On our official moving day, we had four friends come to our old rental house and helped us load up the moving truck and all of our cars. When we got to our new house, we had another ten friends or so waiting to help us unpack the moving truck and cars. It was so awesome having our friends do such a huge thing for us and we really appreciate it. It meant so much to us to have them do that for us, and we feel like we can never repay them for their generosity. Some of these friends we hadn't even seen in awhile, and they still showed up to support us. We decided to have a big 4th of July party this year in order to show our thanks to them. It's also doubling as our housewarming party, since summertime is hard to get a lot of people to come over at the same time otherwise. We're really looking forward to having our friends over to relax, eat and watch the great views we will have of the fireworks in front of Pikes Peak from the Academy. We are planning on this being the first of many Fletcher Family Annual 4th of July blowout bash's!
We now live on a cul-de-sac and it reminds me so much of the neighborhood in the old t.v. show from when I was growing up called "The Wonder Years" (sans ranches and in their place: bi/tri-level homes). The day before we moved in, one of our neighbors brought over a basket of muffins for the moving party the next day. The day we moved in, a different neighbor brought over a big plate of warm chocolate chip cookies that he had just baked for us. The next morning, we woke up to a little flyer taped to our front door, stating that the neighborhood wanted to have a Welcome Party for the new neighbors (us) on Monday, Memorial Day. So two days after we moved in, our entire street (10 houses on our street) had a big BBQ party for us in front of our house on the cul-de-sac. We, along with a few other neighbors wheeled our grills to the cul-de-sac, set up tables and lots of chairs, and hung out. The party started at noon and we left at 3pm, but mostly everyone was out there until 6pm. It was awesome! I've always wanted to live someplace where they had block parties, the kids played in the "street" together, neighborhood teenagers babysat the other neighbors children, etc. Here we are! The perfect place for us and I'm so super happy that we get to call this place home.
A week after we moved, Gavin came home from his trip with his mom. He seems excited on his new house, yard and bedroom. Lochlan loves crawling a hundred miles an hour around every inch of the house, with the three dogs in tow.
We still have a ton to do around here and lots of boxes that still need unpacking, but it will happen in time. We left our "Welcome Party" on Memorial Day after 3 hours because we really needed to start building our garden. We felt at the time that it was now or never and if waited any longer, we wouldn't have any fruits or veggies until winter! Matt works on the garden every morning before work and every evening after work. We initially planted many, many fruits and veggies after the past couple of weeks, and have since added more to the inside (and outside) of the garden. I will post a completely different post after this with strictly garden construction photos.
Besides the garden, we've been on hikes (are you even a tiny bit surprised?!), play dates (homemade eco-friendly bubbles, homemade sage tea, and homemade ice cream was the best! thanks jenna & baby ryder!), feeding the giraffe's at the zoo, sheep shearing at Rock Ledge Ranch, a fun 4th birthday party for our friends' son at the park this afternoon/early evening, and lots of trips to Bed, Bath & Beyond, Lowe's and Home Depot. I surprised Matt with his early Papa's Day gift: The grill, searer and rotisserie of his dreams. I also gave him a weedwhacker, but that in no way compares to the monstrosity of chrome and propane heaven now sitting on our back deck. My mom made an hilarious comment about his new grill: "That means Matt does all the cooking now, right?" Excellent point, mamacita! That's also in line with the gifts Matt has bestowed upon his wife this year: A new washer/dryer set, as well as a new fridge. Hmmmmmmm....not liking where this is heading (these domesticated/typical husband/wife gifts). HA! Ugh! Are we really THOSE people?! I suppose so. *Sigh*
I forgot to add that amidst our high 80's weather we've had here, we had a MAJOR hailstorm yesterday. They were the size of golf balls practically and I was hoping we could get a new roof from our homeowner's insurance, thanks to Mother Nature. Unfortunately, our roof looks fine, but check out the photos below of what practically looks like a snowstorm in June and may have ruined our garden.
Before I post photos that you're dying to check out and so sick of my writing, I must inform you all that my baby brother, Corey, had his official wedding ceremony and reception on Top Sail Beach, NC, today. We weren't able to make it, as we have just purchased the house and couldn't find tickets within our means to get out there. I've been kicking myself all day (except when we were at our friend's sons' birthday party at the park) that I wasn't able to be there in person. I was most definitely there in spirit and mindset all day, but I know I'll regret it the rest of the my life that I wasn't able to attend the wedding of one of the best brothers' anyone could ask for. Corey & I have always had a special bond that can't be broken. I'm not too sure if it's that he feels he can tell me anything in the world because he knows I won't judge him, or if it's that we're at the opposite end of the family spectrum (he's the youngest and I'm the oldest-that makes a huge difference). Either way, I'm thinking of him and wishing he could give me his huge man-bear (not pig) hug right now. I love you, Fat Round, and wish you a lifelong of happiness. Remember the 3 C's: Committment, Communication and Compromise. The major "R" that should also be added to that list is: Respect. Take it from your big sister, who had to learn the hard way to get where I am now (complete with the best husband in the world for me)! Also, you can NEVER go wrong with the Five Love Languages (http://www.5lovelanguages.com).
With that said and us loving our new neighborhood (we're still trying to figure out which of the teenage girls in the neighborhood is Winnie Cooper), enjoy these photos!
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