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Utah-mazing Part II

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So we sadly left Moab, Utah and headed toward Zion Canyon National Park. We arrived in the Zion area on Wednesday, set up, and really truly set up camp since we are here for a whole week. After spending the first two and half months of our journey spending longer time place, we realized we aren’t going to see much else unless we spend shorter times at campgrounds and actively see things and move on. So, to be here for a whole week is long as of lately.

Our first night my romantic husband and I sat outside, cuddling, and watching the stars in the darkest state. I can not even explain the beauty you can see when you look up at the sky in Utah. I thought the sky in Eagle Lake, PA when I was growing up, hanging out on Leach Field was breathtaking but nothing compares to this Utah sky. Mainly we set up camp so we could chill, be comfortable and enjoy our time when our visitors get here…MUSHY AND POPPY! AKA my mom and Ronnie (step-dad but way more important and awesome).

Let me just quickly explain how much they wanted to be here, Ronnie is supposed to give 45 days notice before taking time off but they arranged to be here within two weeks. That’s love! And don’t be confused, it’s not love for me and Shaun but totally for the girls lol. In preparation I put together a very detailed and active agenda. They arrived Thursday, came straight to us, and we sat by the fire staring at the amazing stars and enjoying our time together.

Friday morning we picked them up and went to Bryce Canyon National Park. Again, and I’m sure you’re sick of hearing this, but the park blew me away. I expected a canyon smaller than The Grand Canyon and it was but totally different. This park has Hoodoos, which are amazing and crazy different from anything else we had ever seen. We hiked the Queens Garden with the Navajo Trail Loop and getting deep into the park and climbing back up gave us a real look at everything from top to bottom. The elevation change was more than I had expected but everyone hiked it like champs and we all really appreciated the drastic scenery. It was a total of 4 miles with a 1.5 mile 600 foot elevation gain. My amazing parents rocked this hike in their late 50’s/early 60’s like champs!

Saturday we surprised them with an off-roading 6-seater vehicle. We arrived at their hotel after they ate breakfast with the girls who slept over. Originally we just rented them for Ronnie and Shaun but my mom seemed disappointed so we changed it to a 6-seater. They were so surprised, excited and thankful! We arrived at the Coral Pink Sands State Park with the OTV in tow and hopped on. We ba-ha’d for hours and had the greatest time! After we headed into the town in Zion, Springdale and got Thai for lunch.

Then my mom took the girls for ice cream and a party in her hotel room while Shaun, Ronnie and I hit Hurricane for more OTV’ing. They had so much fun and we had even more fun, in my opinion. Ronnie, Shaun and I drove through the desert trails and really enjoyed every moment! Eventually dark clouds started penetrating our blue skies but we kept going. Eventually we stopped to talk to a dirt biker regarding the weather and they were unsure whether to go back or keep riding but told us to do if lightning strikes and that was enough for me to make the guys go back. I told them they could leave me at the safe, grounded car and they could risk their lives but we all headed back to safety and as we did hail started, lightning bolts struck and we followed dirt bikers doing the same. We arrived safely back to the truck loaded up and bailed out of there. We hit our favorite new coffee shop that brewed their own coffee and added it to an amazing stout beer and went to see mom and the girls. On the way home the sky cleared and the sunset was totally stop worthy and awe-some!

Sunday the rents and kids met us at the campground, we headed into Zion and hiked a bit. After we had a surprise planned and headed toward Antelope Canyon (if you’ve never heard of it, Google it). We arrived we checked in and got an earlier slot…winning! I was a little hesitant to be stuck in a slot canyon without the ability to get out (as I posted earlier about my agoraphobia). The guy working their eased my issues because it is only ¼ mile from start to finish and you can see the sky at all times. It was easy to get through and was one of the most beautiful, unique places any of us had ever been. We used the Navajo Tours company and our tour guide, Abraham, was AMAZING!!!! We could not stop talking about how we would have missed out had we not gone. GO!!!!

The girls slept over my parents again but had an early flight so they swung by early with them to say goodbye. My mother almost forgot to drop them back off…;)  We were sad to see them leave! It was one of the best, fun, and memorable parts of our trip and we were so thankful they came to see us, my mom for the second time. After they left we hiked Zion for the next two day and did some recouping from all of the fun with them.

