Making a House a Home

We've been in the house exactly a month.  Things are finally coming together.  All the big things are done, most of the furniture has arrived, the boxes are unpacked, we have had lots of visitors, but it still doesn't feel like home.

The week right after we moved I had to make a trip to the old house to return a microwave that was apparently written into the agreement and we took it in error.  I dreaded going there. I was scared that it would make me sad or even upset that someone was living in our house.  The funny thing is I didn't feel a thing.  It didn't make me sad or upset, I was actually happy to have met the new family and tell her in person how much we loved the house and how we only moved a few blocks away because we love the area.

I got in my car to drive away and I saw Grady's BFF shooting hoops on his driveway by himself.  It pulled at my heart strings.  Grady should be outside playing with him.  That made me sad.  I don't miss the house, I miss our community.  I miss knowing my neighbors and waving as they drive by.  I miss the kids running through the yards barging into our house.  I've known the neighborhood kids since they were wee little ones and I love each one like an extra child. I miss that.

Fortunately, we've met our neighbors on both sides of our new house and I see potential.  I keep reminding myself that those relationships don't develop over night  We've had both families over for drinks and see them often playing in the field behind our home.  I know that over time these new families will be a part of our lives like the old ones were.

I don't like change.

I never have. Sometimes I can't believe we actually moved.  We looked for 2 years and every time we found a house I liked there was a small part of me that was relieved when James found something wrong with it.  I wanted to move, but I was scared.  I still remember when we were negotiating for this house and we were $5k apart.  James put a counter offer to split the difference and I remember being terrified that they would take it.  I was scared of change.

My mom will tell you that when I was growing up I kept my room the exact same way.  I always had the same trinkets in the exact same spot on my end table.  From the childhood home, though university and finally when I moved to Calgary.  Always the same.

I'm not sure what I expected. Moving is a big deal.  It isn't just a physical job, but also an emotional one.  When we moved, we chose to get rid of most of our existing furniture since it predated Grady, it was time.  So along with a new home, we also got all new furniture.  While I love what we picked out, it feels like we are living in some one else's house.  Everything is new and different.

What can I do to make it feel like home?

I've tried having our friends over, I've started putting our pictures up on the wall, but truthfully I am out of ideas.  After living in a house for 13 years, maybe it is unrealistic to think that that new house will feel like home after only a month.

Maybe it just takes time.

Maybe as we celebrate more holidays and go through the seasons it feel feel more like home.  Maybe we need to spend more evenings at home as a family because lord knows those have been few and far between this spring.  Maybe life just needs to slow down so we can appreciate our surroundings.

I am proud of the kids.

The kids haven't talked about the old house once.  Not once.  They've embraced the move and are proud of their new home.   I could learn a thing or two from them.

All this to say that we are still settling in.  I still love the house and am confident that we made the decision but I need to work on relaxing in our new space.  Slowing down to read a book on the deck with a beer instead of checking things off the to do list.  I need to remember that moving takes time and things can't be perfect right away.  I should take the time to enjoy the house and being a family in it.

We plan to live here longer than we did our last house so we have ample time to make memories and turn the house into a home.  It will come.   I am confident it will come.

We certainly aren't moving again, so it has to....

Little Black Dress

What??  A fashion post? On this blog??  That is how much I love my new little black dress from Carina in Vegas.  It gets it whole post.

This cute little boutique was recommended to my by Andrea since she was in Vegas earlier this year and had tremendous success there.  Stacey and I made a special trip to Caesars palace to check out this store, and so the boys could play poker.  For the record, James won $150 dollars which almost paid for the dress....  I would never have walked into the store with out the recommendation and I tried to find a link to the website but it doesn't even have one!  Once inside I found so many items that I loved.  It is a touch on the pricey side, especially if you are Canadian, so I held myself back to 2 items.

The first item that caught my eye was this dress.

In the back of my mind I was looking for a dress to wear to a friends wedding the following weekend and I like to choose multi use dresses if I can. Meaning I can wear it to a wedding, on vacation and hopefully to work.  I thought this one fit the bill.

