It's the Holiday Season...

Since the first time we saw our new home I'd been picturing how gorgeous it was going to be come Christmas time. I've been working through my head how many strands of garland I'd need, where the tree(s) would go, and loving how easily accessible our Spode would be (no climbing on the counter tops like in the townhouse.) I would randomly buy a new strand of garland at Costco in September and a new wreath for the front door in early November, sneakily trying to spread out the spending. So when the time finally came to get the decorating started, I was beyond ready! 

Sure there were some stressful moments (hello burnt out strands of lights on every. strand. of. garland) but we persevered and the results were everything I imagined they'd be! 

Of course I've already got a wish list of things to add for next year..wreaths for the windows? Garland over the front door? Oh the possibilities! 

Backyard Fun...

We are LOVING having a backyard! After years of just having a little strip of grass in the front of our house, it's so great to have a yard that we can all run around in!  Adam finds it to be the perfect spot for practicing his golf game and has been working on his soccer skills as well. Liddy just loves the extra room to roam around and the endless supply of sticks to chew on is icing on the cake! 

We are finding ourselves spending lots of time outdoors and Adam and Liddy have both enjoyed having friends over to play! 

Wheel Barrel Fun...

Having a yard means having to do yard work. For now, we are taking great joy in having to spend time on the weekends working in the yard. Mulching and mowing the lawn have been enjoyable but we'll see how long the "joy" lasts!  Adam has also enjoyed working in the yard, he has helped with weeding and collecting sticks and branches, but of course his favorite thing has been "using" the wheel barrel! :) I can't blame him, I too remember some fun afternoons growing up riding around in a wheel barrel...

Cheers!

Love that Andy's family is so good about "toasting" special occasions.  Champagne toasts have accompanied all birthday, anniversary, graduation, engagement, new job, and just about any other "new" or "first" that was worth celebrating since I've known them, and I suppose long before that.

So it was only fitting that they'd bring us a bottle of champagne to toast our new home. Nothing like popping the cork into our new backyard and enjoying some bubbly on our new deck!

Looking forward to lots of champagne worthy moments in this new home! 

Exploring...

A new house also means new walking routes, new parks to explore, and new scenery to take in.  We've been able to do a lot of that since we moved in (moving in the spring is a great idea!) 

Liddy and I enjoy our morning walks, or as I like to call them, my "morning commute."  We are finding new paths to explore and *trying* to avoid Starbucks. (Homemade coffee tastes better. Homemade coffee tastes better. Homemade coffee tastes better...ok really it doesn't, it's just cheaper) :) 

As if having a back yard wasn't enough, we have a path right near our house that takes you through the woods. Everything a little boy needs. Rocks to climb, tree stumps to jump on, a bridge and a stream to throw sticks in and as if that weren't enough the path leads right to a park! 

Adventures await and this little Adventurer is ready!

Home Sweet Home...

On April 22 we signed about a gazillion pieces of paper and at the end of it we were handed the keys to our new home and we couldn't have been happier! We've had our eye on this place since the fall and the stars aligned and we look forward to all the years to come making this house our "forever" home...

We were able to do a few renovations before we moved in, some hard woods in my office and in the family room, new pendant lights in the kitchen, and some painting.  Always nice to be able to knock some of those things out before the boxes start getting in the way.  

We were also so lucky to have the help of our families to move boxes, unpack boxes, move furniture, donate furniture, entertain Adam, oh and for storing both our stuff and US for the months leading up to our move! :) It really does take a village! 

The unpacking is still a work in progress but the main living areas of the house are, for the most part, moved in, decorated, and feeling like home.  

Looking forward to entertaining here, having lots of play dates in our back yard, and spending the next five months sorting out where the Christmas trees will go! ;) 

Thanks for the memories...

On January 31st we turned over the keys to our home to it's new owners.  It was bittersweet to say the least.  We are looking forward to starting a fresh chapter in our new home (closing on April 22) but after nearly seven years in our townhouse it was sad to say goodbye.

We moved in as newlyweds with a puppy and moved out as a mom and dad with a toddler and a "teen aged" dog.  We celebrated seven Christmases, hosted seven Pre-Thanksgivings, one real Thanksgiving, we barbecued in the summer...and in the winter, we hosted dinner parties to celebrate big things and little things--like a Wednesday night, we've hidden Easter eggs, we made friends with our neighbors and helped each other dig out from two blizzards.  Best of all, it was the home that kept us warm, dry and safe for seven years and it was Adam's first home.  

We'll miss you Mckenna Way, but we thank you for the memories....