We couldn't believe the time had finally come--our new home was complete (mostly) and we could move in! Will and I had worked hard for hours at night after the kids had gone to bed to get the house packed up. We have so much stuff!! We made almost daily trips to Goodwill trying to lighten our load from things we no longer use or need. We tried to leave the kids' rooms mostly intact until the end, not wanting to raise their anxiety levels anymore than they already were. Our house looked so empty already and the furniture was still there!
Mimi came up Thursday night before we moved on Saturday, November 17th, and kept the kids for 5 days!! I know that we wouldn't have gotten half of what we did get done without her help. It was priceless!! On Friday morning, she took Anna to school and then both kids over to Sarah and Jason's for two nights. Then the three of them spent two nights with Greg and Michelle. Thank you to my sweet siblings and sibling-in-laws for housing my kiddos for a few days!!!
Friday was spent over at the new house getting last minute things accomplished like cleaning (for me) and getting the TV mounted over the fireplace (for Will). Then we headed back to our old house to start packing up the kids rooms and last-minute items.
 |
| The kids on the empty furniture Friday morning... |
 |
| ...having the last bit of fun in the old house. |
After a rather late night and early morning, Will and I were ready when the trucks pulled up at 8:30 on Saturday morning. Here we go! It took the guys until 3pm to load those two trucks. We were really impressed with how well they wrapped all the furniture and packed everything so tightly. After a quick late lunch, they started unloading at the new house and finished up about 8:30 that night. Twelve full hours!! In the middle of the afternoon, we got a showing request for the old house for the next day. Are you kidding me?? We hadn't had a showing request in 6 weeks!! Greg and Michelle were absolute saviors and spent several hours cleaning our old house Saturday afternoon while we were unloading at the new house. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! After the guys left, Will and I found enough stuff to make our bed and collapsed into it. What a long day!!
 |
| The beginning of our long day! |
For the next four days, Will and I unpacked. Mimi would bring the kids over for short stents and Anna stayed for several hours Sunday afternoon to help us put together her room and unpack most of the playroom. It was really hard on Jack to see us and then not be able to understand why he couldn't stay. It became easier on Mom to just stay away until reunion time.;) After four long, hard days of unpacking, we both felt really good about where we were--the house was mostly unpacked and we had been cared for by special family and friends who had brought meals to us and checked in on us along the way. On Tuesday night, the whole Collins clan came over to the house for spaghetti dinner and Mimi and the kids spent their first night in the new house. With huge, thankful hearts, we waved goodbye as Mimi drove back to Wilmington on Wednesday morning. We would see her the next day for Thanksgiving!!
