A favorite place

The kitchen, as we had hoped, is turning out to be the true heart of our new home. It is the biggest room and is right in the middle of everything. I knew when I walked into the house the first time that I loved it. As a mom & wife, I know the importance of a good kitchen. It feels like you spend the majority of your day making meals, cleaning up after meals, and putting away dishes.

One of my dreams for our new home was to have a window over the kitchen sink. This kitchen doesn't have that, but I have two wonderful windows on either side of the stove. This time of day they pour light into the kitchen. This spot, is at the very top of my list of favorite places in this new house.

Egg Stuffing

This little girl has been having a bit of a hard time lately. Her teachers have had to "talk to her" at school a couple of times this week . That's not like her and it makes her upset when she feels less than perfect. Her little world has had quite the shake up over the past few weeks with this move, so I'm hoping that this behavior is just an extension of that.

She is the sweetest, most loving child in the world. She has a heart for serving others that makes me so happy.

I just want to hold her and take all of the uncertainty away. I try, but she is getting older and holds onto thoughts of her own these days.

As I type this she is sitting across from me making a birthday card for our new neighbors down the street. They happen to be twin 5 year old girls that she's known since birth. She looks so beautiful concentrating on getting the words right and making sure she draws 5 candles on the cake. I love her dearly.

Sunday Morning Snuggles

These moments don't happen often, however, I do think this move has brought these two even closer.

Lunch at the Counter

Things are starting, very slowly it seems, to get back to normal. Between working and the consignment sale at their school, life has been extremely busy this week. Today, for the first time this week, I was able to serve my kids lunch after school at the counter in the new kitchen. It is a small thing, but one that made me feel like we were really settling in.

I'm enjoying discovering how the light hits different rooms in this house at different times of the day. It's weird to see pictures of my kids in a different setting than what I'm used to!

Moving

It's scary watching a truck pull away with every possession you own inside of it.

It's scary not knowing if the decisions you are making are the right ones.

It's scary to trust your instincts and your heart, rather than your head.

It's scary to sign lots of papers with words you don't understand. (Thank the Lord my husband is brilliant and understands it all)

It's fun to make a house your home.

It's fun to have your mom help you set up your house.

It's fun to explore your new neighborhood and meet new neighbors.

This process is a roller coaster ride. You are flying high one minute, then rumbling down the next. I think we did really well, though. We are so happy with our new little house. I think it will be perfect for us. We have been in it for one week tomorrow. With my mother's help, we are mostly finished setting it up. More to come - really, I promise.

Early Morning Towers & Trucks

A typical lazy Saturday morning around here.

Donuts With Dad

Judd went to Manila last Saturday. When he booked his trip, he was supposed to stay an entire week coming back tomorrow. However, Charlotte brought an invitation home to Donuts with Dad a couple of weeks ago, so he changed his plans and came back yesterday. I can't believe he changed his plans and went half way around the world 2 days early, but he said he wasn't going to miss Donuts with Dad for the world. He has his priorities set pretty darn well if you ask me.

This morning I heard her door open, footsteps running down the hall, the toilet flush, then footsteps running back down the hall and the door to her room close again. I knew what was going to emerge, and sure enough, about 10 minutes later a little girl came out dressed head to toe in red - Judd's favorite color. She was supposed to dress in her dad's favorite color for his special day at her school.

They went off happily together to school. Poor Max was left crying for Daddy. He said, "I want muffins too". It's a good thing he didn't realize it was donuts and not muffins or else he'd probably still be crying.

Judd came home about an hour later with a "tie" that Charlotte had made, a coffee mug, and other drawings and pictures. Our favorite picture is one where she is going out to dinner with him. She is holding pink flowers in her hand (because he brought her flowers before their 'date'). Judd looks very tall in the picture and he has all of these lines coming out of his arms and legs. I asked her what that was and she said, 'his hair." Its funny to me the things she notices.