We Don't Live Here Anymore

We live in Washington now. Washington State. (I've explained to people here that where I'm from you have to specify "state." Some seem surprised. Well, we did live about 100 miles from Washington, DC, and about 3000 miles from here... I'll eventually get used to Northwesterners. They do seem generally friendly and welcoming no matter where you're from. Really, it is nice here. You should visit.)

It's been over a year since we abandoned this blog. I logged on and saw that the last thing I posted about was Bailey. Sigh... Not that he could ever be replaced, but we do have another family member now - and it has been exactly a year today! The twins and I got Riley for Peter's birthday, because he wanted another hound dog. Riley is a Foxhound, which is actually the official state dog of Virginia. He lets the twins dress him up sometimes. I chose a conservative look to share for his first time on the blog. But we do have a collection of photos of him in tutus. A few with fairy wings. He doesn't mind. He is gentle with the girls, but other times he is crazy and loud. We took him home after his second time at the animal shelter. The people that adopted him the first time took him back a year later saying he had too much energy. Can you imagine giving up this face? It worked out for him though, he was meant to be our dog. And his name is appropriate as he now lives the "life of Riley."

Riley

 

 

 

On the last post about the twins, they were starting 1st Grade at Murray Elementary in Charlottesville. We had sent them to Kindergarten a year early at a new Christian school. They were in a class of six with just one other Kindergartener. They did learn a lot there but didn't have the independent learning skills they needed for public school. So we ended up with another fun year of Kindergarten. Now both girls are in 1st grade at their new school here in Poulsbo, WA - Poulsbo Elementary. The school year just started here, but they are both doing well so far. They have adjusted well to living in Washington too. It's pretty awesome here, lots to see and do. We also live in a great neighborhood and have friends to play with down the street.

Sophie and Mary on their first day of school at Poulsbo Elementary

When we were last on the blog, we didn't know we'd be living here. There was a chance - Peter came out here for an interview the week we moved into our new house in Charlottesville. But we didn't really think about it much. They had him fly to the other headquarters in Boston after we moved in the round house... that was maybe August or September. But it was not until January that the job offer arrived and we made the decision to move. It was one of those opportunities where if we didn't take it, we felt we would regret it later. Peter moved in February and the twins and I stayed in Charlottesville until the end of the school year (which was delayed by much, much snow... that could be another post). It took some work but we're all here now and enjoying life in the Pacific Northwest. Stay tuned for more posts about our new home and pictures from our trip across the country. I promise you won't have to wait another year.