Everyday Life Randomness

Meeting the Neighbors

We are one of seven houses in a quiet cul-de-sac.  We've met almost everyone on our street and one night had a gathering in the cul-de-sac, where we all brought lawn chairs, sat around, talked, and were entertained by the grown son of one of our neighbors lighting off fireworks .  Our animal neighbors include Spade the cat, who lives next door but wanders freely in the neighborhood.  The girls are way more interested in Spade than any of the humans who live nearby.

Guard Dog

Dutch's health continues to decline.  He spends most days sleeping and laying around.  He likes to lay outside if we are out in the yard, and it's shady so it is nice and cool for him.

Getting Settled

We hired movers to bring over everything we hadn't already moved from my apartment and the storage unit I've been renting since I got here.  So, as of Friday all of our stuff is in one place!  We are also enjoying a nice big kitchen table we bought at a consignment store last week.  We'd been eating around the kitchen counter, so this is a big improvement!

First meal at the kitchen table!

Sights that Warm My Heart

It makes me happy beyond description to see Elise and Anja playing outside.  We are fortunate to live in a quiet neighborhood where they can freely go outside, play and explore.  I love to see their independence and curiosity at work when they are free to do whatever they want.

I came home the other day to see the girls' bikes left in the driveway.
 This put such a smile on my face!
 I am so glad we are in a place where they have room to play!

And, I saw this when I went to get the mail, which also put
a smile on my face. Being greeted by a jaguar wearing
a scarf would make anyone feel happy!

Our big, wooded yard means the girls have a ton of room
to explore and that there are very interesting things to be found.
Elise spends a lot of time in the yard tipping up rocks and
paving stones, looking to see if there is anything
interesting underneath.

Meet Brownie the Snake

The nature girls are at it again.  I left home early yesterday morning to run some errands and when I got home Anja ran up to the car excitedly and said she and Elise had something to show me.  I turned and saw Elise carefully carrying a bucket and knew there was something alive in there.  Anja said "this is Brownie!" and Elise lifted out a baby snake.  After I said "oh, wow!" the next thing I asked was "does Jason know you have this?"  He did.  Then I said "you have a plan to release this snake, right?" (Elise likes to keep all living things as "pets").  Elise, in a dejected voice, said "unfortunately, yes."

This, ladies and gentlemen, is Brownie.
Our neighbor, Tyler, assured the girls Brownie
is not venomous.  I really wish we could find
our Amphibians and Reptiles of Virginia book to
verify that opinion, but it is still packed
away somewhere.

Anja, either pointing something out, or going
to pet Brownie.

I was gone when the girls found Brownie, but Jason got some great video of the event.  It is hilarious, especially the girls' comments.

Yesterday evening as we were getting ready for bed I asked the girls if they'd released Brownie and they said "yes."  Then they exchanged a look and a minute later Elise said "Mom, we have something to tell you and you probably will get mad.  We didn't release Brownie."  Well, what a surprise.  So, Elise went off to release Brownie and Anja stayed with me,   wailing and crying "Brownie!  Brownie, I don't want you to go!  Brownie, I love you!  Oh, Brownie!"  It was an emotional night.

The House!

So, California one weekend, New York the next, and in between...we bought a house!  Yep, it was a busy week!

It's an exciting day, we bought a house!
This calls for champagne!

Cheers!  It's ours!

Getting Settled
We closed on a Monday, and that night slept on mattresses on the floor (hmmm, we are still sleeping on mattresses on the floor, but that is a different story).  We were all VERY excited to be in the house, and started to get settled in right away.

Dutch was antsy at first,
but then gave in to the change.

No kitchen table yet, but there is a bench to sit on!

And there is also this very large, funky planter
thing in the kitchen which makes a good bench.

We found a house!

We celebrated the night our offer was
accepted.  It was worth the wait!

In February we started house hunting, hoping to find something and move by fall.  We had a couple of disappointments, where we put in an offer but it didn't work out.  And we're glad it didn't because we have found a dream house!  It is in the neighborhood that was our top choice, has a large yard that backs up to woods, has been well cared for, and is beautiful!  We close in June!