We finally have our housing situation squared away!
In May we found a couple to rent my house and they moved in on June 19. So far we haven't had any issues with them, and we've received our rent on time. If all goes as planned and no issues arise, we think they might stay in my house for two to three years. Hopefully by the time they move out the market will have turned around and we can make sell it and make some money.
Just last month we found a family to rent Ross' house and they moved in on December 18. His house was on the market for nine months and during that time we did not receive one reasonable offer. We realized it was time to make a change and decided to put it up for rent. About a week after listing it on Craigslist.com, we signed a one-year rental contract.
Although we much prefer to have sold both houses, we're thankful to have found good tenants. And hey, there's nothing at all wrong with someone else paying your mortgage for you!
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Friday, December 24, 2010
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Christmas Plans
Ross and I are looking forward to spending our first "married Christmas" with both of our families. My Christmas vacation begins at noon on December 23. My work is closed the 24-31, so I have 10 days of vacation before I return to work on January 3, 2011. I am very excited about this vacation! Ross will hopefully get to take off work early on the 23, and he has the 24, 27, 28, and 31 off from work.
We plan to drive up to Kansas City on the 23 and will stay at Ross' parent's house. His brother and family will come over in the afternoon on Christmas Eve and we'll have dinner together and open presents. Then Ross and I will leave, hopefully no later than 8pm, and head to my parent's house in Ash Grove. My sister and her family will get there sometime during the day on the 24. We'll spend Christmas Day at my parent's and then go home to our house on the 26.
This is the first time in 30 years that Ross and I will both be doing something different on Christmas. I have to admit, it's a hard change! Although it will be fun being with my new Wiseman family, I'll miss what's going on with the Ward family. But, really, no matter which family celebration we're at, it will be fun because I'll be with Ross!
We plan to drive up to Kansas City on the 23 and will stay at Ross' parent's house. His brother and family will come over in the afternoon on Christmas Eve and we'll have dinner together and open presents. Then Ross and I will leave, hopefully no later than 8pm, and head to my parent's house in Ash Grove. My sister and her family will get there sometime during the day on the 24. We'll spend Christmas Day at my parent's and then go home to our house on the 26.
This is the first time in 30 years that Ross and I will both be doing something different on Christmas. I have to admit, it's a hard change! Although it will be fun being with my new Wiseman family, I'll miss what's going on with the Ward family. But, really, no matter which family celebration we're at, it will be fun because I'll be with Ross!
Merry Christmas!
Monday, December 20, 2010
8 Months and a Date Under $25
Last Friday, December 17, was our eight-month wedding anniversary! Quite an accomplishment, huh?!
In the eight months that we've been married, we have tried to celebrate, in some form or fashion, on the 17th of each month. It's nothing really big or formal, usually just a nice dinner at home eating on our china plates, or a nice dinner out. This is fun and a tradition I hope we continue after our first year, even when we have kids.
I was super excited about our eighth month celebration because of the cost of all that we did. We were able to catch Happy Hour at Flame (a very nice and expensive steakhouse in downtown Springfield) where we ordered a burger and fries for $3.50 each, total bill of $10.
After dinner we headed to the Gillioz Theater, also in downtown Springfield, to see the Christmas movie Elf. Our tickets were $5 each, total bill of $10.
Our anniversary celebration could not be complete without dessert! After the movie we headed to Orange Leaf for frozen yogurt. We each got our own cup with yummy, yummy flavors and toppings. The total of our dessert was $4.12.
All in all we had a fun and cheap date night/anniversary celebration. I am just tickled that we only spent $ 24.12 for our evening of fun!
But, then we went to Walmart. That trip was definitely not under $25!
In the eight months that we've been married, we have tried to celebrate, in some form or fashion, on the 17th of each month. It's nothing really big or formal, usually just a nice dinner at home eating on our china plates, or a nice dinner out. This is fun and a tradition I hope we continue after our first year, even when we have kids.
I was super excited about our eighth month celebration because of the cost of all that we did. We were able to catch Happy Hour at Flame (a very nice and expensive steakhouse in downtown Springfield) where we ordered a burger and fries for $3.50 each, total bill of $10.
After dinner we headed to the Gillioz Theater, also in downtown Springfield, to see the Christmas movie Elf. Our tickets were $5 each, total bill of $10.
Our anniversary celebration could not be complete without dessert! After the movie we headed to Orange Leaf for frozen yogurt. We each got our own cup with yummy, yummy flavors and toppings. The total of our dessert was $4.12.
All in all we had a fun and cheap date night/anniversary celebration. I am just tickled that we only spent $ 24.12 for our evening of fun!
But, then we went to Walmart. That trip was definitely not under $25!
