I know I'm slacking on new pictures, but it's been a pretty busy week. I had a lot going on with work and we just don't seem to ever have the camera around!
On Monday it was nice out so we played outside and then went to a little bar/restaurant by our house called Germantown Grille - it was nothing fancy, but a good little place to get a sandwich or burger.
Then Tuesday we just hung out and went to Coldstone for ice cream.
Wednesday I met with my boss and went to the riverboat casino - fun little story...I am friends with some of the pit bosses there and one of them I saw working valet when I walked in. I asked if he got demoted and he told me that they fired 26 of the 29 valet staff! I guess if you play table games you can give your valet ticket to the pit boss and have it signed for free valet. Most of the valets would take a ticket that was not signed and fake a signature to put the $5 valet charge in the tip jar. They had a little sting operation and busted almost all of them! The sad part is, TJ said he worked the numbers and they were probably all only making an additional 25-75 cents per hour! So now he has to work out there until they can build the department back up because he used to be supervisor of valet before dealing and being a pit boss. At least it's summer and not freezing out I guess!
Last night Katie & Josh came over for dinner and to watch Ugly Betty & Grey's. It was fun! With Justin awake during Betty I would say it was about as far from relaxing as you can get, but then he went to bed and we could actually hear Greys :) I am so glad that they live in Metamora!!!!
Tonight Sue, Godsie (rob's grandma) and Buzz (rob's aunt) come into town! It should be a fun weekend! Rob and I are hoping to get the shed finished - we still have to finish siding and put up the door. It's hard to do with Justin home because he's such a big "helper". Also, one of the areas of our yard looks like it used to be a flower bed of sorts, but it's all weeds and grown over. Our plan is to tear everything out of there and put a border edge on it with the rubber mulch chips to put his sandbox and slide/climber thing on. That way we don't have to mow around it and have it kill the grass all summer. We'll see if we get to that!
I'll post pics this weekend or on Monday! Have a great weekend :)
Friday, May 16, 2008
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Woo Hoo!
I think we finally found somewhere to live that might not crumble with the latest economy? Thank goodness we have Big Yellow and more hospitals than we can handle :)
This was on the news this morning:
Peoria's housing market second highest in nation
By Ashley McNamee
Posted: Wednesday, May 14, 2008 at 6:18 p.m.
PEORIA, IL -- It seems like everything we've been hearing about the economy is bad news, but there's some good news about Peoria's housing market.
CNN says Peoria is the second best performing housing market in the nation.
They say Peoria's median home price increased almost 10.5 percent in the last year.
Now the median home price in Peoria is almost $119,000.
One broker manager says it's Peoria's slow, but steady real estate market which helps it buck the national trend.
"The Peoria economy is still really strong, between Caterpillar and the medical industry and education," said Nancy Koch. "So that's the bottom line, if you've got a strong economy, good jobs, good employment, our real estate market will be great."
Cook says the average sale price of a home in peoria also rose $5,000 over the last year.
This was on the news this morning:
Peoria's housing market second highest in nation
By Ashley McNamee
Posted: Wednesday, May 14, 2008 at 6:18 p.m.
PEORIA, IL -- It seems like everything we've been hearing about the economy is bad news, but there's some good news about Peoria's housing market.
CNN says Peoria is the second best performing housing market in the nation.
They say Peoria's median home price increased almost 10.5 percent in the last year.
Now the median home price in Peoria is almost $119,000.
One broker manager says it's Peoria's slow, but steady real estate market which helps it buck the national trend.
"The Peoria economy is still really strong, between Caterpillar and the medical industry and education," said Nancy Koch. "So that's the bottom line, if you've got a strong economy, good jobs, good employment, our real estate market will be great."
Cook says the average sale price of a home in peoria also rose $5,000 over the last year.
Monday, May 12, 2008
YEAH!!!!!!!!
Okay, this is my 400th post since I started my blog and I am happy to say it's VERY HAPPY NEWS.....we only own ONE house!!!!! Our closing was today and it's done and the papers are signed! Rob and I are so happy to have this behind us!!!!!
Weekend in Chicago!
What a FUN weekend! I had more fun than I have had in a really long time. Our whole family was together again; that does not happen nearly enough! With us in Illinois, Mike/Ry/Amanda in Michigan and mom and dad in Nevada it is hard to find time when we can all just hang out for a few days.
My mothers day was perfect! I got to be with the two biggest loves in my life, plus my whole family... All of us mothers were together (except Aunt Cathy - we missed you!). All was well until about 4:30pm that is when we had to say goodbye; then the waterworks started and didn't really stop. It is so hard saying goodbye!
Rob and Justin got me new golf clubs - I love them! I can't wait to get out and try them out soon :) They are purple and grey...so pretty! I will take a pic soon. I could only see them for a minute and then we had to put them away because my little monster (Dennis the Menace as Aunt Connie nicknamed him) wanted to swing them in the house...not a good idea!
