We’re moving

It’s officially time to share the news – we’re moving!

We’re moving

I’ve been meaning to write this post for quite some time, but to be honest, I’ve been putting it off. Typing and publishing this post somehow makes this move feel more real. I have so many mixed emotions about our decision to move. Although I’m excited to begin this next chapter, I’m also heartbroken to be leaving our farmhouse.

Ben and I experienced quite a few “firsts” in this house. It’s where we got married, designed and remodeled our farmhouse, and started a family. Our babies had their first baths in our farmhouse kitchen sink, and took their first steps on these floors. It’s where we learned the true meaning of new parent sleep deprivation. This home is where we developed new holiday traditions, and where we celebrated our kids’ first birthdays. We created so many memories together as a family within these walls, and it makes me so sad to leave it behind.

This farmhouse is where we made our homesteading dreams a reality. It’s where we built the most darling chicken coop ever. Our little farm taught us how to raise goats and chickens, how to grow our own food, and even how to delivery baby goats. So why are we leaving? Perhaps I’ll simply start from the beginning.

… and don’t worry, even though we’re moving, the animals are coming with.

Moving to the farm

When we made the decision to move to the family farm about 4ish years ago, it was filled with so much hope and excitement for the future. And a whole lot of fear. To be honest, I didn’t initially want to move to the farm. 1.25 acres seemed like A LOT of land to me, and seeing as we had zero plans of starting a backyard farm, it seemed unnecessary.

But Ben had a dream of moving to the family farm, so when his grandmother unexpectedly passed away, we made a deal. If I was unhappy with the move within a few years, then we would move back into town. Fast forward a few years and we’ve decided that we’re moving… but for a completely different reason.

I can’t imagine going back to city life. Collecting eggs, milking goats, and planting a garden are just a few of our favorite things. I love raising our kids with the values of simple living. I’m so grateful that Ben encouraged me to move to the family farm, but now it’s time for the next step.

Our remodel

When Ben and I got pregnant a few months after getting married, we realized that we needed to expedite our remodeling plans. Ben and his dad literally poured every ounce of themselves into this house. We planned to make this house our forever home, so we accounted for every single detail. Ben and Brian completely remodeled our farmhouse by working long hours every night and weekend, and somehow managed to finish before I delivered Finley (two weeks early!)

I remember our first night in our farmhouse. I was SUPER pregnant, and I felt like I could finally take a sigh of relief. This was it – our forever home. But now here we are, about to embark on moving again … but with 2 kids, 2 dogs, and 26 farm animals.

I think we’re crazy.

We’re moving

Ben and I have been entertaining the idea of moving for the last year or so. We hoped to purchase part of the family farm surrounding our 1.25 acres, but it unfortunately wasn’t an option.

If you live in Chicagoland, then you may already know that it’s nearly impossible to find acreage at an affordable price point. We love our current location, and we ideally wanted to stay in the same general location. When we started our home search, the vast majority of the properties were located far away and priced too high for the amount of work needed. Seeing as we love our house, we didn’t want to simply “move to move”, but we also wanted to keep our options open.

…and then we found our dream house.

1800’s farmhouse

When Ben and I saw the listing for the new house, we were in awe. For months, we searched for a farmette with an old farmhouse… but it just didn’t exist. Until this house.

Within seconds of stepping foot on the property, Ben and I knew that this was it. The 1800’s farmhouse was everything and more than we’ve been searching for. The house was filled with so much charm – original woodwork, wood burning stove, Dutch doors, built ins, and so much more. The property was pure perfection – old barns, rolling hills, and the perfect location. We immediately put in an offer, and we were shocked when the sellers accepted.

There’s one catch – due to reassessment issues with the county, we can’t close on the new property until sometime around March. That’s about 6 months after we close on our current house. So what’s the plan for our little family and homestead in the meantime?

That’s a good question… for another post.

Family photos: Red Maple Photography