Tap tap tap … is this thing on? Sooo we slipped and had two kids, and I didn’t post for five years. I was always mediocre at keeping up with this blog anyway; add babies to the mix — oof!

We did still continue improving the house, in fits and stops sometimes, but always chipping away. As I scroll through old posts now, I’m amazed at how much has changed and how much we accomplished during our 10 years living here. We are very proud of all that we have poured into this home. We have truly loved it and I’m serious when I say I want to stay.

And we have loved the Moyaone Reserve. It is the most special place — during our time here the neighborhood was even added to the National Register of Historic Places. We have awesome neighbors and an amazing community. The kids get to run through the woods, explore the stream down the hill; they are little naturalists and it’s been incredible to watch them grow here. They have loved the neighborhood pool, the National Colonial Farm, the community events. They have loved their school in Alexandria.

They are also the reason we’ve decided to move. We are heading to the Midwest, to be closer to family (lots of cousins, aunts and uncles, grandparents, out there.) I’m trying not to cry too much. There’s too much packing to do….

If you want to buy our house:
Have your agent reach out to our agent, Michael Shapiro of Compass, for a private exclusive showing. The house will go on MLS in July, after the kids move out (for summer camp — not permanently, hah!) if not sold before then.

4 beds / 3 baths / 3,800 sq ft (finished) / 5,100 sq ft (total) / 5 acres (protected by Piscataway Park federal scenic easement)
No drive-bys and no looky-loos, please.

Original solid wood “waffle door.” Custom stained glass windows designed and built by me!
Our spacious bedroom could host yoga for twenty. During the winter we have a lovely view of the sunrise from bed.
We’ve been using the “sun room” in the primary suite as our office, and if you must work at a desk the location is fantastic.
The walk-in closet off the primary bedroom. One side for me; one side for him. It’s tidy and efficient. The built-in drawers hold so much.
Also in the primary suite is a bonus room that we used as a nursery. Alternately, you could use it as a media room, an amazing walk-in closet, or merge it with the next-door bathroom into the massive luxurious bathroom of your dreams.
We’re still in love with our hall bathroom renovation.
The guest suite has hosted many friends and family over the years. It is the most peaceful room in the house. The elder tree we planted dead center out the window is growing nicely.
Kid 2 finally graduated from the nursery to his own room. It’s so big it doubles as our “rumpus room.” (Happily, he’s excited to share a room with big sis at our new home.)
Bedroom 1 is perfect for a little kid, or use it as an office space. We added plenty of built-in closet storage for Kid 1 and it functioned wonderfully as she grew.
The mini ball hockey court in the unfinished half of the basement! Also on the lower level is a second living room / family room with full-wall brick fireplace and wood-burning insert, and a large multipurpose room that I have been using as a Craft Lair.
Jamie’s favorite upgrade: playground equipment purchased from a school’s estate sale. He and his father installed this “Spider Dome” and a retro metal slide alongside our roughly .5 mile walking trail through the woods.

Most photos by @todconnellphotography. (Exceptions: trail sign and primary suite photos.)