The New Place

Yeah! We closed yesterday, and are officially are in more debt than we have ever been before. We got a killer deal on this little place- which is good, because we have big plans for it. It has never been lived in, though its construction began nearly two years ago. The builder still has some things that are being finished up (all well negotiated into our escrow agreement). And then we get to do all the fun suff. We've already started plans to finish the basement and landscape. The main floor is the perfect 3 bed/2 bath space for us right now. I only have a few pictures that I snapped before our stuff got moved in.

The builder was super accommodating and agreed to allow our stuff to be moved in before we closed. (The moving van waited while the house inspection was being completed. Can you believe it?) So the unpacking begins today. My brother Jared arrived yesterday to help out, and we are so grateful.

More to come soon...

The Hasty Departure

Okay- First, thanks all around to all of our well wishers! I've really appreciated the notes and phone calls, and my sincerest apologies to those of you whom I have not called back. Its hard to believe all that has happened in the last 2 1/2 weeks. I think the easiest way to chronicle our adventure will be to deliver it... chronologically. So here we go...

Thursday, August 23: It was officially decided that we would move before the baby comes. That gave us exactly 10 days before I was no longer permitted to travel by plane. The planning began. I started calling doctors in MI and Cori started setting up our relocation.

Saturday, August 25: We spent the day cleaning the apartment, planning., and running errands. Cori conducted at a Court of Honor that night.

Sunday, August 26: It was announced to our ward that we were leaving. So sad. I think we both spent the entire afternoon completely forlorn. So many people in the Crestridge ward are like family to us. That night, the J* family came over to console us. Check out little Westley's curls!

They were just about to leave when we got a suprise visit from the YW in the ward. (I miss you ladies so much! You better keep those emails a-comin'!)
After some pictures and lots and lots of hugs...
and another little surprise...
we were left all alone again. I'm grateful we had such a crazy week ahead, becuase all those good-bye's were pretty rough on this pregnant person. I'm no good at them. I smile and smile and then feel terrible when I'm alone later. Anyway...

Monday, August 27 - Wednesday, August 29: These days involved many trips to my Cali. doctors office (for appointments and vein attempts to obtain my medical records. It was a little ridiculous), visits to FedEx to send checks hither and yon as we set up our temporary housing in MI, lunches out with friends, and lots and lots of phone calls between me and Cori as we were setting up details. I finally got my medical records late Wed. afternoon, and then made another trip to FedEx to fax them to my new doctor, so we could actually set an appointment... good grief.

Thursday, August 30: Our cars were picked up early and loaded up to begin their journey across the country. After getting the rental car, Gracie and I made it back to the apartment just in time to meet the team of guys who would spend the day packing up our stuff. That night I went out to dinner with our Book Club. Such a treat. Later, our little family slept amongst mountains of boxes and the smell of cardboard.

Friday, August 31: The movers showed up and we said good-bye to our things. Once they were loaded, we did a bit more light cleaning and turned our keys into the leasing office. Farewell Highridge Apartments! Our dear friends the C* family not only kept Grace for the afternoon, but then had us over for dinner. We drove out to Anaheim that night and stayed in a hotel next to Disneyland so we could have an early go of it the next day.

Saturday, September 1: The last visit to Disneyland. Cori was so sweet and indulged me here. He hadn't been to Disneyland with Grace since his Mom and Step-dad visited back in March. We spent a good part of the day there doing Gracie things and shopping. Priority number 1 on our agenda was to get on that Finding Nemo ride. Even with our early start, we waited about 90 minutes in line. It was worth it.

She was pretty captivated for the whole sub-tastic journey.
The Carosel was another must.
As well as a visit to Bug's Land at California adventure.
Ah, I am so pregnant.

That evening, we went back to the C*'s house to watch the inagural BYU football game. Cori had to go back to work to get some hard copy files organized, and then we headed up to LAX to return the rental and check into a hotel there.

Sunday, September 2: We caught the early shuttel from the hotel to the airport. 3 connections, and several hours later, we found ourselves disembarking at the Traverse City airport. We stayed in Traverse that night.

Monday, September 3: We made the hour drive to Boyne City. Our wonderful realtor met with us on her holiday, and we spent the afternoon looking at potential future homes. It is so beautiful here.

This is the view from a community park on the shores of Lake Charleviox. I don't think I've seen so many trees in my whole life.

That night we checked into the condo where we've been staying this last week and a half. Its at the ski resort called Boyne Mountain. Its been really nice staying here. We actually considered buying one of these vacation condos as our home. Although the ski in- ski out life is hard to pass up, we've opted for a more traditional home. But more on that in a minute.

Gracie loves the big open spaces around here. She has spent 10 days seriously running around everywhere.
This is the mascot for the big indoor water park they have here at the resort.
Tuesday September 4- today: Its a blur of more house tours, lots of discussion, a couple of doctors visits, the song and dance of offers and counter offers, a trip back to Traverse to return the rental car once our cars arrived, our first Sunday at the Petoskey branch (wow) the selection of our first house, and the signing of the final offer. We close today, so I'll post pictures and details of our home-owning adventures (yes, we already have some!) later tonight or tomorrow.

We are so excited and even more grateful for how things have worked out. We love our new home. And I realize now how miraculous it is that we have done what we have done in the last little while. It really was completely crazy for us to leave California this late in our pregnancy. But things have worked out better than we could have planned, and we should have a little bit of time to settle in before the big arrival.

More to come soon...