One week since we arrived, we will be heading out of Zion but be in Utah until Sunday. I am so sad to leave Utah but excited for our next stop here and for the resort we’ll be in after we depart Utah. Zion was good to us!

We arrived in Torrey, Utah ready to hike Capitol Reef and maybe some surrounding areas. The day after we arrived the weather turned colder and windier, then we received high wind warnings so we hunkered in for a rest/cleaning/chill/movie day to prep for hiking the next day. However, the winds were worse and it was colder the next day. Disregarding the weather and determined to see the park, we set off. Hitting the visitor center to get our Jr Ranger books we were informed that there were some fun kids activities happening. We arrived at the Nature Center and quickly made friends with another family there full-timing. We spent an hour there with them, went to the Gifford house for amazing, fresh, homemade pie, and proceeded to sit outside with them while the kids played, had handstand competitions, and played in the river.

Capitol Reef was also awesome because I got to see some more amazing Petroglyphs which I am slightly obsessed with. Like the cactus, tumble weed, and sunsets, petroglyphs are an amazing God preserved part of the past and I can not get enough.

 

As much as I enjoy just being in my happy bubble with my family, it was refreshing to my soul to touch base with our people and have a fun convo. We parted ways, returned home to pack up for the next morning, and get to bed early. Next morning, we depart early and depart from our beloved Utah. More of the US of A to see!!!

This is my new favorite pic that I found that I want to post and am deeply in love with! My next post is going to be one of those real, raw posts about how I feel after living in the RV, traveling with my family full-time for the past 3 1/2 month and only having about 4 months left.

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Full-timing & Fuller Hearted

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We are officially in our second week of full-timing, as it’s called in our new awesome lifestyle. The change from living in our old town, the girls going to public school and all of us being very immersed in it, to moving to a new town and homeschooling, and now to living full-time in our RV, roadschooling and with some days of just us, has been a big transition. However, I have to say that my children really go with the flow, embrace life and it has been a welcomed slowing of pace to the chaos of the past few months. img_8142

If anyone is concerned about my mental well-being after the first week from Hell, do not fret. Since I have had my multiple panic attacks, made my husband invest a small fortune in upgrading his truck, and froze in states where it’s normally warm, we have found a happy rhythm. It has still been unseasonally cold this week in Tennessee but we hiked, ate some good southern food, explored the beautiful KOA of Sweetwater, and learned a lot this week. While Shaun was working the girls and I bundled up and got outside a lot. Fresh air did us a lot of good!

Now we are trying to make the most of our space, personalize it a bit (which we’ve yet to do) and learn to make the most of everyday. One tip I’m learning quick is that if we are traveling or want to do a full day of something, we need to, and absolutely can, modify our schooling schedule (even doing some reading while still in bed because why get up). Part of this journey is to make the most of our days, and yes they need to learn and grow mentally, but exploring, wandering, and being free is also a big part of it. This is the part that we can not take advantage of when we are home, they’re in public school and there are rules to everything. I’m saying rules-schmules…LIFE is what my kids need!

This week coming up is going to be a GREAT part of our journey! We are headed to Florida to see the Pieklos, our BFFs/Family/Loves! It’ll be the first time we all bring the kids to Universal Studios where we will celebrate Shaun’s 40th. During the week we’ll get some quality time in. Then the following weekend we’ll hit Magic Kingdom and Epcot and the following day celebrate Dani’s 40th. That will be the cherry on top of the ice cream sundae because her and I are hitting the spa and we NEED it! It’s been quite the past 6 months for us both and these mammas deserve a 40th birthday celebratory BFF spa day!!!

I must admit that since Dani and the fam moved, it’s been sad for me (and all of us). I totally get why they moved and knew it was their dream so I support their dreams but am sad without them close by. The best part of our friendship is that we always get each other, think too much alike, support each other in our hair brain ideas, and back each up in our crazy, and sometimes illegal, whims. Other great parts are that our kids love each other and fight like siblings, which is pure love in the kid world. This week is going to be the best, warmest and funnest (yup a word!)!!!!

