Right now

Right now I am sitting in Dylan's room.....as I am typing this blog he is playing with his toys...it is always a crap shoot when you buy toys...the things that you think they will love...they have no interest in ..the cheap ones you buy on a whim....they love........I am also listening to hard rock on the radio............hate it....but it also makes me kind of smile because Collin loves it...so it reminds me of him.....I also kind of laugh when I look at the boom box he has in Dylan's room...it is really big and kind of god awful to look at but Collin has probably owned it since 7Th grade ....another one of those things that I love to hate with a smile.....I will let Dylan protest the boom box once he gets old enough to realize just how uncool it really is..........

Old...I felt so old last night....my body just hurt by the end of the day...I had a fairly long day at work and then finished it off with the Boy's and Girl's Chili Cook Off...of course we won out of 18 teams....it was all based off of donations and we raised a 3rd of the total donations for the entire evening.....we rocked...we also by far had the funnest booth with giving away beads for a little shake of the shoulders by chili goers....Collin and Dylan had a good time tasting all the chili and running around....

I had about 3 or 4 days of a lull in business but we are back to full speed....I have my big contract that I need to get done on Monday....the buyer is one of our States Attorney's so I am going to have the owner and if need a lawyer review the contract............just in case....of course I feel pretty secure with the $90,000 down that I have negotiated upfront as earnest money.....I am fairly savvy at getting enough security and we have a fairly tight contract...but I am also smart enough to know that probably a second and maybe 3rd set of eyes reviewing the contract is a good idea.......showing properties tomorrow to a new client....have another new client that I will be helping later in the week and have a old client that I am meeting with on Tuesday for a new listing....and hoping to get a contract on our spec home this week....so we are so blessed to be so busy right now....and there is no indication that business will be slowing down any time soon.....with that being said I am eyeing the most wonderful and beautiful in a simple way.....a square braided rug for our living room....it is made on the East Coast and I have been eyeing for about a month now....depending on the size it is like $800-1000 so kind of a chunk of change.....and I really can't justify buying it now....there is a front yard and back yard that need to be landscaped and fenced....a master bathroom remodel that needs to happen sooner rather than later since the shower is leaking and needs to be torn out.....and of course saving, saving, and more saving for our future rentals, and security.....it sounds so daunting when I type it out.....but realistically we will have the front yard, side yard and back yard done for and paid for this summer....we will also get the master bathroom remodeled and paid for this summer....so if I am still pining for this wonderful rug this coming Winter...I should be able to purchase it with a good heart and no guilt.......if I continue to sell, sell, and sell some more.....
With that have a good night it is time for a hot bath for Dylan and I

$200.00 cookie

During our morning meeting we were able to raise almost $600.00 with a 100% matching donation from the owner for a grand total of almost $1200.00----we had quite a few $50.00 cookies and one $200.00 cookie this is after the matching proceeds.......very cool..my cookies rocked.........

Also I closed the deal for our new construction project....this will be the largest project to date..this home will also be featured in the Parade of Homes in August if we can get it finished by then....it will have a heavy East Coast influence and from a design stand point will be very distinctive and very different from what is usually built in this part of the country....lots and lots of molding and trim that will really showcase the builders talent and skill...and very high end finishes thru out the entire home.....

Oh my goodness Dylan is getting to cute for words......and speaking of words he knows so many words now...his vocabulary is growing everyday.....today as we were playing with a puzzle we would ask him where the cow is...he would find the cow and then make a cow noise....he did this with all the animals.........

Collin....cracks me up...Dylan's favorite show is Wow Wow Wubbzy....Collin gets so upset that the show doesn't follow common sense or basic rules of life....he told me today that Widget.....Wubbzy's side kick must prostitute on the side because he has no idea how she can buy everything that she buys....when Dylan and Collin our watching Wubbzy I always get to hear Collin's commentary about the accuracy of the show............the scary thing is Collin knows all the characters names of the show.............

Hoarders was on again tonight...gosh I love that show...it is such good trash tv and it makes me feel so much better about myself............

