Moving Right Along

We've surprised even ourselves with how long it's been since we last updated this blog. Here's the abbreviated update by timeline since we last wrote:

May -
D graduated! We had a lovely warm May weekend to celebrate. D's family came to town to join us. With their help, it was possible to bring two babies to two university graduation ceremonies.

When we last wrote after G's arrival, we were entirely confident that we'd be in MI another year. We were quite happy about that prospect. Not having to move with two babies was quite appealing, although another year on the job market (even if by choice) was not as appealing.

D had applied to another job after G arrived. She wasn't convinced one way or another, but it sounded worth exploring.

Following an interview, she was invited for a campus visit. With a new baby and a nursing Mama, it meant a wonderfully helpful Nana who came to MI to watch E.

T, D, and G flew to MO for the visit. Wonderfully accommodating future colleagues drafted a campus visit schedule that allowed D to nurse, attend interviews, and go to dinner at a pace that was the most pleasant of all her many visits. We left feeling positive about the prospect of the position as a good position. (For those in academia, it has a 1-1 teaching load, a course release for research and for work directing the English ed. program.)

T and G hang out in the hotel room while D interviews. They also toured town together. Between events, we all considered the prospects of moving to a town where the national taxidermy convention is held.

By the end of May, D had negotiated and agreed to a contract. We met with a realtor in MI. We worked like mad (with help from many amazingly generous family and friends) to ready our house for the market. We listed our house.



June - 
The next day we had embarked on a pre-planned road trip to MO for D's brother's promotion.

The special occasion gave us the opportunity to drive further to scout houses with help from Nana. In a whirlwind weekend, we toured houses and put in an offer on one before leaving town.

During the same weekend, we fielded a few offers on our MI home and accepted one.

Returning to MI, we navigated the necessary fun surrounding home sales to unreasonable buyers. Thankfully, it all worked out in the end, but not without some stressful days in between. We did close on the house mid-June but stayed until early July.

With brief breaks for Father's Day, birthdays, and our anniversary, we packed our belongings while the kids played alongside us (as is possible for babies), while they napped, while they slept, and while one of us walked them around the neighborhood. And we reiterated over and over again to one another and anyone else who would listen, "At least we don't have to move with two babies ever again." Still, we commented over and over again how agreeable the kids were as we schlepped them between houses, as they rode for hours in their car seats, as they likely wondered what we were doing to them.

Then, we traveled to WI for a respite and welcome but quick jaunt to our family cottage.

We were entirely sad to leave MI after six years. We loved our neighborhood, friends, and the luxuries of a progressive university city. We feel lucky to have had the time there, though. We welcomed two children and received two degrees. Fond memories indeed.

July - 
T traveled back to MI to finish last minute packing, meet the movers, and clean. Then, 24 hours later, he was in MO closing on our house there.

The movers arrived mid-month. D, the kids, Nana, and D's brother traveled (with a moving truck of things from WI (thank goodness for amazing parents with a large basement!) to MO to unpack.

E is in love with all things trucks right now, so the moving truck's arrival marked a big day in the life of our family. 

August - 
We're still working on plenty of projects, but the house is in enough order that we feel settled into some sense of routine and normalcy.

D began school obligations on the 10th with classes beginning the following week. She's teaching one English ed course, and has fully jumped into learning the ropes of her director position. So far, so good, even with the required learning curve.

And, we're grateful that D's found a position where we can make the necessary sacrifices so that T can stay home with the kids again--at least for this first year. That gift is making things so much easier for us all. We're getting to know this community slowly but surely. T and the kids are enjoying a kid-friendly library system, the grocery store circuit, and a weaving trail of double stroller friendly roads for running and walking when we can bear the humidity and heat. The weather and a conservative community have been our biggest source of necessary adjustment thus far. But, people are generally friendly and the pace generally relaxed.

The city sponsors a truck day, which Nana learned about while listening to the radio between errands. Needless to say, E was elated to be able to go inside and walk on top of some of her favorite trucks and buses.

We're hoping that these adjustments mean a more routine year ahead. We've crammed plenty into the first half of this year, and we wouldn't complain in the least if the rest of the year is much less eventful.

If you find yourself in MO (we know, it's a tourist hotbed; you've had Branson on your Top 10 list, right?!) or inclined to plan a trip here, we'd love to welcome your company.

We'll try and post about all the amazing things there are to do here (that's both sarcastic and true), so that you'll know what you have to look forward to or what you'll have missed if you pass us up on the offer.