Hay Happens and Hay's Happen

I adore our Thermador oven. Is that allowed? To actually love an appliance? OK, so Tot and I have decided to start making Christmas cookies in our new kitchen. Of course we’ll eat a few, but the goal is to deliver to our neighbors and introduce ourselves.

We started with shortbread; who doesn’t love shortbread! It’s buttery, it’s sugary, it’s melty in your mouthy….it’s delicious! (only one. two. three .four. ingredients!)

Tot whipped the butter and powdered sugar.

It’s starting to whip!

We formed into little balls…

Pressed the fork in and decorated

Now we will deliver to new neighbors. We hope you like them and we can’t wait to get to know you all.

McCormick Ranch is our new home!

We are in and I see a SEA of boxes. But, wow. Just wow. It’s our first day/night in our new home.

My sweet man. He thought through every little detail of this place from the knobs on the drawers to the baseboards to the colors to the lighting to the….just fill in the blank. It’s from his heart, and each little square foot is special. It’s truly a home from the heart. From HIS heart to his heart to our hearts. God blessed us with DOUG and blessed Doug with the dream of this place.

So, we got situated after the movers left, and Doug wanted to have a little talk out in front. It was FFFFAAARRREEEEZING so it was a short blessing. Then, he carried me in.

and we entered the castle.

Tot, your turn.

Truly carried over the threshold with his loves.

Then we blessed each room. Doug started it with a formal blessing of our home. We did it over the frame where we wrote, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” So much has happened since that day. Now we stand…under it….finished.

After blessing each space in the home, we had some takeout salads and sat at our massive island.

Now we get to sleep in our new beds. I feel like a true princess. More to come!

Thank you honey for ALLLLLLL of this. May we relish each minute. God blessed us, and may we live in gratitude.

Pinch me. Am I dreaming? Has it finally arrived? We bought this home in April of 2019, and since then, Doug has been tirelessly working on it with the help of Monty and Eddie.

Today is the day. December 12, 2020. I spent the week packing up the condo. Now that was fun! (not). But, on the bright side, it forced me to not move over excess. I purged and tossed like a crazy woman! Gettin’ rid of SCHTUFF! Love it.

Woosh!
Saturday morning, Ray and Eric from Moving Team Six showed at 7:45am. Tatum couldn’t help it, but started helping them.

I worked on GCU while I had a free moment. Then the rest of the day, when they get to our home, I can focus on that. The last time I’ll have to work at this little island.

Empty! Wow.

Goodbye condo. Goodbye being sardines. Goodbye running into each other in the mini-kitchen. Goodbye sharing a sink. Goodbye cave for honey as he works. Goodbye parking issues. Goodbye HOA joys (ha). Goodbye friends at Mission de los Arroyos (Zoe, Sedona, Jeff, Tracy, Michelle, Bob). Goodbye heated pool. (sad face). Honestly, the condo was a boot camp for our marriage and coming together. We learned to grow in and through conflict; I don’t regret any of it. It was a blessing to even have a place to live while our home was being prepared. So many blessings.

Let’s head over to our home!

When Ray was finished, he was so impressed with Tot, he gave her $5.

The day is just getting started. Here we go!

A 3 week effort.

I love her font. I love her decision making process. I love her tension with making the right decisions. I love her art!
I love you!

And guess what it tells me?
Your daughter, Tatum’s battery is low.

Your daughter, Tatum’s steps are close! Almost there!

Oh, geez. Now, we are all comparing our steps per day.

We have to check her sleep each night too. She is averaging about 9 hours per night.

Oh, the joy of technology and the joy of not sitting too much!

Wil E. Coyote is loose at Mission de Los Arroyos. It has been said we have a 3-legged Coyote who comes out and lurks around 3am.

This little guy has been loitering around our home lately, and I feel I need to warn him.

He is now more aware and is paying attention.

Run, Roadrunner, Run!

We’ve been going every year since she was a baby. Yes, 2014, we went with my mom’s group.

2015, we went with Doug and Mama (my first Christmas with honey)

2016 Baby joined us.

2017!

More? Yes, 2018. Just mom, Tot and me

Then, last year, our first year married 2019

All I know is that it is a fun tradition, and the weather is never consistent. Sometimes it’s frigid, and this year, it was pretty warm although I still wear gloves due to my numby fingers.

This year, they took reservations because of Covid, so we got in the line of our time slot at 6pm.

Mama went to get a hot dog, so we got on the next train.

Look, Sugar Bowl!

Now, we will hit the Carousel. Tatum used to need me to ride with her, but now she just wants me next to her. I’ll take it!

Hi Daddy!

Mama is having a blast!

Now this tree. It is beautiful!

Then we HAD to see the life size, Baby. Tatum instantly ran up to him and cuddled

Mama couldn’t resist.

What fun this year!

And so…we exit again 2020. Thank you for lighting up our Christmas.

Merry Christmas!