So we are back connected with the greater world now… internet, phone and television all accounted for – though good luck getting TO the tv. The past weekend’s manic pace has certainly caught up with me. I am worn out beyond belief and really unable to do very much today. BUT I have plans!! Of course backtracking in this blog entry to Friday would be the first one…

Friday… We didn’t have to rush around like crazy people but there were still kids to dress, last minute packing to do and of course food items to grab. The kids and I settled in on the floor in the livingroom and watched Netflix until it was time to pack up and go. We watched Ouran Host Club since I was beyond sick and tired of their regular shows. Since it really was not a nice morning – spitting rain, cool and cloudy we did not get our very last picture tree photo, instead we crammed everyone into the van and then crammed as many pillows, blankets and other items in around. VERY cozy! Then it was a quick stop off at the gas station, some air in a tire and off to our new home.

I am happy to report the can is running well… I felt like it had a certain vibration that wiggled my brains a bit BUT no overheating and we made good time… up until we hit construction RIGHT before the city which had us arriving here 5 minutes late. But with 5 kids and all that stuff 5 min is not bad at all!!

There was money to be paid, papers to be signed, information to be shared and during that time our very FIRST visitors – Karyn, Fat Sheep and Tiny Sheep. (you can learn all about Tiny Sheep on Fat Sheep’s blog… he is a relation). Aunty Karyn came bearing gifts for the kids which were well received and then we settled in to sort out what WAS here before the trailer got here with the first load of stuff. (Seriously when did we get so much STUFF???)

After Karyn came Victoria and Laurelee… who are amazingly patient and terrific baby holders. So the kids were thoroughly entertained and our cranky baby properly cuddled.

Mike brought the trailer that Ted, Sean and Ken had filled Thursday night up after he was done work for us to unload. He was later than expected due to a flat tire that was no apparent until he hooked up and started to pull the trailer out of our back drive! OUCH! Which meant we DID have some of our furniture, clothes, toys etc… Trinity was the only one who ended the day with a bed (but no cover sheet) and Echo and I shared the futon mattress (in Trinity’s room so she would not feel lonely… the boys all dispersed to their own rooms with as many blankets as they could find for comfort and warmth). Karyn, Victoria and Lauralee stayed late in the the evening to keep us company as Ken had to head back to the old house to continue packing, start cleaning and be there bright and early for the guys to get started loading up.

Beginning of the unloading

The kids didn’t do half bad for it being a new house with new sounds at bedtime with no nightlights (just lights on or doors open) BUT they were all up at 8 am (which is not so bad except for all the hard work and late night for Mommy who wished everyone would GO BACK TO BED). We also woke up at SNOW! Well sleety rainy snow but STILL… is this what I have to face in early June here closer to the southern portion of the province? We did a thorough search through the house to find warm enough clothes for all the kids… only to have it warm up in the afternoon but it was June and there was SNOW!

Not too far into the morning Karyn came by to keep us company while we waited for our stuff (and Ken and the guys of course) to show up. We sorted, unpacked and rearranged as much as we could from what was here the night before. All with bored kids under foot. Thank goodness Karyn has a cell phone so we were able to contact Ken (through Ted’s cell phone) later in the day to be sure that things were going ok. In fact, she left it here with me the night before. It actually rang in the morning… which in my sleep addled mind absolutely confounded and amazed me. Certainly made things easier for mom who was looking for me anyway.

Karyn left early in the afternoon to pick up Victoria (who lives a brief drive away in a nearby town where Karyn, Victoria and Lauralee all work) and bring her back here… we TRIED (ok I did) to take advantage of this time and lay down for a nap but Gavin and I were thwarted at every turn. When we finally thought everyone was settled and Echo was quietly playing with a teddy between us on the futon mattress Emanuel and Zander got into arguments… and then Karyn returned with Victoria and we let it go.

Soon after Lauralee showed up and the fun began all over again. Mike had had a hard time getting away from work (a busy weekend at Augustana and he and mom were leaving Sunday for Ontario for 2 weeks) so was later than expected with the trailer. Luckily we only had to clean out the back of the truck for him to be on his way, leaving the trailer here for when the guys returned with their U-Haul and the van. So the kids were in heaven – a quick visit with Grandpa AND all their backyard toys! Balls, bikes, scooters, mini trampoline… we had them all!

Toys in the backyard!

The guys were still at work loading at the old place when Mike left himself so were over an hour behind. Mike had been and gone by the time they got here and of course, we were sure to be understanding and compassionate to their manly prides and left them the trailer to empty. (ok it was the ladies and Ken with Mike who emptied it the first time so we figured we were good to leave it for the men)

With the help of Sean’s truck to pull the U-Haul trailer and our van Ken was able to move almost everything left at the house. With many many trips outside and up and down the stairs it was all moved into the house in record time. Of course any hope of organization was out the window… BUT by the end of it we all had somewhere to sleep.

Victoria and Echo checking out what was in the trailer before it goes inside

After Sean and Alan headed back to return the U-Haul We had an unexpected visitor – Esther. She stayed well into the evening to visit and hang out having over halved the time it takes to get to us for a visit. We are certainly hoping this is only the first of MANY visits as Aunty Esther is a favourite with the whole family and has been missed.

