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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

Last week in California

Just one week until we leave California. I can't believe it. I've been here over six years, Mark seven. It will be hard to say goodbye. California has been good to us, many happy memories.

I think we are making good progress on the move. We've been packing little by little every day. Our shipping containers should arrive on Weds and then we get two days to fill them up. Lily and Elsa have been pretty excited by the process. They keep pulling treasures out of the closet. They especially like the packing part. Every once in a while I'll hear stirring from another part of the house. And a small voice will say "Elsa helping" "Lily cleaning" and I will find them trying to load or unload boxes. It is very cute.



Here are my helpers taking a break. This is their special place to read books (on top of the toy chest). We looked over and Elsa was wearing her cowgirl hat.


My curly-haired girls looking at Mommy. (L,E). It has been really hot the past week. The girls have gone swimming in the backyard every day in their "bathing-soups" (what they call their bathing suits). Good practice for the heat of Indiana and NJ.


Lily dancing across the livingroom floor. That child just loves to dance. Ringaround the rosy is her favorite. And she's quite a singer. She just loves Twinkle Twinkle.


Elsa dancing on the boxes~very Olivia Newton John, Let's get physical. She put the shoe on her foot all by herself and was very proud.

Wrapping it up

Hi, I'm supposed to be packing. But, just wanted to post some pictures from Mark's going away party at the seismo lab.


The girls got all dressed up for Daddy's party. Elsa (L) and Lily (R) thought they were hot stuff in their fancy dresses with the matching head scarves.


Hanging out in Daddy's office. Can you believe how long Lily's legs are getting! I'm pretty sure they've had a growth spurt. Need to get them measured. They look like such big girls. Sniffle.


Being silly with the seismogram. Perhaps we have a couple of budding young scientists. I think they might be biologists. They are really into collecting plants outside.


Posing in front of the seismic activity map of the Bay Area.

Happy Firecracker Day

I forgot to update the internet that our car was located last week. It was missing a battery and radio, but is otherwise in good condition. The baby gear was still inside. It could have been much worse. Apparently, the thief was not up to date on the latest yuppie babygear. The resale value of my Ergo Baby carrier is SO much higher than the resale value of the stereo. We're taking offers on the Camry, if anybody is interested in buying it. We can throw in our "club" for free!

The other piece of good news is that we will no longer be homeless this fall. We got into the staff housing. According to the floorplan, we have half of a side-by-side duplex. It is a two-bedroom apartment on two floors. There is a fireplace and a cute little hidey-hole-closet under the stairs. There is a front door and a back door and a large yard surrounding. Mark visited the complex last fall and describes it as quite "houselike" so we are very thrilled.

We've been spending our time getting ready for the move and finishing up projects at work. But, we took a quick break today at the Albany 4th of July Festival.


Lily and Daddy take in the scene. Unlike her Father wearing his patriotic glasses-visor and firefighter hat, Lily was not feeling very festive at first. It was sensory overload.


We got to tour a firetruck and the girls were given hats. Here's Elsa and Mommy.


Lily decided later the flags were pretty cool.


All cleaned up and ready for bed. Elsa gives a huge grin.


A happy sleepy Lily is ready to go night-night on the livingroom rug.


Cutie-tooties on the couch. (E,L)