We made it home! We left the house at 1:30AM on Tuesday, Chris drove until 7:30, then I drove until 1:30PM then Chris again until about 5. We made it to a small town in northwest Arkansas - just over 1000 miles! That was a great driving day because we had no bad weather and the roads were clear. The next day we saw snow and such but the roads stayed clear. We only drove about six hours that day but Thursday we got to my Grandma’s house at about 6PM or so. I felt like we stopped every hour on Thursday but of course I’d feel that way since I wanted to hurry up and get home.

I haven’t been able to do any crafts and we sent boxes with my Dad and of course those boxes had my card making stuff, crochet and sewing that I brought. I got a little bit of craft organizing in because my Aunt (who we are staying with) had a sewing box that was just out of control! I cleaned it up for her and that felt good. I found a few more people who want/need tie blankets so maybe I can find material and do that here.

We had burial services for George over the weekend - lots of the family came, we had the priest from our church there as well as family friends who did traditional prayers for us. He is buried next to my Grandpa and Great Grandma, the cemetery has lots of my family buried there so I’m glad we settled on that area.

The kids had a good Christmas. We had Christmas in the hotel room with Chris and my Dad (who was on his way home then) and then again with my brother, nephews and Mom. I think I have a few more things for my kids to open yet but they are fine. As I type this Alice is playing Connect 4 with one of my nieces and Jake is playing Nintendo. The roads are bad but the kids are loving the snow. I’d love it more if it wasn’t ice underneath!

Merry (late) Christmas and Happy (early) New Year!!!!!!!

The time has come! We are leaving the south tomorrow night and headed back to the midwest. The kids have their snow gear (minus boots for Jake) and I think we are ready.

Chris got a big promotion at work so he’s going to training for a few months so the kids and I are doing an extended vacation, traveling and staying with family while he’s gone. I can’t wait! I haven’t seen my Grandma in a couple of years, have a few nephews/nieces I’ve never seen in person and haven’t been in snow for years.

I’ve been busy figuring what we are not taking with us - then having to go back and half the pile I want to take with us. We will be away from our own stuff for a while, but I don’t want a packed vehicle either! It’s hard to decide what to take and what to leave - sure my family will have kids toys and books for the kids, and there is always the library, but none of them (but my Mom) sew or do any crafts. It’s hard leaving my stuff to be packed up and put into storage!

We have a decent route we are taking and only driving during the day. Now I’m thinking what food to take in the car with us and where are we going to stay the first (and second) night. I wish we could make it in two days but since it’s winter that isn’t going to happen. The food thing makes me want to go shopping tomorrow.

Oh and I’m going to take crochet work along with me - easy to work on and easy to put away when it’s my turn to drive!

*Tell me you didn’t start singing when you read that.

I have this idea - I want to crochet my daughter a scarf.

Yes we are still moving, and leaving in a matter of days, and the house is spotless from having to keep it clean (cross your fingers we get a bite - the newspaper ad started today yesterday!), and I haven’t started packing for my months long journey, etc., etc.

But I want to make her a scarf. I won’t start right away, I promise! Can you recommend some yarn?

Something super soft. We found a great scarf while out today but I thought no way, I can so make this! I have no idea if it was crocheted, maybe it was knit, maybe it was machine made or even made by some 10 year old in Vietnam (I’ve noticed a lot of clothes are made in Vietnam). But it was so wonderful I wanted it for myself. Except it was white and had huge pom poms on each end and Alice claimed it for herself and it was the last one left. If there were two, I may have bought them.

So my yarn loving friends - what do you recommend! I’d love for an online store to be your choice - sure my friends and family are in South Dakota but I have no idea where to buy yarn there.  I have no idea of a blend or which is a good blend or anything. I’d like it to be washable and available in a lot of colors - Alice’s winter jacket is red (unless it doesn’t work for the super cold SD weather, then she may end up with a new one!) and I don’t have one yet.

It’s a good thing I don’t have yarn I can use - I would so ditch packing and crochet instead.

I have been doing a little of everything lately - one day last week I was crocheting while listening to a podcast, taking breaks to pack a box or two, then moving on to getting food for the kids and then some. So far I have a small stack of boxes packed up and several crochet projects completely finished!

