(Slowly) settling in

Back at work today, which feels a little brutal.

The move went well. It was a looong day, but we did it, with help. The kids coped OK -they went to the new house first thing in the morning with my mom, and as I went back and forth throughout the day, they greeted me either while playing outside, or from the living room window seat -both things that were practically worth moving on their own! Surprisingly, LP did very well, while it was a bit tougher on little F. We expected the opposite...

11 days is apparently clearly not enough to settle in when renos are in the mix -I would estimate that we're maybe 30% done? Which is a lot less than anticipated. Installing the new flooring upstairs took M (and his dad) 9 days alone, 9 backbreaking, relentless days. We're still not done with the painting, there are boxes everywhere, IKEA shelving half done on the floor, and so on. We put in our bed on Sunday, but the kids matresses are still next to it, their rooms not ready to move in. It will probably take several more weeks (months?) before we're done.

But. The house is amazing. It is absolutely perfect for our family, and I'm pretty sure it will still be in 10 years, in 20 years. It feels both wonderful and highlights how much our life was based on huge compromises before. Over the weekend we passed by our old house, and it took me a second to identify it; it wasn't ours anymore, it wasn't our neighbourhood anymore.

It isn't McMansion big, but it's roomy, with -finally-, space for everything. It has a great flow, and my kitchen is everything I dreamed it would be during these last eight months. And the view, the view.

So we're kind of exhausted and sore all over, emerging back in society with bleary eyes after 11 days on the peaceful golf course, and frankly I can't wait for the chaos to be over, for everything to be done. Especially to give back the kids a predictable, safe, reassuring environment. But we're good, all good.