Move in Day (and Katie's uncelebrated birthday)
Chris and Ryan were showered and out of the guest house by 7:00am. They drove down to the house and emptied the van of it's first load of suitcases. After waiting around for awhile with nothing to do Chris decided to come back to the guest house to help me check out and left Ryan with instructions for the movers if they came while he was gone.
When we arrived in St. Leon there were two big moving trucks blocking our way. Apparently the 'temporary furniture' movers had been there for quite a while with Ryan giving instructions and pointing them in the right direction. The other truck with our 'unaccompanied baggage' (first 1200 pounds) had just arrived.
It was so exciting to see our stuff coming in. Usually the movers unpack the boxes for you (if you ask) but we decided against it because of an inspection for the house later at 2:00pm.
The temporary furniture movers gave us a double bed, and five single beds, 7 night stands, 9 wardrobes, 9 dressers, 1 couch and 2 chairs, 1 coffee table and 2 end tables, 1 dining room table and 6 chairs, 1 'american sized' fridge and an 'american style washer and dryer'. (The fridge, 9 wardrobes, and the washer and dryer are here to stay for the entire 3 years -- courtesy of the army.) When the German movers pulled the fridge into the house and Chris pointed them to the downstairs they shook their heads and said no it wouldn't fit. Chris told them it had to fit, there was no other place it could go. They suggested a place in the dining room or the hall and Chris tried to suppress an irritated laugh. Ya, right. "Let's just try to tak it downstairs." The two movers spoke angrily to each other in German and then tried to move it down. The curvy marble stairs did prove to be difficult but with Chris' expert skills he told them which way to move it to get it down. Boy, they were ticked, but it was worth the 15 minutes of pain for the three years of NOT having a fridge in my hallway. My husband has great 'moving' skills.
Both movers were gone by 1:00 and we sat down to eat lunch. We haven't sat down to eat lunch as a family around a table for I don't know how long... and the best part? the highchair for Matthew! Hallelujah! We ate a quick lunch and were ready for the inspection at 2:00. A representative from the housing office came as well as our landlord's daughter who is acting as manager. We went through the house room by room to assess damages and ask how things work. Small differences... how the dishwasher needs salt in it... the extensive recycling program... how the small oven works... what kind of lightbulbs... where the TV cables are... etc.
At 3:00 we finally had the place to ourselves. We tackled Ryan's room first (one of the small rooms on the second floor) and then Luke and Matthew's room. Yes, they are sharing a room. When we found our linen box and began making everyone's beds, Chris pulled Luke into the room and said, "Luke, who's bed is this?" "Um, Ry-ry's?" No. "Katie's?" No. "Emily's?" No. "Began's?" No. ... by this time Chris is actually pointing to Luke's chest but he is still not getting it. "Um, daddy's?" No... "Mommy's?" No... "Lukey's?" When we all shouted 'YES!' his eyes got all big. Chris told him he was a big boy and got a big boy bed and he was so excited. He tells us all the time that he is a big boy. "I am big and I am tall like this!" standing as tall as he can and smiling cute as can be.
Right now the three girls are in the basement because it's cooler but as soon as our real furniture comes they'll be in the attic. Katie, Emily and Megan spent most of the afternoon building a massive tunnel fort in the attic. Every time we unpacked a box, they excitedly took it away. I suppose it's one of the best parts about moving.
Ryan and Chris took off for scouts at 6:30 and while they were gone I tackled the kitchen and got almost everything unpacked, washed, dried and put away in the newly cleaned cupboards and drawers. Feels so good to have an organized kitchen. More stuff will be coming in the second shipment but most of it is here now. I love that my kitchen window is right above my sink and looks out onto our street where the kids will play. It's going to be a good kitchen.
It feels good to be home. As Emily was getting ready for bed she said, "Mom, you said we were going to have a small house but this house is HUGE!!" It made me laugh. It is bigger than we expected to find. We feel very blessed and SOOO excited to be living here!