Tomorrow I am sleeping in then I have to work from 10-4 then I am going to take a nice day off on Thursday..............hopefully

Cookies, Numbers, and Crayons

Good Morning, it is 5:45 am and I just put in my first batch of chocolate chip cookies....I got up early this morning to bake for our Tuesday morning meeting....we will be selling my cookies for $25.00 a piece with a matching donations from the owner of our company...the proceeds go toward the Boys and Girls Club of Cheyenne and is part of the donations that we are raising thru the City Wide Chili Cook Off.....my cookies are kind of famous at our office....so warm fresh out of the oven cookies should go over well at the morning meeting.....of course people can donate whatever they want but $25.00 a cookie with a matching donation of $25.00 is a pretty good donation....a little pressure on me....sometimes cookies have a mind of their own......and my cookies are usually thick, big, soft, and just pretty darn good...about 90% of the time they come out perfect ...it's that 10% of the time that they spread out on the pan and come out flat....so I am hoping for the 90% this morning.............

Numbers........well I have a very important meeting today at noon.....if I am able to seal this deal with these clients....I have been working with these people since October....it will be the most expensive home that Garth has ever built and a hefty profit for both of us........if I am able to secure this deal....then I will have secured just shy of 2 million in business in the month of January...........huge for Cheyenne Wyoming where the median home price is $180,000 or so.....it has been a busy and very good month.........with out this business...January has still been very successful...

Crayons...........honestly I hate crayons...Dylan colored on the wall yesterday....I was horrified...sorry if you are one of those people that have crayons scribbled on the walls of your home.....but that won't be my home.....no... no....and a bigger NO.....and of course I don't believe in hi gloss paint so that you can just wipe off the crayons.....this is a home....not a day care center with washable non stick walls.........anyways Collin my loving husband will be doing a small touch paint job today in the family room............I am pretty easy going with Dylan for the most part....but this is a non negotiable.....crayons will only be allowed under strict guidance....I never thought that my perfect child would be one of those kids that scribbles with crayons on the walls....I know I know...I can be so well just plain dumb at times....of course Dylan would color on walls....what child wouldn't.....well Dylan just woke until next time

Sick on Saturday

The whole family is sick today....Collin still managed to head to work....Dylan and I are still in our pj's running around with runny noses.....right now I am blogging from our office....wow what a nice room....I like the office...and when we first bought the home I really didn't like this room...but now fully furnished it is quite nice....well I didn't win the chili contest at work....my good friend Lynda won it and appropriately so....she made a really awesome green chili that will represent #1 Properties in the Boys and Girls Club Chili Cook off......if we had more guys in the office I probably would have won....most of the guys voted for my chili....but it is kind of a good thing that I didn't win....it would mean making 5 gallons of chili.....Dylan and I are headed to the park this afternoon the children's museum is having a campfire at 1:00 pm so I think Dylan would have a good time and some fresh air might do us some good.....otherwise I am predicting a quiet day at home....Dylan is cleaning right now....he is taking tissues and wiping down the walls and floors......to cute....he also just went by a plant and stuck his nose to it and took in a big whiff.....let me tell you this boys loves to clean....he sweeps, rakes, and wipes down everything....I think he would work for M&M's..........he loves M&M's I love giving them to him just to hear him say yum yum......and ummmm ummmm.........a climber oh my goodness can this boy climb....he climbs on everything and is quick very quick.....he is at the age that you can't leave him alone for a second due to his climbing.....I am also going to do a little cooking today....I have a whole pork butt that I am going to cook left over from the chili prep...I am going to make some shredded pork for tacos and maybe enchiladas....speaking of food...I am still dieting not as successful as I had hoped but have lost 5 lbs so I am pretty happy with that......tomorrow I have to work all day...I have a open house at our new construction....I am expecting a large turn out it is in a highly sought after neighborhood so I am hoping to get some new clients off of the open house...I then have a contract to put together for a client and then I have to go to another clients home and work on getting their house ready to list............well with that have a great day

