Halliday Family Blog

Well, in the 18 years we have lived in Chicago, I never thought I would be able to go to Soldier Field.  I never did get to see a game (don’t do Sunday games and Monday Night Football was always sold out and too expensive), but I did get to go to a vendor meeting to day at Soldier Field!  After the meeting, they took us on a tour of the stadium and I got to go into the visitors locker room and out on the field itself!

We didn’t get to see the Bears locker room as it’s against the owners rules and no one gets to go in without express written permission, but that’s OK.  It was fun to see everything and actually touch the grass.  🙂

Today, we had a dinner at Fisher’s house with Angela’s “girl group.”  They have been doing monthly lunches and get together activities (including the trip to Vegas) for years, and this will be the last one before we leave for Colorado.

It was bitter-sweet for Angela.  It was great to see the families of all the girls as well.  We had some great conversation and good time.  We’ll miss them but we know we’re doing the right thing.

Today, Ben had a big number 5 birthday party.  Brittany and Kirstyn put everything together for it.  They decorated the entire house and Ben had about 10 of his friends over!  They played a bunch of games and had a bunch of food and fun.

Instead of having cake, Brittany had them decorate their own cupcakes which the kids really loved!  They all got goodie bags when they left which made the kids even more excited!  🙂  By the time everyone left, Ben was totally high on sugar and the girls were totally exhausted!  🙂  I think they now have a better appreciation for what Angela goes through when she plans and throws parties for them.  🙂

Happy big number 5 Ben!  Ben’s birthday was today and he is SO excited to be 5!  We’re not quite sure why, other than the fact that 5 is older than 4.  🙂  What a crazy little boy!

He has a big party coming up that his sisters will be decorating for so he can’t wait for that!

Happy Birthday big guy!

After only 10 days and about 15 showings, our house sold!  We are SO excited we can barely see straight!  It was crazy…  We had competing offers, one even at list!  The one at list was not a very strong financial situation and the agent had pulled out on our agent twice in the past.  That said, Chris negotiated wonderfully!  Initially the offer came in at $40,000 under list which was offensive!  🙁  Chris went to work and with the competing offer at list, drove the buyers up to just $3000 under list and a closing date of the 10th of April!  We are SO happy and can’t wait to get the moving process started.  WAHOO!!!

It is a bittersweet moment however.  To see a sold sign in our front yard after living 18 years in Illinois is sad, but we know that this is the right thing to do.  Thanks to our agent, Chris Macak, for all his hard work on our behalf!

Zach played well in his game today.  He got a couple of rebounds and got the Board Beast award!  He was SO excited!

As usual, his team won again!  They really do have a great team and it’s amazing how little guys this age can play so well.

Our house went on the Market today!  We have been working hard and getting everything fixed up (wallboard, etc.), re-carpeted, dusted, vacuumed and ready to go!  Our agent came over and took all the pictures and we listed!

We have a great brochure to help sell the home and we are praying that we get a lot of showings and the home sells quickly.  We just have to figure out now when we want to go to the Denver area to look at homes.  It will probably happen over  Spring Break (depending on how fast we get a contract on our house here).

We’re so excited!  This has been a hard decision and it’s taken us almost 5 years to really make up our minds.  Now is the time and we know it.  🙂