I have much more to tell you, but it will have to wait. In the meantime: how are you? I’ve missed you all! Tell me everything that has been going on. xo
I’m so glad you are settling in!
Thanks so much, Eli!
So good to have you back!! It sounds like there weren’t too many hiccups with the move — or maybe that’s the topic of another post? 🙂
Your new house –those views! — are amazing. What’s the building with the grass on top?
Also, that meal looks delicious. I can see what’s in there, but I’m wondering how it’s spiced/seasoned? I’d love to replicate it.
Here — summer moves along at breakneck speed, or so it seems to me! The garden is happy enough considering the crazy weather (so much rain!). I have finally decided to put my bucket list goal of being able to mentally and physically run 5K high on the list and, so, am working on that. I know it’s not a huge thing for so many people, but for me, it’s a big deal.
Also, watching my kids spread their wings more and more, which raises so many feelings for me. Thank goodness I have several cats and, most times, one of them is willing to cuddle with me while I have a good cry.
In terms of what we keep — big conversation here about that. We had to have some work done on our house, which has created a bit of a mess and debris, so we are taking advantage and renting a dumpster to get rid of stuff. I have this idea that I can look at our stuff in a “IF we were moving, would we take this” way, but given that we aren’t moving any time soon, I’m not sure how well that’s going to work.
Take care and I hope you have a moment of relaxation this weekend.
The building with the grass on top is the visitor’s centre at Roger’s Pass, which is about halfway between Calgary and Kelowna. It’s just such a cool little place.
I’m so excited for you and your 5K, and I know EXACTLY what you mean about the kids spreading their wings. Hoo boy, do I know!! Thank goodness for your cats and my Rexie.
As for the dinner! The veg and chickpeas are all just roasted in olive oil, with pepper and salt. There’s quinoa underneath as well. Then I make a dressing that is 1/2 cup olive oil, 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar, 1/4 cup balsamic, 2 tbsp maple syrup, 1 tbsp dijon, 2 cloves garlic, and salt and pepper. It’s a favourite in our house!
Oh, so, SO happy for you that you’re all unpacked and feeling settled in, Nicole! Objectively speaking that was *quick* although it must have seemed like forever while you were in the midst of it. Relativity!! 😛 You and Rex look lovely, and your view of the mountains–wow! That gnome-buddha conga line is so quintessentially your sense of humor! Cannot wait to hear more. You *are* blooming where you’re planted. XOXO
It was “quick” but after so much mess and chaos it felt like it couldn’t happen quickly enough! You know how it is.
Congrats on getting there and getting settled in so quickly. Moving all those vehicles does sound complicated. We only have one, so I hadn’t even considered it.
What was the reason for the move, if you don’t mind saying?
FIVE VEHICLES, STEPH. And we only have four people! That was a complicated logistical puzzle – particularly since J didn’t have much highway experience, but he did GREAT on the highway, and we got it DONE!
I am so happy you are (mostly) on the other side!!! And hooray for your wonderful family and all their help! I love that you are cooking them real meals (I feel the dearth of vegetables acutely) even though of course that adds to the exhaustion. The Mary Oliver poem!!!!!! And the last bullet point has distinctly dampened my eyes.
It’s just so hard to say no when the boys were like “we love your veggies” so…you know. I’m a soft touch!
So happy you are getting so much accomplished. I love the way you talk about your husband and sons, I can just feel your love and admiration for them…and I love how they admire you and love your cooking so much. This post just made me happy!!
Thanks so much, Colleen, I hit the jackpot in the guy department!
I’m so glad you have successfully moved! I found your blog a few months ago and have really enjoyed it but never commented.
A former co-worker had her wedding dress made into Christmas stockings and ornaments for her family. I’ve always thought that was a great idea.
Hi Margaret! I’m so glad you’re here. What an interesting idea about the wedding dress! I wonder if I could do the same (I mean, get someone else to do it, I am hopeless when it comes to crafts/ sewing, etc.)
Oh, that feeling your feelings on the Peloton got ME in the feels! So happy you’re there and moving through the moment (and so impressed that you’re making dinner while doing all the unpacking things)!
Thanks so much, Lindsay, it feels good to be on the other side of things (mostly!).
I’m a new-ish reader. How old are your sons and are they moving too?
Hi Colleen, they are 19 and almost 18, and they did move – although one is only temporarily moved here before he goes to university. Thanks for reading!
Congrats on getting to the other side!! (Kind of- I know it’s still a process)
Why are you moving again?? I know I know this, but I can’t remember right now. Is this your vacation home (er, holiday home? Did I say that right in Canadian? lol) that you are now moving to permanently? Is that right?
