Moving Prep

Yeah, so I can't post any pictures this week because I'm apparently out of space... so yeah. Just deleted the entire first year of the blog for nothing... good thing Craig turned it into a book for me. So, we'll have it but it's lost to the world. *tear*
Anyway... We've mostly just been getting ready for the big move across country. Have everything set. Got the job, the place to live, and the moving truck to get there. Been working on overhauling our wardrobes from constant summer to intense winter...So now all we have to do is pack up our clothes and the kids' toys and we'll be set to go!
I've been making mix tapes for us to listen to on the way, and the kids are stocked up on color wonders and etch-a-sketches. Hopefully between that and the portable DVD player we'll be good for the five days it's going to take us to get out there. Is anyone else excited about eating at the places on Triple D that are on our travel route? I'm pretty stoked. I only wish the place that serves bacon covered doughnuts was on the way. It sounds weird, which means it's probably delicious.
As for stories of the week: The kids and I met up with my cousin Brooke and her kids for a farewell play date this last Saturday. Brooke has always been the cousin I'm closest to, because our birthdays are just days apart, we're both married with kids, and we actually got married just a month apart, too! She's the one I shared every birthday with until I was like ten or something. We both realized how much we're going to miss each other and how sad we are that we didn't take more time to get together while we lived so close. The kids got along so well. Vash just loved Hunter and Logan. Tatum, Brooke's daughter, apparently loved Rhyla so much that she kept asking Brooke where she went after we parted ways. I'm torn between thinking that that is the cutest or possibly saddest thing right now. Well, you rarely appreciate what you have until it's gone...sometimes. Not always, but it's definitely the case here.
I've been helping Santa work on the kid's Christmas presents. (Home made Toy Chests... Shhhhhh!) We're trying to have them done before the move obviously, so we can just bring them with us. It'd be awfully expensive for Santa to ship them out to us, otherwise... LOL. So I've been covered in paint the last few days, trying my hand at being an artist. They obviously won't look professionally done, but they're still pretty cute. What can I say? The elf Santa had build the things (An elf named Grandpa) is super talented but not much with a paint brush. Or so he tells me. :)
Tomorrow will be Craig's last day at his current job. Yey! I know he's sorry to go in a way because they were super nice to him, but I know he's thrilled about going into a job where he can use the degree he worked so hard to earn.
Every one at school keeps asking me if I'm ready to go, or if I'm freaked out. They want to know how I'm feeling. I keep telling everyone the same thing. It doesn't feel real yet. I don't feel any differently because it doesn't feel like anything's going to change. I wont truly believe it until we've pulled up into our town home and we start unloading into our new life. Then... I'll probably burst into tears. Shocked tears, not upset tears. Then I'll get the house set up, eat a box of Twinkies (since it turns out they're going to be OK after all), and just get on with our new lives.
Here's to change and here's to tolerating it with grace, dignity, and hostess snack foods.
Hope every one has a Happy Turkey Day!