Today we’re buried in moving boxes, and although we expected packing to feel tedious and exhausting, it’s unexpectedly energizing. There’s something oddly satisfying about wrapping cups in newspaper and hearing myself cheer internally: “This is really happening!”
It’s wild to look back at how tiny Clara was the last time we moved. Three birthdays (and a lot more hair) later, she’s practically a different kid — the baby is gone, replaced by a confident little person with a personality all her own. Watching that change while packing up our life is a bittersweet reminder of how quickly time moves.
As we plan for this new house, we’re approaching things with a long-term mindset. More than any home we’ve lived in before, this place feels like somewhere we could settle for many years and raise our family. That means we’re being more deliberate about design choices, materials, and projects. We want the decisions we make now to still feel right a decade from now.
Practically speaking, this will likely slow the pace of renovations compared to what you’ve seen from us recently. We’ll spend more time researching finishes, weighing different approaches, and saving up to get things done properly. Some weeks will be productive — like that flurry when we painted trim or installed hardwood floors — and other weeks we’ll barely make a dent because we’re waiting on decisions, contractors, or budget. That ebb and flow feels more realistic for a home we want to grow into over time.
We’re excited, too, about taking on projects for family and friends when we can — like the bathroom renovation we completed for John’s grandmother last fall. Working on spaces outside our own house stretches our creativity and helps us try new ideas. Those off-site projects often inspire choices we later bring into our home, which keeps things fresh even when the timeline is slow.
Ultimately, we expect the new home to become a mix of family life, designed updates, and everyday moments — the same combination that’s always made this blog enjoyable to write. We’ll share progress when it happens, whether it’s a big weekend overhaul or a small upgrade that took months to plan. The honesty of that process — the wins and the slow stretches — is part of the story.
Some readers may appreciate this more thoughtful approach, others might miss the rapid-fire makeovers, and many probably won’t notice a difference at all. For us, the slower pace feels right: it brings back the early excitement we had when we started this project years ago, that feeling of endless possibility that made every decision feel meaningful.
Thank you for checking in and for following along with our house, family, and random adventures. We’re genuinely grateful for the support as we take on this next chapter. And yes — Clara is learning little phrases (the clean ones), and she’s currently obsessed with jumping around, which makes packing both chaotic and adorable.
We’ll see you on the other side of the move — when our new house looks less like a pillow-and-ceramic-animal explosion and more like the place we can finally call home.
*By “the other side,” we mean soon. By “moved in,” we mean we’ll still have a few pillow and knickknack casualties to sort through.