We're Listed!

After taking several nights in a row staying up late to clean, pack and get the house ready, the realtor came out on Friday morning in the rain to take pictures of our house. He thought it would be 2-3 days until our first showing (he didn't expect to post it until Friday afternoon). Before we knew it, we had a request for our first showing!

Here is our listing:
http://skogman.com/property/7579879/

We had the showing on Saturday afternoon. Tanner, Grayson, Max, Marley and I went to visit Autumn and Reed during the showing. While we were there, Max decided to run away. We found him at a house down the street where some good neighbors had caught him and called my cell phone number from his tag, even though my phone was in the car. We still haven't heard any comments from the showing.

It's been a rough week, full of late nights, and a lot of hard work. We hope it's all worth it and the house sells quickly! It's difficult to keep it looking like a "model home" in the meantime. We're excited to take the buyer perspective on Friday morning when we go to look at houses for us to buy. Yay!

Staging

Part of the moving process is having to stage your house to make it look as large as possible. Trina and I had spent the previous few nights packing boxes and cleaning out rooms to make our place look larger and more inviting. After we gave it our best shot, our Realtor sent professional stagers to our house to finish things off. I thought we were going to have to change a lot of things, but we did pretty good. Most of their suggestions were things that we had already discussed doing.

There were a couple of surprises. I was surprised that we were asked to take out one of our sofas from the living room and store it. I was also surprised that they moved our coffee table to the basement and the basement coffee table to storage. I was even more surprised when they didn't ask us to repaint Graysons room or the Cubs bathroom. They loved them both. I thought that they would be a turn-off for some people, but the stagers told us to keep them the way they were. In fact, those were the only two rooms that the stagers didn't have to change a single thing.

Here are all of the Juilfs grandchildren at Clara's baptism last weekend.

We are listing our house!

I know it is completely out of the blue, but Tanner and I have decided to list our home for sale. We realized, after meeting with our banker and realtors, that we can get quite an upgrade for just a tiny bit more of a payment (and a chunk of cash for closings, etc.). Interest rates are at their all time low at 4.5%! Because both our credit scores are so high, we will get the lowest possible rates offered. If we had planned to move in the next 1-10 years, now is the time. Even the banker is selling his house simply to upgrade for the same payment.

It all has happened very quickly. This is apparently the best time of the year to sell a house, so hopefully it goes quickly. As soon as we accept an offer on our house, we will purchase a different one. We plan to stay in the general CR area, but aren't picky as to specifically where. I think taxes and schools will play a big part in that. We will look for a 4+ bedroom 2+ bath house so that we can grow into it.

If you know anyone who is looking to purchase a 3 bedroom 2 bath house in Marion, send them our way! We are selling it for $142,500. Although this is MUCH lower than we ever hoped to sell it for, it's worth it on the other end- getting a great deal on a bigger house!

Our house:

On a completely different note...

Grayson is now 5 months old! This past month he has learned to put everything in his mouth, has started really enjoying his naked time every night, has eaten a variety of veggies and one fruit, has spent a ton of quality time with his daddy and gained yet another cousin. It's clearly been a busy month for him!

Unfortunately he has decided to revert to waking up several times a night again. Last night we were all up from 3-5:45am trying to get him to sleep, and that was after Tanner was up with him from 11-12. We are apparently not supposed to let him "cry it out" because it can aggravate his acid reflux therefore making him truly uncomfortable and in pain, which keeps him from sleeping (hence turning it into a big bad cycle). This sleeping problem will be fixed as soon as we find the store that sells the manual to Grayson Roos. Have you seen it?

Grayson's monkey outfit pictures. This outfit is shorts and short sleeves. We had planned for it to fit until his 1st birthday (size 18 mo) however, it already looks like it may not make it!

Grayson at 0 months:

Grayson at 3 months:

Grayson at 5 months:

At The Park

This was Grayson's first trip to the park. Although we walk through Hannah Park often, we haven't gotten out to play yet. So a week ago, Trina and I took Grayson to play on the slides and swings.

We stayed home for the 4th of July and had a great time. Here are a few of the highlights.

Grayson played in his pool.

Trina made some great food.

We put up Grayson's swing on the arbor that Grandpa Roos made for our wedding.

We went to the farmers market and to a tailgate party prior to the fireworks. We also got to visit baby Clara at home for the first time.

Hawkeye family pictures.

Welcome Clara Belle Gingerich!

Tasha delivered their new baby girl, Clara Belle, on Monday morning at 7:20. Clara weighed in at 7lb 1 1/2 oz and 20 inches long. She has TONS of dark hair and kind of large hands. She was quiet and content when we visited Monday afternoon. I can't believe how amazing Tasha looks so soon after giving birth!