Moving Trucks, Boxes and a Happy New Year

We're in that limbo state currently.  You know the one... you have no official address, Christmas is over but you haven't celebrated New Year's yet. Just a constant state of loafing. I knew this moment would come too. I told several people that I just had to get the stupid trailer loaded and once it drove away everything else would be pie in the sky. It was true, however the events leading up to that were C-Razy!

Moving events rarely go off without any hitches. Or in our case on the first round there was no un-hitching to be had because the first truck from ABF (which was incredibly late) pulled up and attached was a very long flatbed trailer with one single cube on it. We had talked about doing cubes in our original plan and had decided that even four cubes probably wouldn't be enough for us and where in the world would we have put four cubes anyway? So needless to say, we told the driver, "We didn't order no stinkin' cube." and sent him on his way. So now our volunteer helpers were helpless and said to give them a call when the real trailer finally arrived. About an hour later it did and like an army nearly all our helpers returned to pack the trailer, un-hitched. 

Side note: We lived on a dead end so the traffic was fairly calm, however as our truck driver was trying to park a 28' trailer in a tight spot it seemed that every Tom, Dick, Harry and Sally wanted either in or out of the circle. It was a damn traffic jam to be precise.

I digress.

I kind of like the cleaning process, however realized that I had packed my scrub brush and all I had left was the toilet bowl cleaner which I planned to throw out. I'm sure the bleach killed anything that was on the brush as I used it to scrub some hard to reach surfaces. Also after I had cleaned all of the bedrooms, I needed to occupy Noelle and gave her a little bag of snacks which she and her little friend Eleanor dumped in her bedroom closet and were flicking through the space in the bottom of the doors. Boo came into the kitchen where I was cleaning and asked, "Did you see what they're doing in there?" Well duh, of course not because it wouldn't be happening. He thought it was funny to see little fingers flicking goldfish crackers out from under the doors and to hear two little girls giggle at the idea. I however was freaking out because I no longer had my trusty vacuum to clean up small crumbs and the thought of washing the floors again was not a pleasant one. However it obviously wasn't the end of the world because here I am blogging about it.

We finished the last bit of cleaning just as the ABF truck came to reattach the trailer and take away all my worldly possessions. I know that's all they are but I'll sure be sad it for some reason something happens to that trailer. 

Side note: One of our neighbors who might be missing the social skills part of her brain, just couldn't get over "how much stuff" we had. She just kept telling us how she couldn't believe we'd filled up that much of the truck. Only half really. 

So now we're just awaiting the arrival of Boo's parents and brother who will conclude their holiday travels in Maine here with us as we ring in the New Year. If anyone has any suggestions for celebrating with a 20 month old let us know. 

 

Christmas Talk

Last Sunday, Boo and I were assigned to give talks as part of our ward's Christmas service and as a kind of goodbye to our fellow friends in the ward. But seeing as how Mother Nature took over early Sunday morning our church cancelled all of its meetings. Needless to say my Christmas talk was for naught. So I thought I would post mine onto the blog to share with a broad audience. I did share it with the crowd we had dinner with later on Sunday night. Keep in mind that its rather short given that the choir planned to take up a large portion of the meeting. So this was my six minute talk. (I'd post Boo's talk but he wouldn't even share it with the post dinner crowd, so I'll leave it up to him to decide.)

Christmas evokes different images for everyone. Some think of silvery white yards decorated with plastic Santas and festive lights. Others may think of family come and gone, large feasts, or that favorite gift. My Christmas memories begin to swirl as I start thinking of my Christmas lists, lines at the post office and any dreaded traveling. Best described as a catatonic state; characterized by muscular rigidity and mental stupor, sometimes alternating with great excitement and confusion.

