Quick trip to NC

Last weekend Nate and I dropped our kids off at our good friend's house and took a trip to North Carolina so we could do some house hunting before we moved out there. However, we ended up finding a place through Craigslist and signed a contract before we even headed out there. Since our trip was already booked, we decided to go anyway to visit the campus, see where we were going to live, and also pick up a car that we bought online (I know, we're crazy!).

I have really struggled the past 2.5 years only having 1 car. It's hard having kids and staying at home and just feeling "stuck". Grocery shopping, running errands, doctors appointments, play group or anything social would all require me to use the car. Not that I never had it, but it would take Nate finding a ride to work, or me taking him. Just a pain. So, we decided it was time for us to upgrade in that department.

Thursday evening when we flew in, we went straight to go pick up our new (to us) van. Since we bought it online, I was a little nervous to finally see it but it turned out to be even better than we expected!!! It has Stow-N-Go (awesome!), and has a TV for road trips, automatic doors, trunk, seats, etc. Everything is in really great condition and it drives really well! We were SOO pleased with it! I actually thought it was funny because 2 separate people came up to us while we were out there and said "That is a really nice car you have there!" Which, I agree it's a nice van, but it's also just a van. I don't know, I just never look at a van and say "Wow, that's a really nice car!". It made me feel like we were driving a fancy sports car! It was pretty funny :)

Anyway, here it is...

The next day we went to visit Duke's campus. It was way bigger than we expected and it was just BEAUTIFUL! The landscaping was gorgeous and they had some beautiful buildings. I think the most beautiful of all was the Duke Chapel (I don't know if that is the official name) pictured below.

We didn't have too much time but we definitely wanted to go by the Fuqua School of Business (where Nate will be attending) and check out his building. Here's one of the classroom's we checked out...

I think they called this the Hall of Flags. If not, it seems appropriate. They even had a flag for The Latter-Day Saints!

Nate is SOO excited to start school again. He LOVES school (weirdo) and I think he will just feel like he is right in his element. To be honest, I'm a little jealous. I would love to go back as well.

The next morning we were able to go see the house we already signed a 2 year contract with :) We LOVED it and I can't wait to finally live in a HOUSE and to have a private backyard! I am definitely over the apartment living/shared walls/small space phase of our lives.

We LOVED North Carolina. It is beautiful there and everyone is so dang nice! We definitely experienced some great southern hospitality! We were also able to visit Duke's Gardens (which was gorgeous), go see 2 movies, have a romantic dinner, and just get the last time to ourselves before we start our crazy life as students again.

We are definitely ready and excited to start this next chapter in our lives but we are also really going to miss Chicago and the friends we have made here. Moving is always so bitter-sweet.