New Home

We're really enjoying our new home, neighborhood, and community. Though there has been lots and lots and lots of work to do getting the house to feel like "ours" and there is still lots and lots and lots more on the horizon. We have plans and slowly it's all coming together. In the meantime we're just loving all being under the same roof together and having so much fun with our new space.

We neglected to take any before and after shots as we began doing work on the house but, you'll note the green shag carpeting featured in the photo of North above--that, I would hope it goes without saying, has been replaced. There's also been lots of painting and wall paper removal.

We've made several trips to Lowe's and have taken to goofing off in the aisles a bit.

And with our purchases once we get them home

North's clever adaptation of "fish & chips" - which is a swedish fish atop a tortilla chip.

New toy gun from grandma and grandpa - despite being nerf it packs a punch! We've had some talks about where NOT to fire it. They got it for him after this first soccer game - he scored the first goal during the game - pictures from "sports shorties" coming soon...

Enjoying a rainy day sloshing through puddles in the front yard.

North's favorite part of the house so far has been the pool. By summer's end he was swimming underwater with no flotation devices and going off the diving board on his own!

He also really loves the trampoline. He's even doing flips on it now!

The favorite thing for all of us though has certainly been being nearer to loved ones--it fabulous having grandparents nearby to babysit the kiddos with regularity and great friends nearby to spend time with. North has loved being closer to Lincoln and Mila. Here are the 3 of them exploring one of Bloomington's brains one evening when we all got together to grab a dinner downtown.

And here is North one evening trying on each and every one of Lincoln's superhero costumes--which sweet Sam patiently helped him with.

Ironman

Luchadore

Wolverine (which is also what he chose for his Halloween costume this year)

North continues to be an amazing big brother. Quorra absolutely adores him and he is very sweet and fun with her.

Also, now that we're back in the midwest North has developed a serious love for Steak N Shake. We can't drive past one without his commenting on it. Here are some photos from a recent visit.