Chewy's House

Last Friday morning, I decided to combine two offers into one and stop by Chewy's new house and to see my friend Sarah out near Rochester.  Now, looking at the photo above may have you think that Chewy lives in the country.  But actually, it's more the suburbs.  He has this hedged in yard that a deer was sitting in when he went to show me.  Crazy, right?  She was just sitting there until we walked out and then she kind of got a little frantic looking for the way out.  Kept the kids in until she was gone.  And here we have Abbey taking advantage of the enclosed yard.  She couldn't be more excited for the chance to run around!  But it was hot and both kids soon felt it.  It's always cute to capture her joy se vivre in a picture....

Chewy had his old cars and trucks in the basement which he keeps around in case kids visit and got them out for Adam, who really liked them.  He was in and out of the back porch arranging them on this table.  Here's Abbey taking a break to rest checking them out.

Chewy's and his girlfriend Jackie's house was very neat and tidy, as I expected.  I wish I'd taken a few more pictures, but with the kids, it's always hard to!  It's got an eat-in kitchen, a living room and three bedrooms and a bath in the back of the ranch.  Off of the attached garage is a "man cave"... basically a converted porch that is Chewy's favorite room.  They also have a finished basement straight from the 70's complete with swirling gold in the mirror.  They are setting that up as a rec room.  It was the only room that wasn't immaculate!  The main bathroom was retro in a 50's way....they plan on renovating it, but I kind of liked it.  It all reminded me of my grandmother's house.  There's something about being in the Rochester area that always feels familiar to me, probably from spending ages 2-7 there.  Here's a shot of Chewy in front of fireplace in the living room.  The did a good job painting most of the rooms.

He had offered to make lunch, but I told him not to bother with my picky kids.  I brought them snacks and banana bread and I cut them up apples and strawberries.  After about and hour and twenty minutes the kids were done.  I think the heat was killing Adam, he kept asking to go home.  But they were super comfortable around Chewy and his house, which was nice.  Though the house was really clean, he was fine with the kids running around it and made them at ease.  I think their favorite part was the shaded front yard.  On our way out, I tried to get a photo with the kids.  And Abbey takes off.  And Adam's headed to the car.

Adam, can you give Chewy five?  Half-hearted, but he did it.  He was too hot!

Nice photo of Chewy on his front porch.  It was  VERY quiet neighborhood.  Chewy said that there weren't many kids.  A lot of single people and older couples, I guess because the houses are smallish.  He was like an old lady, peering down the street and giving me the gossip on his neighbors and watching where the post man went.  Meanwhile, Abbey dives for the pig lawn ornament while I'm taking this photo.

Adam loved this pink flamingo, something his girlfriend put in. He kept calling it Big Bird.  After I got the kids in the car, I told Chewy to pose with it.  I told him to give me a Chewy picture, not an Eric picture.  Couldn't be happier with the results!  He has a nice home, which I can tell he really likes.  He wants to start his own business eventually from home, leaving higher education behind.  I hope he achieves his goal.  I don't talk to him a lot and it had been since last summer since I had seen him, and he seemed a little lonely, which was way I made the stop out there.  I think he's just trying to figure out this next stage in his life.