Arctic Mama...

[Liz CA]

You mentioned in a previous thread that you are packing up!

 

Best wishes on your move! Hope all goes well and everyone settles in comfortably including Arctic Dad and the Arctic kids. :)

 

[Scarlett]

That is exciting!

[Guest]

Oh man we are dying. Thank you for the well wishes. We have had to renovate three bathrooms in about ten days with my husband still working full time. Thankfully we have a wonderful friend who is skilled at construction and cabinetry who is helping us, or it would be impossible. So while my husband manages that side of it I've had to do pretty much all the sorting and packing. Blah!

 

Aside from two or theee more tasks I have set aside everything that is going in the Uhaul vs what the movers can take. Almost there!

[Lanny]

U-Haul?  You are driving down there?  I was hoping your car(s) would go inside the moving van...  Be careful and enjoy the trip and your new home.

[sheryl]

where are you moving?  congrats!

[FaithManor]

Arctic is coming to the Midwest to the lovely town of Dayton which has tons of what they need for Bennie, easy homeschooling, tons of educational options, extra curricular and enrichment activities, gets spring weather a month sooner than here in the Great Lakes region, and yet will be nice driving distances to all kinds of beauty and fun! They picked a great place to raise a family.

[Guest]

Wow, that's a lot of work.

[Guest]

Yes, what Faith said. Also, there are jobs, unlike Alaska.

 

Lanny, we'd fly but it's way more expensive for eight of us and the kids have never been on the Alcan, so we are towing a 5x8 trailer behind our van, shipping the small commuter car and all the stuff we won't need immediately, and embarking on a six day drive. Hopefully nobody vomits in the car and all that jazz ;)

 

Packing has been exhausting but at least my kids have spent a fair bit of time with the grandparents so it's just me and the baby doing the boxes of stuff and purging and my husband and our friend doing the reno work. But I'm pooped out!

[Guest]

Update - the movers apparently aren't sure if they can make it today. Suuuuper. We are waiting on a call back and hopefully they aren't off schedule, I don't want to depart even later than we planned since we have almost nothing left out and our kids do have to return home eventually :(

[Liz CA]

Wow, that's a lot of work.

 

Yes, it is. I cannot imagine packing up your life and moving across the country - practically.

I know many others here have done it. I only ever moved within the same state once we were in the US.

 

Deep breath, Arctic Mama. Bathrooms will get done. Hope you have other help with packing, taking care of kids while you pack, etc.

[Guest]

I've been really fortunate Liz - we do have movers so my job has been purging and sorting and packing the things we need to take immediately, but half the house is still it and they get to pack all the tricky stuff like antique sewing machines and couches ;)

 

My inlaws have the kids and that has helped a lot. I don't think I could have gotten it done nearly s quickly with them underfoot. Apparently I'm wearing the baby out too, he usually eats every few hours and he actually slept a TEN HOUR STRETCH last night with no food! I was afraid he was dead and kept checking on him :p

[Liz CA]

Update - the movers apparently aren't sure if they can make it today. Suuuuper. We are waiting on a call back and hopefully they aren't off schedule, I don't want to depart even later than we planned since we have almost nothing left out and our kids do have to return home eventually :(

 

What is your time frame for leaving?

Journey's mercies!

[Lanny]

Only 6 days to drive from Anchorage to Dayton?  Drive carefully!

[Guest]

What is your time frame for leaving?

Journey's mercies!

We were originally supposed to drive out Thursday morning but the movers bumped us to packing Tuesday through Thursday, so we bumped departure to Friday morning. But now they're not here and aren't sure if they can make it today, so that would bump us to Saturday and begin eating away at our travel window. We would have to use more vacation days we don't have for the drive, since my husband is working remotely with his new job now.

 

Hopefully they can make it today and are just running a little late. I'm one of those people who strongly endorses a tight schedule and so when they said they'd be here I was counting on it because, duh, it was scheduled.

 

We are still waiting for the call back.

[Liz CA]

I've been really fortunate Liz - we do have movers so my job has been purging and sorting and packing the things we need to take immediately, but half the house is still it and they get to pack all the tricky stuff like antique sewing machines and couches ;)

 

My inlaws have the kids and that has helped a lot. I don't think I could have gotten it done nearly s quickly with them underfoot. Apparently I'm wearing the baby out too, he usually eats every few hours and he actually slept a TEN HOUR STRETCH last night with no food! I was afraid he was dead and kept checking on him :p

 

Oh my. Benny needed to recharge as well. :) I am glad you have help from grandma and grandpa. I was trying to picture you packing with all the little Arctic kids running around.

This too will pass!

 

[Guest]

Only 6 days to drive from Anchorage to Dayton? Drive carefully!

