A Birthday Surprise

For as long as I've known him, Peter has wanted a ping pong table. He talked about it in our loft, our first house, and in every house we've ever considered buying. When we moved into this house, we both knew the basement would be used for storage, laundry, and, eventually, ping-pong.

The week we closed on our new house I sent an email to rally the troops. For once,  I had a gift idea for Peter's birthday: a ping-pong table. This was a major gift, with everyone chipping in to help with the purchase and construction of the table.

On Tuesday, as we were getting the girls ready for dinner I asked Peter to go to the basement to change the laundry. From halfway down the stairs I heard him exclaim, "Whoa! What?!" And he came right back up. I sent him back down for his cupcakes and card so I had a chance to snap a picture. What a surprise! He claims he had no idea it was coming which I count as a major success.

I should also mention that after our little family celebration ended he asked if there was actually laundry that needed to be changed. What a guy!

Happy birthday, Peter!

Mother's Day

Apologies for the radio silence. We moved into our new house on May 2 with help in many forms from my mom, step-dad, dad and Craiglist movers.  Little by little we have been unpacking and organizing since then which, no doubt, will continue into June. On Sunday we took a break from unpacking to have lunch at my mom's house for Mother's Day.

My sister and her boyfriend came down from New Jersey, my step-brother and his girlfriend showed, as did my youngest brother. My brother, Uncle TJ was missed, but since he lives in sunny Florida we don't feel too badly.

Ibbie and Cole were more than happy to sit on the porch and hang out with everyone. Cole was less pleased to see the camera than usual.

 

 Cole introduced her Aunt Kelsey to the magic that is Frozen, via YouTube clips. 

She also goofed around with Scottie.

And we got a family picture! I'm far less disciplined about getting our monthly pictures this year than last but, somehow, I still think I have one for each month of 2014.

"All Good Things. All Good Things."

We watch Frozen, often. Please imagine Olaf reporting, "All good things. All good things."

Friday morning we closed on a new house. Effectively ending the current transition chapter of our lives. It's been five months since we moved. We've settled on a church, neighborhood, and preschool. Cole is already friends with five of the children that will be in her class next year! I know my way around town enough not to need the GPS. And we have friends. Friends that offered to watch the girls when we moved. Friends that popped-in on the day we closed just to say, "Hi" and offer help. It's overwhelming and, yet, not surprising. This is exactly where we are supposed to be, even on the days my heart aches to be back in Tennessee.

Even finding our new home was a testament to the people we have met here. Many of the best houses in Newark are sold by owner or even just through word of mouth. I'd been looking diligently for months with no success when two of my friends mentioned the same white house for sale by owner in their neighborhood.  The day I drove by was the day we told the owners we hoped to work out a deal.

Our new house sits on half of an acre, has four bedrooms, a playroom, dreamy hardwood floors, and lots of wallpaper. It'll keep us busy. Nearly every surface of the home needs paint, the bathrooms need updating, and one day, in the distance future, the kitchen needs a makeover. But all of it is very livable for right now. We're so excited to make this new house a home. Hopefully, our long-term home.

I made sure to take pictures of the empty house so that we can track the progress as it becomes our home. Even if it happens at a snail's pace. We have time. And I have ideas.

Playroom

Kitchen

Living Room

Office