Moving Out Day

It's Moving Out Day!!!

I put those exclamation points there to try and cheer myself up.

It's not working

I wish I could say it's moving day rather than moving out day, but reality is, we're not moving into another home. All our stuff is going to storage and we're moving in with my parents. God bless those two. Amen. Heaven help us all. Amen.

Our move in date, at this time, is December 9th. It cannot come fast enough. For all of us. Including my parents.

Since my last post, we've been busy. Friday was Big's last day of Kindergarten here in the city. He cried on the way home. Bawl is actually a more accurate term. When he first got in the car, all he said was, "Well, I'm feeling sad." I told him it was ok to be sad. Then, as we were pulling through the carpool lane, we passed his teacher. I stopped and rolled down the window. She came over and gave him a hug. Then, I rolled up the window and started to drive away. That was a big mistake. One of Big's classmates was waiting on the sidewalk at the very end of the carpool lane. I didn't notice her (and there was a long line of cars behind us) so I kept on driving. Big wanted to roll his window down and say goodbye to her, but didn't get the chance. That's when the floodgates opened.

We got home, and he showed me all his papers from school. His teacher and classmates made him a sweet card. He had stopped crying by that point and telling him he could put together some new Legos at Grammy's house was a motivation to get him out the door. My mom graciously took the boys to her house and Hubby showed up around supper time. We spent the evening getting the house ready for movers. The next day was spent cleaning and taking down the swing set.

Saturday evening we headed up to my parents' and joined the crew. My brother, his wife and kids were already there. Sunday, my sister and her husband came, and we took family pictures. Afterward, we enjoyed our Thanksgiving dinner. On Thanksgiving day this year, we'll be with Hubby's family.

Sunday evening, Hubby and I came back to the city to spend our last night in the house, as our moving crew was here at 8:00 a.m. Monday. Yesterday, they spent the day packing. Hubby and I stayed at a hotel last night and today they're moving everything out.

I'm in a state of denial. I don't want to leave this state. I like this state. I'm afraid of what state I'll be in once I leave.

So, to cheer me up, I'll leave with a picture of the boys. I love these kids, and I know this move is best for them. That's where I have to keep my focus, or I'll lose it.

A Sacred Moment

This is the boys' last night in this house. I just rocked Little to sleep for the very last time in his room. It was heart-wrenching and bittersweet. I wanted to savor every millisecond of it. It truly felt like a holy experience as I sat there thinking about how much I've grown up in that room.

Little's room has always been the nursery. It was Big's nursery when he was born and has been the baby in our family's room ever since.

I sat there wondering how many miles I've rocked in the glider in that room.

I wondered how many times I looked at that clock. We sure have a love-hate relationship, that clock and me.

I recalled my mom and my sister helping set up the room as the nursery when I was pregnant with Big.

I had flashbacks of hundreds of the middle of the night feedings. Sometimes Hubby would come with me and just sit on the floor as I fed and rocked one of the boys. He knew I needed the support and sometimes, that was our only time to have an actual conversation.

I thought about all the hours spent playing and having one-on-one time with each of the boys in that room.

I pondered how many thousands of pages of books have been read in there.

I remembered all the times I sat in that glider and cried because I was so tired, so overwhelmed, so worried, or so plagued with mommy-guilt I could barely breathe.

I pictured my swollen legs propped up on the footstool while rocking and trying to nurse my first newborn son. My thighs were the same size as my knees, which were the same size as my calves, which were the same size as my ankles. I was horrified looking down at the tree stumps that used to be my legs.

I thought about my MOPS friends and how I felt the touch of Heaven through those women. These early years of motherhood have been the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. No contest. Period. I can't even begin to count the number of times I have wanted to give up. MOPS saved me. And they saved my family.

I sat there and wanted to remember every nook and cranny of that room: the angle of the window in relation to the glider, the order and position of the baby farm animals on the wall around the crib, the books, the crib, the color of the Baby Bumblebee Yellow paint on the walls.

A house may just be sticks and stones, bricks and mortar, but my memories in this house are priceless and eternal. Although I've only lived in this house for seven and half years, as opposed to the 14 years I lived in my parents' current home, I feel as though this is the house in which I grew up. And that's for one simple reason: this is the house in which I became a mom.

4:50 a.m.

Need I say more?

Thankfully, this pretty much sums it up:  For the dog days

Small Town Life, Already?!

