For Sale or For Rent?

This winter it was Marvin's grand idea to rent out our house to make a little extra cash. To be honest I thought he was nuts. I told him I didn't want any part of it but if he wanted to list it - go ahead. We had to turn down the first few inquiries because we hadn't thought through the logistics of renting out a house (locks on doors guest shouldn't access, bedding, finishing our basement so we could live down there, where would Fran go, more bedding, towels, etc). We finally accepted a rental for a 3 day weekend, it was our trial run. Marvin had a lot of scrambling around to do before the renters checked in. I headed out of town (remember- this was HIS idea).  

We listed it on Airbnb.com 

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/2079286

It kind of started because we listed our house for sale just after Thanksgiving. We had all of the photos from listing the house so this was the logical next step, right? 

All in all, we rented it for 3 full weekends. It was a good experience. The renters we had were all ski bunnies and really used the house mainly at night. I was out of town 2 of the 3 rentals and the third rental we stayed in the basement. Marvin finally got me on board by hiring a cleaning lady to clean up the house after the renters and put it back in order for us to live in it. That was the best part- besides the extra cash. 

finished basement

We had to put a hold on rentals because we received an offer last week to purchase our house. Closing could be as early as March 20th. Inspections, sale of buyers home, a place for us to go, and all the other things you think of when selling a house, have to fall in place for the deal to be firm. It's kind of like dominos or as our realtor says as solid as quick sand. 

We like/ed living here but with Marvin's job being in Chx we'd like to get a bit closer. We are throwing around a few ideas now- renting for a bit, buying immediately (unlikely), or building.  Some people look for that perfect house, for us I think it will be  just be our next house. I don't know if we will ever have our forever home like some do. 

We'll have to wait and see. This little bugger keeps me busy so maybe he's enough change for me for the time being. 

My funny Valentine

Marvin and I rented out our house again this weekend (more about that later) and headed to Traverse City for some Valentine's Day fun. 

This is the 9th valentine's day we've spent together! 

We brought along our littlest valentine. 

 We stayed at Grand Traverse Resort- Great deals this time of year! 

 We ate at Blue Tractor, and saved room for dessert. Fuzzy Buns threw his little ball under a table full of 40 year old women who were enjoying their night a little too much. We got it back at the end of the night and they all cooed over the buns of fuzz. 

He did this all by himself, he was supposed to be relaxing and getting ready for a nap. 

Post pool photo. The water was COLD but the naked man didn't mind too much. 

All in all it was a great valentine's weekend.

Our #1 is 1!

An orange a blue themed birthday party was arranged for our ONE year old. 

A good friend made the CAKES

Thanks Sprinkles and Sass & Susie Detcher

Begin Cake Smash

15 kids joined us for a great celebration!

On his REAL birthday we were in GR. 

Celebrated with Grandma, Grandpa & Geysbeek's with an Arnie's cake

A great friend meet us down town Boyne on New Year's day to take 1 year photos for us. 

Thank you Paula and IZEphotography for the wonderful photos! 

and Shraw Law Offices for the wall ;)

Christmas 2013

 Opening his present with Dad. HAM

I feel like this photo looks like one that's taken at Glamor shots or Napoleon Dynamite. 

 Riding around on Dad's new suitcase. 

He really did enjoy Christmas, just not in this photo. 

His Christmas outfit. 

Sweater via thredup.com

Get free $10 coupon to use: http://www.thredup.com/r/EX0O7V

 

 Christmas Eve morning- just before we headed to Flint.

Splunking @ Grandpa's house. 

The best family photo that we got on Christmas morning. 

 Moses and cousin Dodge playing with their new toy. 

Celebrated in the North with Cousin KC & the other McCary's. 

Little Shae is 4 months younger than Moses. 

 New Year's Eve with the Manthei's

Moses with friend Julia, She is 6 months younger than Moses. Their buds.

Christmas at Verwys' house- he found Aunt Betsy's Beanie Baby collection!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! 

Photos taken by http://izephotography.com

He's not a lefty!

When Moses was 9 months old he broke his arm. 

We don't really know how it happened. We noticed it because he was beginning to crawl really well. He was getting really fast and had great form. One Saturday after noon we noticed he wasn't using his right arm. 

On Monday morning we called our Pediatrician and they said to bring him in. Upon observation, the doctor did not find any swelling, Moses did not complain when his arm was twisted, bent or pulled. So the doctor said he might just be favoring crawling in his new way. 

A week went by and the following Tuesday we called to doctor again. He still wasn't using his arm and we noticed a few times he would pull his right arm away if he had to put pressure on it. We had x-rays on Tuesday and a cast was put on on Wednesday. 

He really did quite well for having a cast on. In total he only had it on for 11 days. 

He chose blue so it would match his Halloween outfit. 

He still played and got around very well. 

He used it as a weapon a few times. 

And refused to use his left arm to feed himself. Mom had pity on him and feed him, dad made him try to use the left arm- no dice. He's for sure a righty. 

We had his friends from church sign his cast the day before he got it off. 

Back to normal. 

 And he's so thankful he can eat by himself again. 

FALL 2013

Betsy's Bachelorette Baking Party in Traverse City

 Halloween with Manthei's

Marvin- Pot of Gold

Lindsay- Rainbow

Moses- Minion from Despicable Me

Moses got a new snowsuit so he's ready for Northern Michigan winter. It began to snow the week before Thanksgiving. 

 We went on our 2nd annual color tour and had dessert at Legg's Inn in Cross Village.

We hiked Dead Man's hill 

We listed our house the week before Thanksgiving. We will see what happens.

Moses celebrated his first Thanksgiving in D.C. with the Verwys' clan. Major road trip for him but he did great. 

Celebrated Rita's birthday and shopped and read. 

Some RANDOM Moses photos from September- November

  Snuggles with Aunt Brittan
                                                                                             Moses is too big for his Moses Basket
 

Hanging out with Dad on Saturday's...... Our little hobo.

 His preferred method of shopping. 

Our fall has been busy. 

Marvin: working a lot although it's starting to slow down a bit. Loves hanging out with fuzzy britches on Saturdays and making flap jacks. 

Lindsay: started a play date for mom's at our church, involved in a Bible study, enjoys being home with Moses but are often out and about instead of home

Moses: still naps 3 times a day, loves to eat food any time and anything, enjoys bath time and chasing the cat