happy birthday america

the older I get, the more patriotic I become.  you really have to understand how lucky our freedoms are to truly appreciate being an american.  this morning we joined in our neighborhood bike parade led by firemen and a police officer, and it was pretty perfectly american.  families all coming together to just enjoy a walk around the neighborhood, adorned with lots of red, white, and blue, and dogs. we decorated everly's wagon yesterday [which originally belonged to her auntie] and she couldn't wait to wear her captain america dress and american lovin' costume jewelry today in celebration.  I wasn't sure if we were going to make it to the parade, since it started at 9 a.m., and we were up late watching the large firework display that the local country club is nice enough to shoot off in perfect view of my neighbor's driveway.  can I just say, I'm in love with my little slice of the suburbs, and pretty in love with my country, and my kid.  that's all.

once the mr. and baby wake up, it's time for more celebrating!

home.

Sometimes timing is a strange thing.  For seven years the mr. and I have gone down the path of home buying.  We are at the age of the market boom and bust. We were surrounded by foreclosures and pink slips, and buying a home was mortifying.  We decided that when our next lease ended, we would not renew, and instead, it was time.  Doing the math of escrow and the possibility of placing multiple offers on homes, we became very serious about our first home purchase right around Thanksgiving.  Turns out, the right home was right there waiting for us. Our first offer became our only offer, and the holiday home tour had ended.  Just days after Thanksgiving we wrote our offer, the day before Christmas Eve we signed our last paper, and New Year's Eve we moved in our boxes.

Currently, I'm experiencing a constant state of being overwhelmed by just wanting everything to be settled, and the constant need to pinch myself, because it just feels too lucky.  For us, the sentiment "good things come to those who wait" couldn't be truer.

I cannot wait to share home photos here soon, but for now, here's a glimpse of life at home.

52/52

"A portrait of my daughter, once a week, every week, in 2015."

everly says -

"Holy Nutcrackers!"

"Thanks for bringing my Sweetie to my new house."

"Ooopsie.  There he goes.  He has a boo boo on his head now."

"Oh, there's a computer in my new room?!?  And a teacher desk?  I'll look at pictures, and do work.  I'm a teacher now.  This is my classroom?"

49/52

"A portrait of my daughter, once a week, every week, in 2015."

everly says -

"My tummy's not full.  I need marshmallows maybe."

"I want to go to my new house.  My room is pink, with white, and orange on the outside.  My playroom is upstairs!"

"I like my friends.  What are their names?"

"I've got my flip flops on mom.  Just in case I need them."

"How's your project?  Any problems?  Any news?  No.  Ok.  What's your name?"