We're Homeowners!

Dan and I have been keeping some pretty big news a secret lately! It's not that we didn't want to share... the timing just didn't seem right quite yet. But now that we know we are closing in less than two weeks, we are finally sharing...

WE BOUGHT A HOUSE!

That's right! We are so tired of renting. We were going to live on base when we moved to Sheppard Air Force Base this spring because of Dan's pilot training schedule (crazy hours and whatnot), but they only allow two pets in base housing, and we have three.

That made us mad and started the thought process: what if we bought?! It seemed silly at first since it's another 18-24 month assignment, but we know that lots of military members come through that base, so we decided that if we could find a home to buy, we would do a little work to get it up to date, and then we can rent it out after we leave!

We wanted a four bed / two bath home so we can have guests over and have an office for Dan to study in. We ended up only finding three bed / two bath homes in our price range, but this house has a hidden gem: an office off the kitchen! It's not huge, but it'll be plenty of space for Dan to study for his flights. 

I'll let the pictures do the rest of the talking... and yes, we plan on painting all of the bedrooms! We actually plan on having them painted before we even get there. We have picked out paint for Annabelle's room (a neutral light gray - Polar Star, to be exact), and we're working on picking the color for the master bedroom and guest bedroom. 

Proof that it snows in Texas! I'm so glad! I really want Annabelle to experience snow next year. She loved it this winter in Ohio, but she was too young to really DO anything other than look at it... so PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE make this picture come true next winter! 

Do you own a home?

If I Were To Win the Lottery... (52 Weeks of Blogging With a Purpose)

If you'v been following my blog, you will know that I've been participating in a weekly link-up with From Mrs. to Mama. This post is about a week late (oops), but forgive me. This topic is a fun one, and I'm excited to write it all out!

If I Were To Win the Lottery, Five Things I'd Buy

1. Donate (significantly) to Serenity Springs Wildlife Center. 

Serenity Springs is a wonderful organization in Calhan, Colorado, just thirty minutes from Colorado Springs. They take in mostly large cats, but they have bears and a few others animals as well.

Their mission states: "Through educational programs and community outreach, we strive to raise public awareness of the existence of the large numbers of captive wildlife and the continuing need for sanctuary from exploitation, abuse and neglect. Through introduction to, and education about these magnificent creatures, we promote compassion and respect for all animals while fostering recovery for endangered species."

It is SUCH an amazing place. They do so much for the animals, and the entire staff is so friendly. If you'd like to look into them more or donate, check them out at their website:

Serenity Springs Wildlife Center

I have been twice, and I got to hold a baby tiger each time! If you're ever in the area, seriously check them out. They are WONDERFUL, and it's pretty cool getting to play with the cute little babies! 

2. Buy a home. 

I don't know where exactly this home would be. Ideally, I would like to own a place in Colorado... close to Colorado Springs (either in the city, in Black Forest, or in Woodland Park). Being a (soon-to-be) military spouse, I probably own't have the opportunity to own a home for many, many years. When we can own one, though, it will definitely have a cupula for me to read in, like the house pictures below.

I love everything about this house! So cute! 

3. Buy a new car.

I love my 2006 Ford Escape. It's like my baby. That said, I would upgrade to something newer and bigger if I had the money. I think I'd go with a Ford Explorer (I will always buy Ford). It's big enough for all of our outdoor needs and trips with the cats, and it's also so nice looking and not TOO big.

I really like how sporty these look! This is the 2014 Explorer. 

4. Invest in a cleaning service. 

You all know: I HATE CLEANING. No, it's more than that. I loathe it. I NEVER want to do it. It is NOT enjoyable AT ALL... in ANY WAY. I really really really passionately HATE it. I always have, and I likely always will. I DREAD cleaning... no matter what it is. Dan has to practically beg me to clean my own house. It's awful. Yes, I do feel a little better when my house is clean, but... it's not THAT big of a worry to me. I hate the thought of even thinking of cleaning. Ick.

I would probably need two cleaners. I am a pretty messy person, after all. 

5. Buy an airplane for Dan -- a PINK one!

Everyone knows Dan wants to own his own plane. He's had his Private Pilot's License for longer than his Driver's License. It's his passion... and it would make travel much more efficient if we could fly instead of drive everywhere. I'm not a big fan of flying, but it would save us a lot of time... so I'd go with it. My one stipulation, though? It needs to be pink. Dan would complain and complain, but he would cave in because it would be a FREE airplane (and of course free fuel for life! Duh!). Who wouldn't want to be seen flying in this bad boy? :)

This looks way cooler than your average Cessna...

It's always fun thinking about what you would buy if you had all the money in the world! 

What would YOU choose to buy?