As I sit down to write this post, I can’t help but feel like I’m having an out-of-body experience. Is it really me writing this? Is this actually happening?
The news is still fresh as I share it with all of you, so it hasn’t completely sunk in yet; hence the strange feelings accompanying me as I click away at the keyboard.
My family is moving from the only home we’ve known.
We’re leaving our beloved home in Illinois to move to the Milwaukee area. My husband accepted a new position there and we’re going to be closer to some of our family, so it’s a positive change. 
But it’s really freaking sad, too.
Sorry, there’s just no other way to put it.
My husband and I bought this 92-year-old home back in 2009 when we were practically still babies. The day after we closed, we found out we were having a baby of our own. So much excitement at once, and the timing could not have been better.
The house had good bones, as they say, but was in really, really rough shape. (Did the double “really” drive it home enough?) Throughout the ten years we’ve been here, we’ve renovated, remodeled, and redone every single room – including the outdoor spaces and all of the mechanicals.
Living room before and after
We brought both of our babies home to this house, and our home became the setting for many special occasions and memories, like baptism parties, holiday gatherings, and most recently, a pre-party for my sister’s wedding.
Kitchen before and after
But the life that happened here on a regular basis is, perhaps, even more memorable. Watching the kids learn to ride their bikes on the driveway, blowing out candles on birthday cakes at the kitchen table, and reading stories before bedtime – that’s the good stuff.
Basement before and after
Along the way we made wonderful friends that are going to be so difficult to leave behind. Their friendship is part of the fabric of this home. Their laughter and presence within helped make it such a happy place.
Backyard before and after
My children are so upset – they can’t believe we’re making them leave their house and their school. (If any of you have tips on transitioning kids to a new school, especially in the middle of the year, please share them with me! Comment below or email me – [email protected]) Their sadness is making me have an even more difficult time coming to terms with all of this.
Hall bathroom before and after
In my heart, I really felt like we’d live here forever. At the risk of sounding like a total freak, I actually envisioned grandkids visiting me in this house a long, long time from now!
Dining room before and after
But, truthfully, nestled amongst all of those heavy feelings is a small seed of excitement for a change and some more projects. I can never sit still for long, so a new fixer upper is appealing to me and getting my mind thinking happy thoughts.
Master bathroom before and after
Of course we don’t have a house in Wisconsin yet, but I’ll be sure to keep you posted on where we land. Until then, please send good house selling vibes my way. It’s a really tough market right now and we need all the help we can get!
Plus . . . I really don’t want to have to clean my house every single day for the foreseeable future. 🙂
So, here’s to hoping that love brings us home to a new space that we can make our own, and that love brings a wonderful new family to the one we’ve worked so hard to fill with joy over the last ten.
-Bre
Christine says
This is so beautiful, B. I was thinking how it will be so hard to leave this home you’ve put so much love into. Selfishly, I am so excited for this next chapter, but I am sending you a big hug as you leave this special place.
Bre says
xoxo thank you my dear friend! I am excited to see you more often!!!
Donna says
Happy thoughts on your new start are the children old enough to plan a revamp of the room they will be moving into
you could work on new wall hangings or quilts for their new room
When you find where you are moving check with the school for programs they run
IF there is a park nearby you can help them meet new children there if weather permits
our libraries run a read to a dog program so they can meet others there if they read
if it snows let them play with neighbors and let them all come in for hot chocolate and cookies you will have the most popular house in the neighborhood
Bre says
Donna these are awesome ideas! I love the hot chocolate and cookies, as I’m sure by the time we will get up there there will be snow on the ground! 🙂 Thank you for the encouragement and for leaving me such a nice note. 🙂
Jody says
I am so sorry you have to move and leave your beloved home. But Illinois is not that far from Milwaukee. Now. As an Oshkosh girl let’s talk Milwaukee. It has changed so very much. Be very careful where you look for a new wonderful home that needs your love. Really look carefully. And you get my guys the Green Bay Packers to root for. New houses are new experiences we get to look for. New rooms to go from oh no to now this works. You know God provides us with the chance to meet new friends. I think you will do something awesome in Milwaukee. You may need to private school your children. And when I was 10 we moved from Chicago to Cleveland, Ohio. Uhg. I remember going into the fifth grade class with my mom and I heard some boy say oh she’s so pretty. I always thought they meant my mom. I was shy and kept to my self. But we moved into a beautiful castle and I don’t even remember Chicago. We had a ballroom on the third floor and a maids room and two staircases down to the kitchen. My most favorite library ever is in downtown Cleveland. We get fireworks on New Years Eve. Some of my best memories are here. But truthfully, the tug to go back to Chicago is always there. Just look at the adventure you get to take. If you face it that way you and the children can find your own memories there.
I am old now. But I do remember. Mom made a game out of it even as she cried on the inside. We left our grandparents in Oshkosh. That was the hardest part.
Best of luck to you and lucky you gets a new house to make your own. A new yard to make comfortable.
Bre says
Oh, Jody – thank you for this beautiful note! I’m sorry it took me so long to respond. I am grateful for this encouragement and your kind words. And yes, GO PACK GO! 🙂
Carrie from Ideas for the Home by Kenarry says
Oh Bre! You’re moving to the wrong side of the lake. Selfishly I wish you and your family were moving to Michigan instead of Wisconsin. I’m sure it’s nice on the “other side” too, but it would have been SO fun to have you in my area. I can totally see how this is a very exciting, frightening and sad change — bittersweet, for sure! You summed it up well with your Fresh Prince quote.
Stay positive and your kids will follow along with your good attitude eventually. (Although we moved to Michigan from Pennsylvania when my older brother was in second grade and he STILL has pangs of missing Pennsylvania almost 40 years later!!)
Onward and upward! May house hunting and house selling go smoothly! I can’t wait to see what you do with a new place.
Blessings to you and your family!
Carrie
Bre says
Carrie! Thank you thank you my friend!! I need the reminder to stay positive. This process is VERY difficult on me! I am not a fan of the home selling process at all, especially during a terrible market here in Chicago!
Hope to see you again sometime soon! xo
Carrie says
So sorry you’re moving, and hope Milwaukee welcomes you and makes you feel at home very soon! My idea to help your kids adjust is to ask around in the school, church, community about clubs that your kids are interested in or maybe already belong to currently (Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, athletics, etc). My experience with my own kids changing schools is to surround them with “like minded” kids…it makes it easier to adjust…hopefully! Speak positively about the change, and also allow the kids to know their feelings are normal! Good luck!
Bre says
Hi, Carrie – thank you so much!! These are such great ideas and I think you’re right that it will be important to keep them active and engaged during those early days up there. Thanks so much for the encouragement. 🙂
Seana Turner says
My daughter spent a summer in Milwaukee and loved it! There is so much to do there in the summer, lots of festivals. Wishing you a smooth move!
Bre says
Thanks, Seana!! Do you have any moving organization tips to share? 🙂
Bethany says
I live in Wauwatosa and absolutely love it. Have you checked out that area? Love what you did with the house!
Bre says
Hi, Bethany!! YAY! We’re neighbors! We ended up in Elm Grove (long story why) but LOVE Wauwatosa! You guys have the cutest downtown areas and it’s such a great community! 🙂