Another Reason Why NOT To Skip A Well Check-Up ...

... because you may discover this.

And when you find out that you hit the trifecta with near sightedness, an astigmatism, AND a lazy eye (not to be confused with general laziness ... *ahem*) you'll kick yourself that you didn't discover it sooner!

Could she be any cuter? She picked these out on her own ... red and pink with flowers. And she LOVES them. You've never met a girl who wanted glasses more than her!

Of course, this IS Sheridan. So let's take bets on how long before she looses or ruins them. I say a week. Maybe two. Tops.

At 1:37 PM I Hit The Send Button ...

... and at 2:41 PM I had our travel orders in my inbox.

With a note of apology. From the Executive Director of the HR bureau.

Amazing what a well written, factual, plea-for-help-because-your-HR-tech-sucks letter can do.

Now ... let the amendments begin!!

The Irony Of It All ...

Can I admit something? I've never taken the girls for their well check-ups.

Sure, they're completely up-to-date on their immunizations. And then some. But aside from their State Department and school medical clearance forms (both of which had been signed without doing anything more than taking their temperature and their blood pressure), and some sort of ailment that always had us doctor's office bound at least once a year, they haven't had a true check-up in ages. Well ... ever.

Until today.

So imagine my surprise when after taking their vitals, doing a complete once-over, a blood test, a vision, test, and mini-behavior screening, it was confirmed that both girls have absolutely perfect hearing.

Now, if I could just get them to actually LISTEN ...

Keeping My Eye On The Prize

Matt left again today. Making the long journey back to Iraq. Just like he did way back when ... on July 18, 2010 ... and on November 30, 2010 ... and on February 23, 2011.

Only this time there was far less angst. No real queasiness. No pit in my stomach. No crocodile tears.

Instead, he left us this morning with hope. With excitement. With a solid view of a light at the end of the tunnel. Our new house, in the semi-final stages of completion, as the dangling carrot. The raison d'etre. Everything we've both worked for over the past several years finally coming to fruition.

And as sad as we are to lose those extra set of hands, and hugs, and dirty clothes today, we know that the time is going to absolutely fly by, and we'll be reunited in Virginia in a blink of an eye.

Two weeks until our pack-out

Two-and-a-half weeks until we move into a hotel

Four-and-a-half weeks until school ends

Six to seven weeks until we move to Virginia

Seven to eight weeks until we move into our new house

Nine weeks, two days until Matt comes home. For Good.

I'm sure this last stretch of road may be a bit bumpy ... but I'm keeping my eyes firmly affixed on the prize. As I realize that all good things are coming to those who have waited ...

Today ... He Smiled

He's been SO darn miserable for the past week ... having gone to the pediatrician's office early Saturday morning for the fourth time in nine days.

The latest diagnoses?

The trauma to his tongue that we encountered last Wednesday was now looking more like a viral lesion and was covering 1/4 of his tongue. It swelled up frighteningly large, making him drool uncontrollably, unable to eat anything solid, and difficult for him to speak. Major bummer.

He also had a double ear infection. And was put on antibiotics for the first time ever. Double bummer.

But here he is ... almost a week later. Sporting a new 'do. Finally happy. Finally smiling again. Cute as a button.

Gratuitous Grady photo for your viewing pleasure ...

We MUST Be On Candid Camera ...

Three ... It's the magic number ...


... it's the number of times we've been to the doctor's office with Grady this week.

Once for a gnarly rash on his bum. Once for his two-year old routine check-up where he measured in the 80th percentile for height and the 30th percentile for weight. And once for trauma to his tongue. I'm sure I'll see them again soon.


... and it's the number of times Matt's orders have been rejected this week.

Yes, again yesterday. After we discovered another work around to re-submit them. All to no avail as his CDA didn't enroll him in a mandatory class (that he requested over a month ago) and his HR tech gave him the Heisman. Ahhh ... the sweet sounds of incompetence.


But on a lighter note, we are totally in the running to win the award of "Most times an HR Tech can REJECT your travel orders request." Fingers crossed ... I never win anything!

I'm Ready For The Sunshine ... Just Not Blown Up My A**

No worries ... I don't think it'll be happening any time soon by the State Department anyway. Considering Matt's HR tech denied his travel orders once again. Though the reason this time has me shaking my head in absolute disbelief ... for it all comes down to the "title" of his travel orders. Apparently everything in his orders is correct. The itinerary. The dates. The Allowances.

