Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Where We Live


It has now been three weeks since we moved into our new house. I'm 75% done with unpacking, and it is starting to feel like a home instead of an extra-large storage unit.


We are all enjoying the doubled square footage. How we lasted for so long in such a tiny place is a mystery to me. Space to stretch out and fit all our possessions feels like a luxury.
We hardly notice the glaringly bright home across the street anymore. It's more like a landmark that an annoyance. (You'll notice it reflecting all of it's teal glory in the window of our home.)


Having the living areas and bedrooms on two different levels makes keeping things clean much easier for me. And if the bedrooms aren't always tidy, at least they are a staircase away.


Jacob's room has, so far, remained food free and clean. It always felt like we were banishing him to a cave in the back of the little old house. Now he has a big, bright place to play and I am so grateful for that.


We have turned the formal dining room into a library, and I am loving having all of my books out of boxes and ready to be taken off the shelf and read again. Someday we may want to turn it back into a dining room, but I hope not. The nook in the kitchen works for me.


Two full bathrooms- one for the kids to use and clean, and the master bath with a large whirlpool tub big enough for Jacob to swim in, and lots of cupboard space for all the first aid stuff, the makeup I seem to horde, and 12 years of mismatched towels. There's also the small guest bathroom downstairs that I have banned my family from pooping in. Seriously.


Chris is oddly thrilled with the in-wall ironing board. He has used it several times already. You'd think I have been denying him wrinkle-free clothes, when the wet-sock-in-the-dryer-with-church-clothes method has made me perfectly happy for the past 12 years.


A double garage. After living with just a carport for what felt like forever, this is a really big deal. We deposited all the boxes in there and have been slowly bringing them inside to unpack. And we keep an extra fridge in there, too. Someday when it is organized I may actually get to park in it.


My kitchen has a beautiful large fridge, a quiet dishwasher, a gas stove, and a convection oven. All stainless steel and 6 months new. I feel spoiled.


And I have a pantry. Beautiful, blessed pantry. All the food arranged for display on lovely little shelves. Making a meal for 5 hungry Jones' is remarkably easier when I can actually see what I have to work with.


The backyard is green and lush and has a big wood deck with 2 levels and a gas BBQ for Chris to play with. Even though it is a regular family neighborhood, we can't see into a single neighbor's yard and they can't see into ours. It is so private, we could go nude in the hot tub if we so choose. (Yep- I said hot tub. :P )


Chris' work is only five minutes away, and he can actually beat the kids home from school. This has never been possible before. Although why he still likes to leave home 45 minutes early to sit in the break room and read the newspaper with a bunch of obnoxious guys is something I will never understand. Whatever. I'm still fast asleep at that hour.


The drive to a grocery store is further than it has ever been, and for us this is a good thing. Less conducive to craving-induced shopping sprees and ice-cream runs. Better for our pocketbooks and our waistlines.


The elementary school is just far enough away that the kids can take the bus every morning, but close enough that I can get there in five minutes if I need to.


I have to conclude that this is a pretty great place we picked out. A quality home. I can see us living here for a good, long time, and that makes me smile.











6 comments:

The Mathews Family said...

I love to read every last little thing that you write. You do an amazing job of expressing yourself. I hope one day I get to see your beautiful new house!
-Jessica

Olivia said...

Sounds like a great place for you and your family!

Heidi said...

How can I say this right? I am so glad you are here in Oregon. I have gained so much meeting and being with you. It makes me happy to know that you are settling in and feeling good about where you are at.

Anonymous said...

I'm glad to hear things are going so well for you! You deserve it. I miss you!

Robin said...

I feel like I know you. I think that we more alike than you would think. I have really enjoyed reading your blogs. I wish I had the gift of writing, as you do. I have so many feelings that are just bottled up inside that would love to come out. I just wouldn't know how to express myself. I like your taste in music & Dave & I LOVE sushi, too. We should get together sometime. We could leave our kids strapped in their car seats while we have a sushi date!!! I totally understand the feeling of going through this all alone - 24/7. It's like being on a hellish ride that just won't stop. I was never "normal" either. I never will be. I like the quote, "Pretend to be normal" from Little Miss Sunshine. But then again, why live a facade'.

You can check out my myspace page @ http://home.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user&MyToken=c7592fe3-66ba-41a6-8c90-8449c24b4ccd

or my facebook page @ http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594157759

Jaimers said...

Your house looks so great! What a blessing...that you so deserve!