Here a Box, There a Box, Everywhere a Box

The packers have been busy packing our estimated 207 boxes and wrapping our furniture in plastic for the past couple of days.

 There better be less than 207 boxes cause this mama has been throwing away garbage bags full of stuff for weeks now.  Our move weight estimate is 1500 pounds less than our last move that was 2.9 years ago.  Progress people progress.

Many friends have stopped over.

They have loved on my kids.  Fed them.  Taken them overnight.

Brought going away presents.

Offered to clean so I can walk away when the last box is put on the truck.

There has been climbing of boxes and eating pizza.

Surprise get togethers.

Extra hugs and time spent together.

And silly slumber parties.

Which makes it all the more difficult to drive away tomorrow.

But before we drive away I will have to stop and say to goodbye to my Christina. 

Oh how I will miss my Christina!  I will have to say she is my only friend who has attempted to ride a tricycle home.

I know these two will visit and I'm excited for that!  I hope many friends who end up in our neck of the woods will stop to say hi.

The more I move the less attached I become to things.  I would like to box up a bunch of friends and stick them on the truck.  Everything else is just stuff.  We can't take any of it with us when our time is up on earth.  

Speaking of moving I do believe in my short 34 years on earth I have moved 13 times.  Which averages to every 2.61 years.  I long to have a place that I call home.  A place where my children call home and they always come back to.  People ask me where I am from and I don't have an answer.  Here and there.  Everywhere. 

But I look around and am reminded that these are only walls....just a house.  

Home is where we lay our heads down at night.  Where we are all together.  

Soon the kids and I will be back under the same roof as Bryan.  Bryan has been on the road for one year now.   In 2 short days we will be back as a family.

Tomorrow the semi will drive away and the fun will begin when they drop off all bazillon boxes and I once again dig my way out of the box jungle.  But this time my mama will be there to help. Yay!

Thank you for loving us Holmen!

See you in Farmington!

Applicious!

Driving along the river headed toward the Mall of America we found the most amazing apple orchard. It was full of yummy Honey-crisp apples! The kids raced down the hill in the wagon to see who could find the biggest apples. After several picked apples and fresh caramel apples to go we were back on the road Mall of America bound.

Mall of America

We finally made it to Mall of America. It was a place we promised to take the kids when we moved.

It was a full day of adventures!

Brylee gave Hello Kitty a hug and was in awe of the American Girl store. That American Doll girl is one well dressed doll. Her outfits cost way more than Brylee's! And of course we spent a long time in the Lego store. The kids each made their own Lego figure and we purchased a Stars Wars Lego Advent Calendar set and some Christmas presents...Brett if you are reading this, just kidding about the present part!

The last adventure of the day was taking the kids to Sea Life. How could we not take our Shark loving boy to Sea Life. I was told for a mere $75 I could swim with the sharks and not to worry they were not hungry and would not eat me! Gee no thanks...my luck would be that the sharks were extra hungry that day!

A little after midnight we made it home and the kids with half closed eyes stumbled into bed to dream about all the fun we had.

Friday Night Lights

A fun Friday night watching Brett play at half time during the high school game.

Good times!

Priceless

Jacob noticed me reading my bible this morning and at lunch opened his mouth and said "Mom you know the bible is worth 200 pieces of gold which is like a million dollars." To which Brett interrupted and said "Actually Jake it is priceless."

Then this Mom smiled and finished cutting strawberries.

Huggeling

Huggle: to Hug and Cuddle your Mama at the same time

For Best Results Huggle often

Definition by: Jacob Ryan

I get a huggle from my Jakey around 100 times a day.

Yes I am a lucky Mom!

Just the Way I Like it!

Just the way I like it.....a lazy summer night with kids sitting still just long enough to fill their stomachs with pizza, the windows letting in cool fresh summer air that mixes with the sound of laughter. Ahhhh love it!

My Wonderful Crazy Full Of Life Kids