Happy Hour Ladies

Suzanne, Heather, and I would faithfully have happy hour on Fridays at 4 ish. We would rotate who was hosting and we would have some beverages (of the alcoholic kind) and appetizers.

All the kids would get together too and play all different sorts of games. We put out some appetizers for them as well. There were 8 kids.

Truly happy times. I will have such wonderful memories.

Heather, Suzanne, and me

So today we went out to lunch at the Northstar Cafe. Love love love this place. I know I have blogged before about their veggie burger. But it is sooooooo very delicious. I actually crave this burger. And if you remember about me - I love meat. I really do! Anyway, we had a great time.

Then it was off to my house to clean it out and prepare it for the walk-through. I had stuff still in bedrooms, closets, and cabinets. Now it was not as bad as it sounds. The bedrooms were sleeping bags. The closets had clothing. And the cabinets were already to go with boxes inside them.

We cleaned and stuffed everything into the laundry room so the rest of the place looked amazing. Let me just say I would not have gotten it all done. Boy was I way off on estimating time and stuff. We had all of Suzanne's family, me and my kids, and Heather and her girls. We were all moving and cleaning.

We also had to take a king bed and a sofa over to Suzanne's as she is now the happy owner of those two items. I think that is what made the time so crazy. It was like moving day all over. I shiver just rethinking it.

All was clear. I head over to Carla's for one last bit of time together. This is when they were suppose to walk through but they changed it to 6:30 PM and did not show up until 8:00 PM. I was not happy as we were going to load the van so Friday morning would not be sooo crazy. Suzanne was and is amazing she kept calming me down and assuring me that all would be fine. You know what? She was right.

Suzanne and I packed up the van. Then laughed at all that was left behind. Oh well! Looks like we need to go back for another load.

We actually slept at Suzanne's as we no longer had our sleeping stuff. It all went very well.

I ache I ache its off to load I go!

YES!!! My entire body aches. In places I was not even sure could! I know I used the term auto pilot in a previous post and let me just say that has been the definition of my life. I ache when I try to do anything. Just think of something and I am sure I ache!

At this current writing I am without any other assistance. My children and me are all that is left. There is still stuff that needs to get done. And it will get done. I am a mean supervisor. Thankfully most of the hard work is all behind us. No wait, it is ahead of us too! Just a few months in between. Praise the Lord!!

It is a nice thing to be moving forward but I am extremely happy that there is a break! I told Bill we are getting too old for this type of work. Next time, I am paying!!!! That is a must!

Josh "helping"

More helpers!

POD #4 - furniture!

Van that my Dad rented for the things we want at

the apartment mostly because we don't want it in

storage. Even though they say it is temperature

controlled we are skeptical.

POD #3 - misc. Basically the overflow of what

we weren't too sure where to put it.

Much needed respite

Friday was a day filled with different things. We began the day having to go to the title company to sign the documents as we will not be here for closing. Then back home to do some more loading. (yes most of the days have spent doing much the same thing! Can someone say autopilot).

Thankfully DeeDee came and took the kids for the day. They went on a field trip and got to play some disc golf. They enjoyed themselves and arrived back home just before dinner time.

While they were having fun we were moving and shaking. Four adults can do A LOT. We had to run a few trips to Lowe's as we misjudged some items of necessity and ran out of other items. In the last few days we have visited that store about 4 times.

Took a much needed break for some lunch from Culver's. We really needed the energy. The other days we were "picking" for lunch but I was not having that today. I was starving for a burger!! (There are better out there but time was against us. So we had to settle!)

More loading of furniture. We do have some BIG HEAVY pieces. I think our arms will be falling off some time this week. Our backs are strapped up for support and I don't think we want to take off the support as we might just fall over!

The children arrived home just as we were getting ready for our evening dinner plans with our good friends Natalie and John. Bill and John used to work together and Natalie and I have done all sorts of things together. We met up in Easton at Abuelo's! Love Mexican food. As they were late we headed over to the bar for some much needed cocktails. I a sangria, Bill a margarita!! I was very happy with my choice and had a chance to taste Bill's platinum margarita. Let me just say that too was very good! We were concerned that we would need to call my Dad and brother to come drive us home!

John and Nat came separately as John lost track of time at work. We ate a delicious meal and sat around and chatted. Afterwards we went over to the Apple store. We are Apple addicts! But I wanted to be a force for Natalie as we were persuading John to buy her an iPhone. I think he was going to do it without our push but I wanted to be supportive for a friend!

Bill could not leave Easton without some ice cream from Graeter's. We all enjoyed some!! Yummy!!!

We did not get back home until 10:30 pm. Joshua was fast asleep and Abigail was just getting to bed. Stephen stayed awake for about another 45 minutes. (Boy is it a good thing we homeschool as these hours are very typical for us!!)

My bed has never felt soooooo good!

Enjoying ourselves with Natalie and John.

Packing and the PODS!

Tuesday and Wednesday was spent packing up the house and on Wednesday Carla and Jaye came by and helped with more packing and starting to load the PODS!!