  

Picture it with sparkly shoes, purse and jewelry and bam, it becomes wedding attire.  With a jean jacket I can wear it on vacation.  Not sure if I could pull it off for work, but 2 out of 3 ain't bad!

I had already changed back into my clothes when the sales lade said I needed to try on this black dress.  She said it is nothing much on the hanger but that it looks good on everyone.  Since I was still waiting for Stacey I thought, what the heck, I'll give it a try.  I am certainly glad I did.

 

Things I love about this dress:

1. The pockets!  Who doesn't' love a dress up dress with pockets??

2.  The long zipper up the front.  No asking your husband to unzip you at the end of the night to get out of your dress.

3.  The hemline.  I can't remember what it is called but it is unique and adds a little volume to the dress.

4.  Its classic. I will be wearing this bad boy for years to come.

5.  The collar.  This is my absolute fave part.  It is very rigid and bendable which makes it stand up a bit.  I chose not to wear a necklace with it since the collar is such a statement piece. I wanted to let it shine.

Here is the final outfit right before we left for the wedding.  I think its a keeper. 

 

 And while we are talking about this outfit... notice I curled my hair.  It is finally long enough after years of being too short so I thought I'd give it a try.  I came downstairs and after about 5 minutes I asked the kids if they noticed that I curled my hair and they both said they did.  I asked what they thought and Grady quickly told me that it didn't look that great.  He likes my other hair better.  Thanks for the honestly little dude.  Note to self, need to work on things not to say to woman.

An InLinkz Link-up

Interview with Grady - Age 9

We spent the weekend celebrating Grady!  While I took lots of great pictures on the 'real' camera, they are stranded there until the computer desk gets sets up.  It's been 10 days since it arrived and it is still in a box in the garage.  Fingers crossed that it happens soon.  

Each year I ask the kids the same set of questions to see how their answers change  some years they don't change at all and others, like this year, the differences are huge.  Let's get started.

Who is your best friend? Alex, Jayden and Ben.  This year you've added 2 new friends to our list of BFFs.  I still think that Alex is your number 1 it isn't a bad thing to have more than 1!

What is your favorite animal? Polar bear because I was studying it at school.  After years and years of hippos being his fave...

Whats your favorite subject at school? Art because I just really like it.  Glad to hear he hasn't lost his love for art.

What do you want to be when you grow-up? Engineer, I don't know why, I just want to.  This is better than other years when he chooses or hockey player or when his bother chooses YouTuber.  I'll take it.

Who is your favorite hockey player?  Patrick Kane and Pekka Rienne.  I had to look the second guy up.  Apparently, he is the Nashville goalie.  He took a liking to Nashville during the playoffs and not surprised to see he is the goalie.  

What is your favorite TV show? Pokemon videos.   I have no idea where this came from.  I would have guessed YouTube but maybe that isn't a TV Show?  But it is something you watch on TV....

What is your favorite book? Big Nate and Captain Underpants.  They are very interesting.  In Captain underpants he hypnotizes the principal and a there is a villain that is a teacher.  Pretty fascinating.  His words, not mine.

What makes you happy? Having friends over.  

What makes you sad? When you go away.  I'm guessing this is because I asked him the questions the day after we got back from Vegas.

What is your favorite food to eat? Pizza.  Mine too!

Favorite treat?  Slush.  See Sara, I do feed my kids Slushes!

What is your favorite song? Ed Shireen, Shape of you.  I love that they are finally into top 40!

What games do you like to play?  Hide and seek and tag.

Favorite Sport? Hockey and Soccer. Surprise, Surprise. Unchanged from last year.

When I was little I used to......? Teach my brother how to walk.

My favorite season of the year is?  Summer because that is my birthday month.  

A food I don't like is? Asparagus.  He really could have summed it up with anything healthy.

My best memory is? Going to San Diego.  That he couldn't go on a baby slide and he watched the show Kipper over and over.  For the second year in a row this is what you said.  You were 3 when we went and I can't believe you remember it.

Bonus questions this year:

What are your thoughts on going to Connect school next year? Kind of sad and nervous.  Sad, because i wouldn't know any one but a few friends.

What are you looking forward to at connect ? Going on super cool field trips.