I am almost done with all of my crafting gifts though I do have a few to go. My goal is to have everything done (and wrapped) before we leave. We will be driving approximately 1300 miles, I think 25 or so hours, and I’d rather we just drive and I am not worried about if I need to crochet or sew something. We are going to be driving through the big ice storm that is hitting (or has already hit I think?) the midwest. I’m hoping it’s melted when we get there or at least that it is easy for us to get through.

The boxes I’ve packed up are the craft room, blankets and books. I am a person who has to be in control and though Chris has said he would pack up for us, I still have this need to start. Maybe I’m concerned because he hasn’t helped us pack or unpack in over five years, and maybe even longer then that! I have a small stack of school supplies I want to take, as well as a not so small stack of books for myself. I know I can’t take them all but realize if these are my absolute favorites - maybe it’s time I can do some book weeding out. Bad time to start - I’ll just pack and worry about them later!

We are going to be away from our stuff for about five months - so I suppose I am allowed to take small stacks of various things though everything will have to fit in the van and not on top (though we do have a topper). I’m worried about forgetting something only because I don’t want to feel the need to buy it to replace it when I’ll see it in not too long. Good thing I’m doing the starting packing - I can figure what I want to take with us and what can stay.

No bites on the house yet though the word is spreading. Chris thinks it won’t get rented out until April or May and I’m hoping for February or March. Cross your fingers for us!

Thank you all for the compliments on the house. It’s no secret that real estate in the south is cheaper then real estate in the Northwest (where we were) so this house is big.

Oh and Lisa - more details: 4 bedrooms, a loft, 2 1/2 bath, family room, living room, dining room, laundry room, eat in kitchen, 2 car attached garage. I think that’s it? No fence outside, the BEST neighbors anyone could ask for, and a master walk in closet you could live in. Trust me, I almost put my craft stuff in there because it is so great.

The yard may not be that big, but we have a super awesome screened in porch! I love this because it has a ceiling fan and we put our swing in there. Perfect for the wicked hot humid days the south has all summer long.

We are in a new development so our yards are not huge - though they are perfect for kids to play in with the neighbor girls, bbq’s with friends and setting up a pool for the hot summer. But not too hot - then you just want to stay inside with the central air.

But sorry Chele - no furniture will stay - though all the appliances and even the washer and dryer will! You still interested?

This would be a perfect house for 40 acres Donna! You are so right. My Dad has five acres and a large house and it’s awesome. I can’t wait to stay with him and I know my kids can’t wait too - nevermind that he has horses for them to ride!

Our house is great to live in. We painted inside back in October and I’ve been replacing our curtains with blinds over the past month or so. It is surprising how little things can really change how your home looks - okay, it isn’t surprising and anyone point me back to this post when I say we are moving into a new place. I am great at unpacking and setting up a house in just a few weeks. And I can get all of the shelves and my candle holders on the wall a few weeks after that. But paint and blinds - that always takes a lot longer. Next time I will set up the house how I want it within the first few months.

It’s important to really enjoy your space. I did that after we painted - put up a few more pictures and such. But that’s just been the past couple of months, really not enough time at all.

Update: Click on the “Rent My House” link in the right sidebar - it goes straight to the listing!

Though I have been crafting every single day, I feel like I’m scattered and running around the house. Our realtor has stopped by a couple of times over the last week (hence the wordless wednesday picture - LOL) and the house is spotless. Seriously, I don’t worry too much over ’stuff’ being out - and so the house being spotless is kind of weird.

My craft room on the other hand - I failed the November Challenge. But that’s okay - it looks better today then it did yesterday and will look even better tomorrow. I had a great start but once we started getting the house ready to show, I stopped.

I do have most of my Christmas gifts finished! I’m going to get started wrapping them just to get them out of the way. They are in my Christmas gifts box, but with wanting to get started on packing as well - there is just a lot to do!

We are leaving in two weeks. Less then two weeks actually. Chris is back on shift work so we are thinking when he gets off at night, we’ll jump in the car and leave. I’m nervous. And excited.

And I keep on crocheting. I’m on my second pair of fingerless gloves and now Alice wants a pair and she wants me to make a sweater for one of her dolls. I’ve made a list and just keep checking things off!