It's been awhile since I've really updated so I've got a lot of catching up to do. But, I figured I should at least share the big changes that have happened over the last few weeks (for the few people who read this that aren't on Facebook).
So, our first big news is that Jon is going back to school. Yeah, one thing we said he would never do! He is doing an online Masters program in Interactive Design and Game Development through Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD). While this is a road we never thought we'd travel, we felt very inspired to pursue this and are really excited about the potential for growth and the opportunities it will open up to us. School starts in a couple weeks and we are both excited (and a little nervous) about it.
Because Jon is going back to school, he is leaving Dreamworks. It is still weird to me! Even at the beginning of this year, we had no plans to leave. I figured he'd be there several more years. It's been a really great job and one that he has enjoyed (which I have been incredibly grateful for). He has worked with some amazing people and learned and grown so much over the last 6 1/2 years. But over the last few months we both felt strongly that it was time to close the Dreamworks chapter of our life. It is definitely bittersweet!
Continuing on with our domino effect of changes, because Jon is leaving Dreamworks and going to school full time, he is venturing into the world of freelance work. While the idea of self employment is incredibly scary to me, everything just fell into place for it to happen and we both feel that this is the route we need to go right now. Jon has always wanted to own his own company, but I was always a little (or a lot) more hesitant about the idea. But here we are, much much sooner than I ever thought we would be, and I feel surprisingly calm and peaceful about it. I'm actually even excited. We know there will be some adjustments to having him work from home, but we are incredibly excited about the family time it will give us. For him to be home in the mornings, and to have the flexibility to be a part of school things for the kids, be there when they come home, and to just be a part of the little parts of our day. We think it will be a great thing for our family right now.
So, with Jon doing an online masters program, and doing freelance work from home, it made no sense to continue to live in one of the most expensive parts of the country. As much as we love the Bay Area, we knew it was time to leave. As we talked about where we could move, I jokingly suggested Boise, because we have always said we would NEVER live in Idaho. But when I said it, it just clicked for both of us. It felt so right. We tried to explore other places, but ultimately kept coming back to Boise. So, in a matter of a few short weeks (with a couple trips thrown in in the middle of it all) we packed up and the kids and I moved up to Idaho so we could get moved in before school started. Jon is finishing up at Dreamworks and will join us this weekend (and we all can't wait!).
My mom was amazing and offered to take the 3 oldest kids as long as I needed so I could go find a house for us to rent. Thankfully it only took a week for me to find a house and get moved in.
We ended up moving from this house in California
to this house in Caldwell (outside of Boise)
It is such a great house and is so much more than I ever hoped we would get. And because I still can't get over the ridiculous Bay Area prices, here is a house comparison...this house is 57 years newer, 520 sq ft bigger, and $1100/month LESS than our last house. It is mind boggling I tell ya! Our rent here is less than the 450 sq ft studio apartment we rented in the Bay Area 7 years ago! If you can't tell, the cost of living is one thing I don't miss at all about California. That and the traffic!
This house is only 10 years old, but everything inside of it is brand new. I can't tell you how happy it makes me to live in a house that feels clean! Here are a few of my favorite parts of the house.
The open kitchen/living area. And the fact that you can't see the kitchen/dining room when you walk in the front door. Also, the island with a bar. I've always wanted an island in my kitchen and the bar was a bonus. I think it makes the kitchen so cozy. The kids love sitting up there and chatting or drawing. It just makes me feel so much more connected.
A master bathroom! For the first time in our 8 years of having kids, we have our very own bathroom. It is amazing. Oh, and yes...that is a soaker tub. And I love it!
This may seem silly, but the lazy Susan cupboard is a big hit. I put the kids' dishes down there and it is amazing how much more motivated they are to empty the dishwasher and set the table.
Nice, big green backyard with a little patio. Off to the right of this picture are several big trees. They work perfectly to set up Jon's slackline and to hang his hammock.
This picture was the kids' first day of school. They were really nervous to start at a new (much bigger) school and to have to make new friends. After the meet the teacher day though, they were excited and ready to go. They ride the bus, which they (and I) love, and everybody at the school gets free breakfast every day. Sure makes for much less stressful mornings around here! We loved their last school so much and I worried that any new school wouldn't compare. I even spent a lot of time looking into homeschooling. But it has been a great fit and they are loving it.
The background of this picture is a huge grassy area next to our house. The neighborhood kids like to congregate there and the kids have spent countless evenings out there running around and playing hard with neighbor friends.
I have to laugh at the fact that we are doing pretty much everything that we have always said we would never do...going back to school, being self employed, and moving to Idaho. But it all feels so right. I think one of the biggest things that has gotten me through these last 3 1/2 weeks was the overwhelming peace I have felt that this is where we need to be right now. I'm excited for this next chapter of our lives.