Here are some pics from this weekend. There are lots more on our Picassa site - here's the website address:
http://picasaweb.google.com/brooksfam.blogspot/ChicagoMay911th
Mommy and her angel :)
Playing bubble hockey....
....concentrating so hard!
Intense game of euchre going on :)
Gramma and Justin reading before church on Saturday morning.
Alec and Grandma before church
Justin beating up Blake with a pillow!
Alec and the coolest godparents ever :)
Morgan and sexy Justin
A family picture! It was SO GOOD to all be together in one place again - it went by WAY too fast!
Getting a "poke in the nose - kabooma" from Great Grandpa. I don't think that Grandpa was expecting one back quite so hard :)
A friendly game of Texas Hold 'Em - 8 to 12 year old style :)
That's my little brother - it was starting to get drunk out!
Amanda, Mikey and Aunt Mo-chelle
Me and my mommy!
Papa and Justin reading books
Gramma and Justin being silly!
Hanging out on Mother's Day with my boys :)
This picture is PRICELESS! What you can't see in the picture is the walk up the stairs about 3 minutes before this was taken. They were all down playing with the Jacob's PS3 (like they did most of the weekend!). Amanda said to Ryan, "I was going to get you a PS3 for our wedding, but now I see you would never stop playing it". Then he got one from GG Rosebush for graduation - the look on her face says it all :)
The family with GG Metzler (minus Justin because he was napping; I wish he was in this!)
A graduation cake for Aunt Manda & Uncle Ry - congrats again guys; we love you!
My mothers day was perfect! I got to be with the two biggest loves in my life, plus my whole family... All of us mothers were together (except Aunt Cathy - we missed you!). All was well until about 4:30pm that is when we had to say goodbye; then the waterworks started and didn't really stop. It is so hard saying goodbye!
Rob and Justin got me new golf clubs - I love them! I can't wait to get out and try them out soon :) They are purple and grey...so pretty! I will take a pic soon. I could only see them for a minute and then we had to put them away because my little monster (Dennis the Menace as Aunt Connie nicknamed him) wanted to swing them in the house...not a good idea!
Here are some pics from this weekend. There are lots more on our Picassa site - here's the website address:
http://picasaweb.google.com/brooksfam.blogspot/ChicagoMay911th
Mommy and her angel :)
Playing bubble hockey....
....concentrating so hard!
Intense game of euchre going on :)
Gramma and Justin reading before church on Saturday morning.
Alec and Grandma before church
Justin beating up Blake with a pillow!
Alec and the coolest godparents ever :)
Morgan and sexy Justin
A family picture! It was SO GOOD to all be together in one place again - it went by WAY too fast!
Getting a "poke in the nose - kabooma" from Great Grandpa. I don't think that Grandpa was expecting one back quite so hard :)
A friendly game of Texas Hold 'Em - 8 to 12 year old style :)
That's my little brother - it was starting to get drunk out!
Amanda, Mikey and Aunt Mo-chelle
Me and my mommy!
Papa and Justin reading books
Gramma and Justin being silly!
Hanging out on Mother's Day with my boys :)
This picture is PRICELESS! What you can't see in the picture is the walk up the stairs about 3 minutes before this was taken. They were all down playing with the Jacob's PS3 (like they did most of the weekend!). Amanda said to Ryan, "I was going to get you a PS3 for our wedding, but now I see you would never stop playing it". Then he got one from GG Rosebush for graduation - the look on her face says it all :)
The family with GG Metzler (minus Justin because he was napping; I wish he was in this!)
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
Happy Birthday Uncle Mikey!!!!
Sorry this is a day late - we love you and can't wait to see you :)
Love,
Rob, Melissa and Justin
PS. Remember these toys? I wonder if they still make them.....
Love,
Rob, Melissa and Justin
PS. Remember these toys? I wonder if they still make them.....
The Hills 5-7-08
Hi there! It's been a while; I know...we've been busy!
Last weekend Grandpa Kent and his friend John came to our house to help Rob build a shed. Thank you so much for all of your help!!!! Justin and I just hung out, went shopping and played outside for most of the weekend. Then on Sunday evening, Justin was burning up - he was so warm. I could not find our thermometer, and decided that by the time I went to town and bought a new one I could just already have him on meds because he was obviously sick. Our hospital has a website that shows waiting time at the ER and it was only 12 minutes so I took him in. Almost 2 hours later the doctor saw us! Justin sat in my lap and just looked around the whole time; and for those of you who know Justin that is NOT at all like him, so I knew something was not right! He had a 102 temperature, which is high, but not super high I guess for a toddler. They gave him Motrin to get the fever down and then the doctor came in a guess what - another ear infection in his right ear - what a shocker. UGH! So she was going to write us a prescription for augmentin or amoxacillan and I told her he has been on both numerous times and they don't work. I asked if we could just do a shot and be done with it. I felt bad because I know shots are painful, but they work quicker and we don't have to fight him to get him to take his meds and don't have to worry about missed doses. So we did that and then had to wait in the waiting room for 20 minutes to make sure he didn't have a reaction. She gave us ice chips (Justin LOVES ice) and he was in heaven. After a few minutes he wanted down and was all over the place, so he was feeling much better! I still don't know what we are going to do about his ears. He's had tubes in that ear twice now - they obviously don't work! Another appointment with the ENT specialist is in his future!