Tuesday night was garbage night here and boy did we have GARBAGE. I even had to use my neighbors trash bins so mine would not be too large. It really worked out since Stephen is sitting their animals. So I told him to wheel down their bins and I had Joshua, myself, and Stephen walking garbage down to their bins. Very funny! I told her to expect a neighbor making a comment or two as there is always a nosey-one! I unfortunately did not take a picture but here is the gist of it - three trash bins full and two 55 gallon bags on the ground. The big wheeled recycle bin filled (overflowing) and then extra on the ground. An old filing cabinet and old TV.

The other thing was on Wednesday we had Kidney Services Foundation stopping by to pick up any donations we may have. That consisted of 5 40 gallon bags of clothing, three boxes of toys, small appliances, and decorative house items. And a small hamper and a lamp. There was no where for you to get to my door it was in the walking path. (Again totally blanked on the picture idea)!!!

Wednesday with Jaye and Carla over we were able to secure some pictures and tape up boxes and toy bins. Then we decided it would be a great idea to start bringing stuff up from the basement and place it in the living room to make loading the PODS easier. Carla in her wisdom got all the kids to help - there were 10 kids carrying things up the stairs. I was sooooo elated to have all that help and all that accomplished. We also started loading one of the PODS with the stuff from the garage. They were here for a few hours and we were able to bang out lots. And I am ever so grateful for all the help and hard work.

Around dinner - which was supplied by Dee Dee and crew - my Dad and brother Jason arrived to help load. They came in a commercial van so we can transport stuff back to the apartment until we find a house. Really trying to make myself more comfortable in the apartment but not too much. As we all know how much I want to be out of there! Soon! The wheels are in motion!! YAY!!!

Thursday - has brought loading loading and more loading of the PODS. Jason is master at breaking down the items to go inside the containers. He is also very good at where to place items. My Dad has been on the inside organizing the containers. He goes back and forth between the two. They were doing the outside POD and I said I would start on the "second" one so we could use the time wisely.

The young ones watched me taking some boxes and immediately began helping. I was touched. They were limited as to how much they could help as most things were far too heavy for them to move let alone carry. I appreciated all the efforts.

There was a short 2 hour break for me as I went out to pick up some boxes from Jaye. She got this awesome boxes from the hospital. Fabulous!! And then it was off to the airport to pick up my hubby! His flight was delayed that is what took me so long. But it was kinda nice to not have to be doing!

We worked until about 11:30 pm loading up the containers as the first two were leaving early Friday morning.

Stephen packing up the movies and cds.

Here is what Jaye, Carla, and kids helped accomplish.

We placed the stuff in the living room for ease of transfer.

Abigail found her beloved horses and would play

with them during a break time. Yes we did pack them

to go back to the apartment.

This 1st POD contains garage and outdoor items.

By the time it was locked up it was full!!

My Dad in POD #2. The basement and some upstairs

furniture. It also had all those boxes and tubs from

the previous picture. And then more boxes from

around the house!

Farewell to my Sandals

I have been packing a little each day since we arrived back here. Doing any where from 3-8 boxes as well as weeding out unwanted items. Let me just say how tired I am at the end of the day. This body cannot handle all that physical labor.

Here in Ohio we live less than 2 miles from the Columbus Zoo and Waterpark. Yes you read that correctly. A few years ago they bought the lease back from Six Flags because the city needed to change the roads. The new road chopped off some of the park. So the city decided to buy back the lease and shuffle the zoo and waterpark area. We have been season passers for 4 years. (minus the year they were renovating). I figured that we too would join as we will be here until the end of the month and it would be great incentive to get the children motivated to work.

On Tuesday we met some friends there to hang out all day. And hang out all day we did. (Except for Stephen and his friend whose Mom came and picked them up at 2 pm.) It was very very crowded as it was Kroger appreciation day!! Joshua got hurt twice, Julia got run over in the lazy river, we couldn't find Abigail and Julia for 30 minutes, the lines were very long for the rides, and the grand finale... my sandals were TAKEN!!!!! These sandals have been with me for 5 years and they are extremely comfortable. I use them a lot! And Land's End no longer makes them!! WWWWAAAAAAHHHHHH!! I walked the entire park looking for those babies. Even stopped by lost and found, twice! I plan on stopping again on our next visit, as they keep items for a week. I had to walk to the yucky parking lot barefoot. I was none too happy. The very puzzling side is why my sandals?! Why not the others?! Why not a beach bag that has money and such?! Crazy!!!! In my hopes and dreams I find them. That somehow they got kicked or someone was playing a prank and a staffer found them and they are waiting for me. Hey, don't judge me. Let's see your reaction when something you love, and can no longer find, gets taken!

As of late I have been rethinking some of my decisions.

The packing has begun.

Sunday was meant to be my day of rest and preparing for the packing up but I actually felt good and thought that I should start.  So began the boxes of books from the office.  7 boxes for the office stuff.  

I told the kids that Monday was definitely time when we would start.  I was able to get 2-3 boxes each from them.  I was very pleased and impressed with their willingness.  I did have to do some management so I was unable to be as effective as I would have liked but Carla stopped by today and we were able to bang out 6 boxes!!!  Did some basement and kitchen!!   Again very happy with the progress.

About 4:30 we headed over to the water park for some fun and processing of the passes as Tuesday is our big day there!!  Meeting some friends for some relaxation.