Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Great House for Sale!

Beautiful house for sale at 9 Westridge Street in Borger, TX. Approximately 3600 square feet on about 3/4 acres. Built in 2001. Quiet cul-de-sac safe for children, especially with the long driveway for kiddos to ride bikes. The main driveway also has a cemented-in basketball hoop.
Large front yard with two beautiful trees, and wrap around driveway, and covered front porch. The garage is 4-car (two car tandem) with plenty of shelving and a rolling work bench.


From the backyard you can see the back garages with a driveway leading to a gate with access to a back alley. Great for boaters or RV'ers. The back yard faces west, and backs up to private ranch land making for beautiful, unobstructed sunsets.

The backyard also features a large deck great for entertaining with plenty of bench seating. The deck right outside the back door is covered, perfect for rainy afternoons, and also features roll down shades to block the sun and heat during the summer. An added bonus, a mister that lines the trellis... great for those hot Summer days. The yard is large, great for family pets, and plenty of room to add a big garden.


This is the view directly inside the front door. There is a formal entry way just off the dining and living rooms with space for a bench or console table.



The formal living room in just to the left of the entryway. Large room with canister lighting, and large picture window. Nice carpet in great condition. The crown molding seen in this photo is on the entire main floor.



The formal dining room is to the right of the front entry. The parquet flooring is in great shape, and is highlighted by a beautiful chandelier and another large picture window. Both the dining and living rooms have custom, pull-cord drapery and blinds.



This is the view into the dining room from the kitchen. Notice the two double pantries, great for food storage.


Very large kitchen with center island. More cupboards and drawers than I could fill. Enough space to store large kitchen appliances, ie: kitchenaid, cuisanart, toaster, breadmaker and countertop grill. Corner cabinets feature lazy-susan storage. Electric stove with above stove microwave. The kitchen features lots of cannier lighting, and lots of lighting down the hallway leading to the laundry room and garage.



This is the view from the family room to the kitchen. There is bar seating great for a quick breakfast, snack or lunch, and room enough for four chairs. There is room between the kitchen and the family room for an eat-in-kitchen, but we preferred using the dining room.



The family room is large and cozy with a log fireplace and mantle. The fireplace has a forced air addition operated by the flip of a light switch. Great for saving on the winter utility bill. There is cable access on the back wall or the wall opposite the fireplace, and the room is equipped with surround sound wiring. Custom, pull-string drapes at small window and back door are included. The room also features canister lighting, as well as a lighted ceiling fan.


The master bedroom is on the main floor, and is quite large. Room enough for a king size bed, tall dresser, two nightstands, long dresser and crib. Large picture window, and two other windows add great natural light to the room. Not seen is a lighted ceiling fan that has three different light settings: four bulbs, two bulbs, or an ambient light... very romantic. Pull string, custom drapery and blinds are included.



Second view of master bedroom showing master bath and closet doors.



Master bathroom has double sinks, plenty of storage for "him" and "her" with a separate door to the toilet and jetted soaking tub. Also in the bathroom, another cupboard above the toilet great for storing linens.


Large master closet (sorry for the mess!) Lots of shelving, and great space for changing to accommodate those early morning work hours when the other person wants to sleep in.



This is the upstairs over sized closet at the top of the landing. Currently it is used for a craft room, with enough space for large dining table and filing cabinets. Would also make a great office space, equipped with both cable hook-up and double phone jack connections.



This is the landing at the top of the stairs. Large picture window to add natural light, and custom drapery stays with the home.



Bedroom number 2 upstairs. Large room, enough for two beds, and plenty of space left over dressers and toys galore. Room features private bathroom and walk-in closet.


Bedroom number 3 upstairs. Both rooms upstairs are identical in size and feature walk-in closets and large bathrooms. Ceiling fans in both rooms.


Large walk-in closet showing one-half, with a rod on the other side.


Large bathroom with plenty of storage.


Lots of cupboard space room enough for linens, and also a laundry cupboard.

