A lot of randomness

There's been a lot going on over here.  A lot. Probably more than I would prefer. I prefer easy and low key.  We moved a week or so ago. I have officially lost track of time.

Moving is a lot of work. I don't understand why people 1) enjoy moving 2) do it more than a few times in a lifetime.  Unless there are major changes to shake up the family around here, ie a new job in a far away location, I don't ever want to move again.  Thankfully, we had a lot of help come and unpack boxes and put stuff away and keep Miss M busy and out of trouble.  Grandma D came home with us after Christmas and Nick and Callie and the girls came up the following day.

We couldn't have done it without them. We have one box left to be unpacked (current tense b/c I haven't unpacked it since they left). They followed directions at just putting stuff wherever they saw fit b/c I didn't care. I was curled up in the fetal position in the corner overwhelmed with all the boxes and wondering where all this stuff came was in our tiny apartment. I have been able to find most stuff and unfortunately the time Nick took to organize the pantry might not stay organized for very long.

I am still overwhelmed everyday with the amount of things that I need to get done and the amount of things I want to get done.  I sometimes (not often enough) try to remind myself it's a 30 year project and not a 30 day project but there's so much I want to complete and check off my to-do list.  I get a few things done each day but it never feels like enough.

We did get a babysitter for Miss M on Sunday and we ventured (back) to the hardware store and then to Ikea.  Ikea is overwhelming. I am not sure whether I am that big of a wimp and can't handle anything or if there is honestly too many overwhelming things happening at once!  We restrained ourselves from buying most of the store. Our main goal was to buy a kitchen table and chairs. We succeeded and Andrew put it together in a matter of hours. It's a lovely table and Miss M even got her own chair!

Keep the judgement of feeding Miss M Apple Jacks to yourselves, please.

We made up an excuse to make brownies last weekend.  Miss M loves to help.  I let her stir the already stirred brownies and then because she needs exposed to life experiences I let her lick the spoon. I know there's the Salmonella issue but I have licked plenty of brownie spoons and haven't gotten sick so I took the chance. As predicted, she enjoyed herself. 

It has been cold. It's winter. I know it's to be expected but it doesn't have to be appreciated. I have been trying to keep Miss M busy because if she's not busy all she wants to do is watch the television or play with the iPhone.  I let her watch enough television and feel guilty about most of it but I have learned that the biggest lesson about being a parent is learning to live with guilt because there's enough of it. I could list all the guilt I live with regularly with Miss M but shall refrain to keep things on the lighter side (at least for tonight).  

She loves her choo-choo's (as she affectionately refers to them). She now has two Thomas and Friends trains. I made her a really pathetic train track to drive her trains around (and to make her daddy-o feel guilty...he needs some guilt too...and get her train table built...which is a long story for another day which hopefully can be explained sooner than later). 

Her babysitter gave her a set of paints. I was rather terrified of the paints b/c of staining but it seemed to wash right off the table and out of her clothes so we painted tonight at her new table.  It's not that cold in the house rather she still just likes wearing her hat.