Waterpark & Zoo Trips Part Too

No, not a real cow...

Making his elephant gesture...

With his big boy cup...

Petting the bunnies...

Trader Joes newest shopper...

Looking for the freshest oranges...

Moved In (to the rental)

Well, 1 week into the new place and a bit of a new routine is forming. Connor still having a bit of a struggle w/ the new school, but each day seems to be getting back to normal more and more. His vocabulary is expanding more and more everyday, fun ti hear the words he puts together.





Do to all the chaos of moving- Connor turned two kind of quietly, but somehow managed to get 2 cakes over two weekends...one with Grandma Fitz and the other with Grandma Cook (Connor does not turn down a cake).





We will get plenty of walking in at the new house...I think we have made the walk downtown nearly everyday so far. Is nice to walk down for dinner, park, river, etc, and head up back home.





Thanks to Grandma Cook and Aunt Carolyn for coming down to lend a hand this weekend. The boys had a good time. Connor especially liked the Mickey Mouse cake from Aunt Carolyn and the Mickey Mouse pancakes at Butterfields in Naperville.





While we were cameraless on Sunday, Connor went on a few amusement park rides for the first time with his cousins at the Taste of Westmont...he was very hesitant and always wanted "daddee" to go on with him, but I am too big for most. He did great - but sorry, no pics.





Connor says thanks to grandma for the pool - he went it in on Sunday evening after the Westmont fest. It looked rather white trash as they both went in with their clothes on...oh well. And thanks to aunt carolyn for the toddler rake and broom - now he can help even more!!





Short update - but too busy and tired for more (just got back from a 4 mile run...really nice running in this area - not trapped in cul-de-sac).

Free Mickey Mouse Pancakes at Butterfields (and a free t-shirt!!)

Not sure if its Connor or Carters B-day

As good a family shot as we can get at the new rental...(1930's luxury)

Cake boy

If Mickey is President, Elmo is Vice President.

Moved In (More Pics)

New rake/broom/shovel set for Connor (exciting, I know)

Connor runnign through the bubble machine while we try to have a relaxing evening by the firepit...

Fun in the pool...

Lotsa Stuff

Busy weekend this past weekend. Grandma and Grandpa Fitzgerald were down to lend a helping hand with the boys while we contiued are move. We are now officially moved into the rental...certainly feels a bit odd given 5 yrs in the Bartlett place, but all goes on. Miss the finished basement already but like having a backyard and living in-town.





Wednesday I rented a cargo van from enteprise ($65 unlimited miles) and took 4 loads between Bartlett and Naperville. And then this past Monday the real movers came and finished off the big stuff. At $140 an hour for a 3-man crew - glad we did alot of the litte stuff ourselves - as it still took them nearly 6 hours to do it all. All in all - moving is not a fun process and if all goes well we get to do it again in 9 months (joy).





On Friday night Gma and Gpa Fitz took the kids and Bridget and I were able to walk downtown and live the college life for a few hours. Stumbled into a place we always thought was a small bar (Peanuts Bar & Grill) and were surprised to find they have a massive oudoor patio overlooking the river...by far the most underhyped and hidden jewel in Naperville. And absolutely perfect place on a nice night.





Connor had a busy past week...the last few days at Chesterbrook in Bartlett were probably tougher on a couple of his teachers than him. Ms. Jodi - who adores Connor - was in tears when we came for the final pickup. You feel bad ending all these relationships this little 2 yr old had established. Needless to say - before we left the building Connor had collected several phone numbers (for babysitting), cards and collages.





Connor also went to his best buddys b-day party on Saturday at Splash Park in Streamwood - really a fabulous place for being FREE. We live 2 miles away for 5 years and never knew about it. Just a big toddler focused water park where everything is water related. Connor - who until that day has been a pansy with sprinklers - appeared to get over his fear and did not want to leave. Hopefully we are able to keep in touch with Trevor as they really do seem to have a special bond. (Carter loved the park from the get go - no fears with him).





Both had a tough first 20 minutes at the new school on Monday - but the adjusted quickly - and by days end the report was what we have been hearing from the Bartlett school - that they did great and were perfect (for some reason, they only like to push our buttons). Connor already appears to have attached himself with a new teacher there, Ms Ashley





Anways - we close tomorrow at 11am on the Bartlett home and it could not come sooner...its been in the back of my head for 4 weeks that something will fall through...does not appear so (yipeee).


