nostalgia for our first home

Today we close on the sale of our house on College Ave after 11 years.  The other night we finally went back into the woods behind our house to explore.  Because we should have done that a long time ago.  It felt like we would have forever.

As I said on Instagram when we listed the house,

"It's for sale!  Mega feels.  Our 'starter' home felt more like a forever home for 11 years.  We put a lot of love in and it turns out it was a stepping stone to the next big adventure for us.  All fixed up and ready for the next wonderful family."

That was for the world to see and fall in love with our house.  And someone did!  And made us a great offer that we accepted.  I know they will love it, too.  For today, I just want to save some of the pictures and remember the place where we built our family.  In tearful memory of Bennett and the many, many happy memories we have in this comfortable, happy home.

These older pictures were taken by the fantastic Gretchen Mathison, and the more recent ones below are from our listing shoot.  (Oh and I'll never forget the drama of that day getting a sick toddler out of the immaculate house!)

This house was the giving tree for our family.  With all our thanks, we pass it on.