My Faith and Joy… and Boys!

We’re moving.

It’s been in the works for a long time, but it hasn’t been official until now.  We closed on the house yesterday, and now I find myself with the daunting task of finishing the packing process with two curious toddlers underfoot.  I’ve actually been boxing up belongings for several weeks.  I expected the girls to be more unsettled by watching me slowly disassemble our home, but their only reaction thus far has been delight at having so many boxes to climb in and upon. 

I’m experiencing a multitude of emotions as our moving day approaches.  We’re moving to a house about a half an hour away from our current one, which brings us closer to church and closer to Jim’s work – both very exciting developments.  I’m also thrilled that I’ll be able to have a dedicated play area for the girls, as well as a large, relatively flat yard with a (safely fenced) pool for them to enjoy.  But it makes me so sad to think about not being next door to my in-laws, and leaving the only home these girls have ever known.  Jim and I built this house when we were married in 2004, and I can vividly remember walking around the unfinished rooms, envisioning our lives within these walls.  I have so many wonderful memories here, and so it is with a few tears that I am packing up our belongings and setting out on this new family adventure.  But I am thankful that the girls are young enough that they are simply excited about the changes.  When we visited the new house this past weekend, they joyfully ran circles around the empty rooms, giddy that they had such a large new place to explore.  And I know that once the emotional and physical upheaval of moving is over, I will join them in their excitement.  I may even run around in giddy circles! 

Vacationing with toddlers (two sets of twin toddlers, no less – ours and Jim’s sister’s) isn’t exactly relaxing, but it is lots of fun. 

There were a few moments of leisure time… 

…but mostly it was GO time!

More pictures to come!

Don’t most little girls use their imaginations to feed their dolls, comb their hair and rock them to sleep?

Not in this household. 

Instead, my girls pretend to do diaper duty.  They hold their noses while saying “Poo!” or “P.U.! Stinky!” and use an inordinate amount of wipes to ensure the cleanliness of their dolls’ behinds. 

Although right now it looks like perhaps Elmo is going to get mummified instead.  At least he’ll have a clean bum.   

Another difference between women and little girls:

When women try on bathing suits, we can’t wait to be done with the process. 

When little girls try on bathing suits, they want to prance around and stay in them forever.  They don’t even mind when their bellies stick out.   

Becky: “What do you mean, I can’t wear this all day?  Just watch me!” 

Last week, Susie discovered that if she turned on the charm, she could convince her daddy to let her watch the NBA playoffs when she should have been sleeping. 

I understand her motivation.  There’s nothing like watching the game with your dad.  I have many such fond memories, myself.  I loved how animated my Dad would become when his alma mater was playing, and how patiently he would explain the rules of the game to me.  I loved our laid-back Saturday afternoons when he would turn on the golf tournament and we’d cheer for Phil Mickelson until he would doze off in the easy chair beside me.  I am proud to say that, thanks to those beloved times together, I can tell the difference between a birdie and a bogie, if not a pitching wedge and a 9 iron.  And I can tell that it meant the world to my dad. 

And I can tell it means the world to Jim.  Of course, the girls probably will know more about perfecting their wakeboard stance or popping a wheelie than they will a two-point conversion or an alley-oop, but that’s not the point.  What matters is spending time doing what you love with the people who you love. 

Your family will love you for it.