Thanks Kae, it is indeed our former vacation home, now our permanent home!
All week I’ve been wondering how you were doing so thanks for the update. Not being around while the movers did their thing was brilliant. Wish we’d had a dog so I could have gotten out dealing with them, but I digress.
There is nothing like a move to make a person reconsider every possession owned. No truer words. Also, you really don’t have to unpack everything all at once. A little goofing off can be therapeutic. Just saying
Lol, I wish I could have loaned you Rex for the purpose! I was SO glad not to be involved that day. Also, the guys all had to sleep on air mattresses once the van was packed.
I know I don’t HAVE to unpack everything at once, but I have! So today is going to be a much more relaxed day that will definitely involve some wine and reading!
Aw yiss! This is our last full day of vacay and getting a new post from the Boyhouse is a nice treat to add to the list of vacation indulgences. Congrats on getting moved! The house will organize itself in due course (ha ha “organize itself” you all will put in the hours to get it done).
I can back up your recommendation of having a handy, perfectionist-about-some-things husband plus two older teenage boys on staff at all times. I really don’t know how I ever got by without them. It looks like Rex did an excellent job on Wine Guard duty.
I can’t wait to hear the rest of the moving deets. In the meantime, I’m on a strict last-full-day-of-vacation-beach-margarita-drinking schedule so I’ve got to get back at it.
Birchy, you said it! I don’t know how I could get by without my guys either. And yes, Rex did a good job of making sure the wine and booze was okay. GOOD DOG.
Enjoy your wonderful vacation and can’t wait to hear about the beach and margaritas!!!
Hooray! Welcome to BC! So many taxes! 💀 I’m glad everything went so smoothly and all your many drives were safe! Thanks for posting the photos of the drive, one I myself have made many, MANY a time — such a familiar grassy roof. 😂 And in fact one we will be making in a mere two weeks’ time! Although typically we don’t do the Sicamous–Kelowna arm but rather go through Kamloops. Kelowna is still so green for this time of year! What a lovely view you have. Hope you can get some good rest in soon. 💕
Lol, yes, I have already noticed the sales tax difference! There was a huge rain last night so Kelowna is so green! This is great for the fire sitch! Enjoy the drive! It’s a beautiful one!
I was so excited to see your post today and to hear that your move went relatively smoothly. Your place looks lovely (and you have another orange wall!). Looks also like all the alcohol bottles made it safe and sound. That elderly neighbour-wow. My goal is to age and not become so unaware lol. I’d be the same with cooking; we went through an entire kitchen reno a few years back and I cooked dinner every night in our makeshift laundry room/kitchenette.
Hi Pat! That orange wall was in the old house – no orange walls in this house! That was a “before” photo of what my dining room looked like! The alcohol bottles came in my son’s car, who has a vested interest in keeping them all safe (I am a great mother, lol!)
Yay and congratulations, Nicole!! I’m so happy for you – you made it through the big move and now you can get settled in and enjoy your new home. I look forward to hearing about all your adventures!
I was drafting up my next post and thinking of YOU specifically, Michelle! I’m sure you can guess the theme of it 🙂
Yay! You did it!!! I was THRILLED with how happy Rex looks in all these photos – he’s clearly very happy with the move.
When we moved into our house, I had everything unpacked and put away within three days. I just couldn’t deal with any more chaos, especially since, as you pointed out, it had been so much chaos for so long before we actually did the deed! Also, I am so impressed that you just left the day before the movers came. That seems brave to me! Also driving all that way by yourself seems brave! Thank goodness you had Rex the Guard Dog with you!
Thanks Engie! I was pretty proud of myself too. It feels like home now. Also, I thought of you many times during the drive because there are many many many bridges through the passes – I thought “good thing Engie isn’t here, she’d hate this!” I have never noticed bridges at all before, but since you mentioned them, I did think about you!
My parents got married in 1980 and I’m glad my mom didn’t bother to save her dress, because there is no way I would have worn that! However, my sister-in-law did wear her grandmother’s dress, because by that point it was cool and vintage. So I think the question is, are you willing to keep your dress until your grandchildren get married? My wedding dress was just A Dress so I do have it on the off chance my girls want to wear it to a dance some day. But I’m not keeping it forever!
Last time I moved I had a 1 year old, so I imagine the experience of moving with 2 teen boys was quite different! Your new place seems so gorgeous, glad to hear you’re settled it!
