vermont and stratford

this is the front of my house right now.

every time i pull up, it still feels strange that we are selling our home.

when we moved into this house, i thought this was it.

i always have a hard time leaving a house.

i'm not a very sentimental person about things.

it is easy for me to 'purge' all the stuff.

but there is something about a home.

you remember the moments that happened there.

sitting at the counter with my 'baby' brother for the year he lived with us.

eating popsicles in our new backyard that we waited so long to have.

bringing charlotte home for the first time.

i stand in the hallways and i remember my children

chasing each other down them for the past 2 1/2 years

growing older every day.

this house has memories.

so i am posting pictures.

more for myself than anything.

right now, everything is coming down.

it is being packed up, 

either to be sold or travel to the new house.

but it already feels different.

i post these pictures to remember.

513 w vermont.....

you've been a good home and we will miss you.

you have been a symbol of God's provision in our lives.

He gives us so much more than we expect or deserve.

oh kitchen.  i love you.  the perfect place to bake cookies with bella or cook for a party.  i was always in disbelief that i had a kitchen quite this lovely.

they  call it the 'dream kitchen'.  they were not lying.

a pass-through fireplace means 2 mantles.  heaven.

dining room.  lots of sweet memories at this table.

oh backyard.  you are so pretty. we dreamed what you would look like for several years.  we've only had you for a few months, but we've enjoyed you so.

pretty french doors and tall ceilings with (sigh) crown molding

i heart rounded doorways.  and mantles.  but not carpet.

master bedroom.  i JUST painted this wall and added the lovely wall decal. isn't it pretty?  i wanted it for a LONG time.  i'm trying to figure out how to do this again in a portable fashion :)

my first grown-up tub.  used more by kids than me, but it was nice to have so much space, especially when i was pregnant with charlotte :)

playroom!  we've had fun in here!  we're going to miss a place that you can 'just close the door on the toys'

the caterpillar from charlotte's party is still up on the wall... going to need a ladder for that!

i loved going with fun, bright colors.  and i let the kids post their artwork on the walls.  it was busy, but kinda the only place in the house that felt that way, which made it ok with me

i love this table and family tree in our hallway

guest bathroom... makes me think of all the times i had to bug my brother to clean it :)  we miss you jakie!

jackson & bella's room. originally, this was jackson's jungle room.  but charlotte meant a shared room for the big kids.  we kept it simple with a fun, painted wall.  i enjoyed making all the 'accessories' for the room myself for pennies!

so we are sad to leave this home.

but as always, 

our God is faithful to provide for all our needs.

a week ago, i headed down to the OC to find a home for my family.

my sweet friend, cam, came with me.

we left friday and had to find a house by saturday evening.

there are lots of details i could tell you, 

but the bottom line is...

God gave us a home for our family.

again.

it is tiny but perfect.

34 stratford...

we can't wait to start making memories in you.

the living room is bright and clean with pretty laminate floors and a mantel

this bright, white kitchen makes me think of our last house.  i'm already looking forward to the things the kids and i will bake in this oven.

BACK PATIO!!!!!  this back patio is totally unheard of for the area.  every other home had a tiny concrete sidewalk for a backyard.  how much fun are we going to have back here?  art projects, campouts, bbqs... 

charlotte's new bedroom.  how cute are the shelves?  

hi, house!!!

a park next to jackson's new school 

jackson's new school!  brywood elementary.  

another park so close!  these things are everywhere!

neighborhood pool!


thank you to everyone who has helped us as we attempt to pack our home.
we are still hoping to sell 513 w vermont, but we trust that God is going to take care of all the details.

for now, we are going to take these last few days to remember the good things on vermont
and anticipate the exciting things to come on stratford.

our new address (as of august 25th):
34 stratford
irvine, ca 92620