So, what happened this week past, I did our first load of laundry thus far. Let me tell you, doing your laundry once a week with three machines simultaneously is awesome! It would be less if Shaun’s clothes weren’t so God forsakingly big but he’s a giant so that is life. Then they had big dryers so all of it went into one big drier and was put away in no time. Mom win! Southern food is delicious, albeit not healthy but yummy. Long division and money were conquered in our roadschooling! Mom tackle, goal and field goal!

We went to the Cherohala Skyway and saw the breathtaking Bald River Falls. There were frozen sections and it was truly a display of God’s handiwork.

Cherohala Skyway

Tomorrow we start the two-day travel to Florida and we are all excited for the journey because the end of the road is going to be great! See y’all next week…might post after we depart on Tuesday 2/6 so I can give you the full download of our time but you never know, I might be too excited to share the fun also.

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Missed a whole week…first fail

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Me, the girls, and Mushy

I just realized today that I didn’t post last week. Non-stop action packed fun, that’s what’s been happening! Ok so there’s been some fun but a lot of schooling, organizing, unpacking, cooking, and general momming. Again, I have to ask, why are the boxes multiplying? If you saw how much I threw out, donated, and sold, you too would wonder how I am still unpacking. We even had a dumpster for two weeks.

With the holidays upon us we have really been trying to savor this time with our little ones while they’re little and not stressing over house stuff. That being said, the day after we savored, there’s moments of insanity and throwing boxes out of the garage door in an “effort” to organize. Our annual holiday party is approaching in less than three weeks and all of our guests are family or like family so much that I am in no way worried that they’ll judge what our new home looks like. However, I would like them to walk in and love it as much as we do! I’m so excited for all of those people to be with us celebrating (extra so for ones who moved away and we miss so much).

Homeschooling is still going splendidly thank God. The girls are still loving it and I think I am still doing a great job of helping them. We added Bible and Geography to the subjects they are learning. We eliminated as much Science as they were doing. Occasionally I’ll throw in a fun science project but what they were doing was not necessary. Natalie keeps insisting that she wants to continue homeschooling next year and start fresh in middle school/6th grade. I guess I’m doing something right?!

In the past few weeks we had lunch with Santa with some of our besties, went to Rockefeller Center with Mushy (aka my mom), cut down our Christmas tree (not completely decorated), met more nice neighbors, mailed our official letters to Santa and Christmas cards, welcomed back our Elf on the Shelf, Sprinkles, had a Junior Girl Scout meeting, playdates with the girl’s new, sweet neighbor friend, donated to a local foundation and two families in town, surprised the girls with Annie tickets with Mushy, and more!

It’ll probably be the day before our Christmas party that’ll be the day I finally take some good pictures of the house to post for you all to see. If it gets hectic, you might just get to see a whole bunch of pictures filled with our loved ones having a jolly time…bonus for everyone!

During this season I hope that everyone is taking time to give a little to those less fortunate, those who serve our country so we can have our freedom, and those who just need a little cheer! Enjoy the little ones, enjoy the elderly, enjoy the happiness from those who don’t always have it and enjoy enjoy enjoy!

Lunch with Santa
The winning tree
Rockefeller Center Lego Store
American Girl NYC
Revolving door fun!
Waiting for Annie to start

One Day To Just…

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Thankful on Thanksgiving!

Let me preface this post acknowledging that I live a very American-Dream like life. But…yup here’s the but…I would just like one day to just sit and be. You feeling me moms out there? Sitting, drinking copious amounts of coffee, snuggling my girls and dog under the blankets, reading a little, taking a too long hot shower and just being. We’ve been purging, packing, in limbo with the closing, living out of boxes, moving, reflooring, painting everrrrrything, still semi-living out of boxes, attempting unpacking, and it’s never ever ever ever ending.

