Moving Saga Part 6: Last Chapter?

We went back to the Old Place Sunday after church to do the final cleaning. I cried when we Magically Erased Eli's wall art -->>Then we had to clean the empty apartment. It was a great way to say goodbye to every inch...
Goodbye: Cheap white linoleum with scratches and spaces, kitchen faucet that squirts over 6 feet (had to keep a washcloth over it!), faux green/tan marble (in both bathrooms), eroding mirrors (in both bathrooms), hole it tub, tub that isn't sealed to the floor and leaks water (from hole in the tub), moldy 2.5 x 2.5' shower, moldy plastic carpet, thermostat that only sets to extremely hot and only 4 windows in the whole place (that includes the sliding glass door in the back!).
Hello: Beautiful new wood floors and lovely floor tile, nice fixtures that are just to die for, granite counters, travertine tiled tub and shower (no leaks in sight!), huge shower with corner seat, thick cozy carpet, thermostat with timer and air conditioning, 2 car garage, 15 HUGE double paned windows, three bedrooms, and open happy perfect uplifting feelings.

Hello down there...

Unpacking is just dandy...

The way I listed the contents of these boxes just cracked me up later. The first one has my beloved pumpkins in it and it says "Random Horizontal Stuff" (you can also see an Eli's Lids label peeking out from the slit).

The other box says "Junk Drawer and Important Papers."

One thing I'm really bummed to say goodbye to is our little backyard. The first thing we did after we moved in was put in the grass. We were surrounded by a busy street and my little back yard felt like our family's secret little oasis in the middle of the city. We had a lot of fun back there with buddies, bubbles, a tiny plastic pool, flowers, picnics...

After we cleaned Hot Hubby and I just sat in the empty living room and cried (I cried, he cuddled). It wasn't home anymore... but the new place wasn't yet either.

.

"Mom, I'm so tired of the Moving Saga..."

Moving Saga Part 5: Moving Day

That's right folks... I'm hugging a fridge. I loved that fridge. It was the first big item Hot Hubby and I bought after we got married. It was also one of the few household items that my preference differs from my mom's. I was sad because it was something I picked out all my myself for my new role as grown-up-wife. We sold it on Craig's List.
My awesome cousin Olivia came over to watch the kiddos (FYI she has run a marathon... how impressive is that!?!?). Cora was stuck to her like glue. It was adorable and just made my heart melt thinking of what fun they are going to have as Cora gets older. Just like the great memories I have of my time with Olivia's mom :)

Moving stinks. We had lots of friends come out and lucky for us two of our neighbors helped too... thanks Jodi and Ryan! You were a God-send!

The Laborers...

Lawrence (Aimee's hubby), Adam (Jami's hubby), Devon (Sarah's hubby), My Hot Hubby and Jason (Rachael's hubby).Goodbye old stinky place... hello house in the hills!

After the grunt work was over we invited the wives and kiddos over for a picnic. I love my friends!

At the day's end we were tired... oh so tired. Can you tell?

We got our second wind at my inspiration's delight over his new big boy bed. Thanks GG!!We even had enough energy to go out to sushi with my beautiful cousin. Thanks for dinner Olivia. We couldn't have done the day without you watching the kiddos. They adore you Auntie Olivia and I adore that!!

Moving Saga Part 4: Sacred Space

The last days in that little apartment I was really able to reflect on our life there. We lived... I mean really lived there for 2 years. So much life. It is hard to put into words, but I really feel that so much meaningful life happened in that space, it just has to be sacred now. I just imagine anyone walking in the apartment will be overwhelmed with the life felt there.
I am.
As I'm typing this, tears streaming down my face, sitting in my palace in the hills, I can't help but think what a wonderful life we had there.
So much life that everyone who lives there will get to experience just a bit of our joy. I mean how could they not!?! We live in joy.
Our daughter was born into that space.
Both of our children were dedicated in that space.
So many friends and family broke bread in that space.
Countless romantic moments and "I love yous" were spoken in that place.
Infections laughter resonated in that space.
Sacred space.
One of the sweetest memories in those last days was Cora Jane getting to discover the rain. She was in her PJs and I just let her go at her own pace and she was in awe...
Later that day I rememberedthat it was just over a year earlier when Eli discovered the rain in that same space... in his PJs... and in awe... I'm not sure why but I was pretty sad saying goodbye to the trash man.
Lame, I know!
But for goodness sake we have been running out to watch him 3 times a week for the past 2 years. Yes, 3 times a week!! I was being dragged by Eli and lugging Cora Jane and usually Eli's trash truck too. He was just so kind to Eli... I mean we didn't talk, but he never seemed annoyed we were watching. He would wave at Eli and say that his toy trash truck was "neat." I even gave him a nativity I made at Christmas.
This last Trash Day we ran out with our homemade Valentine. On the back I had written a Thank You note. Before he got back in his truck he read the note then came over to say goodbye. I snapped a picture... Eli still talks about that moment!
Now Eli comments every week (we only have trash day once a week at the new place) that the new Trash Man forgets to wave at him.
It's sad.

Moving Saga Part 3: Early Load & Purging

If you have a marvelous landlord like we do, then he would let you start moving in early (Blessing #7). Our friends loaded up their cars with a big bulk of our "stuff" and we headed off to our palace in the hills. The kiddos ran wild playing in the "forts" and we all devoured my mom's awesome stuffing casserole and her absolutely fabulous chocolate chip cookies (Blessing #8). I'll share the stuffing casserole... but I'm just not quite ready to reveal the cookie recipe yet :)
Stuffing Casserole

• Make stuffing according to the directions on the box without the butter
• Bake chicken breasts (cut into strips)
• Add 1 can of cream of chicken soup and one can of water to the chicken to make a tasty "gravy"
• Cook a bit more
• Put the finished stuffing on the bottom and sides of 9X13 pan
• Add the cooked chicken and gravy to the center of the stuffing
• Heat up everything in the oven till it is bubbly
• Serve with cranberry sauce
• This is yummy! (great for Thanksgiving leftovers)

Why do I adore my friends?

They adore my Lids!
(other things too)
While Eli was building box forts (with real power tools!) we were pitching all the stuff unworthy of our hillside villa (two minivans full of stuff to be exact). We also sold quite a few big items on Craig's List (Blessing #10). You meet some fun people with Craig's List...
Like the lady who talked our wine glasses down to $5 and didn't bring anything to pick them up in and couldn't stop talking about gallivanting around Vegas with her husband and gay friends.
Like the nice guy who bought our patio furniture so his wife could smoke outside.
Like the tattooed couple who bought black corner shelf to display their Nightmare Before Christmas memorabilia.
Like the...

Moving Saga Part 2: Floors & Forts

Blessing #4: Our amazing landlord replaced the carpet down stairs with wood floors. He did it just because he cares about Eli's asthma :) This should really really really help Eli out!!
Blessing #5: Our friends came over to help put in the floors. It 's always more fun when you throw a baby into the mix... We are all about child labor...

Blessing #6: We have 4 closets! Or as Eli calls them, forts... I hope he isn't too disappointed when we fill them with clothes :)

Things to do...

Practice on our new stairs. I like that they turn because if someone happens to fall, they will only bonk on 7 steps intsead of 15!!