A blur

 Feb 19,

The last few weeks have been a blur. We knew January was going to be super busy and challenging, but that definitely spilled into February. 

First, I traveled around the world - literally. I went to Vietnam and India, via South Korea, all in a single week. I went for work, and pretty much all I saw was the airports, the hotels, and our plants. No time for touristy things. The way there was about 32 hours, and the way back about 36. I think I had never been more tired, and when I finally got back I slept for 13 hours straight - a new record for me. 

About a week later I went to Boston for the week, and had really long days on not so great sleep.

Beyond those trips I have been working really long hours during the week, and spending the weekends de-cluttering the house - room by room. It has been a really exhausting process. It is amazing how much stuff you can accumulate in drawers and behind closed doors. We have taken out bags and bags of clothes, toys, books, school supplies, gardening stuff, kitchen containers, an old bike, dog stuff that Kika quickly outgrew, the last two Ikea tables from our Lego city,  Bella's Bento box that she wanted so badly once upon a time and still had trouble giving away, etc. etc. etc. It's been a lot. I think at this point we have already taken out the bulk of it, but there is still some stuff we will have to take care of at the very end - like all the stuff on the kitchen counters. At least we now have different empty spots to quickly hide all that stuff when it is time to show the house - a time I am both dreading and looking forward to. I am dreading it because I have really loved living in this house, but I am looking forward to it because it will be the end of our cleaning and de-cluttering marathon.