Home for the day

Dylan and I are spending the day at home....I do have a quick inspection at 11 right down the block....the beauty of living in Cheyenne....then back home....the day will be filled with me cooking and Dylan playing...the weather is turning cold and it feels like snow will be making its way before night fall........perhaps we will bundle up and play in the front yard before the storm...I am cooking a batch of chili for a chili cook off....our office has entered into a charity chili cook off.....so I am making a batch for the office if it wins the office vote then it will be the chili that represents our office....I have a descent chance...but two other agents are pretty awesome cooks and I might be taken out by Fred's famous white chicken chili.....it is suppose to be really good....you never know I might even vote for it.........work has been good but slightly stressful...it comes with job at times.....Dylan has a pretty good runny nose so he isn't in the best of moods either.....but for the most part is handling being under the weather like a champ....right now we are in his room and he is rocking on his rocking horse...........we are headed to Washington DC in May to see family and friends....we have wanted to make the trip for sometime now....and have made tentative plans that just never stuck.....whether it was work, money, or rentals something always managed to stop us.....but the tickets are booked and we will be on our way......we are looking forward to seeing everyone and taking in some sights with Dylan.....until next time

Yeah for Thursday

Dylan and I are home together for the day.....I always enjoy it when I can stay home with Dylan all day.....We are going to do a little shopping this afternoon.........walk to the park and play since the weather is so nice.....I am sure that we will find sometime to take one of our long wonderful naps together this afternoon.....Tuesday afternoon we walked to the park and spent a good hour and a half exploring and playing....I love were we live and how close we are to such a awesome park and community center.....last night Dylan and Daddy went swimming at the community center with Jon and his son David.....literally a 3 minute drive....just right down the street....I guess Dylan had a great time....but is braver than he should be in the water....all is well at work and nothing to exciting.....we have 2 homes just getting finished and starting on 3 more....I have a professional photographer take all of our pictures on all of our projects....he is amazed at how busy Garth is.............and is enjoying being apart of our marketing team....and is really excited to see how it is all coming together and really working.............

Crazy....I lost my mind yesterday for about 3 hours or so.......being apart of a real estate company we get emails daily on people looking for rentals............I received a email about a lady that is finishing her master's degree and is doing a internship at one of our State Government Offices.....and is needing a place to stay until mid May.....I actually called Collin and asked if he wanted to rent out our downstairs bedroom ....since it is really somewhat separate....of course he is so easy going....he thought it would be fine if we helped someone out.....I told him that if she was 25, single and gorgeous.............it would be a no go.....she happens to be 49, married, kind of frumpy and very nice......but still.............not a good idea........I am just 2 picky about the house and don't want to feel like I can't go down stairs...........after regaining my mind...................we won't be renting out the downstairs bedroom..............what was I thinking................definitely a moment of losing my mind

Sundays Best

Ahhhh what a nice day we are having...the family finally made it out of bed around 10:00 am this morning....we all woke somewhere around 8:30 or so....but between lots of cuddles, nursing, a little wubbzy and the morning paper we made it down for breakfast somewhere around 10 am.....after breakfast we decided to take in the bright morning outdoors.....the sun has been out and I think it was a balmy 45 degrees or so....Dylan got to ride his new motorcycle and push bike that he got for Christmas.....thanks Grandma and Grandpa Davis and Aunt Megan, Uncle Damian and cousin Avery....he thought he was pretty cool riding up and down the street with his sunglasses on and Maggie by his side....we worked in the front yard getting things put away and ready for a little outdoors Valentines Decorations.........Dylan stomped around in the frozen snow.....Maggie loves the outdoors and follows us where ever we go....Winston on the other hand seemed a little irritated that we stayed outside for so long.....he really never ventured past the side walk in front of the house and would just stand there with this impatient look on his face...as we walked to the end of the block...he wouldn't budge off of our property....he just watched from a distance....as we walked further and further away....secretly hoping that we wouldn't turn the corner out of his sight.....prompting him and forcing him to trek our way.....Dylan is now sleeping in my arms as I type this.....we our in the front room....enjoying the ambiance of the fire and the warmth of the sun streaming in thru the front windows......Winston is right next to me on the couch...his head bobbing back and forth as he is falling asleep in a sitting position..........Mr Mooks is on the other side of me curled up on a blanket....there is just something that makes you feel good when you see a fat cat curled up in a chair...........Collin is taking a moment for himself and watching a football game in the family room........I am enjoying blogging with a cup of tea and my little one on my lap...............we will complete this lazy day with a little roasted chicken, brown rice and asparagus.............ahhh Sundays Best

A long expensive good day ( Friday the 8th)

