We're moving!

A couple months ago, Team Thompson entertained the idea of buying a home in Spokane. We then decided we'd be better off renting for another year before buying, and instead hit up the rental sites to see if we could find a cute house for rent or lease (something with a fenced yard, two bathrooms, all appliances included, extra bedrooms, something close to a nice neighborhood cafe...you know...the works). 

We didn't find many great options online or from our in-person visits, but one day in mid-June I decided to drive down 23rd Ave. on the South Hill and spotted a for lease sign. It was for a super cute house, with a fenced yard, two bathrooms, new appliances, extra bedrooms, it's next to The Scoop...you know...the works! I called the number on the sign and scheduled a viewing for later that afternoon. 

It was perfect! A nice kitchen with new, stainless steel appliances, three bedrooms + a loft/attic area for a guestroom/playroom/children's room, a garage, was located next to The Scoop...you know...the works. Just look at it! We filled out an application that day. We made it through the screening process and signed the lease the following week. 

We sent out invitations to Rolin's first birthday, listing our new place as the venue. We've lined people up to help move us. We've picked up boxes from random sources. We've packed up about half our townhouse. We are set to move.

To Phoenix. Arizona. Phoenix, Arizona.

So forget what's above. Apparently, someone else has other plans for our family! Just days after we signed our lease, Justin got a call from his boss about an opportunity in Phoenix.

See, a couple weeks prior to this, Justin had casually mentioned to his boss that we were house hunting. The boss was excited for us! Then, a few days later, boss called JT to ask him if he'd reconsider signing a lease because something might be coming up at some point. Maybe. He couldn't tell anything more than that. No hints, no timeline, no possible destinations, nothing.

That's ok, I get the need for secrecy.

So, we decided to go ahead and sign for the house we found. It was perfect, after all, with it's fenced yard, two bathrooms, new appliances, extra bedrooms, it's located next to The Scoop...you know...the works. I mean, just look at it!

Really, LOOK AT IT! You want to rent it too, don't you? (Well, someone needs to rent it...but I'll get to that in a minute.)

Anyway, as I said above, we signed the lease. I immediately started packing boxes and making arrangements. However, within days, we got the call about Phoenix. So, we weighed our options, we told family members, we stopped packing, we talked to friends who knew the Phoenix area, we started wondering what exactly you should do if you or your child are bitten by a desert creature, such as a scorpion.

We also waited. We waited and waited and waited and waited and WAITED for more information from the company. When the official offer finally came in, Justin accepted the position right away.

It's a good move for him professionally, as well as for our family. For starters, the district is not as spread out as his current district, so he'll be home on a more regular basis. Maybe the bags under my eyes will go away?

As you can imagine, we've had quite a few decisions to make and details to take care of over the last few weeks, so please accept this as a formal apology if you are just now being informed of our move.

Our timeline: Movers come at the end of this week.We fly away on August 11th. Ack!

Back to the lease on the other place...so we did sign it. We paid the required fees and first month's rent, yadda yadda yadda. Now we're stuck with a year-long lease for a home into which we will not be settling. It's back on the market and I've been soliciting friends and strangers (including a dude at the park) to please, pretty please, tell all acquaintances about a cute, craftsman-style house for rent on the South Hill. It has a fenced yard, two bathrooms, new appliances, extra bedrooms, it's next to The Scoop...you know...the works.

Thank you to those of you who have said prayers for us during this process, as well as other events that have come up in the last month. I know your prayers were heard because overall JT and I have felt pretty good and at ease about things. Of course we've had our outbursts, but, like I said, overall we're doing ok. Please keep it up :)

I promise to post soon about our crazy July, a month that presented a very momentous occasion for Team Thompson...Rolin's 1st birthday!

In the meantime, enjoy this picture of Rolly bug and my dad on the Spokane Carousel:

Polo shirt party!

Receiving

One of the things I learned about myself in pre-marital counseling was about how I could stand to be better about receiving; both in terms of what receiving would do for me, and what it would do for the giver.

I suppose my initial reluctance to receive comes from independence. Or, more likely, a sense of responsibility (hello, first born). I generally want to, think I should, know I can or secretly want to show others I can do it all by myself. This goes for anything from receiving help out to my car with the groceries to simply asking for help with I could need it.

A typical situation

In my head: Good golly, I think I've cut off circulation in my arms with all these bags! I could sure use some help... 

