Peyton's Place: Headin' Out West

After nearly 9 years living as "east coasters," Martin, Peyton, and I are back in the southwest. Apologies in advance for the long post, but the entire process of us coming home deserves some special attention, and it's certainly something I want Peyton to read about later in life (and that, afterall, is the whole purpose of this blog).

April 26, 2011
Martin, about one week shy of "eligibility" for applying for transfers, sees a job opening in Phoenix. For the next two weeks, he works tirelessly on his application. The weight of our family moving back home rests solely on his shoulders. As his submits his paperwork, we cross our fingers that few people apply for the position.

May 10, 2011
The Phoenix job posting is officially closed...and although we had hoped only 2 or 3 other people applied, a whopping 10 people with varying levels of experience submit an application. The job is not in Martin's area of expertise, and we hear rumors that several candidates are more senior than him. We resign ourselves to the fact that this is not meant to be our chance, and try to move on.

May 30, 2011
While traveling to Kentucky for work, Martin hears a rumor that he was to be awarded the position. While his source was reliable, the position would not be formally awarded until early July when a board would convene to make a final decision, and we are cautious to get our hopes up. I however, begin a serious networking expedition in hopes of finding some leads on a job for myself. We learn shortly thereafter that the national selection won't take place until July 6. We have more than one month to wait to know if we'll be going home.

June 3, 2011
I receive a phone call from a friend saying he knows of a great job opportunity for me in Phoenix. That call is immediately followed by a recruiter, who asks if I can fly out to Arizona the following week for an interview.

June 13, 2011
I interview at the Arizona Commerce Authority for the Director of Communications position. Although I feel the conversation goes well, I inform them that I am not 100% that our transfer is happening, and I need to wait several weeks before committing to anything.

June 15, 2011
The ACA offers me the position. I accept, contingent on my husband getting the transfer. I map out a schedule of house chores that need to be done in case we need to sell the house.

July 6, 2011
D-day arrives. We've told only a handful of friends and family about the potential move, in fear we will be disappointed, and we don't want to jinx ourselves. We expect to hear news around noon. Nada. Maybe one? Nada. Two? Nope. Finally, at 3pm, I receive a text from Martin saying "GOOD news...I got the job."

And with that, the two+ month process of quitting jobs, starting new jobs, commuting from DC to AZ for two months, getting our house ready for sale, visiting Phoenix on a ten day "house hunting" trip, selling the DC house, coordinating packers, movers, car shippers, flights, hotels, temporary housing, and all the other nonsense that goes with moving a family of three across the country commenced. And while we were thrilled to be moving back home to the warm weather, our friends, our family, and a place we truly feel we can raise our daughter, we also counted down the days until we had to say goodbye to some very good friends. For as much as we wanted to go, we didn't want to say goodbye.

For the rest of the story, I think I'll let the pictures do the talking.

Martin adds drawer and cabinet knobs to the kitchen in an effort to squeeze every penny out of the listing price.

In addition to the kitchen update, we redid the backyard landscaping, retouched paint and cleaned like maniacs.

I also replaced my fancy schamcy dining room chandelier with this one, along with Peyton's crystal chandelier in her bedroom. No way were the new owners getting those!

Our house is officially on the market. And now we wait for a willing buyer.

Meantime, Peyton bear gets used to life in sunny Scottsdale, lounging in Grandma and Grandpa's pool during our two week house hunting trip.

"I could get used to this lifestyle!"

It doesn't take long for PK Drama to adapt to the Scottsdale way of life.

Peyton also becomes best buddies with her cousin Scott. Little does he know she is just using him for his cool backyard swing.

After two weeks away, Peyton and Amber are reunited.

Shortly after our return to DC, a 5.8 magnitude earthquake hits...as if to say we aren't welcome. This is the worst of the damage.

This photograph depicts some disturbed picture frames after a rare earthquake hit DC. Also in the photo are an anxious bed and two unhappy lamps. Not pictured is the angry chair.