Connor and Trevor at the Splash Park Party

Carter - does not want to be the "little" boy - has to mimic his "mature" brother

Getting ready for Elmo cupcakes.

Connor and older cousin Cameron (who he looks up to like Carter looks up to him)

The three Chicago boys in their Mickey mouse chairs...

Lotsa Stuff (Video Section)

Just some video snippets from the splash party. Connor has no fears about shoving food down his pie hole in front of people...

Splash Park action...

Quick Update

A lot going on. Contract on house nearing its completion. All inspections and loan documents are in. All that is left is the final walkthrough and visit to the closing table. Its 95% there.

We actually have 3 houses for the next few days - our current Bartlett home, the Naperville teardown and we now have possession of the Naperville rental to start moving stuff in.

Plans for new house are 99.9% done - actually will go out to the bidding phase for all the sub contractors to throw a price on their piece. This is the part where we will see if we are still inline. Need to post an update to the other blog. Naperville Sun newspaper has been calling - they appear to be eager to continue our story in print.

Moving stinks - as in the matter of 5 years we sure have accumulated enough s!!t.

Kids are doing good. Gonna feel guilty for making Connor swith schools next week - as I am sure the first few days are going to be full of tears when we drop him off. Thankfully, he is a quick adjuster.

Carter is a determined kid - as he is crawling all over the place and getting into nothing but trouble.

Highlights of Connor/Carter:

*Connor is now a big boy sleeper - he has been sleeping in a queen bed for a couple weeks.

*Carter is not only crawling but for the most can pull himself up to standing.

*Connor fell 4ft off a bridge at the park playing with his buddy Trevor - landed on his side - all is well (scared everyone at the park). I am not sure who was crying more - Trevor or Connor.

*Carter yanked the Carbon Monoxide detector out of the wall - which triggers it. Both he, and Connor started balling as it squeeled away.

*Carter is now eating all big boy foods - no more jars.

*Connor is off the sippy cups - uses a more mature cup with lid.

More later...

Racing at the park...

Naperville Riverwalk Insect Art (why he picked that one, I dont know?!?)

Connor itching to go to the beach...
Still moving...
The backyard of the rental property...(730 E Chicago Ave)

Generic Update Part 2

Pics...

Connor packing up for the move...?!?!

Connor at the Relay for Life Cancer event in Downers Grove - he only made about 1/2 mile before throwing in the towel or being distracted by other things.

The family....

Generic Update

Not much time for a in-depth update - too much to juggle. The under contract period is progressing well. Inspection went good (few nitpicky things) and the buyers mortgage appears solid - so most hurdles have been jumped.

Looking for rentals has not been too bad - but the fact we want 9 months maximum - and then a option to go month-to-month after that has vastly limited our choices. As of now - looks like we may be renting a 1930's two story in downtown Naperville. Fairly close to our build site and also has a nice fenced yard and two car garage/basement. It certainly isnt luxury living - but I fear we may get spolied living closer to downtown than our finished house will be - (it shaves about 10-15 minutes off the walk time). But I just refuse to go back to apartment complex living or living far out to save a few bucks...

School transition will thankfully be painless - as the boys will just transfer within the system and go to a Chesterbrook Academy in Naperville/Lisle. I am sure the first week will be hard on Connor- but he usually adjusts well. He will be leavign his best-bud Trevor though - so we will see how that goes -apparently, those two are attached at the hip all day at school (literally - teacher told us last week that Trevor was sick and crying...Connor laid down next to Trevor and slept with him until his parents came - I guess we're doing something right in our parenting!)

Now the packing/moving begins...along with working non building permits, etc. As best case scenario - we cant realy even start unitl Sept (permits take that long)...

Carter is getting BIG...

Connor in my old rocking chair from when I was his age...

Connor figured out it was much easier to pop bubbles with a stick than his hand...

Grandman (about to pass out)...

Under Contract....

Somehow, someway, after what seems like an eternity, we are officially under contract. Really, the only thing that could derail this is the home inspection - but given our place was built in 2002, I am not too concerned. However, will not take the final breath of relief until we actually hand the keys over. As you never know...

