Differences…

When we left our home is Arkansas, I felt like I would never ever love a house like I loved that one.  It was our first home, and the first home that we owned.  When we moved, I remember telling the kids that our new home would feel just as good because it would be ours(it’s not really ours because we are leasing, but we take care of it like it is.)  I also reminded them that we would be together and all the same stuff in this house would be in our new house.

Mind you… I told them that, but I don’t know if I believed it.

I was so worried about living in an older home.

There are definitely many differences between these two houses, but I have to say I actually love this house.

This home was built in 1940.  Our old home was built in 2008.

Everything in this house is old, or has been updated.

Our old house had brand new everything.

Now the question is…. would I choose old or new next time?

I can’t believe I am saying this, but I actually love this old house.

I love living in an old established neighborhood.

I love the wood floors, and the character.

I also love that someone has figured out everything this house needs and already added it.  ie: hooks on the backs of doors, and inside cabinets.  A work bench for tools, and shelves.

I also love having an established yard; which you don’t get with a new home.

It is nice reaping the benefits of someone else’s hard work.

I know the new owners of our home in Arkansas are reaping some of those benefits also.

With that said… I like being in an old home that has been updated.

An old home that needs work? Don’t know if I am up for that challenge.

Yes… there are a few changes that I would make, and several upgrades; but the charm in this house is awesome.

So in honor of discovering how much I love old charm… I am sharing my favorites and my not so favorites.  What I have discovered so far.

First off, we don’t have a garage.  All of the homes on this street have an alley out back that they drive down. Not particularly a favorite part of old charm.  I have this small spot to park in.  Jonathan parks on the street.

But, I have this cute side entry to come in which is close and convenient.

Yes my pot needs a plant.  Please ignore.

The walkway leading up to the door… all brick.  Such charm, such charm.

We also don’t have central air.  It is an old home.  We have 3 window units, and lots of fans. (which isn’t really charming)  

We also have radiant heat.

…but we have cute radiator covers for them …and yes once again, I think they are… yep. charming.

I don’t love this room that is painted four colors.

 

One not so great perk of someone else’s handiwork.

 

I do think the playroom turned out nice regardless.  I will do a post on that room soon.

The art in that room happens to be one of my new favorites.  I made these; while I was in Utah.

  Each canvas has a state that we have lived in on it.  Utah has a heart in it of course.

This monkey mural in the boys room.. NOT A FAN.  Hoping to get permission to take it down.

 

I do love all the old door handles.

 

Each one is different and unique. 

I have skeleton keys for all of them too.  Can you say, Charming?

I do not love our internet connection.  It stinks.  I also have to put our modem in this really odd place.  I hate seeing cords.  I am trying to figure out a solution for this.  Any ideas?

See… it is hidden on this table in our living room, or not really hidden with all those cords.

I do not love that this room or our bedroom does not have a light. I guess they did that in old homes.  Can you say lamps?

I love love love…. all the built-ins.

Oh..and arched entryways.

My favorite is the rock on our fireplace.

It is also the same rock as the outside of the house.

Oh and see that charming street lamp.  Each house on our street has one.  They all turn on by themselves at the same time each evening.

I love having stairs.  It is so nice to have an upstairs space and a downstairs space.

I don’t love my laundry space which is down downstairs.  I am working with it.  (No picture… I forgot that one.) just picture a dungeon.

I am getting my exercise going up and down the stairs.

I do love our attic.  It is huge, and messy.  I didn’t unpack a lot of boxes because we will only be here a year.

 

and I saved our boxes for our move… see how big this attic is?

We also have a walk-in cedar closet up in the attic. Which I love.

 

I can store all our off season clothes up here because….

we have small closets. One more not so favorite thing about an older home.

Remember our closets in our old house?

That has been a small change for me.  However, this house has lots more closets.

My favorite and yes I do love it; is the old wallpaper in the girls closet.  The baseboards in here are even pink.  See… character.

My most favorite is how the owner added these candle holders to the stairs.  Love this idea.

I also love having a hydrangea bush.

I can cut and add fresh flowers to my rooms.

and my new favorite additions that I have added to this charming house…

my new comforter. Ruffles.  Yes.

This adorable owl from my sis for my birthday.

and making Stella’s lamps my own for a new addition to my room.

Phew… that got lengthy.

Hope you enjoyed checking out my fav’s and my not so fav’s.

What would you choose; old or new?

