Closing week is here! We are *supposed* to close on Thursday. I've learned to expect the unexpected with these things, but Jared is taking that whole day off so we really hope all goes according to plan. After we get our keys we will begin what we are referring to as "the slow move." We don't have to be out of our rental home until the end of the month, so we are going to try and just take our things over a little bit at a time and try to feel really good and unpacked and settled by the end of the year.
This week was Jared's birthday! All he wanted to do on his birthday was "not drive anywhere"--his commute can wear on him so on days when he has work he prefers to stay close to home afterward. When he got home he opened presents from the kids and then we went to walk around our new house, just for fun. In the evening a lot of my family came over for a true game night. I made pumpkin bars (Jared's preferred "cake" situation) and rallied the kids while the other adults were able to sink into a game of Cascadia. Then we sang and had pumpkin bars. My gifts to Jared this year were a big Christmas Tree Train to go around Jared's beloved 15-foot-tall Christmas tree. He's excited to get it set up right after we move in. Then I got him a pretty print of an artwork we saw at the St. George Parade of Homes earlier this year, and I put it in a gorgeous antique pewter frame I thrifted a couple years back. I also found him a creosote candle to remind him of his favorite smell--monsoon season in Arizona.
On Thanksgiving, Jared and the kids went for a bike/scooter ride on the canal trail with my family while I stayed back to take some deep breaths (we now have to keep our house showing-ready at all times for our landlord, which spiked the anxiety during an already very busy week), and to make a pie and some green bean casseroles. I did the pie up right with a pumpkin-cream-cheese filling and homemade butter crust. It was a lot of work, but placed in the pie contest and has been great for pie breakfasts the last few days. Thanksgiving dinner was at my parents' house with lots of loved ones. I wish I had been able to talk to more of my aunts and uncles and cousins. I love coming from a big family with so many loved ones living nearby. It can sometimes feel overwhelming when I'd love to have a conversation with each person and there just isn't the time. This is a good problem to have though. After family gatherings Jared always says, "Laura, you have the coolest family." And I say, "You too." And then our children scream at each other the whole ride homeš«
And now for some pictures from our week! I've been slacking on pictures lately, but I'm a liiiiittle preoccupied at the moment so we're going to let it slide:
