We Bought a House!!

Well a lot has happened since my last post.  So much it's almost overwhelming to think of everything.  Chronological order always works for me, so here goes:

CPA - I took the AUD exam and did very well.  I don't want to be too cocky or count my chickens before they hatch but I would be shocked if I didn't pass.  I know I did well because I got the extra hard testlet for the second and third multiple choice.  I even laughed out loud because the difference was so apparent.  I had to read the questions two to three times before I even understood the call of the question.  None the less I still good.  I should know the final results by June 20th or so.  

I got my results from FAR.  I passed!!!  Just barely, but I passed!  That was such a relief, I went into that test expecting to have to take it again.  I still gave it my best shot but after losing a week of studying and putting too much pressure on myself I didn't expect a passing score.  

Colorado - wait...Dane's job comes first...

Dane's job - As you know, Dane got laid off in April - same day I failed BEC.  And maybe I mentioned it, maybe I didn't, but we also qualified to purchase a house the same day.  Since Dane lost his job, we decided that it wasn't the right time to buy a house.  Which sucks cause the house we were looking at was beautiful.  Anyway, Dane put his resume out and got hits back from a Blackberry company in Toronto and Comcast in Denver, of all places.  After much discussion, we decided that Denver would be the best option for him so he accepted a 6 month contract position there.  We pulled some strings and I took a couple extra days off of work so I could make the drive down to Denver with him, since I was planning on being there for Memorial Weekend anyway.  Now I can move on to Colorado. :-) 

Colorado - I've been back to Colorado 3 or 4 times now but during this trip something in me snapped.  I can't pinpoint the exact moment but I can remember a few highlights where it became very clear to me that it was time to come home.  Maybe it was because it was the first time I had to drive back in to town, prolonging the excitement.  Maybe it's the fact that Dane isn't tethered to his job anymore.  I don't know what it was but sitting out on the patio enjoying beer with friends, I knew it.  Hanging at Dave & Busters, I knew it.  Dancing at LoDo's, I knew it.  Standing on the 16th Street Mall with some of my favorite people in the world, I knew it.  Driving to my favorite restaurant, I knew it.  If you would have asked me before Dane and I drove down there, I would have told you I had no intention of leaving Seattle.  In fact, Dane and I even discussed - AT LENGTH - the possibility of moving home and came to the conclusion that it wasn't the right time.  By the end of my CO trip, which was really great.  I had such a great time meeting up with everyone - I forgot how deep my roots run there, I was begging Dane to find a way to get us home.  

The Decision - But really I was the one attached to Seattle, what with my beloved job at Treehouse.  I decided that I would use TH and how they handle my CPA certification as a gauge to see if it was time to move on or stay put.  I had several conversations with Jim, really good conversations, but frank.  Basically I've worked myself out of a job at TH.  I've taken 2 full time positions and a company with a near adverse audit opinion into a fully functioning, smoothly operating accounting department that really only needs 1.75 staff members with half the qualifications that I have.  It would be a disservice for me and for TH if I stayed there.  #1 - I wouldn't be challenging myself, and #2 - TH would be overpaying for a position that could be staffed by an employee with less qualifications.  Once that became clear I realized that Colorado aside, it was time to move on from Treehouse.  At first that was  a hard pill to swallow - that TH wouldn't pay me what I wanted, but the more I thought about it the more I realized that I am the reason why they are in the position they are in.  They don't need to pay someone like me a high salary anymore.  I cleaned up all the mess and got things in order.  Now it's time for me to fly away and find another damsel in distress.  So I started looking at housing in Highlands Ranch and then in Palomino Park last week and decided that it might be fun to see if we could qualify for a loan again, considering the changes to our stitch, and to see if we liked the PP townhome.   I figured between the signs in CO and TH that things were shaping up like I should move home.  I asked God to be the decision maker and if we were approved for the loan, then I would take that as his final sign that I should move home.  

The House - well we got the loan.  Actually Dane did, I will still sign on the loan, but it was all his qualifications that got us the house.  So the final sign was there.  Unfortunately by the time we got the sign, we were too late to put an offer in on the 3 car garage, 3 bedroom townhome we wanted, but its mirror image was still for sale, with a better kitchen.  We put an offer on the house yesterday and found out today, after much haggling, that our offer (several times countered) was accepted.  VERY EXCITING!!  Of course we still have to go through all the red tape, but barring unforeseen and extenuating circumstances, we are home owners!!  And Palomino Park is just beautiful.  I'm so excited to live there.  Fitness center, pool, 1 mile walking track around a pond and park, gated community in a PERFECT location!  I've lusted after PP for a long time now and I just can't believe that my wonderful husband got me a nest there!!  It hasn't really set in yet.  I spent all day today shopping on Pottery Barn and dreaming up decoration schemes.  

The Reality - so now comes the hard part - the logistics of moving, finding a job and juggling all that with studying for my final CPA exam.  Plus living apart from Dane, it's tough.  We plan on getting rid of a lot of our belongings, only taking the few things that we need/have spent money on.  At this point we still plan on going to Europe and I plan on working at TH till at the very least August 31st.  Probably closer to the end of September before I actually leave.  Crazy stuff!  I can't believe I'm actually going home!  I'm so excited!!

More to come as I have time to blog.  I always say I'm going to post more often and never do.  I'll try but with the CPA and the move and my folks coming to town I'm not sure I'll get much done.  

Yay us!!