Home, at last

We have been moved in to our new home four weeks already. Everyone's been asking to see pictures, so here you go!

When you walk in the front entrance, you first come into our four-season front porch room. This is the view to the left.

Beveled glass door leading intoto the house from the porch

Kitchen, a few different views

Master bedroom with bathroom (main floor)

Travis' room

Guest room

Cassidy's room

Kids' bath (there is a shower/tub on the left that you can't see in this picture)Heading into office

Balcony patio

Upstairs hallway. Door on right leads upstairs to unfinished third floor.

Back stairs leading to patio and backyard

Back stairs leading to back door

Hello and Goodbye

Care Bear Love

Cassidy loves the Care Bears. She loves the movies and we read stories from her Big Care Bear Book every night before bed. It's so fun for me that she loves them so much because I loved them when I was little too! I've been looking for a new Care Bear for her but they don't make them like the used to - they're just different now. I keep hoping I'll find a vintage one in brand-new condition but I just haven't yet. Her favorite is Wish Bear. What a surprise to find that the church nursery has a vintage Wish Bear that someone donated! So she always looks for him and has lots of fun with her stuffed little friend. Here they are this morning (new friend Ruby too).

Mmmwaahh!

Santa Baby

Pumpkin was a huge hit at church today in her "Santa dress". The children's program was today and it's hard to believe she'll be in it next year! After church there were lots an lots of cookies and candy to be had, but our girl was only interested in a huge cup of popcorn! I think she ate her weight in it today! (Sounds like someone else in our family....hmmm....who could it be? Grandpa Faust?!)

It's been a while since we had a balloon but yesterday we were out running errands and Cassidy saw one with Snow White ("No White") on it and fell in love.

Hangin' out

Both kids love the front porch room in our new house. Travis especially loves hanging out on the stoop like this. The first few times he tried to step down he biffed so now he sits down and scoots on his behind. He's kind of our gatekeeper. You can come in, but you have to get beyond this big guy first!

New friends

One of the best things about our new town and new church are all the new friends we're making! Here are the kids reading a Christmas book with our friends Rich and Marian (our first dinner guests in our new home! Fun!) This week we had a playdate at our house with some other new friends: Ruby and her baby sister Charlotte and Joel! It's so great that the kids have such fun together...and I get to hang out with two other moms that I really enjoy!

Christmas time is here...

We're all moved in and (almost) every box is unpacked. We've found a home for everything we own and it feels goooooooood. It's extra work but extra fun to move into a new house at Christmas time. I love putting up our tree and decorating for Christmas anyway, but in a new place that's our, all ours, that's even better! The kids are loving their new space. They have lots of space to play and explore and are already completely at home here. One of Cassidy's favorite spots is the window seat in our dining room. What a great place to look outside and watch for Daddy to get home from work!

A "silly smile": Travis is hard to catch on camera these days. He's too busy getting into, well, everything. So sometimes we corral him into his pack and play, as seen here.

My favorite Christmas decoration of all is my Mom's ceramic Christmas tree. Cassidy loves to count the lights and name all the colors.