Ugh...

We all got horrible colds.  Yesterday instead of packing, we had pjs on at noon and layed around watching cartoons all afternoon.  We also played a game Ingrid made up, kind of like basketball, only you try to throw the ball as crazy as you can and see if it still gets there.  You get extra points for hitting someone on the face with the ball on accident (we use Nerf balls) and there was much giggling involved.

Today is another rainy, sick day.  I keep thinking I should be packing and then looking around and not even knowing what I'd pack anyway.  I am pretty darn glad this is the last time we're moving.  I can't believe we did this every year for ages.  Screw that.

The kids are actually in pretty good moods for being covered in snot and sneezing every five seconds.  My head feels like it's puffed up five sizes too big.  I want to go to bed and I have to go pack.  I have to, don't I?  Damn.

Mass Destruction. Or, the Week Before We Move

Want to feel better about yourself and your homemaking skills?  Take a look at our house as it is right now.  Seriously, I just took these pictures a minute ago.  And instead of cleaning anything up, I'm blogging. 

There, don't you feel better about your house now?

We closed on our house yesterday!  We had to wait around forever for the paperwork--they put the wrong sale price on the papers and when they went to go fix it, they found out we'd have to get another appraisal, another something or other with the interest, lots of junk that would take another week or so.  I was super pissed, but what can I do?  Nothing.  So we figured it out and signed our little hearts out and we now own a house.  In fact, for this week we are landlords.  The sellers need some time to move so they are renting from us.  Fun!

I have been trying to get things packed/thrown away/cleaned out but it's really hard with kids around.  I wish someone would take them away for a couple days so I could magically get shit done.  But instead, I do load after load of laundry, pick up toys, give baths after someone whose name starts with O and ends with -tis gets into the yogurt.  And in between all that I pack a box here and there, I start another bag for the thrift store, I throw out another thing that has been sitting in a corner somewhere collecting dust.  And my house turns into a chaotic mess.

I'm hoping to get all this packed up by Friday so we can spend the weekend at the cottage in peace and quiet and then move on Monday. Our official moving day is Tuesday but I feel like I can cram some mattresses in and on my car and move us there Monday, what do you think? 

Is That the SUN??

Yesterday we saw a brilliant bright thing in the sky.  Gasp!  It was the sun!  And it was gorgeous!  We ran outside to take advantage of this rare sighting in the midst of February.  It felt SO GOOD to get outside again!  I wrapped a sweater around Otis in the Ergo, Ingrid had her boots and hat on, and we set out to splash in puddles and flick snow around with a stick. 

Things are a crazy mess around here right now.  We have a few days left until we move, so most things are packed away.  Ingrid is getting a little freaked out and showing her unease by peeing her pants, whining, and throwing massive tantrums.  We're trying to be understanding, but it is so hard when we are also getting zero sleep because of a snorting baby not sleeping well at night.

I have been feeling SUPER bad about Ingrid's life lately, and I can't wait to get her settled.  Since Thanksgiving this poor kid has gone through so much.  First I was in the hospital for almost a month, then she got a new brother, then we started packing up all her toys to move to a new house.  So much change for such a peanut...It's the least I can do to try not to yell at her for being whiny.  She's got a lot on her mind and no way to express it.  Let me tell you, I will breathe a HUGE sigh of relief to be in our new place, finally settled and not going anywhere!  Let our life begin!

Painting, Picnic, and Puddles.

We got a watercolor book at Target yesterday.  It was funny to watch Ingrid try it.  She's used to regular paints, so watching her figure out how to get the brush wet and then get the paint wet and then try to get the paint on the paper was interesting.  It's so amazing when you can watch their little brains working to unravel a new mystery!  She did well with it, and I like that watercolors seem to be less messy than regular paints. 

After painting we went for another picnic.  This is Ingrid's new favorite thing to do.  We take some snacks and a blanket down to the field, let Cody run around, and enjoy the sun.  The other day I wanted to go home so I stood up and started to take the blanket to fold.  Ingrid yelled at me, "No, Mama!  Lay down!"  I guess she wasn't ready to go home...

Post-picnic was puddle time.  I honestly did not think the puddles would still be there, as it hasn't rained in a few days.  But, down by the lake they hung on.  And Ingrid won't let me bypass them, she has to run straight to them with the look of greatest joy on her face!  I caught a pretty good splash shot here!

Her feet were so gross and dirty when we got home, and I hate to think of what was in that puddle!

In other news, we're packing slowly but surely and should have everything ready to go in a couple weeks.  The first of May cannot come soon enough.  Our 20-something neighbors were having a nice fight all day yesterday, with slamming doors, swear words, and much yelling.  And our other neighbors' washing machine was unbalanced and making the loudest noises above us all day long.  It sucks living in a complex!!