So we made it to the apartment. You know how when you're going through something all you can think is... if I just make it to -this point- then everything will be alright? That's how it was. We were hanging on until January 3rd. A Tuesday. It couldn't come soon enough. I just knew that as soon as Tuesday came everything would be DONE... and DONE!
... I forgot about the unpacking process.
So after two trips in a costly 17' Uhaul (advertised to fit an entire two-bedroom home - that was a lie), nine bodies moving the stuff, and an unending amount of climbing up and down Jerad's stairs (it rained the day before so going straight out the basement back door was a no go), our apartment was finally filled. Seriously filled. That night we had to create a path to our room so we could put up the bed. Then we stacked everything on our bed to create a path to the bathroom and Luke and Mila's room to put up their beds. (Luke's is so giant that there is no space for Mila's.) By the time we got that done, Luke had created a "fort" by burying himself in pillows. So we left his bed piled high and collapsed.
It's been almost one week. Today I went through and made a stack of boxes and tubs that need to go to storage. There's just no other way to fit it comfortably (and safely) in the apartment. I'm continually asking myself - How did we get all this junk? Do we really need all these VHS tapes? High school yearbooks? Stuffed animals? Ugh. Cant we just get rid of it all? But then I think... this is only temporary. The plan/goal is to stay for six months and then try to get pre-approved for a loan again. We'll finish our our lease as we look at homes and go on from there. I'm thinking maybe we'll do a six-month lease just so we don't have to move in winter!
My advice for moving:
1. Get a babysitter!
2. Pack up ALL things. Don't leave anything out that can fit in a box. Trips back and forth to the car for little things is a waste of moving time and energy. And, if it can all stack flat that would be best.
3. Don't buy different types of tubs. Otherwise they won't fit together when you unpack!
4. Color code or label the boxes and tubs. That way if you're not there at least the ones unloading can place them in the corresponding room.
5. Hold out on buying more stuff.
It'll take at least another week before the place is ready to add some character. We still have to (we're GOING TO HAVE TO) go through the toys and decide what to keep and what to donate, maybe we can hang some stuff, and ultimately wait for a storage space to open up. Until then I'm afraid we're looking at boxes.
I got a lot accomplished today. After picking up Luke, the kids and I are going to mom's to paint the basement, scrub floors and fix the sheetrock in the garage. Yep, just because we moved doesn't mean we're DONE. My encouragement for the day: Hang in there! ;)
