The Move Is On

Quickly, before class:

We closed on our house last Friday, in a series of transactions that involved four parties and three properties (we were party #3). Amazingly, all went smoothly. We got keys to our new place on Monday, and started moving some things in on Tuesday. Unfortunately, I have to proctor and help grade a huge calculus test Wednesday and Thursday, but then I don't have class on Friday, so we can do some more. Saturday our friend Justin comes at 8am with a big truck to move furniture and we spend our first night at the new house, Sunday we deal with loose ends, and Monday the buyers of our old house get possession. It's too bad we couldn't have done all this over the summer, but we're glad it happened at all.

We've already begun to meet our new neighbors, and they're all very nice. There's a pile of young kids on our street, too.

We'll get some pictures up of the new house sometime soon, although our digital camera is kicking the bucket on us.

Last night at dinner Abby said "I smell like I'm full."

Until later...

School and Stuff

It's September; it's time for school (except for Jake).

Ferris started first, before Labor Day, and things are going well. I'm applying for tenure this semester, and my committee already recommended me for it, so I should get it. It's mostly just a change in status at Ferris, as promotions aren't tied directly to tenure. It does mean that there are more committees I could serve on.

Millbrook started the day after Labor Day for Lisa and Annika, who is now a full-fledged full-time first grader. She's doing well. Abby started preschool the next day. She'll have two years of it, since she's only 3, and a young 3. We debated whether or not to start her, but the preschool teacher was all for it, since she's a girl (they handle this stuff better than boys) and since Millbrook is a very familiar place to her. She's actually the youngest in her class by 6 months, and almost certainly the youngest student at Millbrook. So far so good, though.

The hardest part so far is the commute for Lisa and the kids. Annika has to go to school every day, and thus has spent a couple nights a week at Grandma's house to lighten the driving for everyone, since Lisa and Abby only go Monday-Wednesday-Friday. Getting both girls up really early those days is tough - Abby is usually a disaster, although she's fine by the time school starts.

Of course, all of this will be remedied once we move! We're a week from closing and two weeks from moving in. It will lengthen my drive but certainly improve things for Lisa and the kids. Annika will even get to ride the bus, and she's excited about that.

We actually looked at our new house again today, as the sellers are selling much of the furniture that's currently in there. We bought a dresser, but mostly it was fun to see the house knowing that we'll be there soon. The couple selling the house was there, too, and it was fun to meet them - they're excited to be selling to another CRC Millbrook family, and it was good to get some inside info on the house, like where in the basement's drop ceiling the shutoffs for the underground sprinkling are hiding. We're only the third owners, after the first two owned it for 11 and 25 years (it was built in 1971).

That's where we are now! The packing has begun, the pool table's been somewhat disassembled, we've started changing addresses and calling utilities, and our riding lawnmower is for sale. Until next time...