Home for the Holidays

Well, we finally got ourselves into a place, and just in time for Christmas. We looked at probably 80 houses, and I think we did well to be patient and wait for the right thing to come along. We absolutely love the new house. It has just the right space and layout for the way we live, and the yard has plenty of potential for landscape and gardening. Yes! We will be canning salsa in 2009! We still have some boxes to unpack and some organizing to do, but we're mostly settled and even put the Christmas tree and some decorations up. And we're finally home!

Little M took the chaos of moving again all in stride, with her usual good nature. What a great girl. She didn't seem at all sad to leave the rental. It helped that she had 12 days of gifts to open all the way up to Christmas to distract her. Mookie and LouLou rock! Very well done! And she loves the new place as much as I do, I think. Wait until it warms up and she gets to play in the gazebo in the back yard! I'm seeing endless tea parties out there. And, of course, having her best friend within walking distance is a huge bonus.

Santa was good to us this year. He left M a note thanking her for the snacks and telling her she's been very good, and reminding her to listen to her mom and dad. He also left her books and a bunny, as she requested. One of the books was a pop-up that opens 360° to create a wonderful fairy garden/village thing, and comes with little stand-up paper fairies. I imagine it is exactly what her Grandma Tory would have given her if she were with us.

So, 2008 is ending on a high note, and we're well set up for a Happy New Year. I'll get M's 2008 photo album online soon, so check back for the link in January. We're plenty ready for guests at the new abode, and we're already booked for January, so make your reservations soon! We look forward to seeing you!