As a child our two day celebration went as follows:
Go to grandparent’s house for Christmas Eve party with Dad
Dad delivers us to Mom’s where we read the Christmas story from the New Testament, open one gift before going to bed and pile all four kids into one room so that Mom has ample space to spread out her workshop to finish any gifts or sewing projects.
We’d wake up at some dreadful hour and yell from the other room “Can we come out yet?” as if we might self destruct the minute we cross the threshold. Being the youngest I was usually sent out on covert missions to inspect what Mr. Claus had left and return and report on my findings, only to ruin my sister Rebekah’s big Christmas surprise of a Ken doll she’d asked Santa for.
Around 7:00am we usually emerged to our tree lit living room to begin our day. By 8:00am we would call Dad to let him know we were ready to be picked up and continue the day’s journey. We would hop around from one place to the next, opening gifts and enjoying them only long enough for them to get lost and have to leave.

After getting married not many things changed. Ryan and I found ourselves setting an alarm to get up early enough so we could spend some time together before starting the day. By the third or fourth Christmas we had it down to a science; we’d allot a set amount of time to each set of parents as not to “dine and dash” but so that we felt we were giving equal amounts of time to everyone.

Christmas was loosing its spirit, or had I never really had it to begin?

For our last Christmas as Utah residents, Ryan and I organized a Sub-for-Santa for one of my Sunbeam’s family. He was the youngest of three boys being raised by his dad who was doing the best he knew how. Luckily for Ryan and me we had friends who rallied around and made it more than a kind gesture, but more of a miracle. It was a lesson in charity and truly brought us great joy to see people who showed their gratitude through their humble actions the following Sunday at church.
King Benjamin prophesied of Christ’s advent and ministry in this manner:
“For behold, the time cometh, and is not far distant, that with power, the Lord Omnipotent who reigneth, who was, and is from all eternity to all eternity, shall come down from heaven among the children of men, and shall dwell in a tabernacle of clay, and shall go forth amongst men, working mighty miracles…” (Mosiah 3:5-8)
Born into circumstances that were unconventional, birthed in a stall surrounded by animals, yet his purpose on this Earth was beyond the comprehension of all living things. Christ’s birth was a miracle.

Joy to the world, the Lord is come; Let earth receive her King! Let ev’ry heart prepare him room, And Saints and angels sing. (“Joy to the World,” Hymns, number 201)

Besides the hustle and bustle of Christmas day, I usually enjoy putting out our Christmas decorations and setting up my tree. I have a system, and as long as Ryan brings the boxes down from the attic he doesn’t have to help, which he enjoys. I put out our nativity and I rearrange all the characters as I imagine it might have been on the night of Christ’s birth. Then I rearrange them again, because I don’t think the “wise men” made it there fast enough to have a front row seat. But after 20 or so days of decorations, just before Christmas I’m usually ready to put it all away. I think to myself, “My heart is not in this.”
President Hinkley reminds that:
“Christmas is more than trees and twinkling lights, more than toys and gifts and baubles of a hundred varieties. It is love. It is the love of the Son of God for all mankind. It reaches out beyond our power to comprehend. It is magnificent and beautiful.
It is peace. It is the peace which comforts, which sustains, which blesses all who accept it.
It is faith. It is faith in God and His Eternal Son. It is faith in His wondrous ways and message. It is faith in Him as our Redeemer and our Lord.” – President Hinkley, Dec 1997
What peace sustains us through the holidays? Or better yet through the year?

When I think of peaceful Christmas nights, I’m reminded of my Santa-suit-wearing Dad, who equally possesses the same decorating vigor as Clark Griswold, sitting in a dimly lit living room longingly gazing at the lights on the Christmas tree, listening to Christmas hymns and carols. I’m not sure what he’s thinking about. Maybe his lists of people to buy for and the stops he’ll be making on Christmas day. Whatever it is, I sometimes imagine that maybe he’s thinking about what it may have been like the night the Savior was born. Or what it might be like if our world really could have peace and joy. For a single moment he has found peace in the season.

While searching for my own peace and joy – or was it peace and quiet, I can’t be sure? I could hear in the background some music from the single Christmas CD that has yet to be packed.

“The Child, the Child, sleeping in the night He will bring us goodness and light He will bring us goodness and light”

I thought for maybe the first time how profound these words are. “He will bring us goodness and light.” Christ has and does bring goodness and light. Christ’s light shines in many of those around us. We have received his goodness and light though friendships, dinners and helping hands.
Christ’s goodness has manifest recently in the blessings our family has received. Christ’s goodness is what brings me peace this holiday season.