With pizza and tiny beers (well not for me, but everyone else) we ended our Saturday in the new home. Ted stayed the night (Karyn and Esther headed home) and for the first time Ken, Echo and I slept in our new room.

Ken and Ted had to head back to the city rather early in the day but not before I got in the very first bath in what is a BRAND NEW tub here! We had to leave it until Sunday as they had done something to the tub right before we got there Friday that had to cure for at least 24 hours. AND while I was in the tub mom and Mike showed up on their way out on their road trip. This was mom’s first chance to see the house.

Echo's turn in the new tub

After all that excitement Ken was on his way and I was solo with the kids again. At least this time I had the playpen to put Echo in for naps which she desperately needed… the boys went outside rather quickly after breakfast and the neighbour boy (the other side of the duplex) and his mom knocked on the door to ask if he could come and play (I never did catch his name). I am not sure how much a friendship occurred as first Emanuel got dirt in Gavin’s mouth (don’t ask) and then Trinity came in covered from head to toe in sand or dirt – even in her pull up – by this time, thankfully, Karyn was here and able to help me tow her into the tub. I ended their time outside when Zander came in because while playing ball with the neighbour boy he got hit in the FACE!! Glasses were a little bent and a nose piece lost (not happy about that) and after everyone took a quick search and could not find it I had the kids say good bye to the boy and come in. Karyn took Zander and they tried to get the nose piece replaced but Walmart’s vision centre was closed (argh). So she took him to the park instead.

Gavin in the backyard (post dirt in mouth)

Later on in the day she walked with Gavin to the convenience store and later still Emanuel. BUT while she was gone with Zander Emanuel managed to lock himself into his room! All of the bedroom doors have locks. What I didn’t know was that they really aren’t locks and can be opened simply with a butter knife. Instead Emanuel and I fought our way through it in tears, myself with the fear I could not talk him out and Emanuel in a panic and worried he was in trouble. It ended in hugs and reminders NOT to do that again and the huge amount of relief that he was able to get it open again… I decided to check Trinity’s (who was also in nap) door which I left ajar and found the knob locked as well! So I had a little chat with her and then when Karyn returned had the lovely feeling of peace associated with the knowledge that I freaked out over NOTHING.

Oh the broken item, well… a vase I really didn’t care for anyway! So that is good… granted there are still TONS of boxes to be opened and I am sure more breakables. Into the garbage with that anyway… now keep in mind over HALF of the boxes I had labelled fragile came to me UPSIDE DOWN and all of a sudden one vase becomes an amazing feat!

The rest of Sunday was spent relatively quietly… until Zander got bored and destructive and scratched little pictures into the arm of the sofa (the new used) with his fingernail. I sent him to bed until supper… and Karyn with a little oil on a cloth was able to get rid of it mostly. I am at a bit of a loss with my oldest child. He is so frustrating right now and nothing I say or do works. He has spent a lot of time in his room (new room that is) on time out this weekend, and the sympathy for not wanting to move is quickly running out.

Lunch in the sun

Ken home from the old place

I snuck off to Karyn’s after Ken returned from the old house and a day of cleaning and sorting through the remaining stuff. We have until the middle of the month to get done over there… I think we are down to the jogging stroller, fish and a few odds and ends. I am determined… I am going to get Karyn’s cat to ALLOW me to pet him… he is notorious in his devilish ways!

And now we have come full circle and are back to today – an overcast day we have been inside the whole time. The kids are cranky, the boxes mountainous and Ken home. So at least that is a good thing. Echo has had copious nap time and is almost back to her cheerful self. She is DETERMINED that she is going to crawl FORWARD or sit on her own so we are watching her closely for those milestones. It really is only a matter of time at this point.

Trinity is in love with her new play area in her closet, though I am still missing the bulk of the food and dishes.

Gavin spent some time entertaining himself with a combination of Legos and paper and crayons… he made up instructions to make his car!

I have managed to clear up  ONE bookcase and most of the upstairs desk… I am definitely in need of more school storage up here but I still have a metal shelving unit to place that will hold a nice amount of stuff. The kids are driving me mad of course and I still can’t reach my tv… but we are making progress. We have already learned that there is NO Taco Bell (Ken is not impressed) only ONE Superstore (but a nice one) and a Sobeys that is open 24 hours. We are actually not far from a bunch of places and restaurants… our road is rather busy and the bus goes down it often AND we are like half a block from a church – not a LUTHERAN one though.

Poor Karyn is sick today and it was so wonderful to be able to send Ken to bring her ginger ale. On the flip side there is a definite feeling of loss with Ted over an hour away, we have seen him at least once a week every week for years. Adjustments… just adjustments. We did have to explain to the boys that YES Karyn and the people they so far term “Karyn’s friends” (Victoria and Lauralee) WOULD be over more often, Ted would not. There was some definite groans about seeing less of Uncle Ted (and not just from Ken and myself). Add in that less of Uncle Sean and there were some raised eyebrows at the merits of moving… well momentarily at least!

The new place is wonderful though, with lots of closets… the only rooms with carpet are the bedrooms and our bedroom in the basement is nice and large. Ken’s little office nook is the only area in the common areas in the basement that is NOT full of boxes… it is almost overwhelming. But all in all… I think we are going to like it here!

A quiet moment among the boxes