When are we coming home?

In a perfect world, we could fly back to Minnesota for every major event and not miss much.  But in reality, that is never going to happen.  We moved to North Carolina.  We are going to miss A LOT.  We are going to miss bachelor/bachelorette parties, showers, weddings, babies, holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, family vacations, reunions, hunting trips, and other events.  

"When are you coming home?" is a question we have gotten non-stop since we first found out we were moving.  Between family and friends, Tyler and I are missing 8 weddings in 2013 and already have multiple 2014 weddings on our calendar.  Although we are so excited for every couple and would love to be there, the reality is, we need to pick and choose what we can and can't make it back for. 

Another reality: We just moved to NC, bought our first house (and all the costs that come with it), just took/are taking very expensive professional certification exams, and need I remind myself, I quit my job (and Tyler has yet to receive a paycheck). 

So how do we decide?  Family always comes first, holidays are important, weddings that we are in are a must, and a lot depends on timing, work flexibility, and flight prices.  

We decided attending Tyler's cousin's wedding in California was our top priority as far as the 2013 weddings go.  First, Ashley is the same age as Tyler and is one of his closest cousins.  Second, we have not taken a family vacation with Tyler's dad and brothers since a ski trip in 2008.  And lastly, we LOVE the Yahnke family and since they are all spread out in different states, we don't get to see them often.  And who doesn't want to go to a wedding in Laguna Beach?!  

I just booked our flights so we are good to go.  Being that Tyler is new at his job, he is just going for a long weekend...BUT I get to stay a full week (being that I am unemployed).  My father-in-law and his siblings rented a house right on the beach. 

This is the view from the deck of the house that we are staying at.

My father-in-law also suggested that I look at one way flights instead of a round trip and stop in Minneapolis.  At first I thought this was never going to happen since we do not have a lot of extra money laying around.  However, I booked my flight with our credit card points and after some flight searching realized I could book three one-way flights for the same amount of points as a round trip.  So, I will also be stopping in Minneapolis Thursday - Tuesday!  

It just so happens that during that time, I will get to see friends in Minneapolis, go tubing down Zumbro river with my family AND see college and high school friends while celebrating and Joe and Cassie's wedding!  So to answer everyone's question, my first trip home with be in less than a month! :)  Can't wait!

In Transition

We are in NC!  (Warning - long post!) We definitely can't believe how much has happened over the last month.  Although I was already aware, moving away has reminded me how lucky Tyler and I are to have the most amazing family and friends in our lives.  The number of going away parties, happy hours, dinners, etc. that people planned for us was overwhelming.  We feel very fortunate to have these relationships in our lives and will miss everyone in MN!

Going back to the first weekend of June, we had a BBQ with Tyler's dental school friends, our good friends Judd and Bente were in town, I attended a couple's wedding shower for my high school friends, Troy and Marie, and we celebrated my bro-in-law's 23rd birthday with the Yahnke family.  Judd and Bente had just gotten engaged, some of our college friends just got married, Tyler just graduated, etc. etc., so I wanted to get everyone together to celebrate one last big night out before we moved.  I booked a pedal pub for Friday night and although the weather was horrible that entire week/day, we had beautiful weather!  

    Everyone hard at work 

 Love these girls!  

 The gang at a bar stop 

After the pedal pub, we went to Stadium Village for some pizza and then out for more drinks and fun.

 Shot-ski 

 So happy that Kacie made it out to join us :)  It is seriously impossible not to have fun with these girls

The next week was busy as well: Kacie and Andrew came over to grill out on Tuesday night, I went out to dinner for my friend, Britt's bday on Wed. night, we went to dinner and a movie with my mother-in-law and brother-in-laws on Friday night, Sat. was filled with my cousin's fiance's bridal shower followed by two of my cousins's graduation parties, then a night out with my high school girlfriends, and lastly, on Sunday, my brother and his girlfriend hosted my family over for a BBQ and bean bags.  In the meantime, I was working, we were packing, and Tyler was working on stuff for his dental license and our house.

 Stacy and I at Sophie's graduation party 

 Rachel, me, Kayla, Greta, and Megan 

 Bean bags in Brandon's backyard.  My family gets pretty serious about this game ;) 

The following week was just as busy: I had a going away happy hour with my coworkers, my very good friends, Amelia and Jenny, planned a going away party for a group of our law school friends at Mill Valley Kitchen, we went out to the lake and had dinner with Tyler's dad and Suzanne, and one of my best friends, Alicia, was in town so I was able to meet up with her for a night and then a walk around the lakes the next morning.  I had my last official day of work and then Tyler and I headed up to the North Shore with my family for a long weekend.

 Quick stop at a lookout in Duluth 

The trip up north was so much fun and just the family time we needed before our move.  Friday we headed up early and stopped for lunch.  We stayed at Superior Shores where our room was basically a huge suite with a kitchen, with two additional hotel rooms off of it.  Perfect size for my family.  Friday night we played games, grilled out, and went in the hot tub at the resort.  On Sat., we headed to Tettegouche State Park and went on an 8 mile hike, watched a little golf, another LONG trip down to the outdoor hot tub, grilled out for dinner once again, and played games well into the morning.  

 Tyler and Brandon leading the way

 Tyler really wanted a picture with this sign ;) 

 Aaron and D with their walking sticks they found 

 My wonderful parents that treated us all to this fabulous weekend 

 The boys watching golf 

Views from our patio: 

Sunday was beautiful out.  We had a big breakfast (thanks Stacy, Chris, and mom for doing the majority of the cooking!) and then went to the lake to take pictures and enjoy the view.  The boys of course had to have a competition over who could hit a big rock first and then skipping rocks.  Tyler took a bunch of group pictures so I will post more of those once he gets around to editing.  

