we finally have internet!

We made it to Montana, successfully bought our new house, our stuff got delivered (a week late and almost not at all, but that's another post for another day), Rose started kindergarten, and Mike and I both started work (as a homesteader and a psychologist, respectively).  Whew! It's been a whirlwind. Obviously many more blog posts are in order, and eventually I'll get them posted here and/or at https://midlifemovetomontana.blogspot.com. But in the meantime, here are some pictures!

Good bye to our old house in Minnesota!

We stopped to visit Mike's grandparents in North Dakota. I'm so glad we did, because his grandfather passed away just a couple days after we left. We weren't able to make it to the funeral, but I'll always cherish those last memories of Rose with Grandpa Borho.

Rose on a combine (not a tractor)

Then we finally made it to Great Falls! We spent a couple nights at a hotel before we were able to close on our new house. Doug and I had some great morning walks by the Missouri River.

After we closed on our house, we made a massive trip to Costco to restock!

And here's our house! This is the view from the "back driveway" (which is technically not on our property, but historically the neighbors had let the previous owners use it since it's so much nicer than our real driveway).

Here's the start of the real ("front") driveway. Before we had internet service at home, we would walk down this driveway a couple times a day to get reception on "cell phone rock."

Cell phone rock

It has been INCREDIBLY smoky here from all the fires to the west and south of us. We are all praying for some rain (no lightning) soon.  Despite the smoke, we have still had some beautiful sunrises and sunsets!

We celebrated our 14th anniversary in our new house!

On our of our trips to Helena (about 45 min to the south - we are equidistant from Helena to the south and Great Falls to the north) we went out to dinner and happened to meet Miss Montana. A real princess! Rose was obviously thrilled.

As already mentioned, our stuff arrived a week later than expected. And they actually had to send it up on two trucks! (It's a little shocking and embarrassing how much stuff we own.)  Here are the trucks in the front driveway and the back driveway. 

As we unpacked, Rose enjoyed playing around. Here she is dressing up in some old curtains. (I'll do some more "before" and "after" pictures of the interior once we're a little more unpacked/organized.)

I bought myself a label maker, and it was the best gift I've ever given myself! I had so much fun once we finally got unpacked enough that we could start organizing things!!

And the most exciting news of all is that Rose started kindergarten!!!! In just three days of classes she already seems older and wiser. She is thriving so far!

We went in person to register her the week before classes started.

Waiting for the bus on Day One!

Mike and I were both so excited for her to start school, but we both started bawling after the bus pulled away. What a monumental milestone!!

Well, that's a quick overview of what we've been up to recently. Thanks to all who have sent emails, cards and/or texts - now that we finally have internet, hopefully we can stay more connected!