It's something like 3869 miles from porch to porch, so it's definitely long driving days. The first two going to White Horse and then down into Grand Prairie are really long driving days because of the distance between accommodations, but it gets easier from there.

[Lanny]

I would like you to have more days especially since you are pulling a trailer but if you must do it in 6 days be very very careful.

 

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[Guest]

Grr angry update - the mover called back and said he was slammed with last minute military moves, so he can't have a trailer to is until tomorrow. Upside is that he promised they will work long days as needed to have us or by our original scheduled date so we should still be able to depart Friday morning as expected with an empty house just needing one more trip back for painting and some finishing work.

 

*deep breaths*

[Guest]

I would like you to have more days especially since you are pulling a trailer but if you must do it in 6 days be very very careful.

 

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It's a very small trailer and we have plenty of towing and Alcan experience, but we definitely won't speed or rush! Thank you for the well wishes and I'm praying we can arrive safely and without more issues. We will probably have to stop every 3-4 hours for bathroom breaks and hubby and I will switch driving, so that should be safer than when he and I drove it as single people, at least! He used to get from Michigan to Anchorage in about four and a half days back in college - insanity!

[Arctic Bunny]

Whitehorse, Grande Prairie.... I'm assuming Edmonton.... then what?! Are you hitting Saskatchewan or continuing south? If SK... Hwy 16 to Winnipeg, or Hwy 1 to North Dakota? Just asking ;)

Edited July 25, 2017 by arctic_bunny

[Lanny]

I can't imagine that trip in 6 days, and with a trailer.  Many years ago, I had wanted to do that trip and I bought a copy of the "Milepost" and I just googled for Milepost and they are still publishing.  You and your DH probably have that trip memorized by now and don't need the book...  https://www.themilepost.com/

 

Better that the movers come to your house early in the morning, hopefully tomorrow morning, when they are fresh.  

[FaithManor]

I've been really fortunate Liz - we do have movers so my job has been purging and sorting and packing the things we need to take immediately, but half the house is still it and they get to pack all the tricky stuff like antique sewing machines and couches ;)

 

My inlaws have the kids and that has helped a lot. I don't think I could have gotten it done nearly s quickly with them underfoot. Apparently I'm wearing the baby out too, he usually eats every few hours and he actually slept a TEN HOUR STRETCH last night with no food! I was afraid he was dead and kept checking on him :p

Awesome...boy do I get that! When we moved from Oregon to Florida I wore out our toddler so much - trying to keep her busy by having her run around putting books in a box - that she slept like that which made me freak out when I overslept, realized it was 8:30 am and she had NOT made a peep. Sent me on the run to her room!

 

I think the road trip sounds like an adventure, and while long, I did find it easier to entertain the younglings in a car than on a plane. But our kids were good little travelers so that makes a difference.

 

Hopefully they will all love it, and the beauty/scenery is going to be lovely! Fingers crossed that it is a wonderful family memory.

[Guinevere]

Best trip I ever had with little kids was when I wrapped a bunch of little things from a party city store. Whenever I sensed boredom, I tossed back a "present", and it really helped. Some of the wrapped presents were snacks, too. I went 17 hours, only stopping at gas stations, that day, with three kids 5 and under. Also, those kumon workbooks are a huge hit when we travel. I have no idea why, but if multiplication makes them happy, I say do it!

 

I don't know if that's helpful to you, but happy travels!

[Guest]

Whitehorse, Grande Prairie.... I'm assuming Edmonton.... then what?! Are you hitting Saskatchewan or continuing south? If SK... Hwy 16 to Winnipeg, or Hwy 1 to North Dakota? Just asking ;)

I believe we are doing hwy 1 but I'll check with my husband on that, he muttered something about Sioux Falls so I'm not sure which route he was checking.

[Guest]

I can't imagine that trip in 6 days, and with a trailer. Many years ago, I had wanted to do that trip and I bought a copy of the "Milepost" and I just googled for Milepost and they are still publishing. You and your DH probably have that trip memorized by now and don't need the book... https://www.themilepost.com/

 

Better that the movers come to your house early in the morning, hopefully tomorrow morning, when they are fresh.

We do have an updated Milepost - DD10 will love it and want to track the journey so she is in charge of it. It's a fun publication but we have to start towards the back and flip forward because we are beginning at the destination :p

[Guest]

Best trip I ever had with little kids was when I wrapped a bunch of little things from a party city store. Whenever I sensed boredom, I tossed back a "present", and it really helped. Some of the wrapped presents were snacks, too. I went 17 hours, only stopping at gas stations, that day, with three kids 5 and under. Also, those kumon workbooks are a huge hit when we travel. I have no idea why, but if multiplication makes them happy, I say do it!

