Are you ready for it? Because I plan on taking you along with me and making you watch as I go through the ups and downs, the laughs and the cries and all the other interesting moments of packing a home, 2 kids, 2 dogs, a turtle and a betta fish, driving 13 hours across States and then.............you ready????????? Living in a motel room for almost a month.
Dun Dun Dun!
This is the part where most would start crying, screaming and stomping their feet. I already did that, well the teary part at least, I didn't scream nor stomp my feet, but I'm sure that will come eventually in the next few weeks. LOL
I'm not going to lie because the thought of being in a motel room that long is not exactly appealing to me, or anyone for that matter. But, when it has to be done, it has to be done.
The Good
After shopping around for a while and house hunting, we narrowed it down to two houses and just when we went to put an offer on the one, someone beat us to it and it was sold. Oh well...that's fine, because the other house was our first pick to begin with and that one we put an offer on AND it was accepted, we got the phone call this morning bright and early. YAY!
Now the fun begins, money starts flying out of the account, emails, phone calls, contracts and gazillion pages of paperwork. I've become quite proficient at signing my name and cranking out initials. Long process, but it will be worth it.
Do you want to see the house???? I have a few pictures I can show you.
Family room and look at that huge fireplace *drool*
Huge laundry and mud room with built in cabinetry
Dining room, again lots of storage
Back yard. Oh my word, look it's a privacy fence not a chain link one and I don't have to see the neighbors and they don't have to see me.
The Bad
Paperwork back and forth, appraisals and inspections, closing dates yadda yadda yadda and it's been pushed to July 15th. Do you know what that means???
It means we get into town June 29th and then have to stay in a motel until the closing date. *Hold me*
That means 2 adults, 2 kids and 2 dogs in a one bedroom with two beds, for at least 2 weeks. I swear when I first found this out I went into panic mode, I mean it's not exactly what I had in mind, I was totally hoping to drive into my own driveway and move in....quite naively I must say, but hey a girl can dream right?
This box as now been named "Motel Survival Box". This is going to be some adventure, I can tell you now. LOL
There's no way we can afford to eat out every day and every single meal, so I'll be cooking out of a motel room. Ever had to do it yourself? Send me some tips. Never had to do it? Stay tuned because by the time this is over you'll know how to.
The room will have a microwave and refrigerator so that will help immensely. I'll have a crockpot, a coffeemaker and a griddle, meals will be very very simple.
Am I looking forward to this, I would say yes and no actually. I would much rather not have to go through it but we deal with the hand we're dealt and make the most of it. I'm sure I'll have plenty of stories to keep you amused, because I WILL be blogging it all thanks to motel WIFI.
The Expected Ugly
Because folks, it's going to get ugly at some point, you can count on it. There's no way around it when you have that amount of living things in one small space for such a long time. Kids already fight constantly in a big house, I'm sure the rivalry will reach new levels in a few weeks LOL
And I can't exactly state that I'll be Miss goody goody, I'm sure things will start getting to me too, but I plan on having my computer, my camera and my Kindle and Bible nearby. I'll be clutching the Lord's hand so tightly I may just cut off circulation to His fingers, but He'll understand.
The Here and Now
I'm weaving through boxes, this house has become an obstacle course, which is fine during the day, but a pain in the behind at night when your toes jab into box corners.
And my kitchen looks so empty and sad. I may not have much at my disposal anymore, but I have pudding ya'll. I'm good to go.
So you see, life really is sweet as pie, it is what you make of it, and you can either choose to cry and moan and be miserable through it all, or you can take everything that comes and see the opportunities in it.
Stay in a motel for almost a month??? We'll call it a vacation since we haven't had one in a very long time.
I'm literally stopping to smell the flowers because I know it's going to be one heck of a ride for the next two months.
I just hope you have the patience to put up with me, it's going to get interesting, that's for sure :)
30 comments:
If you have a fry daddy, you can boil water in it for pasta.
I started to comment but I'm just going to do a blog post for you friend. This is very doable. Yes, there are bad days, but surprisingly they aren't as often as they could be.
Hey Sandra,
Just catching up on your life...bless your heart! Love your positive attitude. Everything will be worth it when you get into your beautiful spacious home and that backyard...oh my! :)
Also love the little touch of home you have the motel....that's just like you!
Will pray for you guys that everything goes smoothly from this point! So what state is your home in?
Hugs,
Tammy
Congratulations on your beautiful new home. Focus on the positive. You can do this! Also, while you are in the hotel for those weeks, find a new adventure to GET YOU OUT OF THE HOTEL ROOM every day.... will help, a lot. Discover your new town and area. Praying for you!
love the new house Sandra, especially the back yard..The pugs will be happy lounging around in the yard..
