perks...

i'm not going to lie & say the move has been easy...quite the contrary...but we are exploiting the perks for all they are worth...

the first being that we spend a.LOT of time in our new (much larger) backyard. i love the paver stones that keep the bugs down & the new comfy chairs to sit in. the kiddos love the space, the play structure, the plastic pool the previous owners left, and the kai lan sprinkler. i do my best to keep them inside until 4ish (when the shade takes over), then we head out until dinner. sometimes we play after dinner too, like we did this day. in our clothes. they thought it was super cool. sometimes they are so easily pleased... i love it. next time nothing pleases them (which i'm sure will be soon) i'm going to remember this...

we paint with wet chalk...in our big girl panties.

g practices opening & closing the screen door...

while lu dumps buckets of water on our potted plants.

the new 'play constructor' as the lu calls it.

i think she's confused about us calling it a 'play structure'.

our pool & waterslide...

g spends a.LOT of time getting in & out of this car.

as my ever-wise mama friend amanda said, there are a lot of start up costs

(actually she probably didn't say costs...but the economics major in me turned it into a cost/benefit, ROI type of analysis...cuz that's how my brain works)

but the long term quality of life benefits life far outweigh this initial investment. it is a TON of work right now for clay & me getting everything settled, furnished & paid for.

but in the long run i know we are making a good investment.

i just might need to write that on my hand so i don't forget in the meantime.