We've been here for a year.
When everyone knew we were moving to Minnesota - back to Minnesota, for me - lots of people said, "You must be excited to move back home!" and I kind of shrugged and nodded and agreed, but didn't really know how I felt. I mean, I hadn't really lived here for a decade - 10 years and a couple of months - so it didn't quite feel like moving back "home". We were pretty well settled in Madison. Family aside, it sure didn't feel like I was moving "back" home so much as I was moving away from it.
Plus, let us all please recall the whole "20-weeks pregnant + twin toddlers + moving states + buying a house + Tyson working out-of-state" utter ridiculousness that was our life last year. Ahem.
(Boxes and babies in an empty playroom.)
(Exploring inside.)
(Exploring outside.)
(Our OWN SWINGSET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11!!)
We've unpacked the boxes. Hung pictures on the wall. Purchased some furniture. Filled the pantry. Made meal after meal after meal in the kitchen. Met the neighbors. Made some friends. Taken care of the yard, shoveled the snow, built the sandbox, claimed the neighborhood park as our own.
We've added a member to the family.
And filled up that playroom (and not just with more children).
It feels like home now, y'know?
Our house - "my boo (blue) house", as the twins call it - feels like our own now. Not just another temporary place to move on from, like Tyson and I were so used to, but a place to stay and grow and live and breathe and continue to make our own. We kind of like this place.
We'll keep it for at least another year.