Twisting at its best!

Look at how far twisting balloons has come.....

(What, did you think I was talking about the game Twister??!)

Getting Cloooooooooooser!

Taken December 10th, 2007

Today Tyler, Myself and our girls went and looked at our house.... With permission!!!

You see, for those of you just joining in this topic, we're not supposed to enter the house without permission from our builder for safety reason... And when we do the final walk-thru a week before we have possession we're supposed to wear a hard hat and not have anyone under 18 with us.... (We'll see how that goes!)

BUT we've been sneaking peeks the whole way through... We'd go late at night and check it out.... Today though was special, the girls actually got to come inside (usually they'd be asleep in the locked warm van)!

When we arrived the makers of our cabinets were there dropping them off! *GEE!* They look GGGGGGRRRRRREAT! Once they were done we carried the girls into the house (didn't want them to walk in the mud before entering the house) and showed them around... Daddy was a bit stressed as he didn't want them to get hurt or break anything (not that he'll admit to the stressed part... *L*) but for the most part our girls did well.... We showed them the living room, kitchen, back hall all while taking measurements and measuring out what will fit where... And then we went upstairs!

Cabinets in our living room! *L* Taken March 4, 2008

First we showed them our bedroom (the quite liked the walk-in closet) and then Tyler asked them if they knew where their rooms were... Well they took off down the hall and went right into THEIR OWN ROOMS! Now this isn't in bold because they're finally going to officially have their own rooms (Emma has been sleeping in the spare room) but because they ran right into the correct rooms! *LOL* It was awesome!

Doors to our girls room... Emma to the left, Zoë to the right!

After much running around in their soon-to-be rooms we headed to the basement where Emma freaked out on the stairs (she was preoccupied by the fact that she needed to pee and wasn't focusing on what was happening and then realized the was on stairs to the basement! *L* Poor kid) while Zoë took to them like a pro! Then they saw the under the stairs play space.... Oh yes! *L*

The stairs to the basement...

The play space that I think would look awesome as a castle entrance!

Anyhoo, all in all it turned out to be a great trip and hopefully we'll get to Ikea tomorrow to look at some furniture and such...

Yay!

Side Note:

Our deck now has metal railings as well as our side steps too! And I believe the front of our house is finished... Could be wrong, was so excited about the inside I didn't take much time to look at the outside! *L*

Aloha Snow!

Alright...

So we got up this morning to.......

SNOW!

BLAH!

Why?? WHY???!!

So as the day went on I brought out the girls new grass skirts (which they took right to!) and we did some Hawaiian dancing....

Emma in her adorable grass skirt and Lei!

"Mommy, did I smile??!" *L* 'Uhh... Sure...' Emma's trying to master her 'model stare... With no pressure from me! Honestly!

MY poor, poor living room!

So here's the latest photos that I've taken of our living room and one photo of the kitchen....

The Beginning!

Kitchen filled with boxes Feb. 2nd/08

Boxes surrounding my computer desk.... Feb. 2nd/08

Front window in the living room... Bins and boxes! *L* Feb. 2nd/08

My living room couch filled with boxes that are filled with books! March 3rd/08

My computer desk now... MESSY! March 3rd/08

The only organized thing in my living room right now! I've packed all of our VHS videos except for the kid movies as that will be needed to keep them busy! March 3rd/08