Friday, December 10, 2010
Christmas Party
For the past five years I have hosted a Christmas party for all my friends. And last Saturday Ross and I hosted what is now called the the sixth annual Wiseman Christmas party! This is a party I started in 2005, the first year I lived in my house. It's always a fun night of great food, gag gifts, and games. I have always had 15-20 people at the party - in my little house! I was really looking forward to having it this year in our new house - much more space!
The first two years I had this party I made all of the food - for everyone! I thoroughly enjoyed making everything, and somewhat saw it as my Christmas present to my friends, and as a way to show them how much I appreciate them. But by the third year I was tired of making everything so I provided chili and chicken salad and everyone else brought the sides and desserts. This year we decided on potato soup and pulled pork for the main course.
Each year we have a gag gift exchange/white elephant gifts/dirty Santa ... and I'm sure there are several other names for this version of gift giving. Basically, everyone brings a gag gift and we go around taking turns opening gifts. Once you've opened your gift, you can choose to keep it or steal someone else's gift. We have had a great time with this game over the years. In fact, there is even one gift that keeps coming back each year: The Christmas Vest of Shame! This lovely, glittery vest first made an appearance in 2005 and has made it back every year since!
This party was especially fun and memorable because one of my very good friends, Daryl, proposed to his girlfriend, Angela, right as the party got started!! Daryl called me Thursday afternoon (the party was Saturday, in just 2 days!) to tell me he was going to do this and needed to talk through a few things with Ross and me. He came over Friday afternoon to square everything away and gave us final instructions.
Daryl certainly had his stuff together! He had everything planned out and written out, and had even invited his parents and brother, and Angela's parents and four best friends over to be a part of it. Here's how it went down:
The party was to start at 6:30pm, so Daryl had the 12 "extras" arrive at our house at 6pm to hide upstairs in one of our spare bedrooms. (They parked down the street away from our house so they cars wouldn't look like they were party of our party.) The rest of our friends started arriving at 6:30 and no one knew (well except for a few people that Daryl had let in on the plan) what was about to happen!
A little before 7, everyone had arrived so Ross and I gathered everyone together to pray. After Ross prayed he asked Daryl if there was anything he would like to add. Daryl said yes, there is. He then took Angela into the living/dining room and had everyone else follow. He started his speech to Angela and then had the others hiding upstairs come down to witness the proposal. It was so nice and worked out just perfectly for them! We were able to snap lots of picture and even video-taped the whole thing! Congratulations, to the future Mr. and Mrs. Daryl Brown!
This was the only way to make sure Ross and I were in one of the group pictures!
Starting his proposal with EVERYONE in the room!
The first two years I had this party I made all of the food - for everyone! I thoroughly enjoyed making everything, and somewhat saw it as my Christmas present to my friends, and as a way to show them how much I appreciate them. But by the third year I was tired of making everything so I provided chili and chicken salad and everyone else brought the sides and desserts. This year we decided on potato soup and pulled pork for the main course.
Each year we have a gag gift exchange/white elephant gifts/dirty Santa ... and I'm sure there are several other names for this version of gift giving. Basically, everyone brings a gag gift and we go around taking turns opening gifts. Once you've opened your gift, you can choose to keep it or steal someone else's gift. We have had a great time with this game over the years. In fact, there is even one gift that keeps coming back each year: The Christmas Vest of Shame! This lovely, glittery vest first made an appearance in 2005 and has made it back every year since!
This party was especially fun and memorable because one of my very good friends, Daryl, proposed to his girlfriend, Angela, right as the party got started!! Daryl called me Thursday afternoon (the party was Saturday, in just 2 days!) to tell me he was going to do this and needed to talk through a few things with Ross and me. He came over Friday afternoon to square everything away and gave us final instructions.
Daryl certainly had his stuff together! He had everything planned out and written out, and had even invited his parents and brother, and Angela's parents and four best friends over to be a part of it. Here's how it went down:
The party was to start at 6:30pm, so Daryl had the 12 "extras" arrive at our house at 6pm to hide upstairs in one of our spare bedrooms. (They parked down the street away from our house so they cars wouldn't look like they were party of our party.) The rest of our friends started arriving at 6:30 and no one knew (well except for a few people that Daryl had let in on the plan) what was about to happen!
A little before 7, everyone had arrived so Ross and I gathered everyone together to pray. After Ross prayed he asked Daryl if there was anything he would like to add. Daryl said yes, there is. He then took Angela into the living/dining room and had everyone else follow. He started his speech to Angela and then had the others hiding upstairs come down to witness the proposal. It was so nice and worked out just perfectly for them! We were able to snap lots of picture and even video-taped the whole thing! Congratulations, to the future Mr. and Mrs. Daryl Brown!
This was the only way to make sure Ross and I were in one of the group pictures!
Starting his proposal with EVERYONE in the room!
Girl picture!
Angela won the Christmas Vest of Shame!
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