Today is Thanksgiving and today of all days I shouldn’t be whining like a toddler. I am beyond thankful this year for my incredible family, my new, lovely home and what is to come in the year ahead! This weekend I will continue to enjoy our home by finishing painting the girls closets so we can unpack their boxes. Shaun will install all the new moldings so we can then put the furniture where it should be. We will unload the bins and bins of RV stuff that are in the garage and should be in the basement. And on and on and on…

We are so blessed to be able to move into our home and be able to make all of these changes but it’s a bit more overwhelming and time consuming than I ever dreamed. Shaun’s grandmother said to me today that moving is exhausting and would be if you moved just across the street. Truer words couldn’t be spoken!

Along with trying to assemble a life in our home, the girls and I are homeschooling all morning long. Normally they’d go to school and I would power through getting stuff done around the house and errands but it’s a group effort to do those things now which is delayed by about 3 hours of learning/teaching. Thankfully the girls have expressed how much they are loving homeschooling, phew! The only thing that they miss is seeing their friends every day. I get it, because I’m missing my day-to-day life a bit too. It’s an adjustment and a short life phase. Next September they’ll go back to public school and we’ll be right back into the life we had this past September and those before it. I’m sure when that happens we’ll all miss homeschooling lol. Double edged swords we so often carry.

I know that once our house is settled and we get into more of a rhythm of our new day-to-day we’ll acclimate. With the holidays coming, my absolute favorite time of year, we have a lot of fun to look forward to. Our annual Christmas party, a few shows my mom and I are surprising the girls with, a Santa lunch, opportunities to help others, Christmas service, Christmas music and more. In our new home, it’ll be a magical time most definitely.

Not Settling

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Don’t let the title of this blog post confuse you. We are positively settling, but not for less, just into more. This house is so warm and already wrapping its arms around us in a way that is hard to imagine anywhere else. Although a bump in the road, the delay in closing and life in boxes longer than anticipated, has really been a blessing by pushing me into a place of contentment at closing time, which was yesterday.

Throughout the week I can’t say I felt as much complacency as I do now. After Natalie, my oldest, was born I experienced some severe postpartum. After Brie, my second, was born I had it again but was slightly more prepared. This move has made me feel like my first postpartum in some ways. The feelings that progressed were unexpected, intense, numbing, and ultimately confusing.

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Just me & my girls

After we slept in the new house for the first time I didn’t feel any different. It was a similar feeling to waking up in a vacation house. The boxes stayed packed and we were living out of luggage in the days following because the rooms weren’t painted, the closets weren’t finished, and the floors were not completed. Some great news for everyone reading, the floors are finished! The master closet is also finished! And we are working on the painting epidemic but it’ll happen along with a lot of electrical work. With a lot left to do and we are all thankfully comfortable with a slow settling, we haven’t had anyone over yet and probably won’t for a few more weeks. Just us living and melding into our new space.

In my life I have not moved a lot and so I connect myself emotionally and physically to my home. Our last house, was all our daughters knew, the place our second daughter came home to from the hospital, where our first daughter was potty trained, the place they both learned to swim, every room filled with firsts, some lasts, and a lot of in-betweens. It’s a chapter in our life that has happened and we’re supposed to move on from. Not easy! There’ll be times in the future where Shaun and I will say “remember when” referring to memories in our last home like it was yesterday but the girls, being still so young, won’t remember and these thoughts throw me. The circular motion of bleakness to excitement haven’t stopped for the past week. I hope that the girls’ best and more memorable moments are to come, in this house, and last with them forever.

Family room and kitchen floors during reno, post, and pre-cleaning but still gorg!

Tuesday I started homeschooling the girls. The one major lesson I have learned already is that we have to set boundaries during our homeschool time. Such as, I don’t answer the phone during this time. Monday we played hookie while the floors were being finished and we got errands done, like cleaning the old house and returning our snowboard equipment from last season. Tuesday after homeschooling we caught up with some friends (picture below) at a Girl Scout event at Curly’s Ice Cream. As you can see below, they had so much fun! We are now three days into homeschooling and we are loving it! The decision not to start the girls in a new school mid-year and to live out my dream to home school them seemed to just fall into our laps with our move timeline.