Box Slide

As you can see from the picture, we're gearing up for the big move. We're getting stuff packed and clearing off shelves and clearing out cupboards. But what else is there to do with a pile of boxes in the middle of the living room? Make a slide, of course.

Rollin' Rollin' Rollin'

I really shouldn't be posting to my blog at this current moment because I have a mental list of things to do that is ten, no maybe more like fifty miles long. However since this is only one of my many creative outlets, yet it allows me to communicate with many people at the same time I thought, "What the heck."

In anticipation for moving I feel like I can't even find a place to start packing in our house until I finish about four sewing projects, give them to their respective owners and then I pack all that crap up and start in the guest room. However this is ever so difficult because for the next two days I'll be devoting my precious time to LL Bean shoppers as I wrap up my quick stint there. (I would have never taken the job had I known I was moving.) However I have given myself a deadline of Sunday night to have all projects complete and out of my house.

With my fifty mile list looming we will be having a Grinch style home these holidays as well. I tried to have a Christmas tree but it was so lovely yet undecorated that I felt like I needed to give that six fingered baby to someone who could love it more than I knew I would. So thanks to the Sorensen's who came and took it home to their family. I just can't fathom digging out all my holly-jolly decorations just to hurry and pack them back up. Good thing Noelle is still little and will not remember back to the year of no Christmas tree. Thank goodness we'll be going to Maine for Christmas so that it doesn't turn out to be the Christmas of no Christmas's'.

So off I now go to finish aforementioned sewing projects so I can then clean off the futon which needs to be photographed so it can be posted to Criagslist and then the real fun can begin.

By the way, did you know it gets really hot in Arizona? I had no idea.

We're Moving!

I should have just put the title to this post as the Winds of Change: part deux. So where are they blowing us? Arizona. Yes I can feel the warm winds now. Actually I can't feel anything because I have frostbite from the cold arctic air that moved in to New England today.

Boo has accepted a job and will still be working in real estate and using his degree in ways other than litigation. Hooray! I think that makes him happy? His offices are in Peoria, AZ and we're in the process of finding some where to live near those offices. We're especially excited to be close to friends we haven't seen for a while, but at the same time extremely sad to leave the friends we've made while living in Mass.

We'll be packing up and heading out the first week of January. So don't plan to come and visit until at least March. I think February is already booked. ;)

By the way, since telling people we're moving to Arizona, I found out its really hot there in the summer. I had no idea. Doi!

Elfed

We've been Elfed. Click here to see.

November Wrap Up

Well now that we're winding down to the end of the month I figured I should tell you about our holiday and weekend in Maine. (sorry no pics for the big events.)

We celebrated our first ever Thanksgiving with no family. We planned to make our annual trek to Maine and be with our family up there, but Boo thought he would have to work on Friday so we made arrangements to feast with some friends in our neighborhood. We split up the cooking which was a great learning experience since I usually just chop a few vegetables and then watch the process from the sidelines. But instead I made my own cranberry sauce, which was so fulfilling - for some reason to listen to the berries pop open and then to watch it all turn to the most beautiful color of red was all I need to be convinced that there is no satisfaction from canned cranberry sauce.
We had an interesting experience with our turkey however. (not one of my items to cook) Our friends decided to try out the ever-so-popular frying method. After much research and advice they thought they were set. It smelled great when we got to their house, but for some reason it didn't heat up enough to "fry" so it basically boiled in oil. Luckily some other friends had an extra turkey that they were willing to donate to our cause. We ended up eating the meat from both birds and both were really tasty.
Later that night I was processing the holiday while trying to sleep and realized that of all the things I was supposed to take and seems to be a Thanksgiving staple, I totally forgot. STUFFING! I forgot to make the stupid stuffing. We had so much food that we didn't notice. So i guess we'll be eating stuffing as a little side dish for the next few months.
Now we're in Maine enjoying the weekend playing games with lots of cousins and watching movies. We were sorely outnumbered for the Utah vs. BYU game and were so sad to see such a sad display of athletics. Its not often that we get to see a game on TV and then to watch them lose is pretty sad. Then to add insult to injury with a bunch of BY-Pooh fans. Lame.
The upcoming week will provide a nice kick-off to the holiday season as I assemble my Christmas cards and attend the annual wreath making party with the church. We're still trying to decide how to decorate our tree so that Destruct-O Noelle doesn't get the best of it. I think the antique glass ornaments will have to wait a few years.