I mean, maybe? My wedding dress was just a really simple white sheath dress, so there is a possibility of a grandchild wearing it. My SIL was just telling me about her dress, which was 1987 (I think) and so you can imagine what it looked like – exactly what you’re thinking, that’s what it is. But who knows, maybe that will go into fashion again someday!
CANNOT IMAGINE MOVING WITH A ONE YEAR OLD MY GOD. The boys were just so helpful and I cannot imagine doing it with a baby in tow.
I was so happy to see a post from you show up in my feed. You made it! Cue giant sigh of relief and hopefully lots of sleep to catch up from all the emotions and expended energy.
Also, I would 100% be wanting to have everything cleaned up and put away and in order. It’s exhausting, but also such a huge relief to have it actually done so you can move forward with life with a clean slate.
The house looks beautiful, and I’m so glad you’re settling in, Rex is happy, all the vehicles made it in one piece, and the major stressors of packing up one house and resettling in another is over. Congrats and, as Suzanne would say, a confetti of gold stars.
Also, you look positively radiant as always <3
Oh, thanks Elisabeth! I’ll spin and dance around in my confetti!! It feels very much like a big sigh of relief to be sure. And the house sale was finalized which is also nice to have done.
Yay! You made it to the other side! It looks amazing. I hear you on getting unpacked as soon as possible. Who wants to let the chaos of moving stretch out even more by having unpacked boxes everywhere – not me (or you, apparently).
Ugh, right? No need to drag it out any longer!
I’m so glad you’re settling in! That kitchen is lovely. And your views! Oh, Nicole, I’m in love with all of it for you. I can’t wait to hear more. You’re making me want to move up there. Your ears are probably ringing. I’ve mentioned you and your move to my husband and daughter twice in the last week.
And you know I love the selfie, you beautiful soul. 😘
Oh, this is so sweet, thank you! Many more photos to come in the coming weeks! Get ready 🙂 xo
This is wonderful!!!!!!! And I LOVE that poem! We’re in the process of renovating our kitchen, and are just about ready to start putting things back in- but I’m going to do a major purge. I think I’m going to print out that poem and post it in a prominent spot to inspire me.
I’m so glad the move went smoothly and you’re unpacked! This is all very exciting. And I’m very impressed you’re cooking dinners- I totally get how difficult it is, but I also completely understand being sick of takeout. We’re going to attempt to cook tomorrow (although we still have no kitchen sink, sigh.)
Anyway I can’t want to hear more details! The photos are so beautiful, and Rex looks very happy.
Isn’t it a perfect poem!
A kitchen reno is SO HARD. We have lived through two of them, in our old house, and they are SO disruptive to life! Hope you get a sink soon!
This is great. So happy that you are settled and doing so well. Not surprised by the exhaustion. I died at the neighbor chatting about the Halloween decorations while they were carrying heavy furniture. The pictures are beautiful.
Thanks so much Ernie!
Those are some gorgeous views! I’m glad you are moved and settled. I’m pretty obsessive about unpacking immediately as well. You can only look at boxes so long. I don’t think I’ve ever done an 8 hour drive by myself. I’m not a big fan of driving to begin with! I hope you’ve found special spots for everything. Christmas will be brand new to you this year, finding new places for all your decor.
YES! You CAN only look at boxes for so long, or think that you need an item and have no idea where it is. It’s nice to be settled!
I’m still having a tiny breakdown over never seeing pictures of you and your family against that orange/terra cotta wall, but I’m working on it. Can’t wait to visit your new place!
I think Lucy would have had a nervous breakdown doing that drive, and/or me trying to drive with her – glad Rex was more accommodating
YOU DID IT. I love when the kids want my cooking over takeout, and with the way you cook, it’s not surprising (but oh, extra exhausting, I am tired just thinking of it). How is your new kitchen?
I was really happy at the way Rex was during the drive. We stopped a few times, like every couple of hours, and that seemed to be enough for him. Then again, he loves car rides. Maybe because he’s so tall he can see out the window and watch the world go by!
I’m so glad for you!
My eldest just took the classroom portion of drivers Ed, and my youngest is doing his kindergarten preview day in two weeks, and yesterday I ran into my now-10yo’s former kindergarten teacher at Costco. So I’ve been spending a lot of time on the emotional fainting couch of my mind.
Oh my goodness that is a LOT of emotional movement! So much!
Hooray! I’m glad you’re home and settling in. I am also someone who likes unpacking and settling AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. Being in limbo when moving is so hard! And you were in this limbo state for so long that I’m sure it feels good to be in a state of being settled finally. You were greatly missed in blogland!
Thanks so much, Stephany, it feels absolutely great! No more limbo for me!