HOWEVER, because the system pulls travel dates chronologically, and we're moving to Virginia before Matthew leaves Iraq, the "title" of the travel orders submitted reads "Newport Beach to DC" vice "Iraq to DC". And they were REJECTED.

This itty bitty date issue is a known-glitch in the system for many employees departing Iraq and as we're discovering completely, entirely, and frustratingly delays the travel order process. Sadly, this glitch in the system won't allow Matt's HR tech to see past the end of her nose and realize that the "title" is merely a "title" and despite us traveling before Matthew, should make absolutely NO difference in the approval process. But what's worse is that we're told that all we have to do is change my travel dates to one day after Matt's so that it re-title's the orders to read "Iraq to DC", and then they'll be approved.

Which is difficult to do while Matt is on R&R.

But let's add insult to injury. Once his orders are issued, we can re-schedule our travel dates as originally planned. FRUSTRATING, eh?

And let's take it to an even crazier level. Like when Matt received an email from his CDA last Thursday telling him not to worry about any of this because his orders have been cut and she'll email them to us. Which she did last Friday. Though they were LAST year's travel orders. Not THIS year's. And after a combination of laughing, yelling, and cussing, we're again back to square one.

Which is NO travel orders. And no authorization to release our storage items from Belgium. And an increased stay in a one-bedroom hotel room with all 5 of us in Virginia as we wait for all our basics to get delivered to our new house.

But in the meantime ... as I wait for someone to blow some sunshine ... I'm actually cr*pping out $100 bills. By the fistful. And there's no end in sight.

New bedding for the girls rooms? Sure ... Pottery Barn here we come.

New eyeglasses for Matthew? Of course! Let's get THE most expensive frames we can find.

New silverware. New dining room furniture. New comforter. New clothes for Matt.

If it's available to be purchased, I've probably priced it out. Or bought it. Because we were just 'making do' and needed these items ... whether we moved into a new house or moved to another overseas posting. Of course, as a government worker, Matt is totally overpaid and we are made of money.

When we're finally close to being done, I'm going to need an enema. So I can stop the hemorrhaging of money on our new house. Or else I'll be moving from the new house to the poor house.

I also need to be ready for the sunshine. Just as long as it steers clear of my a**. I already have enough pain in it.

I Loved You Long Before You Were Born ...

... before you were even the twinkle in my eye.

... before you were fluttering around in my large, LARGE belly.

... before they were sending me home early on a plane from India because you were way too high risk of a pregnancy.

And now that you're to, you're too, you're TWO ... I just can't believe how we managed as long as we did without you.

Happy Birthday Grady Shaw! You're certainly not a baby anymore ...

And Jet Lag Sets In ...

He's here! We're excited. And for the next two weeks, all is right in our world.

Now if he'd just stay awake later than his daughters ...

I KNOW I Shouldn't Be Surprised ...

... yet despite working for the USG for 11 years now, I STILL get annoyed when our infamous Human Resources Tech manages to screw up our travel orders.

Since Matt joined the State Department in 2000, we have been blessed with having ...

1 domestic move, 4 international moves, 1 unaccompanied move, 2 layette shipments, 2 consumable shipments, 1 medevac, and have taken advantage of shipping our UAB (unaccompanied air baggage) 9 out of 12 times during our official moves from ...

• Los Angeles to New Jersey (2000)
• New Jersey to Muscat, Oman (2003)
• Muscat, Oman to Los Angeles (2005)
• Los Angeles to Washington, DC (2005)
• Washington, DC to Tel Aviv, Israel (2005)
• Tel Aviv, Israel to Los Angeles (2008)
• Los Angeles to Washington, DC (2008)
• Washington, DC to Chennai, India (2008)
• Chennai, India to Los Angeles (2009)
• Los Angeles to Chennai, India (2009)
• Chennai, India to Los Angeles (2010)
• Los Angeles to Baghdad, Iraq (2010)

HOWEVER, with all of these official moves, not ONCE - NOT ONCE - have his travel orders been correct.

The first time it really affected us was when we departed Muscat, Oman and our orders were so royally screwed up that we left there without them. And in their place? A signed affidavit stating that should we not follow the impending orders, we'd reimburse the USG any monies potentially owed. Yeah ... that was fun.

Due to travel order mishaps, we've since had shipments that didn't make their destination on time, shipments that were ruined, issues with weight (thankfully not mine ...), storage problems, and unbelievable airline quagmires. Most of these have been handled with relative ease either at post or with someone who saw a rant or rave on the USG listserv group in which I belong. As a now-seasoned spouse, I can usually roll with the punches.

