Welcome Home

I am have been dragging my feet when it came to updating the blog because I have been wanting to post pictures of our new house. Yes, we are officially homeowners now! We absolutely love our house and the neighborhood. We even had a neighbor bring us flowers to welcome us! Alas, the house is a disaster zone despite our daily trips to home depot so there are no pictures to prove its beauty.

But doesn't the front look good?! 

We are truly jumping for joy over the dreams of our "forever" home.

We are completely embracing Colorado life and that means becoming Bronco fans! Well I am all in, but Joel wants to make it clear that his allegiance still lies with the Patriots.

Now that our Best Western residency is over we are trying to function normally again. We were overjoyed to be reunited with our dog Finn last week. He was staying with my parents until we were settled and had a long day in a crate on a plane to make it to us. I think he was overjoyed too!

We are slowly settling into a routine. All the kids have their activities: Asher is swimming with The Rock swim team, Anna is on a competition dance team, Josie is taking a cute little ballet class, and Jesse is taking some swimming lessons with the hope of getting on the year round team next year. Asher actually swims in the mornings so he was the first to experience our first snow! Yes, already. It was crazy (and beautiful) and this week it is 80 degrees again. Everyone tells us here "If you don't like the weather in Colorado, just wait 10 minutes!". We have found that to be true and I always keep a sweater handy. Normalcy has been wonderful and the kids seem unbelievably happy. We have even found a church that we all love and already have joined a small group. Now if only I could get the hang of cooking again...

Our other big news is the decision to add another dog to our household. This was not a decision we took lightly. In fact we think we are nuts! But I have been hitting the trails hard here, which I won't give up despite numerous animal encounters. I have made a good running friend here who always has her trail dog on hand, and after picking her brain Joel and I have decided it would be good for me to have a running partner of my very own. It is a safety thing (and also a love thing-I have a heart for bigger dogs). After many many hours of research we decided on a Vizsla and found a local litter excellently priced with a loving family. The pup in my arms is only 8 days old! We will get to bring our new darling home in 7 weeks and then let the puppy training begin! I think Finn will be joining us in some obedience classes.

The Lord has already blessed us abundantly in our short time here. Of all our moves, the adjustment here has come so much quicker than before. I am usually very slow in bonding with others (my introverted self) but have fallen in love with a local running group and 2 other running gals that I have clicked with. A relationship is also blooming with another mom from the school who has taken me under her wing and opened her arms to my family. Finding a church normally takes us months and here...2 weeks. Our neighbors have been so lovely and truly our family already seems so happy. Joel started work this week: his drive is beautiful and non congested, and he seems excited about the job. God is so good and we have so much more to look forward too.