Ready to Relax and Slow Down

I am dog tired these days. I seem to be spending too much time getting ready to move or worrying about the move and various other things (yeah, I am a worrier), lifting heavy boxes, and not getting to spend a quality fun time with the family.  We haven’t been eating great lately because we have been mostly eating out which is also a big reason why I am tired. I even got some sort of 12 hour flu. Two of my three kids also got colds because of the lack of good food nourishing their little bodies. Add to this the stress of life lately and I just need a break…  I hope time flies next week and we get settled in our new place fast so I can veg out on the back patio with a big bowl of fresh strawberries and a good book while the kids play on their water slide. I don’t like feeling like I am on zombie autopilot.

Remember my rave about loving my used car? Well, this week I have to shell out $1,800 to have the clutches fixed before my whole transmission goes out. Even with this output of money I am still paying way less then people who have new cars and car loans but sudden expenses like that still hurt. And because we cannot drive it my hubby has been staying at our new place in the city to be close to work, so he wouldn’t have to drive a motorcycle in the rain… so I have been a single and car-less parent all week. My parents have been driving us around wherever we need to go though.

I am feeling relieved that we have gotten rid of MOST of our belongings. We have REALLY downsized so that we can comfortably fit in a 1000 square foot house. A lucky local lady got most of my books and was thrilled to get them. They filled up the back of her SUV. I went from several hundred books to about 50. We also got rid of all furniture except the bare minimum. We have beds, dressers, two couches, a coffee table, a kitchen table, and that is about it. I still have a bunch of kids stuff that needs to go but I think I will drop it all off at a consignment shop and get some credit for school clothes. I am still kinda worried that we have too much sewing and art stuff but hopefully it will work out. I managed to get a nice washer and dryer and a stand alone freezer, USED off of Craigslist. Love getting deals and not having to buy new. Living clutter free is going to be amazing I think.

The kids are pretty unphased by the move. It was hot enough to drag out their waterslide (a gift from their grandparents last summer) and they have been playing on it everyday. Look at my oldest boy’s face below. Every muscle in his face and neck is working that smile. Have you ever been that joyful in your adult life? I am not sure that I have. Ah… to be a kid again. ;) Sometimes it takes seeing a smile like that to remember that you can just slow down and be happy with the small things in life… all you have to do is learn a thing or two from your kids.