The Cherry on Top: Sunday Funday Vol 1

We had the most lovely of Sunday's yesterday! After Mass, we went to Yorkshire Diner with Pat's parents (on 28, if you haven't been, go! It is so delicious, inexpensive, and unique. Plus the decor is just fun and so different from pretty much anywhere else!).

Then we headed out to walk through the models in the new neighborhood across from Signal Hill Neighborhood.

So, after walking through all of them, Pat and I decided we both liked the outside of this house the best:

And the inside of this house the best:

It wasn't furnished when we walked through, but there were MANY touches that are absolutely inspired by Joanna Gaines, so of course we LOVED it. For instance,

quite a lot of

Shiplap! Yes, literally the entire entryway as well as a significant part of the great room.

The study, which is to the right as you walk in. Isn't it gorgeous? The wallpaper looks like birch bark.

And, downstairs, they are building a playhouse (or a dog house, as another lady thought, eyeroll).

I wish I took some more pictures! But you should go see it if you enjoy this sort of thing at all. This one was just LOVELY!

The third house has the sales office in the garage, is the biggest, and has been staged.

The mudroom/entryway from the garage has two benches, one on either side, isn't that just ideal for getting kids ready to get out the door?

And, of course, a giant kitchen/dining/living room . . .

Kateri made herself right at home in the master bedroom . . .

All in all, the kids behaved pretty well, loved every moment, and no one exactly cringed when they saw us coming!

None of the models have staircases that face the front door, which I LOVE. And two of them have a window halfway up the staircase, just awesome.

The downstairs had some super weird horsehead planters lining the wall.

And Pat liked the idea of this bar behind the couch (for watching Cubs games, of course!)

All in all, it was interesting to see. Also, did you notice how they put wallpaper on the ceiling? Definitely the sort of touch you will regret later, ha!

Afterwards, we went to check out the bluebells at Broad Run.

We were on the lookout for the fairy house that Laura had spotted, and we found it!

Did you know a fairy named Cordelia lives here with her friend, a mouse named Parsnip?

And, soon, we started seeing the lovely cheerful bluebells, heralding the spring!

I do wish I had my camera, because the phone pictures just don't do it justice! But they do give a glimpse, so I will still post far too many!

Of course, some of the biggest highlights involved climbing up muddy slopes.

Kateri got some mud on herself, and Pat told her she could wipe it off when she got to the grass on top. I had to laugh when I saw how she interpreted that remark!