D is for...

Disorganized. That is probably not a word most people would use to describe me, but that is how I feel these days. Disorganized.

People keep asking me if I am “getting ready for the big move” and the reality is that up until yesterday, we hadn’t done much. I don’t know that it is procrastination or that I don’t know where to start or that I have so much going on now I don’t even have time to think about silly things like moving. Probably all three.

Our neighborhood was having a garage sale yesterday, so we decided to put out a few of our big things on the driveway with a “free” sign. After all, I was told that, “that was pretty much all we had to get rid of.”

Apparently not. That little idea opened up Pandora’s box. Or the Maddry’s attic. Either way, I was totally unprepared for all that came out.

Disturbingly, disorganized. Potty chairs, old books, a bazillion empty boxes from stuff we have bought over the last 5 years(!), toys, clothes, old love letters, 2 sand/water tables, memorabilia, 7 slip’n’slides, random wood and another bazillion things I had forgotten we even owned.

The kids were in heaven.
I was in…not heaven, that’s for sure.

Very disturbing for someone who thinks she is organized.

We had so much junk to get rid of that I was dazed, confused and traumatized.

After being totally disgusted that I had lost total control over the attic (which by the way, isn’t my domain – Man has control over that. Obviously. You should see his nightstand. A mini-version of the attic. Just sayin’…) I pulled it together and went into purge mode.

Because I am the opposite of a hoarder.
And probably need just as much intervention.

We started putting all sorts of stuff on the driveway. With free signs everywhere. Unfortunately it wasn’t until about 11am, which is post prime garage sale time. So I decided to take a picture of all the free crap and post it on Craiglist.

Because one man’s crap is…
And they came.
I don’t know who they were, but apparently they like crap…? J was concerned that we were supporting some poor hoarder’s habit. I was just glad to have that gone. Quite liberating. And very therapeutic.

Anyone need help cleaning out their attic? I’ll throw 90% of it away and find it emotionally therapeutic.
Just letting you know I am here to help you.
And myself, of course.

To completely change topics without a good segue…

Last week we separated the Diva’s for the first time. It was…weird.

Kate had pink eye and I needed to teach a class, but couldn’t bring her to the gym with me. J had a bunch of errands to run on base, but didn’t want to take both girls because together they are t-r-o-u-b-l-e. So I took Gracie with me and he took Lily Kate. It took some bribing (okay, lots of bribing) to get them to agree to go anywhere without the other one, but eventually they said yes and on our way we all went.

They asked about one another a lot (as in every 5 minutes), called one another a few times and Gracie got her sister a “special treat” when we went to Target. When reunited, they ran to one another and gave big hugs like they hadn't seen each other in years. It was delicious. They were only apart for three hours. Absolutely delicious.

Gosh, wouldn’t it be so cool to have a relationship like that? Sleep together, eat together, go everywhere together, dress alike, and even go to the bathroom at the same time (obviously different bathrooms!) If one comes to get a snack, she will also ask for one for her sister. If I give one a special little treat she will stand there until I put two in her hands and immediately go share. For being together as much as they are they almost never fight. If I buy them a new shirt and one has an elephant and one a giraffe, they never gravitate to the same shirt. The worst punishment to them is to be separated from one another. They honestly hate to be apart.

They really are an enigma to me. But, mercy, I love them and pray they always stay the way they are now - sharing life together.
Except I would prefer them to not share a husband.
That, would be disturbing.