That Toddlin' Town!

You said it, Sinatra . . . at least in my case.

Yes, we are totally here. And mostly moved in. (Well, at least we have beds.) (And my mom totally made short work of my kitchen.)

After a week of driving until our eyelids caught on fire, eating too many donuts from the continental breakfast, and trying really hard not to strangle the various people that we were forced into close quarters with (sorry, tios, I still love you), we officially live in Chicagoland. (Apparently that's what it's called when you live in the 'burbs.) And you know what? So far I don't hate it. I thought I was going to be completely depressed and miserable when I couldn't just drive to my mom's and dump my kids on her, but so far I'm okay. I'm willing to bet it's a combination of being so busy it's absurd and knowing that driving to Boise isn't an option so I don't get upset when I can't do it.

The only problem is that now I have to do all the unpacking by myself. I have seriously amazing family (Thank you Megan, Tess, and Jeff!) who packed us up and moved us out while I was an emotional wreck, and more seriously amazing family (Thank you Jeff and my family!) who drove all the way across the country to move us in while I was an even more tired emotional wreck.

So now I'm a slightly less emotional wreck (but not much) with a house full of boxes. And I have to re-teach my two-year-old about discipline because she spent a couple of weeks covered in grandmas. And the boys are being all clingy because I've spent so much time not holding them.

Good thing I don't have a time limit this time, huh? I can just leave it how it is! And really? I probably like it this way. As long as we're "just moved in" I don't have to stress about how messy my house is. Score! (I just probably need to get it clean at some point so that we can return the play date invitations we've already gotten.)

I'm not going to go get my camera just now (don't worry, there will be a big 'ole crazy picture post about the drive soon . . . ish. Soonish.) but I do have an index card (an upgrade from the sticky note).

Are you excited?

Mike: "I think you have a silly bone."
Katie: "In my HEAD?!?!?!! Actually, it's in my body. It's growing, and it's furry."

(After placing her hands on Peter's forehead) "Please bless your head . . ."

"Welcome to the House of God. I'm so glad you're home with me!"
also,
"He's my brother. I picked him from the House of God."

"Take a bow and sit on a cow. Now you say it."

(When I ask her what she wants for breakfast) "I pick . . . Prince Charming!"

And how about all you Imagine Dragons fans out there? "Hu-u-u-uh ho, Hu-u-u-uh ho, Radioactor, radioactor!"

And finally, you know how a lot of kids have imaginary friends? Well, Katie has an imaginary kid-from-down-the-street-who-won't-leave-you-alone. Fairly sure he's a monkey, but she often refers to him as "Monk." She'll play with him for a few minutes and then she'll decide to change games and say, "No! You stay over there! Stop following me!" Or, today while we were sitting at the table eating lunch, she kept smacking something behind her chair and saying, "Leave me alone, Monk! I'm eating my lunch! Leave me alone!"

I really don't know how to react to that.

Anyhow, I should probably go take my contacts out . . . if I can find my case . . . unfortunately my bedroom is one of the last places that is still a disaster. Most of the rest of the house just looks like we're slobs, but my room is still covered in boxes. It's awesome.

A Word (and Pictures) from the Headless Chicken

Yes, I am running around like a chicken with my head cut off. Want to know why? Because we are moving across the country in two weeks. TWO WEEKS. And somehow, I've got to help with and attend my sister's wedding (!!!), pack up my house, clean it, get utilities worked out, and deal with the emotional trauma of living a jillion miles away, all while not neglecting my children or starving to death . . . or letting them starve to death, either. That would be also bad. (Although, really? Katie eats almost constantly and I regularly have to clean dried up drool and lint out of the boys' fat creases. No danger here.)

So that's why I haven't blogged recently. The good news is that we do have a contract signed for a place to live, and many family members who are willing to come with and help us get settled before Mike's school starts, and also it's almost my birthday. That's always good news, right? (At least while I'm still in my 20s . . .)

But, since I should really be emailing my new landlord and calling the power company and continuing to box up my kitchen, I'm just going to give you the sticky-note of recent Katie-isms and post our recent family pictures. Deal? Deal.

• Remember when I told you about making my belly good? Now it's, "Want to do Pilates? I'll get the maps out!"
  
• When I was folding clean laundry, she would grab a shirt, run around the room with it, wad it up on top of a pile of clothes, and declare, "I'm a genius!"
  
• She stopped one day at the threshold of the living room, and shouted, "Okay! I'm here! It's the Katie!" And cleared her throat.
  
• Katie: No! Don't wash my hair! I don't like it! . . . Oh, did you get the sunscreen out?
  Me: Yes, I washed your hair to get the sunscreen and pool water out.
  Katie: (In her pitiful voice) Oh, thank you, mom. You're the best!
  
• (Whenever she starts over singing any song at all) "Okay, here we go, kids!"
  
• "There's a powerful monster in my closet!"
  
• Me: Do you know why we have fireworks? It's because we live in a country called America.
  Katie: No, we live in our house.
  Me: Yes, but our house is in a country.
  Katie: No, it's right here! Not in a country!
  
• "Look, Mom, I have a cute, little bummy. And you have a great, big, huge bummy!"
  
• Me: Who were your new friends in nursery today? What was the girl's name?
  Katie: Her name was Hazel and she was very nice!
  Me: What was the little boy's name?
  Katie: Oh, he was just a boy.
  

And now, we commence the list of song adaptations by Katie. See if you can recognize them.

• "Row, row, row your boat gently down the stream. If you see a lion, don't forget to roar!"
  
• "Old McDonald had a potty, Potty Song! Potty Song!"
  
• (Five minutes later) "The potty song is dead now."
  
• "I'm pretending to be like Jesus!"
  
• "Do you know the Mustard Man?"

Yeah, she's the coolest kid ever.

Now for our family pictures. Happy Fourth of July!