This is the unfinished area upstairs, aprox 1000 sq ft. Perfect for a play room or a media room. Electrical is already run.
Not shown:
Bedroom #4 downstairs off the hallway leading from the kitchen to the garage. Large room with walk-in closet and large picture window. Custom pull-string drapes and blinds included.
Bathroom #4 directly across the hallway from bedroom #4. Large shower with bench seating. Plenty of cupboard space, and multiple drawers, as well as built in shelving.
Large laundry room at the end of the hallway off the kitchen just before the garage entrance. Laundry room features sink with cupboard space below, and cupboards above the washer and dryer. There is also plenty of shelving and clothes rod, making it a great mud room just off the garage.
Over sized, 4-car garage. Features plenty of shelving and rolling work bench. Good lighting.
Two separate air conditioner units with separate thermostats for upstairs and downstairs. Two hot water heaters, one in the basement and one in garage.
Also not shown in pictures, large unfinished basement great for storage and great for tornado season.
Added bonus, every room is equipped with cable and phone hook-ups.

Monday, December 13, 2010

Here We Go Again...

So, the other night I sat down to write the annual Christmas letter. Who would have known that just a few days later it would completely change? That one more huge, significant moment of 2010 would need to be added? So you'll get a Christmas card from us this year... but no letter. There is so much that I would need to include as we prepare to leave Borger it wouldn't all fit, and pictures tell the story better.

Yes, you heard me right. We are leaving Borger. We've only lived here 14 months and we are already preparing ourselves for yet another move. Jared has accepted a job in Salt Lake City, UT, and starts just after the new year. So as we celebrate Christmas, and as we unwrap presents... we'll be wrapping up our lives here in Borger.

Here is the thing... though it has only been 14 months, I don't want it to be just a blip on the radar of our lives. So much has happened, so much has changed, and so many wonderful people have entered our lives.

Within a month of moving here I successfully knocked myself out falling off a chair, broke my foot during aerobics and then figured out why I was always losing my balance: a baby growing inside me and now a blessing that is getting bigger every day: Claire. She was born in Borger so this humble town will always be her "home."

Those people I write about: the Mosleys who opened their home and hearts to us as we learned we were more than just friends but actual family. They made coming to this new place easier knowing we already had someone to count on. The Gunns, and the delicious muffins Heather brought over one of the first days in our new home when we had no fridge and no food. And again Heather, who took care of my two kids when a stomach bug made me useless. The Dixons, especially Lynn who raced to our home when I knocked myself out falling off that chair... and raced to my home again when I couldn't crawl out of bed to feed my kids when that stomach bug first showed up. Misty Hankinson who showed up at my door after hearing about my broken foot. She barely knew me at the time, but has grown to be one of my dearest friends. She has pure Christ-like love that I've found in so few people, and has been there to just chat, make me exercise, given my kids life-long friends, and helped pull me out of the darkness of post-partum depression. The Hankinsons are one of those families that no matter where we all end up... they will always be close in our hearts. Tanya Clements who reignited my hobby of scrap booking, and a wonderful mother I could relate to when sometimes being an involved mom is harder than it looks. and Darla Keller... the world's best kindergarten teacher that Ella comes home every day loving more and more.

We have a few more days left in Borger, but if you see me try not to make me cry. I want this change because I'm excited to live closer to family. But the sadness of leaving all of these people that have become my family will make moving day a heartache.

Now, prepare yourself for lots of photos as I try to sum up just a bit of all the wonderful things we are leaving behind.


When we moved to Texas we expected sun and warm weather... who knew they would have one of the worst winters in Borger they've had in years? I loved it, and cuddling up with my girls, watching TV, and drinking cocoa.

These 14 months were significant for Ella and Abbigail. Abby grew in to a little girl and the two became friends that played (and fought) together.



Miley (a boy cat named after Miley Cyrus) that we rescued from a carton of kittens at Walmart.