THankSgiviNG

Sometimes I like to be a complainer and decide for a while that I don't want to be thankful for anything, because picking up my house everyday isn't fun to me, and I'm not always thankful for the stuff I have. And then sometimes I'm not thankful that my local grocer is giving away free turkeys if I earn 20 stupid turkey points because I always fall short and never get the dumb thing and end up saving scraps that do me no good and are still in my purse well after they have expired. And sometimes I'm not thankful for my car that needed repairs exceeding our expectations and costing four times more than we planned.

But then I remember that even if I hate picking up books every single day and shuffling crap from one room to the other, I am thankful to have a roof over my head and room for my guests when they come. And that I am thankful that I have a car at all considering this time last year we had only one car and Boo had to take it to work most days. And I am thankful for people who call out of the blue to offer me their extra turkey points so that I can have a free turkey. I'm really happy for these reasons of thanksgiving. I hope all my blog stalkers find things to be thankful for at this time of year too! Happy Thanksgiving.

BTW.. That is my favorite tree in all of Belmont. Well at least it was when I took the picture although we still have some amazing colors just up the street. Fall in New England is the best.

Video of Noelle Reading in Her Easy Chair

Well I guess third times a charm? I have tried to post this a couple other times but it wasn't working right. Anywho, this is a little ditty I put together of Noelle reading. She pretty much will sit on whatever is her height and usually clears out the bookcase daily. Her voice is pretty funny too. If you listen closely you can understand what she's saying, a little bit.
To view this video click here.

Organization and De-Cluttering A House

That was the topic for today's parenting class or "mothering" class that is held for the three wards that meet in our building. Every month they have a member who might have an expertise in a particular area lead the discussion.

Our discussion leader had some great credentials and some great ideas, however how is a person or people like myself supposed to get over the fact that it just might be genetic? I don't know why - my mom is the MOST sentimental person I know and like some people she saves outfits from 35 years past because they have some kind of attachment to a special event in her life. Great. Fine. But don't pass that on to me. (BTW.. you should listen to the broadcast from NPR about "Too Much Stuff" - Click on the link to listen.

I have the desire to be greatly organized and have my Rubbermaid bins all labeled and sorted, but the truth is I don't. I even have spaces in my house that are catch-alls. More than one - more like four (that I can either see or think of off the top of my head.) I would like to think of them as spaces of good intentions. "I intend on sending that baby gift to Lacy, but every time I repack the box it doesn't get sent and I have to pull out the outfit because by now her baby has outgrown it."
"I intend on sorting through Noelle's clothes and putting the overly used ones in the goodwill box and the rest in the attic, but the bin sit in her room where I occasionally open it and remember that I was going to do something with it."

Maybe its that we just have to much crap?! Ah ha - that's more likely the case. Because like one or more of our parents we too see the value of free stuff that might be useful to us someday. And who knows what it might be useful for, but heaven knows I'll have it. Like the computer monitor that we will NEVER use again since it takes up the entire desk, but Boo says we paid good money for it and its a "really good" monitor.

On to the next point, which is that we may possibly be moving to a less expensive/ more efficient apartment. Its absolutely magnificent because its all brand spankin' new and we'd be the first to occupy such space. But where will be put all our stuff? The idea is to move and save some money and be happy and hopefully someday purchase our own space. (even if real estate prices are going down, we still won't be able to buy a square to squat on.) But what will we do if we can't have all our "stuff?" How much will we be able to store in those nice walk-in closets? I guess we'll have to get rid of it - oh please let us get rid of some stuff. I'm not moving that monitor one more time.