On our way home, we decided to stop at the Glensheen mansion for a tour.  Besides our tour guide being extremely odd, we enjoyed ourselves.  Apparently there are only three castles in the U.S.: Glensheen, Biltmore in NC, and one in CA.  After this stop and our stop at Biltmore on our way down to NC, Tyler has been to all of them.

 My dad on Father's Day 

When we got home, Tyler and I headed out to Lord Fletcher's to meet his dad for dinner and to take a boat ride.  We have such amazing dads and were glad we were able to spend some time with both of them that day.

The following week was our last week and each day was filled with packing and sorting through stuff.  We stored some things in New Prague, donated about 6 huge garbage bags of clothes and shoes, and tossed out what we could.  We also were busy with social events every night.  Monday we met some of my law school friends for happy hour and then I headed to meet some other law school friends for a 'final dinner'.  We started our dinner nights as Scandal nights but it ended up turning into just a good excuse to get together and have a glass of wine :)  Amelia and Jenny also both work downtown so I saw them each at least once a week between dinners, quick coffee runs, or lunches in the skyway.  I am really going to miss these girls.

I was horrible at taking pictures so this is an old one - Amelia, Jenny, me, and Erin

Tuesday night my mother-in-law had us over for a delicious dinner, and Wednesday night my parents hosted a huge going away party for all of my family and family friends.  I tried to count how many people showed up and I got to 85 and gave up.  Thanks to all of my wonderful family and family friends that showed up to wish us good luck and say goodbye.  Also thanks to my parents, Jodi and Jeff, Patty and Whitey, Sandy and Joe, and Ron and Laura (and anyone else I may have forgot) for all of our goodies for our road trip down to NC!  

 Danielle, me, and Sophie 

My amazing mother

Danielle came and helped us pack all day on Thursday which was a HUGE help!  Thursday night we had a handful of friends stop by for final goodbyes.  Then on Friday, we officially packed up the truck and turned over our keys. We had a few more friends who stopped over to say goodbye and I was also able to meet up with one of my best friends, Sara, who is moving from Germany to Atlanta and stopped in MN to spend some time with her family.  Friday night we went to New Prague where my high school friends, Amber and Scott hosted a going away party.  Then Sat. morning we had breakfast with my parents and Stacy & Chris and then hit the road.

Some packing pictures: 

 I don't know what we would have done without Tyler's brothers, his mom, and my mom.  They helped us ALL day on Friday.  Michael and Chris helped with all the heavy lifting and loading the truck.  My mom went room to room in the house and cleaned as I finished last minute packing.  THANK YOU!  

 Tyler with the truck and car carrier.  Tyler drove this truck while I followed in the black ford truck.

 Last breakfast in NP.

Goodbyes were hard but we were both anxious to get down to NC and get in our house after so much planning.  We drove a little over 9 hours the first day going through Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Indiana and stayed outside of Indianapolis.  The second day we drove around 7 hours through Kentucky, Tennessee and eventually reached North Carolina and stayed in Ashville, NC.  

The next morning, instead of hitting the road, we decided to be tourists and went and explored the Biltmore mansion.  This was a GREAT decision because we loved it and the estate and house were so beautiful.  We did the audio tour of the house, explored the gardens, scanned the little shops, stopped at the vineyard to sample some wines, and then grabbed dinner at a restaurant on the estate.  

We hit the road but then decided to detour for a quick stop at Chimney Rock State Park.  This was the most amazing view!

We had another 6 hours of driving to get to Wilmington for the night.  We arrived in Wilmington Monday night.  Tuesday and Wed. we had a walk-through of our house, Tyler had to go to Camp Lejeune and start checking in, we had our final inspection on the house, and then on Thursday, we closed!  

 Thank goodness we unloaded the truck a lot faster than it took to load it 

 We are still getting settled and probably won't feel settled until after my exams when I can put more energy into the house.  Tyler has already started building furniture for our house since we both decided a little DIY is the way to go to get what we want and not spend an arm and a leg.  Everything still needs to be stained/painted but thus far, Tyler has built a kitchen island, a shelf, and a coffee table.

We also found a little bit of time to enjoy the sun.  We stopped at Wrightville Beach for an hour one day and spent the 3rd of July evening at the Surf City beach before dinner and fireworks.

 Wrightsville Beach

 Surf City

 

 Town 4th of July festivities 

Tyler has been reporting to work every day but he hasn't actually started seeing patients yet.  He was assigned to work at Osborn Clinic, which is supposedly the busiest clinic on the base (of 11 clinics) and right on the water.  This was great news and should mean a good experience for Tyler.

 In one of his uniforms 

I am struggling to get into the groove of studying for the NC bar exam (hence me writing this blog instead of studying).  I am very overwhelmed and feel very much behind so hopefully I feel good about where I am at by the end of this week.  North Carolina has a lot of state specific laws and also tests some additional subjects to what was on the MN bar exam.  I finally received my admission ticket to take the test - after a very expensive, 4-5 month application process where I had to be interviewed, fingerprinted, and they contacted 20+ references and past employers.  

In other news, If we hadn't moved to NC, we would be on our summer vacation with my family and about 11 other families in Alexandria this week.  We are sad that we aren't there but are loving all the texts and snap chats we are receiving from the group.  I took a screen shot of a video of my parents telling us they missed us ;) 

Things will be very slow for us until after my tests but then we will be heading to CA for Tyler's cousin's wedding and will have at least 5 weekends of visitors between September and October.  We can't wait :)