Wow, what a month. Next week it will truly be one month since we moved and have been living in my grandma's house. I have to be honest—this is not a month I'd like to relive. Between the move and endless sickness around here I feel like I've been in survival mode. Add to that frigid temperatures, terrible air, and a very drafty old house and I've never been so ready for spring. I typically really like winter. I like the snow, I love to ski...those things are still true, but I'm also anxious to get going on the house and move on.
I did snap a few pictures those last few days packing up but nothing of the actual moving day. We had so much help. We had at least 30 friends and neighbors show up to help us move. It was crazy, but I'm so grateful for their help. We couldn't have done it without them. I avoided tears and feeling sad until we had everything moved, everyone left, the kids were at Cid's house, and it was just us and my parents at our rental. Then I let it hit me, and I must admit I bawled like a baby. Those first few days were rough—mostly for me! The kids have been awesome. I know they miss their friends and some things have been a little hard, but they are taking it all in stride like champs and it's an adventure for them. I have been the one boo hooing thinking about them not riding the bus home with their friends...stuff like that.
I'd forgotten what a colossal headache it is to move. Moving into a hundred+ year-old house makes it that much rockier. I'll totally admit I got spoiled at our last house. I got used to space and nice things, and it has been an adjustment. It has changed my daily routine more than anyone else's. We do now have all the broken things fixed: shower heads, garbage disposal, drains, lights, etc. which has helped a lot. I've gotten used to wearing socks and a coat at all times, and I fear the gas bill here. It's not exactly efficient. The floor in the master bathroom literally feels like ice in the mornings. I have to say though my biggest miss (next to people) is the school bus! Hello, that was quite nice to have my kids picked up and delivered for me. Now with kindergarten I make three trips to the school each day. Yuck! The bright side is that the kids can walk soon. We've just been waiting to get out of the smoggy, frigid deep freeze, and we did finally see the sun last week! The Monday morning after we moved Luke wanted to go see his room before school. I ran him up there and for the first (and only) time he got sad and cried. Luckily I put on my big girl pants and was strong for him. I waited until I dropped him off at school and then moped around crying all day while I cleaned the house one last time—for about eight hours. Not a good mental health plan! Fortunately, I'm over my little pity party and excited about the next phase. Our plans are being drawn as we speak, and I'm praying for a mild spring. I need to post some pics soon of the land.
I was sad to leave this behind, but luckily I know a guy in the cabinet business, so I'm planning on one for the next house.
Miss Leah has not been one bit phased by this move, and she actually has a gigantic bedroom here. All of the kids are upstairs. Seth and Ian are sharing another huge room and Luke has the room with the deep (and I mean deep) shag carpet to himself. The upstairs of this house is interesting to say the least!
The kids have had tons of fun exploring the sheds and shop area around here. We've had to be a little more careful after finding them playing with large pieces of steel and old pitch forks! Ian has fully recovered from his week long stomach bug that about put him under...and Jer, Luke and I when we got it too! He was skin and bones but is now telling me he's hungry about every hour.
Speaking of Ian, you never know what might come out of his mouth. He was being quite the turkey in Sunbeams on Sunday because he "just wanted to go back to nursery," when all of a sudden they did the spotlight thing. All the Junior Primary kids stand up and then as they read things off the kids sit down if it's not them until just one child is left. The Sunbeams had done their little surveys with a member of the primary presidency the week before. Well, the first item was "I have two brothers and one sister" so Ian stays standing. The next one was, "I have a pet mouse named Gwen Gwen." I told Ian to sit down but then I noticed everyone was sitting down and the girl conducting was looking at Ian. It was him! He like totally fabricated his questionnaire. He went up and she read the rest of it which included that his favorite place to go is McDonald's, when he grows up he wants to be a transformer, if he could go anywhere in the world it would be Ironman's house, and his parents think he's the best at karate! He even interrupted her on the transformer one and said no he wanted to be a robot! I was laughing so hard...so were all the other leaders and most of the kids. Ian!
The first day of February actually brought sunshine, and we got out and enjoyed. We even walked to school to drop Seth back off for his perfect attendance party. Hallelujah! It was awesome. Thirty something degrees felt like summer!
Goodbye January, hello February!
