it's so...empty.

we've been home one day. in that day, i have put away all of our christmas decor in their appropriate boxes. the lucky stuff that gets to travel with us across the u.s. and the not-so-lucky that gets to stay in a box for four years. i've packed up the dining room hutches. i've cleaned out the fridge (and then restocked after a glorious trip to super wally world). i've wrapped epiphany presents. i've birthday shopped. i've christmas shopped (yes, for next year). i've taken down art from the walls - not including favorite clock in family room - that will be removed with my last step out of the house. and let's not forget taking care of two little girls with slight colds. and as i sit here typing, and sniffing, coughing, aching, sneezing, i am quickly starting to sound like a commercial, i too have developed the lovely winter cold. awesome. what a great way to ring in the new year, eh?

i also was not a happy little elf when i came home to this:
seriously? for the love of everything that's not winter?! i know you are all with me on this one because this is just a bit ridiculous. from just the six days that we were gone it took jacob three hours to shovel our long driveway to our garage. our super awesome neighbor kept our walkways and short driveway clean for our car to have a place to come home to. and we're leaving these neighbors in twelve days? what are we thinking?

that's right...twelve days. i have just the rest of this week to pack up {almost} the whole house. jacob is taking a trip with all of our belongings that will be in short term and long term storage. what will be left behind is just the things that we are taking with us to his grandparent's house. if i have failed to mention, jacob's grandparents are generously allowing us to live in one of their houses until we head off to dallas. that in itself is a ginormous blessing. we will be moving into that new location just short of two weeks. eek.

to the family that we left behind after christmas; please enjoy your green grass. i am green with envy and should have brought some greeny goodness home in a jar.