Finishing things

So Charlie's party... I meant to write more about it, but my computer was going dead and I didn't feel like moving to where the plug was. The invitations were my favorite part. We bought some white helium balloons and drew Hedwig on them with a sharpie. We left them on Charlie's friends' doorsteps, rang the bell and ran. Charlie had so much fun. And now Peter wants to do the same thing with football balloons for his football party. I tried to tell him it wasn't the same thing, but he thinks it is. We'll see. The actual party started with a Hogwarts sorting quiz. They wrote their answers down, and were able to figure it out so that they all got Gryffindor. After collecting their papers, we had two that tied with other houses, but they didn't admit it. We moved on to dinner. They got to make their own pizzas with ingredients like sliced flobberworms, basilisk eyes, and shredded boomslang skin. We of course made wands and played a little table quidditch. They had some free time before we did cake and potions. The potion table was really just Sprite with different sprinkles and powders to add in. We used little cups so that they could go back again and again for different concoctions. We ended with treat bags with a selection of Honeydukes candies.

I had so much fun planning this party. And I'm surprised that I pulled it off after having everyone in the house sick and having to postpone it. I left the decorations up for a while though, because they made me so happy. Especially my rock wall with wanted posters for different death eaters and such on it. I think I'm going to throw a grown up version one of these days. But after having all those boys here, I am reminded that I need to get a bigger house first. And we're working on that.

We got a realtor over here last week to go over everything that we need to do before we can list our house. It's mostly painting, and finishing up the bathrooms. We've been saying that we're going to get it done for about two years now, but this time it feels like it is actually going to happen. We have a goal to get it done by April 1st.  We'll be having a painting party here next week if anyone wants to come . . . or wants to take my kids. We've been looking at other houses and found one that we love. Chances are it'll sell before we can get an offer on ours, but we can hope. And I know that if it's not available, we'll find something that is right for us. 

I finished my 2015 scrapbook. I mean the pictures are all there. I still have some writing to do, but I think this is the quickest into the new year I've ever done it. Now to get going on 2016. Which means I need to take some pictures. I think I've only got the camera out for birthdays so far this year.

I made three resolutions for 2016. The first was to write on the blog at least twice a month. So far so good. The second is to acknowledge birthdays better. I'm a little behind, but found some cute belated birthday cards to send, so I think I'll catch up on that one. The third was to stop binge watching shows on Netflix and read more. I signed up for a reading challenge at the library and I'm loving it. There are 50 categories and you have to read a book from each category by December 17th. I'm seven books in- a National Book Award winner, a book with an animal in the title, a collection of short stories, a book about best friends, a book by a celebrity, a book about time travel and a book by an asian author. It's been fun to browse goodreads.com and pick books that my friends have enjoyed. If anyone has any good ideas for a great book with a blue cover, a book about an explorer, or a book Rory Gilmore read, they are some of the next ones on my list. 

Well I suppose I'll get back to the packing and decluttering. I really need to get over my emotional attachment to things. I read somewhere that you need to have someone declutter with you, and let that person be the one to touch everything, because when you touch things, your emotional attachment strengthens. So while my mom is out of town and not around to help, I'm trying to touch stuff as little as possible. ;) Wish me luck.