Not the Buy More

File this under the "Kids say the darndest things" category. Out running errands, we were approaching Best Buy, and Sam says, "Best Buy. They should call it 'Breast Buy'" I look over at Stuart... We are both completely startled. A little amused, but shocked. Who knew Sam even knew the word breast? I'm thinking "Welcome to Vegas." I mean, he's only 8. It starts this early??!! He continues, "I mean, that would be funny right? Breast, like breaststroke? Funny!" Hilarious. My sweet, innocent boy still is. For now. ;)

Move in day comes!

Our furniture finally made it to our new house on Anserville. It took 4 movers from 9 to 5 to get all of our furniture and boxes in the house. Oh, and did I mention that the piano went upstairs? The movers loved that.

Up the stairs!

Here's a little free advertising for the movers... 

A Week in Pictures

Sam played defense the first half of his game Saturday-- a new thing for him!

...but center is still his favorite.

Parents take turns manning the down markers. Stu is a professional.

Grilled out on Saturday night. Rain cleared off just in time...

Counting rocks. Kate does NOT want her picture taken, but isn't she pretty?

Sam's looking good!

Sorcerer's Apprentices in the theater room

Lounging (with crazy eyes!)

My big helper working on painting shelves. She even helped on the ones in HER room, so that was a big hit. She kept saying, "I'm really good at painting, Mom, because I'm an artist."

Delayed (Intentional Silence)

Where are the updates? Why no info?

Well, I could say we've been busy. That's true. We've had all kinds of fun, as evidenced by the pictures below. Kids are doing well in school, making friends. (They seem to ebb and flow right now... some days we have lots of fun with friends and then we had one with none.) We had our first football game, which was SO organized and professional (They gathered for the national anthem before each game! golf carts! down markers!) We used the theater to watch "Sorcerer's Apprentice" and grilled out again. It even surprised us and rained earlier this week. (Let's just say that Vegas drivers in the rain are a lot like KC drivers in the snow.)

I think the real reason updates have been few is that I'm not sure what to say. I want to be super-positive. I'm excited about the elementary school, the weather, and our new house. Other things are not so great.

• Work has been difficult-- a lot of work has happened by the time I check in (6 am my time, 8 theirs) and often I'm awoken to some fire that has to be put out and an angry client, resource, etc. Nothing like waking up to a problem every day-- clearly I couldn't be an actual firefighter! 
• What started as fun, or at least a manageable punch list of housing to dos has grown exhausting. There seem to be a lot of shady contractors, and everyone is sure the others you've called are them. Everything about the move-- the home buy, the home sale, the rental cars, the temporary housing-- costs just a little more than the original estimate, but the little adds up and drives me crazy!
• Our furniture move has been delayed by this and that, and  is now pushed out to a week from tomorrow. Meanwhile, I drive about 100 miles (not an exaggeration) and spend about 2+ hours in the car (in between begging for a cell signal so I can manage work.)

On top of all that, the real issue is that my world has gotten so much smaller. My time alternates between kids and solitare, with no middle ground, no distractions. I've really come to appreciate the wide variety of friends I had at home. I had a friend for every occasion! I can't tell you the last time I had a night without the kids and had no possible plans. When Stu relieved me the other night, I went to CVS (later I found out that a shooting had happened in the gas station just behind the store-- don't tell Nanny). This is my new life.

Don't get me wrong. I KNOW things will get better every week. We will move into the house, have neighbors, live close to other families and develop a network. We have some friends in the works right now. These things don't happen quickly, and especially not when one is living in temporary housing 15 miles from her ultimate destination. Eventually, we'll find a church we like and meet people there too. It will all work out.

It's the meantime that's tough. In the meantime, it's pretty lonely. I'm not saying that to earn your sympathy, and I've been silent about it because I want to seem tough and positive and able to leap tall buildings in a single bound. But when we look back at what this time required of us, I feel it's only fair and honest to admit that this transition is pretty tough. Some days, it downright sucks.