I can't believe how much your answers changed from last year. My young man is most definitely growing up....

  

Happy 9th Birthday Grady!

Dear Grady,

You are growing into such a caring young man.  I am starting to see type of person you will become.  One that cares about others feelings and maybe even a romantic?  When you see that I am upset you will give me a hug and tell me something sweet.  Most recently you told me that I did a great job of unpacking the boxes as you tried to pay me a compliment during a meltdown moment shortly after our move.

For someone that does not like change (exactly like me!) you have handled our move like a superstar.  From unpacking your own room to not complaining about how 'far' you now live from your bestie.  I am so proud of you.

We are embarking on a year of change for you.  New house, new school, new friends. I am anxious to see how you will handle it.  You are doing so well where you are and change scares me as well.  I hope that the next year brings a year of excitement and new adventure and that you thrive in your new environment.

You are still a Mama's boy and I hope you always are.  I hope that I get another year of hugs and hand holding in public, that you still want to snuggle with me at bed time.   And while I don't like laying in the hallway, it is a constant reminder that at 9 years old you still need me.

You are such a unique and special little being.  Never stop being you.

Love,
Mom

Now let me tell you a little about your 9 year old self.

Hockey is your jam.  You love it.  You saved your money to buy all the goalie equipment, you play hockey video games.

This year you played Novice, div 2 and we couldn't have been prouder.  You were the best goalie on your team and earned a shut out in the Esso Minor Hockey Week Championship game.  While you still like playing forward, Dad and I are wondering if we may have a deference on our hands.  Time will tell....

You wanted to play spring hockey this year and we told you that you had to try a different sport so you did soccer.  Wow did you improve this season.  You started off very timid playing with the older kids but by the end of the season you were scoring goals and great at passing. Your Dad likes to think it is because of the coaching....

Tryouts are not your thing.  You get nervous and hold back which can work against you.  If you gave it your all every time you could be a top player, but nerves often get the best of you.  I hope that with time you build your confidence and go for it!

This totally reflects your personality.  You are hesitant and timid with new things. You did not want to ski this winter but once we finally got you on the chair lift we couldn't' get you off it.  You don't like new things and I can't say I blame you since I don't either.

This is the year we got rid of the toys.  You and your brother like to play video games, watch YouTube, and play outside.  So in combination with the move, we got rid of a lot!  I couldn't bring myself to get rid of the hot wheels or the Thomas trains.  I hope your kids will play with those some day WAY in the future.

Your artistic side isn't shining like it used to.  You no longer ask to color or do crafts and we didn't do any art classes this year.  That may just be happening with age but I miss the all pictures that cluttered my fridge.

You are a pack rack.  The art photos I mentioned above had been crammed under your bed for years and I tried to get rid of them when we moved and you would not part with them.  We spent one whole evening looking at every art project you've done (that I haven't managed to slip in the recycling bin!).  The excitement on your face as you went through them means we are keeping them for the time being.

At this time last year you did not like to read.  This year, you read in your bed every night!  Your favorite series has been Diary of a Wimpy kid.  You have even reread some of them.   I love that you have become reader, even if it is just to delay bed time...  Reading with you is my favorite!

You are very particular about what you wear.  You prefer quick dry pants and elastic waist pants.  This year you have started showing interest in styling your hair, so maybe you'll start wearing jeans soon?

Last year I would have called you a saver, this year, you are definitely a spender.  You get money, you spend it.  The money burns a hole in your pocket.

Currently you are 'saving' up for a lap top or an iPhone.  Keep saving!

You are developing a love for dogs, Blix in particular.  You have even asked when we are going to get one.  Last year I'm not sure you would even pet a dog.  Having a pup at Sunday dinners has been really good for you and your relationship with animals.

This is your last year at your current school. I always thought you would put up a fight when we suggested changing schools but you are willing switching to a school in a different community focuses on outdoors and technology.  I hope that you love it.

You are tough to put together. I've given up.  We go upstairs at 8 and you are often still up when I go to bed at 10.  You had a stint this year where you were scared of everything.  I had to lay in the hallway each night until you fell asleep.  I bribed you with $50 to ween you off me staying upstairs and it worked!  I let you read as long as you want as night because you aren't scared when you read.  Whatever works.

