SOLD

Because I have gypsy blood (well, no, not really, but...) we are on the move yet again.  This time I hope -- no, I KNOW -- this is it.  At least until the kids graduate high school.  Seriously.  We have to set down roots and stop moving around.  We are chronic movers.  Compulsive Moving Disorder.  CMD.

So this time, we're headed to beautiful North Carolina, near Raleigh.  Back to the East Coast and seasons, and oceans, and fragrant pine trees.  We've sold our home in Austin and will be renting for 9 months in a small suburb of Raleigh while our home is being built.  A lot more on that to come.

Some pics from the wrapping-up of our life in Austin.  It was 2 years and 3 months of a wonderful experience, one that was so good for our family life, and I'd do it all again, I really would.

A few listing photos of our home:

Dining room

Kitchen bar counter

Foyer

Front elevation, daytime

Front elevation in evening

Backyard in evening

Back patio

Kitchen

My studio

Living room 

Loading Day has arrived

SOLD

It took me about two years to get the house "just so," and so of course that's when I decided it would be the perfect time to sell.  We listed it right before our family vacation.  My thought was, the realtors can show the heck out of it while we're away.  Because any parent who has sold a house while having a family knows that it is PURE HELL to prep a home for showings.  With kids.  And messes.  UGH.  So this was a dream come true.  And sure enough, in 21 days, we had an accepted offer.

Tonight begins our big adventure.  It's Saturday, the truck has left and Joe and I are zipping through the house one last time, making sure we've packed everything, while the kids play quietly in a carpeted, furniture-less room.  We're giving away just about all our booze tonight, too, because American Van Lines wouldn't pack it and we certainly don't have room in our minivan, even with the shell.  We're driving -- yes, driving -- the 1200 miles or so to Raleigh, North Carolina.  We're not exactly sure where we're stopping or when we'll get there.  Hopefully by Wednesday.  Stay tuned.  

Back at it

It's been a year since I've checked in.  I finally spent a few minutes and figured out how to import the posts from my other two abandoned blogs into this one; at least now I have all my things in one spot. Woo!

I blog for two reasons:

1.) Mom Brain is taking over my life; coupled with (or due to) lack of sleep, I forget a lot of things.  I mean a LOT of things.  Mostly short-term memory stuff.  Blogging helps me record events and moments I'd like to remember someday, since I'm not sure I trust my brain to do the job.  And, I find happiness in remembering the small bits and pieces just as much as the big ones.  Sometimes even more so.  I look back a few years and see some early posts and think, wow.  Look at all I've done, look at who we've created.

2.) I love the idea of my kids having a place to visit someday, to read about the things that make a family a family.  The good and the bad.  The frustrating and the joyful.  All of it.  Little glimpses.  I wish I had that -- something to look back on of my own childhood, of my own mother's journey as a mom.  Just a tiny bit of insight.  Captured feelings.  Of course there are a few photo albums with treasured pictures, but I always wish I knew what it was like.  What it felt like to raise four kids. Realizing that I can give this to my children, especially my daughters, makes me feel extremely happy, and compels me to write.

These are old pictures from 2014 -- one from June and one from early August.  One BT (before Teagan) and one AT (after Teagan).  And to think, I thought I had my hands full last June.  Riiiiight.

Here is Miss Teagan now.  14 months old and all kids of awesome.