I am so thrilled that Patrick and I were able to get a house last week. I can't believe we found a house and bought it in 2 weeks, when we weren't exactly actively searching for homes. We closed on Wednesday and have been over at the new house every spare moment we have. It's a fixer-upper and needs a lot of "love", but I'm so excited that every second we work, we are increasing our equity.

Patrick at the closing at Chicago Title


First time opening the door as home-owners.



Before leaving the house, here's a picture that I took of Patrick. I had no idea what he was doing at the time, but I later found out on Facebook. You can see his photo directly below my photo.



Our first project as home owners.


Our first guest, Joy.


We celebrated that first night by getting 5 Guys as they recently moved into Ward Parkway.
Joy & Patrick wore matching shirts that we got at the Finao party in Vegas during WPPI.



This first week has had it's share of ups and downs. The house has not been lived in for at least 2 years. The man who lived in the home went into a nursing home and left the water on and the pipes froze. A handyman warned us that when you fix one burst pipe, it puts stress on other weakened sections and 10 new leaks will spring up. That's exactly what we've been experiencing.

Patrick has been doing all the plumbing work by himself, but Friday night, one of the goonies (what I named his group of guy friends), Marco, came by and helped out. Yesterday Keith came and helped. Last night, my gal pal, Lann came and helped me rip vines off the wall. We had a fun time swinging from the wall. LeAnn was even doing kick-offs! Dan & LaShanda dropped by. Patrick mentioned wanting to call them to invite them over. It was weird that LaShanda told me she ran into Patrick at Home Depot. They were buying fencing to help with their new chickens. Lann and I were cleaning and all of a sudden I heard the door bell ring. I thought, perhaps it is a Binder or a Goonie, but no... it was my sister, who drove all the way from Olathe to bring by buckets. She lent a helping hand wiping down walls and sweeping the walls and floors. It aggrevated her allergies, and I felt so horrible. Looking at her red and itchy face was like looking into a mirror. I gave her a claritin and she fleeted to her house.

Here's a pic of me abusing my friend and putting her to work.



Today's list of projects that we need to accomplish is much larger than 10, but that's the way the cookie crumbles sometimes. We are trying to get as much stuff done before Patrick leaves to go to Chicago for a convention for work.

1. Tape paper down on hardwood floors with painter's tape
2. Remove floor trim on West side of Master Bedroom
3. Remove wood paneling from west side of master bedroom
4. Remove wallpaper from west and east side of master bedroom
5. Remove take strips from back room
6. Remove vines from east side of house
7. Remove take strips from basement
8. Remove tack strips from basement steps
9. Make room in garage for trash from basement
10. Sweep garage
11. Sweep basement
12. Wash bar in basement
13. Shop vac basement
14. Install lightbulb in garage
15. Measure kitchen.