Abbigail and her adorable friend Ellie... they could be twins with those pigtails!


Abbigail surprising us all and potty training in just two days.



Ella's hours and hours of dance practice and the recital she braved in front of hundreds of people including all of her grandparents who drove in for the big event.



Abbigail always surprising us with her artistic abilities....


Ella spending every Tuesday and Thursday at Wee School, afraid those first few days... but saying to me as she walked up the stairs to her class with tears rolling down her face, "I'm a big kid and this is what big kids do." She loved every minute of it and found a terrific friend in the process, Melanie Irwin, she also had the same dance class with.

Ella turning 5 in June and getting spoiled by Grandma and Grandpa with a Wii. You should see this kid bowl! And when we put in "Just Dance", Abby has some amazing moves.



Celebrating the 4th of July with our dear friends the Hankinsons and laughing until we cried when Mike set off a firecracker and it took off, took a bad turn... and hit Mike smack in the butt.



July 9th, when our lives were blessed when Claire was delivered by the best doctor I've ever known. Thank-you Dr. (Bishop, Brother) Weber for being patient with my girls and listening to me when I thought "sad" was all I would ever know.





Watching every day as these girls grow more and more to be friends. When we first got here all they had was each other. It was amazing to see how they relied on each other and how they loved each other.


These two faces say it all. Ella's best friend Bethany... and every day Ella asks me, "Can I play with Bethany today?" This was their first day of kindergarten. I'm so glad they are in the same class because without each other I think those first few days would have been long and tear-filled.


The confidence we saw grow in Ella as she made new friends at school and showed us just how smart she really is: reading, writing and doing math.



Watching Abbigail's unique personality develop as she learned to be an individual while Ella was off at school. Our days are filled with her quirky sense of humor and games of wild imagination.


Grateful to be a stay-at-home mom this time around and seeing every change. Yes... some days I complain. Yes... I lose my patience. No... I wouldn't change it because she changes every day and I get to be a part of it.


Again, watching Abbigail develop her artistic skills. (Just a small dose of her sense of humor.)



Spending the hot Texas days at the splash park.



Riding our bikes around our HUGE driveway. Not likely to have one like that in Utah.



Again.... more of Claire, in this picture working as hard as she can to get her knees underneath her to reach a toy across the room.



Begging Ella to be something from Toy Story for Halloween or even a princess or fairy. Nope. She wanted to be a vampire.


Easily convincing Abbigail that she would make the cutest Jessie ever!


Relieved that Claire is now big enough to fit in her excer-saucer and entertain herself (at least for a few minutes) so mommy can get some cleaning done.


Abbigail helping herself to some ice cream when I'm pretty sure mom and dad said no.



And wrapping up our year with a family picture, not knowing while taking this photo that in just a couple of months we'll be making more memories in the new year... just in a different place. Wherever that place is, it will be home, because this is my family. Lots of things will change over the years... but that never will.

Thursday, December 9, 2010

5 Months Old!

Claire is 5-months-old today! In some ways it feels like she should be older... but then I feel like I just got her. She is so sweet, and cuddly... just look at those cheeks!

Some things she is doing... rolling all over the house, and trying to get her knees under her to start crawling. She is constantly grabbing my food from my hand... telling me she is sick of the rice cereal, baby food, and formula that make up her diet. And you should hear that sweet giggle. Fairies really do get their wings.

I love this picture because it shows just how big her cheeks are.



The other night she fell asleep in her bouncy chair after we finished feeding her holding tightly to a stuffed bear. Full tummy makes for a happy baby.


I love this picture because it describes a typical day for Claire: constantly spoiled and loved by Ella. Our five-year-old loves helping with Claire, and knows exactly where to tickle to get the best response.


This picture is harder to describe. I think Abbigail was singing to Claire to get her to stop crying. Sometimes that singing sounds a little like yelling... so we didn't get the hopeful response from Claire. Hey... they try. I LOVE THIS BABY!