Moving -Packing Tips

**My Comments will be in blue...**

Moving Packing Tips

Packing Supplies, Labeling & Packing Tips

Keep the following supplies handy for packing:
Boxes, (Check)
marking pen, (Check)
bubble wrap, (Uh oh....)
newspaper and tissue (Check)
Tape and scissors (Check... Will probably run out of tape...)
Tape measure (HA! MANY of those kicking around!)
Use strong boxes and containers that can be secured tightly. Purchase special boxes for dishes, wardrobe and other special items. (Gotcha!)
Pack audio-video equipment in their original boxes. Label cables and tighten transit screws. If removing screws, tape them to the objects they are removed from. (I'm leaving this up to Tyler so when we get to our new place and things are 'missing' I can't be to blame! *L*)
Avoid loading more than 50 pounds into one box. (Dang-it I don't own a scale... Ugh!)
Label each box and indicate the following:
(a) Which room it should go in (K...)
(b) Whether it is fragile (Good idea...)
(c) If it should be loaded last so it will be unloaded first. (Oh. Uh... Not really concerned as long as it gets there... And we're loading/unloading....)
Cushion contents with packing material such as bubble wrap, newspaper or tissue. Save room by using towels and blankets to wrap fragile items. (BUBBLE WRAP! Must buy some... Have TONS of newspaper though....)
Pack books tightly on end in small boxes. If musty smelling, sprinkle talcum powder between the pages and wrap the book before packing. Leave stored for a couple of months to eliminate the smell. (Done and done.. Most of the packing I've done is books. I think books add up to 45% of our household items! *L*)
Have rugs and draperies cleaned before moving and leave them in wrappings for the move. (HA, HA, HA.... Spend money??!! What money??!! Ha! I'll wash our curtains and steam clean our rugs if I have time...)
Pack medicines in a leak proof container. (Will do!)
Carry all valuables with you. (Sure, sounds good.... I may end up weighing so much I can't move... *wink*)
Check with your local U.S. Department of Agriculture for regulations regarding moving plants from one state to another. Many states have restrictions on certain plants to prevent importing bugs or pests that can destroy valuable cash crops. (Please note, we're not moving in the states or to the states... Just from Edmonton to Leduc....)

How to Pack Boxes

PLAN AHEAD TO OBTAIN NECESSARY CARTONS:
We can sell you any cartons you might need in addition to other packing material such as paper and tape. You might save a substantial amount of money, however, by obtaining cartons from other sources such as friends who have recently moved and/or stores. Starting to collect cartons a month or two prior to your move will probably make it possible to obtain enough cartons. (We're planning in buying 'special boxes' from U-Haul... This way they'll stack better.... Right now I'm using boxes from our buddies that just recently moved as well... I've been asking people for help in this area for months now!)

SELECT THE PROPER SIZE AND TYPE OF CARTON:
Heavy items such as books, record albums, canned food, etc. should be put in smaller cartons. Some items such as large pictures, mirrors, glass tops and shelves, clocks and mattresses may require special cartons which we can provide. (I think I'll move my photos, pictures in frames, etc. in my van.... Not in the huge-ass U-Haul we'll be using...)

PACKING OF SOME ITEMS IS OPTIONAL ON LOCAL MOVES:
When you are moving locally some items do not necessarily need to be packed. Items such as mirrors, large pictures and mattresses can usually be transported safely for short distances without packing. Generally, these items should be packed for long distance move and for shipments moving into storage. Lamps and lampshades should always be packed. (HA! Look at me go, what did I just write above??! *L*)

PACK ONE ROOM AT A TIME:
Packing can appear to be an insurmountable task when viewed from the perspective of the entire house. Packing one room at a time (and staying with that room until it is fully packed) has the effect of dividing the overall task into several smaller and more manageable tasks. This approach also makes it possible to set realistic goals, i.e. pack the dining room today, the kitchen tomorrow, etc. (I'm having trouble with this... As our living room is the only room we have for play/living/eating in.... It also contains most of our stuff.... *sigh*)

TAPE THE BOTTOM OF CARTONS:
Taping the bottom of cartons before filling them prevents the contents from spilling out the bottom during the move. (Alrighty!)

HEAVY ITEMS ON THE BOTTOM/LIGHT ITEMS ON TOP:
In each carton the heavier items should be placed at the bottom and the lighter items on top to prevent damage. (Isn't this common sense??)

USE A LOT OF PAPER:
All breakable items should be wrapped individually in paper. Paper should be used to cushion the bottom, sides and top of cartons. (Can and will do!)

PLACE BREAKABLES CORRECTLY IN CARTON:
Plates should be stacked vertically as if in a dish drain; glasses and stemware should be placed in an upright position; again, use plenty of paper on all fragile and breakable items. (Really? Vertically?? Will do!)

CORRECTLY FILL CARTONS:
Fill all cartons to the top without overfilling. Cartons with items sticking over the top cannot be properly closed or stacked; cartons that are underfilled tend to crush when stacked. Always make sure each carton is filled totally to the top before closing. A small space at the top can be filled with paper, a towel, a blanket or other similar items. (I love Rubbermaid, yes I do! I've been packing things into bins and it's great! Things like movies, Cd's and such... That way if it gets wet -as we're moving in rainy season- nothing will be damaged!)