I just got back from Big's elementary because I had to fill out a withdrawal form. His last day is Friday. I absolutely cannot wrap my brain around that.

Anywho, I just got off the phone with his new elementary to inquire about enrollment. And wouldn't you know, I knew the secretary. She knows my husband and his family and we even considered buying her aunt's home. She was the one who showed it to us about a month ago.

Small world? No, just small town life. Everybody knows everybody. I know I grew up there, but I'm going to have to get used to this again.

5 hrs 47 min and counting

Um....

Where to begin?

I've been up since 4:30 this morning. Big deal to you? No? Are you a morning person? Do you have a reason to wake up at that hour every morning? Maybe you have a job and have to get up at that time. Maybe you exercise before going to work every day. Maybe you spend the early morning hours in prayer or meditation. Perhaps you're The Pioneer Woman and your husband owns a ranch, so you have to wake up at that hour.

I, however, have none of those reasons to be awake at 4:30 a.m. My reason, ohhhh, my precious, precious reason, is a child. A child, who shall remain nameless. A child that I grew in my womb and birthed. Me! My child! Me, who does not do well with waking up. I would say, to a degree, I'm a morning person. As I've said before, I'm not a procrastinator, so once I'm awake, I'm ready to go and get things accomplished. It's the actual waking up part that causes me grief.

As a child, my mother would wake us up by singing to us. What is it about moms that make them do that to their children? She would sing things like, "Good morning, good morning, good morning! It's time to rise and shine!" or "This is the Day" or something crazy like that. One day, I finally had enough. I couldn't take the cheerful singing anymore and asked my mom to stop. Her comeback was, "Would you rather me yell at you to wake you up?" I told her I would actually rather her yell, and so she did. Yelling in the first minutes of morning fits my mood so much better than singing. So from then on, once mom started yelling at me up the stairs to wake up, I was a happy camper. Or, as happy as I can be when first waking. Also, from that moment on, I vowed to never sing at my children to wake them. So far, so good.

Anyway, back to this child of mine. He, who shall remain nameless, loves to wake up early in the morning. He always has. Especially during his first year of life he went to bed early and woke up early, but not 4:30 in the morning early. I didn't mind him waking up because it was usually after 6:00 a.m., which is a much easier time to awake in the morning. I also didn't mind because he went to bed so darn early. For that fact alone, my heart skipped a beat every time I thought of this kid. You see, his brother, who shall remain nameless, has always been a night owl. He has always struggled with going to bed at a decent hour. It takes that boy hours to finally fall asleep. So, I was thankful to have a child who fell asleep easily and early.

But then it happened. This child of mine, who had such a wonderful sleep schedule started waking up every morning between 5:00 and 5:30 a.m. Did I emphasize that this happened every day?!!! For months and months!!!!! Just think of it! On second thought, don't think of it, or you might start to cry. It didn't matter what time we put him to bed, he still woke up that early. It didn't matter if he had one nap or two during the day, he still woke up that early. So what's a good mother to do? Well, if Hubby was awake and working out in the basement, a good mother marches down to the basement with said child and hands him off while she goes back upstairs to catch some shut eye. If Hubby isn't working out in the basement, a good mother marches downstairs to the living room with said child, turns on the TV and tries to catch some shut eye while the boy gets brainwashed by the screen. Or something.

Then, the moon aligned with Mars and the earth's tilt on its axis was just so, that said child began sleeping past 6:00 a.m. For about two months. Woohoo! Dream come true!

But, as the moon tends to do, it was just a phase. Sigh.

I was dreading the time change this fall. Dreading it! But once again, Pluto decided not to be a planet, so Neptune aligned with Venus, while Saturn's rings shone brighter and the time change somehow helped?

So thankfully, this morning was just a fluke. I'm praying. Begging. Pleading.

Regardless, I have a plan. And boy-oy-oy-OY am I sticking to it. When said child is a teenager, I'm going to set my alarm from 5:00 a.m. and wake him up. Not just wake him up, I plan on singing him awake! Bwaa ha ha ha haaa! Seriously, it's the only thing that gets me through these early mornings.

Please don't call child services. I really do love my boy. The end.

More Waiting

I'm trying not to get frustrated. Really, I am. But I have to admit that I'm beginning to struggle. Our inspection was Tuesday and we have yet to hear from the guy buying our house. That means we can't move forward with the house we want to buy.

