Sooooooo

So.... We are getting ready to put our house on the market. It's a happy and sad feeling-mostly sad about all the money we are losing and the stress that moving puts on everyone in the family but mostly happy-secure in the knowledge that we are making the right choice.

This journey started for us back in October 09 when we went to visit an open house of Cincinnati Public School District magnet schools. It was an eye opening experience for us-all of a sudden we began to realize that there were other districts around us that could teach our children even better than "excellent" rated North. So we began to try to figure out the logistics-we looked around Hyde Park-the only area of CPS that we thought we could live in without worrying about crime. However, the houses in Hyde Park were much too expensive for us.

So the search began again-you see we had an idea of what school COULD be like and we wanted that for our boys. In my search I found two districts that were possibilities: Mason and Sycamore. I asked my in-laws to come stay with the boys for a few days so we could interview principals, tour schools, and talk to as many people as possible. In February we had a meeting with Zach's teacher that didn't go very well and it just solidified in our mind how much we really needed to find a new place for the boys. After the meeting with Zach's teacher we talked at length with the principal, we had concerns about the 5th-6th grade building and she recommended going and talking to the teachers there.

So in the middle of March with the kids taken care of Chris and I had a whirlwind 2 day schedule of tours and meeting in Mason, Sycamore, and Fairfield. Upon walking into one of the elementary schools in Sycamore we knew we had found the boys future school. In Montgomery and Blue Ash (both in Sycamore) they had sensory rooms with some of Aiden's favorite sensory swings/pressure machines-even a stationary bike if the kids just needed to get out some energy. Some hallways had "sensory stations" with activities the kids could do in the hall like wall push-ups, stretching, etc. Kids don't have to qualify for OT with a medical diagnosis like they do in Fairfield, they just need to need the service to learn to the best of their potential. (YAY!) We asked question after question and saw classroom after classroom and over and over again we were more and more impressed. They really practice what they preach-the school is set up for the benefit of the children, the schedule, the classroom, the hallways, everything is for the kids! Hallelujah!

Mason was also an awesome district but they are growing so fast the I know in a few years the district will be in trouble financially. Class sizes are already 26-27 for Kindergarten/first grade compared to a cap of 22 in Sycamore with most classes only having 20.

So once we decided that we were going to move to Sycamore and wanted either Montgomery or Blue Ash. We needed to look into the housing choices. Both towns are beautiful with older homes and mature trees but the houses in Blue Ash are more affordable for us and residents have said that they love it there so we are Blue Ash bound!

As for our house here, we plan to have it on the market a week from today. We are finishing painting and some packing this weekend and next week we will be getting new carpet on Monday and Tuesday. Friday we have stagers coming to stage the house and then it goes on the market as soon as they leave. It still seems impossible that our home will be ready in one week but I am determined to make our deadline and I've been working my tushie off to get there.

Wish me luck :)