Well we all know it is time for an update!
Not really sure where to start; I think I need to do this blog in order to really understand how much Casey and I have achieved in the last year and last month of our lives. As always, things are changing but when aren't they? Well hopefully soon; we want to settle in and have this baby!
So over the last year in the zoomed out picture:
-Casey got out of military
-We tried buying a house in Texas but it wasn't meant to be
-We bought 10 off-grid acres in Flagstaff, AZ
-We then decided to live in a (converted) bus
-We bought and Casey converted said^^ bus
-We got pigs and lambs
-Casey build a shower house
-We learned how to hook up solar, pump/haul water, have hot water, hand wash everything, cloth diaper with out electricity, live in a bus during the winter with a small heater
-Casey attended NAU for his doctorate program: did not like it
-We took teaching jobs: was not for us
Fast forward to this last month!
-Sold land and bus (closed this Tuesday)
-Sold pigs and lambs (just picked up yesterday & next Monday)
-Sold trailer
-Bought new Jeep Patriot and started fixing up Wrangler (new tires yesterday!)
-Secured housing in Midwest
-Currently packed and just need to load car and hit the road next week!
Oh wait are you all wondering where in the Midwest? How did we decide this? What is our plan!
Never fear I have a moment of time to tell you!
MINNEAPOLIS
Casey and I knew we were ready for a change as stated in my the last blog post we knew that Flagstaff was not for us. During my last trip home I was really homesick for seasons, green trees, water and family (not sure about winter but nonetheless) and Casey was on board with getting us closer to the East coast which is our ultimate goal.
So after visiting my step-sister and exploring the urban gardens and city life I was really missing San Diego and the conveniences we had there yet fighting with the idea of being sustainable and achieving a slower life for our family. In the end, Casey and I felt that making the move back to a house and the city pre-Roman was right for us so the planning began.
I showed the land to my previous boss but nothing came about so I listed it on Craigslist and somehow a mother from Memphis TN saw it and immediately started emailing me about it for her son. Within 48 hours he came to look at the land and not even hours later they placed an all cash offer. We closed this Tuesday and walked away with enough to help make the move possible. Thankfully Rhonda and Stan were able to come assist us with cleaning up the bus and land, purging (how much can you have when moving from a bus?? more than we thought we had) and prepping everything for a move.
During that time we had put in our three week notice at the school (worked up until fall break) and I started hunting for houses not an apartment in a certain area in Minneapolis.
We decided on south Minneapolis because it is home to amazing shops, food, parks/lakes, mature trees, young families and over all safe walkable areas. The first house we had interest in fell through but another quickly became available; my step-sister went and viewed it! She had a few concerns that the owners reassured would be taken care before move in. So we recently committed to renting it; a little 2 bedroom bungalow + extra finished attic room, fenced yard, hardwood floors, Midwest character in our preferred south Minneapolis neighborhood.
Lastly, I needed to sell the animals and trailer. Which was a job in itself but ended up working out perfectly. Rhonda and Stan were in need of a bigger better trailer so they quickly took that off our hands. Betty bought the lambs back since they were her bottle fed babies. The male pigs were sold to a wonderful couple in central Arizona who have lots of fenced grazing areas and horses! The female pigs are going down to Phoenix to hopefully produce some wonderful piglet litters!
OHHH I almost forgot! We secured two amazing midwives to help me achieve my dream of having a home birth so send your good vibes this way that the baby will not be early like Jack and that we are able to have a healthy full-term baby boy!
Things are falling together and we are sad to close this chapter but excited for many more adventures and all we have learned.
I was blessed to have the BBQ while in Wisconsin but due to the move will not be having a baby shower so if anyone feels compelled to help us with the few things we need for this upcoming Winter feel free to check out our registry and stay tuned for this adventure!
Hope you all have a great Halloween!
