Settling In

We have been in the new place for three weeks now. They have been a long three weeks as we have been busy just getting organizined and settled. We even have pictures hung and I planted my pots today, isn't that proof of being settled? The move went okay but there is so much work to be done with each move. I don't like the thought of knowing that in three years we will be doing it all over again... The kids have adjusted fine. Kirra still calls it "Ev's house" and "Ev's room." Not sure Everett would agree that it is still his room since it went from having a blue wall to a pink wall with flowers. Kirra is very proud of her room. Jaret is in McKinley's old room and we haven't done anything different to it. The green wall is still green and just awaiting a Seahawks logo to go with some Seahawk bedding we are waiting on. We did make one change to the yard, adding a trampoline. The kids love it and spend lots of time in the yard, playing and jumping on the trampoline (now if the weather would only warm up - it has been such a cold spring). The kids are also spending time playing upstairs in the bonus room/play room and in their rooms where they have toys as well. We have Kirra's kitchen upstairs too and the kids are also using it as a little puppet theatre. I will have to video some of their little puppet plays to post. It is funny how much of the house looks the same as when Mark and Shea lived in it since we have such similar taste and even have some similiar pieces of furniture. We have just begun to use the basement in the last couple of nights. Mark and Shea left their leather sectional downstairs and 51" tv on the wall. We hooked up Apple tv. We don't have it all figured out yet but love playing tunes on it while I run on the treadmill. We love the rust colour of the wall in the living room on the main floor. I found the perfect pillows to match but am still on the hunt for some blankets to hang on the ladder. Need to find blankets before winter as I love to cuddle up on the couch with a blanket when watching tv. In time we will feel more and more like this is home. But at the moment, it feels different to be renting and not actually paying our own mortgage. And as Jaret puts it, "I am sad to be living in McKinley's house because it means that he is living so far away." I couldn't agree more. Miss my afternoon playdates with Shea and the many supper and games nights we had with the Tysdal family. It is also hard knowing that Mark and Shea are having some difficulty adjusting to life in Norway. We are looking forward to their visit at Christmas but that is a number of months away. Jaret has already downloaded an app to be counting the days until McKinley moves back - only 1073 days (assuming he moves back in exactly three years from the day he left). So cute that Jaret checks it everyday and sees the days, hours, minutes, and seconds counting down. Below are a few pics of our new place for the next three years. We will add outdoor pictures once things look a little more green. An added bonus is the developed basement that includes a guest room. We look forward to having many of you come to visit us!