It’s important for moms to recognize that all the small successes in our days can add up to one big triumph. So on Thursday of each week, we do exactly that.

1- I finally cashed in the "Can-O-Change" that has been sitting on the counter since we moved. I made enough to buy seven travel cat boxes and the dog food!

2- I replaced the ant traps, even though they should have been still working, ants were taking over our counter tops by the sink. This morning, I only saw one lone ant by the sink. I only have to fool them one more week, then they can take over.

3- I made arrangements with the landlady to just take the money from our deposit to have the carpets cleaned after we leave. Now we don't have to spend an extra hour or two cleaning carpets (when we've had to wait all day for them to load our stuff on the truck) and then the logistical hassle of going to pick up and take back the cleaner. We might actually get to spend the last evening here with the family!

Take Five Fridays

1- I have a lot of the initial stuff done for this move. I am ahead of where I usually am at this point. I don't usually like to deep clean and purge too far in advance because then I have to maintain or do it all again and I make myself and everyone else that lives with me crazy in the process. (It's not happening yet, but the few days before Chuck arrives, I am sure I will at my best!)

2-I am sad to leave here. It has been nice living near family and having four real seasons again. Jaden mentioned that he loves the seasons here, and how even having to shovel all that snow was worth it for the other three seasons here. I have to say, I totally agree.

3-BUT I am SO VERY excited that Chuck will be home in 16 days!!! I will be so happy to have our family back together again. It's been a hard year. It's been hard for me, missing my husband, but to watch your kids miss their dad is even harder. And the boys are acting, well, like 8 and 12 year old boys who know there is really not much their dad can do over the phone. While he was home over the holidays, he would just have to look at the boys and they got it together. I don't know what happened to "it"...maybe it's in Korea, too. And they pick/poke and antagonize each other to the point where it antagonizes me! They go as far as putting their pointer finger an INCH away from the "victim" and say, "I'm not touching you! I'm not touching you!" They have argued about whether it is partly sunny or partly cloudy. I am not kidding. And now you understand my "concern" about this cross-country road trip.

4- I do have to say though, that as much as these boys have driven my nutso this year, they have also really stepped up with the household and chores. Their own rooms might be the brink of disaster, but they have been very good about doing the "public area" stuff. It's gotten to where now, they can pretty much maintain the household by themselves, with the exception of the shower/tub and the laundry. Their wives are going to love me someday!

5- I was so dang excited about all of this last night, I couldn't go to bed. And even when I did finally go to bed, I couldn't sleep. I am going on about 2-3 hours of sleep right now. Which makes for not so creative blogging...bear with me dear reader, I promise that someday, I will talk about something other than moving. It's just what my life is right now.

Booked! or Why I Love My Husband # 3,010

We're starting to do all those "almost last minute" things one does with a move. Sooo, the other day, Chuck mentions to me that we should be thinking about planning the trip/hotel stays from here to CA. Did I mention it is 2331.55 miles from here to there? With the boys, and the dog, and the cat?

So anyway, back to the point: I said, "You mean "we" as in "me", because I always do these things?!"

"Well, you're JUST so GOOD at these things!" he replied.

Many things ran through my mind. Some not very nice.

What I said: "Wow, you're good! You totally took a we thing and made it a ME thing. But I'm not one of your troops...I'm onto you! I will not fall for these tricks of transference and good delegation!"

He laughs. And then admits, "Yeah, you got me! You like that?"

I said, "Chuck," (because terms of endearment weren't flowing at this point) "this move is because of you. It is YOUR government credit card that has to be used and I am a single mom trying to get this house/kids/animals ready for this same move. BY.MYSELF! I know all the amazing things you are capable of at work, I THINK you can handle this!"

"Fine," he said in a tone that meant I-Know-I'm-Not-Getting-Out-of-This-One.

And so he did. He planned out the trip (5 days on the road with a mid-point stop at my parents' house). And then he researched and called for reservations (which is something we don't necessarily like to take chances with animals). We are now booked, it's done, and I didn't have to do it! And he didn't even complain!

See, honey, I "delegated" and I "empowered" you! You're not the only one who knows these tricks! Not to mention all those brownie wife points you just collected. Thanks sweetie, I love you!