Yup, that's right, it's moving week around here, which means CRAZINESS! The jet lag has not completely disappeared either (almost, but there have still been several nights we've been wide awake eating fast food at midnight because we are anything but ready for bed), which had added an interesting dimension to the whole packing process. This is a pretty random list, but here are the high lights from the past week...**1**
Becca and Mike's wedding was last Friday night and thanks to our jet lag I was WIDE awake throughout the party (which went til midnight). Dancing at 11 PM? Not a problem for us! We probably could have kept going another couple hours, as it was we didn't fall asleep that night til about 2:30. But to be honest I'd love to be able to just lay down and fall asleep like a normal person at 10:30 again, it's getting closer, I think last night was midnight?
**2**
In order to move all our stuff we decided to go the "pod" route instead of driving a moving truck ourselves. They deliver an empty pod, you have a couple days to fill it, lock it, and then they come pick it up and drive it to your new location. We went with the ABF moving company instead of using the specific "pod" company because they were a little cheaper. ABF has been awesome. If you have an upcoming move, we would highly recommend them. Our only problem is that we didn't really do the math on the cubic feet of storage space each pod has, so we way underestimated. They brought us our pod on Wednesday exactly when they said they would. We tried packing some of the furniture Wed. night and quickly realized there was no way. We even taped it out on the floor and tried stacking boxes to see how far we could get.
(okay, first we ate a midnight Taco Bell picnic in our "pod")
Becca and Mike's wedding was last Friday night and thanks to our jet lag I was WIDE awake throughout the party (which went til midnight). Dancing at 11 PM? Not a problem for us! We probably could have kept going another couple hours, as it was we didn't fall asleep that night til about 2:30. But to be honest I'd love to be able to just lay down and fall asleep like a normal person at 10:30 again, it's getting closer, I think last night was midnight?
**2**
In order to move all our stuff we decided to go the "pod" route instead of driving a moving truck ourselves. They deliver an empty pod, you have a couple days to fill it, lock it, and then they come pick it up and drive it to your new location. We went with the ABF moving company instead of using the specific "pod" company because they were a little cheaper. ABF has been awesome. If you have an upcoming move, we would highly recommend them. Our only problem is that we didn't really do the math on the cubic feet of storage space each pod has, so we way underestimated. They brought us our pod on Wednesday exactly when they said they would. We tried packing some of the furniture Wed. night and quickly realized there was no way. We even taped it out on the floor and tried stacking boxes to see how far we could get.
(okay, first we ate a midnight Taco Bell picnic in our "pod")
(Yeah this doesn't include our furniture either...)
**3**
Bright and early Thursday morning we called ABF to see when we could get a 2nd Pod delivered. They were there by 11:30 AM, which was amazing because our helpers were all still there packing the first one.
We had asked a few of our high school students and they came and were awesome--one of their dads even stayed to help too--we are SO grateful!
**4**
Here is the best thing about the Pods. They take about a week to get to their destination (at least they do to Seattle), so I had wanted them to get a head start since it will only take us 3 days, which is why we had them delivered Wed. and picked up on Friday--we want them delivered next Friday. We didn't anticipate this, but the bonus of this whole arrangement is that we're left with an empty apartment and not much to do for our last weekend in town--which has been amazing for both of us! How many people do you know are eating Pinkberry and browsing the cookbook section in the local bookstore two days before they move? We ended up with loads of time to spend with the people we love and that has been awesome. Friday I enjoyed a long leisurely lunch with a dear friend from college who now lives down here, then wandered Old Town Pasadena by myself one last time (yes eating Pinkberry along the way!). Friday night I went to my favorite Thai restaurant with Jenn and Alethia, then had a delightful sleep over with them at Alethia's house (all our husbands were gone for the night). Saturday Jenn and I got coffee from Zephyrs (favorite local coffee shop), walked around the Rose Bowl and ate more Pinkberry. Today is cleaning day. Charles and 12 of his guy friends went to the beach Friday afternoon, camped overnight and surfed Friday and Saturday afternoon. Last night he helped me with the "manly" cleaning jobs (removing screws from the walls, using Spackle etc) :) He's at the beach again this morning and then gets to bottle beer with a friend this afternoon before our goodbye party tonight. Seriously, next time you move out of state, send your stuff 3 days early and just enjoy time with the people around you guilt free!
**5**
For Christmas my in laws are buying us a new washer/dryer which is truly one of the best gifts I could ever possibly receive! My own parent's washing machine was breaking so they had to shop themselves, so they did all my research for me (which was great since I had zero time to do that) and on Wednesday night I ordered our new ones which will be installed next Friday! THANK YOU Ed & Audrey!! (and thank you mom and dad for all the hours of research you did!)
**6**
We said goodbye to my car last night (yes I might have teared up a little while driving away...). She's been a great car, and I'll miss her, but we are going to save SO much money in Seattle only having one vehicle. We also know she's going to a great home, a family from church bought her which is fantastic. We had to put most of what we made into Charles' car, getting it back to tip top shape but we did that this week and it drives SO well now, it is amazing!
