Goodbye Buffalo - Hello, Ohio?

The big day before many upcoming big days was upon us.

The moving truck.

Finally we were starting our journey.

It was getting real.

Looking back now (as I type this from my bed in North Carolina)... It went so fast (these few days when we had the moving truck). Seemed like we waited forever to get the truck, fill the truck, and  then the day was here.

The kids thought it was great. Hopping around in the truck and even helping us move some boxes. 

Daddy and I loaded what we could by ourselves, and I got the kids (and I ) ready for the drive to Ohio. We decided it would be easier if I took the kids by myself to Ohio for about a week, and Daddy would do all the dirty work, close up the house, move the truck and one of our cars down south first. Then fly to Ohio and we'd all make the long drive together once everything was in our house that we are renting.


Leaving Buffalo is bittersweet.
We know where we've been trying to be for a long time. We fell in love down here .. we had Samantha here. Its not strange to us, its familiar territory. But nothing will replace the 5 years we had in Buffalo. We had good times (mostly) and some trying times too.. Each a growing period that brought us to this very moment in time.

The house sold in 1 day. We moved all our stuff out 6 weeks later.. and we were on our way to our new chapter. 

I was kind of dreading a 4 hour drive by myself with two kids. 

But it was pretty darn easy. 

Samantha was my little Momma, wiping her brother's nose when he sneezed, handing him tissues, and toys, and drinks, and sharing snacks while they watched DVD's

It poured like crazy the WHOLE way. 

In Erie I felt like we were in a snow storm at one point I could hardly see in front of me.

But they were good.

They both slept a little. And we made it to Ohio in just under 3.5 hours.

We were reunited with our little furry guy who is staying in Ohio until we have a permanent place here and its ok for him to come down. The kids really loved seeing and torturing him. The poor guy.

We kept busy while Daddy moved us.

we played with his old cars he loved when he was a kid.

we discovered our love of fans, turning on lights, and stuffing tissues inside fans

This guy also decided to begin potty training on his own.

I wasnt planning on turning up the heat on this subject until we arrived and got settled in NC. But this was ALL On him. He was doing great. I kept him in diapers though.. but kept asking him if he needed to go, and he was staying dry for 6+ hours at a time. 

We visited a few parks, Samantha had a fun sleepover with her cousins, we ate some great food every single day, and made some cookies (Oat Cakes) Andrew's favorite.

We went to their cousin's house for grilled pizzas one night, followed by the annual "beating of Paw" which all grandchildren love.

And since he was really into this potty training thing, and bribery was/is the name of the game, I found these awesome vitamin C "popcicles" lollies at Home Goods when Andrew and I went shopping one day. He continued to do great all week, and was so proud to show Daddy when he got there.

For a treat, the last day we were in Ohio, we took the kids, and met the cousins at this cute little (and old) kiddie park. It was similar to the park we took the kids to in Olcott by our old house.. cheap rides and all little kid style. My kids are suckers for carnivals. 

We were a little nervous about putting Andrew on this little roller coaster.

Just cause it was the fastest and a little jerky.. But he LOVED it. Was laughing and screaming the whole time. Carnival junkie, all the way.

He loved it so much that he and I stayed so he could ride more rides, and the girls and the Daddies.. went to lunch. 

He quickly passed out on the way home. 

Success..

We had one last yummy steak dinner that evening, and then all went to bed early and set our alarms for 4:00am. Yes thats right, 4 AM. (Yawwwwn*)

4th of July Weekend

It was our last weekend in NY

So naturally we had to have one last shopping trip to wegmans.

One - to prepare for our road trip to Ohio

Two - Buy some goodies for a weekend full of parties.

Andrew was sick at our friends' bbq.

Just wanted me to hold him. He kept asking to "go home" but we didnt want to leave, and Samantha was having a great time with her friends. My friend handed me this therapy in a glass (below) and he snapped right out of it, it was a miracle. Bouncing up and down and laughing

wa

We stayed super super late... threw the routine out the window 

Samantha stayed overnight and we left around 11 pm ... with a wide awake Andrew (hes never tired)

The next day I made these little pineapple cookies to bring to my Aunt's 4th of July party

They were so cute and even tasted just as good as they looked.

