One Week in the New House
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We Survived Our Move
I honestly feel like it’s been 19 months since I last posted when in reality it’s been, like, 2 weeks! We’ve moved. We’re settling in. It’s a proverbial roller coaster… but then again, you guys have moved. You know the deal. I have a YouTube video to share in the next day or two with some moving tips, but in general… I think it’s never going to be easy, there are always last minute items that get shoved in a box, and tears will be shed.
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Our movers arrived on Tuesday of last week and the first things they brought over were the bedrooms. Thanks to so many of you who agreed that bedrooms first was the way to go! I now totally agree. For the bedrooms and major rooms, I had already measured and had a pretty good sense of where things were going to go. Which is critical when moving. The movers will place rugs and furniture where you want them so… make sure you know where you want them!
After the first day, I was feeling good. Bedrooms were set up… it actually felt like maybe we had purged enough and this moving business was going to be a breeze. Wrong. The next day alllllllll the rest of the stuff arrived and panic set in. Boxes were piling up. Artwork was piling up. It was getting ugly. My mom and dad were here to help. Our nanny helped. Mark helped. One box at a time, we unpacked, found a space (or not) and moved on.
Getting rid of boxes is the first step and it feels so good. There was lots more purging… a few tricky rooms for furniture placement. Rearranging the garage to fit things. Day by day the piles are going down. Also, I don’t know why I feel the urge to mention… but Eleanor and Oliver are reading on their kindles in the second picture- knowing those are books makes the picture so sweet to me.
I’m sitting here one week in and here’s the status. The attic is stuffed with Christmas decorations, and other misc. items like lamps and paintings that don’t have a place in this house (my embroidered art collection), an extra mattress, etc. This is NOT our forever house. We’re renting for the indefinite future so even though I got rid of lots and lots of things, I saved irreplaceable and beloved items with the hope that the next house might have some room for them.
The kids rooms are great and everyone seems very happy. Oliver has a pop-a-shot IN his room, Martha has the daybed I made, and Eleanor is thrilled by her new rug and her blue walls. Arthur and Louisa share a room downstairs next to our bedroom and we wake up to their chatting every day.
The garage still has lots and lots and lots of boxes that I need to make sense of for my workshop. There’s furniture and rugs and lamps that I’m slowing selling on my @shopatcharlotteshouse page on Instagram. We’re getting there.
As for the rest of the house, I go from feeling great about it to realizing the paint color just isn’t my style but the open concept living area is just too big for us to paint. The ceilings are SO low. Growing pains. Adjustment. Figuring it all out. Still sad for the old house. Trying to be positive and grateful for this new house.
Lots of you also follow me on Instagram so you saw a shorter version of this, but I uploaded the full length video to YouTube of my tribute to the old house. For those of you who don’t know, months ago I started sharing a video of the kids getting onto the school bus. It was originally meant as a little tongue in cheek mom celebration, but it slowly became a sweet start to our day… so that’s why the school bus is a bookend for my video.
And as always… you all are amazing. Truly. So much love and support and kinship for me and my family during the last week. THANK YOU!
Yeah! Everything in one place And so many boxes emptied! You have reached the top of the big moving mountain! my good friend and I have a secret to surviving this day. She provides lunch and takes all our bedding in her car (to make up the beds in our new house). I can’t tell you how much I bless her when I crawl up those stairs and slide my exhausted body into a freshly made bed!
Oh that is the sweetest! Our amazing movers had the box of bedding right there ready to go… was so easy for me to go upstairs and make each bed and yes… what a blessing!
Thank you for the goodbye video. So sweet and heartbreaking at the same time. I know you will do great things in your not forever home, until your forever home happens. ❤️
Thanks, Diane! That’s exactly what I’m hoping as well! xx
i started reading your blog right before you moved into this house and it’s been such a joy to read you ever since. I hope you start to feel settled and happy in your transition house and I truly hope that things turn around so that you can settle somewhere that you love very soon.
Thanks Carole! That’s so kind of you to say! This house has been such a perfect option for us right now… who knows what the future holds! xx
I’m amazed at the progress that you’ve made in a week! It is looking lovely and will hopefully feel like home to you soon.
What a sweet video… The new place is looking great and will soon feel like home. Thanks for being so open with us about the process ; )
Thanks Patty! It’s made such a difference having my wonderful community cheering me on!
Dear Charlotte,
You and your family are just heroes. My family and i moved 17 times while my husband was An army officer. He then retireD, we moved to houston to work for tHat great new company ENRON. Yup! Needless to say, we had to start all over at 50. It took us until 2015 to get Enough of a 401k back to retire. And then, last year our house of 26 years was flooded during Harvey. We moved again to a new house and are still trying to settle in…Luckily, our children are grown and on their own, there were many bitter days. i am amazed at your fortitude, bravery, and the good cheer you manage for your kids. I wept through your video…and know “the good old days are still to come” Best wishes and uplifting thoughts sent your way.
Holly Rigby
Pinehurst, TX and Washington, NH
Thank you SO much Holly! Your story made me gasp… amazing what challenges we can overcome, isnt’ it! Send you all love and thanks so much for your sweet comment! xx
Its looking great!
Thanks, Diane! One room at a time! 🙂
CONGRATULATIONS….you arrived. CharloTte, are you still in connecticut? We just moved, a couple of months ago,to guilford, ourselves, downsized. WHat a holy headache! Great Movers, still had lots to organiZe. In the end it was so worth it! So good to see you back!
We made it!! Barely. 🙂 Thanks so much, Karen!
Hi, I just discovered your website and I love it !
I a french women living currently in NC with my family. I will come back to France next year.
I wish you the best for you and your family ?
Hi Marion! Thank you so much! Welcome to the U.S. and hope you enjoy the rest of your time in NC!