Reflections On Moving

Well, here it is Monday and we now own two houses (for a week, anyway)! The big move started on Friday (though my husband and inlaws had been preparing the new house for a week). Here are some random highlights:

• Both of my kids’ rooms turned out adorable and exactly how I wanted them to – and they love them. They won’t sleep in them yet, but they like looking at them.
  
• Buying an old house has ups and downs – one of the downs is figuring out the wiring and electrical. After installing a new light in my daughter’s room, the microwave and two outlets are now juice-less. Huh?
  
• A whole-house fan is a forgotten treasure. With open windows, this fan keeps the house less than 80 degrees. We’re used to 68, so this still felt warm – but I was impressed. I will be glad, however, when the A/C gets a clean bill of health tomorrow and we can turn it on!
  
• My son is in heaven with people in and out of our house – cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents – he said it’s the greatest thing EVER!
  
• My uncle, father-in-law and brother-in-law are alive and well after bringing up the fully-stocked deep freeze (“Why didn’t you unload it?” they asked me. “Why didn’t YOU?” was my response) Our sheetrock in the stairwell, however, is officially dead.
  
• We remembered my dad’s birthday and stopped to celebrate with cake and a full lunch spread my mom and grandma prepared. I think he was touched.
  
• My dog didn’t have a seizure and proved us wrong. She’s decided the mulch walkway is the best place to do her duty – but hey, at least it’s not IN the house.
  
• Your “things” from your house have a scent. You don’t realize it until you’ve been in an empty house, and then fill it. Prior to our furniture arriving, people said “it smells weird in here.” Not weird – just not US. Now the house smells “like skittles” (according to my son).
  
• Porch swings ROCK! (ha, get it?)
  
• Taking on a major project like moving brings out the beautiful colors of your friends and family. You realize just how special, important and precious they are in your lives – and that by helping, they are reciprocating those same emotions.
  
  Now onto the fun stuff….a summer FULL of unpacking boxes and hearing “Honey, (or Mommy), where’s (insert item here)?”