Trumpeting Elephant

Hear ye, Hear ye, a message from my honored guest blog author (and hard working husband, personal finance consultant, and one true love) John Alden Whitehead… Many of you know that I work for Ivory Homes as a construction superintendent. Normally I’m the guy out in the field supervising the construction of new homes but today I’m trying to help get the word out to our friends and family about the great deals that our company is offering on new homes right now. You personally may not be looking to buy a new home right now, which is fine, but you may know someone else that is! My hope is that before any prospective buyer makes this very important decision that they would give Ivory a chance to show them why we’ve been the leader in the Utah housing market for 22 straight years.

Everyone is aware that last year was challenging in the housing market. However, Ivory has been able to successfully weather the storm. Ivory Homes had the 4th best year in the company’s history in 2008 by closing 718 homes. We also increased our market share by 47%. That being said, we recognize that we need to work harder than ever and are determined to do all we can to grow our business this coming year. To accomplish this, we have decided that our entire company needs to take a more proactive role in helping generate additional sales.

2009 will most likely be the year where housing prices in Utah will be lower than they’ll ever be again. With Ivory’s recent price cuts, home pricing is similar to what it was 5 years ago (in 2004). Many of you have heard that interest rates are going down to lower than ever. Right now in the mortgage market some people are qualifying for rates anywhere from 4 7/8% to 5 3/8% depending on the day. For those who close on an Ivory Home this year, rates are even better! By financing with Ivory Mortgage, our buyers are guaranteed a 4.5% fixed interest rate over the life of the 30-year loan.

You also may have heard that to help stimulate the economy, the government is offering a $7,500 tax refund for 1st time home buyers who close on a home before July of 2009. To take advantage of that opportunity a person would need to begin the process very soon.

The following example illustrates how monthly mortgage payments for a new Ivory home owner in this particular neighborhood are approximately 40% lower than they were just a few years ago.

There are many ways you or someone you know can get more information about possibly purchasing an Ivory Home.

1. Visit any of our MODEL HOMES and speak with a sales consultant. That would be the best way to find out specific pricing in any of our locations and they can answer any of your questions about buying a home. Be sure to let them know that you know John Whitehead so you can get the best deal possible.
2. Log on to our website at http://www.ivoryhomes.com/
3. Listen to a personal experience had by one of our recent buyers, Jill Stevens (Miss Utah 2007), when building her Ivory Home. http://www.myivorystory.com/
   Request your copy of our CATALOG OF HOMES to be mailed to you.
4. Find out more information about the LOCATIONS we are building in.
   Sign up for our free monthly email newsletter Ivory Insider.
   Email me at johnw@ivoryhomes.com and I’d be happy to answer any questions I can.

Thank you for taking the time to consider who you know that may benefit from what Ivory, and this current “buyers market” have to offer. Also, if you are thinking about refinancing, rates are in the low 5’s and Ivory Mortgage can work out a great deal to help any of you who currently have a mortgage with a high interest rate.

Anyway, if you know of someone we can help, please respond with their contact info. As you know, I’m not in sales (ie. I get no commission if any of you end up referring someone who ends up buying a home), but I am committed to doing my part and would appreciate your help.

Thanks,
John Whitehead

The elephant has trumpeted, so don’t delay. Pass on this message today!

Out With The Old

Since I am a wanna-be fly lady, I decided to take her challenge called the "twenty seven thing FLING!" I have done this in the past and found it to be invigorating and satisfying. It is, however, sometimes emotionally hard for me to "let go" of things. I didn't know what a pack rat I could be until my dejunking husband went on his first clean out spree. We have worked out one way to satisfy both of us when it is time to get rid of something but I may not be quite ready. We take a picture! Here are a few from the past...

Left: Me holding cases to camping chairs (John thinks they are useless) and his little league trophy.

Right: Me with an interactive writing poster that Brad Wilcox HIMSELF complimented me on when he popped in to my classroom one day.

I am sentimental. What can I say? So to ring in the new year I let my desire for order (as opposed to C.H.A.O.S.) overrule as I rummaged through the house looking for items that fit this motto: "If you don't love 'em or use 'em, loose 'em!" Here is what I came up with.

Oh, yes, and we are getting rid of one more thing...

I must say there was some role reversal when it came time to decide whether to part with this trusty ol' beast. After spending almost a full Saturday under the hood preparing to sell our '90 Suburban- covering himself with plenty of grime and a war wound between the eyes in the process- John has had a hard time moving on. Thanks Honey!

Christmas Greetings

Thought I'd post this on the blog for history's sake...

“Do You Hear What I Hear?”
(Whitehead Remake ‘08)

Said the Whiteheads to our friends and fam,
We’re wonderin’ how you be!
We are making holiday plans;
Our house is filled with such glee.

