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Daddy contemplates how the heck he is going to fit any more STUFF in this container. Meanwhile, Elsa eyes the fondue set (used only twice in four years). Should it stay or go? We had to make many decision like that in order to fit everything into two boxes. (Mark got it to fit, in case you're curious). Funny. When I moved to California 6 years ago, I had a boyfriend and a little bit of stuff. When we drove out here in the summmer of 2000, we had to add "extra" padding to ensure the furniture wouldn't slide around the back of the truck. Not a problem this time. We are packed very tightly from floor to ceiling. And on this trip, I'm coming back East with a husband, two kids and a cat. Oh, how times have changed!

Special thanks to Drew Patty who helped us pack until 11pm last night. He was amazing. And to both Jeff and Drew who helped us load the really heavy things the night before.

Also HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my husband, Mark! He's 29 today. He didn't exactly have an ideal birthday considering he was moving boxes most of the day. Poor baby, I didn't even get him a present yet. But, our family did go out to Fentons for Burgers and a Sundae. We shared the ice cream with 4 spoons and it was fun.


Mark demonstrates the size of our two containers. Packing with two toddlers was quite a feat. In order for us to get anything done, the girls rotted their brains with too much television. They can now sing the theme songs to Sesame Street, Teletubbies and Snook. We're a PBS/NPR type of family. And they have enjoyed several trips out for junk food. In the past week, the girls have had ice cream three times AND chocolate milk. We might have created a couple of little monsters. But, all in all, I'd say the girls have been troopers. I'm so proud of them. This has been really hard. Their entire world is changing. I think it was really hard for them to see all their toys and furniture get packed away. Lily, especially, has shed some tears and has had trouble sleeping.



Bye-bye stuff, see you in NJ! Mark says this will be the "Darwin test" of our belongings. Only the strongest will survive (which isn't a bad thing considering we have too much stuff anyway). Apparently, these containers will eventually shipped by rail all the way across the country.

A funny story . . . about 1 hr after our containers were hauled away, we realized the cat was missing. She was nowhere to be found. We were convinced she had crawled inside one of the boxes and had been sealed away for a very bad fate. We had an afternoon of pure panic. But, eventually, this evening she was found hiding in the neighbors backyard. Phew. Can you imagine how horrible it would have been for her to be locked in a shipping container for a month? Don't think she would have made it.

We're still here until Tues morning. Need to clean and paint, debris haul, get rid of the car, etc. Currently camping in the living room on an air mattress. Lawn chairs and a card table in the kitchen. No TV. But, thankfully, we still have internet and a laptop.

See most of you very soon!!

XXOO
Emily