The people who live in the house we want to buy aren't going to move out until things are settled with us. Who can blame them? They aren't at fault at all. In fact, they've been nothing but accommodating. They've even offered to move furniture out of one of the bedrooms so we can start working on that room. The house is old, I think eighty some years, and a few of the rooms still have plaster walls. So, that's one of the first items on our to-do list.

The longer we have to wait on our buyer, the longer it will be before we can finalize on our new house, which in turn, means it will be even later in December before we move in. God's timing is funny, isn't it? I would have never chosen to move in December. Who wants to mess with the holidays? I also would have never chosen to move in the middle of the school year with a child in school. But I've found that God likes to try and freak me out with His timing. Like the time Hubby's mom got cancer when we were planning our wedding. Or the time I didn't get a teaching job until July. Or Big being born in January - I was a teacher at the time, so summer babies we my plan.

Oh and just to spice things up a bit, we're all feeling under the weather. Little's had a cough for weeks now and it just keeps getting worse and worse. We're going to the pediatrician in about 15 minutes. Big started a runny nose yesterday. He has asthma, so any time he gets a runny nose, asthma issues ensue. And I've been feeling a bit under the weather for a week now. Such is life. As my mom always says, "This too shall pass."

I really want to post pictures of our new house, but I can't bring myself to do so until things are finalized. So be on the lookout! Once you see a picture, you'll know things are finally moving. Pun intended!

Since I can't post a picture of our house, I'll leave you with one of the boys. What, you may ask, are they doing? I have no idea. Golly, I love these kids!

Last Weekend

This is our last weekend in our house. I've realized that for some time now. But just awhile ago, it hit me, and I let it stink in. It is hard to imagine, honestly.

We'll try and take it in and savor it as much as possible. However, there is still much work to be done - like going to scope out paint colors and prioritize our list of what needs to be done at the new house before we move in. Oh yeah, and making decisions on flooring and getting that ordered! We're also still waiting to here what our buyer wants now that inspections are done. Man, it will be nice once this house is officially sold. I'm so grateful the process has gone as quickly as it has, though. We really have been blessed. In addition, we have to make a game plan for when the movers come to pack up all our stuff, and make sure we set aside all the items we don't want them taking.

Right now, the plan is for me and the boys to stay here this week. Also, hopefully this week, we'll close on both houses. The boys and I will head up north to our new stomping ground on Friday after Big gets out of school. Hubby will then join us at my parents's house (he's currently living with his parents). The week of Thanksgiving, the movers will come get all of our stuff and put it in storage while we work on our to-do list at the new place. We more than likely will have to live one more week with my parents as the to do list gets accomplished. And the movers are scheduled to bring our stuff to our new house the end of the first week in December.

Christmas decorating and shopping, Christmas letter writing and card mailing have to fit in somewhere. As well as getting Big all set and ready to go to his new school right after Thanksgiving. I'm getting overwhelmed just thinking of it all. But it will get done, and I know the Christmas things can wait. I'm just not a procrastinator. It just isn't in me. Ask Hubby. It drives him crazy!!!

But like I said, we'll cherish this last weekend in the city. We'll probably eat take-out for almost every meal - a luxury that we'll soon have to give up. And of course, we'll have Batman night tonight. It's our Saturday night tradition, and one that we all love.

We don't have cable, satellite, a dish, etc. We have the good old trusty bunny ears. And on one the antenna TV stations, every Saturday night from 6:00 to 7:00 they show the old Adam West Batman show. As you know, my life is little boys. And as you know, the life of little boys is super heroes. While watching Batman, we have a picnic in the living room. It has become a tradition that we all cherish. I hope we'll be ale to continue this once we move, but we will shall see what's on TV in the area.

For now, I'm off to Lowe's to look at paint colors!

Plights of a Mother - Episode 1

One night, at dinner, as I notice Big making a strange face he says, "There's a piece of carrot stuck in my molar hole."

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

While I'm using the restroom, which is right by our kitchen, Little walks into the kitchen. Since the kitchen is where I usually am, he immediately begins talking to me, assuming I'm there, without even looking. Once he realizes I'm not there, his immediate response is to yell like his life depended on it. Because, you know, Mommy just magically appears when I yell.
Case in point: "Mommy, can you......MuhOOOOOOOOOMMMMYYY!"

