WebCam Wednesday - Empty Shell

We closed another chapter in our lives last Thursday. I decided to take a video of the house after it was all cleaned out. Here it is.

Monday Morning Musings - OK, So It's 10:00 At Night, When Was The Last Time I Actually Mused In The Morning?

Don't cry for me Argentina. The truth is, I never left you. Yeah, I can tell you have all been boohooing over my lack of blogging from all the concerned comments questioning my whereabouts. But don't worry. I'm back now. Kind of. I'm on my mom's computer and it took about 5 minutes to open this page. Hopefully it will actually post. We will see.

A whole week of my life passed me by and I barely came up for a breath. Let's see. On Friday, last Friday, like over a week ago, we decided, "Hey, we should move tomorrow". So I was crazy that day trying to get storage spaces and pods delivered and people to help move and I also figured I should probably pack. So I did. And we moved most of our stuff out on Saturday. The plan Dan, was to get the big stuff out and then continue to live in the house the rest of the week and finish packing and be out by the next weekend. It didn't turn out that way.

We went back to our house on Saturday night and I was so depressed about all that was still left to do. I also thought about having to drive the kids 1 hour round trip to school, and that didn't seem like a good idea. So we decided to move into my mothers house a week early. We did, and after dropping the kids off at school each morning I drove to the house to pack.

By Wednesday I had just about everything packed and out. Thursday I cleaned. That night we closed. Friday it funded and recorded, and the new people moved in. I must give a very especial thank you to my dear friend Betsy. Because without her, I don't know what I would have done. She came Friday night and helped me pack my kitchen, Wednesday to help pack all the odds and ends left behind, and Thursday to help clean. I honestly don't know what I would have done without her. I never would have been done on time.

Everything happened so fast that I didn't really have time to process the fact that we were moving. MOVING. Leaving our house and our friends and family all behind. We have lived in that house for over 12 years. The people in that neighborhood are our best friends and our children's best friends. They are more than that. They are also our family. Before my parents moved here 3 years ago, we didn't really have any family here. The people in our neighborhood became our family. Like I said, I really hadn't processed the whole moving thing. The last two days we had people stopping in and saying good-bye. Every time I would talk to someone I would start crying. I might start crying now.

The guy who brought our portable storage unit from our house to my mom's house asked Aubrey if the boys across the street at the old house were her friends. He said they came out to talk to him and one of them told him that his best friend Aubrey lived in that house and she moved and he was sad. That also made me cry. Austin and Aubrey have been playing together almost everyday since they were born. Well, since they were old enough to play.

I think I have said enough for now. I don't want to overwhelm you all at once. After going so long without hearing me ramble on, you aren't used to it anymore. Come on. Say it. You missed me. I know you did. You know you did.

One of these days Steve is going to have my computer up and running and I will have to post the cute pictures of my kids on their first day at school. Just a little something for you to look forward to. Try not to lose any sleep in anticipation.

Flashback Friday - Alicia

It's that time again. Today's Flashback is starring Alicia. Alicia and I grew up in the same ward together. Her sister is Diana (remember with the hair). You can read Diana's post for a more detailed version of my friendship with Alicia. Sorry I'm a little busy at the moment trying to get ready to move out of my house. Don't forget, it's still not too late to join in the fun.

Farrah, Allyson Alicia, Kim

Angie, Chad, Alicia, Jamie in Allyson and Farrah's bedroom

Alicia, Cori, Anne at girls camp

Charlotte, Mary Ann, Alicia at my wedding

Stuck In My Head - Pretty Little Souped Up Four Wheel Drive

This song, although one of my favorites, is really driving me crazy right now. It might have something to do with the fact that Emily has had it on continuous replay in the CD player for the past 3 days. I can't find a decent version that I can embed so click here to see.

WebCam Wednesday - Something's Fishy

You might have had enough of our vacation by now. But I haven't. So too bad for you. We went to the most awesome aquarium while we were in Gatlinburg. AWESOME. For real. And just in case you don't believe me, here is a video to prove it. This underwater tunnel has a moving sidewalk that takes you through it and it lasts forever. I couldn't believe how long it was.

Third Time's A Charm? Yeah, We'll See About That.

I just finished giving monster baby her third bath of the day. Why the need for a bath this time? She climbed onto the bathroom counter and schmeared hand soap all about her face and neck.

Monday Morning Musings - Nose To The Grindstone

Huhhhhhhh.......Right now I am taking a much needed break from packing. I'm startin' to freak out. How much stuff is actually necessary for human survival? I am guessing we have more than enough. Huhhhhhhhh..........

Last week when we got a contract on the house I told Steve we are going to play a fun game for the remaining 2 weeks we have left in this house. It is called, "What can we make for dinner out of the food we already have". I am not packing up a bunch of food. We have a pantry and 2 refrigerators/freezers full of food. I really do have plenty of food for meals. Only we are running low in the snack department. Remember we had just gone on a trip right before we sold the house so I hadn't gone shopping for a while before that. So last night I was starving. I went to find a snack. This is what I had: a glass of OJ, a handful of crasins, and a chunk of peanut butter cookie dough. All of those things in and of themselves are quite tasty. Together, not so good.

I think I am the only person in the world who hasn't watched any of the Olympics. None. And guess what? I have zero desire to.

I think it is funny how life works. At the end of the school year back in May, I was so ready for school to be over. I was so sick of schedules. I was sick of having to get everyone up and ready and out the door every morning. I was sick of pre-school drop off and pick up. I was sick of homework. I was sick of bedtimes. I needed a break. Well right now, a week before school starts, I am so ready for it to start. I am sick of not being on a schedule. I can't wait to get back into our nice little organized routines. I am ready for my children to go to bed at a decent time. Holy cow am I ready for that.

I guess I better go back......and pack. Jack.

Get Your Motor Runnin'

This picture is of Steve when he was riding on our vacation. Apparently they have a sort of roadside "Paparazzi" that photographs people riding and then posts the pictures online for purchase. I bought this picture and they said I could use it on my website as long as I gave them credit, so here it goes. Photo courtesy of killboy.com

Turned Tables

The girls were down in the basement watching TV. I went down just in time to hear the catchy tune at the beginning of the show. I naturally broke into a little jig. Emily looked at me horrified and said, "MOM! STOP IT!", "MOM! YOU LOOK RIDICULOUS!", "MOM! PLEASE STOP NOW!".

Well, of course, that only made me want to do it more.

So she yelled up the stairs, "HEY! GUY WHO'S FIXING OUR DISHWASHER! COME DOWNSTAIRS AND WATCH MY MOM DANCE!".

That pretty much put a stop to it.

Flashback Friday - Juliekins

Here we are again. Flashback Friday, staring you. I am gonna say this again, cause I still have people commenting, it's not too late for you-click here. Today is my friend Julie's turn. Julie moved into our neighborhood about a year and a half ago (is that right Julie?). I remember the first day I met her, we sat next to each other in Relief Society. I found out that we were both Texas girls. Julie has become a good friend since then.

Decorating Halloween cookies at Betsy's house. Julie is in the back holding the baby.

The Zoo. Max, Meg, Zac, PJ, Matt, Madi, Caleb (Julie's son), Kylee, Emily, Aubrey

A little girls night we had at my house. Emalee, Allison, Julie, Jessica, Laura

Dianna, Julie, Emalee, Allison, Jessica

Last month at the park. Julie, Allyson, Betsy, LaRee