What we're up to...

Really, it's difficult to keep up with more than one website. Click on the link for Waukegan Lady Dawg Softball to see what we've been up to. There are a ton of pictures on the picture page.

Even better, come out to a game.

GO DAWGS!

Seriously, here's what's up

Just as our world is constantly changing - the price of gas jumps everyday the stock market drops... What sounded like awesome opportunities made us ask ourselves "what the heck are we doing?!"

We found out Mother's Day night on the way home from mom & dad's that Greg (Kesl's Woodworks) had made a decision that he and Drew should not be partners for tax saving reasons but they should be like consultants to each other and still do what they had planned to do. Greg had left Bill with one decent size job but that's it. Now he has nothing going on.

The week that school got out, I got tough with the realtors and asked what was going on - why has our house not sold. We had dropped the price almost $20,000 from the original listing price, what's up?! Within a couple hours I had more queries come my way than I had ever anticipated. A month and a half into the house being on the market and they just realized that we were competing with 50 other houses! I wanted to know what they were going to do to make my house stand out and get noticed. This week after we have been rethinking everything, we got a call Tuesday that someone wanted to look at the house and Wednesday someone was motivated and wanted to look at the house. I told them no, the house was not available to show until after the weekend.

We are reconsidering everything and will most likely just stay put. I found out where Ashley will be going to school next year so that is a relief.

In the mean time here are a couple reasons around the house that it is good to be where we are.

it has taken YEARS to get all that groundcover to become so full

going through the process of selling has instilled some new good habits

one being that the hardwood floor is mopped just about everyday

this is all that has been on the dining room table for 3 months

why didn't we do this before?

this is no longer the playhouse - it was requested that it now be refered to as the kid condo

ironically one of the rose bushes is a peace rose

it is really pretty and it smells nice too

this week i did my annual move plants around - moving the ferns hostas and groundcover from the north side of the house to this spot

a view of the maple tree in the back from the swing

so right now we are in the mindset that we're going to be good role models for our kids - not being quitters, staying to make a difference... next is to let the realtors in on our epiphany.

more later - i promise to update you on the last month

Good News

KesL Woodworks is open for the purpose of conducting business! Last night at the Spring Grove Village Board meeting they got official approval to conduct business without any rezoning or special use permits. Some things still have to be done before things are really rolling and Drew can make his move.

Last night the house was shown again by the same realtor that showed it Saturday. I am anxious to hear how it went, it would be great if it was a second showing. The realtor is bi-lingual which I think will make the difference in selling sooner rather than later. One of our neighbors across the street said he has seen a couple people out when we have not been home, looking around outside and taking fliers.

Welcome to 618 N. Martin Avenue

Located in the prestigious Douglas Nursery Subdivision, this is a Charming, Well Maintained, 1.5 Story, All Brick , Cottage Style, Cape Cod

This home features a Large Living Room with Wood Burning Brick Fireplace, Large Bay Window, Formal Dining Room, and Hardwood Floors

French Doors lead to Screened Porch, Back Deck, Brick Paved Terrace and Large Fenced Yard with Beautiful Trees



Full Sized Partial Finished Basement with Laundry Room

Beautiful Landscaping featuring Flowering Crab & Japanese Maple Trees

Updated and Remodeled Kitchen and Bathroom

Energy Efficient Water Heater – New 2007

Central Air-conditioning

Plumbing: All New throughout
- All galvanized piping replaced with copper and PVC plastic piping

Finished Staircase leads to unfinished attic *space for a great master suite, second bathroom and home office or bedroom

Close to shopping
Just over 1 mile from Lake Michigan
Quiet, Safe Neighborhood with Great Neighbors –

Walking distance to High School

Middle School Neighborhood School: Jefferson Middle School
(highest performing school in the district)

This home is priced to sell. Due to a business opportunity, the seller is very motivated and waiting for your offer.

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So far we have had about 6 showings and 2 realtor tours. To keep out of the way for showings, we have done some interesting things.

