Christmas At Home

Our first Christmas in our new home was beautiful, because we were together and we were here.  Our new home was, for me, one amazing Christmas present, so Christmas already seemed novel and wondrous with this change.  Christmas Eve was only six short nights after our first night in the house, so things had been a blur up until then.  The arrival of Christmas was the best excuse to take a break from the madness, breathe, and just enjoy being with each other.  Our holiday was a sweet mix of playing games, watching Christmas movies, having my sisters with me, cooking and eating, dancing to Christmas music that played non-stop, and of course the official unwrapping.

It was a peaceful, merry Christmas.

Christmas Eve:

As a general rule, we’re pretty silly and irreverent… bordering inappropriate maybe.  I have to admit that I like it that way. 

Jake was caught with a solemn face, but he was having fun. promise.

Thor likes to eat his meat directly off the bone.

She’s so sweet. 

Glimmering reindeer food was strategically laid out on the driveway sleigh runway to attract Santa and his crew to the Taylor house.  We had to take measures, just in case he was unaware we had moved.

Christmas Day:

For Ari’s first gift, we unveiled the swing she’d been requesting all season.  We put the bug in her ear that she should think about getting one, but she took off with the idea.  She was delighted.

Hair chalk, glitter gel eyeshadow, and yellow lipstick before pictures was either the worst or the best call I made that morning.  You decide.

My kids received some of their most wished for items: a chess set, rocks (polished gems, a mining kit, and geodes to break open), Tag books and a Leapfrog word builder (for Ari), card games, and a magic science kit.  They are such nerds, and I love it.

Liam got a bunch of stuff to help him learn to walk, like push toys and a trampoline and a cozy coupe car.  Something must have worked, because he’s trolling around upright like he owns the place.  Liam walking = everyone is happier (especially him).

Santa ordered the original Rainbow Loom, but that’s not what the elves produced.  We were pretty annoyed at the directions written in indecipherable English, but thanks to YouTube, we found a workaround. 

Hope your holidays were beautiful too!

What We Do On Saturdays

Gabe and Bella got a magic science kit for Christmas.  Bella had the greatest idea ever when she decided that she wanted to use their magic kit to turn her Daddy into a frog and then turn him back into a human.  I had no idea that her magic kit would be capable of such a masterful feat, but it was!  The only glitch was that it took Gabe three tries to turn Jake back into a human.  It was a close one! 

SO glad we did the video instead of still shots for this one!

 

Our New Home

It is finally time for the big reveal of our new home.  We moved in right before Christmas, and it is so perfect.  I am excited to decorate and plant trees, but after a major step like this, we are going to take our time and do things gradually from here moving forward.  After all the time, emotion, and money put into this house, we can honestly say that it was so worth it.  We are in love with the way it turned out. 

I want to sincerely thank my loving husband, Jake, for funding my dream and turning it into reality and for supporting and encouraging me along the way.  Thank you to our builder, Jake Ray with True-Built Construction, who has turned out not only to be a exceptional contractor but a true friend as well.  Thank you to all the workers on our home, especially our superintendant, Todd, who graciously put up with me throughout these past several months. And thank you to all of my friends and family who stuck around and stayed excited for me even when I hardly ever saw them and only talked about the house every time I did!

Here is our country house:

           

Thanks for visiting!