The girls are still involved in their regular gymnastics class, we’re checking out our local library (which we didn’t have one of before) and so much more is keeping us in tune with the rest of the world. We women in my family normally hibernate come cold weather so our slight exclusion from the world is not abnormal for this time of the year anyway. Honestly, everything couldn’t have fallen more into place thank God.

Here’s pictures of Day 2 of homeschooling…in pjs!

Brie 1st Home School Day

 

So, to summarize my chaos of feelings, it’s all bittersweet. The good memories, neighbors/neighborhood, life we had in our old house was beyond amazing and beautiful. However, our new house, home, is nuzzling us and bringing us a different kind of joy. Our family is growing in time together and different kinds of experiences with a future that is so wide open and promising!

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Our neighbors (Whitney, top left, was 9 when we moved in and now she is 16; Cole is 14 yesterday and was 6 when we moved in; Natalie, bottom left was 2 and 3/4 when we moved in and is now 10; Brie was 4 weeks from being born and is now 7+)

Long Live the Valley of Empty Boxes

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The key to it all!

We have officially moved in! We are sleeping, eating, waking up here and all. Thanks in part to my high caffeine intake provided by San Fransisco Bay Fog Chaser coffee, it’s happened! Once the coffee maker changed addresses, then we were officially home.

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It’s happening!

The floors were done! I know you’re happy that I’d stop talking about them now lol. However, we’ve decided to keep the footprint of the kitchen for a few years and have the cabinets painted. So now the flooring, as of Monday, will be throughout my entire house YAY!! So, the glass half full, there’ll be one more floors post.

The painting downstairs will begin in about two weeks. Shaun started painting the girls’ rooms. I, with Shaun’s help, painted the master closet and the new closet system is going in this week. Shaun is finishing up the flooring on the stairs. I am still figuring out where I want all of the furniture. Settling never felt so good!

Thank God for NJ Teachers Convention because the art studio by our new home is having half day art camp and the girls are super pumped to go. During those few hours, I am fitting power box emptying time in, probably clothes because I miss my clothes. We packed most of our clothes about a month ago before the closing was pushed up almost three weeks. Since, we have had limited items that have been washed a lot since, choices will be very welcome. Now that the girls are going to be homeschooled we’ll have A LOT of time together but time to unpack by myself is going to be time well spent.

Homeschooling the girls has always been a dream of mine and I can’t wait to get started. My favorite hashtag is #noschooliscool because I love having the girls with me! It is going to be priceless, quality time together. The girls and I are making excessive lists of topics we want to learn, science projects we want to make, outdoorsy activities to keep us physical, and more. The lists just keep growing and expanding and it’s so exciting!

Last breakfast in BT
Last public school day of the year

I do have to say that I am already missing our home, friends, neighbors, and general everyday regular life. On the flip side, I am loving our new home, looking forward to walking the sidewalks, enjoying the view of the beautiful surroundings out of my kitchen window, shopping the local farms, and more! It’s such a change of scenery but totally loving what we are enveloped by. I also found an amazing coffee shop called The Coffee Potter! They make my coffee to perfection and that’s no easy feat.

We are all sharing much love of the office space. The girls and I love when Shaun is home so much and this space will allow him to work at home with more ease! Even if he’s busy working or on the phone, it’s just better having him share space with us. We will also be able to do lunch together, take early morning walks together, and more often than not be together for dinner.

We are truly four solid corners that completes the square shape. The feeling of goodness, happiness, and an exciting future is definitely in the air and I am so excited for it!

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Cheers!

Drawing to a Close, Closing That Is

Reno in process
Wood floor everywhere

This has been the biggest reno week I have ever experienced in one of our homes. I’m sore from head to toe but also equally excited for what’s to come. Making this house our forever home and a home we are proud of is my driving force. Last weekend we ripped up the rug on the stairs and hardwood flooring in the foyer and dining room. The worst part was getting it all, nail, dust and splinter filled, from the house to the dumpster. Hands, arms, shoulders, everything hurt!