You are still shy, but not as shy as you were a few years ago.  You will say hello to classmates we see randomly around the neighborhood and have had some play dates with new friends.  I would love to see you come out of your shell even more.

You are a fantastic student.  No complaints here!

You are the BEST snuggler.  At night time when we lay together you will wrap your legs in my legs and hug me.  It is one of my favorite parts of the day.

You are a terrible eater.  I show you by example how you should eat with meat and veggies covering my plate and you have a few bites of meat and then ask for a bowl of cereal.  You claim you like broccoli but won't eat it when I make it for you.  Now if you don't like the family meal you make your own sandwich.  I keep reminding myself I only ate chicken strips until I was 19.  There is still hope for you.

Every year, you and Cooper become better friends. This year your friendship has grown exponentially.  You play vids together, you play hockey together, you play together on play dates and the list continues. Don't get me wrong, you still fight, but I love how you get along for the most part.  My one hope is that you will be besties into adulthood and always watch out for each other.

I could not be more proud to call you my son.  Happy 9th Birthday Grady!

What happens in Vegas....

This weekend James and I went to Vegas with our friends John and Stacey.   Without the kids.  Obviously.  It has been 2 years since we had been away kidless and when you have grandparents willing to watch the kids you'd be silly not to take them up on it, right?

So we booked this trip long before the house was purchased.   While it did cause me a little stress leaving while the house still is missing furniture and the last of the boxes are still sitting around waiting to be unpacked, it turned out that it came at the perfect time.  We needed a break. 

We are not Vegas virgins.   This was my 6th trip and James' third.   So while we did cover a lot of the strip, we weren't there to sight see per se, we were there to sit by the pool and shop if you were the ladies or shoot guns and gamble if you were the men.  This is why you don't go to Vegas with only your spouse, #differentprioroties

To recap the trip, let's play a little game.  Fact or fiction.  

Fact: Jerry Seinfeld provided 90 minutes of clean comedy that left me laughing out loud.   My favorite part was him talking about why the stalls in toilets don't go all the way down to the floor because we can all recognize our coworkers shoes.  #truth

 

Fiction: People dress classy like Stacey and I in Vegas.   There was a DJ festival going on while while we were there called EDC.  One young lady, if I can even call her that, was not wearing a shirt but instead has stickers covering her n*pples along with some body paint to mimic a shirt.   Where is this girls mother?? #happytobeaboymom

Cosmopolitan Chandelier

Fact: Shopping in the US when you are Canadian sucks when the exchange rate is so bad.   I bought a few things from stores we don't have in Canada but the accountant in me is constantly doing the conversion.   BUT, It isn't a trip to Vegas with a stop at the outlet stores!

Fiction: Our hubby's 2 didn't enjoy the gun range at all.  They tried to go the first day but when they showed up holding a beer in their hands they were promptly turned away. #safetyfirst

Fact: I've never gambled.   They tried to get me to play the slot machines but it just doesn't interest me at all.  Jame put $1.00 in a poker slot machine and spent 15 minutes trying to lose his dollar.  #idratherspendmymoneyathtemall 

 

Fiction: You need to stay up until dawn to enjoy Vegas.  These 4 parents needed some rest!  We were in bed by 1am each night.  The best part was sleeping in as long as you wanted, which still wasn't that long, but, there was no alarm clock or kids that dicatated when you woke up.  I love that I am coming home rested compared to other trips that were far from restful....

 

Fiction: It is a good idea to consume 2 super sized margaritas at lunch.  We arrived, I was excited

And when the waiter suggested the supersized drink I thought, why not?  I'll tell you why, because when it is over 100 degrees and you have to walk half way down the strip to get where you are going you will get hot, tired and complain a lot.  Just ask Stacey who was stuck with me for the afternoon.

Fact: always trust your fashion friends when they tell you they had success at a store.  We visited Carina's by Andrea's suggestion and I walked away with 2 dresses!  One for an upcoming wedding and the other you can see me wearing in the casino above!

