We Moved.

Well, we did it. We moved to Pennsylvania.

The last few days in NJ were emotional. Emotional goodbyes with neighbors, ward members, school peeps, etc.

In fact, my friend Amy invited me to her house last Sunday night for dinner with the kiddos. Dan had already left to head to Hershey for his new job. Amy often feeds me when Dan's out of town, and we are all very casual about it. Elastic waistbands are the dress code. I love it.

So I showed up in my casual garb. Not even my "nice" sweats, mind you, because Beck had spit up on those. My trashiest trash sweats. And my glasses. And my makeup smeared from a post-church Sunday nap.

I arrived to Amy's house to find chairs set up throughout her living room. 

"What's going on?" I asked her.

"It's your SURPRISE GOING AWAY PARTY!" She exclaimed.

And at that moment, many people looking dressed up nice and beautified and hygienic appeared and showered me with love.

They probably wish they could have just showered me. I looked foul.

But they didn't care. We had a good laugh about it and spent a great night with people who love my family.

A couple of days later, I came home from dropping the girls at school to find the moving truck waiting for me.

We had the BEST movers. Top notch guys. I'm a weirdo who loves to find out about people's jobs and how the whole process worked, so I asked numerous questions. And because they were stand-up guys, they talked to me instead of saying "shut up lady" which is probably what they really wanted to do.

Farewell, teeny tiny "eat in" kitchen.

They packed Wednesday and loaded up the truck Thursday. I went to the girls' school Thursday for their going away parties.

Gwen's teacher gave her the Berenstain Bear's Moving book. Gwen got to sit in that special chair. 

 I should mention at this moment that the night before this party, while we were in the drive-thru line at Wendy's (and my girls were giving me a hard time about going to a fast food restaurant because they had a musical nutrition assembly at school that day OF ALL DAYS and I had to explain to them that we had zero food because we were moving and that they better eat their nuggets and not sing another musical nutrition fact at me thankyouverymuch), that Gwen dropped the bomb on me. She told me of her plan to kiss her crush ON THE LIPS the next day (her last day) of school. At lunch. Because nothing says romance like a kiss after a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

But she wimped out. She blew him a kiss instead. But as we were leaving this class party, she ran to him and gave him a very aggressive hug. Then a bunch of other kids lined up to get hugged too. So it looked a little less obvious. Smooth, Gwen. Smooth.

Before that, we went to June's party. The kids gave her a book they made.

June with her personal aide of the last two years. She's the only reason I was hesitant about moving. She's been a wonderful aide to our June.

And a class party with snacks, including popcorn. June LOVES corn and LOVES popcorn.

And now we are digging ourselves out of lots of boxes.

And Dan and I treated ourselves and bought a new bed. I can't believe we've been sleeping on this full sized bed for 10 years. Now June sleeps in it.

And we get to sleep on this king sized bed. We don't even have to hear each other breathe. It's like sleeping alone, but with someone. A real marriage-saver.

And I've been trying to get a lot done every day but don't. I asked the girls to watch the baby while I did something in the garage today. One minute later he was screaming. Gwen was nowhere to be seen. I called her name, and she told me she put the baby on the couch and then went upstairs. Wonderful! And June was on said couch reading and never even looked up from the page she was on. Sigh. I guess I should be glad she loves reading?

Gwen starts school tomorrow. June maybe next week? Feeling ready for some normal in my life again.

The End.