Person offering assistance: "Hi, can I help carry your bags? That's quite a load!"

What I actually say: "Oh, no thanks. I've balanced the weight so I've got it. Thanks anyway!"

What? WHY!!??

Another reason could be because I like to help. I like to assist. I like to give. Sometimes it's because I just feel like I should (again, oldest child here), but most of all it's just because that's who I am. It's innate. Need help? Ask me!

In pre-marital counseling, the approach to this topic was about how to be and become a better partner. It was a lesson in how to give and to receive to better learn to rely on one another. It was a good lesson for me at the time. It opened my eyes to how receiving benefits both the recipient and the giver, makes for a stronger relationship and teaches humbleness and gratitude.

My thoughts have led me to this post because it seems I'm in a season of receiving. Sometimes I can't help but feel bad (convicted? helpless? not sure which word encompasses the feeling) about being a recipient. I suppose it's tied to an idea that I'd be considered needy? Becoming a mom is serious business. There is much to do. There are many decisions to be made. I'm sure one day I'll shower AND actually dry my hair with some frequency... All in all, most days are fine, fun, manageable. There are, however, times when I've realized I needed help from my mom or a friend.

One thing I know I still need to work on is to stop waiting until I feel that I have to have reached the ultimate edge of sanity or physical endurance before I actually ask, "can you come help me?"

As of late, friends have come to my rescue without me even having to ask. These are good, gracious and thoughtful people who have come to my door with food, let me stay at their house, responded to random and late-night texts or have met me for coffee/playdates to let me vent about how 2013 has, when you think about it, been sorta crappy (literally...we'll get to it) so far.

On top of blood in diapers, changing to formula, multiple doctor & specialist visits, painful engorgement, lost luggage, the flu, RSV, a shower that won't stop leaking into the kitchen, a botched repair job on said leak which left a thick layer of mystery dust on everything in the house, baby's sleep regression, "piglets" in the dryer and more or less having single-parented for most of 2013 thus far...

...there was poo and poo-related business floating around our basement over the weekend.

In short, what appeared to be a small puddle -- initially thought to be rain-related -- turned out to be backup from the sewer due to a clog somewhere along the line. We had moved some stuff out of the way when we noticed the puddle a few days earlier, but around 5:30 p.m. Saturday there was poo in the puddle, and the puddle had grown to a lake. It seeped around and through walls, cardboard boxes and other belongings.

Thankfully the landlord was able to get a drain guy and a cleaner here within a half hour (impressive!), but the stink became overwhelming, so Rolin and I packed up and stayed with a friend Saturday night. Back at home on Sunday revealed how much damage had been done -- I didn't know where to start cleaning, let alone how to do it efficiently and by myself. Justin was scheduled to fly to Vegas at 10 a.m. and was frantically trying to get some laundry done...I stood in the basement and prayed for patience, peace, help; I prayed for the toxic ick to stay away from my baby. I prayed that we could hurry and get all of JT's laundry done so he could finish packing and have dry undies for his work conference.

I lost it when I opened my eyes and realized I was standing in a new puddle in a room where we'd moved a lot of our stuff to stay dry. REALLY!?! The stuff was now wet...including my new, still-in-the-box card table, chairs and roasting oven. I was mad. Why hadn't God sucked up the new puddle while I was praying (jk).

I knew I needed help. If anything, I needed someone to help entertain Rolin and keep him upstairs. I texted my (newly semi-retired) dad to see if he was working Monday. He had to cover for someone and couldn't get away, and mom is on jury duty so she was out. Blerg... Probably an hour later, mom called to say that dad had leaned over at church and whispered, "let's go to Spokane." Apparently, they got up after two worship songs, ran home and packed up grubbies, bleach, mops and rags and came to my aid.

I think the most impressive part is they dove right in when they got here. I had also completely spaced the fact that my sister-in-law was in town and was coming to visit Sunday afternoon. What sweet relief she was! She stayed upstairs with Rolin while mom, dad and I tackled the basement.

Anyway...the original intention for this post was to say I have been the recipient of much freely given kindness, assistance and love as of late, and I'm humbled by your actions (you all know who you are). I honestly don't think my nerves or tolerance would be intact if it weren't for those the good Lord has given me.

You all are a gift I'm grateful to have received.

Hello?

"Where are you? Hello? Where did you go? Is anyone here? Hello?!!!!"

