House troubles

I knew that buying a house wouldn't be easy, but seriously I didn't think it would be this much of a pain in the ass!! 

I started looking for a house over the summer. Every house in my price range seemed to need a lot of work. Don't get me wrong, I figured I'd need to do some minor things but these house needed more than I was willing to do. FINALLY, I found a house that I loved in September.

After negotiations we agreed on a price 40k less than what I was pre-approved for so I thought we were all set. Sign some paperwork and we'd be done...

I was applying for a USDA loan, which I found out pretty quickly were very picky. They kept requesting more and more information. So the application wasn't even accepted until November. The lawyer said it would probably be january since it was getting close to the holidays which was fine. So when I didn't hea anything for a while I didn't really think anything of it. 

Then, my real estate agent calls asking for the name of who I'm working with at the bank and the phone number. He said that he had another client that signed paperwork for the same type of loan 3 days after me and was closing the following week (I had yet to even get a commitment letter).

After talking to her he says she has no idea what's going on with my loan and that she's to call USDA and figure out what's going on and call him the following day. The next day she leaves me a message to call her. 

When I return the call she says that I have been declined... Which really doesn't make sense since I was asking for a lot less than what I was preapproved for.  Come to find out, she added overtime into my income, which I work when I can but it isn't consistent. Because of that, my debt to income ratio was too much... Ugh, so frustrating!!

So now, because this lady screwed the loan up were trying to figure out an exception. She seems to think that if I can prove that I have 3 months worth of my mortgage payment within my savings, checking, and retirement that they'll give me the loan. 

It's been 2 weeks and still haven't heard anything, so it's not looking good.... But I guess we'll just have to wait and see!

Spoiled BRAT!

A couple months ago I got a phone call from Evan's teacher requesting that Bill and I come in for a parent-teacher conference. At the conference she told us how Evan frequently makes comments that his mom hates him. He even had said at one point that he was playing a game in his head, that was ok because it was in his head, called slapped. When asked what the game was he said that he was slapping his mom.

Of course this sent red flags to the school so they sent him to speak with the school counselor. Upon being asked why he thinks his mom hates him he said things like, "I only get to play games at her house for an hour. And at my dads I can play as much as I want." Clearly, not a source of concern.

The reason the parent-teacher conference was still called was because the teacher and school counselor felt that Evan needed to speak with a counselor outside of school. Although neither Bill or I felt that this was necessary we didn't want to look like we didn't care so we said we would do it. Fortunately, my employer has a therapist that employees and immediate family are able to use for free. 

The therapist was really good with Evan. And us as well. First, she talked with all three of us. Asking Evan things like "who lives in dads house?" And "who lives with you and mom?" Then, she had Evan go in the waiting area and draw on an easel while she talked with just Bill and I. What she said next was not news to me but not what I had expected her to say. 

"Please don't take offense to this but there is NOTHING wrong with your child. I do not feel he needs to regularly speak with a therapist. He is very much an only child.. He is a spoiled brat! He tells his teacher you hate him for attention. Stop acknowledging it and it'll go away."

So that's what we did. And that's what we told his teacher to do... And away it went. Except during a meltdown every now and then. 

Summer.. Where did you go?!

In general, I am a pretty busy person. But this summer was insane! Last weekend, Mike and I went to our 4th wedding since July! ...still one more in October! Don't get me wrong I love weddings! But they get expensive when you have multiple that are out of town or if you're actually part of the wedding party (which fortunately I was not this year).

On top of all the weddings, I'm trying to buy a house. So I've been working overtime and going to look at houses. STRESSFUL! 

My 10 yr high school reunion was in June and a birthday wine tour for a good friend in July... Somehow I got roped into planning or at least helping to plan both of these activities..

All in all, summer was amazing! Lots of greats memories with a lot of great people... But being so busy definitely made it fly by entirely to fast!

30 day challenge & PiYo

First, let me start by saying that if you don't know who Chalene Johnson is you should look her up. She's AMAZING! Friends of mine were raving about her new workout series "piyo" (combination of Pilates and yoga)... So I tried it and LOVE it! 

After a couple days of piyo, I looked up her web page which has a blog with greats posts about everything from nutrition and fitness to relationship advice.

I also started her 30 day challenge which helps you to set goals and the prioritize a to-do list that help you to reach those goals. I'm only a week into it, but so far I like it. 

So... Go check her out, she rocks!

Who am I today?

I can't believe my last post was in 2011?!  So much has changed! Evan is almost 7 (next month)... I have been an ICU nurse for a year (finally graduated!) ...and probably the biggest change is that Evan's dad and I are no longer together (and haven't been for a couple years). 

I have an amazing boyfriend, Mike, who I've been dating since April. He is awesome with Evan, and we have been talking about him moving in! 

In April, Evan and I went to Disney world with my mom and nephew, Cameron. It was absolutely amazing! So many wonderful memories that I can't even begin to explain. Just seeing the look on the boys faces each day as we went through Disney, meeting characters and riding rides, was worth all the money and stress that comes along with planning such a big trip.

I also went to Nashville for CMA music fest with Alyssa, Deb, and Niles (lycoming friends). Another amazing trip! So much live music and such a cool city. 

Evan and I also got a puppy the end of April. She's crazy! Meet Chloe 🐶

That's all for today! Hopefully, I can keep up this time and not have to throw so much scattered info into one long post 😁

Back at it!

I guess I sort of fell off the blogger planet for quite some time! I have always enjoyed blogging and sharing my story (even if no one reads it..), but think that maybe my life got so crazy and I got so caught up in everything around me that I just pushed it aside. But now I am at a better place in my life with so many things going on around me that I want to get back to sharing!