Our son, William, creating day and night,
K’nex and Legos are his delight!
He is learning to Choose The Right.

Says our little Caroline filled with joy,
“Do you know where I go?
To a classroom filled with girls and boys.
We play at recess in the snow.

Bus stop! Bus stop! It’s the place to be.
I am five now. I’m feelin’ free;
And I’ve even learned how to read.”

Says dear Desirée, “Dancin’s my thing.
I put on a sweet show;
Wearing leotard, gloss, pearls, and rings.
While Dad practices piano.”

Our son, Nathan, is beautiful to hold.
Grins and sleeps and does what he’s told!!!!
He is learning now he can roll.

For Mom and Dad not too much news to share;
We work and try to also play.
Pray for those we love everywhere;
That all may cherish every day.

And find the Child born that Christmas night.
He has brought such goodness and light.
May our hearts be filled with his light.

With Love,

The J .& J. Whitehead Family

LEGO Family Building Challenge

JUST INCASE we don't win the incredible Carribbean Sun family cruise from Norwegian Cruise Lines and get our winter scene published in Lego Magazine for all the world to see.. I thought I would post our cute creation here. The requirements were that we build a winter Holiday themed model using only lego pieces and accompany it with an essay of 50 words or less. Thanks Uncle Nick for taking the time to help us come up with a pretty nice entry.

Name of Model: Santa Visits Elf Village

Essay:
After working all year building toys the elves are now ready to enjoy the holiday season themselves.
Sammy Elf picks out a tree for his family to decorate. Andy and William Elf race down their favorite hill. Santa brings gifts. For the grown-ups… yummy food. For the kids…LEGOS!

Builders:
Ski slope & skier- Caroline
Sledder & Red house- William
Santa & Reindeer- Uncle Nick

Lovin' It

For the past few months every day after lunch Desi has scurried out to our mailbox, usually barefoot, to get the mail. She is usually barefoot and can barely see into the box while on tiptoes, but she really loves being the one to bring it in. All my kids do...

... So it was an exciting day in the kitchen last Thurs. when into our house was brought a big white envelope addressed to our family from the Utah State Capitol. The Governers Summer Reading challenge worked! (Have any of you ever done this?) I wasn't sure if the free happy meal tickets were ever really going to come through for us, but they did- along with a few other cupons and some official looking certificates of completion. I know my friend Steph F. would say rewarding kids with anything McDonalds is counterproductive to their overall well-being (sure they can read but what about their future cholestrol count?!?). Nevertheless, there we were at McD's Thursday evening, and the kids were "lovin' it."

P.S. I am going to be trying to figure out how make the blog private here soon so you can email me if you would like an invitation! Thanks a lot.

Reasons to SMILE

Mom:
*Figured out how to strap Nathan into the bike trailer (thanks Jana), and the weather has allowed me several refreshing mid-morning rides.
*Free ice cream, salad, and French bread w/ purchase of lasagna at Kohlers!
Dad:
*Sand dunes Scout Camp this weekend.
*Discovered that mowing the lawn every 3 weeks looks just as good as mowing weekly in the fall!
Will:
*Convinced Mom to sign me up for the Lego club which means I get an AWESOME magazine in the mail
*Has earned 107 “Rindy bucks” so far since the last time the classroom store was open
Caroline:
*Came home with smarties because it was a classmate’s birthday. Today, another bday, but even better…M&Ms!
*Found 3 Dora books and Knuffle Bunny Too at the Library all in the same trip.
Desirée:
*Fire Station field trip, and they gave out big gold STICKERS.
*(This one happened over 3 months ago but she still reminds us every time we drive by) “I went to Liberty Land on my birthday and I didn’t have to do any chores, I just can play, play, play!”
Nathan:
*Good milk, enough sleep, a clean diaper, and a little company.
*That’s all it takes!

Angels Among Us

"Meet Brandon Mull, author of Fablehaven. Thursday, Sept. 18th at 7pm at the Pleasant Grove Library."
I saw the sign on the door of Sego Lily Elementary and promptly added the event to our family calendar. William has already devoured the book Fablehaven and is currently sinking his teeth into the sequel, Rise of the Evening Star. He comes home from school and begs to go lay on his bed and read more. At the park I have to require that he bike 5 laps before he can read another chapter. (we go to the park for a physically active time) In the van we have had to keep the lights on during long evening trips because he can't bear to put it down and rest. At this very moment I am sure that John is on the boat trying to get him to tube and he is saying "Hang on, I've got to finish this part." He took the book to the lake this afternoon. Needless to say, the creative characters of these books have captured this son of ours, and Mr. Mull is satisfying his NEED to READ!

