Finally

   

After a couple weeks our "we just moved across the country" to-do list dwindled enough that we could finally enjoy some time out of the house that didn't include going to Costco or the hardware store.

We started out our local library The Mark Twain Library.  Fun fact Redding, CT was the final home of Mark Twain and he donated books to start the library.  Sam stayed with Hudson and Annabelle in the childrens' book room where they have puzzles, puppets, and blocks (I love this library).  I checked out books for everyone without two kids all over me.  We also signed Annabelle up for story time which starts next week.





Pictures with the Celebrated Jumping From of Calaveras County

After the library we headed to Ridgefield the nearest "big" town to us.  There we walked Main Street.  There is an actual sidewalk; hard to come by out here, and signs along the way telling the history of the town. 



Church and rock wall along Main Street

 

Kiddos at end of walk



Annabelle woke up as we put her in the car and wouldn't let me forget I had said something about a park.  We headed to the Ridgefield Rec Center where they have a playground and Annabelle had a blast.  She hadn't been to a playground since our going away picnic a few weeks before and tried everything out, a few times.  Since then we have been there three times.  Makes me miss being only a few minute walk from the park.



All in all not a bad way to spend a Sunday afternoon.  Looking forward to getting out and exploring more often.

Summer 2010

Nothing like having a baby, selling your house, and moving across the country to make the summer fly by. So to bring you up to speed on our lives and how we got this point here is one lengthy post:

Last October Sam applied for a job at his national office located in Wilton, CT. He went for an interview in January and shortly after got a job offer. After a few months of careful deliberation we decided to go for it. He will be working here for three years, after which he is guaranteed a position back in Seattle.

On May 24 we became The Fleetwood Four with the arrival of Hudson Samuel.

First Family Photo

Now 16 weeks old Hudson is an easy and happy baby who has gotten use to his sister poking and prodding him. Annabelle has adjusted to sharing Mommy and Daddy and loves her “Huddy Buddy”, sometimes too much. Sam and I feel blessed that we got two healthy, happy kids and hope they are this easy through the years.

Won't be long until he is holding her

After Hudson’s arrival we were lucky to have Sam home on paternity leave for three weeks. Much of which he spent getting the house ready to sell; along with cooking, cleaning, and wrangling Annabelle as I recovered. Over Fourth of July weekend with lots of help from family, and a few long days we put the finishing touches on the house and placed it on the market July 7th. All our hard work paid off and the house sold in two weeks.

Our First Home

Annabelle's Room

Hudson's Room

Bathroom Sam just finished remodeling

Other bathroom Sam remodeled

Backstep my Dad remodeled two days before going on the market

Garage we repainted with lots of help from Sam's Mom (our biggest get the house ready to sell project)

Back Yard

Towards the end of July Sam, Hudson, and I went to look for a house in Connecticut. Annabelle stayed back and spent some quality time with all four grandparents. We had a limited time and filled it looking at twenty houses. The twentieth was our favorite and the one we are living in now. (Pictures and details coming soon)

Okay, one picture taken on our trip

The rest of our time in Spokane was spent getting ready for the move and visiting with family and friends.

Fortunately the packing and moving was taken care of for us so we didn’t have much to do when it got down to it.

All Packed Up

Moving Day

We lived in hotels out of suitcases for a week and a half and finally moved in September 3rd. So far so good, the last boxes were unpacked this weekend and it is starting to feel like home.