**7**
Our drive begins tomorrow morning! If you'd like to pray for no snow over the Siskiyou Summit that would be fantastic---we definitely don't want to get stuck! We're spending tomorrow night in my home town of Roseville with our old neighbors so I can show Charles where I grew up and grab a sandwich from my favorite deli (Beach Hut Deli) where you can get the best sandwich on earth:
This, ladies and gentlemen, is called the Surfin Bird. It is an amazing combination of turkey, avocado, tomato, cream cheese, bacon and pickles. I've been craving one for about three months now. This will be dinner Monday night :) Tuesday will be our long driving day--about 10 hours weather depending. We're hoping to make it from Roseville to McMinnville, OR (outside Portland) to stay with my best friend and her new husband--I can't wait to see their place all set up, and to have the husbands finally meet each other! (They don't have a choice, they have to become good friends!) Wednesday we should arrive at our new place around 1 :) We'll run errands on Wed/Thurs to get some basics, and then we have a crew of friends coming Saturday morning to help us unload the pods that should be (fingers crossed!) delivered Friday. We are also so grateful to be moving to a place where we know people! Next time you hear from me I'll be back in the Northwest--missing CA friends but excited to set up life in a new place.
**3**
Bright and early Thursday morning we called ABF to see when we could get a 2nd Pod delivered. They were there by 11:30 AM, which was amazing because our helpers were all still there packing the first one.
We had asked a few of our high school students and they came and were awesome--one of their dads even stayed to help too--we are SO grateful!**4**
Here is the best thing about the Pods. They take about a week to get to their destination (at least they do to Seattle), so I had wanted them to get a head start since it will only take us 3 days, which is why we had them delivered Wed. and picked up on Friday--we want them delivered next Friday. We didn't anticipate this, but the bonus of this whole arrangement is that we're left with an empty apartment and not much to do for our last weekend in town--which has been amazing for both of us! How many people do you know are eating Pinkberry and browsing the cookbook section in the local bookstore two days before they move? We ended up with loads of time to spend with the people we love and that has been awesome. Friday I enjoyed a long leisurely lunch with a dear friend from college who now lives down here, then wandered Old Town Pasadena by myself one last time (yes eating Pinkberry along the way!). Friday night I went to my favorite Thai restaurant with Jenn and Alethia, then had a delightful sleep over with them at Alethia's house (all our husbands were gone for the night). Saturday Jenn and I got coffee from Zephyrs (favorite local coffee shop), walked around the Rose Bowl and ate more Pinkberry. Today is cleaning day. Charles and 12 of his guy friends went to the beach Friday afternoon, camped overnight and surfed Friday and Saturday afternoon. Last night he helped me with the "manly" cleaning jobs (removing screws from the walls, using Spackle etc) :) He's at the beach again this morning and then gets to bottle beer with a friend this afternoon before our goodbye party tonight. Seriously, next time you move out of state, send your stuff 3 days early and just enjoy time with the people around you guilt free!
**5**
For Christmas my in laws are buying us a new washer/dryer which is truly one of the best gifts I could ever possibly receive! My own parent's washing machine was breaking so they had to shop themselves, so they did all my research for me (which was great since I had zero time to do that) and on Wednesday night I ordered our new ones which will be installed next Friday! THANK YOU Ed & Audrey!! (and thank you mom and dad for all the hours of research you did!)
**6**
We said goodbye to my car last night (yes I might have teared up a little while driving away...). She's been a great car, and I'll miss her, but we are going to save SO much money in Seattle only having one vehicle. We also know she's going to a great home, a family from church bought her which is fantastic. We had to put most of what we made into Charles' car, getting it back to tip top shape but we did that this week and it drives SO well now, it is amazing!
**7**
Our drive begins tomorrow morning! If you'd like to pray for no snow over the Siskiyou Summit that would be fantastic---we definitely don't want to get stuck! We're spending tomorrow night in my home town of Roseville with our old neighbors so I can show Charles where I grew up and grab a sandwich from my favorite deli (Beach Hut Deli) where you can get the best sandwich on earth:
This, ladies and gentlemen, is called the Surfin Bird. It is an amazing combination of turkey, avocado, tomato, cream cheese, bacon and pickles. I've been craving one for about three months now. This will be dinner Monday night :) Tuesday will be our long driving day--about 10 hours weather depending. We're hoping to make it from Roseville to McMinnville, OR (outside Portland) to stay with my best friend and her new husband--I can't wait to see their place all set up, and to have the husbands finally meet each other! (They don't have a choice, they have to become good friends!) Wednesday we should arrive at our new place around 1 :) We'll run errands on Wed/Thurs to get some basics, and then we have a crew of friends coming Saturday morning to help us unload the pods that should be (fingers crossed!) delivered Friday. We are also so grateful to be moving to a place where we know people! Next time you hear from me I'll be back in the Northwest--missing CA friends but excited to set up life in a new place.
We LOVE Beach Hut too! Miss you already....
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