A very tardy house update

Hello dear family and friends.

I have been uber busy doing what feels like meaningless and unimportant dribble and so have failed to give an update on our home situation...sorry. So recap...our house is 18 months old and we're having ridiculous foundation problems. We've hired two inspectors to come take a look, the builder paid for one to come out and look and they all said the same thing...except the builder didn't want to pay to have it fixed and so we took it to a mediation process: the Texas Residential Conflict Committee (TRCC).

Okay, that you already knew. (If you've been following our saga that is.) The TRCC hired a non-biased inspector from Austin to come take a look at our home. He did. And we just got his report...where he basically tore into the builder. While the inspector was here, he asked a bunch of questions and I couldn't really gage if he was angry at me or at the builder but after reading the report he is livid with the builder. The inspector basically said because of all the foundation problems, they now have to not only fix the foundation but all the cosmetic problems it caused. i.e. tear out the backyard and the front, re-pour the driveway, re-grout the interior, new doors, fix all the cracks, nail pops, and other cosmetic problems inside, and the list goes on.

So, yeah for this small victory...but we're sure our saga is not over. The TRCC gives the builder 15 days from date of recieving the report to file an appeal but we feel pretty confident they don't have anything to appeal with, but we should know in another few days as we've had the report at least 14 days. After that, the builder has 45 days to submit a plan of action to us and to TRCC. Again, we feel pretty confident we have "right" on our side, but here is where the problems arise: who is the builder? We bought our home through Bear Creek Development who hired MKM Homes to build our home and our warranty is through MKM Homes. Bear Creek Dev. thinks MKM Homes is the builder and MKM Homes we are afraid is about to go bankrupt...So thankfully the inspector who was out here told us to go after Bear Creek and they can deal with MKM Homes. So his report listed Bear Creek and not MKM and needless to say they (Bear Creek) is not thrilled with us.

They won't return calls, they chewed Eddie out on the phone and we're just stuck in this waiting game...We're trying to remain positive but also realistic and as soon as the 15 days are up we will be contacting TRCC to figure out our next steps...We might be looking for legal counsel soon but we pray it won't come to that. So that is our update and I can't wait till we have some resolution to this...one way or another. It's the uncertainty that is killing me, but I'm spending lots of time on my knees thanking Heavenly Father for looking out for us and for all the amazing blessings He is giving us through it all and trying desperately to hold the "fear" at bay. Thank you all for thinking about us and praying for us, and we'd love it if you could keep at it. We feel your prayers and I know we couldn't be doing this otherwise.

I love you all.

Love,
Me

Will update soon I promise...

Okay so pictures to come, but I just had to say that I just had the most marvelous day at the beach with my family. It's January for pete's sake, and yet it was sunny, clear skies, warm enough to run through the water and dig in the sand "sans" pants (in the case of Drew) and to enjoy the picturesque scenery. I have some videos and pictures of the day to prove it. I'm missing home, but today totally wiped out those feelings. I could stay in this day forever. (But too much of one thing isn't good, so don't fear my Texan friends, I'll be home soon.)

My first Post

This may be my first posting in cyberspace. I feel like there is an echo to everything I'm saying, as if I am speaking to the vastness of the universe. OK, enough of that. Let's get down to the reason I am posting today. I love my wife. My gorgeous, funloving, supportive wife is at home while I am at the lab. (9:40 pm on a Friday) My mouse brain tissue has a one hour incubation left before I can continue with the experiment, and so I have been trying to stay busy writing, but instead found myself surfing the net. Again, I am drifting off topic as I feel my thoughts permeate this expansive and mysterious world of solitary sociality. Tracy, has been caring for our two cute children everyday at home, like many of her friends do with their little ones. Kids get sick, they get cranky, she gets sick and tired. The house seems to dirty itself moments after we all get up, and yet she greets me with a smile and a kiss when I come home each day, as if my stress needed more relief than hers. True, that if everything fell apart at the lab and I flunked out of school we would have no money or income and I would be looking for another proffession. But my stress is meaningless compared to that of teaching a child right and wrong and providing a good example for toddlers who don't seem to be paying attention anyway, and doing all that while constantly trying to take feelings of frustration from your mind. I believe her responsibility is infinitely greater than mine. As I write this I realize that I may be putting a little pressure without intending to. So to make my point, I just wanted to say thank you to my sweet wife who successfully accomplishes her responsibility while still finding time give me a healthy dose of joy.

Travel dates, double ear infections, a new puppy love and more!

Okay so it's been a crazy month. I don't even know if I have the patience to sit here and write it all...so I'll lazily recap for ya'll. (in no particular order...just what comes to mind)
1. Drew is scheduled for surgery next Friday to have his adenoids removed and tubes put in his ears...turns out he's getting nothing from the world of sound and it's kept him from talking so it's time to bite the bullet.
2. On the topic of Drew, we're excited to have our real child returned to us cause I feel safe saying we are ALL tired of the one we've had for the last 3 months. (although we've caught glimpses of the real Drew now and then and of course some Drew is better than no Drew).
3. The other day we were at Kohl's and Drew found a little stuffed Dalmatian dog (i'm sure you've all seen them by now if you are a frequenter of Kohl's) that he toted around the store for the entire time we were there (and no I won't tell you how long that was). And that's saying a lot cause his attention span isn't very long.
4. We are flying in to San Jose on the 19th of December and Eddie leaves to come home around the 3rd of January but the boys and I will be staying a little longer in the sunny state of CA. However, after the 3rd I'll be in the southern regions with my sis. And then we fly home on the 13th. So to any and all LET'S GET TOGETHER! shoot me an email please!!!!! (tracyhaws at gmail dot com)
5. Eddie put up our Christmas tree and it looks fabulous! I love this time of year.
6. No news on our house yet. We've sent in the papers needed for the mediation people to get started like a month ago, but we've been told it can take 3-6 months for anything to happen...like communication of any sort I guess.
7. Happy belated Thanksgiving....I hope it was wonderful! I'm most thankful for my family, a home that hasn't split in half yet, the blessing of getting by with just one car, my new bedspread, and the knowledge that tomorrow is a new day.
8. I will just state here and now that our yearly newsletter will probably be late and I refuse to feel guilty...okay maybe a little guilty but it probably won't change anything.

Okay. Peace out.

It's beginning to look a lot like....

A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!! Why you ask? Because of the generosity of my Grandpa Cherry and the help of family, we are going to be coming home to Cali for the holiday season! I don't even have the words to express how excited I am. WE'RE COMING HOME!!!!!

Primary Program

Today was our Primary's Sacrament Program where they sang all the songs they've learned this year in Primary. We had our nursery children come up and sing the first verse of "I Am A Child Of God" with our younger primary children. I can't even begin to express to you the love and tenderness that was in my heart as I listened to these pure, innocent children singing "lead me, guide me, walk beside, help me find the way..." As frightened as I get about the future and what's in store for us in these last days, I am comforted by the Lord's love and guidance of His children. I was so touched by A's testimony today after the program finished. I'm so grateful to be serving along side her and feel honored to be serving with M and J too. What amazing women! And can I even tell you how excited I am that it's over? I feel so relieved! But mostly I feel gratitude to know truly who I am...I am a daughter of my Heavenly Father and He loves me and I love Him. I have a Savior who gave His life so I might eternal salvation. What a gift!

Halloween

I am out of steam...here was our Halloween experience. Drew was a duck. Nate picked out his own costume...he was a "num a num" aka M&M.