Have you ever been in your yard, house or anywhere, for that matter, only to turn around and find the people you thought were with you are...gone? Simply nowhere to be found?

You search for them in obvious places, like the bathroom, or under a pile of blankets...you know, in case they are hiding in the pile, waiting to jump out and scare you. But they're not. Nor are they in the kitchen making you sandwich. They've just seemingly disappeared.

Fortunately, in most cases, the missing person isn't missing at all. They've usually just stepped out the back door for a sec, popped behind some shrubbery to relocate a sprinkler, stepped into the closet to get something buried deep within or ran down to the basement when your back was turned.

No matter where they've run off to, the person left behind (haha, no pun intended) suffers a few moments of sheer terror, thinking thoughts such as this:

"The rapture has happened and I didn't make it!! Ohhhh no!!"

But oh, what sweet relief washes over you as soon as you find the missing someone, right?

I have a very distinct memory of this happening to me as a child. Mom and I had been outside. She then told me she was going inside. I went in a few minutes later but could not find mother anywhere. Not even in the
basement!

...Panic. Stress. Fear. Sweaty armpits. What should I gather to keep safe, fed and warm? Where is the big box of matches? I should find them immediately and put them in a waterproof bag...

Oh. She was just STILL OUTSIDE. Behind some shrubbery, relocating a sprinkler. THE NERVE!

Something similar happens in my own home more frequently now that we live in a house with more than one level. Well, really, now that we live in a space where you can't see in every room by simply walking through the front door.

We've lived in some small spaces...including an RV. But I digress...

A few months ago, I went outside to put on our new license plates. I yelled my intention upstairs and then headed out. Ten or so minutes later I see Justin stick his head outside, then throw his hands up in relieved exasperation. "I thought for sure the rapture happened, I've been looking for you all over the house!"

Apparently he hadn't heard me declare my aforementioned intention.

Then there's last night. As I headed upstairs, I asked Justin to bring Rolin up in five minutes. Instead of getting ready to feed Rolin, I started looking for something in the back of our closet, so when Justin looked in our room he didn't see me. (This makes our closet sound big...it's not.) I wasn't in Rolin's room, the bathroom or the guest room. I'd seemingly disappeared!


...Panic. Stress. Fear. Sweaty armpits. What should I gather to keep safe, fed and warm? Where is the big box of matches? I should find them immediately and put them in a waterproof bag...

He checked all the rooms again and thankfully spotted me in our room just as he started to tell Rolin he thought the two of them had been left behind.

Sweet relief!

Is the rapture anyone else's first assumption? I think it's hysterical that it's the first conclusion Justin and I jump to when we can't find each other in our own home.

Adios, amigo!

We parted with a good friend last month.

A friend that had seen Team Thompson through many adventures, countless movies, laughs, tears, good news, late night snacks, lazy weekends and panic attacks. This friend was also hospitable to strangers and friends alike, and stuck by our side through the five times we've moved in the last five years.

Though strings of insults were thrown its way, particularly around tax-return season or any time we moved, this friend remained a constant in our lives.

You could say this friend has been there through sickness and in health, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer.

This friend was our couch.

Our OLD couch, that is.

Old Couchy in San Jose

WE GOT A NEW COUCH!

The crew loading a few of the boxes into Justin's work rig. 

Old Couchy was a truly heavy beast, complete with a hide-a-bed. We have reason to believe it had invisible lead bricks sewn into its cushions. Justin absolutely despised that couch, but, really, only when we had to move it.

I inherited Old Couchy from friends Sarah and Eric when I lived with Tara & Ami in Seattle's Fremont neighborhood. Eric and Justin moved it into my old apartment, destroying only one and a half exit signs and scraping the stairway walls along the way. Upon setting it down, Justin proclaimed, "When you move out, this thing is staying here!"

Luckily Joe was in town when we decided to get the new couch.

Then Justin and I got married a while later and, upon reviewing our finances, decided to move the couch into our new apartment in Lake Forest Park. My dad and bro Joe helped with that move. Upon setting it down in the new place, Justin proclaimed, "When we move out, this thing is staying here!"

OK, one of the main reasons we got the new couch was because Joe was in town.

