My Heart Beats Faster Every Day. .

YOU GUYS.

Can you believe that this has been the LONGEST I have ever lived in ONE HOUSE???? Two years. That is my record, ridiculous.

I promise to stay in my next house longer than two years. . .
Who knows, I may be in it for 20.

What I am saying is, I think I am well on my way to living a more stable life, but hey, what does stable mean anyway?

I am overwhelmed by exactly HOW MUCH PLANNING has gone into this move. Not only did we get a house. . (after 3 failed attempts). . . but we are opening a store, doing training. . (like ME. I went to training for a week!) my kids are out of school, I have to coordinate moving, and picking up households, and dropping off households, and getting keys to households, and all of the utilities to boot. I have driven 48 hours straight in two days, and have just 7 more until I need to be completely packed up. Not to mention by husband is at work every day from 10:30-8:30 PM! I am doing Dr. Apts, and shopping for school stuff, arguing with my landlord that is ripping me off (UNITED METRO PROPERTIES!!!!) Scheduling landscapers, and cleaners, and oh my gosh, the list never ends. My phone rings 20 times in a day.

And I am a FIRM believer that an out of state move is way more extensive than an in-state one because you have to have EVERY LIVING THING packed before you move. . . You can't cheat, and come back for one or two car loads.

I hear myself telling Abby (after I have been short with her) that the stress that is on me is unimaginable to her. . . and she indeed looks at me with a blank stare. I hope some day she will read this and realize that really, I had every reason to be a strung out mess. But, I am usually able to rebound and keep my cool. . . USUALLY.

It is blazing hot outside, my kids have nothing to do, and soon, nothing to play with and NO ONE to play with as school starts on Monday. . .

THE GOOD NEWS IS.

We have a move date.

It is solid (as of today. . what a relief)

I have a place to live (as long as nothing goes wrong)

I have arranged to have it cleaned (it was bank-owned) before we get in.

So, I think I am good.

I have begged for some help, and I have gotten some. And I sooooooooooooo appreciate that. To those of you who have come a HUGE, HEARTFELT, THANK YOU!!! It means the world to me, and I want you to know that.

I feel prepared.

As prepared as I CAN feel.

When chaos is about to ensue.

Most of my house is packed,

and the RS is coming on Tuesday to finish.

And you know what? If I don't have another thing to make food on between Tuesday and Friday until I actually move, I am not going to care one single bit, because it will be DONE. And THAT will be a relief.

Sweet, sweet relief.

Can't wait.

Can't wait.

CAN'T WAIT!

Design Mind

Renting a house for the past three years has almost killed my design desires.

I LOVE decorating. Love. But, on our budget . . . let me just put it this way, there WAS no budget for decorating. And the fact that we couldn't paint walls or make changes was stifling to say the least. I would look at catalogs and try to be inspired for the "future" but let's face it, it just isn't the same. . .

Our "budget" hasn't really changed, yet. Probably won't for quite some time, but I am excited to start doing "projects" that can make a big difference, but not take a lot of money. There won't be any big purchases, but I am excited to be able to paint a wall, or a piece of furniture. To be honest, I don't think I have spent over $100 on ANYTHING but our couches in our house, and I am proud of that fact. Don't think that will be changing either, but as least I can do something little here and there without stressing the budget.

For Abby's birthday, I told her we could re-do her room as her gift. When you decorate, it is best if you pick a favorite piece and build around it. I wanted to try to pick out a new comforter or duvet cover to work around. Abby knows her momma's MO so, it had to be cheap, or on sale. We finally settled on this.

It was on sale in the Pottery Barn Teen Catalog. It was the only item we got from the catalog, and I had a $25 off coupon. That always helps. :) It is not my favorite color scheme (HELLO 80's!) But someone has a mind of her own, and decided she LOVES blue (my least favorite) and didn't want any more PINK! I decided I could handle this aqua color over a navy, or baby blue, and liked the beachy pattern since we are going to be oh, so, close to the beach.

