79 Days....

Just 79 little days until Christmas!!

Not that I'm counting. But I AM collecting. I'd like to keep my shopping blocal this year, so I'm wondering what you, my readers are crafting and selling out there? I'd love to read all about it, then I'll do a little post advertising your blog or site so my readers can network & check out your things.

So....share! What are you making for Christmas gifts to sell?

Welcome to our New Home

I have finally taken some time to post some photos of the new house. I've been working a little each day to cozy it up, make it ours. I think we've been here 3 weeks, and it feels like we've been here so long already. We're really enjoying it, take a little tour below....

The dining area & a cute little boy and his string cheese.

That cute boy & his amazing smile.

Our kitchen, the walls are a lovely soft green.

Kitchen to Dining Room.

House Tour

1322 Our New St.

Family & Living Rooms

The Study...I have visions of a school room. :)

The cozy room. Nevermind the C.

Home Sweet Home

The boys in the Reading room...doing just that. :)

We're relishing every bit of teeny ordinary new-to-us nature.

Sunshine on the stoop.

Every.teeny.bit.of new-to-us nature... a treasure. We have leaves!!

Monday on a Thursday Night

A Snapshot for Now:

Outside my window... autumn has arrived. The massive leaves of our twin Sycamores tumble to the ground and my porch. They are welcomed. They are a delight.

I am thinking...about humility, and the illusion of control and how the two don't mix. About how my panic of "overwhelm" is simply that illusion slipping away & how I might just get to the bottom of my overwhelm at last. (This is obviously another post)

I am thankful for...being home, being a teacher to my own boys. Thankful that I can learn so much in this role.

From the learning rooms...we're getting a new groove. New year, new house, new life, new groove. Taking school to the couch more lately, clipboards are a new favorite.

From the kitchen...meals are simple and healthy and snacks are a favorite. I cannot keep a banana in the place.

I am wearing...a new kind of humility.

I am creating...organization. Floors clear of boxes and spaces that appeal to the book reader or lego-playing boy.

I am going...to get up early to spend time journaling. Just so you know.

I am reading...to the boys...Luke, Farmer Boy, Story of the World and I came home with a handful of Medieval books today. For me, a novel and my Bible too.

I am hoping...to become old & wise.

I am hearing...the hum of my fridge and an occasional creaking of this old house, talking to me.

Around the house...family sleeps, dog sleeps outside with the stink of skunk on him, the place is starting to feel like our family.

One of my favorite things...talking with my sisters.

A few plans for the rest of the week: school, groceries, planting some of the 100+ bulbs I bought, resting and learning.

A Summers-Day-Hike

Last summer a friend organized a hike along the river into the Fish Farm. We had a lovely time.

Nothing like a good 7 miles, fresh air, friends and fish for a cute group of kiddos!

Happy Hikers.

Moving Days

I thought I'd sit down for a minutes and drop a line. We are thrilled to say we got the keys to the house; the movers came Sunday and now the unpacking begins

We're loving the new house. Every.little.thing. Even the creeking of old floors and mysteries that are yet tobe solved, mysteries of a new home. (Does the hot tub work? Where does this door lead to? Was this a laundry chute once upon a time?) The boys are relishing the space, running from their top floor bedrooms to basement and outside. This morning I was getting ready to shower, I peeked into the backyard to see Nate out on his bike jumping a ramp Ralph made on the bb court. At 7:00 a.m. The space is just simply divine.

Of course, my nose has been to the grindstone, emptying boxes as fast as I can and finding places for each thing....everything else goes in the basement for now. A little school here and there but I started early to give grace to these next weeks.

My mom came up to help empty boxes, the boys and I are delighted to have the company (and help!)

I'll be back, posting again sometime soon. Until then...enjoy your almost Autumn! Until then, I found this photo of Eli helping out with our move from VA to OR. He's a little bigger now but man, babies are cute!!...and I wouldn't dare post that one without this sweet photo taken of the boys that same month. Just 4 short years ago. Cutie boys, don't you think?