Settling In...to the cold.

O.K.  It took less than a week to get from Texas to Massachusetts, and to sign a lease on an apartment!  We are truly loving our new town of Newton.  There is a lot to explore by foot.  I am enjoying the fact that there is a downtown within walking distance to the house...as well as a stop on the "Green line".  Scott is loving the running trails through the woods behind us that lead into Boston College campus.  The kids are looking forward to their independence now that I agree they are old enough to walk to town on their own.  Our home is at last feeling like it was ours all along.  Pictures are hung and the cabinets are full.  We have even had company over already!  Thank you Cathy and Cate!!!! I feel I have to pinch myself when I see friends and family and don't have a time limit to visits.  Really takes the pressure off.  What a treat it was to go to Ellie's house for her birthday celebration!  So much better in person than on "facetime".  How exciting it was to drive to Kittery, ME to see Hallie and meet the gorgeous Viola at last!
I am also glad to be getting the kids back to their regular studies.  It is interesting how things we read in our books bring us back to our travels.  We definitely have a broader perspective.  Today we are going to get our new library cards, and poke around for a huge bundle of books.  I LOVE EXPLORING LIBRARY'S!  Eventually we will come up with a new routine, and things will feel even more settled.  Until then the four of us will keep figuring things out together...as we learned to do so well in the trailer.   And yes, we miss "Rolling Thunder".........

We savored our nights at Gammy and Gampy's.  Even when Gampy beat on us with Gammy's yoga noodles...

I can't believe it.  Ellie's eleven.

My three kids just love the playground by our house.

Fiona and Ethan called dibs on the third floor.

Hallie and Viola.  Beautiful, right?

Nothing says fun like being dragged around in a basket.

Fiona was taken with the guinea pig.  Of course. 

I could have taken that kid home with me, no problem.

"Morning Sissy.  We have to move today!"

I cringe when I see UHUALS now...

IKEA construction site.

Cozy living room on Thanksgiving Day.

Scott the magician managed to cook a full Thanksgiving meal while unpacking!

There are some lovely woods down the street.

Classroom all set up, and in use.

Upstairs bathroom.

"Picture" wall ended up in stairwell.

Master bedroom.

Origami master fine-tuning her craft.