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Snippet of the flooring

Wednesday the floor dudes started installing my beloved flooring, Cali Bamboo Antique Java from Lowes (no payment taken for the endorsement). Here’s a snippet of what’s been started. Shaun has been a godsend going from eLend to the new house and back to our house for days. We also picked paint colors for all of the bedrooms, family room, and dining room (the current color is visible in the pictures above, just ugh!). The kitchen will be renovated at a later date so the floors in the kitchen and family room will stay for now since those rooms flow together. Forward thinking genius moment, we purchased enough of the same flooring we are putting down now to cover those rooms too so they will mesh perfectly.

On top of that, we also bought mass quantities of white paint to cover the dark moldings and the built-ins. This is going to unequivocally change the downstairs rooms because every single one of the moldings are super dark. Then the light fixtures will be replaced, or in the bedrooms case be added since there aren’t any. If you could see the dining room fixture, you’d know why this is third on the priority list.

The girls are enjoying their extended time in and around town. We had our trunk or treat, Halloween festivities at school, Halloween on our street (which is a BIG deal!), girl scouts, and more. They were excited to have more time at school (they’re still young LOL).

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2017 Trick or Treating in BT

I think we’ve hit the point in the changeover where we are no longer more sad to leave then we are to move. We’ve reached a juncture where we love where we live and do not want to leave but are more apt to go and start our new chapter. I think part of this transition is that we are ready to not be living out of the literal box, ready to be settled into our new home, and excited to be in the place we’re working so hard to make home.

The movers come next week and we will finally move into our new home and start our next chapter. I will post a lot of before and after pictures in the weeks forthcoming. My hope is that by the end of November we’ll be unpacked, painted, finished with some of my projects, and decorated a smidge. It’s essentially like starting anew with regards to decorating since I’ve rid of so much and am not rushing buying shtuff (not a typo but two words joined together) to just fill the spaces but want to really find things we love when we do and do without until then. It’s going to be ongoing and a huge work in progress. It’s going to be a fun trip we are on! So happy we took the leap!

Here’s a picture of one of the things I’ll really miss, my favorite tree in our yard in Fall.

Fall on The Lane

Fall on The Lane

Caffeinated and Calm in the Calamity! Buttt….and it’s a big BUT

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2 Alden Court

One week ago we closed on this gem (not the best pic but the photographer is 7 years old). Saturday we got right to work! Although we love our new house, we bought it for its good bones. As the new flooring was delivered (yay!) Shaun and I got to work ripping out the rugs. This was a bigger undertaking than I ever imagined and a lot of physical labor. I’m coining the term wife labor instead of child labor because I really didn’t sign up for this!

Thankfully the girls were just happy to be in the new house with their essentials, American Girl dolls, gymnastics mats, balance beam, Magnaforms, bikes and their new love, which was so very graciously left for them by the previous owners, a piano.

Packed in with the “essentials”
Pianists in the making

Then around midday, my mom aka “Mushy”, came to take the girls for a sleepover. This was such a blessing because Shaun and I powered through the cutting, ripping, rolling, and throwing the rugs and pads out our bedroom window. There was sooo much dust I could not believe it! We had to wear face masks almost the whole time. By the time we were done I could not feel my fingertips and the bottom of my feet were completely swollen.

The pic below is about 2/3 of what we ripped out. After, we went back to our boxed up house, scoured for food and passed out exhausted. The next morning we returned to our now carpet free home and started pulling out staples. Oh, I know this is an invigorating life I lead (insert sarcasm overload)! After that, the girls returned, we ate, they played some more, and got ready for a typical Monday.

2/3 of the rugs OUT

This particularly vitalizing Monday for me involved a 7:45am meeting, caffeinating, packing, inspector #1, packing, inspector #2, picking up the girls, homework and snack, caffeinating, inspector #3, dinner and crashing in bed.

The original plan was that Friday the movers would come and start Day 1 of the big move. Friday night we have our town’s Trunk or Treat. Saturday is Day 2, the last day, of the move. Sunday was emptying and organizing some kitchen boxes. Monday was the BIG DAY! The closing on our house in BT. The girls last day, and what a fun way to have a last day at their school, will be Tuesday/Halloween. For trick or treating we will enjoy our last Halloween on The Lane with all of our people.

