When we started our move I had absolutely no idea that it would become such a monumental undertaking. Now 4 weeks into it and I am still going through storage containers and sifting out what stays and what gets donated. Just for clarification’s sake let me explain why it has been such an undertaking…

Now, our background?  As mentioned in previous posts, my little family of 4 has been living with in-laws on either side for, well, our entire existence of being a family. So that’s 6 years people! Can you imagine?!

In those 6 years we have been storing things in the local storage centers…the last was a 10×30 unit to be exact.  Filled to the brim.  And we’re now living in an 1095 sq.ft. apartment….with a little ant’s trail to make our way around.  I have to laugh…if I don’t laugh then the storage containers and boxes just might make me cry.  My line of vision is filled with them.

We actually started out this whole process by going in and painting three areas. First, our main room which got Arabian Sands as the main color.  Then the master bedroom which got a gorgeous steel blue…that we carried over from our last bedroom.  And the final wall that got painted was an accent wall in the main room where our TV was to make it’s final resting space…in a deep Spruce Evergreen (that’s what it said).  It’s so dark that it almost looks black at times, which makes for great TV viewing…especially for movies.  There’s still a ton of stuff to go through, but as you can see there is a glimpse of normalcy that is coming about.  My goal is to have it totally cleared tonight…it’s a goal that is definitely well within my grasp.

HOWEVER, yes there is a however, I have managed to set up my kitchen in a rather neat and functioning way….come on, I had to have at least one little area of retreat that didn’t have containers stacked against the walls.  Not to mention the fact that I have to be able to feed my family.  It’s my haven, my solice, my favorite slice of the pie…MY kitchen.

The revelation that there is no way, short of just throwing everything out without looking, that I can get my little home in order by the close of this weekend.  (which would, quite frankly, be an absolute dream come true right now)   So now comes the task of methodically going through one box/container at a time to see whether or not we need the contents inside…if they can be donated to some other family/organization that can use them…or if it’s a trip to the trash dumpster.

Since we started our moving process there have been 4 trips to Goodwill and one call to Habitat For Humanity.  That’s a total of 11 containers and 1 fridge that have left our possession.  And it feels good…REALLY GOOD!  While I hate letting go of things, I know that they are going to help to do good and not just sit in a closet waiting to be used.  And the fridge, well that will be a blessing for a family in the package of a new home.  And as Charming says, “I feel like we’re a couple on that show HOARDERS right now.”  I don’t want to be on HOARDERS…ever.  So I have been letting go of a lot of things.  People in Europe don’t have this problem…they typically don’t have room to have this problem.  It’s something to do with the American Dream…of having it all.  (but it all envelops you)

One of the most shocking things is that I have about 6 containers of little girl’s clothing…newborn to 3T.  Yeah, my kids have not been in want of any clothes…not at all.  It’s borderline embarrassing.  I’ve actually found outfits that were never worn, which I have passed along to other mothers for their little ones.  I mean, what am I going to do?  Hold onto them until my kids have kids?  There’s no way.  Charming would kill me.  I would kill me.  Besides, I think Christ is coming back before my little kiddles would have their own little kiddles to take care of.  So the process of sifting through those containers is beginning this weekend…please pray for me!

Here was one of my laughable finds, so far:  We have discovered that we have 7 sets of salt & pepper shakers.  For a family of 4.  7 SETS!  Let’s just say that it has been dwindled down…to 3.  One small set on the dining table, another medium set right next to the stove and a large set simply because I absolutely love the peppermill.  It’s tall and beautifully shiny.  I had to have a peppermill…that’s my thing.  I might be the only one in the family that likes the peppercorn medley, but I’m also the one that cooks…so I get my peppermill.

Then there’s our 3rd bedroom/office…it basically started out as storage area for everything we were bringing in….here’s a glimpse of our 2nd day of move-in.  We just kept shoving one box/container after another into the room…stacked up to 5 containers high at one point.  It really was more like a little storage unit than a bedroom.

Now, it’s taking a little more shape.  Hey, we have a computer set-up and a mattress all set…there’s no sheets or comforter on it yet, but it’s a bed nonetheless.  And don’t mind the tons of stuff on it.  I’m sure that the princess wouldn’t mind…after all, it’s the pea that bothered her and not big lumpy things.  And in an effort to keep a smile on Charming’s face, I also decided that this room was going to be a Seattle Seahawks themed room.  Yeah…every woman’s dream, I know.  But it makes him happy, and it’s a way to help keep the Seahawks out of our bedroom. (so I’m happy)  Tomorrow, the Seahawks throw goes up on the wall.  Let’s just say that Charming is going to be smiling from ear to ear when he sees that.  He loves that throw…and if I weren’t wishing that the room was more classy and less sporty, then I’d be a big fan of it too.  Seriously, it really is nice.  It was a big deal when I took it off of our bedroom wall at the beginning…but this room is going to be much more accepting of it.

So, in retrospect I have a few tips that must be shared…in hopes of you, or someone you know, having a positive moving experience…

MOVING TIPS TO KEEP YOU SANE:

1)  Get a space set-up for the kiddles (if you have them) to occupy while all of the moving mayhem is going on.  We set-up the girl’s bedroom with a table & chairs, coloring books, books to read and about 3 boxes of toys to keep them busy.  Plus a Nintendo DS and a Leapster.  (life savers during this)

2)  Paint first!  There is nothing more exhausting than the simple thought of having to move things in order to get a color on your walls.  Get it out of the way first, if you have your color picked out…trust me, you will be so glad that you did.

3)  Have all of your kitchen items moved in right after the kid’s things.  Mark boxes with the items that you will immediately need…get them into drawers/cabinets so that you won’t be digging around wondering where that spatula you need is.

4)  Have a game plan for moving all of the other items in.  Seriously.  HAVE A GAME PLAN.  You have absolutely no idea what a difference this will make…especially if you are a couple who tend to do things in the opposite manner.  At least you will both have a clear understanding of what’s coming up and how you both have agreed to do it.  (which helps you avoid frustration and blow-ups) 

I’m a little bit overboard about it, it’s the engineer’s daughter and the drafter in me, but  I even did a scaled layout of our furniture and the rooms.  That way there wasn’t much in the way of guessing how things were going to fit…it was preplanned. (which drove Charming NUTS)

5)  Find a way in all of the hustle and bustle to make those who are helping with the moving process LAUGH.  It’s a huge tension reducer and it just makes the whole thing a lot more tolerable.

6)  For your body’s sake, be sure to have a lot of water accessible…and snacks or eating breaks.  You get very grumpy when dehydrated/hungry.  VERY grumpy.

7)  This really should be #1, but I’m tired and just don’t feel like renumbering everything. (at least I’m being honest)  Label everything!  Seriously, label everything, or as close to it as possible so you know exactly what’s in a box.  That is why my pictures are with my phone and not my camera…I can’t find the recharger for the batteries.  errrrrg!

8)  Celebrate the end of the day…even if it’s only with a soda with ice.  Celebrate it.  You’ve worked hard and deserve a pat on the back for it.