Thursday, November 27, 2008

Good Byes

Moving is a magical time when everything that you are: your home, habits, routines, and even friendships are torn apart, mixed-up, rearranged, finally reordered and put back together as something entirely new yet made with all the building blocks of your past.

This will be our third move in three years... and we will only be in the Chicago area a year or so before we do it all over again. So, I feel like something of an expert on moving... though the seasoned military wives surely have me beat.

Moving is a great chance to de-clutter. We have a heaping pile of things destined for the Salvation Army. How is it that each time we move we can still have such a large "to-go" pile? How do we accumulate so much STUFF?

It is also a brilliant time to start new and better habits. Smoochy is contemplating a smoke-free life. I think I will start an herb garden and a yoga practice at our new home... and Georgia is on the fast track to sleeping in her own bed, though she is for now blissfully unaware and enjoying her last few nights of co-sleeping. (I'm drinking in her sturdy little body next to mine for the last few nights as well...) And Normy, well it's a toddler bed and potty-training 101 waiting for him. The changes are coming.

But the hardest thing to do is leave behind the wonderful friends we've made here in Omaha. We have had a week of bitter/sweet good-byes. Bitter because we know distance will change our friendships; but sweet recollecting a year and a half of great times and savoring the knowledge that distance can't dull the true ties that have been forged.

Recently a friend of mine sent me a Fwd asking you to choose which desert most appeals to you from a list of yummy treats. Based on your choice the email goes on to give you a peek in to your psychology based on your desert preference. I know, a highly accurate way to analyze you character! Any way, I chose lemon meringue pie. And this is what I was told about myself:

LEMON MERINGUE - Smooth, sexy, & articulate with your hands, you are an excellent caregiver and a good teacher. But don't try to walk and chew gum at the same time. A bit of a diva at times, you set your own style because you do your own thing. You shine when it comes to helping others and have many friends.

Well, I can only tell you that the love and affection my dear friends have shown me this week sure make me feel like, Lemon Meringue. Thank You from the depth of my heart, ladies. The party and the tokens of your friendship you gifted me have touched me and blessed me in a way I just don't have words to describe. I will miss you so much.

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Deliriously in Love with My Family

They're all so stinking cute!


Did you know that Smoochy quit his job last week? 

So, we've spent this week packing, cleaning, and repairing. We leave for good a week from today. Yikes!!!

In fact, we're going to KS for Thanksgiving, then the kids and I fly to FL for three weeks of fun while Smoochy drives to the Chicago suburbs to start an AWESOME new job and finds us a home. My parents, the kids, and I will join him two days before Christmas. Can you spell wild adventure?

I know most people wouldn't be thrilled by the thought of Christmas in a new home (that you've never even seen before) with all of your earthly possessions still in boxes (if there at all... our stuff might still be in-transit), but we pretty excited about the whole thing. 

I'm especially happy that my parents will be there to spend Christmas with us in the Windy City. My sister will be at her in-laws and my brother will be on his Honeymoon (Oh yea, throw my little brother's wedding into the mix on December 20th in Tampa!) so they'll be spending their first true empty-nest Christmas with us!

Now the question is: if my kids don't know anything about Santa and we've just moved to a new house two days before Christmas will he manage to bring them stockings? 
 
(If you're wondering, I don't miss the beard.)

PS: Pardon my sporadic posting... I'm busy.




Tuesday, November 04, 2008

Super Tuesday!

The Smoochy family has just returned from the poles, an we are all charged up for the day! It feels great to vote; to believe that you have a stake in our democracy. It feels great to believe that you have a modicum of control over the state of the country. Go for it people. The lines are fun. Bring a cup of coffee; meet your neighbors; and participate in our democracy!