The Big Move

WOW - So we'll start with the move... it honestly seems like it was ages ago and it was just March 16th. But when I think back to our closing day and then when we actually moved into the house - WOW, it's almost hard to remember not living in this house!? Weird, huh? Or, maybe that's just my mind blocking out the year we spent in the apartment with two kids, two dogs and waaaay too much stuff! Hmmmmm..... Seriously, we are elated to finally be in the house and it's awesome having more room and a backyard - we are very blessed. And we are so blessed that so many of you have come to visit and we've even hosted a couple of meals already... we hope more of you will come over soon! So here's my attempt to re-cap the move...

Well, unlike the building process, the move happened so quickly. We had our walk through and were going to wait two weeks to close to let them finish everything up and then we decided that we wanted to just go ahead and close (even though we hadn't packed a single box yet) and get moved in before Spring Break! So we closed several days early and moved in on Sunday, March 16th. But then Preston, Evan and I were able to spend Spring Break in our jammies unpacking! My sweet husband was only able to take off one day because, of course, this move fell at the worst time.... tax season! Ugh! But after April 15th was over he took off more than a week and kept busy on my "honey do" list! Thank you, Dad! Thanks for all the painting and the hanging - and yes, for even painting a couple of rooms twice because I decided that wasn't exactly the color I wanted... what a husband.

So, thinking back to that glorious Sunday... what a day! We had movers move in the big stuff and decided that we'd take care of the "few little things" left in the apartment that we hadn't yet packed (okay, more than a little was not packed when the movers showed up!). It seemed like a few things, but then you pack a couple of boxes and look around and all the stuff has multiplied and it's still there! We couldn't believe that all of the "little stuff" left in the apartment filled the U-Haul twice!!! And we're talking about the big U-Haul, not the little trailer hitch that holds a large dog. But I'll tell you - as you can see from his face in a picture below, Preston was born to move - he loved every minute of it and was a GREAT help and I can't even tell you how much he loved that U-Haul... note to self, a good present for Preston this year... a ride in a U-Haul! Everytime he sees one now he reads what state it's from and remembers the good old U-Haul days. He and Evan were both such troopers with many very late nights and weird meal schedules and lots of hard work... I was so thankful to have these easy, breezy kids! Because, moving with a baby takes a little more effort for sure! You just have to sit back and realize that all the stuff in the boxes ain't going anywhere - it'll still be there!

So just when we got everything moved over from the apartment... we remembered, we still have more "little stuff" left in three storage units! Geez!!! Seriously, if I ever talk of moving again - please, please, slap me! Don't get me wrong, we are so thankful to have a warm home and I am so grateful for my very hard-working husband... but seriously, if we move again - everything is staying here and we'll just start fresh at the new place!!!

I was definitely made to relax once I realized that I was being foolish to think that I could have everything unpacked in a week! Really, Amanda.... just the bathrooms alone took forever it seemed like.... seriously, how many lotions do I need? Have you bought stock in Bath and Body Works?? You should! You don't realize you have "collected" so many things until you have to unpack them! And oh, how quickly you then starting chunking stuff! I mean, why did I pack this anyway? You get some perspective after a year in an apartment not living with these things! You realize you don't need them! Getting rid of stuff is so liberating!

And as I was feeling overwhelmed - without even mentioning it, some relief arrived... I don't think we were in the house two or three days before my dearest friend, Susan, came to help! She was such an angel and is truly my God-given sister. We are so thankful for our family of friends. In fact, we called Todd, Susan's husband, at the very last minute on the Saturday before our move and he was so willing to come help Erick load that U-Haul... we could have never done it without Todd or Susan - seriously! I am so thankful for their dependability and friendship!

So it took a little more than a week, but we are pretty settled in now - everything is unpacked and we are slowly painting rooms and decorating. It'll be a work-in-progress for a very long time I'm sure. But it's fun finding new places for things and decorating. We are enjoying getting to know our new home and making new memories as a family. Preston and Evan are just loving it! Evan finally has his own room - I have to admit I was a little sad to see him leave his pack-n-play at the bottom of our bed! But he loves his crib in his pirate room! And Preston is so proud of his "log cabin" room and immediately takes everyone to it when they come in the door. We found a wonderful artist who came and painted both of the boys' rooms. They are adorable. I know, I know... everyone keeps saying - update the blog, we want to see pictures of the house... well, guess what?!? The outside is all you're gonna get! If you want to see the inside you've gotta come visit! That's right... you have to come put up with us!

The last couple of months have really been some of the best in my life... I would definitely do it again. It has been a great adventure for our family and we look forward to many wonderful years in this house. My tales of woe are so insignificant. God is Good and God is Faithful.

Well, I know there is so much more to share, but I think I may need to wrap up this entry for the sake of already rambling on too long! Oh, did I say how much I am enjoying the now 60-second drive to Preston's school! Oh, yes! Especially with gas prices these days! It's fantastic!

Enjoy these few pics!! More to come soon...

Preston thought crashing into all the packing paper was a blast!


Evan and Daddy "working" with power tools to put his new crib together!


Here is Preston soooo proud to be riding with Daddy in the U-Haul!


And the first thing we moved in - Evan and his toys! Here's a birds-eye view of Evan enjoying his time playing while we moved in furniture.


And sweet Aunt Susan and Preston helping organize our clothes! I have never had such a beautiful and color-coordinated closet! It is fabulous - thanks to Susan!