Wednesday, February 13, 2013

January THREE

Yes, it is the middle of February, but I have a good reason for being behind. We're moving.

Well, we're trying to move, anyway. Our place is not yet on the market, but it will be soon, so the process of getting it "show worthy" is somewhat consuming our lives. My favorite saying right now is, "Cleaning with children in the house is like brushing your teeth while eating Oreos." So true. 

Also, there is the minor detail that we do not know exactly where we're headed. The western suburbs, that much seems clear. However, getting to know these communities and picking one, much less an actual house, has been rather overwhelming to me. I think it doesn't help that I didn't grow up around here, or even in a major metropolitan area that has suburbs, for that matter. The whole prospect of moving is a bit of a leap of faith for me. Don't get me wrong, Joe and I are in agreement that this is the right thing to do and the right time to do it for our family. But I'd be lying if I didn't admit to feeling hesitant. I like our life here and I like our place. Change is kinda scary. 

Now that we've started house shopping, my fears and negative attitude are starting to dissipate. I think once I can picture us living in a new home it will be easier to focus more on what lies ahead, rather than on what we're leaving behind.

So, there you have it.  The news from these parts (for those of you who didn't already know).  At least we have packed the essentials. 

January 2013

[Note:  repeatedly getting in and out of these sealed storage containers was their idea of fun, not mine.  No children were harmed in the taking of this photograph.]

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

from Tom T. -
Wow! Big news. Our former neighbors when we lived in Lakeview now have 3 kids about the same age as your 3. They moved downtown(museum campus) and after child 2 was born, they moved to Wheaton (one level, no stairs!). We are seeing them soon for dinner at their place. I am happy to introduce you guys to them so you can get the scoop since you have tons in common.

katandkarl said...

so, you're sure we aren't the same person, right?

You seem much more calm about moving than me.
I am having ISSUES. (and our place also is not yet on the market though we have moved like 50% of our things to a storage facility).

jessica said...

Good luck! Can't wait to see where you end up. I absolutely love that picture of the kids.

Kate said...

Ha! Kat, I think you may know me too well, because I'm not nearly as calm as this post suggests. I was trying hard not to freak out certain relatives of mine. I am doing better now but have shed tears of stress about this whole project more than once in recent months. Good luck to you!

Anonymous said...

I visited my old neighbor in Elmhurst. It's a great town and she loves it! Moving from the city was really hard for me too and I didn't even have kids yet! But, it is all perspective. When I chose to love where I live and get to know my neighbors and the neighborhood, I now feel like it's home. I realized that Chicago is quite transient and that in the outer neighborhoods and suburbs, people build their homes and their lives for the long term. I feel much more part of the community and more like an adult, actually. I had been putting that adult thing off for years!
Kristin (Beth's friend)

Ann Price said...

I'm excited for you guys and hope this doesn't prove to be too stressful. Okay, who am I kidding? Of course it will be. But you can do it. What an adventure to find the right place. Good luck. I'm looking forward to seeing where you end up!

Sarah said...

Whoa, this is big news! And I love the picture, by the way. Ugh, moving is so stressful and I've never sold a house before, but I can tell you that when it's all over and you have a yard and a garage and main floor laundry, it will be TOTALLY worth it. (You will have a garage and main floor laundry, right? Of course you will). I have to tell you, I always find the packing part to be more satisfying and the unpacking part to be the most stressful. Oh, and I always lose weight moving. It's the lifting and the "I can't tear myself away from this project and there's no good food in the house anyway" effect. The good news is, you'll be able to sort through things and start out with a relatively organized house. It just takes A LOT of patience getting there. And I can't imagine trying to sell a house with even one child and staying at home during the day. But people do it all the time and your current house looks beautiful, so that helps :)

As someone who has moved 5 times in the past 10 years, I'm happy to provide tips if needed. For now, keep up with the Cross Fit. You'll need it :)