this week at home: phase 1 re-opening, we're moving again, summer weather

8 weeks of quarantine and counting! this week washington state moved into what they are calling "phase 1" of re-opening. it includes re-opening 100 state parks, and some businesses like landscaping, car washes, etc but we still aren't supposed to socialize with people who we don't live with. the phase is set to last for 3 weeks before the next phase begins on june 1st. lots of states around the country are opening even more than this and honestly it kind of freaks me out.

we have some semi-big news in the midst of everything. as you remember, last spring our landlord told us she needed to sell the condo we were renting. we were sad to leave the little apartment we called home for 4 years. we've been in our current house since last july and while we don't love everything about it, it has served us well for the most part. however...we are now 2 for 2 when it comes to landlords wanting to sell. :/ our current landlord let us know last month that they were planning to sell the duplex we live in. while we were not excited about having to move again so quickly (especially during a pandemic), we took it in stride. the house was listed this week but no offers yet as far as we know. it's listed for $975k (hello seattle real estate!).

thankfully we found a new place just 2 blocks away from where we live now and 1/2 block from the kids' school. we went to see it last week and signed a lease for june 1st the next day. it's by far the biggest place we've lived in (here or minneapolis). it's an 80's era townhouse with 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, and 2 (!) dens. we are so excited to have more space! it's going to be a pain packing up everything and moving again, but we've already started the purging process and we have a lot less to get rid of than our last move. at least we have lots of time to focus on this ;) here is a picture of the new kitchen. i told you...the 80s called! 

last friday night, i had a backyard wine date with my friend megan. i know it's sort of breaking the rules, but i haven't done anything like this in almost 2 months. we sat more than 6 feet apart and chatted while enjoying our beverages. it was so nice!

 

takeout from our favorite bbq place, the boars nest. i look forward to weekly takeout so much these days! 

the weather has been pretty nice and it's about the get even better! 70s and 80s the next few days - wahoo! i can't wait to wear shorts and dresses. one day this week ashford and i did his school work on the front stoop in the sunshine.

thursday morning i woke up to a text that my best friend kelli and her husband jake had their baby the night before. addison shea is finally here and i couldn't stop looking at her picture and smiling all day. it's the best feeling in the world seeing kelli become a mom. i hope i'll get to meet addison later in the summer if we can all be in minnesota at the same time. 

thursday afternoon we picked up ashford's portfolio of school work from his teacher outside school. it feels like the nail in the coffin of this school year. :( he was very excited to show us all of the artwork he did this year that hadn't come home yet. azalea sat and enthusiastically commented on every piece. they sure fight a lot, but they do have the sweetest relationship. then ashford got to work in his sketchbook creating an elaborate zombie world. i love his imagination these days!