We're here, ya'll.

Sorry I haven't posted sooner -- it's been a non-stop whirlwind. We got in around 2:30 Saturday, went in to check the house out and turn the air up (the owners vacated Aug 1 so left the air at 88 degrees), then walked across the street to have a late lunch at Magnolia Cafe, where apparently one has to be on a wait list at 3:00 in the afternoon : ) Then it was unloading the UHaul, returning the UHaul, grocery shopping at the Flagship Wholefoods (which is a tourist attraction in itself), Costco and unpacking and more unpacking. I didn't feel like we brought that much, especially since we left so much behind, but it has been - and still is - taking a while to find places for things and get the boxes out of the way.

I haven't been much outside, but we've done some driving around to check out the neighborhood and drive by Morgan's school. Our location in amazing - we can literally throw a rock at Magnolia Cafe, which is at the end of the South Congress strip of restaurants & shops. So from there, we can walk a mile to our left and have tons of places to go to. We are south of downtown and UT, but it's only like a 5-10 min drive. Austin feels very eclectic, youthful, health-conscience and full of polite drivers. Everyone seems to be in a good mood, even the guy working at the gas station.

Our first impressions of the house was that it was quirky but charming. The moldings, paneled doors, high ceilings and original hardwood floors remind me of San Francisco architecture. The decor is bohemian with a 60's flair. It reminds me of my Grandma Joe Bear's old house. Not really our style, but we knew that going in - it was the location that we were really going after. Since the owners have been away, it was pretty dusty and we noticed a lot of cobwebs on the floor, etc which of course is at Dean's eye level. As soon as we got in yesterday, we called to have people come clean for today (Sunday). There were two nice ladies who did a good job. At one point, they called me in alarm to a room they were cleaning in the front of the house and said they had found a rattlesnake tail under the TV. We all looked at each other in fear that there was a snake in the house. (Thankfully Ed was not here when this happened or he would've flipped out as he is scared of snakes. Sharks first. Snakes second). I called up the owner and asked if he collected rattlesnake tails and he said he once wrote an article about a rattlesnake hunter and the man had given him one as a souvenir. HUGE sigh of relief.

Well, tomorrow is Morgan's first day at school. He'll have 2 short transitional days, then his first full day on Wednesday. I'll send more pictures of the house soon.