BUTTTTTT plans change and we roll with it. The closing was pushed back a bit. The girls will go to school until NJ Teacher’s Convention week and the movers will also come then too. The silver lining, lemonade from lemons, break in the clouds is that the flooring should be done before we move in and potentially some painting, electrical work, more too.

So for now, we are cracking the tape on some boxes to get some essentials out, but not unpacking anything and the girls will remain in school. We continue to work on the new house and live a little in both places. I vow to continue to remain caffeinated and calm in all of the calamity!

I did get to enjoy coffee by myself Sunday morn on my deck aka my new fav place!

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Morning on the deck

Here’s a beautiful picture of driving to Home Depot for the 3rd time in one day

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Beautiful drives

Only Two Freaking Weeks and One Day

I know that this post will sound a lot like the last but my life is a repetitive reel right now. Wake up, caffeinate, get kids off to school, caffeinate, pack, eat, pick kids up, homework, pack, eat, try and chill out, sleep and do it all over again. The new news this week is that Natalie, my oldest, is turning TEN YEARS OLD!!! How the heck did that happen?!?!

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Baby Natalie

This baby pictured above had her 10th birthday party today, she will have her first sleepover tomorrow (because I required her to be ten years old before she could have one), and Monday, her actual birthday, we are playing hookie and going to have a day of fun. A true Hamman girl birthday celebration lasts for days, revolves completely about her, and is awesome! Her birthday party was at this great little creative place called the Culture Cabin in Boonton, NJ. Erika Domanico is the owner and hosted the party where the girls made super cool dream catchers. After crafting up a storm, they had pizza and cake, then went outside to the fun outdoor space. Their is ring toss with fun colored antlers, corn hole, a little play house, hoola hoops, and so much more! I can not say enough great things about this place and highly recommend it for birthday parties, girl scout troops, ladies nights (you can bring snacks and libations), there’s a store downstairs you can go and shop for great gifts, and more! (No I am not getting paid for this plug. It’s just a cool place with a great owner!)

Me and my birthday girl <3
Her and her awesome friends

Also, this week I substituted for a day with my favorite class at our school, the Preschool. They hold a soft spot in my heart because Natalie was in the class for two years, the teachers are ridiculously amazing, and I worked in the classroom full-time for an extended time. The school knows I can’t say no to helping out in that classroom…I’m a sucker lol. However, the one day I subbed this year there was a bomb scare. The first ever since we’ve lived here. I was really happy I was there to help with the class that knows me and I can be a help to comfort, especially since the ages are from 3 to 5 years old. It was a bit scary as a parent of two kids in the school but reassuring because both of my girls were within 10 feet of where I was standing. My husband was my knight in shining armor because I text him to pick up our girls so I knew for a matter of a fact that they were safe and he immediately left work. All in all the school, police, and RVS staff did a stellar job during the whole evacuation and some of the staff without knowing what was happening. It actually makes it harder leaving because I now know without a matter of doubt that my children, at their school, are as safe as they can be in other people’s hands.

Onto home life, I can not stress enough how much packing is happening and still needs to be done. This even after I purged all summer long and continue to sell and throw things away. I wish I had a fairy wand to just make stuff disappear. Our garbage men must be completely sick of us by now and think that what we pay for our service is not near enough. It’s also amazing to me how you’re supposed to pack/prepare for moving your entire life and still maintain cleaning, laundry, cooking, school, activities, etc… The purging has been super therapeutic though and like a security blanket for my emotions.

Shaun may not agree with the emotional part. He gets the Heather who cries, hysterically at times, over stupid commercials, taking pictures off of the walls, finding mementos, remembering certain milestones in parts of the house and realizing I won’t be able to relive it there again and the list goes on and on and on. Last Monday was the last Spirit Day the girls will ever attend at their school, this Tuesday is the last birthday celebration they’ll ever have there, soon the Halloween celebrations will be over, we’ll be moving on and it won’t be our home, hometown, neighborhood, etc… anymore.

I’m positive that there will be things, moments, celebrations that I won’t be able to imagine living without in a year from now in our new home, hometown, neighborhood, etc… However, for now, I can not imagine replacing all of these things I am so fond of with new. In short, I’m a highly caffeinated hot mess and not afraid to admit it!