{ home sweet home }

We are officially moved into the new house! Though things are looking good considering we just moved in two weeks ago, I think we still have a ways to go before feeling completely settled. There is still a lot of "stuff" that needs to find a home or get done.

We have been enjoying the extra space and natural sunlight that comes with having more windows. Chop used to always comment that I had every light on in our old house and it was true, it always seemed dark. But I pointed out to him that since moving into this house, I rarely have any of the interior lights on because it is naturally light. Loving that feature!

Oliver and Stella adjusted really well to the big change. Though Oliver still often says to us "home" in his sad voice. Hoping he soon realizes that this is now home! 

Other than that, it is the little things that we have been enjoying:
1. Hello, garbage disposal
I used to get yelled at a lot for accidentally allowing things to go down the kitchen sink (that had no disposal) that should have gone in garbage. 
2. Hello, ice maker
Although the refrigerator/freezer itself is from the 1980s, it at least has a functioning ice maker. Ahhh......ice cold water!
3. Hello, laundry
While I can't quite say that I enjoy laundry, it was a real pain that I didn't have access to it in our old house during nap time because Oliver napped in the basement.
4. Hello, front entry and mudroom
Any visitor to our last house knows that we had absolutely ZERO storage for this kind of thing because the front door entered directly into the center of our living room.
5. Hello, separate rooms
They had never spent a night alone in a room for the first 21 months of their lives so it was sad to separate them. But we are reminded of how nice it is when one of them wakes at 5am and we don't have to go rushing to them. Our first night here we did bedtime routine in Stella's room and then said "Okay, it's time for Oliver to go read a book in his room with daddy". He pulled a big sad lip and expression but the next night seemed to be over it. I think they enjoy the little bit of one on one time that they get with each of us before bedtime now.
6. Hello, craft room.
A room all to myself. Now if I could just find the time to use the room........
7. Hello, play room (x2)
Technically the basement room is going to be the play room but since upstairs is where we spend most of our time, the sun room also doubles as the play room. Aka toy hell. 
8. Hello, Patina and George and the Dragon
Although it is only about 5 miles west of our old house, it is WAY more convenient to get to activities, stores, and other frequent places we go to. And of course being within walking distance to shops and restaurants is a huge perk compared to where we were before.
9. Hello, Auntie E, Anna, Ya-ya, and Owie
3 doors down are cousins and an aunt that O & S adore.
10. Hello, dining room
We went from one extreme, no dining room, to the other, an 8 foot dining room table that seats ten. We can finally entertain!

And to round out a thus far picture less post, a few photos from our first two weeks here:

Daddy & Stella enjoying their first meal (or beer) at the kitchen table

 

Grandpa C insisted on doughnuts for the first morning in the house. No complaints from Oliver & Stella though they didn't exactly eat a ton of their first chocolate sprinkled doughnuts.

 

 Round 2 of doughnuts when the cousins walked down to indulge in them.

 

 Stella enjoying her new playroom.

 

Mud puddle, water table, and caterpillar fun in the new backyard and driveway.

 

We feel so blessed and thankful to be in our new home. You never know what life will bring your way but we plan to be here for a LONG time!