Halloween

How to do a house trade

Last summer started with a bang when we decided to travel across the world to do a house trade in Salzburg, Austria.  While there we drove along the German countryside, took the train to Vienna, cleaned up blowouts, ate a lot of ice cream, visited Mozart's home and spent many afternoons in the amazing lakes.

Our house trade worked so magnificently!!  We left our 4 bedroom home to stay in a 2 bedroom condo with 2 small children for 3 weeks.


1. Plan to have fun and choose not to over plan.
I absolutely wanted to see as much as possible but I had zero interest in stretching my children (or myself) to the point of exhaustion.  The Austria homeowners left lots of info on tourists spots, bus schedules and the location of important info like where to buy grocery items.  We went day to day and did as much as possible while still having fun.  Luckily I knew someone from there who filled me in on all the non touristy places we had to see like brunches at local restaurants and all the lakes

2. Pack light and leave room for stuff you WILL buy.  I didn't even take a purse.  I took a small cross body and purchased a purse there.  It's so fun to look through the markets and find genuine pieces to cherish.

3. Leave your home in good standing.  Tell your neighbors. Prepare a well thought out manual on how to work the necessary appliances like coffee and laundry (very important).  Give details on things like trash day.  Have someone else manage your lawn, mail, pets or anything tedious.  Remember they are on vacation too.  I recommend fresh towels and sheets for guests use.

4. Photograph everything!





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March is Birthday Month

Testing, testing... one, two....three.  Is this thing on?

I sure hope so!!

I finally got this bloggy thing working again and I just enjoy looking back far too much... so here goes a March recap of birthdays!  Marlow turned 4 and Lila turned 2... these are the joys of my life!

After nearly a year...

I think it's time to bring the blog back.  So how does one catch up on a year away?

A photo dump seems a bit appropriate :)

Let's start with last Christmas photos...

Then there was some ornament crafting!  I love the idea of a homemade ornament each year.  Marlow made the a sweet watercolor last year and it was so much fun hanging it on the tree.  This year was cardboard roll snowflakes.

Then there was a new tradition started. Matching pajamas and cookies to go see the drive thru Nativity scene.

  Meeting Santa Claus to give him our wish list.

 Crafting and cooking.

Jumping for joy at school Christmas Program

 Celebrating Christmas Eve

 Christmas Morning

 Running through Great Grandma's house with the cousins.

 Then there was Valentine's Day

 And getting ready for Marlow's 3rd birthday...

 Lila turned 1!

 We attended fun birthday parties for friends...

 Celebrated Mother's Day with Nana...

And made some family stepping stones with cousins.

Phew... then summer started!

7 months

Eat your heart out... this is how cute 7 months looks :)  This little sweetie is just growing and thriving and we couldn't be more blessed.  Loves blueberries and apples and oddly peas and green beans (positive that won't last) Favorite book is Where's Baby's Bellybutton or something like that... too many books!!  Oh don't want to leave out Marlow's latest reads... children's bible stories and a Child's Calendar.  Babbles dada a whole lot with a little mamm in there. 

My sweet little gem.