Last Friday night we were supposed to have a showing between 7:30-8:00. No problem. Drew had lodge so we got the house in prime shape, kids & dogs in the truck. With Drew off to lodge the kids & I did a couple errands then sat in the truck down the street (actually in the next block) and waited. NOTHING as of 8:30! I was ready to give up. We went back home, got the dogs water bowl out... a car pulls in the drive & the doorbell rings! Dogs water bowl back in the drawer (without water), dogs & kids in the truck and I answered the door telling them we were about to leave. The realtor and guests were very nice and said no, please stay. So the kids and the dogs sat in the truck and I sat in my living room like a strange guest, smiling and answering questions when asked. It was akward but cool to be able to see and hear how they went through the house and what they looked at and what interested them. They liked the house but we have not heard anything back from them. The other two houses they were also looking at are not sold yet either so I'm hoping that is still good.

Saturday there were two showings but we weren't home anyway. Drew & Alex went to the shop, Ash, the dogs and I went to dancing.

Last Sunday we left at 6:30am and headed to Ann Arbor, Michigan to catch a double header between Northwestern Universtiy and University of Michigan (both at this moment tied for 1st place in the Big Ten). We got home that night around 9pm.

Thursday night we took all of the laundry baskets that have been stashed in the back of the truck when the house has been shown to the laundromat. It is great to get 8 loads washed and dry all in an hour! We intended to do the laundry that evening but not because of a showing but it ended up working out. Drew got a call at 6:30pm that they wanted to show the house in an hour. We had just put the soap in and started all 8 machines. (25 minutes to wash - no problem) Ashley was already on detail at home so we went back to finish up and pick up the kids and dogs. You know when you were in school and the procedures for a fire drill are posted by the door... we have a showing procedures list.

before you leave the house anyway no matter how late you are running:

• beds made perfectly
• no dirty laundry out
• if you have clothes in a laundry basket, they need to be in a basket on top of your neatly made bed
• brochures out on the living room table
• completely vacuumed
• always dusted
• constantly shiny - windows, mirrors, any surface
• NO DANDELIONS!
• grass mowed - lines in the grass

showing call list:

• all pet bowls in the designated "pet bowl drawer"
• damp mop bathroom and hardwood floor
• quick vacuum to insure great "carpet lines"
• every light in the house on, including closets
• candles lit
• ceiling fans on
• furnace fan on
• dogs on their leashes ready to go
• draft pillow behind front door (this is how we know if someone has been here or not)
• any laundry baskets in the truck
• dogs in the truck
• flag straightend out

Anyway back to Thursday... we were ready to walk out the door and the office called again (7:10), the showing was cancelled. This is frustrating but it is also good for a drill to at least make sure you've got your stuff together before a really real showing.

Drew & Greg (Drew's business partner)have a new "tree-house". While they are waiting for official word that the business is good code wise, they are working on "showroom pieces", fixing up the place and getting settled in. Greg has already cut the vine to his previous "tree-house". Drew, the careful one, is waiting until everything is perfectly in place before making the cut but it will be soon. It is great, Drew can have whatever hours he chooses up there. Today for example, he will be up there all day. Feel free to visit & check it out. 1814 Main Street, Spring Grove.

Alex has had a great time helping Drew but is ready for this to be over & his things out of boxes. He continues to rock in band.

Ashley is busy with Rainbow, softball, dancing (sadly but very possibly an end to ballet but may continue tap next year) and she has a lead role in the 5th grade play May 17th. She will be Bagheera. "Sampler" is a day at their school full of great things going on all day. There are incredible food booths and activities for all ages. I believe the play is at like 3pm that day. How ironic, she just got her own full sized cello and the school district we anticipate her being in next year has no orchestra at all. Maybe she will be able to play it an enjoy it now with some private lessons on the side???

It is good that there are only 20 some days left of school but that also means my time crunch is coming closer to wanting to be out of here. A July/August move will be perfect for me. I just hope we don't have to give it away in order for the kids to be in the schools of our choice come August.

