Grand Ole Opry

With Nashville only being 45 minutes away from Bowling Green, we decided to hop in the car and head to the Grand Ole Opry.

It was a beautiful time to visit with all of the Christmas decorations on display!

Celing Rack in the Garage

In order to clear up a little floor space in our garage, Brian put up a ceiling rack. It's awesome!

Our new house here in Bowling Green is starting to feel more and more like home.

Unpacking

After a week of unpacking, our house in Bowling Green is starting to feel a little more like home.

The kitchen and living room are completely unpacked, and the bedrooms are getting close. Brian is currently repainting the kids' rooms, so that's taking a little extra time. I think it will be well worth it though.

Let the Unpacking Begin!

The movers have come and gone, and now everything we own is in Bowling Green. Let the unpacking begin!

Moving Day

While the kids and I are in adjusting to our new lives in Bowling Green, Brian is up in Lexington getting the house packed up with the movers. If everything goes well, the truck will be down here tomorrow. Here's hoping!

First Day at New School

Here are my babies after their first day at their new school in Bowling Green. They even rode the school bus home... which is a first for both of them! I was worried about how things would go, but they both came home happy as could be. I am so proud of these two!

Good-Natured, Resilient Kids

Oh goodness... here are the kids starting their first day at their new school in Bowling Green. They are sitting in the office of Plano Elementary while I am filling out their enrollment paperwork.

I am not a fan of switching schools mid-year, but in our situation, it had to be done. The kids don't seem fazed by it at all. They have been in great spirits through everything... which in all honesty, I cannot say about myself. I am so thankful for their resiliency and good natures!

Moving During Thanksgiving Break

There's a lot happening this week for the Stephen clan. The kids just finished up their last day at Garrett Morgan Elementary in Lexington, and now they're are on Fall Break. They will start at their new school in Bowling Green on Monday (11/26).

The movers are not coming to pack up our house in Lexington until Tuesday (11/27), so at the earliest, our furniture and belongings won't make it down to Bowling Green until Wednesday (11/28). In the meantime, we decided to pack up a small Uhaul and bring down enough stuff to get us through this next week. We even towed my beloved little car. All of this is very overwhelming for me, but I think we're as prepared as we can be... I guess we'll find out soon enough!

Making Our New House Feel Like Home

Although the majority of our furniture and belongings will not arrive in Bowling Green until next week, we decided that our new home could use a few Christmas decorations. So we packed every square inch of the car with wreaths, ornaments, garland, and a tree!

We're still a ways off from being moved in, but these beloved Christmas items do help to make this house feel more like our home.

Closing Papers

After a long drive down from Lexington, we are finally in Bowling Green and ready to sign closing papers on the new house! Here are the kids waiting in the lobby of the attorney's office in front of a beautiful wooden quilt:

Thanksgiving Feast

Here are Daddy and Stella enjoying their time together at Garrett Morgan Elementary's Thanksgiving Feast celebration:

Saying Goodbye to Lexington

We're getting ready to close on our new house in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Although we're excited to see what lies ahead, we will also miss all that lies behind. Our time in Lexington has been good. Of course, there have been challenges, but these last two and half years have held many blessings as well. Here's a final walk-through of our Sweet Clover Lane adobe:

Love of Feathers

Stella loves feathers! She seems to find them wherever she goes. She got all of these from just a short stroll through downtown Versailles. I realize it might not be the most hygienic hobby though, so we always have our Dr. Bronner's Hand Sanitizer with us... mostly for her!

Prism Porter

While out on a weekend stroll, we came across a little cafe in Versailles, Kentucky with this fantastic-looking prism. 

What a beauty! The kids thought it was extra special too.

Little Posers

These two are always ready to strike a silly pose!

G.I. Joe & Cinderella

G.I. Joe and Cinderella are ready to go trick-or-treating through the neighborhood!

Retaining Wall

The retaining wall is starting to go up on our new house in Bowling Green, Kentucky. We're getting really excited with the progress being made!