I had planned a trip to Price the weekend of CHS Homecoming and figured that it would work perfectly to attend Will's 6pm soccer game, hit the book signing at 7pm and be off to my hometown by at least 8. WRONG! We pulled up to the library that evening and from the number of nonexistent parking stalls I could quickly see that this would not be as slick a stop as I had anticipated. We finally found a spot and walked toward the crowd. Brandon Mull had just finished his presentation (of which I was unaware) and there was a line formed of fans waiting to meet him. Many spectators were still seated, and I assumed that they were simply lingering after the speech or letting their kids go wait in line while they relaxed. Come to find out those seated were waiting to be called up for their turn to JOIN the line. It was THAT crowded. Amidst the running around of 2 rambunctious daughters and while hauling around a very inhibiting infant car seat I began to explain to Will that we would probably not be able to brave the crowds and stay to meet this hero of his. He first tried to come up with some solutions, then tried begging that we just wait. Next came the puppy dog eyes and his chin started to quiver. I had been the one to build this up for him so much- because of my own library junkieness, and now I was telling him that we would have to turn around and walk out when Brandon Mull was only one room and FIVE HUNDRED FIFTY patrons away!
"But I wanted to get a poster." Will explained to me as a final attempt at convincing me to stay. A nearby Mom suggested he go check with the library staff at the front desk to see if they had any extra. Because of my heavy car seat and buzzing entourage of children, and because we were in a hurry to get on the road, I directed Will to run up around the building and inquire about a poster or bookmark. By the time I gathered myself and made it to the circulation desk myself, I saw something that made my heart melt. A sweet, brown haired librarian was leaning over so as to be able to hear Will's shakey voice better as he recited to her his name and telephone number. Apparently her warmness and helpful sincerity dispelled any guidelines about stranger danger. Obviously there were no more unclaimed posters in the library. But she wasn't about to tell that to this little boy and leave him hanging, library book clutched to his chest and tears streaming down under his fogged up glasses. "I'll see if I can find one after the event is over. And if not, I have some friends at Deseret Book." She looked up at me and smiled as she uttered these hope filled sentences to my little boy. I thanked her, and we went on our way discussing how glad we were that all hope was not lost. On the way out Will asked if he could just SEE Brandon Mull- so I pointed to the door where those who had just met him were exiting and said, "Go peek in there." Will did more than just peek. He weaseled past the door guard and decided that he'd see if anyone told him he couldn't just join right in at the back of that room's line, only about 20 people long. When I noticed what he'd done, I apologetically squeezed myself through the door and right past Brandon Mull to go gather my desperate Fablehaven fan. This sent him over the top. Coming so close with no success had crushed him. On the way to the van he threw quite a fit. When we got in he opened his book and escaped the situation his well meaning but despicably disappointing mother had caused.
I got on the website the next morning and discovered that, after an appearance in Sandy, Brandon Mull was on his way to book signings in Texas for the rest of the month. Hmm. I thought. Maybe he'll at least end up with a poster. I wasn't going to bring it up again for fear that life may get in the way of this sweet librarian's intentions resulting in no memorabilia for Will. Boy was I wrong. When we got back home we heard the sweetest voice saying this on our answering machine. "This message is for William. This is Linda at the P.G. Library. I just wanted him to know that I did find a poster for him and if it's OK I could drop it by this weekend. " I still have the machine saved so that I can listen to it when I need my faith in humanity restored :)
She came, she delivered, and William now has this huge poster right above his favorite reading spot in his bedroom. It was addressed personally to him, by the author himself, at ten minutes after midnight.


In visiting with sweet Linda Bethers we learned that she is the author of the retelling of the story Christmas Oranges which was published as a picture book in 2002. She will actually be at the PG library presenting the story on Nov. 13th.

Today when Caroline wrecked during the Stake 5K I caught up to her and sat on the ground to comfort her. I wiped a few tears and wondered if I should encourage her to get back on her bike or offer her a spot in the double stroller. Not a minute later a woman on her bike came past and saw our predicament. Low and behold, she had put in her bike trailer that morning a box of band aids. Any Mom knows what kind of get up and go power that can give to a skinned 5 year old. "She rescued us!" I told Caroline. "We can finish the race!" We thanked our kind runningmate and continued on 'til we had passed the balloons marking the finish line and arrived at the monstrous chocolate chip muffin table. A happy ending indeed.

Thinking back on the redheaded woman I will call the "Band aid Biker" and on our friend "Linda the Librarian", I had the impression that there truly are angels among us. I was reminded of one of my favorite quotes by Spencer W. Kimball...
"God does notice us, and he watches over us. But usually it is through another person that he attends to our needs. Therefore it is vital that we serve one another."