That is ... with everything except our travel orders. Not a transfer season, a medevac, a consumable shipment has passed without my blood pressure rising, and a nasty gram sent off. I can usually handle the HR tech's incompetence for the first set of orders. They're never on time, and never correct. By the second, she's probably just overlooked an email or a code. But by the third, and inevitably the fourth, of which I expect to happen by now, I lose my cookies. My alter ego, angry Jill, rears her ugly head, and I quickly move up the chain of command, and send off an email to the head of the entire HR department at State. Whose name, email, and phone number will forever be saved in my address book.

Why oh why does it ALWAYS appear that every transfer season it's as if they're doing this for the first time?

The best part of all of this? Is that usually, this all happens just before Matt leaves on a business trip, a vacation, or a training. See where I'm going with this? As in, one day prior to his departure for his last R&R? Oh yes ... rejected travel orders ... due to a mistake that could have been avoided if his HR tech actually answered his email to her ... about 3 weeks ago.

However, this time I'm not worried about airline tickets, or my California pack-out, Matt's air shipment either. The orders will be amended perfectly in time to get that all squared away. The issue this time is that the orders won't be completed until Matt gets back to Iraq at the end of May, which will delay the shipment to Virginia of our stuff in storage in Belgium. Which is a big deal considering how long I'll potentially be living in a hotel. The stuff at ELSO contains all our dishes, our towels, sheets, furniture, kids toys ... and without it, will keep me hotel bound until its arrival. Which takes approximately two months. Maybe longer during the summer transfer season.

I'm frustrated. I'm perturbed. I'm irked.

However, I know that it'll eventually all be worked out. These mistakes have sadly become the norm. Which is why we manage our expectations by working on things so darn early. To account for the time it takes to fix them. All three, four, and five times. In fact, once we get to Virginia, I'll probably start the process for our next move. Several years early. Just to be on the safe side.

The one positive? I don't think I'll ever see a retirement party as big and bold as the one that will be thrown for this HR tech when she finally does decide to retire. Heck, if it helped move things along, I'd offer to throw it myself...

Inquiring Minds Wanted To Know ...

I wasn't sure what to expect when I flew out to Virginia last week. Would the house resemble a home? Would I be able to envision a finished product from just the framing? Would I have *gulp* buyers remorse?

Yes ... Yes ... and ABSOLUTELY Not! Whew.

While the trip was extremely quick (I was there less than 36 hours), it was beyond productive. I met with the home inspector on Thursday and spent about three hours in our house and in the model taking measurements. On Friday I met with the builder's contractor to do the pre-drywall inspection, and spent another two hours on site. Amazingly, there was very little that needed to be fixed over the weekend before they begin insulating tomorrow, and begin the dry-wall on Wednesday. We're ahead of schedule people!!

I spent a majority of the rest of my time doing reconnaissance. I scoped out every single grocery store within a 10 mile radius of our house. I located the nearest Starbucks (approx 3 miles). I picked up the registration packets for the girls elementary school. I found the park and ride where Matt may use the commuter bus. I took dinner to a girlfriend in the hospital. I also drove to two shopping malls, found three Home Depot's (where I'm sure I'll get to know everyone by name), and navigated my way to two Synagogue's, one of which was in ... get this ... a strip mall. I don't know why it bothered me so much to see it there. Maybe it was the lack of architecture. Maybe because it was surrounded in an industrial area with bathroom, granite, and builder's design centers. Or maybe it's because they didn't even think about renting next to a Chinese restaurant...

In all, it was a great trip, that has me excited for the future. Which should start somewhere in the next 10 -12 weeks!

L: The Kitchen and Morning Room
R: The view when you first walk into the house

The master bedroom.
View of the recessed lighting and lighting pre-wires.

Matt's *%^$&@*!#* trees
View of our backyard

Synagogue in the strip mall. The one we probably won't be joining.
However, if they put in a drive-thru window, I'd totally order the McTorah.

Riley & Sheridan Run the OC Marathon

Yes, you read that right. My kids, my not-so-little girlies just finished the Orange County Marathon today. All 26.2 miles!

However ... in all fairness, they started it about 14 weeks ago.

Last quarter their elementary school offered a twice weekly after school running program that was designed to help pre-adolescent kids become more physically fit, promote an active and healthy lifestyle, and combat the onset of childhood obesity... while having fun! By the end of the program they had accumulated the equivalent of 25.2 miles of fun activity and were ready to finish off their own Marathon by completing their final mile at the Kids Run the OC. Which they did. Today.