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Since my boys are resembling tornadoes more than children this morning, I seriously cannot remember if I ate breakfast. I'm feeling hungry, so I'm assuming not. Bring on the Dr. Pepper, a slice of cold pizza and a granola bar. Breakfast of Champions, baby.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Big: "Mommy, can we play with the tape?"

Me:  "Yes, please! Play with tape. I know that you'll use the entire roll. I know that I'll find it in all sorts of interesting and creative places once you're done. I know you'll put tape all over yourself and your brother. But if it will keep you occupied for longer than five minutes, PLEASE PLAY WITH THE TAAAAAPE!!!"

Ok, maybe that's what I said only in my head. My real answer was a simple, "Yes!"

Monday was Marvelous

My Monday was marvelously mediocre.

Just kidding, my day was better than mediocre, but I just love a good alliteration.

The boys and I ran some errands. The ease and short time span with which I am able to run errands while living in the city is something I'm really going to miss once we move. Need to go to the bank, post office and Target? No problem. We did all those things, and even picked up some Chick-fil-A for lunch within an hour time frame, which was marvelous. Once we move, it will take me an hour just to drive to Target or Chick-fil-A, which will make me a bit melancholy.

While Big was at school, Little and I took a nap, which was marvelous.

Then, I went out for Mexican with my MOPS steering team as a farewell celebration, which was marvelous, but man will my heart ache for those girls (and that Mexican restaurant) once I'm gone.

So far, Tuesday has been testing. Our inspection is today, and I need to get some things done around the house. My two boys are proving to make accomplishing my to-do list quite challenging. Little has already peed on the carpet in our master closet. Terrific.

So Tuesday leaves me thankful for T.V. God bless PBS. Amen.

Supper was a little salty tonight.

During the last month, I guess you could say I've been on an emotional roller coaster. In fact, I can guarantee that you could say that. Today was one of those emotional days. The next phase in this move began. Hubby went to live with his parents while the boys and I hold the fort down back here. He starts his new job tomorrow and we'll be joining him in a couple of weeks. He left right before supper. I cried. Hence the name of this post.

I suppose it won't be all the different than when he would travel for his previous jobs. Except for the fact that Big is now in Kindergarten and is counting down the days until his last day there. He's a bit sad. And I have literally almost nothing on the schedule because we've said goodbye to almost everyone and have departed from all our involvements. And I'm going to be kicked out of the house with the boys so it can be inspected on Tuesday. And most of the boys' toys have been packed away. Oh, and Hubby is living with his parents. But I'm trying to pretend that this is just a normal business trip. I like normal and keeping things as normal as possible really helps me cope. I hope it works for the boys as well. Tomorrow Big and I are going to make a chain to count down the number of days until we move to be with Hubby.

Side note: Making a chain out of construction paper links is a great way to help kids understand the passing of time. This has helped Big a lot with counting down the days until holidays, trips, visitors, etc. And it keeps me sane because I don't have to constantly hear, "How many days until....?" because he can just count the number of links left on the chain. It not only keeps me sane and helps them understand the passing of time, but is a great way to practice various skills. They can practice counting, subtracting one, cutting, creating patterns out of the colors of paper used, and practice writing their numbers.

Thank you for indulging me. Sometimes the elementary teacher from my former life likes to come out and play. But I digress...

We went to Nebraska Furniture Mart yesterday to begin looking at some flooring. There is so much we want to do to our new house, but we're going to try to pace ourselves. Odds are, this will be our forever house, so we don't have to get it all done right away. Thanks to Pinterest, I felt somewhat prepared.

So what's next on the agenda? Tomorrow our "new" house is being inspected. Tuesday, our current house is being inspected. Hopefully, by sometime next week, we'll be closed on both. Amen that would be heavenly.

Hubby made a video of the boys giving a "tour" of our current home so that we can always remember it. It is about 45 minutes long. Not kidding. It is the cutest thing you've ever seen. I would post it on here, but really, it is too long. You can only imagine what sort of shenanigans goes on with a five and two year old little boy giving the tour.

Well, I'm off to start my Christmas lists. I know, I know. You don't have to tell me. But with the move and crazy schedule we've got coming up, I seriously need to start now. Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

Unemployed

Yesterday was Hubby's last day at his current job. He is now unemployed until Monday, which means we have no health insurance until Monday. (Praise Jesus that medical coverage begins the first day of employment!!!) Which means, someone will inevitably get sick over the weekend.

