well it has officially been a week since we packed everything up and sent Drew and his parents cross-country with a 15 foot truck containing all of our belongings along with our two cars. Then I flew out with the kids, cat and my mom on Friday, little A was the most difficult of Divas on the two flights to SLC and we have been staying in temporary housing living off fast food since then. (dad and DK sending us off before security checks! do not be fooled by the happy faces!)
While it would be easy to list all the things I am frustrated with and I could talk about them till I am blue in the face, I am going to do by best to focus on the best parts of the last 7 days.
leg one!
leg two!
temporary housing at Chris' condo in SLC
one giant bundle of babies!
our first sunday away from Ohio... missing our Wilson Fam something fierce!
my first "MURPH" on memorial day, also first day with my new crossfit fam! (I'm in black in back)
okay. counting my blessings:
1. Drew and his parents made it cross country (and deserve some form of sainthood for driving two 13 hour days across country!) with all of our stuff in one piece.
2. While Drew's car had to get repaired (to the tune of $1500) once we got back, at least it made it to Utah in one piece.
3. Our Uhaul was not stolen (knock on wood, still one of my biggest moving-related fears because CLOTHES FOR MY CHILDREN are the biggest pain to buy)
4. I did get to keep my beloved table and chairs...which we will keep until Drew can find me a set I like better!
5. Our house is SO CLOSE to being done. SO CLOSE!
6. We met our new ward and sitting behind us was family with a 6 year old boy, twin 4 year old girls, and a 3 year old boy (also an infant girl! we are no longer the crazy big family!)
7. My mom and inlaws have been here and able to help with the craziness of the children
8. Chris and Sheryl have the perfect place to crash with loads of cool toys/books/movies for the kids, a crib for napping, plus extra diapers, play dresses, and all the "necessities" that we lack with all our stuff in storage. Have I mentioned how amazing they are yet??
9. Getting to play at C&S's pool. Plus they have floaties and all the stuff I need to keep my kids safe (And my mind at ease) and they had extra swimsuits we were able to borrow.
10. Getting to spend time with aunts and uncles for the kids!
11. Drew getting to go golfing with family and I got to go to Crossfit the morning of Memorial day (Because we had live in babysitters)! We also got to go see Pirates last night, again because our moms are amazing and knew we needed a break after this crazy week.
12. We met one of our neighbors and they convinced Drew to build a fence (Which I've been jonesing for since we started looking). Also they seem really nice.
13. The kids have been sleeping really well, considering the upheaval. We don't make it into bed till close to 8/9/10 some nights but they finally transition from car to bed well so it is just fine! Everyone is up between 630-730. Babies are still napping and little a naps sometimes too. The early bedtime is for everyone since we are in a studio apartment so I have been getting more sleep (Although more interruptions at night since they wake up so often, but go right back to sleep) as a result which has been great because I need the energy right now!
14. I haven't had to cook a single meal in a week. I cannot believe I am actually looking forward to it!
15. We will not have to live in our house without a fridge since ours comes in tomorrow!
16. Kevs has been remarkably well behaved.
17. Everyone has mastered using their tablets. (with and without WIFI)
18. The boys and I got to go see Lightning McQueen and even watched a few minute sneak peek of the new movie! It was too funny and involves a road racing school bus with flames! So excited for that movie in a few weeks!
Big brothers and their baby twins...
19. We picked out a couch that I love. I am still not sold on the 500$ rug but I do get the pillows and cannot wait to see how it looks in our house early next week!
20. I never forgot what incredible friends and family we have here in Utah, but this last week has been a really good reminder. I still have a village to raise my kids here. But I still miss my friends and family back in Ohio, and that is OK. We will hopefully be in the house by this weekend and we can settle in and start working our way to the community that we felt like we had in Westerville. It will take more time than the 3 years we were able to do it there, but I know we can do it. And I am grateful to have the hardest parts of this situation (the traveling cross country) behind us.
My days have been long, I have not always been as patient or grateful as I should be but I am working on it. I am trying my best to put on a happy face when I can, and when I cannot I have been able to quiet my thoughts, step back and "process" what is going on before I react. It is a learning process and not one that I have adjusted to quickly only because I have been forced into it. But we can all do hard things, sometimes even joyfully, right? :)
special thanks to Rachael for our playdate today (the kids needed it!) and the kids got their first happy meals (I think ever?) but I didn't mind because they got those mini beanie boos which are adorable.