I knew since he was up till about midnight the day before, that he needed to nap.

Samantha came home and fell asleep on the couch for 3 hours, and I walked in our little village for probably the last time that day... enjoying the cute scenery and good old Main Street.

He napped and then was in a pretty good mood for the next party.

As she was spoiled last year with presents, cake and more,... the same stood for this year. 

It was so nice. 

We stayed up again till around midnight that night due to the fireworks, etc. 

Andrew's first firework experience, and he did great... as long as someone covered his ears (hehe)

We came home, and put the kids to bed, and I got to work on her little birthday table as I always do, and hung balloons from her door as usual. 

Six. 

Man did that go fast... I wonder if i'll feel the same way when she's twelve.

Six seems so big. 

Not a baby, not a toddler, not even a Kindergartner anymore.

Geesh. You cant stop time.

But I just still cant grasp that I have a child this old, and this fast.

Homemade Lip Gloss & Monster High Favor Boxes

Homemade Lip Gloss

I made Pink Lemonade for Samantha's 4th party and they were so easy, I decided to make Raspberry ones for her Monster High

Ingredients:

Vaseline

Small to-go packet Raspberry Powdered Drink 

Step One:

Microwave the vaseline in pyrex glass cup until a little runny.

I had to keep stirring with a whisk and melting a little more.

Step Two:

Stir in drink mix and whisk

I

I found these little pots  with lids at the dollar tree

Pour mix in slowly

I added a monster high sticker and wrapped them in little celophane bags

They went inside these cute favor bags

All the other goodies that went in the bag

I finished them with hot pink tulle and a pom pom tag

they were adorable!

One Week to Go

In one week from now (evening) we (the kids and I) will have said goodbye to our house, our neighborhood, our village, our lives in the north east. We are going to begin our journey by staying in Ohio for a few days while Daddy and his friend pack up, clean up and close up our house. 

We decided it would be easier to remove the kids... rather than us sleeping on the couches in our last night at the house. 

I've been preparing them here and there. 

This week we did a lot of fun things. Im trying to keep our routine normal. I cant sit in the house and pack boxes and organize while they are around.. Its near impossible most days.

We did some crafts at the park (below) We are constantly outside. I cant get them to come in sometimes. Thats a good sign for moving south.

And during the evenings.. thats when I usually get more packing, and moving done.

We've been at it for a while, so its mostly last minute things that I've been procrastinating doing. 

Samantha is ready and I am so proud of her. She has been totally on board with moving and big changes coming. She came into the kitchen like this, and said "Mom, Im ready to move to North Carolina"... my heart almost melted. She brightens my days and continues to amaze me. And she's gonna be six in 3 days.. 6. Someone hold me.

There's been a little cold front here .. so swimming has been out of the question this week. So instead we have been running errands, picking out some birthday goodies with some of her gift cards she received, and more parks and playdates. 

We started moving boxes and totes into the garage, just so I could feel like I am making some progress, and so we can breathe in here. The truck comes next week, so I am trying to be as ready as we can be. 

We have parties to go to the next two days in a row, and then Sam turns 6 on Sunday so technically another party that day too.. I dont want her to feel slighted, so Im doing all the fancy birthday stuff I normally do every year. She deserves it, my sweet girl.

The days are going by soooo fast and I just hope

 I have enough time to remember to do everything before next week.

So at night I sit here with my cheese tray and my thoughts and document what this crazy wonderful life is like right now. The end result is going to be worth all this weirdness around here. Bare cupboards, walls, empty shelves, almost no toys, all my favorite things packed away, pre-packed wardrobe for the next two weeks plus, eating what we have in the refrigerator, deciding what to keep and what to toss, saying goodbye to friends and family, .... Carolina awaits, and I know we cant wait either.