Well, we finally moved. It only took 18 months! After such disappointment last Fall, we thought long and hard about what we were going to do. We decided to give it another go and we chose different options this time. Not as many hiccups and we moved in late July. It was 115 F with an extreme heat advisory! It was just the four of us. I had heard too many horror stories of movers holding personal items hostage for more cash. I was worried things would get damaged and you can't buy the Thomasville Summer Cottage collection anymore. We moved ourselves. It took one Uhaul with two trips on a Saturday and a Uhaul van for another trip on Sunday. I thought I was going to pass out a few times too, but we took lots of little mini breaks and hydrated. We went back late Sunday evening to clean for the company who bought the home. I had tears when I was cleaning the kids' bath tub. Lots of memories there. We went back early Monday morning with our vehicle to retrieve a couple of glass table tops, and said goodbye to the place we had been calling home for the past 16 years.
It is strange and wonderful to be somewhere different. We even had the social committee stop by and welcome us as we moved in. Who knows? Maybe I can put my name in the hat to host a cookie exchange or something. There is only one other neighbor on our street right now. I met the husband last week. They are a retired couple from San Diego (Mission Valley). Small world! He was talking about so many familiar places. He was so surprised when I told him that my husband and I are both from there. They have an adult daughter with Special Needs who lives in the casita. I explained that we had made the investment as well for the same reason. For now, the extra space is like a bonus area and a nice retreat for guests too.
The boxes are dwindling in the garage. I'm slowly getting everything washed and put away. We even had at least four garage sales prior to moving and I feel like we could stand to do another one. There is a K-8 elementary school right in the neighborhood that T could attend, but he really likes his private online school. The local district has an online version as well, but it's sort of hokey. After doing online for seven years, I do think that the Pearson curriculum is pretty decent. He'll start 7th grade after Labor Day. D's school year started right at the beginning of August and he's in 9th grade public online. He likes his program too and this year, he's learning French. Oui, bien sur et avec une mere qui peut parler francais, c'est tres facile! He already has his high school foreign language credits met with Spanish, but he's got to take two years of French too, for Mom. And then, maybe a little German Junior and Senior year. Warum nicht?! I never did get my FRE 101 and 102 credits. I think it would be fun to sign the boys and I up for une petite classe un jour.
Because we are now residents, there is a Club Swim team that D can participate in that won't cost an arm and a leg. He started last week. He remembers a lot! He was approached again about coaching, but hubby declined. It's nice to just be the parent and watch, so that's how it will be. Because of D's online school status, it makes him ineligible for high school sports. This way, he can still be on a team, meet some kids, perfect his strokes, do a couple of meets for competition if he wants, and it's exercise. T is still happily drumming away 2x wk. He turned 12 a couple days after we moved in, our first Friday in the house. So pleased that he wanted to try a new restaurant. He usually favors Chili's, but had requested Outback. I hadn't eaten there since I was preggo with him! He loved it! It was a nice quiet dinner at the end of a very long and HOT week. T had his annual wellness appt last week. Always worried about his weight. His peds worries about his thyroid with more than usual weight gain and wants labs. With hubby's new diet restrictions, we have been forced to make all sorts of changes. It has helped tremendously. The growth and height helped him this year too! He only gained 2 pounds and is now 5"5, taller than me:( I can't even see over his head anymore to help him get that better part in his hair. Urgh, everyone's growing up.