I had to be in our main office in Chicago yesterday, so Justin and I went to Jacobs on Monday night. He is staying with them for the week (Rob and I are going back there tomorrow after work). He had fun playing with the boys while I was there! Thank you AC for taking them - we really appreciate it! With Justin in Barrington for a few days, Rob and I will hopefully be able to finish up the shed. We have to put up the siding and the garage door for it and then build a ramp to be able to drive the riding lawn mower in and out. We'll be busy tonight!
I am SO EXCITED for this weekend!!!! It's Alec's 1st communion (my godson) and the whole family will be together for that and we'll celebrate mothers day too! My parents fly in on the red eye Thursday and get in early Friday morning. I hope they sleep on the plane because they get here at 7am - just in time for Justin's day to start :) It will also be my brothers, Aunt Manda, GG Rosebush, GG Metzler and Yinglings coming too. I can't wait to have everyone together. Justin is going to have so much fun playing with all of his cousins and getting lots of attention!
CONGRATULATIONS to my baby brother and Aunt Manda on their college graduations this week! We are so proud of you guys and can't wait to see you! I wish we could be there to see you walk, but we'll have a drink to celebrate this weekend :)
I will post pics and videos later today - the camera is home and I'm at work!
Last weekend Grandpa Kent and his friend John came to our house to help Rob build a shed. Thank you so much for all of your help!!!! Justin and I just hung out, went shopping and played outside for most of the weekend. Then on Sunday evening, Justin was burning up - he was so warm. I could not find our thermometer, and decided that by the time I went to town and bought a new one I could just already have him on meds because he was obviously sick. Our hospital has a website that shows waiting time at the ER and it was only 12 minutes so I took him in. Almost 2 hours later the doctor saw us! Justin sat in my lap and just looked around the whole time; and for those of you who know Justin that is NOT at all like him, so I knew something was not right! He had a 102 temperature, which is high, but not super high I guess for a toddler. They gave him Motrin to get the fever down and then the doctor came in a guess what - another ear infection in his right ear - what a shocker. UGH! So she was going to write us a prescription for augmentin or amoxacillan and I told her he has been on both numerous times and they don't work. I asked if we could just do a shot and be done with it. I felt bad because I know shots are painful, but they work quicker and we don't have to fight him to get him to take his meds and don't have to worry about missed doses. So we did that and then had to wait in the waiting room for 20 minutes to make sure he didn't have a reaction. She gave us ice chips (Justin LOVES ice) and he was in heaven. After a few minutes he wanted down and was all over the place, so he was feeling much better! I still don't know what we are going to do about his ears. He's had tubes in that ear twice now - they obviously don't work! Another appointment with the ENT specialist is in his future!
I had to be in our main office in Chicago yesterday, so Justin and I went to Jacobs on Monday night. He is staying with them for the week (Rob and I are going back there tomorrow after work). He had fun playing with the boys while I was there! Thank you AC for taking them - we really appreciate it! With Justin in Barrington for a few days, Rob and I will hopefully be able to finish up the shed. We have to put up the siding and the garage door for it and then build a ramp to be able to drive the riding lawn mower in and out. We'll be busy tonight!
I am SO EXCITED for this weekend!!!! It's Alec's 1st communion (my godson) and the whole family will be together for that and we'll celebrate mothers day too! My parents fly in on the red eye Thursday and get in early Friday morning. I hope they sleep on the plane because they get here at 7am - just in time for Justin's day to start :) It will also be my brothers, Aunt Manda, GG Rosebush, GG Metzler and Yinglings coming too. I can't wait to have everyone together. Justin is going to have so much fun playing with all of his cousins and getting lots of attention!
CONGRATULATIONS to my baby brother and Aunt Manda on their college graduations this week! We are so proud of you guys and can't wait to see you! I wish we could be there to see you walk, but we'll have a drink to celebrate this weekend :)
I will post pics and videos later today - the camera is home and I'm at work!
Thursday, May 01, 2008
Happy Birthday Great Grandma Metzler!
We love you! Hope you have a great birthday! See you in a week :)
Love,
Rob, Melissa and Justin
Love,
Rob, Melissa and Justin
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
:)
I don't even know what to title this video - you get to hear him putting together his first sentences "I broke it", discovering his nipple and showing you his muscles (the original reason I got out the camera)!