So without further ado ... here they are in all their glory. I don't have their final times, but according to the announcer, Riley ran her last mile somewhere in the 9 1/2 minute time frame. Sheridan ran hers somewhere around 12 minutes.

I'm SO incredibly proud of their accomplishment. Not enough to get my a** out there running with them... but totally thrilled from the sidelines. Rock on little ladies. Rock ON!

Riley crossing the finish line. On the left in the navy blue shirt.

Sheridan crossing the finish line ... and right after she received her medal.

Like A Well Oiled Machine ...

Because just when you thought life was getting to be a tad too easy, reality throws you yet another curve ball. And you need to figure out a way to swing.

Case in point. Tonight when this update goes live, you'll find me all smushed snuggled up like a bug in a rug somewhere in a center aisle ... in a center seat ... on a redye flight bound for Virginia.

To check out our house. That is one month ahead of schedule.

I got the phone call from the builder last Tuesday asking if I could make it out there for the pre-drywall walk through on the 29th. "Sure," I exclaimed. "Five weeks to plan out childcare and book my itinerary would be a breeze!" Of course, there was a lot of silence on the other end. "Um ... no Jill. We mean the 29th as in April 29th."

I immediately hung up. I scrambled. I frantically called my in-laws who normally watch the kids when I jet back and forth to Virginia. Unfortunately they had several commitments this week and couldn't help out. And the babysitter I would have used? Also busy. So I called my dad and begged my parents to fly down for the two days. Which they were happy to do. Except that it meant more work on the front end as this is the first time they're watching the kids here. I had to work around their work schedules, they had to work around my flight schedules, and I had to detail the kids crazy afternoon schedules for both days that I'm gone.

But as I sit here now on the plane I'm thankful. For the rather hectic week of planning this trip is over. The semi-clean rental house and squeaky clean kids are in the capable hands of my parents. And this tired mom is getting about the same uncomfortable amount of sleep on the airplane as my parents are now getting in my bed. Except they have newly washed sheets. And me? I'm just lucky that the airplane cleaning crew pseudo-cleaned the seat pocket in front of me and lightly dusted off the ground-in peanuts and goldfish crackers left on my chair.

Frankly, with all the grime and the snorting people around me, I feel at home. Now all I need is a kid to vomit near me and I'm good to go.

Pictures from this whirlwind trip forthcoming.

Turning The Corner ...

We don't post a calendar in our house. On a good day I'm lucky if we remember what day of the week it is. We often forget to return library books on Wednesday, pack Sheridan's baton on Monday morning, and remember to bring Spanish homework on Tuesday afternoons. We're notoriously late for elementary school and Sunday School. And goodness help me when I forget that Wednesday's are early-out days.

But today? Today we remember.

April 26, 2011.

Nine months to the date that Matt left for Iraq. Two hundred seventy days. Just about the amount of time it takes to "cook" a baby. Or complete a school year.

We normally don't do any countdowns. We don't cross days off our non-existent calendar. We really try hard to stay on track, keep to our schedule, enjoy the days as best we can.

But today? Today, I'm making an exception.

Nine days until Matt comes home on his next and last R&R. Three weeks until Grady's birthday. Six weeks until our pack-out. Six and a half weeks until we move into a hotel. Eight weeks until school ends. Nine weeks until we possibly move to Virginia. Ten weeks until we possibly move into our new home. Thirteen weeks until Matt flies out of Iraq for THE last time, and we start our new chapter together. As a family.

Not that I'm counting or anything.

Her Backpack's Like A Box of Chocolates ...

... you never quite know what you're going to find.

Almost every day she comes home with oodles of doodles like this ...

The irony here is that her extracurricular "work" is always neat and tidy,
while her classwork is crumpled and stuffed into the side pockets.

Viva Las Vegas!

As it is tradition for this time of year, last Sunday I packed up the kids in the family truckster and headed East. For Las Vegas.

Just call me Ellen Griswold...

We had originally planned to drive up north to visit my parents during the girls spring break, but due to my dad's convention schedule, we decided to take a detour and visit them in Vegas instead.

Great idea, right? Well ... in theory yes. But reality? Who the hell takes their kids to the Vegas strip for 5 days? Someone who clearly doesn't know anything about Vegas.

See it all started when I asked a few people where to stay with kids. I wanted relatively inexpensive. I wanted kid friendly. I wanted a large room and comfortable amenities.