 

Fact: We didn't see the Bellagio water show once.  Because I made a big deal of it, we tried to watch from behind on our final night but the viewing was not great.   How can you spend a weekend in Vegas and not a get a full viewing of the infamous water show??? Good thing I've seen it before.  Many times.  

   

Fiction: Sunless tanner is sweat proof.  I used these sunless tanning wipes before we left and I managed to sweat them off the first morning!   I could see the brown tint in my sweat and also the brownish hue on my towel. Yuck!

 

Fact:  I ate so much that my tummy hurt for days.  The food was just so good I couldn't stop.  Especially since we had Mexican twice.  My favorite!

 

Fact: These 2 are pretty fantastic travel companions.  This is our third trip away with John and Stacey and we love how it is a girls trip and a couples trip all wrapped into one.  We don't get to see them nearly enough lately with busy kids and schedule conflicts so it was nice to have some dedicated time to catch up.  

 

Trips to Vegas never disappoint.  Whether you are clubbing it, lounging by the pool or spending your time in the air conditioned mall, it is always a good time.  Each time is different and you never run out of new things to try, which ironically was the motto of our trip.  While I am always happy to get away for some adult time, I am just as happy to return to my munchkins that didn't miss me one bit.

Summer Time: Beat the Heat

Today we are talking ways to beat the heat on a blog hop with TBB. If you are hopping over from Dee's blog, welcome!  I think it's kind of funny that both Deena and I talking about beating the heat when we are the Canadian girls that only see heat for approximately 13 days each summer. Okay, okay, it is more like 33.  Perhaps it is because when the heat does actually arrive us Eskimos don't really know how to handle it?  That would of course be true.  It is already mid June and I have yet to wear shorts outside other than to exercise.  So that brings us to our first tip in beating the heat.

Cute Summer Dresses

Believe it or not, as I was prepping for our trip to Vegas where heat is not an issue at all (hello 40 degrees!) I found myself with a shortage of cute summer dresses.  How can that be? I ended up buying this one:

but this one,

Too wrinkly

and this one,

too tight

were close contenders.  I decided I didn't like the enough to buy them before our trip.

Air Conditioning

Many people think that AC in these parts are a waste of money, however I disagree.  On those 33 days where it is hot it gets really got.  I don't know about you but I can't sleep when it is hot.  We are one of those families that turn on the AC as early as April and as late as October. If we have a random hot day our AC will be blowing.

Our new house only has AC upstairs.  We were thinking that we would make it through the summer and see if we think we need it on the main level as well.  We are only a few weeks in and I am already to put my vote in for AC.  I don't like sweating in the house.

Summer Nails

This is new to me.  I starting thinking about getting my finger nails done over a year ago and I finally bit the bullet.  I love how it looks on others and when I paint my nails myself it comes off in one day.  That and I am a self admitted picker, meaning that as soon as a nail starts to peel I rip the whole thing off.  Fingers crossed I can resist the temptation with gel polish.....

 

Water

If you know me, you know that I never go to far without my trusty water bottle.  Right now my favorite kind is Tupperware because it has the perfect sized spout and a no straw that mold likes to grow in.  Yuck.  It is so so important to hydrate when it is hot outside.  When I took the photo my water had Mio Fruit punch in it.  You just small squirt in and it adds taste.  I only use it when I feel like I should drink water but want a little more taste.  Warning:  it stains!   We are phasing it out at our place to be replaced with a lighter color flavor.

Sunglasses

When the sun is shining you need to have a great pair of sunglasses.  Since mine are prescription and thanks to good benefits are always free!  My absolute favorite pair are the baby beach by Maui Jim that fit my small head like a glove.

They feel so good when you put them on.  The lens is fantastic!  I am on my third pair of the exact same sun glasses.  I lost one pair in Disneyland and the other pair in the ocean. I thought there was no way James was going to let me get a third pair but he must like them to as he agreed!

Trashy TV

Usually I would fill up my summer evenings watching Big Brother and Bachelor in Paradise but this year, paradise is no more....  This past week I have enjoyed reading all about why the cast was sent home and the show has all but been cancelled for this season. Makes me sad. What do they expect when they put all those drunk adults together in bikinis?  I certainly am not surprised.

