too."
They had so much fun these are the only photos they got but I guess that's part of the mystery of the Fathers and Sons campout as well. That night it poured down rain with some thunder and lightning but apparently Peter didn't wake up at all. 
Not sure why we're doing this with our arms but whatever.
I realize all I ever post about is my children, but who are we kidding? They are my life. They are all I do all day. They can get me to laugh at the silliest things and (almost) everything they do is completely endearing and perfect to their mother. And I think that's how it should be. I remember coming to the realization once that we brag on our kids or stick up for them when they are in error or are extra embarrassed when they aren't perfectly behaved because we want the rest of the world to see them through our eyes. To KNOW how we know that they are perfect and wonderful and precious above anyone else. But they can't and they won't because it's a special gift I've been given as their mom. (And, anyway, they probably understand because they already feel that way about their own children.) The other day I was writing in my journal about Peter and it hit me...one day he is going to move away from home and be busy with other important things and not immediately look for me when he is hurt or excited or any of the other reasons he looks to me a thousand times a day! Ouch - that stung to realize! THEN who will I be? Because, right now, I am him, and Jillian, and somewhere underneath I'm still me. I guess I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. And that will be how it's supposed to be then. But for now I get to solely be "Mommy" and enjoy these vivacious, and, like I said, perfectly wonderful little souls who grace our home. 
Digging and pushing dirt around at the park, essential for any good day
Swinging, with underdogs
Party City to pick out a balloon, a small toy, and some last minute party things
Friends and cake
Zebras, his favorite, and other animals on my jungle man's cake. I would not be one bit surprised if he ended up a park ranger in Africa some day:)
Life is always good with Sister by my side!
Last semester with Ethan and Emma
Jillian, Emma, Caden and Addie
Can you guess what letters we are?