The answer? Well Circus Circus of course!

So I went online. And I booked it. Four nights in a large room with 2 queen size beds. For a whopping $54 / night! Hooray! Except for one teensy tiny thing. As someone who has ONLY been to Las Vegas one other time in their entire life, and stayed at the Bellagio, let's just say that this hotel not only didn't measure up to my expectations ... I OVERPAID!

Anyone who remotely thought that I'd be OK staying at Circus Circus clearly does NOT know me. Or my girls. It was a pit! The overwhelming smell of cigarettes and stale alcohol singed my nose hair from the minute we walked in. The dark dingy carpets, low light, and no Starbucks in sight pretty much set the tone of our stay. And the circus show that had ONLY one act every forty five minutes was anything BUT a "world class act". Our saving grace was that our room was large and scent-free with the only downfall of a leaky shower that dripped all...day...and... all... night. Bygones.

I'm sure for many, Las Vegas is a destination vacation spot. It probably would have been for me too, had I gone sans kids, or if we managed to get off the strip during our stay. But this trip was purely a location of familial convenience. And our convenience was hanging at the local shopping mall on the day where it was too cold to go swimming. And relaxing at the Aria hotel swimming pool where my parent's stayed, when it was warm enough to don a bathing suit.

Of course it was great to see my parents, and the kids and I truly enjoyed our time with them.

But the best part of the entire trip for me? Trying to explain to the girls why there are a never ending amount of billboards of half-dressed ladies ... and why women dance on stage in just their underwear. Nothing else. Since they already have trouble understanding why I wear underwear that doesn't cover my rear ... they really couldn't fathom that women wore thong underwear on a stage. Where others (aside from their husband's or kids) could see their tushies. That, along with the commentary that their bras that didn't quite cover all that they should led to many a giggle in the backseat.

And in the front seat as well.

Please let this be the last time I see this.

Any of this.

Do You Want A Face Lift ... Lip Implants ... or Lipo For Free?

Just hire Sheridan to sketch you ... and she'll make sure you look like a whore a million bucks.

Take a look at the girls in her class. Apparently no six year old is complete without makeup and a strapless evening gown. And me? I can't believe how well she captured my inner beauty.

But just in case you aren't sure what your future appearance holds. Never fear. Sheridan is also skilled at age progression. Just look at her self-portrait ...

I'm just relieved to see there's no booking number underneath it ...

It's Only A Matter Of Time Before I Hear Those Five Dreadful Words Again ...

.... Your Card Has Been Declined.

Without fail, every month for the past eight years our one and ONLY credit card has been temporarily suspended due to suspected fraudulent activity. Regardless of how many times I informed the company that we were living outside the US, how many emails and letters I sent, or how many times the company SWORE that it would NEVER happen again, it did. Like clockwork. About four weeks later. And it always happened with the most frivolous of charges and at the MOST inopportune time.

As frustrating as it is when your credit card is continually suspended, you begin to get used to it. You just know that once you make a $4 charge at AliBaba's Schwarma House in Oman you're going to get the red flag on your next Nordstrom internet order back in the US. You also know that the minute you touch down on your month-long R&R trip in California, you have four, maybe five minuscule charges at Target, Old Navy and the nail salon before you're faced with your card being held on contempt. You can't help but get upset. Get angry. Shake your head in amazement ... every single time it happens. But after a few years, you no longer yell (as loudly) at the poor fraud alert customer service person who asks you repeatedly inane questions about the county you lived in back in 1993. Instead, you just add the 1-800 number to your speed dial as you know you'll be calling monthly for them to unlock your card.

So imagine my surprise this week when the phone calls from "said" credit card company DIDN'T come. When I went into store after store charging several of the big ticket items on the card for our new house ... spending FAR more than I've EVER spent in a three month period ... all in a three day period.

Because over this past weekend the girls had the time of their life, as THEY picked out their new beds ... for their new rooms ... in their new home.

No Drexel Heritage brown headboard for them for the next several years. No sirree. It is all about the white washed, bead board beds. The finials. The funky legs. The frilly flower inlays. And the canopies that made their hearts swoon.

Three visits to the kids bedroom furniture store that my cousin recommended. Including a scouting trip to take pictures, a two and a half hour trip there on Saturday afternoon with the kids to choose and pay for the bedroom sets, and THEN a follow up trip Sunday morning to change the bed that the eldest daughter decided she wanted the previous evening to an entirely different style of bed. And we are done!

