Why the move you ask? Well, it really comes down to proximity.
We can't explain how nice it is to be closer to our family and friends. We've pretty much shaved 25 minutes off of our drive time to just about anywhere and whoever we visited. Our home is also a lot closer to Chris's office in Downtown Phoenix. His commute to and from work is about 15 minutes (compared to the 1 Hour 25 minute commute one way he used to make in traffic to our house in Peoria).
This move has been such a lifestyle change for us. We often find ourselves talking about how much more time we have together as a family. We are so happy and can't wait to have everyone over for a visit.
In the meantime- here are some sneak peaks.
We still have a few more final touches to add to make it "ours"... but here are a few of our favorite features of the house.
This is our front patio (it's enclosed with a gate). Such a treat for me, the kids and even the dogs. They can all play outside when it gets cooler out... and I can watch them from inside the kitchen... and not worry about them escaping.
our front door
the entry way when you walk into the house
(please excuse Eddie- the welcoming committee and pardon the hockey sticks in the middle of the room)
Chris and his dad added the beadboard/wainscoting
This was originally a fire pit. We added carpet to the floor to soften it a bit (and kid-proof the area).
It's been a nice place to stash all of the kids toys... and has become the "Toy Pit".
This is our family room.
a view of the "time-out chair".
...just one of my favorite wall hangings.
Now on to the kids room.
It was really important for us to make this a smooth transition for both kids.
We talked a lot about "the new house" with Jack and made sure to visit it a lot before we moved. We also read a book about moving day that included a big moving truck. So it was a big treat when Jack got to watch the movers load up the moving truck with all of our furniture the day of the move.
Chris and I also worked hard to make sure Jack's new room looked exactly the same as it did in the old house-since before Lucy was born. Chris and Papa worked hard the week before moving day to rebuild the chair rail and paint the walls the same color red to complete Jack's Baseball Room.
Some of Jack's favorite things about his room. The rod iron sports wall hangings and his MLB Baseball Quilt (National League of course).
This is actually a built-in desk. Since Jack doesn't have homework yet- we use it as a changing table.
The doors (that remain locked at all times) in Jack's room lead to an Arizona Room, where we store some of his outside toys and ride-a-longs.
PS- take note of the black out curtains. Since the doors didn't have window coverings, we needed something to block the sun from waking Jack up before 6am. They really work!
Now on to Lucy's Wing. Her room is the only room down the hallway... so naturally, we've nicknamed it her wing.
Just like Jack's room- we kept things familiar for Lucy.
The lay out is pretty much the same as the old house...
but we added a wardrobe... that was actually mine when I was a little girl.
So there it is. We hope you enjoyed the $ .25 tour of our house. We'll be sure to post more photos of some of the changes we continue to make.
Congrats on your move! Your new home looks amazing and how wonderful to be colser to family, friends and work!
ReplyDeleteYour house looks amazing!! You look so settled in already!
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