Reflections on Relocating

We have lived in Connecticut for 1 year. I have been thinking about lots of things in relation to the move. Here are some of them.

1. A catalyst is a substance that causes or accelerates a chemical reaction without itself being affected. Without the catalyst, the reaction would still happen, it would just take longer. Moving is a catalyst. It speeds up the doing of all the things you would eventually get around to doing . . . like organizing the junk drawer, cleaning out your closet, getting rid of stuff, actually making the trip to goodwill, having that garage sale (or tag sale as they call it here in the New England area), and more. Having now done 2 moves (from Sugarland to Katy in March 2007 and Katy to Connecticut in July 2008). I got to do a lot of the things I would have pushed to the back burner and ignored for years (possibly). And as painful as it is to have done, I am glad I did it. Now, I am more organized, more on top of the piles of stuff, and more aware about not letting those things wait. Having done 2 moves and knowing that someday again I will have to move keeps me acutely conscious of leaving too many things left undone.

2. The reality is . . . most of what matters you take with you. It is hard to leave extended family, but technology and travel really make the world seem small. That said, after a year this is what I miss most about Texas.

• bluebell icecream (all the flavors -- especially the fruit ones and the fact that it is still a half gallon) We were surprised one day with a delivery of 4 half gallons all packed in Dry ice from the Baker's and it was such a treat.
• The Texas flag -- you just kind of get used to Texas flags flying level with the American flag and that they are everywhere. I don't think I have seen one CT flag out flying. It is fun to have a little state pride
• Wide open spaces and flatness -- neither exist here
• Proximity, ease, driving, 24 hour grocery stores --with Trent on the train, there is little chance he can stop by home depot and pick up something or grab this at the store -- as the train doesn't exactly stop and wait -- when he drove to and from work he could do all sorts of things just on the way to and from work -- now those each require a special trip and did you know that nearly all the grocery stores are closed by 9 pm -- I used to do a lot of grocery shopping at HEB at 10:30 or 11:00 at night.
• BIG stores -- like HEB, and Supertarget, and superwalmart. There is a "Super" Stop N Shop fairly close, but . . . there is not too much super about it. You don't have to be very big here to be considered SUPER

Flying on planes with small children

My kids love flying. I would too if someone packed all my stuff and prepared me a special backpack filled with new toys and yummy treats. But as it is, I endure flying. The whole time I just thank my lucky stars we aren't driving and that is enough to get me through. On this most recent flight, there was a moment when everyone but me was asleep. I thought -- "This is Great!!!!" I was wrong. Here is what happened next. First, I decided to slide Madelyn's head off of my lap and next to me on the chair. That left me with only half a chair, but at least I had peace and quiet . . . Trent was holding Adam who was asleep and Julianne had her head Trent's lap when all at once Adam woke up. He was kicking and complaining and so Trent handed him off to me so he wouldn't wake up Julianne. And that is where it got hard. You see everyone else slept the rest of the time and Adam and I shared that 1/2 seat the remaining 2 hours. It is bad enough to share 1 seat with a busy 22 month old kid, but a 1/2 seat????? it was a LONG TWO HOURS.

Moving Days

And the thunder rolls . . .

As if getting all ready to move this weekend isn't enough. We have been having the most amazing thunder/lightning storms this week. Every afternoon right when the kids need to get outside and do something, the storm starts. And on Tuesday while we were all at the dentist, we think our house was struck by lightning. I came home to find no phone, no internet, 1 clock radio dead, 1 GFCI outlet (the one that controls the bubbles in my bathtub) totally fried, the whole electrical system that runs the security system and the smoke detectors fried, and the DVR box not working too well -- it acts like it has a short in it and the remotes no longer work well. The phone was fixed on Wednesday, the internet was fixed today, my dad and trent got the gfci back in order and looked and read but can't figure out the security system so the electrician is coming tomorrow morning. I called the dish people hoping for a quick fix, but they could only send me a new box, and knowing we are cancelling dish tomorrow I decided we would be fine for 1 day using the slow to respond remotes. In the meantime I am packing all of us for our 2 week vacation in Utah and trying to organize everything for the packers who arrive tomorrow.

The kids have been really good. And they have had so much fun rediscovering toys as I organize . We have a busy crazy 5 days ahead, but then we will be on vacation and the stuff will be on its way to our new home!!!!!

And, I survived the contract process (Trent laughs at me for being such a worrier!) and I am so relieved to have been able to rent this beautiful home in Connecticut. We are so excited for our new adventure. (Although I am not sure how excited I am to be unpacking -- if only all the work would be all done!)

Fourth down

Fourth down -- as in July the fourth
We had such a great time on the fourth of July that I never got around to taking any pictures. We had a relaxing morning. Every hour or so I had a "patriotic" activity. Sometimes I would call the kids and Trent around the piano and we would sing patriotic songs. I thought it was high time the kids learned them. We made it happily through "My Country, tis of thee" and "The Star Spangled banner" and then in the interest of family harmony we did not do any more (I was also gonna include "America the beautiful" and "Yankee Doodle Dandy"). We colored flags and learned what the stars and stripes represent. The kids thought it pretty great that we are moving from "just a star" to a "star and a stripe". They think it is pretty cool that Connectictut is one of the 13 original colonies. Later that day all of my family came over for dinner, swimming at the Lazy River Pool, and fireworks. We put on quite the show and the kids all had fun. Adam was pretty scared at the beginning of the fireworks, but by the end he was running around and enjoying (with a lot of parental help) sparklers.