An update

Okay, I am still so ridiculously far behind in blogging! We spent almost the entire month of June back east (typed while making a conscious effort to say back east rather than home) and I have so much to share about it. But I felt the need to do a general update of life in Las Vegas.

First and foremost... My Aunt Mary asked me if I am indeed learning to love Las Vegas.  Seems like it should be an easy enough question.  However its a question that leaves me feeling completely conflicted.  Keeping it as simple as possible I don't hate it but I certainly don't love it either.

So here's the latest and greatest of life in Las Vegas...

The past 7 days the highs have been as follows:
6/28 - 113
6/29 -  114
6/30 -  116
7/1-  112
7/2- 114
7/3- 111
7/4 - 112

In other words- Disgustingly HOT!  Yet, it reminds me of winter at home.  You only go to places such as the grocery store because its a necessity.  You take your dog for a walk and pray she/he does her business as quickly as possible so you can get back inside.  When you go outside you find yourself short of breath.  You hope for relief from the temperatures soon because being inside the house is driving the kids stir crazy.  The big difference for me though is that winters at home (oops there I go again) back east feel like perfect days to cuddle under blankets and watch a movie.  Its hard to cuddle under blankets and watch movies when the sun in beating through every window and rapidly warming your house.

Speaking of houses.  The housing search.  Dun dun dun.....  To date we have put in 11 offers on homes.  To our knowledge 3 houses have sold to conventional buyers who outbid us and 7 houses have sold to cash buyers (mostly investors) and 1 house was a short sale we were in on for four months before the two banks who had loans on the houses couldn't agree on a price and forced the house into foreclosure.

I don't know if I explained this before so if I did my apologies...
Yes the market tanked here and yes you can a great value on a house by comparison to what the market was in 2007.  However, that's only true if you can get into a house.  Investors are coming in with cash and buying houses left and right making it virtually impossible for conventional buyers to get into a home.  Additionally what makes it so difficult is that there are no negotiations.  With every house we have looked at we have had to put in our best and final offer within a week of when it pops up on the market.  Then the sellers realtor sits down with the seller and they select the best offer.  To make matters worse (although it really is for the better in order to avoid a crash like before), you can't overpay for a house as a conventional buyer unless it is out of pocket.  For example:  If we are willing to pay for 300,000 for a house but it appraises at 250,000, we can only get financing for the 250,000.  Instead of coming to the table with 60,000 as your 20% down payment on the house,  you would have to have 50,000 for your down payment and another 50,000 to cover the difference between what the bank will finance and the sale price of 300,000.  So now you are coming to the table with 100,000.

With all that said we are starting to explore new options.  Possibly renting or possibly building a house in a different part of Las Vegas.

The kids have adjusted fairly well, as has Kirby.  To be perfectly honest, I am still the one struggling the most.  The part of being away from family and friends will never change.  But Kirby and I are hoping to join a kickball league or something this fall and maybe make some new friends.

Worst Mommy Moment:
The housing situation has been stressful enough so lets just leave the negativity at that.

Best Mommy/Wife/Daily Life Moments:
Despite the struggles of the housing search there have been numerous great moments, but lately I have tried to soak up the little moments that make my heart smile.  So here it is from sun-up to sun-down.

Waking up next to my still sleeping husband (in our own bed without any pack n plays in the room-learned to appreciate this after weeks of sharing a room with a kid)

The moment when Jocelyn realizes I have opened the door to her room in the morning and a gigantic smile sweeps over her face.

I savor the moments right before Kirby goes to work.  He takes his time to give each of us a kiss Goodbye and tell us that he loves us.

The way Charlie's little hand folds into mine as we cross the street on one of our errands.

2:05 pm two sleeping kids and one sleeping dog- a quiet house : )

Every day Jocelyn wakes before Charlie and when he wakes up he always wants her to come in his crib. She practically dances out of my arms as I put her in the crib with him.    I love how they love each other.

The squeal of excitement and then the yelling of "Hi Daddy" as Kirby gets home from work

Watching Kirby play with the kids.  It is nothing short of pure bliss to see the three of them beaming having fun

My cuddle session with Jocelyn after she finishes nursing before bed.  Lately my heart explodes with love for her during these sessions as she has been having a case of the giggles.

Hearing one last "I love you Mommy" from Charlie as I close the door to his room and he goes to sleep for the night

And to end it all a kiss goodnight from my husband