He is at Big's elementary school right now doing the Watch D.O.G.S. (Dads Of Great Students) program. I'm sure they're having a ball. I'm at home with Little. He's napping - but since I'm trying to post I'm sure he'll wake up any minute now - and I've been cleaning. But, then I got distracted by Pinterest. I'm just so excited to have a new place to make into our home. There is a very good chance that this new house could be the one Hubby and I live in until we die. So, we better make it how we want it.

Thankfully, my sister has very good taste and I've already started emailing her my ideas. Boy, is she going to get sick of me! But, we're sisters and best friends, so she'll just have to deal with it.

In other news, our house will be inspected on Tuesday and the house we're planning on buying will be inspected next week, as well. Yea for progress!

Yesterday was the first day we didn't have any showings. I was so thankful. It is hard keeping the house ready to show people with two little male humans around. It has been nice to just let them be boys.

Well, I"m off to enjoy my last few moments of peace and quiet before Little wakes up. If you don't hear from me in a few days, I've probably been eaten alive by Pinterest.

Patient Progress

We were pleased with the appraisals and found a Realtor we like. The house went on the market on Halloween and we started showing the house on Friday. It was a rainy, dreary, crazy few days. We worked our tails off. Many thanks to our parents who helped out tremendously and thank you to our sisters for watching the boys.

Prepping for the first showing was the hardest. It was physical, mental and emotional. I didn't think I'd get it all done, and technically, I didn't. But, I did accomplish "good enough" and that is all for which I could hope. I started crying right before the showing. Our Big boy comforted me. He told me I shouldn't be sad because us moving would mean I'd get to live closer to my mom and dad. He was right. I told him I wasn't necessarily sad, just thankful and overwhelmed. This house truly became our home. It was the first home Hubby and I lived in together. It is where we brought each of the boys home from the hospital. There are so many incredible memories here.

But I seem to be over that emotional valley. We accepted an offer for the house on Monday! Isn't the just incredible? Now we just need to get the ball rolling to actually move out of this place.

It appears Hubby and I have decided on the house we want to purchase. So, there is progress, but still an overwhelming amount of unknowns. We need to get our house inspected and finalize negotiations. We need to get our "new" house inspected and finalize negotiations. We need to figure out when to close both houses and figure out the timing. We have a moving company moving us, which we have to schedule three weeks in advance, but we don't know when we want them here. Our buyer wants to close Dec. 5th - which we agreed to - so we know we have to have our stuff out by then. However, the house we want to buy needs some work done. Do we store our stuff for awhile and live with our parents which we work on the house? Oh, and to further complicate things, Hubby has to travel to Michigan for work for two weeks right before Christmas. Heaven help us.

And although I may not be in an emotional valley right now, surprisingly, (Note to self: Don't go back and read the above paragraph) our Big boy is in a bit of a valley. Last night he cried at bedtime about Hubby moving before us to start his new job. Then, he started crying about leaving his school. Breaks this Momma's heart.

We can do this. I know we can. One day at a time. One day at a time.

Hurry up and wait!

That's pretty much our mantra around here. Hubby got the job two weeks ago now and I don't feel like I know any more information about our move now than I did two weeks ago. Currently, his start date is November 11th. Originally, it was November 4th. Thankfully, they are relocating us. Thankfully, they are hiring movers to come pack our house and move it for us. However, several things needed to happen before we could know exactly what our relocation package is. And although all those things are done, we're still waiting. Hubby and I didn't exactly think they could expect him to start working there so soon without providing us any information about relocating our family.

We did receive some information yesterday, but tomorrow at 1:30 is when we should (hopefully) get all our questions answered. And although we can't put our current house on the market (yet) and we don't know if we're going to rent or buy a new home, we're trying to get as much done in preparation for the move as possible. In fact, the whole family is involved....see??

Big brother made this last night as I was making dinner. He was sitting at the table and kept asking me how to spell words.

In case you can't tell, he wrote are house is for sale. The color (and then he colored a brown blob) and then House #16611

He read it to me and said, "When we're driving to our new house, I'm going to hold this out of the window of our car." Gosh I love that kid.

See, each member of the family is doing his part to make this move happen.

Friday, our house is being appraised. We still need another appraisal and then hopefully we can get this thing on the market.

Post Script: I wrote this over a week ago now. We got so busy getting everything ready to put the house on the market that I literally didn't have any time to finish this post and publish it.