Today has been a very long, very good, and very expensive day....We headed to Fort Collins early this morning on a mission to get our Volvo fixed....we ending coming home with a Volvo fixed and a new truck to boot.........How does this happen.................when we left this morning we had a list of items on our to do list...........buying a new truck wasn't even close to being on the list...but some where between dropping the Volvo off to get repaired and returning a pair of pants we ended up buying a new pick up......and I guess I am not quite sure why I am seeing we.....it is Collin's new pick up....we are just paying for it together...the funniest part of the day is that I told Collin...if he got the truck...then I at least wanted $20.00 in Rabbits.....he got really quiet....and was doing the well ....well...I don't know.... I thought geez what a cheap bastard he is getting a $18,500 truck and all that I am asking for is a couple of decorative rabbits for decorations for Easter...........he of course thought I meant real live bunny rabbits........kind of funny.....anyways the Volvo got repaired for $83.00 they covered the $1000.00 fuel modulator part.............thank goodness......anyways we found the truck at the Volvo dealership.....this is now the 3rd vehicle we have bought from them...the big pull for moving forward and buying the truck....is that Collin has been kind of looking for sometime....and it was in the plans for later this year.....it is everything he wanted in a truck...really it is awfully pretty for a truck and fully loaded with leather and all the bells and whistles....and it belonged to the manager of the warranty department....that is what really secured the deal....we really love the warranty manager and Volvo service department he has always taken such good care of us......over the last 7 years or so that I have owned a Volvo........so we know the truck hasn't been abused and has been well taken care of....he was the original and only owner and just needed a big diesel pusher for his new manly hobbies...........so after much deliberation on our part....over a 10 hour period we came home with a truck............by the way....Dylan was perfection the entire day.....we are now happily at home....with a beautiful new (used) truck and a well running Volvo....a exhausted mom and dad and a happy baby

A good day

Today has been a good day......no complaints...had a good productive day at work...and will be heading home shortly to spend time with Collin and Dylan....the whole family has been fighting a cold....and I think Collin has received the worst of it........he called in sick again today.....he is hoping a rest full day and rest full weekend will get him back to feeling good........Dylan it seems like is learning something new everyday right now....he is talking alot more and tries so hard to say certain words.....he pretty much gets everything that we are saying....and if he can't tell us what he wants in words he makes it very clear in his own way exactly what he wants....he truly is such a joy and for the most part a pretty easy going and happy child.......we truly are blessed....tomorrow we are heading to Fort Collins to get the Volvo fixed.........ughhhhh hopefully they can get it fixed this time...it has been kind of a nightmare trying to get this sputtering of the engine fixed.....we are hoping it gets taken care of this trip...anyways we will make a day out of the trip to Fort Collins...we have a pair of motorcycle pants that Collin needs to return and will do a little window shopping...take in a little lunch while we are waiting for the repair on the Volvo....well with that I think I am going to call it a day and head home to spend the afternoon with my family

Monday

Yesterday I managed to pack away all my Christmas treasures...good bye until next year......I also managed to pull out all of my Easter goodness.....last year I don't think we decorated at all for Easter since we were in California for the holiday....it was like seeing old friends.....I love all the memories and good feelings it brings back once I begin going over all of my holiday decorations.....I got rid of so much stuff when I moved from South Dakota....I am so glad that I kept some of my favorites....my indoor decorations for Easter are really quite nice....lots of Fitz and Floyd Rabbits and just in general pretty good taste ... simple and classic.....on the other hand my outside decorations are absolutely wonderfully tacky and just perfect to put a smile on children's faces....I have giant carrots to hang from the tree and lighted Easter eggs that lead you down the walk to our home....giant eggs and Easter bunnies.....perhaps its all the pastel pink, purple and yellow that look so out of sort against the dormant colorless grass and brick home....I'm not sure....but regardless I love it all....the child in me always smiles....I like it when every room has a touch of holiday....just a small rabbit in the corner or something.... I ran short on decorations so I will keep my eye out for some wooden rabbits or just some cool decorations for the office, bar, and game room.....until then though we still have Valentines day to go thru....I really don't decorate for Valentines just a couple of plates.....perhaps Dylan and I will bake cupcakes for the office this year....and of course I will find a Valentine book for my little guy....Collin and I usually don't celebrate Valentines day with cards and gifts....we usually make and write our own cards on the computer and we will have a nice family dinner......

