Shout Out to the Rosenbaums.

I want to share a v.special family with you today. So many folks have been super welcoming on the east coast, but during the planning process for our big move (read: abandoning all we knew to be home), there was one group in particular that was cheering loudly in our corner...like, with figurative banners, balloons, streamers, and all!

Momma Jane & daughter, Marissa (wife of our best man).

Jamie had come out to Tuck for his application interview back in February '10, but my first time out to New (freaking) Hampshire wasn't until two weeks before our wedding. Our best man + family were living with the in-laws in a Boston suburb at the time (2hrs south of Dartmouth) and were more than happy to take us in for a few nights. While we were there, it was made so clear to me that we could have an automatic built-in family and support system in the Rosenbaums (et al). 

Bestman Brook Rosenbaum went to undergrad in Arizona with Jamie. And while they've traveled all sorts of places together since, they haven't lived near each other in quite some time. Work and family has taken Brook all around the world: Stanford, Alaska, Washington D.C., Phoenix (where I met him & marissa), France, and now Massachusetts (did I miss anywhere?). Marissa's folks took them in upon return from France: helping with the kids and allowing them to slowly start house hunting.

This is our buddy, Max.

The one who calls me "Wessawee" and who thinks we live in "New Hampster".

During our stay with them back in April '10, Marissa's mom was such a boost for my self-esteem and made me feel invincible! She stayed up late nights with us, chatting away in the kitchen: melting away all reservations about moving, leaving one's paycheck, and was so confident we would fall in love with the Dartmouth community (she was right). The family environment she maintains in her home is one to be admired and I just love the relationship she has with her kids and grandkids. I feel so comfortable with them.

Marissa has also been incredibly supportive. She was a huge go-to for many pre-wedding relationship discussions, eased my mind about surviving in the snow, and has a great philosophy on life that is refreshingly calm. I mean, she relocated to France WITH A BABY while Brook was in business school, I should be able to do New Hampshire with a dog, right? 

I love that I can call this girl a friend and not just the-wife-of-one-of-jamie's-friends-from-college. It's been great to spend time with her and as you can see in the photo below, it's been pretty easy to fall in love with her kids. 

Baby Jane. 

Now that we're here, they've even made it easier to deal with missing my SF friends because of their warm, welcoming arms. We have already become frequent visitors of their new place in Wellesley and although I have taken very few photos of the home, I'll work on it. In the meantime, I have one preview phrase for you: built-in espresso machine (swoon!).

Here are some other random shots:

I would have DIED for a basement playspace like this as a kid.

Chalkboard wall? Perfect.

Adult sized couch with enough room behind it for a 3 year old? Awesome.

Vintage trunk? So.cool.

Paper roll installation for instant-art.

Comfy rug, tv to watch silly kid movies, toys galore.

Oh and look...a dog.

Last weekend, Jamie and I headed down to give Brook a hand with the kids as Marissa and Big Jane headed off to Chicago. And all I can say is HUGE KUDOS to them for being able to do this parenting business everyday....and to all you parent readers, HUGE KUDOS to you too. I'm 100% certain Jamie shares this sentiment with me as we may or may not have needed a couple of naps upon our return.

I had my hands full most of the time and again, neglected to take any photos. Just know that we were busy with the following activities:

• train playing,
• going for walks,
• swimming and jumping off the diving board,
• bubbling,
• napping,
• eating bbq and many goldfish crackers,
• reading books,
• baseballing in the backyard, 
• and convincing Hudson that he didn't need to sleep all night in Max's bed.

It was incredibly fun and I can't wait to head back down there!!

Me + Jane

Posting self-portraits on Facebook.

'Cause that's how we roll.