I'd like to hear anyone's thoughts on this.
Here are some links from the class that may also be helpful to any of you.
Ineedmoretime.com
The Container Store
Organize.com
Organizeit-online.com
Organized-living.com

Happy Halloween

We have had a lot of fun gearing up for this Halloween. We've been finding 'spooky' things to do throughout October, but got serious when we carved our pumpkins on Sunday night.

Tonight we greeted a few trick-or-treaters by giving them a trick rather than a treat; play-doh. A few older kids thought it was pretty cool. Noelle didn't really understand until the neighbors brought her a goody bag and we let her get into it early on in the evening by opening up a rice crispy treat. She was in heaven. Then as we went around our circle and she realized that more people were giving out treats. She also liked walking around with our little neighbor Jimmy who was Gordon the train. Noelle kept pointing at the eyes on his costume and would say "choo-choo." I didn't know she knew that. See she's smart.

We later stuck a sign on our goody basket and walked over to some friend's house for their tradition of home made doughnuts on Halloween. This is an event we've been looking forward to since last year. Noelle loved it because she was able to run around with all the kids and eat lots of sugary treats. She was the cutest ladybug. Our pictures are in order of the night.

Before heading out for doughnuts - Check out our awesome pumpkin art.

Look at her sticky face! In her goody bag there was a jack-o-lantern sippy cup, which she insisted on carrying all around until we put her to bed.

More sticky face!

Its a Wicked Time of Year

Yes it is folks, the haunting time of year, as well as the season for the Broadway show Wicked to be in Boston. We've been celebrating in every way we know how.





Noelle has tried her costume on for all the guests that have been haunting us this season.



We went to a costume party -

I thought this picture was kind of scary looking.

The other is more clear so you can see how cool our costumes were.

Reb, Mom and I got to go and see Wicked at the Opera House -it was AWshum -

Noelle in Her Easy Chair

Grammy Albertsen sent Noelle this little chair that she likes to sit in while she reads books and draws on her DoodlePro.

Most days she'll bring in two or three books and just sits and reads and reads and reads in her little sing-song voice.

Noelle recently has taken notice of the camera and now says "cheese."

Haunted Hay Ride

This afternoon we headed over to the Wilson Farm to take a ride on the haunted hay ride. There are different props along the ride, some "scary" and others just for fun.

Do you like how the skeleton is looking at us? His eyes were moving back and forth.

There was one creepy farmer guy that looked fake and then he cam out of the little fruit stand to chase us. Then he got in his little four-wheelin' buggy and chased us a little.

Noelle had no idea that he was supposed to be scary. She was cautious but not frightened. It was a fun time and we'll probably go again later in the week when Grandma Nay and Auntie are here.

Apple Picking

Here are some pictures from our apple picking adventure.

(We have more coming.)

Look at those eyebrows! Must be sour.

We really weren't in any need for apples so I picked for other people. Climbing the tree was a total throwback to my childhood.

We really have been up to something....

So I open my blog daily for only one reason, which is to get to other people's blogs to see what they are up to. I look so often that I know instantly if they've updated it lately, I know, how lame. But I'm slightly guilt stricken with the fact that I haven't updated my own and who knows how many people do the same thing I do and just flip in and out of my blog thinking 'gosh it would be nice if she'd put up some new pictures and something interesting.'

We really have been doing fun stuff and seeing fun people, its just that I haven't been diligent in taking pictures and what fun is a blog post without pictures? Oh well. Working chronologically here's the fun stuff we've been doing:

Auntie Rebekah came for a short visit before heading to PA for a conference. She was so kind to hang out with us while we were sick with Montezuma revenge and to help with our yard sale (see previous post). She also made shopping fun and bought Noelle the cutest cow girl boots ever. When we put them on her for the first time, Noelle went around the house kicking things because she had on her new big boots. She really likes wearing them and looks pretty darn cute. During Rebekah's stay we also managed to get a quilt finished for a baby shower, had a little bit of an accident on I-93 and visited some of our favorite stores. The Rach and Beck love fest is always a good time.

A few days after Rebekah left, Grandma Kathy and Grandpa Ted came for a short visit. After a treacherous trip to get here we had a great time visiting with them and getting an early glimpse at some of the fall foliage in Vermont and Massachusetts.