 

I don't know if that's helpful to you, but happy travels!

That's a great idea! I just packed their backpacks with some toys and new coloring stuff, and we have a bunch of audiobooks loaded, but I may try to implement your idea too. I bought all new balls/jump ropes/frisbee for when we stop at parks to stretch and eat lunch, I thought the novelty of a new toy would encourage more running around and burning off some energy.

[FaithManor]

I second Kumon workbooks.

 

I would love to know the route you are taking. Lots to do and see along the way. If you hit I 90 before Rapid City, SD then you could see Mt. Rushmore and the Black Hill, plus the Badlands as you head east. These are AWESOME places for younglings to get out, learn a bunch, and expend energy from being car caged!

[Guest]

That was our tentative plan with Rushmore, that and the worlds biggest ball of twine :D

 

Angry angry news though, the mover called back and bumped us to NEXT WEEK. It's ruined tons of scheduling but he apparently made a mistake and reneged on his earlier promise. I'm going to go eat my feelings and figure out how to live with kids out of boxes for a week without actually being able to unpack said boxes.

 

*cries*

Edited July 25, 2017 by Arctic Mama

[Arctic Bunny]

I believe we are doing hwy 1 but I'll check with my husband on that, he muttered something about Sioux Falls so I'm not sure which route he was checking.

Sent you a PM

[Arctic Bunny]

That was our tentative plan with Rushmore, that and the worlds biggest ball of twine :D

 

Angry angry news though, the mover called back and bumped us to NEXT WEEK. It's ruined tons of scheduling but he apparently made a mistake and reneged on his earlier promise. I'm going to go eat my feelings and figure out how to live with kids out of boxes for a week without actually being able to unpack said boxes.

 

*cries*

*gasp* WHAAAAAAT? Noooooooooooo!!!!!!!

 

Do you have the essentials still out? Your last pack/first unpack box? Is he paying for your meals????????

[Junie]

(((Arctic Mama)))

[Guest]

*gasp* WHAAAAAAT? Noooooooooooo!!!!!!!

 

Do you have the essentials still out? Your last pack/first unpack box? Is he paying for your meals????????

I know right? I'm pretty steamed. He apologized profusely but offered no discounts as far as I know and I was disappointed my husband didn't push it.

 

I had already set aside and boxed what we were going to put in the uhaul tomorrow (that cost has gone up too, thanks to the delay) so I will have to unbox the bedding for the kids, the essential kitchen stuff, my instant pot and coffee supplies, and I think everything else is still accessible.

 

I had put the kids clothes and toiletries in big 29 gallon roughneck containers so I'll just have them live out of their totes. Fortunately most of my work was sorting the whole house and purging stuff, chucking broken toys, and reorganizing. The movers still have 2/3 of it to actually box up, including our play room. So tomorrow, once we have one bathroom fully functional, the kids can come back and have access to the yard and play room and a place to sleep without undoing too much work. It's only a total disaster in extending the lead time and the mail (including adaptive equipment and new ear molds for the baby) that were supposed to be delivered the week we got there. We can't set up the mailbox without a copy of the rental agreement being taken to the post office.

 

But our media server is still working (movies), the toys are organized and will be messed up but whatever, and here are places to sleep and enough dishes to make do. So we can do it. It's just disappointing and frustrating.

 

A bright side to this is that my husband has less pressure timewise on completing the bathrooms and other home remodel work, and that's probably a good thing. It doesn't ease the disappointment but it isn't *all* bad.

More importantly, what will your new board name be?

[Guest]

More importantly, what will your new board name be?

I thought about changing it to (Sub)Arctic Mama. Former SoCal Subarctic Buckeye Mama is getting a little unwieldy though :lol:

[sheryl]

I was born and raised in Ohio.  Dayton is just a stone's throw from where I grew up.    Enjoy! 

[MommyLiberty5013]

I grew up in Ohio too. Good state! There's a wonderful air force museum near Dayton.

 

Are there any other movers you can go with at this point?

 

I am so sorry it's become such a headache.

[Guest]

I grew up in Ohio too. Good state! There's a wonderful air force museum near Dayton.

 

Are there any other movers you can go with at this point?

 

I am so sorry it's become such a headache.

Not on such short notice, and if the military is slamming these movers they are slamming the other ones we liked too.

[Liz CA]

I thought about changing it to (Sub)Arctic Mama. Former SoCal Subarctic Buckeye Mama is getting a little unwieldy though :lol:

 

If you change your username to something like "hey, hey ohio is okay" PLEASE don't change your avatar or I won't recognize who it is.

 

[Storygirl]

I hate to add anything to your list of things to do, but be sure to promptly file your Intent to Homeschool paperwork with your local school district, to avoid truancy. If you have an extra week and a little time, you might prepare the paperwork before you travel, so that all you have to do once you arrive in Ohio is hand it in.