Enjoy!
Enjoy!
Happy thoughts....happy thoughts......
Okay, here is something a little nicer for the top of the blog, since we still don't know when (or if) we will be closing :( Thanks for the comments/emails/phone calls of support on the house thing. Rob and I went to BW's for lunch and 2 beers and 18 holes of Golden Tee later I am a little calmer. Katie & Josh are brining burgers over tonight for dinner, so that will be fun too! I don't know what we would do without you guys! It's so nice having friends in town who are there for us when thing happen - good or bad!
Tuesday was our 2nd to last night of swim class! Justin and I always have a lot of fun together. He makes me SO PROUD when he does everything she asks just like he's been doing it for years :)
Before class we play in the kiddie area - the water was pretty cold last night though so it wasn't as much fun as normal!
Me and my angel :)
Aaahhh...back in the therapy (warm!) pool for class!
He's getting so good at blowing bubbles - practicing in the bathtub must be helping!
We went in the family locker room after class and actually got a shower/changing room! I gave Justin the hand held showerhead and he loved it!
....it looks like the same pic as above, but it's about 15 minutes later - he didn't want to get dressed!
Tuesday was our 2nd to last night of swim class! Justin and I always have a lot of fun together. He makes me SO PROUD when he does everything she asks just like he's been doing it for years :)
Before class we play in the kiddie area - the water was pretty cold last night though so it wasn't as much fun as normal!
Me and my angel :)
Aaahhh...back in the therapy (warm!) pool for class!
He's getting so good at blowing bubbles - practicing in the bathtub must be helping!
We went in the family locker room after class and actually got a shower/changing room! I gave Justin the hand held showerhead and he loved it!
....it looks like the same pic as above, but it's about 15 minutes later - he didn't want to get dressed!
UGH.
I am afraid I'm going to go postal any minute. NOTHING is going right with this house transaction.
Let's take a step back to yesterday - I get a call from our attorney saying that they can't secure the transfer stamp from the City of Elgin because of an outstanding permit that was applied for. WTF? So I called the city and was told that this address applied for a permit to change the water heater in February of 2004 - BEFORE we bought the house. So they let the transfer happen for us to buy the house, but now they decide to do their job and hold us up. She said they could get someone out early next week. I told her that was not acceptable and she was holding up our closing based on an error that the city made - not us. After 3 supervisors, lots of F-bombs (I was not happy!) Long story short - the inspection was done and passed within 2 hours.
Fast forward to last night at about 8pm - our realtor calls and says that we still don't have a clear to close because of an issue with a social security number for one of the buyers (I think the one with 16 letters in the first name and 18 in the last name). He hopes it's a clerical error and we'll still close on time.
About 10 minutes ago I got a call from our attorney (keep in mind we're supposed to close in 2 hours) and the lender JUST found out that the buyer's greencard is EXPIRED!!!!!!!!!! WTF? You don't ask for his f-ing greencard until the day of closing??????? I am so mad. My blood is boiling and I think I should just not answer my phone today; I don't think I'd be very pleasant to my customers! UGH! So now we just wait? The lender was supposedly on his way over to the buyers house to see what can be done since he can't understand them without reading lips.
Oh, and this morning when I got my pumpkin head out of bed his right tube (that he's had surgery for twice) was out again..... LOVELY!
Let's take a step back to yesterday - I get a call from our attorney saying that they can't secure the transfer stamp from the City of Elgin because of an outstanding permit that was applied for. WTF? So I called the city and was told that this address applied for a permit to change the water heater in February of 2004 - BEFORE we bought the house. So they let the transfer happen for us to buy the house, but now they decide to do their job and hold us up. She said they could get someone out early next week. I told her that was not acceptable and she was holding up our closing based on an error that the city made - not us. After 3 supervisors, lots of F-bombs (I was not happy!) Long story short - the inspection was done and passed within 2 hours.
Fast forward to last night at about 8pm - our realtor calls and says that we still don't have a clear to close because of an issue with a social security number for one of the buyers (I think the one with 16 letters in the first name and 18 in the last name). He hopes it's a clerical error and we'll still close on time.
About 10 minutes ago I got a call from our attorney (keep in mind we're supposed to close in 2 hours) and the lender JUST found out that the buyer's greencard is EXPIRED!!!!!!!!!! WTF? You don't ask for his f-ing greencard until the day of closing??????? I am so mad. My blood is boiling and I think I should just not answer my phone today; I don't think I'd be very pleasant to my customers! UGH! So now we just wait? The lender was supposedly on his way over to the buyers house to see what can be done since he can't understand them without reading lips.
Oh, and this morning when I got my pumpkin head out of bed his right tube (that he's had surgery for twice) was out again..... LOVELY!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)