It's FINALLY Official!!!

Steve and I signed our lives away today and officially became home owners.

Can I just say WOO FREAKIN' HOO!!!!

I don't care what anyone says... The process of buying a home is not nearly what it's cracked up to be, and I hope to not have to go through it again at anytime in the near future. I am SOOO glad it's over and done!

Funny story (OK, not really, but here goes)... Steve and I were actually supposed to close yesterday at 1:00pm. As we're sitting at lunch at 12:45pm, we get a call from out mortgage company saying there was some kind of name discrepancy. Immediately, I started cursing my parents for naming me Erin and calling me Kasey. But, it turns out it wasn't my name that was the issue... It was Steve!

Steve is named after is dad, and is therefore Steve E. Jones II. He always writes and signs his name as such on legal documents. Well, it turns out that our mortgage company left the "II" off one of the forms they filled out, and the title company was questioning it. So... we were told that it would take up to 24 hours to verify Steve's identity and that we would have to push closing back to today. Grrrrr!!

I was disappointed, and Steve was flat out pissed off! No two ways about it. He spoke with our loan officer a few times, and even ended up talking (loudly) with the branch manager to get things straightened out. The mortgage company ended up giving us a nice little discount off of our closing costs, and rushing things through so that we could close at noon today.

So... we did it!

I can't wait to get moved and finally be HOME!!!

My Sweet Petunia...

I've written before about the lovey-dovey relationship that Cookie and Steve have. He loves her, and she absolutely lives for him. I'm basically just the lady that feeds her and gives her treats every now and then. I've been telling Steve for the past couple of months that since he stole my dog... he owes me a new one!

Well... This sweet little girl is the newest addition to our family.

Her name is Petunia, she is eight weeks old, and she came to live with us on July 3rd.

Poor Cookie had a rough couple of days... She was simply NOT the least bit thrilled with Miss Petunia being here. She was grouchy, and I was heart broken. I thought for sure my Monster hated me, and that is the last thing I wanted. I cried, I worried, and I didn't sleep for two days.

But, it's been four days now, and the girls are starting to get used to each other. We even caught them napping together on the couch this afternoon.

Everyone I've talked to says to just give them time. They pretty much just have to figure it all out on their own. I'm hoping they are right and that they will eventually be good buddies. I keep telling Cookie that she is still the Queen... She just has a little Princes to boss around now!

I sure do love these furry little creatures!

Home

We had our home inspection yesterday and it went off without a hitch! With the exception of a couple of shingles that need trimmed, and some metal flashing that needs put up on one part of the roof... We're Good!!

Ahhhhh..... Relief!

Closing is set for the 15th of July, and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that everything goes according to schedule. The next month is going to be SOOO busy!!

I'll get some decent pictures posted once we've had the chance to get in there and clean things up a bit (the sellers didn't clean anything when they left... grrrr). For now... this picture from Steve's phone will have to do.

Here she is!

I think the yard is going to be our biggest project this year. The neighbors have been nice enough to keep it mowed, but it's really going to need some work.

Those tacky gold light fixtures are going to have to go at some point too, but I have to remember... One thing at a time.

OMG, OMG, OMG...!!!

As my mom used to say... "I don't know whether to scream... cry... or throw up!"

I am thrilled and terrified all at once.

Steve and I found out today that the bank has accepted our offer on the house we want!!!

So... If all goes well (inspection, closing, etc.), we should officially be homeowners sometime in the next month or so!

Part of me is thinking, "YAY!... I can't wait to get in to my home!!"

The other part of me is thinking, "Holy crap!  I'M A GROWN UP!!!"

Keep your fingers crossed for us.

Pedaling for a Cure!

In this day and age, every single one of us know someone who has been directly affected by Cancer. It's a scary reality. Family members, friends, co-workers... Men and women... Young and old... Cancer does not descriminate.

Luckily, the United States has some of the best cancer research facilities in the world... The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center - James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute (a.k.a. "The James") being among them. Despite the fact that groundbreaking research performed at The James is beating cancer every day, a desperate need for additional funds and resources remains. Fortunately, we can all help!

In 2008, NetJets Inc. (the company that Steve and I both work for) joined forces with the director and CEO of The James as well as the LIVESTRONG movement to take a stand against this terrible disease. This is where the idea of Pelotonia was born.

Peloton, by definition, is "a principal group of cyclists in a race". Pelotonia, is a grass roots bike tour with one goal: To end cancer. On August 28th-30th, 2009, a group of NetJets employees (including our President and CEO, Richard Santulli) will join Lance Armstrong and other cyclists from across the country to do just that. This bike tour will start here in Columbus, OH, and will consist of a 2 day, 180 mile round trip ride to Ohio University in Athens, OH.

Now... I haven't spent any good quality time on a bike since I was a kid. I don't even own a bike at this point in my life. The last time I was on a borrowed one, it was ugly. That being said, I do plan on volunteering for the event. On the other hand... Steve has a bike, and I'm proud to say that he will be riding (and I will be cheering him on) in this noble fight for a cure!

At this point, Steve has signed up to ride the 50 mile ride, and has to raise $1000 in order to participate. However, he really wants to be able to participate in the full 180 mile ride, and is hoping to be able to raise the $2000 required to do so. I know that money is tight for all of us, and that many of us already have charities/organizations we contribute to. However, if you're interested in helping Steve, you can click the link below to view his rider profile and make a donation. *No amount is too small!*

Steve Jones Pelotonia Profile

Steve's personal goal for the Pelotonia is to raise $5000. He and a few of his co-workers (who are also riding) are trying to think of something a little crazy they can do if they each reach their personal goals. They were thinking of shaving their heads, but for obvious reasons, that's not a very far fetched idea for Steve. Suggestions are welcome... Let the brainstorming begin!

It's Official... Kinda!

As of 1:30pm yesterday afternoon... Steve and I are "in contract" on a house we love!

Part of me is really excited, and part of me is really nervous. I don't know which part is bigger right now.

The house we found is a short sale, and if things go our way, we will have gotten a smokin' hot deal on it. It's a newer house in a nice neighborhood, and it's the first house we've been in that actually feels like it could be "home"... That's a really good feeling! I've tried so hard to not get my hopes up, and not let my heart get set on this house. I know this is not the only house in the Columbus area that we could possibly be happy in. But as each day passes... it gets harder and harder to not let my emotions play into it.

The house itself is in phenomenal shape. The interior paint is nice, the carpet is almost brand new... There is not a single thing that would need to be done right off the bat. I already know what my favorite room is... I can imagine the Monster running around in her new back yard... I even know the perfect spot for a great big Christmas tree.

Ugh... This is the pits!!

Since it's a short sale, we still have a few hoops to jump through. The seller has accepted our offer, but it's all in the bank's hands at this point. So for now, we sit and wait.

And wait.

And wait some more.

I feel like a kid at Christmas. Only it's a few months before Christmas, and my parents have just set the biggest present ever right in front of me... unwrapped... and told me that I can't touch it. I can only look at it. And at any point, the nosy neighbor kid could come running through the front door, only to steal the present right in front of me.

Now I know why I've been so content as a renter up to this point in my life.