I know you will do it, 2 weeks will be hard, but i know you and you will do it..
hugs,
This will test all of your skills in womanhood. I will definitely be praying for you. May I suggest reading Frances Schaeffer's books and always, always have some little decorative thing that makes that motel room seem a little like home even if it's just a vase of flowers or some vignette of books. Something! And take a picnic basket and pack it and go on lots of picnic adventures. Oh may your imagination soar!
Frances? Well, him, too, but I meant Edith. ☺
BTW, your new home is beautiful and I don't mean the motel.
Oh it's beautiful! Your kids are going to love the yard! And the fireplace...at Christmas time...and in the fall..
When we moved to DE the first time, we stayed in a hotel for several weeks. Now, if it has a pool, and it is summer...it can be alot of fun!! Yes it does get old quick...but it is not really that bad, because you will be busy exploring your new home-area and will be excited over the house.
We got to eat out on company expenses, but if we hadn't, I would just drive up to mcdonalds each day for that dollar menu, and bring it back to the hotel room providing my own drinks. The basic hamburger/cheeseburger really doesn't have loads of calories and your kids' will have very red blood..ha..(even now, from stopping on the way home from school....my daughter gave to the school's blood drive and the nurse couldn't believe how much iron she had. You can pick up soup and bread at panera bread, or soup/salad/bread at olive garden, or make your own salads, etc. It's the drinks and french fries that run into money, so don't buy those.
You are such a good cook, that will be what you miss. (I did feel like Gordon Ramsey at the restaurant...I felt so picky.)
It will be a challenge for sure, but there is a reward in the end...your great new house! How nice it will be to get all settled in before fall and such a lovely family room with that wood insert to warm you all up on those cold Idaho days and nights.
My hubby has lived out of motels many times in the past and some in Idaho. I will ask him to refresh my memory on the cooking task and get back to you.
Keep your chin up, we will all be here for you through the good, bad and ugly...we've got your back my dear! xxoo
Oh your new house is gorgeous! Congratulations!
I'm excited to follow along on your family's new journey :D I might be the only one to say this, but I kind of find moving mildly enjoyable... I am a neat freak/organizing freak so I like packing stuff into boxes and then unpacking them... I feel so lame for admitting that. Also I don't currently have kids... I'm sure my opinion will change when I do ;-) Good luck with everything!
Elise :)
I asked hubby some kitchen motel hints for you. First off, he always tried to get a unit with a stove top (no oven) but he wanted me to tell you that his favorite thing was a George Foreman grill, he says the larger one would work well for you two and the kids. I remember, he made all kind of things on it..burgers, dogs, steaks, pork chops..etc..
Hope this helps. xo
Just popped in, I am a huge fan of you, and I almost never comment-so sorry. But I wanted to say congrats to you on your new home and good luck on next month's adventure. So I never had the experience of living in a motel, but my husband did renovate and gut our kitchen recently and that made me rely on very little to cook with. Some tips:
-work that crockpot! try to use the liners so that you don't have to wash it
-it's summer, so go on picnics when you can. make sandwiches, buy premade cold salads, or throw together an antipasto assortment of cheeses, fruits, nuts, meats
-salads...check out the new area's local farm markets and make salads
-breakfast yogurt parfaits, no cooking required!
-somewhere on the internet is a recipe for 5 minute chocolate cake in a mug made in a microwave. it's good!
Good luck!
How exciting!!!!! Your new home is wonderful, I can't wait to see how you will transform it. We had 19 years when we first were married and had little kids that we moved each year sometimes more often than that! UGH Tools of the trade
Kitchen garbage can with trash bags
bathroom bag for @ in the family
Bookbag or backpack for each kiddo, if the toy/books whatever doesn't fit it can't go.
cooler, picnic basket and blanket for cookouts at the park.
HEADPHONES for everyone!!!
Library cards are a must.
Can't wait to follow along!!
oh, bless your heart ... that's kind of like us going down to Arkansas to stay w/ Dan in his "little house" (ie. a 1 bedroom apartment!)... at least I don't have to stay but a few days!! LOL At least you'll have time to check out the area and it will be SUMMER so you can get out! :)
Best wishes as you transition!
Oh - and crock pot - I'd think that could make some hotel meals, eh?! :)
The house is LOVELY, by the way!!!! So spacious!!!!
