Friends, Fun, and Settling In

This is the girl's newest activity. I think I remember doing this as a kid! Gracie of course has to get in on the action. They like to be pushed off so they go faster. I decided to give it a try but it hurt!! Kids are amazing! Here is the new play structure. We bought one that can be added on to so next year we plan to add either a rock wall or something. The girls like how it is a little playhouse at the top. Our backyard needs a lot of work still but Scott is thrilled. He has all kinds of plans. We can't believe how much more time we have not having to take care of 3 acres!!! We have down-sized in a huge way as far as yard goes but we like it. It helps that there is stuff so close to walk too also.



Also here is Hailey with a new friend. How cool is this? The little girl who lives on the other side of the street about 4 houses down is in Hailey's class and was also new this year! Her parents are really nice and she seems like a great little girl. She came over for a few hours yesterday. The girls are loving the idea of neighbor kids who can just come over. I think I like the idea.....as long as it doesn't get to be an everyday occurrence. I like the girls to just play with each other some days so that their bond is always stronger than bonds with friends if that makes sense. I just don't want them to always think they need to have a friend to have fun.



We also had 2 other play dates this weekend so I am feeling really good about potential friendships. Both had girls Hailey and Karis' age and both went so well. They played and played. I am so glad how easily the girls seem to be making friends. Even Avery has a friend from preschool she wants to have over sometime. I have enjoyed getting to know the moms too.

We are definitely beginning to feel much more settled in here. This is our first weekend without a major project so we just decided to lay low and enjoy. Scott and I both have a cold so we skipped church today. I am really liking the feeling of our subdivision. After being in a very small neighborhood with 3 acres each I wasn't sure how I would feel about living really close to people again but I like it!

Also if anyone is still reading I wanted to point out that my wording in the adoption post may have sounded wrong. No one said anything to me about it but as I was rereading where I said, "thinking of all the reasons this was a bad idea" I was referring to visiting Alex and then leaving him, not about adopting him. I figured you all knew that but it bothered me when I reread it so I had to point it out!