Lots of progress has been made this weekend! We are several steps closer to Alaska now. Chucko and I had a big yard sale and got rid of some things we didn't need and even let a few things go we would have rather kept. My in-laws came over from Georgia for a visit before we shove off. They are always incredibly generous with their time and were willing to help out in any way they could.

We had lots of Kid care between my Mom and in-laws. I am so thankful they were willing to watch over AND entertain her. The Kid's little cousin comes with the package of in-law and care that makes the Kid VERY happy. She loves her little cousin.

Before his wife arrived, my bro-in-law played Mr. Mom and came along with me on a MOMS Club play date. This outing was a totally selfless on his part, designed so that the Kid and her little cousin could spend as much time together as possible before our departure.

During their visit, sis-in-law helped to pick up a car from the shop, make and post signs for the big "Moving to Alaska Sale" (yep, that is what we called it in the paper and on the signs), and meticulously clean two cars. Her efforts paid off big time, when we sold one of the two cars during the yard sale! I cannot WAIT to cancel that insurance on Monday.

I even spent some time with my teenage nephew when I forced him to help me lower boxes from the attic into his good daddy's truck and trailer. The in-laws very graciously offered to haul some of our baby things back to their basement for FREE STORAGE while we are gone. Maybe I should have just let the baby things go, but since we plan to have another and since I am super cheap, I decided to hang on for a while longer. Although, I did sell a highchair, baby bed, playpen (it wasn't mine but still counts), two bags of stuffed animals, and two don't-fall-off-the-bed-rails during the yard sale.

To sell some of the stuff, I had to do some heavy haggling, often calling out my bottom dollar to folks as they walked away. I'd catch them just as their leg lifted so to ease into the car seat but not one second after. I'd say, if their butt hits that seat before you lower the price, your chances of a sale decrease at least 50%.

All of the time spent with the in-laws is bitter sweet, since we likely won't see them again for a while. It was hard to say goodbye but we tried to make it as short and as emotionless as possible. This was easy with the sister-in-law and little cousin since they slipped away while we were eating lunch with some visiting from out of town friends. No tearful goodbyes for the two of them. The bro-in-law spoke of the possibility of another short visit before we head out, but my guess is that was just wishful thinking mostly fabricated to soften the blow of the inevitable goodbye.

Is saying you hate goodbyes a lot like saying you are afraid of snakes? Like, who isn't just a little bit afraid of snakes? Does anyone really like sad goodbyes? Well, either way, I HATE goodbyes and am so uncomfortable with them, I'd rather sneak out the back door and call from the road to apologize.

There are a few family members that I know, despite the hardships it will bring, will visit us in Alaska. The in-laws are a part of that few. Somehow they will eventually find there way up there for a visit...even though my brother-in-law is as cheap as me (we share the cheap trait, sweet ain't it?) and tickets are insanely expensive especially for a family of 4. They'll come anyway...somehow.

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