Porter's 3rd Grade School Photos

Porter's 3rd-grade school photos from Garrett Morgan Elementary came out great!

I think they're both super cute!

Driveway Poured

The driveway to our new house in Bowling Green is being poured today! We're getting closer!

Good Brother

Here's Porter reading Stella's new book to her. I didn't think he would read it to her since it's super girly, but Stella simply asked him if he would, and he said, "of course." Now that's a good brother!

Fall is Here

What an incredibly beautiful fall day!

The Many Faces of Stella

Oh, the many faces of Stella...

We Love Fall

We found a lovely fall display while visiting downtown Scottsville, Kentucky.

Coming Along

Our new house in Bowling Green is coming along!

 We're hoping to be in it by the end of November.

Jackson's Orchard

We had a wonderful day at Jackson's Orchard in Bowling Green, Kentucky. There were so many fun things for the kids to do. I just love this picture of Stella feeding a calf:

Moving in the Right Direction

Our house in Lexington is officially for sale! We're getting one step closer to our relocation to Bowling Green, Kentucky.

Things Change Quickly

Wow, things can change quickly! Brian has just accepted an offer to become the Department Manager of Sandwich Making at the Smucker's Uncrustables plant in Scottsville, Kentucky. This is a great opportunity, and we're very excited about it!

Our house in Lexington will be going up for sale shortly. However, with our very first house-hunting trip in Bowling Green, we found our new home. We made an offer this morning, and it was accepted this afternoon!

Kids on the Sky Lift

Although Mommy and Daddy were a bit nervous riding the Sky Lift at Natural Bridge State Park, Porter and Stella had no trouble at all!

Stella even rocked the chair back and forth, which totally freaked Daddy out!

Sky Lift at Natural Bridge State Park

What an exciting day! While at Natural Bridge State Park in Slade, Kentucky, we took a mile long skylift ride through gorgeous mountain scenery. It was amazing... and a little scary! Here's the family at the top of the mountain climb:

Below, you can see our view on the way down the mountain. I was too scared to take a picture on the way up!

Waterfall at Red River Gorge

Today, we hiked at Red River Gorge in Stanton, Kentucky. It is just incredible!

On the Rock Bridge Trail, you can find a waterfall to play in. The kids were ecstatic!

Gattitown

Porter got invited to a birthday party at Gattitown, a 30,000 square foot family entertainment center, located here in Lexington. While he was at the party, we took Stella around to all of the different rides. It's a pretty amazing place!

Check out the video below of Stella on the Frog Hopper ride. It's so cute!

Top Hat for Tiggy

Here's Porter and his beloved Tiggy. Porter's Great Aunt Darleen brought this little guy to him while he was still at the hospital after being born. They've been together through thick and thin!

Recently, while Porter was at his Grandparent's house in Ohio, his Grandma Kaye helped him sew a top hat for Tiggy. How cool is that?!?

Not What I Had in Mind

This is not what I had in mind when I bought Porter his marble run set.

Stella's First Day of Kindergarten

I am so proud of this girl! Although I was crying like a fool, she was as happy as she could be and went right into her classroom, found her seat and started working!

This digital scrapbook creation was made possible by Melissa Bennett's "School Bell" quick page album.

First Days

Look at these beautiful kids ready to go to school!

This will be Porter's first day of third grade and Stella's first day of kindergarten.

I just can't take it!

On the first day of school at Garrett Morgan Elementary, you're allowed to walk your kids to their classroom. Daddy and I take full advantage of that!

Boyce General Store, Take II

We love Boyce General Store! This is our second time visiting, and it's all the way down in Alvaton, Kentucky. The kids stood for this same picture back in March of 2017 which you can see by clicking HERE.

Look at the Camera!

I tell you what, getting a picture where both kids look at the camera at the same time must only result through God's intervention! Oh my goodness, these kids...

Stella's Wings

What a gorgeous butterfly wing mural located at Lost River Cave in Bowling Green, Kentucky!