Beer and Clam

Finally, the best way to beat the heat on a hot summer day is with a cold beer and clam. Nothing beats it. NOTHING.

 

Recently our beer of choice is Miller lite. It used to be Coors lite but James refuses to drink it but will drink Millers. Since I put clamato in it, it doesn't matter what beer it is once that red clamato gets mixed in I'll drink any beer with it!

Now bring on the heat, I am ready for my next beer!

Now that you know how the Canadians beat the heat, head on over to Sheila's blog where you'll get some real tips since she is a Floridian.  Is that a word?

On Feeling Grateful.

Today I'm focusing on the positives.  After what felt like a week that kept bringing bad news, this week is a new week and things are looking up.

Orange is the new Black is back!  James and I sat down to watch the first episode.  I enjoyed it. Not sure what the rest of the season will bring but I was happy with episode 1.

 

We are sleeping upstairs again. After 4 nights in the basement the contractors promised me they would have the top part of the railing up by the end of day Friday so it was functional for the weekend.  I've become so used to no railing that I don't even miss it anymore.

 

I ran 11.8 km on Sunday, my longest run ever.  Then I proceeded to eat all day.  I couldn't eat enough carbs.  Bring on the pasta salad!

Meeting the neighbors.  We were supposed to have a block party on Saturday but it rained and rained and rained some more.   We skipped the block party and invited the neighbors on each side of us over for some beer.  The kids got along great and we made some new friends.

It rained.  I wouldn't normally be grateful for this but it forced me to stay home and get some sh*t done.  I marked where most of the pictures in the boys rooms would go and James came around after and put in the dry wall screws.  I don't do those.

Our new furniture arrived.  Last Sunday while the kids were at a birthday party James and I went for lunch and then headed to urban barn and proceeded to buy our end table, coffee table and media stand!  Not to mention a giant rut.  We aren't used to the wood under our feet!

My mom arrives tomorrow.  Been so looking forward to my mom arriving and giving her the grand tour of the house. Not to mention getting away for a little kidless vacation.

Vegas!  We are heading south this weekend to enjoy some sunshine, shopping, eating, drinking, sweating, and more!  Vegas is one of my favorite locations because the weather is perfect and there is so much to do.  It is coming at a perfect time.

There is no doubt that this week will be better than the last and I am ready for it! 

Keeping it Real

Today is a real life post.  One where I sit down and blog about what I am feeling at this exact second (technically, last night when I wrote it).  Right now, I am feeling deflated. The past month has been a roller coaster ride from the high of finally moving in to the low of today when they installed the wrong wood on my railing.

Life happens.

It is totally normal to only want to document and remember the happy and fantastic parts of your life but no one can say their life is perfect or that they don't have their own set of issues that keep them up late at night every so often.

Has moving had its moments where I am so freakin' excited that I may burst? Heck, yeah!  It has also had be crying in my car because I just can't handle the stress.

I am so over the whole moving process.

From the buying to the the selling to the packing to the unpacking to the renos before we moved in to the renos after we moved in.

That's right, after we moved in.

A full 10 days of unpacking later and we were moving forward with making our house a home,  then the last of the renos started.  As the crew showed up at our house on Monday morning I just wanted them to leave.  The house was finally feeling like home and I just really didn't want to turn that upside down again.  But alas, we had committed to replacing the railing at my request and we mutually decided to do it sooner than later.

Let's just get it over with.

In the blink of an eye, our new renovated house was covered in plastic.  Our garage that was finally clean enough to park in for only one night was full of wood cutting devices.  My freshly painted walls were left damaged in the areas where the wood railings used to be. The suitcases were packed as the kids and I had to sleep in the basement while the railing was down.  No kids allowed upstairs until the railing goes back up!

I could have cried.  I doubted my decision.

Too make matters worse, last night I got a call from the salesman telling me that they used the wrong wood and the last 2 days of work have been wasted.  Meaning that the last of our renos that was supposed to be completed on Friday will now carry on into next week.  That means, more nights sleeping in the basement, more days with plastic hanging in the house, more days parking on the driveway.