Then we learned we were moving to California. Old Couchy stayed in LFP while we lived in my parents' RV in CA while waiting out our LFP lease to be up and trying to save money for a new place in CA. After getting all our ducks in a row and finding an apartment in Mountain View, CA, we reviewed our finances and decided to bring Old Couchy to CA. My bro Joe also helped with that move, both out of the apartment in WA and into our new home in CA. Old Couchy smashed only one finger along the way. Upon setting the couch down in CA, Justin proclaimed, "When we move out, this thing is staying here!"

It takes a lot of muscle and stamina to move Old Couchy.

From Mountain View we moved to San Jose where our rent was a bit higher. Upon reviewing our finances, we decided to bring Old Couchy with us to the South Bay. We had a crew of friends help with that move, but still, upon setting down the couch, Justin proclaimed, "When we move out, this thing is staying here!"

Not exactly sure what to do with the old while bringing in the new, we moved the beast out on to the porch.

Soon after we got settled into our place in San Jose, we received our tax return. Upon reviewing our finances, we decided to see about getting a new couch. It was also the weekend Justin's brother came to visit. We spent the better part of Saturday testing out new couches....leather couches, microfiber couches, couches with ottomans, couches in the shape of an L.

We came home with new TV instead.

In no time at all, the neighbors expressed interest, and Old Couchy had a new home. 

As you know, we recently moved again...this time back to WA. A professional crew of movers packed up and transported our belongings this time, so while Old Couchy skirted ridicule during this latest move, Justin still looked at the couch with hatred that burns with the heat of a thousand suns. When it came time to arrange the living room, Justin proclaimed, "This is the last time I want to move this couch!"

So he began plotting. Plotting ways to convince me it was time to part with Old Couchy. "We'll have more visitors now so we'll need more places to sit." "See how it dips down in the middle?" "See how it slides so easily on the wood floor?" "Don't you think a darker colored couch with a different fabric would make for easier baby barf clean up?" "You hate this couch, too, don't you? DON'T YOU?!"

The weekend Joe my bro came to town, and after MUCH discussion as to whether or not it was the right time, we went to Coscto and purchased a new couch.

New couch!

We weren't sure what we'd do with Old Couchy, but as Joe and Justin moved the beast out to the porch -- not without much moaning, groaning and calling of names -- the neighbors walked by.

The neighbors are now the proud new owners of Old Couchy.

I'll miss Old Couchy. As I said, it's seen Team Thompson through a lot of adventures, but change is good.
And so is a new place to rest our weary rears.

Move-in update

It's been a month now since the moving truck arrived. We've steadily unpacked upwards of 100 boxes of our belongings, and have, as neatly as possible, played Tetris with all the empties and packing paper in our dining room.

There is still much to do and organize, but I'd say it's coming along. I've found creative ways to transport heavy boxes and items without too much straining...I'm trying to be a good pregnant person...but there are some things that just have to wait for Justin (like lifting the box of our weight sets off the mantle -- that box was a surprise even for JT).

All the boxes are still in our abode because removal is a perk of the moving service. Well, what they didn't tell us (or we just didn't hear them say) was nothing other than other boxes and packing paper is allowed in the boxes. Nothing. Not even a scrap of plastic here or there.

Oops.

Over the course of the month, we've made several purchases, purged ourselves of unnecessary goods and even used a box as a garbage can in the bathroom until we unpacked the actual bathroom garbage can -- all of which adds up to a lot of garbage and scraps mixed in with the packing paper.

Soooo...we have to go through them ALL. I made a good dent yesterday with the boxes on the ground. I even managed to consolidate much of the packing paper and flatten more of the boxes as I went. Yea me!

The boxes have become a norm in our living space. We maneuver around the boxes, use the boxes as shelves, use the boxes as craft tables, lean on the boxes for a quick break...you get the point.

Why yes, I always sew with a large picture of the Thompsons nearby ;) Just kidding, we're finally getting around to unpacking all our frames. 

The place is going to look barren when Tuesday rolls around and the disposal service comes for removal. I can't say I'll miss the boxes, but I don't know what I'll do with all the open wall space!

Team Thompson's New Digs

Here they are, pictures of the new place. I also threw in a video for good measure. Enjoy!

 From living room/entry to dining room to the entry way.

 Living room wall -- my favorite part.

Other living room wall.

Looking down the hallway from the kitchen to the front door. 

Kitchen. Still not sure what this magic box is for. Looks like there are slots for dishes and glasses...

 

Other wall in kitchen and a glimpse of the dining room.

 Stairway to upstairs. Or downstairs, depending on which way you're going.

And the grand finale...