[Guest]

I hate to add anything to your list of things to do, but be sure to promptly file your Intent to Homeschool paperwork with your local school district, to avoid truancy. If you have an extra week and a little time, you might prepare the paperwork before you travel, so that all you have to do once you arrive in Ohio is hand it in.

Oh that's a good idea! I hadn't even started on paperwork :(

[Storygirl]

https://www.cheohome.org/get-started/notification/

 

This might be helpful. There is a link there to a format you can follow.

 

When I was homeschooling, I used to fill out this form and attach typewritten notes that combined the information required in numbers 5 through 7. I would list each required subject in bold, and then underneath that list the titles of the curricula or texts I planned to use. Or sometimes I would say "a selection of library materials" instead of the name of a text. I would also attach a copy of the table of contents or scope and sequence of the main texts, to count as the "outline of intended curriculum."

 

I'm sure that everyone's "outline" looks different. The copies of the TOC was suggested at a homeschool convention, and it was never questioned by the school districts we have lived in.

 

It's not hard, but it takes a little time to type things up and make copies, especially when you have multiple children. School starts in early or mid August here, depending on the school district. If you haven't packed up your school things yet, it may be easier for you to find what you need to fill out the notification now, instead of in the early days right after moving.

[Arctic Bunny]

I thought about changing it to (Sub)Arctic Mama. Former SoCal Subarctic Buckeye Mama is getting a little unwieldy though :lol:

Or you can leave it, like *ahem* other *ahem* now-subarctic people...

[sassenach]

I thought about changing it to (Sub)Arctic Mama. Former SoCal Subarctic Buckeye Mama is getting a little unwieldy though :lol:

How about Benny's Mama? I know you have other kids, but he's kind of the star of the show!

[Guest]

I think my other kids would feel rather insulted :D

 

There may be an upside to the week delay on moving - my husband thinks he can get this all done without having to come back to finish it up, which would be awesome. We shall see! I also now have extra time to do more cleaning (yay?).

[Liz CA]

I think my other kids would feel rather insulted :D

 

There may be an upside to the week delay on moving - my husband thinks he can get this all done without having to come back to finish it up, which would be awesome. We shall see! I also now have extra time to do more cleaning (yay?).

 

This is perhaps a real positive in all the scheduling craziness. Driving out and being done is nice. We had to go back to our old property several times to get everything done and we were rather unmotivated by that time.

 

Does this cut down how many days you have to get to OH? I cannot imagine you can get there any sooner than what you had planned.

[Guest]

This is perhaps a real positive in all the scheduling craziness. Driving out and being done is nice. We had to go back to our old property several times to get everything done and we were rather unmotivated by that time.

 

Does this cut down how many days you have to get to OH? I cannot imagine you can get there any sooner than what you had planned.

Nope, we are working long distance right now and don't officially have to report to the main branch and be on site until September 3rd, though he already has a business trip scheduled to St Louis a few weeks from now. As long as we have a weekend in our travel days we won't have to eat up any more vacation time. But we cannot possibly make it go faster, those driving days are pushing it as is. Little bladders would explode. Not to mention I have to stop and nurse the baby.

[Arctic Bunny]

Nope, we are working long distance right now and don't officially have to report to the main branch and be on site until September 3rd, though he already has a business trip scheduled to St Louis a few weeks from now. As long as we have a weekend in our travel days we won't have to eat up any more vacation time. But we cannot possibly make it go faster, those driving days are pushing it as is. Little bladders would explode. Not to mention I have to stop and nurse the baby.

I hope you are on your way, and that everything is going as smoothly as possible!!

[FaithManor]

Where oh where has our little Arctic gone? Oh where, oh where can she be?

 

:D

 

Woman, I hope those movers have showed up, done their job, and you've hit the road.

[Guest]

Oh man, we are leaving such a bad review for the moving company. Drama. They messed up our reservation again and can't have us out until Friday night, when we were supposed to drive out Friday morning. So now we can't leave until Saturday and just had to bump every reservation we had. We are pretty furious because he owner just keeps shrugging as though they didn't have a contract with us. And they refuse to even offer a discount for their third set of screw ups.

 

The actual movers aren't that bad. Messy butt otherwise fine.

 

 

Staying another night is about making my husband cry (or punch something).

[Arctic Bunny]

Moving drama is one of the worst kinds of drama. I hope once you're on the road, that's the end of it! It sucks when you are in a place where your options are limited and they have you over a barrel. I still haven't filled out the survey from our move in April because I'm torn between being truthful and being *too* truthful. "No one should ever be cursed with this driver" might be a bit harsh, but yet, no one should!