Moving Phase 1

Like I thought I didn't get to grab a lot of pictures of us clearing out storage. When I saw just how much stuff I had to go through I instantly became overwhelmed. It's not the easiest thing in the world trying to go through stuff with a toddler on your hands either. My step dad took Maddy for me for a little while so we could go through boxes and clear out so he could get to the big items, then later on my mom took her on a walk. When I found out I was moving I panicked thinking I didn't have anything because at my mom's house I don't...I just have Maddy's toys and bathroom stuff. I guess when you don't use your stuff for three, almost four years, it's pretty easy to remember what you do have. I have a lot more cookware than I thought...I found I had multiple sets of pyrex dishes that includes three 3 qt. glass pans, several different size bowls to mix and other baking needs, a pie dish and two casserole dishes. I only found one skillet so far, but I know I have at least one other one. My sister got me some fun things too. She had curtains that she wasn't using that she is letting me use for the living room and Maddy's room. She bought me a picture for a belated birthday present that has my favorite bible verse on it...Jeremiah 29:11, For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord...

She also bought me a flameless candle that has my last name initial and the saying, "As for me and my house we will serve the Lord." She got me a pop up tote that says the same thing and is pretty nifty.

The last thing she got me was a kitchen utensil caddy with your basic utensils. Oh! She also got me a cookie sheet that came with some cookie cutters that were really cute and me and Maddy are going to have a ball making cookies together. I just need to get me a rolling pin ;) My mom is the queen of couponing and my sister seems to be the queen of clearance items because everything she did buy she got on clearance for a really good price.
I had a plan for what I wanted to do at the storage place, which was go through all the boxes and throw out what I didn't want. We started out that way, but after the first load we just put the boxes back and didn't think about whether it was going or staying. To prevent double work I just said forget that method when we started in on the second load. One thing that has really stuck in my head is an article I read from the Duggar family. One advice they gave is to not go into things with expectations. For example don't expect to always have a clean house (this was from Michelle because they have so many kids) or the kids to be a certain way. I've found that a lot of my disappointments in life come from having an expectation of what I thought should or would happen. Moving stuff out of storage I had an expectation of being super organized and throwing away a bunch of stuff...none of that happened and I found myself getting disappointed and almost like I had failed. Anyways, We didn't get all the storage cleared out, but it will only take one more truck load before it's all done. The first trip to my house a yard service man asked if we wanted his help because the only man there was my step dad...it was my step dad, three ladies, two bigger kids, and two small kids. The yard service man helped get my couch and dresser in and then my step dad paid him to mow my back yard. Let me tell ya, that yard service man is an extremely hard worker. He only charges $20 and you get your money's worth. He mowed not just the back yard, but also the front yard (which isn't really much). He has a riding mower and a push mower so he did the riding mower for as much as he could, then got his push mower to finish up, then he got his weed eater and weed eated(sp?) all around the house plus the mailbox. Then he saw my mom and step dad trying to turn on my water at the meter thing and he offered to help because he had something that would help turn the knob because apparently it was really hard to turn. I know it doesn't sound like much but he really worked his behind off for $20 and was super nice. In my back yard there is a lot of garbage that looks like people just dumped back there and then animals got in it. My step dad told the man about it, so he went next door because I have a cop living next to me (can we say thank goodness?!?!) to tell him what he found out about the garbage. So to try to sum up the day, we made two trips to storage and only have one more. My house is becoming full of junk and I am really worried about how much stuff I already have over there because I have a LOT of stuff here at my mom's house. If the the stuff I had from storage were all useful things for the house I'd be fine, but it's all the little odds and ends I've collected over the years plus some of my work from when I worked at a school. I really have no idea where all this stuff is going to go. I really want to be really organized and not clutter up the house, but for a while I'm afraid we will be a little cluttered until I can figure out where I can put things haha. I have my washer and dryer in the laundry room, but they need to be hooked up. The only other big things I have left are mine and Maddy's bed and my night stand. I did grab a couple of pictures while we were transporting.

Maddy went all day with no nap! She did exceptionally well though. She was so excited to play with Abby and Sara (my nieces) and to show off her new house. She is a lot more interested in potty training at her new house. When we went last week she wanted to use the potty and she did try. I can't even get her to try at my mom's house...very rarely will she even try. Saturday my oldest niece came to me and said Maddy had gone to the potty. I was like REALLY?!?! I think my niece was proud that she helped Maddy because she just had the biggest grin on her face. I went into the bathroom and sure enough maddy was on the potty and I made a big deal over her going. I am hoping once we get moved in she will just really take off in the potty training area.
We didn't leave my house until 7:18 p.m. and we were all ready to crash.