We have a kid transitioning from crib, to bed, and since Abby wanted to "grow up" and out of her room, that was going to involve some purchases. I have been super inspired by THIS website as of late, and decided that I could re-do some pieces for her to make her room just the way she wanted. Just click through some posts and you will be inspired too! You will never look at an old dresser the same way again!!

I started scouring Craig's List for some used furniture and found some great pieces I thought I could work with.

I got a desk:

PRICE: $20

A dresser: Hers is going to Kaylie's room. No more changing table or crib!

Price $60

The dresser came with a framed mirror for the top, which I am going to be making into something like this:

We also got a few accessories:

A round chair, perfect for reading books: Target $29. It folds up and is going to be a perfect cuddle spot and will replace the tea party table and chairs that are currently in her room.
And this peace sign at Home Goods $9. (Notice there is one EXACTLY like it in the picture below, and I didn't even notice it before I bought it!)
It is just a start. We are still missing a bed and bed frame, but since I haven't been able to find anything I like, or anything cheap, I think I am going to do something like THIS and do it in a Black background with white polka dots. (Watch the video to get inspired!)

I am hoping that her room will turn out looking something like this:

I love the light and airy look, so, I am going to have to steer clear of any more black accents, but, I think so far, so good! I will keep you posted on project updates. I told her this would be my first priority when we got there, so, stay tuned!

Home Stretch

Life is crazy.

My house is 75% packed.

Peter spends 11 hours a day at work, and when he gets home, he has more to do.

It is 118 degrees outside.

My kids are going nuts.

I am going nuts.

In a few days I will drive 24 hours, all by myself.

Excuse me, with 4 kids.

I will be glad when it is over.

I am sure it will be worth it.

I hope I make it.

Sanity wise.

Only 26 days left.

Then Peter's training will be over.

And we will be residents of California.

I can't wait.

Letters To California

Wade is obsessed with California. . . and if you could hear it in his little Wade voice, it kinda sounds a wee bit reminiscent of how the Governator says it. You know, Cal-i-for-ni-a has lots of syllables and I guess Wade, and the Governator just want to make sure they get them all in there. Believe me, it is much cuter the way Wade says it.

Anyway, Wade started his little obsession back in November when we went their for a family Holiday trip. Ever since then he would randomly bring up California and say it was his favorite place, or that he wanted to go back. Then Peter and I started going on investigative trips there and he would bring it up even more frequently. . . "OH!! Are you going to Cal-i-for-nia?"

Peter and I were pretty excited to tell him he would ACTUALLY be moving to his favorite state. And the excitement was not lost on Wade. He continues to talk about California and how much he loves it there. I don't think it has dawned on him yet that we will actually be LIVING there. But, I am sure he will get the idea soon. . . .

In the mean time, he has started making "Letters to California". . . It has ended up being quite literal. And as I look to my left, he is sitting at the table RIGHT NOW making something. I don't know if it is another letter to California, but it sure is cute. He has just started drawing actual IMAGES. I love this stage. Jaxon drew us endless pirate maps, and Wade has started with endless "Letters to California". He will deliver them to Peter or myself and INSIST that we deliver it to California. I made the mistake of agreeing, and then laying the letter carefully on the floor. I was immediately scolded that that was NOT where the letter was supposed to go.

My favorite letter to California ended up having one of Wade's first images on it. I am serious. He has never drawn stick figures to this point, and I love this image so much, that if I ever open my own surf shop in California (you never know. . . I mean, I am already opening my own Pizza shop) I think I will use this as the logo. Of course everyone will think I paid millions for some genius designer to draw it. . . but no. . . just my awesome 4 year old.

Enjoy just a FEW of Wade's "Letter's to California" . . . (I scanned three at once)

PS-

This is the latest image, which was delivered just SECONDS after I finished this post!
Description: This is on the beach, and (that thing in the middle) you can ride it on the beach and it goes really fast and (the thing right above that) is a gun force field (?) and there is sun and it rains too.

After he handed it to me, he went to the electric piano that we pulled from under Abby's bed today while packing. He pounded on it and sang a few words about California. . . Seriously.Obsessed.

PPS- Now Kaylie also randomly tells me she wants to go to California. I think we are ready.