Moving In

Where o’ where have I been.  Well, let’s just say I have been I have been here but just preparing for a much anticipated and long over due relocation.  It has been a long time since our whole family has been living in the same house – 9 1/2 months to be exact.  We are all so excited to be in the same place - state, town, house.

A wonderful group of individuals – The Fab Four - flew out to Bismarck, helped finish packing & loaded all our belongings on two U-Hauls, and spent two days on the road driving back to Ohio. 

It was a welcoming sight to see these trucks!!  When they unloaded the trucks, it had to be decided if the boxes went into the house, to the church’s basement for long term storage, or Jay’s office.  What took hours to load and days to drive only took three hours to unload as so many members from our new church family came to help.

I wish unpacking only took hours! Here is what each room/area looked like after both trucks were unloaded.

The kitchen . . .

The laundry/half bath . . .

The dining room . . .

The living room . . .

The school/craft/game/scrapbook room . . .

Me & Jay’s room . . .

The girls’ room . . .

The main bathroom became an overflow room for the girls’ (mostly Kassi’s) boxes . . .

Zack’s room . . .

The back porch/outdoor storage . . .

We had hoped to spend that first night in our new home, but the boxes got the best of all of us.  They were so overwhelming that we actually didn’t stay at the house until the third night. 

Thank goodness Jay has been willing to work so hard.  Unfortunately, with my lower back problem I haven’t been much help with unpacking or moving boxes.  I have been able to assist in deciding what can stay, what can go to storage, and what needs to be donated. 

We still have boxes in every room, and Kassi and Mackenzie are still trying to get all theirs unpacked too.  I believe Zack is the only one who has all his boxes unpacked – matter of fact, they were unpacked & his room was organized before the trucks were even unloaded.  It’s been challenging as we only have three closets – one in the master bedroom, one in the hallway, and a small linen one in the bathroom. 

There is a Jack n’ Jill space between the girls’ room & Zack’s room that has an area to hang clothes and shelves for storage, but it has a huge window facing the front of the house so it limits storage opportunities.  The kids had hoped to use it as a lounge are, but now they realize it’s going to be used for belongings.

As I sit here and blog this, Jay and the kids are at King’s Island for a much needed break!  The church’s youth had a trip planned and what better way to get to know some of the youth.  I have spent the day running errands, having some quiet me time, and did some cooking.  The house is coming together slowly but surely.  It definitely is starting to look like a home.  Tomorrow more unpacking.