Lots of good suggestions for the meals prepared in the motel in the above comments already. George Foreman would be great. We lived without a stove and a sink for much longer than two weeks during our kitchen remodel, and it will be fine. My suggestion is to get out of the room for long periods of time everyday for some scheduled new town exploration/recreation. And keep up with the laundry on a regular basis!
so .u r moving...........? good luck.......
I know it seems very stressful at the moment but think about all the wonderful memories you are going to make in the next 2 months! A year from now you will look back at your blog and laugh.
Good luck with the cooking--you can do almost anything with a griddle and a crockpot. Also, think along the lines of picnic food so you can do minimal cooking.
Good luck-I'm anxious to see how things unfold.
You're a trooper! And it will be worth it, but challenging, I'm sure! I'm looking forward to hearing/seeing all about it. And by the way, your new backyard is wonderful!
Oh Sandra ~ This is all so exciting. Two weeks won't really be that long. Most definitely think of it as a vacation, and enjoy the anticipation of moving into your new house and turning it into your own lovely home.
**So you see, life really is sweet as pie, it is what you make of it, and you can either choose to cry and moan and be miserable through it all, or you can take everything that comes and see the opportunities in it.**
Yes, yes. Life is too short and precious to cry, moan and be miserable. I know, because I've been there and done that with some remodeling projects. Shame on me. We have to learn to suck it up and have patience. As someone recently said to me, "Rome wasn't built in a day."
The end results will make you happy, and that is being in your own home in Ohio.
Love and hugs ~ FlowerLady
Have you looked into the possibility of an extended stay motel? They usually have a kitchenette including dishes/pans/etc.
Yay!!! The house is beautiful, congratualations! One more adventure on your way to your new civilian life! Very happy for you and your family. Can't wait to see more pictures in the coming months :)
Mindy
Wow! It's exciting and scary at the same time, isn't it? Congratulations, the house is beautiful! I cannot wait to see what you do with it. Can I tell you that I am insanely jealous of the laundry room and patio and fenced in yard? And it is nice and flat. I live on a hill. You have a good attitude and you are one very capable woman. I know you will be giving us tutorials on how to cook in a hotel room! Good luck and keep the posts coming!
Don't know if you remember or not, but we lived in a motel (not hotel, we are talking 1960s style) when we were literally homeless in 2009. Four people and three dogs and a chicken in a huge rabbit cage. We lived there 3.5 months from July until late October. The first 6 weeks we were able to swim, that helped, but the last 7 weeks....it was too cold and we learned to play games and watch movies....add to that the stress of very minimal income. I worked retail at minimum wage and it barely paid for the roof over our heads and food in our stomachs. The motel was a DIVE, by the week kind of place. At least it included utilities and free breakfast, which helped. I cooked lots of simple meals. We ate lots of sandwiches.
At least y'all have happiness to look forward to at the end of your hotel days. We had the unknown. Unknown when we could move into a regular house again. Unknown when my ex-husband would decide that ANY job would bring in an income and he wouldn't keep being so picky.
Yes, look at it as a vacation. Some quality time in a new place together. Plan your days of doing fun stuff; parks, swimming, picnics. A "staycation" so to speak in your new permanent home.
And remember....that gorgeous house is at the end of that hotel rainbow and the rest of your lives together, without Curt having to be one on TDY, deployment, etc :-)
Love you girl!
Great house... love the yard and the back porch... swoon!
Hotel living is not fun, but it is what it is. We were in hotel for over three weeks while in China and then for a couple weeks at diffrent times for military moves.
Anyway here are my suggestions. I would make things like taco meat, sloppy joes, spaghetti sauce, thin sliced steak/roast beef and freeze it in freezer bags. I would double or triple bag it and keep in an cooler as frozen as possible. Easy to heat up for quick meals. I would also pack my toaster and griddle for the room. Then you could have a variety of breakfast items and grilled sandwiches.
Through it all your attitude is great!
I have a feeling you'll not only survive, but you'll survive well. It seems you can endure anything as long as you're with your family. That said, it won't be easy, but perhaps the excitement for a new home will keep you rolling.
Hang in there, read that bible and pray daily! You'll get through it!
I'm so excited for you and will pray lots during your motel days. Big hugs. xxxx
I am drooling over the patio, back yard and mudroom/laundry room! What a nice looking home. I smiled at your excitement over the privacy fence.
Praying that you will all have peace when it is most needed in that motel room. Hopefully the time will go quickly!
Oh my, some challenging times ahead! But just hold on to the thought of that lovely home at the end of it.
Here in the UK there are short term holiday homes that you can rent by the week at short notice, and are cheaper than hotel rooms (they are generally expensive here)so have never had to do that.
Good Luck!
Gill xx
Post a Comment