We're Back!

We finally got a phone line and got our internet working this morning. The move to Duluth is officially complete. Nora is coping well with the change and seems very excited about "Nora's new house." Every once in a while she asks for Lilly to come over and play and she does seem to be more attached to Suma than usual, but no meltdowns or tantrums about going home.

She has been to her new school three days now and had no hesitation about jumping right in. She especially likes that it's less than a mile from home and that Daddy has been riding her to school every morning on his bike.

She has a swingset in the backyard, a plastic playcube with a slide in the basement (for those snowy days we know are coming) and a park 100 feet down the street. She doesn't understand why someone broke most of the swings at the park (neither do I), but she insists that Daddy will fix them later. I just smile and nod.

She also seems to like the piano that the old owners left. I thought that her banging on the keys would drive me to drink, but it's actually not nearly as annoying as I thought. It must be because she has a gift for music. Excuse me- fewfic.

Nanna and Papa have been with us for the last week and helped ease the transition greatly. The boxes are all out of the house and have been recycled. I can't say that I can find things the first try or two, but I can say that everything is unpacked. We've started putting pictures on the walls, so it feels more like home every day.

The neighbors have appeared in droves to introduce themselves, bring us goodies, offer babysitting and invite us to parties. This neighborhood is incredibly friendly. The small town vibe definitely exists in that everyone knows everyone else, but it's a very inclusive feel. I feel like they're excited to have us around.

I start work tomorrow at St. Mary's/Duluth Clinic. Our biggest order of business for this afternoon is to figure out how to get there. One of the main thoroughfares in town, Woodland Avenue, is closed for construction. All of the tenuous grasp on the local geography that I thought I had crumbles when I have to detour.

And because I know that there are those of you who want to know, the detour takes you directly past the first house that we put an offer on. It is, in fact, still for sale.