If we’ve been friends for a while then you know our story of seven homes so far, and that one time Jon bought a house without me ever laying eyes on it. As much as I thought it had forever-home potential, you laughed and knew me better than that, amIright? We upped the ante this time, because it is 2020 after all, and we’re less than a month away from our biggest move yet:

Eight is Great!

A quick recap in case you’re new here – our first home was in Albany, NY where we met at college and got married. Our next two were just a few hours down the Thruway, in Syracuse, NY where I grew up. Then I had a unexplainable urge to move to Chicago (which was the time of our life in houses 4 & 5), but when we had Grey, I missed my grandparents like crazy and headed back for NY. House number 6 took us to a wonderful home nestled in the woods of Pompey. The memories made in that house keep my soul filled to the brim. But once my grandparents passed, we felt that Gypsy blood pump again for the city that stole our heart; back to Chicago for house number 7.

Why so many moves?

We get the question a lot – why can’t you stay in one place? I get it. It’s not “normal”. But I have 5,802 reasons for you why it’s normal for us. We live for all things home. From the real estate component, a love for architecture and the layout of different houses, to interior design – all of it gets our creative juices flowing.

We also live for making memories. And call me morbid, but I have read so much (and asked first-hand) what dying people regret most in their life: 9 times out of 10, they say they wish they saw more of the world. I know what you’re thinking. We could get on a plane and travel. We will! But for the entirety of our 15 years together, we have had a pack of rescue dogs that didn’t allow for that. So this year, before Grey starts Kindergarten, we thought it was the perfect time to go somewhere completely new to us, in a part of the country we have never been to. Any guesses?

ORD ?? DFW

House number 8 for the Pack is taking us just north of Dallas, to a magical town that is slated to become the number one city in Texas. McKinney has been named “One of the Best Places to Live in America” by a dozen different sources, and for us, it came down to safety, schools, and sunshine. COVID has a way of putting things into perspective doesn’t it? For us, it really put a spotlight on the things that matter most to us as a family. As much as we will always have big love for the Windy City (it wouldn’t surprise me if we ended up back here some day), it wasn’t checking the big boxes. As a mom, safety and schools will always be my top priority, and recent events have shown me it’s time to make a change. Come to find out, McKinney has some of the best schools in the nation. Having remote jobs gives us the flexibility to work from anywhere, and why not go totally left-field?

Thankfully, Grey is the most well-adjusted, up-for-anything, inquisitive and outgoing little four year old. We only had to bribe him with a pool, and a promise for donuts ?. You’re not going to believe me when I say this, but I’d like to grow roots and settle down for a bit once we get to the Lone Star State. I want Grey to make lasting friends, explore a new part of this great country, and join team sports so we can pack hot cocoa and cheer him on for Friday Night Lights.

How is it possible to move during COVID times?

All that to say and I still didn’t cover the how of it. Well, given that we’re in the midst of a global pandemic, vetting all of the places we were considering in-person was an impossibility. So we relied heavily on YouTube videos with walk around town tours, our fantastic Realtor, and face-timed our way through the houses. If you’ve ever watched a webisode of Walkthrough Wednesday, then you know we really do practice what we preach.

I’ve said this before, and I feel it even more-so now: There are so few surprises left in life. This time, all three of us will be seeing the house for the very first time when we walk through the doors in just a few weeks. For Grey and me, it’s our first time ever stepping foot on Texas soil. I am giddy with excitement! But the road to get there will be a long one (14+ hours). I’ll be driving our SUV with Grey and the three pups, and Jon will be behind us with the 26 foot moving truck. Who do you think got the better deal? ?

I’m not saying this choice to move across the country (again) and buy a home sight-unseen in a place you’ve never visited is for everyone. But if you are feeling a pull for a change, do it. You only get to live this life once, so do it for you.

Follow along for moving shenanigans and a peek at what’s to come. We are so thankful to have you along for the ride!