We're Texans!!! (but we still root for the Ducks and Blazers)

So a lot has happened to our family since we last posted. In fact, that is an understatement! Kevin and I flew to Austin in June for his interview with Apple. I realize it’s easy to say this in retrospect, but I had a good feeling about Texas. I NEVER would have imagined being able to say, “I live in Texas,” in a million years. Go figure. We didn’t need me to come along, really, but if Kevin were to get the job, having a chance to check out schools, neighborhoods, etc. might prove invaluable.

We absolutely loved Austin! I kind of wished someone could have “beamed” me my kids so I wouldn’t have to leave. Kevin felt the same way. Well, the waiting began after this point. It took another 3-4 weeks before Kevin had an offer, and another week before he got a start date. 8/9/10, isn’t that cute? In the end, the interview process lasted four months and included 24 rounds of interviews. With Kevin so excited to work for Apple this period was pretty agonizing for him. Well, frankly for the rest of us, too.

Kevin’s new position is a supply chain position. This is area he has been interested in ever since his brother Steve began doing similar work a few years ago. Kevin focused his studies during his MBA on operations, supply chain management, and sustainability with the intention of doing exactly this type of work; So his new position is right in line with his interests. His title is iPod Tactical Planner and he is part of the Supply/Demand Execution team in Austin. Kevin is the Tactical Planner for the iPod Touch, Classic, and Shuffle for North and South America. He is thrilled with his new position and so far really enjoys the people he works with.

Getting out of Oregon was not an easy task, however. Those around us know what a feat that was. We NEVER could have done it without the help of family and friends. In particular, Sara and Noah went above and beyond to help us every day. The emotional ties were especially difficult to deal with, as we realized we have lived practically all our lives in the Northwest, with pretty much all the family nearby, too. To have a job, though, is the biggest relief. It makes everything we went through to send Kevin to school suddenly worth it, tenfold.

Kevin left alone early on Thursday, August 5^th. The kids were asleep and we were both in a daze, I think. It happened so fast at the end. We were probably in denial a little bit. Family and friends helped load and finish the stuff I never managed to pack. HUGE kudos out to Bruce and Steve for orchestrating what the movers in Austin later termed, “The best packing job we’ve ever seen by regular people. Did y’all seriously pack that yourselves?” Yep. 5 hours to pack, 11 hours to unload, (spread over one day and one morning.) Before you think, gosh, that must have been awful, let me assure you . . . it was a trifling 106 degrees that day. With a nice “cool” breeze. Ugh.

Well, more on our early Austin adventures next time . . .