"Keep Your Eye on the Prize"

Many things have influenced the beginning of this chapter in our lives. Last Thursday we pretty much the icing on my cupcake. One of my students who lives not far from here, his house was "shot-up" with a "Molotov_cocktail" not once but every other night for the last two weeks! Our kids have experienced some diversity, some culture... living down the street from cows and horse sounds like a splendid change.

It has been a crazy couple weeks around here. Today was the culmination of the majority of our craziness. We have put the realtors off for a few weeks now because we just weren't ready to have pictures taken. After many late nights, many boxes, many rolls of tape, a few thankful garbage days and lots of hard work - today, we were ready for the bus to move.

All of this gives an entirely new appreciation for While You Were Out or Extreme Home Makeover. The realtors came the end of February and gave us a list of things we had to do. We went through stages of excitement and frustration because so many things were trying to happen all at once. We got off track and found a house just doors away from the new shop. We have not seen the house inside but decided that seeing it would be our prize for working hard on our house now so we can move.

Chris has been great at reminding us to keep our eye on the prize. Chris and her "team mate" Nancy have been awesome through this process. The first time they came, I was really nervous because I knew I would have a huge homework list. Today when they arrived, I was so excited and relieved. We told them we want to be in Spring Grove in June - with today's market, we'll see. As of today, the house is officially listed. The "sign guys" will be here in a couple days.

Here are some pictures before, during and now.

Some of the before pictures are really old but you get the idea.

Yikes! This is the original kitchen with our kaos added. When we moved in 10 years ago, the appliances were new and it had a new paint job, that's it.

Again, when we moved in 10 years ago Drew did an amazing job on the bathroom. It needed to be painted and Drew & Ashley decided it was too steril and needed some color.?!?

The basement! I have become my mom. We have too much crap! I stopped counting how many trips I have made to Salvation Army with the truck full of stuff. I have thrown out a lot and given much away. I remember when we moved in, Laurie telling me we had better have some great parties - as she was filling an entire drawer in our linen closet with cocktail napkins. Sorry to say, they are almost all still there.

I have found things that I know I haven't seen since Vernon Hills.

We were just about at the point of too bad when we decided last Friday to redo the kitchen. (Originally Chris & Nancy were coming Monday!)

Ok, so the kitchen from the 1950's... We ripped out the upper cabinets and the countertop. We got rid of the absolutely hideous wallboard that they must have put on with tar.

Drew refinished the drawer boxes - they are still good.

MOVE THAT BUS!

*Note - Daisy is not part of the package and there are no critters on the walls.

Drew is just now finishing up putting up the new "lesser in value and sentiment" dining room light fixture. He must think we are completely done packing because I can hear him jumping on the bubble wrap that came with the chandlier that will go with the house.

Who's kitchen is this? Finally the shoemaker's kids have shoes. Isn't it pretty! The entire house sounds different now. It echoes like crazy yet it is much quieter. New upper cabinets, countertop, hardware, light fixture, blinds and sink.

These are the stairs going to the attic. I didn't take pictures but the attic even looks not bad.

I knew my stuff when ordering boxes, tape and bubble wrap from Uline. Those moments on the UPS line paid off. Everything is well marked and up off the floor.

The microwave has been moved down to the bar. The smell of popcorn really makes the cold, musty smell go away.We bought a 5 gallon bucket of white paint for what ever painting we were going to do then found a small can of yellow in the cellar. Can't remember what it was from but Drew used the gravy laddle to add yellow for painting the bathroom. Yellow isn't a color I associate with us but from the Feng Shui Cronicles I get, yellow is a good color. It does look pretty but I'm glad I will not have to live with it.When Drew went deer hunting in November, I switched our room. It took a while to get used to sleeping in the other direction but it makes the room look bigger, I think.

A kids room is a kids room. Fortunately today, this is a clean one.

The porch, our favorite feature of this house when we first moved in.

The patio looks great. There is our annual token patch of grass and yard of mud.

I'm hoping we can go visit the house in Spring Grove soon.

It's now time to make some dinner and enjoy a great fire Alex has made. We've got some other cool things to update you with but this is it for now.