Return of the Natives...or, Farewell to the Sunshine

So apparently, I should have been asking for an umbrella and Sperry Topsiders for my birthday. It looks like I'm going to need them.

It's been a whirlwind of a week. Curtis got a great offer from a company in Portland, doing work he is enthusiastic about. Being in Portland will enable us to live close to family and friends up there, and most importantly, will allow me to stay home with the girls full-time which has been my dream since Mary was born. So (imagine a trumpet and fanfare....), we are moving back to the Northwest! We've pondered it for years now, and it's finally real. I'm still trying to grasp the reality of our decision.

We've been here for 15 years and made friendships that will last despite the distance. We are devastated in many ways to be leaving, but also excited about the possibilities that await us.

Things are happening so fast. We feel terrible that we haven't called everyone personally to share the news. We haven't slept for days as we are getting our house ready to be placed on MLS this week. Cleaning, touch-up painting, steaming the carpets, ugh. It's been a daunting task with two little ones and a sick pup. Fortunately, we have amazing friends who have been helping watch the girls. How many people do you know who are brave enough to take four kids under the age of four to the zoo? That's true friendship. But, that's the subject of a whole different post. We have so many people to thank.

As I have been scrubbing and organizing, I am reminded of how much I love our little house and how many memories have been made there. It's a terrific home, with incredible neighbors and a great park and within walking distance of downtown; I could go on and on. (Perhaps I should be writing the ad for the real estate listing? Granite slab countertops, Thermador stove, heritage oak tree, Stacey two houses down who makes the world's best brownies, Barbara next door who brings gifts to your children every holiday, Dennis at the coffee shop who memorizes kids names and dogs names in addition to coffee orders-- I could sell the place in five minutes!) In any case, it has been a huge gift to us to live there. I just hope some future family will cherish it as much as we have.

The big M-O-V-E date is a moving target at this point. Curtis is starting in mid-March, and I'm going to stay in California with the girls (and canine girl) until the house sells. So, it could be weeks or it could be months, depending upon the market. My director knows of our plans, but nobody else at my company knows. (Shhhh....) Curtis told his company and surprisingly, they made him a generous counter offer to retain him so that we could afford to stay in California on one-income. It was an amazing gesture on their part, and we seriously considered it. However, the family trump card wins this hand. It's so important to us to have our children grow up near their grandparents and extended family, as we both were so lucky to do. Just wish the geography involved more sunshine....

With a week ahead chock full of photos, broker's tours and open houses, we ran for the hills, literally. We are staying with our dear friends Kate and Mark at "Camp Run Amok" in their guest cottage. It couldn't be more wonderful. They have 60 acres in the middle of the gorgeous vineyards of Livermore Valley. It's spectacular. The girls love being able to walk to see horses, feed baby goats, and oh, this morning, watch the falconers fly a giant red balloon into the sky to train their hawks. (Seriously...this needs to be a subject for a future post, too. It was fascinating to see!)Not to mention, yards and yards of flat runway to ride the bikes! This place is heaven, and I hope we don't wear out our welcome. I can already hear the voice of Mr. Gorman from my childhood. Every time I left the Gorman house (which was really my second home for a decade or so) after hours and hours of playing, he would say with a grin, "Come back again soon when you can't stay so long!" Exactly. I have a feeling Kate and Mark will be saying something along those lines very soon....