So glad the move is over – now the fun part begins, settling in. But I hear you about really thinking about where to put the stuff that you unpack, because it’s so true that once you set something down, that will be its place forever (haha).
I think the emotions that you’ve gone through in the last few weeks are absolutely normal and I cannot imagine that you were the only one in your family who’s gotten a bit nostalgic. I am sure you’ll be so happy in your new home!
It’s so true! “Temporary” spots become permanent and then twenty-three years later you find yourself reaching for the heating pad which is in with the soap and toilet paper. OR MAYBE THAT’S JUST ME!
Well you know how I feel about keeping wedding dresses! Ha! I have sons and can’t imagine a future DIL wanting to wear my dress! So I was happy to pass it along to a better use. But it all goes back to my mom having her mom’s wedding dress and not knowing what to do with it. I envision someday having to figure out what to do with that dress and my mom’s – which I assume she also kept… but I am so not sentimental about things! It’s the T in my ISTJ personality, I think. I’m probably less sentimental than I should be. When Paul got his first haircut I remember the hair person asking if I wanted some of the clips. I said no and then she gently asked if I was sure… like it was odd I didn’t want them?? But what would I do with hair?? I must be missing some sentimentality gene that others have!
I am glad the move has gone well overall. You are settling into an absolutely gorgeous area!! I am sure you will be so very happy there and will create a full and rewarding life! And since you now live in a vacation destination, I bet you’ll have visitors from Calgary!
Lisa, I 100% thought of what you said about the wedding dress and am seriously considering it. After all, why? Why keep it? Like you said I can’t imagine a future DIL frothing at the mouth for my dress. I did keep a snip of each first hair cut and, weirdly, a whole bunch of baby teeth. Why? I DO NOT KNOW!
I remember the first time we hired people to help us move, rather than doing it ourselves, and having the energy to have EVERYTHING unpacked and put away that first night. What a miracle. I was 26 at the time and there were just 2 of us and not much stuff and the move was across town, but it was AMAZING. If I can afford it, I will ALWAYS do it this way. Having someone pack things? I have never done that, but it sounds SO SMART, and also so lovely to be gone before that had to happen. Also, YAY to young men wanting to help and saving you money!
I still have my wedding dresses…I married in a Hindu ceremony, so that was a beautiful silk sari, which I decided one day was not safely handled at the dry cleaners and INSTEAD PUT IN THE WASHING MACHINE, thus ruining it. But I still have it. Why? No idea. At the reception I wore a suit with HUGE shoulders (1993) and somehow I keep that too. If my daughter gets married without wearing it, I will throw it away. I cannot imagine anyone wanting it. Though maybe, for a costume party.
My husband used to say there should be a free bowling night for women in their bridesmaids dresses, it could be a lot of fun. Maybe my reception suit could go that direction?
Also, THANK YOU for your words about emotions and just letting them out. I’m going through that lately and some support from someone who does not live with me is helpful. (Those who live with me are very supportive, but I know it is upsetting to them when we are in the middle of a perfectly normal conversation and my face crumples into crying about my sweet dog.)
BOWLING IN BRIDESMAID DRESSES! I’m in! That’s such a fun idea.
Aw, that’s too bad about your sari. I saw your photos and it was beautiful!
Getting someone to pack your place is so great, I highly recommend it.
Finally, feeling your feelings can be awkward at times but it’s the only way through. Especially when talking about our beloved pups, I was the same way when Barkley passed.
Why am I smiling like a silly human? Because I’m SO happy for you and your family. YOU DID IT! YOU SURVIVED! I can’t wait to read/see more about your new place. I mean, I know it’s not really new to you, but it’s new to us, your faithful readers.
The logistics alone to get where you are sound harrowing…that would cause quite a few ‘earned’ breakdowns.
I also have my wedding gown. It’s much too small for my kids and it’s out of style. WHY DO I HAVE IT?
Thanks Suz! BREAKDOWN CENTRAL here for a while!
Congrats! That is so awesome you have unpacked so quickly. I think people somehow become superhuman when moving so they can get it all done. The logistics sound frightful and I’m glad it’s all over!
“Just ONE MORE BOX” – me, totally exhausted but still going! It’s true, we get some kind of superhuman second wind.
I wrote a long comment, but your site didn’t like how long it took me, so poof, into the ether.
The gist of it was, though: YAY. And also: Rex clearly has his priorities straight. Good dog. (I hope he got a belly rub for his rexcellent guarding skills… :>)
Oof, sorry about the site eating your comment! If I knew anything about how this site actually works I’d look into it…lol, but I don’t!
