Yup, we're moving to Colfax!

We finally signed papers for our new house, and will begin moving in next weekend. We made it through the appraisal, inspection, and banking process, so are now proud owners of a house in Colfax!!

Yesterday Jon and Jonathan kicked things off by hauling a couple loads (of mostly garage stuff) to the pole shed, but that's just the beginning of what we have to do. Moving after living 10+ years in the same place will be a huge job, but we're all looking forward to the end result-- getting settled into our new home together.

Here's a picture from the back side. The corner windows show where my new art room is going to be (in the 4 season porch). The small deck you see from this side is located just off the kitchen and living room area.

We had a houseful of well-wishers earlier today. Jon went over to the house in the morning and started a fire in the fireplace and furnace on the porch, to warm it up a little. Then we met Jon's parents, his sister Sally and her husband Larry at the house. Jon's brother Mark, wife Tammy, and their grandson Seth also came along to see the place, as did Jon's brother Phil and wife Jill. Later on a couple of friends came by, as well. So we were there for several hours today, showing people around while the kids played hide and seek in the empty closets and cupboards.

Here's Michael with his cousin Seth.

Some of our plans surrounding the kids have changed as we talk to them more about the move. Our initial idea was to have them both share the bedroom next to ours, maybe using bunk beds, because we thought they'd be too shy to sleep away from us in the basement. But they both expressed a strong interest in the two basement bedrooms (they want to be near each other but not share a room). So we'll probably give that a try first. We'll have to do some creative rearranging when Susan and David come visit, but for most of the time the set-up should work just fine.

I'm kind of excited about the idea because it means that the little room next to ours upstairs can be a baby room. I had been ready to set up a baby area just off the living room, but this will help simplify and de-clutter things somewhat.

And de-clutter is what I mean to do! After years of collecting and accumulating things, I feel bogged down by our possessions. My new goal is to keep what's useful and/or important (for sentimental reasons) and donate the rest to people who can use it. Amazingly, Michael and Emma seem to be embracing this ideal. We've been going through their rooms and pared things down to their favorite clothes and toys, sharing the rest with other kids who don't have as much.

If only I could get Jon in on this "movement"-! But he has revealed himself to be quite the pack-rat (just ask Jonathan, who helped lug around boxes of his questionable garage paraphanelia yesterday).

Anyway, besides the bedroom arrangement, another change of plans the kids helped guide me toward was letting them start at their new school this year. I was willing to continue driving them to Longfellow, even after the new baby is born, so they could continue at their current school for the rest of the year. But now we plan on having them start in Colfax March 1st. This will give us time to complete the move and finish projects already started at Longfellow (Michael's basketball season, Pinewood Derby, and their school musical). But they will also be able to meet some of their new peers this school year, so it will not be a totally new thing next year. And they will be have a few weeks of adjustment to the new routine before the baby is born.

Well, time to tuck the kids in upstairs.

But besides sharing our news about the house, we want to thank all the family members and friends who have been so supportive and encouraging during this whole transition (baby and house included). We're really fortunate to be at this point in our lives, and are enjoying every moment!