Not out of the woods yet, but close.

I didn't say anything about this before, but on Monday (yes, a full 48 hours before our landlord jacked up the rent) we met with a home builder who was recommended to us by several other NCO's in Thak's unit. We went in really not expecting to be able to afford anything, and of the model homes we saw, there's no way we could have, but there was another house, already built, just down the street from the models, and it was in our price range. It's small, and very basic, but it does what we need it to do. There are three bedrooms, two baths, and a large garage. (A 2 car garage is a must for us these days since Thak needs space to work on cars and to keep tools.) The yard is a lot smaller than ours now, but it's a corner lot, and it'll work for us. Erin doesn't like it much. She hates that the yard is small and there's no playroom. I figure she'll get used to it. The rest of us like it quite well.

We met with the builder again today, and went over our mortgage documents. There are a few things they need still from Thak, and some of them are easy while others aren't, but we're going to be able to move in when we leave here. We may end up leasing the house for a month before we close on it, but one way or another, we're getting this house. We know where Chaiyo/Sirikit will be born. I explained the situation with the landlord, just in passing, and the builder said he would totally work with us. We were really grateful for that. At least we know where we're going.

There is still a lot to do. We have to get this house ready to move out of. We have to get rid of a lot of stuff because our new house is a lot smaller than our current house. On Tuesday, we have to submit written notice to our landlord that we are moving, and pay the last month of rent we hopefully will ever pay in our lives (ok, maybe we'll pay one more month of rent, but it'll be to our builder while we wait to close on the house. Somehow, that's not as painful as paying a shit load of money for a house we will never own.) I still have to get boxes, and pack this place, and have the biggest yard sale this side of Mexico, but at least we know where we're going.

It is great that we'll finally be able to paint walls, and make modifications as we see fit, and I'm sure Erin will like the tiny backyard a lot better with a playhouse. We can get one. We won't have to get anyone's permission to do it either. That's great. There are still a few details to work out, mostly it has to do with Thak getting out of the Army so soon, but we'll get it done. We always do. I am so happy to know where we're going, to know what house this baby will be born in, and where we'll be living in a few weeks. It's in the northeast, which is a part of town I never ever thought I'd live in, but it's a new neighborhood, and really nice. It's really convenient to post, too, so when we move, we'll easily be able to lease the house to another soldier. It's an advantageous location, and it was meant to be. We were on pins and needles waiting to hear back from the builder and mortgage company, but we heard from them today, and now we are far less up in the air. Now we just have to do it.