Grandma Kathy and Grandpa Ted with Noelle at Joseph Smith Jr birthplace.

We visited the birth place of Joseph Smith, Jr. and went to Walden Pond where we were enlightened a little more on Thoreau's two year stay there. The weather was really warm and I was wishing I had brought my swim gear to Walden.

Noelle and I put our feet in.

We ventured downtown and meandered through a classic car show at Government Center and then spent a while at Fannieul Hall for lunch and shopping.

Later that night while the guys were at priesthood meeting the ladies did some shopping at Target. Grandma wrapped up her Halloween and Christmas shopping. We went up and down the toy aisles pushing the buttons and tried on bike helmets, tried out the bike (bad idea with a tired baby who thinks everything she touches is hers), and checked out the Halloween stuff.

Trying on the bike helmet

Noelle thought the bowls with the hands that try to grab you were pretty funny. When they line up ten bowls that all try to grab you as you walk by it is pretty funny. We had a great time with the the Grands.

Noelle added them to her list of people to call for when she wakes up, in this order: Daddy, Mama, Daddy, Grandpa, Grandma, Daddy. She knows a sucker when she sees one. She also became very confident in her dancing while they were here. Danced all the way through dinner one night. The waitress thought it was pretty funny too.

So that brings us up to date, and tomorrow we're going to do one of those New England-y kind of things - apple picking. Some of our regular pool/beach/playgroup friends are getting together to pick apples. I'm not planning to pick many because I don't want to waste them and have no desire to can or make stuff with them. I know, lame again. Boo will eat them.

Great News!

WE have the greatest news to announce, just in!!!

Boo passed the New Hampshire bar exam.

We're so excited we poohed our pants! ha ha ha

But really we're so proud of him for letting us spend a long time in Utah so he could study even though he missed us so, so much. He's so smart and doing such a great job as an attorney. (he even went to Federal Court for the first time yesterday!) We sure think he's swell.

Princess Playgroup

Yesterday was the beginning of something new at our house...Princess Playgroup! Yep, that's right folks, one day a week for 2 1/2 hours I get to drop my Jelly Bean off for a little time with her gal pals and I get to do whatever the heck I want. Then every fourth week they come to my house to check out our books and toys and music while the other mommies ditch out. What a great system.

They even got to watch the popcorn shoot out of the popper!

Annielle, Noelle, Buddha (Lauren), Bea Bea

Playing with the jewelry and getting their hair done.

What is that face my baby is making?

I love Craigslist!

We were recently given a new table! Hooray, it will not only fit our small family around it, but if we were to ever be so kind to invite more people besides the missionaries over for dinner we can now expand it to fit a few more. It will add 24 more inches of hosting love may we ever need it. However, the very best part is that I sold our old table that we've had for as long as we've been married, which- let's be honest is a long time now, and it only took 24 hours!! Thank you Craigslist.com! Rock on Shockacon!

Now if only we could replace our floor, how's that for ugly?

Don't worry, driving with us is safe.

So Boo and I are officially the coolest people in the whole world. If you haven't been out to visit for a while then you probably haven't seen our "new" car. Yes its just a couple of steps up from good ol' Rusty, the Ford truck that I drove for five months before moving east. Even a little newer. But our 1990 Honda Accord aint nothing to shake no sticks at. It cost us less than a new TV and works fine. For a few bucks more we scored a fix it yourself book on Amazon. The first project was the air conditioning, which I mentioned a while back. Now tonight we got to tackle the bumper. It came to us mangled so we just had to make sure it didn't fall off. However some unkind person who will have their day in you know where, backed into or clipped or whatever to add a few more scratches, a new crack and made it so the bumper would come off in a strong wind. How it managed to stay on while driving on the freeway is a mystery to us. Any how, Boo and I managed to re-secure the bumper, figured out how to take the turn signal lamp off, and figured out that the light was in fact not broken, just burned out. How smart are we? And we are even still friends! So needless to say with some wire and a few odds and ends screws that I found the bumper should be just fine for the time being and we'll even fix the light. So come and visit anytime and if you're lucky we might even give you a ride in our "new" car.