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    New House, New Normal

    November 14, 2014 |

    Any time we go through a big life change, there's this adjustment period where you're finding your new normal. That's where we're at now. 🙂

    We moved on Saturday, October 25th.

    WHBS moves!
    We've been here 20 days. (Already?!)

    IMG_3748

    We closed on both houses within a few days and that chapter of our life wrapped up so nicely. It was sunny and 70 something degrees the day we moved in which is unheard of for late October in the Chicago area. I am so grateful for all of the help from family members when we moved in. It was like "we're here, we mean business, here's some yummy food, and hey look we're done" and there was no chance to stop and think about it.

    I thought I'd feel sad, but I haven't. We returned to our old house and it felt like a shell of our house. I didn't even take pictures because it didn't feel right. With no stuff or with no us, it didn't feel like our home any more. It was waiting for its new family.

    Maybe that's why our new home felt like home so instantly.

    WHBS moves!

    Things have been crazy but things have been good.

    And...

    I'm starting to remember which switch controls which light.

    I'm starting to remember which knobs control the stove burners.

    We have more space to spread out in. More space for us, more space for family and friends to visit.

    IMG_3735

    The kids are starting to sleep through the night again.

    There are enough beds for the older three, but instead they're sleeping in sleeping bags in Lily's room (the room with no bed, go figure).

    A stomach bug has come and gone. THANK GOD.

    The laundry has been caught up on. (And fallen behind on, such is the circle of life.)

    We've gone through car troubles and gotten through them.

    We already are finishing up a new room project. (Yes, we're crazy.)

    IMG_3834

    We already started painting some of our wood trim.

    We are averaging a few fires in the fireplace each week.

    IMG_3826

    We went a week without internet, but survived.

    We still haven't hooked up our TV to the antenna, and I don't know that we will. (Read more on why we're cable free.)

    I've already clipped some trees in our yard to decorate with.

    I've had a lot of coffee.

    I've gotten used to the path from my bed to the bathroom. Or to a little boy who has to go to the bathroom.

    I've found our grocery stores and our new other stores. We could walk to Aldi if we really wanted to and were only buying a few things. (haha, when does that happen?!)

    Lily started her new school this week. I miss her old school but we will I will give it a chance.

    There are no clothes in any of the kids' dressers, just big sorted piles on the floor.

    We're slowly chipping away at things.

    The lock on the pantry has been my saving grace. Especially after Halloween.

    Having a finished basement for the kids to play is so nice. In fact, it looks like a bomb hit it and every toy is out. But hey-o, can't see it!

    before the toys moved in and exploded all over the place

    before the toys moved in and exploded all over the place

    But there's still toys in the upstairs which is cool too.

    IMG_3752

    There are actual real life kids in our neighborhood.

    We were able to get a new washer and dryer to replace the ones as old as me. Which really came in handy during that stomach bug.

    Things feel like home.

    I mean seriously, doesn't this look like a different version of our old house?

    I mean seriously, doesn't this look like a different version of our old house?

    We've gotten back to a nap schedule.

    I'm going to start some sort of schedule for me.

    I'm going to try to stick to it but will probably stumble.

    And before you know it, we will realize that while we think we're in chaos, we're really just back into the groove of everyday life. Hey, I just realized that right now. This chaos is every day and the only time my house was perfectly put away, organized, cleaned, decluttered was right when we were selling our house.

    Chaos is a good thing.

    Life doesn't always have a fresh coat of white paint. The everyday is imperfect and yet it's so perfect.

    This is our new normal.

     

     

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    Comments

    1. Lynda M Otvos

      November 16, 2014 at 12:34 pm

      Love it and am happy for you. Isn't it weird how the old place loses its charm the moment the furniture leaves for its new home. I hope all continues to go well and the new school becomes as familiar as the old one.

      • Ann Marie Heasley

        November 18, 2014 at 4:46 pm

        Thank you, Lynda! It was weird. I was really expecting to feel a bit of sadness or homesickness, but nope. It helps that our buyers were really wonderful people who were excited to be there.

        Thank you for the well wishes! School especially is getting better with each day. 🙂

    2. Kari C.

      November 15, 2014 at 9:07 pm

      Looks great! So happy for you guys.

    3. laura

      November 15, 2014 at 11:56 am

      I love the doors by the dining room table. Are they older? Looks like its a slider..... Super cool! Just a little jealous of your surplus space.

      • Ann Marie Heasley

        November 18, 2014 at 4:44 pm

        Thank you, Laura! I believe they're original to the house which is a little less than 30 years old. It is a slider, they look to be made by Anderson. They are so big, I love all the light that comes through! It's nice to be able to fit people in here other than our immediate family, haha. Come on over! 😉

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