week of changes

Last week, this is what our family room looked like:

 

And our kitchen: its quite a bit outdated, but still... homey.

 

We crossed our fingers, took a deep breath, and moved forward with dreams I've been having about our living and kitchen spaces for more than 9 years now... so we started to pack our things away.... and asked ourselves, "is this really happening?"



Putting things in boxes was an extremely exhausting process. With Ava just starting school, we felt like there was a lot being juggled. We woke up at 2am and started packing on a Sunday night. I knew the place would be changing dramatically - and some of our things... may not make a come back. It's interesting to see our lives temporarily stored away....

So this is what our living room looked like after the first few days of demo:

 

In the middle of the week, we have also visited with family, celebrated Eid {will have to do a separate post}, and have started to adjust to the new school routine... well, sort of. We also received a package in the mail from our best friends, David and Corbin. I can't remember the last time I received a package in the mail - just for me.

A copy of The Knowledge Book and The Help, the story that David, Corbin and I had been talking about via Facebook... They had read the book first while I watched the movie and was so moved by it. They convinced me, the book would be better {I knew it!} So I promised myself to get a copy. But they beat me to it!

 

It really warmed our hearts - because in the middle of all this chaos we are now calling "home" - and the change of events and routines... having these books sent to us made us think -  that yes - even in all of this - we need some "me time," and do one of the things we enjoy so much - reading {thank you soo much David and Corbin}!

Then came this past weekend, when we literally "labored" on Labor Day and focused on the kitchen. The kids spent the weekend with their grandparents, and by Monday, Aaron and my Dad and I, removed all the tile flooring. I also managed to remove all the ceiling popcorn from the living area. By evening's end - I looked like I had showered with acoustic - and oh was I aching...

 

When the kids got home that night, we all cuddled in our bed and read from The Knowledge Book - the first chapter covering fun facts about our universe. The kids were even quizzing me - which is the hottest planet? The furthest? What's our galaxy called? "The Milky Way" Noah shouts!

Enthralled by the pictures - reminding me so much the first time I got ahold of my sister's science book and imagined myself floating in its pages. Oh how magical the moon seemed to me... the ethereal cloudy dots on the page made me wonder - is this really possible? I cut them out and pasted them into my journal and wrote about myself becoming an astronaut. I was certain I'd become one one day.

In the middle of the night - in between the ruffle of the sheets and the warm night, we all woke up and Aaron moved Noah back into his bed. Ava turned to me and in the dark said:

"Mommy. I'm so happy for you. I'm so happy that you are having the house that you want. I'm so happy and proud of you Mommy. You've worked so hard."

We nuzzled noses and she fell back asleep. I laid there thinking about my dreams. What I felt at that moment about what Ava said - was much bigger than any dream I've ever had.

And with that, I happily cried myself to sleep.