The buyer has actually never seen the place - he is in Algeria - but has sent his "team" over to look 3 times over the course of 6 weeks. Apparently, this will be a second home in the states as he does a lot of business in the area ... I dont know the entire story - but I dont care - their money is good with me.

The contract process actually started last Friday - but given the 10 hour difference - has made this way too lenghty and stressful, wondering when you will hear back.

And I must say for those looking to sell...the method in which we sold probably saved us $10,000 in commisions and I would reccomend it to anyone. I will give a free ad to Keenan Realty (http://www.keenanrealtyofchicagoland.com/home.htm) as out of all the people in my neighborhood, most that are using the old fashined method of selling real estate did not have the quantity of showings nor any offers (we have had 3 offers in total).

Its an interesting business model - as it lives in the gap created between using a full blown, high commission realtor and the low end, flat fee services with no human. This process gives you a little of both - flat fee up front to get exposure, and a very small commission on the back end when the realtor comes into play. All of this allows you to price a little more aggressive - as you know you will be paying 1/2 (at a minimum) the commission as your neighbor.

My biggest concern with this method was that if a buyer ever came without a agent - then I would have to show the place (advantage being then all commissions would be negated if an agentless buyer put in an offer). However - that never happened - as expected - everyone that came always brought their own realtor. So I never had to show our place.

In the end, our hunch was 100% correct - selling agents dont sell houses (nor show them) - the buyer and their agent is in control. With the Internet and MLS, I dont see how many realtors will be in business in 10 years (much less 5). They will alwasys exist - but their model has to change. Buyers no longer go to realtors first, its not 1985 where the only way to find out what was for sale was to call a realtor - they go the the Internet and look at pictures, floorplans and virtual tours. Sites like buysiderealty.com work the same way on the buyers side. Its all changing and most of these realtors dont want to admit it. Brian Keenan from Keenan Realty gets it - its going to become a game of high volume, low commision - rather than selling 5 houses per year the traditional way - he sells 100 via his method. Makes sense to me...

So, hopefully, we are done - with this phase of the process. Then the real stress starts of building a house.

Cupcake Bratpack

Maybe only a picture we as parents find funny, but will share anyhow. Taken at school on the playground - must have been someone's b-day, but stuffing his pie hole with a cupcake, while appearing to give the look of the BMOC (big man on campus), toughguy - made us laugh.

Carter and his mother days crafts for mom...

2 Offers - No Contract

We have a flurry of showings the other weekend that leads to not 1, but 2 offers within 24 hours. Frustrating part is neither appears like it will pan out - as one was a low ball offer and the other, close, but just couldnt' close the final gap.

So mentally, we were checked out - figuring we could get 1 of the offers to go through. Now its back to the craptacular wait and see.

Thanks to Grandma Cook for coming down a lending a hand and sepending time with the boys. They boys had fun in Naperville, and at the museum, and at the horse track and at all the parks and stops for food in between.

All the Boys...

Picking out the winner at Arlington Park

Connor at the Childrens Museum after some jerk-off 6 year old dumped water on his head (parental instict to return the favor to the young punk had to be held in check)

Racing in the basement.

The artsy pick with G'ma

Yardwork

Some pics with the boys having fun in the yard at our 'second home' while daddy mows the lawn. Both of them just love being there. Its quickly turning into our 'vacation home' as our current house lags on the market.

How frustrating is selling a house in this market? Here are some examples of recent feedback we got from agents showing the place...

"My clients really, really liked it a lot"

"Best we have seen"

"We have seen 30 places - still #1 on the list"

"Overall, a very nice home with a lot of nice, quality finishes/decorating. I’m very surprised for the market time on this one! It should have already sold!! Hang in there I’m sure it will go. Aside for the model-issue for my clients, it could have worked for them"

So overall, it stinks - nothing but postive feedback every time - yet here we sit. Blah, blah, blah...

First ice cream cone...he didnt quite get it....ate from the bottom...

Two Toots

Finally made a trip over to Two Toots along the Metra line in downtown Downers Grove - being whenever Connor hears or see a train he says "Choo Choo". Connor was a little unsure at first - but warmed up quickly and liked the food being served tableside on a train and the constant "toot toots" everytime it made a lap...He even got his own "big boy" burger...