CLOSE CARTON AND SEAL SHUT WITH TAPE:
Cartons should be closed-top and sealed with tape to prevent damage and make stacking easier. (Well....Duh! *L*)

LABEL EACH CARTON:
Use a felt pen to clearly label each carton as to its general contents and the room it is to be placed in at destination. Label on the side of each carton rather than on the top so that cartons in stacks can be identified. If a carton is packed in a manner that requires it to be always kept in an upright position, draw arrows on each side indicating which end must always be kept up. Any cartons containing particularly fragile items should be labeled as such. (Oh how I hate doing the guess and test thing when moving... I'm a planner and label-er, this is like reminding me to breathe! *L*)

STACK CARTONS:
Time will be saved on your move if you arrange cartons in stacks of similar sized cartons four to five feet high. This enables the cartons to be easily dollied from the house to the truck. (So.... We're moving ourselves... Would any of you like to join in the fun? The weekend before we move we're building our garage.... Helping hands needed there as well! Food and drinks will be given!)

Moving Sentimental Items, Irreplaceables and Valuables

Important Papers and sentimental Items
Things of importance and information you need on hand should be carried with you, not moved by movers. These may not have much of a monetary value, but they could be very difficult to replace or be irreplaceable:

Address Books
Air Line Tickets
Bonds
Cameras
Car Keys
Check Books
Computer Disks
Computer Software
Diaries
Deeds
Files
Financial Records
Jewelry
Letters
Medical Records
Photos and Albums
Research Projects
Extraordinary Value Items
(I AM the 'movers'... Guess this won't be an issue!)

Anything worth more than $100 a pound is considered an Extraordinary Value Item. If you decide to have your movers move your extraordinary value items, you need to make an inventory list identifying each one and then advise your mover in writing of their existence before the move. Most van lines have a special High Value Inventory Form for you to fill out for this purpose.

Antiques
Art Collections
Coin Collections
Computer Software
Currency
Figurines
Furs
Jewelry
Oriental Rugs
Precious Stones/Gems
Silver & Silverware
Video Cameras
(HA, HA, HA, HA...... *Sniff, Sniff*... One day.. One day...)

I can't pack my pet??! FIIIIIIIIIIINE........If you SAY so...

Movers Directory Packing Tip Guide

What Things You Should Not Pack?

Not everything in your home should be packed up in boxes to move to your new one. There are some things movers wont transport or move for you because rules and regulations forbid it. There are some things you should not try moving yourself, and some things you should not take with you at all for safety reasons. This section will help guide you. Contact your mover with any specific questions before you begin packing.
Flammable, Corrosive or Explosive Items
Perishables
Irreplaceable Sentimental Items and Valuables

What Items you should not Move

Do not pack Everything
Do Not pack Hazardous Materials

Dispose of hazardous materials, do not pack them up in boxes for movers to take to your new home. It is dangerous and illegal for movers to transport them. Give them away to neighbors or call your local waste management center, recycling company or The Environmental Protection Agency about how to safely dispose of them.
Hazardous materials include these flammable, corrosive and explosive items:
Acid
Aerosols
Ammunition
Batteries
Car Batteries
Charcoal
Chemistry Sets
Cleaning Fluid
Fertilizer
Fireworks
Gasoline Poisons
Kerosene
Lamp Oil
Lighter Fluid
Liquid Bleach
Loaded Weapons
Matches
Motor Oil
Nail Polish & Remover
Paints
Paint Thinner
Pesticides
Propane Tanks
Weed Killer

Perishable Items

Plants, food and animals are perishable items, they easily spoil, die or suffer damages if not specially cared for along the way. Many movers refuse to accept any kind of perishable items, but may make an exception if the move is less than 150 miles and within a 24 hour drive away.

For more information about safely moving with pets or houseplants, read our Moving Tips Guides: Moving with Pets, and Moving with Houseplants.

Moving Food and Plants across State Lines

Movers may agree to transport perishables, like your food and plants, if they are properly packed to make a trip less than 150 miles, and are within 24 hours away. There may be restrictions, however, about moving perishable food or plants across a state line. A few agricultural states have strict rules about bringing plants and fruit into their state. Call your local U.S. Department of Agriculture to check on regulations before driving across state lines with perishable items.

**Expect a few more pages on packing... It's keeping from packing so I'm all over it! :P**

So Random!

*LOL*

Alright... So tonight I took some photos of our livingroom so everyone can see the process of our house getting packed (I have a month and a half! AHHH! *L*).... When I downloaded the photos from Tyler's cell (as our main camera hasn't worked in, what, a year??! Ugh!) and came across a random vidoe that was on it.....

And when I watched it I actually laughed out loud!

HA!

Check it out for yourself!

(Did it work?)