the old neighborhood...

    Our first house was perfect...for us.  Once the children started to arrive, the quarters became more than a little cramped.  When we bought the house, school districts were the last thing on our minds.  So, as space became a premium, and two small toddlers started to get older, we started to look for a new place to live.  The sad part, we loved our old neighborhood.  We lived right behind the Smyrna village.  We were walking distance from several restaurants, the community center(free gym and cheap yoga and aerobics classes), and the city library.  It was very family friendly, and yet, some how the schools were not ranked well for the area.  We grew to love the city, and developed friendships that became more like family.  It was the house we brought both of our children home to for the first time.  We have very fond memories of our house and neighborhood, despite its small size and school districts.  After more than six months of searching with our incredibly patient realtor, we decided on the East Cobb area.  We found the perfect house, with plenty of space, room to grow, and in an awesome school district.  Even better, we could actually afford the house.  Poor Brandi had shown us homes all over the metro area as we searched for some where that felt like home.  We had a couple of years before the kids had to be in school, so we figured we had plenty of time.  I am sure she had no idea what she was in for with us.  She watched Molly start to walk, and listened as Colin became quite the talkative little guy. She became more than our agent, she became a friend.
      We love our new house.  We have so much space, that I frequently lose things, simply because there are so many places to hide things away.  Our neighbors are friendly and excited to see little ones out on the front porch.  Most of their kids are in high school or college.  There are restaurants within walking distance, all three schools are within a mile of our house.  The library is right around the corner as well.  But for some reason, it just isn't the same.  Not because of anything in particular, probably just because Smyrna was our first "home" together.  I love our new neighborhood, I love my new house, but I still miss our old home.  Yesterday, we went to have our taxes done at the local place in Smyrna that has been doing them for the last 8 years.  We played at our old playground, Mike entertained the kids at the library and let them play in the fountains in the city park. All while I sat in the tax office where three generations of the same family work together every year to do taxes for the people of Smyrna.  The kids had a blast, we drove around some of our old stomping grounds, and we are getting a tax refund.  It was great day all around.  Including the moment that Colin announced to the whole tax office that "Molly Stinks!"  And Molly chimes in with "Yeah Mommy, I pooped."  Ahhh, motherhood.  Of course, in this little office, the nice lady at the front desk just loved our kids, laughed at Molly's announcement, and told me all about her trip to the Aquarium with her great grandchildren.  I am pretty sure that wouldn't happen over here in East Cobb.  I could be wrong, but it just had more of a "small town" feel to it in Smyrna.
     Change...its never easy, but it is something we must all deal with on a daily basis.  Marietta is starting to feel like home.  We have met some very nice families over here.  We are branching out, and exploring our "new neighborhood."  After a year on this side of Cobb, there are things we still miss about Smyrna, but we are finding the things to love about our new home.  I will be forever grateful for Brandi's patience, as we searched for the perfect house, and now, it is our job to make this the perfect home for our children.

PS  I am incredibly grateful for our totally awesome friends and renters.  Thank you Connie and Laura for loving our house as much as we did.  It is so nice to know that "she" is with such incredible tenants.