Post-edited: In writing this post I realized how lucky I am to live in such a beautiful place.  Making changes, and uprooting your life is never easy. It has been a hard few months. However, I am blessed.  I have a roof over my head, a family to share it with, and a husband who loves and provides for us.  What more can I ask for?

Brother and Sister….

This morning I woke up to one of those moments that makes your heart jump.  One of those moments that makes you realize that you have great kids, and that you love your life.

Jex and Stella have been Best Friends from the moment that Stella was born.

Jex(2 1/2 years, Stella 8 months)

  They really do have a special bond.  I witnessed that bond firsthand this morning and it brought tears to my eyes.

Last night, around 9:30 Stella fell off a small stool in her room while trying to fix her ceiling fan.  She fell on her side, landed on her wrist and broke it.  We had to leave the 3 kids home with a friend from church and take Stella to the ER.

Stella was a champ, and suffered through the pain.  She has a very high pain tolerance.  She was so tired by the time we got home.  She crashed and slept until the morning.

 

We got home from the ER around midnight, and the three kids were already asleep.

When Jex woke up, Stella had already climbed in bed with me.

…and that is when I saw it.  I saw that look on his face.  The look of complete understanding for his best friend, as he quietly looked at her and whispered, “Are you ok?” 

You could see the bond between them.  You could see the love that he felt for her.

He then asked if he could make her breakfast.

He has spent the whole day taking care of her.  Choosing not to play with his friends and staying home for her.

I love these two, and the relationship that they share.  I am proud to have children that respect each other.

Update on Stella:  she is doing better.  She is still in quite a bit of pain.  She has laid around most of the day, and hopes to be out of her cast by the time of her baptism. She turns 8 one week from today.  She will be baptized mid September.  We have another appt midweek to assess and get a new hard cast.(hopefully waterproof)

Jex and Stella: I hope your bond and friendship will remain forever.

Stella: I hope I can grow up to be as brave as you.

Great Summer Moments.

As a mother, I begin to worry that I am not making my kids summer as memorable as mine was when I was a kid. 

I had great summers; full of awesome memories.  Of course, my summer memories are different then what is safe for kids to do now. 

I remember playing night games, riding my bike everywhere, walking uptown to buy penny candy, and swimming every. single. day.(My mom would drop us off at the pool and then come back and get us.)

I have been especially worried this summer.  It has been so crazy, and now that we are starting to settle in in PA; I am wondering if we have done anything great this summer.

So I went back through my pictures.  That is why I photograph everything.  I blog so that I can remember memories and thoughts. 

My pictures were full of moments that we had during our 5 weeks in Utah.  It really seems like a lifetime ago.  I almost forgot that we were even there for the first part of our summer.  We only left 20 days ago.   We have done so much since then; and my mind has been consumed with other things.

The kids had a great summer in Utah. …and so did I.

Here is a re-cap in pictures:

A hike to the Grotto:

this was a favorite of mine as a teenager.

 

The kids begged to go back.

I think they really enjoyed being in the canyon. We don’t live near many mountains remember?

It is the perfect hike for the kids.

A picnic for Ruby’s eighth month anniversary:

We took the kids to Ruby’s grave to have a picnic on the anniversary of Ruby’s passing.

Because our family missed her funeral, we were able to make her a promise and send it off in a balloon.

They did that at her funeral.  It was nice for us to be a part of it.

Tessa now talks about Ruby every day.

 

She sent her a balloon to heaven to see Ruby and Jesus.

A surprise birthday party:

Since the kids all have birthdays in August(minus Tess), my parents through them a surprise birthday party.

Our family wanted to celebrate their birthdays with the kids this year.

(Jex and my Nana)

They were so surprised, and loved it.

I was in shock when I saw those numbers on the cake.  Are my kids really that old?

It was fun for them to get presents, and have a party with family.

A fun trip to see our cousins in Logan:

We love Logan.

We love our cousins that live in Logan.

This was a great trip.

We enjoyed lots of playing, and spending time together.

This was the trip that helped me re-group, and start to feel like myself again.

The best part about our trip to Logan was when Jonathan woke me up in the middle of the night to tell me he was there.  I was so shocked.  He was supposed to be in AR working.  He was able to come and see me for a few days.  I really needed that.  It was one of my all time favorite moments.  I will always remember how I felt when he surprised me.  We had the best time with him in UT.

….and because he came home, we got to spend Father’s Day with him.

which was awesome.

It was also nice to be able to spend it with our Grandpa’s. (wish I had a pic of Grandpa Jerald)

….thanks Utah for some great summer memories.

We hope to make some more here in PA.