Next chapter.

It's been a jam-packed month since this whole moving process began but we are finally getting settled again.

Well, as settled as we can be without all of our stuff.

When our household goods arrived last week we were so motivated to get moved in before Micah went back to work this week. But as it turned out, only half of our things were on the truck and now 8 days later, nobody can tell us where the other half is. For real. The moving company doesn't know. The transportation office doesn't know. We sure as heck don't know. Micah has spent hours on the phone and in offices trying to sort this stuff out. It hasn't been a great experience.

On the bright side, we love our new house. It ended up being just short of 8 weeks from contract to closing, and those were some very stressful weeks. We are so glad that process is finally over. And now the fun begins!!!

The day we closed I got to work. Skylar was in bed for the night, Micah went for a run around the new neighborhood, and I pulled out my exacto-knife and went into the master bedroom. There are only two rooms in the house with carpet, and this was one of them. I has secretly purchased my exacto for just this moment. I had a plan. I couldn't wait to start. I wanted that carpet out of there pronto. It was a little risky since I had no idea what the floor underneath would look like, but I made a big old slice in the middle of the room and at that point I was committed.

I just knew the floors would be great, and they were. Micah got home from his run and the carpet was all pulled up in a great big wad in the middle of the room. He just shook his head and said "You couldn't wait, could you." Um, nope.

So he sliced it all into neat little piles and carried it out for me.....

All of the pesky tack board had to be pulled up along with hundreds of staples all over the floor. It took a few hours of working by the light of the bathroom that night (no overhead light and no lamps) and during Skylar's nap time the next day, but it was worth it.

Micah used a miter saw to cut new trim, I painted it, and then he installed it and it looks great. We were so proud that we survived our first DIY project together! I'll post a picture when I get the room finished.

Next up was the living room. It was painted a pale grey that felt institutional. It's a big room and the floors are bare, so I wanted to warm it up and make it cozy. I also wanted to play up the room's features, so I decide to paint all of the picture frame trim. It took days. Lots of taping. Lots of painting. You're going to have to wait to see the finished product. I can't reveal a half finished room.

I love having a garden. I can't grow a thing, but someone already did all the hard work! We are so far north that it doesn't get dark until late. These pictures were taken at 9 pm:

I counted over 15 different things blooming today. Other than the hydrangeas, I don't know what they are, but I love having all the flowers.

And of course, you-know-who is enjoying her new house and yard too......

Lots more to come!