Countdown to Cleveland - Day 8

DAY EIGHT, I AWOKE FEELING THE URGE AND NECESSITY TO PACK, PACK, PACK.  SO, WITH THE FEW BOXES I HAD REMAINING IN OUR U-HAUL EASY PAK, I BEGAN SEARCHING FOR ITEMS THAT WE COULD LIVE WITHOUT FOR THE NEXT TWO WEEKS. 

BY MID-MORNING WE WERE OFF TO VISIT  MY GIRLFRIEND, IRINA, WHO I MET DURING OUR TIME AT BLACKHAWK CHURCH,  AND HER TWO DAUGHTERS  FOR OUR LAST MADISON PLAY DATE.  SHE HAS BEEN A TREMENDOUS SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT TO ME AS I LIVE OUT MY LIFE AS A BELIEVER, WIFE, MOTHER AND BLOGGER.

THE CHILDREN ALWAYS ENJOY THE EXCITEMENT OF NEW TOYS AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES.

TWO SWEET AND VERY BUSY LITTLE LADIES WITH BIG IDEAS AND EVEN BIGGER PLANS FOR THEIR WEE WORLD.

TESTING OUT "THE BEAUTIFUL PRINCESS SCOOTER."

SHE LATER REQUESTED ONE "WHEN WE MOVE TO CWEVELAND." (NOT A TYPO, RATHER HER ADORABLE PRONUNCIATION OF CLEVELAND.)

AFTER NAPS THE CHILDREN WOKE TO MORE BOXES.

"WHAT'S ALL THIS TALK OF A MOVE?!"

LATER IN THE EVENING AFTER JOEY WAS DOWN, WE LIVED OUT OUR FIRST MADISON BLACKOUT DUE TO AN INTENSE STORM THAT SWEPT THROUGH OUR AREA.  IN THE PURSUIT OF MORE CANDLES (THANKFULLY, I HAD NOT PACKED THOSE), I FOUND OUR LITTLE MAN SITTING ALONE IN HIS CRIB NO LONGER LISTENING TO THE SOOTHING SOUND OF THE FAN, BUT PELTING RAIN AND CRASHING THUNDER.  HE WAS TOO SWEET TO PASS UP, SO I SCOOPED HIM OUT OF HIS CRIB AND WE ENJOYED A FAMILY VIEWING OF TOY STORY 3 HUDDLED AROUND DADDY'S NEW ipad.  THE LITTLE LADY FOUND OUR CANDLE LIT LIVING ROOM TO BE QUITE ENCHANTING AND CLEARLY WAS HAVING THE TIME OF HER LIFE AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THIS PICTURE.

AFTER BOTH SWEET ONES WERE DOWN, JEFF AND I WERE MESMERIZED BY THE BRILLIANT ORANGE AND LINGERING SUNSET THAT WAS TAKING PLACE AGAINST THE BLACK LANDSCAPE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.  MY CAMERA COULD NOT DO IT JUSTICE.  

WE ATTEMPTED TO READ BY CANDLE LIGHT.  HOWEVER, SUCH DIM LIGHTING MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO RESIST THE MOUNTING HEAVINESS OF OUR EYELIDS AND WE SOON FOUND OURSELVES ASLEEP ON THE COUCH.  WE AWOKE TO THE SOUNDS OF ELECTRICITY AT 10:45 AND AFTER RESETTING ALL THE CLOCKS MADE OUR WAY TO BED. 

WHAT A FUN AND UNEXPECTED MEMORY TO MAKE BEFORE LEAVING.