covid19- week 39

unboxing is a process, but little by little and day by day, we're getting there. it's fun! i'm really enjoying taking the time to make thoughtful decisions. i'm so so ready for christmas break- to have the girls home and slow down the pace for a bit. in the most amazing twist of fate, jon has a couple of weeks off from work for the first time is our adult lives as he's beginning a new endeavor with a healthcare real estate firm as their new ceo right after christmas. with this time, he's able to do all the projects and hang all the things around the house. the end of this devastating year has been good to our little family. i feel so fortunate and truly don't take it for granted. betsy enjoys sending her sisters off to school in the mornings and having the house to herself :) we had our annual christmas cookie marathon with meme- 8 cookies and 3.5 hours of baking + another couple wrapping for neighbors. the girls are going to deliver their goodies on today's feast of st. lucy before zooming with santa. it's a weird world we're living in, but the magic of christmas is still very real.

all is calm, all is bright.

xoxo, 

-ivy

covid19- week 38 home sweet home!

we're home! we made it. we're in. it's been a wild few days, and i completely underestimated moving with 3 kids (the stuff...), but the hardest days are behind us. we closed friday, moved what we could, brought the girls over for a paper plate fiesta, movers came early saturday morning and we haven't slept since ;) our parents have truly been so amazing throughout this process- the girls stayed with gmom & gdad saturday-sunday, and my mom came over and helped me get the girls' rooms and closets ready for their happy return. 

we love this home- the private wooded lot, the wildlife, the golf course we can see now that our leaves have fallen off of the trees. we said last night that it feels like we're meant to be here- in our home. everything has worked out so beautifully for us regarding our previous house sale and buying this house, and we simply feel so fortunate. we've been looking at houses and lots for years, and are certain to not take for granted the journey that's led us home. 

lots more to get settled, but here's the past week in photos-

our last few pictures on 98th street-

our final walk-thru of the house... and the first time lucy & eloise were able to see their new home! every other time we'd visited, they'd been in school! this was an exciting afternoon-

#sold!!

the calm before the storm- walking the empty house friday afternoon while all the girls were in school. 

one of my absolute favorite parts of the house is this back staircase- i have truly always wanted one. it leads from upstairs to our hearth room and is just so charming and fun. 

first sunset in our backyard-

gmom and gdad filled the girls' weekend with christmas festivities- crafts, movies, cocoa, decorating their trees, driving to see the lights and minimal sleep for all!

time to work. it was an unpretty day, but i did snap a few detail pictures as things came together. 

our first sunrise came with 3 deer and God's beauty in nature-

when the girls got home, they were so exhausted! they ran around while we unpacked and i found bea crashed out when i came to put her laundry away. settled right in :)

first fire!

jon & i stayed up to get the kitchen finished last night. i'm serious when i say we're running on empty... but with the fullest of hearts. 

so grateful to be here. 

xoxo, 

-ivy

covid19- week 37 giving thanks!

it was a joyful thanksgiving week! 

the devastation of 2020 has forced us to search for life's beauty in the day to day, and truly truly appreciating life's little moments has gifted us peace and power. 

we celebrated thanksgiving with the 5 of us, beautiful weather for a long nature walk, a funny family zoom and lots of yummy food! jon was so proud to wake up and start his smoker at 4am, the girls chose cherry & chocolate pies to bake, jon made the best bloody mary i have literally ever ever had and his sweet potato souffle that i look forward to all year was to die. we capped the night with pizza, chocolate martinis and white christmas. 

no schedule, no rushing. a day spent in gratitude. 

one week from today is the day! we close the door on one life chapter and open the door to our next. 

today we amp up our packing game.

xoxo, 

-ivy