I am SO over renos.

I held my ground on the phone expressing my anger and disappointment with the whole situation.  Had I not been at a corporate function when I took the call I would have burst into tears when I got off the phone.  Instead, I waited until I got to the car.

This is real life.

It isn't perfect. It isn't always glamorous.  It is full of emotion.  It is raw.  It is unpredictable.

Today is a new day.  A day that I hope brings resolution.  A day where things go as planned.

If not, there is always wine...

May in Numbers: The month where we moved

Hi All! This month's month in numbers post is dedicated to moving since all we did this month was talk about moving, pack boxes, empty rooms, load boxes, unpack boxes, and shop for house stuff.  That about sums it up.  So let's get to it, grab a coffee, it's a long one!!

9:  hours we spent cleaning the new house the day before the movers arrived.  It was so dusty from all the sanding and drywalling
1:  kid that wanted to help.
1:  kid that preferred to sit in the empty closet with his ipad.

 

64: Jewelry loaded back into the holder the day before we moved in.  #priorities

3: tangles that took some time to unknot

0: Jewelry broken or lost.  Score!

 

1:  Bed ordered on line.

4: Slats that were too short for the bed

47: minutes spent at Lowes trying to rectify the situation

3:  times I was told they didn't sell beds....

15: hours later they made me new ones in the shop

7: boxes it took to pack up the kitchen.

3:  glasses still missing after move.  Where did they go?

7: times I've sent this picture to show my progress.  Can't believe how empty it looks!

3: boxes left over and not used.  Their estimation of boxes needed was spot on.  Wish I couldn't remember how many it was they gave me....

 

1: stop at wine store after full day of cleaning.  Couldn't fine the wine box at the new house and this lady needed wine after the lowe's experience.

2: glasses enjoyed while watching Scandal.  Love that show!

16: Minutes of the new Dirty Dancing watched after Scandal.  I am a die hard DD fan. The new one is cheesy but I couldn't NOT watch it.  #notpatrickswayze

 

1: child enjoying the last morning in our nearly empty house.

1: child too afraid to get up there.  #smart kid

 

1: extra large moving truck showed up to load up all our stuff.

4: guys that could carry boxes on their backs like I've never seen.

33: packing blankets forgotten by the movers

9: hours they spent loading and unloading the house.  They arrived at 9am and didn't leave the new house until 7pm!!

 

65ish: boxes arrived and cluttered up the new house

23: times I felt so overwhelmed with all there was to do.  Apparently it is just as much work to unpack as it is too pack!

 

7:  hours Cooper spent at a friend's house while we moved

3: hours Grady was there

1: hour it took for each boy to unpack the boxes in their rooms

2: squeals of excitement as they unpacked items they hadn't seen in weeks

36: stuffies that came out of retirement  

 

 

1: pizza celebration from our fave pizza place Spiros!

1: well deserved beer consumed each

3: hours spent in the kitchen getting it in order before I decided to call it a night

2: glasses of wine that followed the completion of the kitchen, I watched the end of Dirty Dancing #itwasok

1: tooth lost the first morning in our house.

1: tooth lost because the owner left it on the table

0: money left by the tooth fairy since there was no tooth and no note

  

10: empty boxes waiting to be collapsed the morning after the move.  Tape ripping is not an activity to be doing while kids are sleeping above!

 

50: feet from our house is where Grady was playing soccer.  I took this from our balcony during the game.

8: practises and games have been played at this field so far this season

2: games on this field the rest of the season

 

2: tired soccer boys trying out the new love seat

6: the number of months that I waited for the stupid things to be delivered.

  

36: hours without Internet of cable

2: happy boys when the TVs were working again!

1: TV still sitting on the floor waiting to be put on the stand

  

8: dining room chairs delivered

1: relieved lady since the chairs were ordered sight unseen but they turned out to be comfy.  Phew.

0: dining room table to put them around as it doesn't arrive until July!

 

That about sums up our month.  Lot of packing, lots of boxes, lots of money spent.   Why didn't anyone tell me moving was so expensive??? 

I hope that the June recap will be full of us enjoying our new space.  Wish me luck!