I have been itching to get started working in the yard...I am so excited for the transformation the house will make this spring.....if I do well with selling this year we will also plan on putting a fireplace in the family room and redoing the ceiling in the family room adding can lights.....

Well we might end up buying another rental this year....a good friend of mine has been renting her house and is going to sell it in the fall....she has the best renters that want a house to live in the rest of their days...they are in their 50's....if we don't have a rental available when she sells her house...I think we will buy a house for them in the Avenues...and tell them they can have it forever at $1200.00 a month..so if that happens............perhaps no fireplace :(

Collin has been under the weather with a cold.......he went to the Dr's today and they said it is a virus and that he just has to let it run its course...I am also not feeling my best....and Dylan well Dylan hasn't taken a nap today....so we are going to do our best to keep him up until 7:30 or so and then we will all go to bed...........

The diet is going well.....no major slip ups....but I am still eating to much quantity.....but I am adjusting well to healthier eating............tonight Collin is bringing home roasted chicken from Sam's Club.............truly awesome stuff for 5 bucks.....

Business is good but I am not slammed so it feels a little strange....I do best when I am slammed....I am working on a new add for our monthly local real estate magazine.... a another agent brought it to my attention today that 2 builders now have copied my full page colored adds....with pretty much the same lay out and content about the builder....she mentioned to me that I should be flattered.....I am just flattered enough to raise the bar.....where they can't go to.......my adds for the rest of the year will be truly dynamic.....I have a professional photographer that takes all of our pictures on all of our new homes from start to finish and then a final family portrait....that we pay for and give as a gift to the client....we are now going to run full page colored adds with the family picture along with a testimonial from the family ...along with pictures of their new home....a different family every month..... and then a additional full page color add talking about us as a builder and what we have to offer.....2 full pages side by side pretty impressive.....1st and foremost....agents here are to cheap to run a full page add every month much less 2 pages....2nd they don't have a professional photographer doing the pictures.....huge difference....3rd they don't have a professional marketing team designing their adds........I truly believe that we will have a large percentage of the new construction market within the next 2 years or so......I love competition and challenge from a competitor....It just makes me more aggressive and raise the bar even higher.....I can reach it, and pass it....can you....these agents are to cheap to make the investment and don't understand how to sell new construction, pre solds, or their builders.....thus after one add and no return on their investment they give up......and we just keeping getting more and more business and becoming more and more powerful in the marketplace............anyways enough business stuff..........I get so hyped up over business..... until next time

Nain to the rescue

Collin's mom made the trip to Cheyenne this morning to watch Dylan...while Collin and I attacked the workshop.....it is just to hard to get a project like cleaning out the workshop done and trying to keep Dylan safe thru it all..............we are so lucky to have Penny so close....and Dylan absolutely loves his Nain.....we have been watching the most disgusting show ever called hoarders.........about families that never throw anything away and have piles and piles of garbage and junk.......the show has scared us straight....and we did really well getting rid of things that we haven't used in 5 years or so but have been sitting around waiting for us....for that just in case moment......in fact I think it really hit home for Collin when he talked about renting storage in another fireman's garage for his motorcycle.....I asked why would we pay someone to keep something of value at their home....when we could throw away junk...literally maybe $30.00 on a good day at a garage sale to store this junk that we don't use.....1 month of rent is the same value of everything that we got rid of..........so the workshop is looking good....the garage now can fit 2 cars and a motorcycle and 2 lawn mowers and a couple of bikes...and our back playroom is also pretty tidy.....we came from a small house with lots of storage and a over sized 2 car garage to a big home with less storage and only a carport.......so lots of stuff got stuffed in the workshop and the back playroom....until the garage could be built....the garage is up and we love it....and now it has allowed us to get the workshop back in order and the back playroom back to a room instead of just storage......

It has been a slow weekend.....and I am loving it....it feels good though to get some stuff accomplished we still need to touch up our kitchen cabinets...we got them sanded down but need to get new paint......Collin headed to Eaton tonight to play a little poker....so Dylan and I are enjoying a evening of playing and watching a little tv.......tomorrow I will say good bye to all my Christmas decorations for another year....and the back to work on Monday.......