Moving is a journey....a long process!

The moving process has been difficult in many ways, but it's also been "cleansing" as well.  After living 15 years in one house, a beautiful house, it's been a big decision to downsize, but I believe it will be for the best in years to come.  Exciting news is that our old house is "under contract" now and escrow will close on February 11.

On December 28 the movers arrived at our "old house" and worked 8 hours getting just heavy boxes, appliances and furniture moved.  We had some "breath-taking" moments and disappointments that day.  The HUGE bookcase made it by inches into the new house reading room/playroom. Unfortunately, the roll-top desk we've owned for 35 years did NOT make the doorway....it came through the front door, but is too large to fit through the office doorway.  So....it sits in the garage for now:-(

Our cats remained locked up for one entire day in the laundry room...with their food/water/blankets and litter box.  But then it was time to explore the new surroundings....

We had so many wonderful helpers on moving day...we can't thank them enough.  My parents brought out lunch for everyone....It was a big help! That's my Dad carrying stuff in the first

 photo above.

  

Since then, our children have helped ALOT....in fact, we would still be sitting with a family room full of boxes if it weren't for their expertise, efficient unpacking skills, and quick decision-making advice!  Mind you, we still have three bedrooms filled with cardboard boxes, and the garage has LOTS of stuff to go through yet, however, our new home is very livable at this point! (Some of the things I'm unpacking are things I put away in December of 2012 when we were deciding to "stage" our home to sell, and then we had to wait until Fall of 2013 to put our house on the market.)  Lots of surprises to unwrap....Can't wait to having "family photos" on display again!

Jen and Nick have been helping alot too, but for some reason, there are no snapshots of them. Sorry!  Corissa, Mike and the grandkids were big helpers too....the children were very curious about the new house, and wanted to know "where are the toys?" when they came to visit. We made do with a cardboard box and I found tote of play dishes for an impromptu tea party.

Alan put together our laundry room cabinets and helped Vince hang them recently.

Mike and Alan helped us pick out a new TV; Mike provided an antenna while we waited for cable TV technicians for two weeks.  Then Alan and Alissa assisted with hanging the TV on the wall.

 Also, Alissa & Alan spent many hours on a Saturday installing our "knobs and handles" hardware on kitchen and bathroom cupboards! What a team they are!!  Alissa has been helping hang some decorative items also....it's been wonderful to have our family support us through this exhausting process.