Sunday, April 19, 2009

Houses

Out with the old...
In with the new...
We spent last week in Michigan looking at houses. One might think that we are crazy for buying a house considering how much we are going to loose on our house in Tucson, but when we looked at rental prices compared to buying (especially in this market) we decided to go ahead and buy. Hopefully things will pick up a little in the next three years. We were able to find a house that we liked and put an offer on it last Monday. On Tuesday, we got an offer on our house in Tucson. It is a little bittersweet as we are very excited to sell and keeping our fingers crossed that everything goes through. However, when we bought, we obviously were not counting on the housing market taking a turn for the worst. But we felt like we should try to sell despite the financial burden so we didn't have to worry about a house half-way across the country.


We were able to spend some time with Casey's sister in Michigan who had her baby on Easter morning (and Casey's mom who was in town for the occasion). We made them Easter dinner and took it to the hospital. We are excited that we will be closer to them (about an hour away) even though they will be leaving soon. I just realized that we didn't take a single picture with them. I have never been good at taking pics and I think that it is even worse now that I have a kids that runs every which way. Luckily, I can steal a pic from her blog. Congrats Becky and Steven.
We were able to schedule our trip to coincide with Casey's Clinical Skills Test. All Med students have to take this test as part of their boards. There are five testing sites in the U.S. He had it scheduled to take in Los Angeles, but switched it to Chicago so we could make one big trip out of it. Here he is all dressed and ready looking like a real doctor. I guess it is a pretty lame test - however, it is 8 hours long and costs a whopping $1100 (it's really just a way to generate a load of cash)

Here are some other pics from the trip...
At the poolThe online house searches



Lake Michigan - we didn't have time to drive out to the beach so we stopped by the side of the road to snap a pic of Lake Michigan. We are excited to check out the beach this summer.

Paige in her "winter coat." I was informed that it is more like a spring coat for MI. However, she didn't even wear it in AZ this winter because it was never really that cold.

Paige was quite a trooper for the whole trip. She sat in that car seat more in those five days than she normally does in a month. Check out her new pose (and this is just the few times that I took a pic). She has a tendency to sit like this almost every time we get in the car. It must be relaxing.




7 comments:

TrishAnderson said...

I am glad the houses are working out - even if it isn't quite like you planned. Love Paige's new pose (and I didn't get a chance to tell you I loved her hair in her little pony yesterday - it was the cutest). So sad about the paint. I bet that was a reall mess to clean up.

Jana and Brett said...

haha you have a cute little family Tamra! Hope the house buying goes through...i'm not really down with the lingo yet...not really sure how to wish you luck. :0) Next year though! Aren't we getting so old?

Porter and Karla said...

ive been laughing the last ten minutes about paige pouring the paint all over herself. she look miserable and props to casey for getting it all off before you even got home. that is hillarious. second. . . i love your new house and want to move! the cute shutters, large yard of grass, double garage. it is very cute and i want to see the inside! you guys are going to do great out there i just know it!

Niki said...

LOVE the new house! And I am so jealous of that lawn! I want inside pictures when you move.

Macey said...

So exciting for you guys! Dr. Crandell, I can't believe it. See you soon!

Barbara said...

Hey you! I am so glad that I came across your blog! You have the most adorable little girl ever! She is getting so big! Girls are so much fun! Wow...so Michigan it is huh?! That is so exciting! We need to get together before you guys leave!

Kisha Atkin said...

Hope everything closes smoothly for you guys! Good luck my friend. Casey, I still have a hard time taking you seriously - even in the white coat! Best of luck with the long move...I will be thinking of you! Baby Balls is so big and adorable. I love the poses of her in her car seat. Too bad james doesn't find his seat so relaxing! Miss ya!