These are the beds that they chose. For the beginning of their new lives. A small decision that mattered far more to them than it did to me. And I couldn't be happier with their decisions. Because they owned them. And my credit card too.

I'll just hold my breath for the next few purchases. Because I know what's coming. And my speed dial is ready ...

L to R ...
Sheridan's bed shown as a sleigh bed, though the one she chose is the same design with a higher, straighter headboard and finials. Grady's bed (shown in brown but we ordered it in blue).
And Riley's bed. Shown w/o her because I had to go back and order THIS one instead of the one she chose and photographed on yesterday.

Did You Hear The One Where I Told Grady To Go Play With His Balls?

Yeah ... I really did. And I really meant it. Just not quite the way it was interpreted...

See, he was trying to run outside, and in order to keep him corralled I suggested he stay inside and play with his balls ... his soccer balls.

Whatever it was ... the double entendre, the Freudian slip ... I laughed at myself like a teenage girl for much longer than was socially acceptable.

Why? Because ... boys are gross.

For the past 22 months I've been asked if I notice any differences between having boys and girls. And up until recently I really hadn't. Sure, I have to make sure I remember to angle Grady "down" so I don't have pish coming out the top of the diaper. But other than that? He sings the same songs the girls do (and did at that age). He plays with the same toys that they do (Barbies, high heeled shoes, horses and cars). He'll even sit with them and read books.

However, though he plays with THE same toys IN the same way, I have noticed in the past few months that his mannerisms are ALL boy.

It's as if he automatically knows that the second his diaper comes off for a bath or a diaper change, it's time to grab his nether regions like he's vying for a gold medal in the new Olympic sport of penis pulling and testicle tugging. He also knows that sleeves are solely for wiping noses and shirts are unlimited napkins. Sir Edmund Hillary? Eh ... he has nothing on this little climber, who amazingly scales every single thing in his path.

He throws. He hits. He screams. He runs around. He laughs. He does it all again. And again. And again. The boy is full of energy. More energy than I remember the girls having at that age. He keeps me busy. He keeps me very, very busy.

But the biggest noticeable difference between the girls and my little man?

He sure does love to play with balls.

Whoever Said Moving Domestically Was Easy ... LIED!

So here's what I know from my conference call with the builder, the contractor, and my real estate agent yesterday. We have foundation. Lumber is getting delivered next Monday. And framing starts Tuesday.

Here's what I also know. This domestic move has more nomadic parts than any international move I've had. COMBINED!

Why?

Because though the support I get from the State Department is often more frustrating than helpful, they're actually responsible for handling some of it. *insert eye rolling here on how much they're supposed to do versus how much they really do.*

And right now? I am the one who has to coordinate ABSOLUTELY everything ... and it's much more time consuming than even I had anticipated.

Our initial plan when Matt left for Iraq was to meet in Virginia in the winter time, decide on an area to live, buy a house in the spring, and then move in once school ended.

However, as we all know, that's not entirely what transpired. So instead of moving out of this rental house in mid-June and directly into our new home, we're now heading to a hotel ... though we're not exactly sure where ... or how long we'll be there ... or what state we'll be in ... while we wait for our brand new home to be built.

I'm not really complaining **cough ... bullsh*t**. I'm just busy. So if you don't hear from me in the next few weeks ... here's what I'm doing:


* Schedule / coordinate mover for early June - get house and personal items organized.

* Sell items on Craigslist. Restrain self from selling Sheridan.

* Purchase furniture for new house ... bedroom furniture for kids, kitchen table, dining table, and leather L-Shaped sofa.

* Coordinate all new furniture items delivered before pack-out date.

* Find money tree.

* Take kids to Las Vegas for spring break.

* Solidify home loan.

* Work on California tax issue.

* Find hotel in CA. With a kitchenette. That falls under the USG TSMA rate.

* Find hotel in VA. With a kitchenette. That falls under the USG per diem rate.

* Summer camp? Where?

* Ship car or drive to VA?

* Map our trip to VA if driving.

* Stop for several triple grande caramel macchiattos. And wine.

* Coordinate delivery of storage items from Maryland, and Belgium.

* Buy car for Matthew

* Decide what to pack in bags for the 2 - 3 months in hotels.

* Enroll girls in school next year.

* Find preschool for Grady.

* Eat remaining Girl Scout cookies.


And hope that when the builder emphatically states that barring any weather or unforeseeable issues, that the house will be finished by the end of July/first week in August, that he's really done by the end of August. Because let's be real folks, it'll take me that long just to get through the list.