The countdown is on

After months of dreaming, planning, and purging we're down to packing.  We signed a lease on our house last week while the kids were away at outdoor ed.  After a few days to let everything sink in Geary and I decided it was time to tell the kids that the trip was on and we were leaving next month.  It's been an interesting mix of reactions from the kids, with four that's not surprising.  Tenley, who I expected to have the hardest time is actually the most excited.  Recently it's felt like she is really trying to establish herself outside of our family.  Friends are very important, siblings are annoying, and she's too old to play.  It's just felt like a shift in her connection to our family unit and a value in outside relationships.  Completely developmentally appropriate, a bit sad, and I was afraid, a recipe for disaster with taking her away from her friends.  Apparently the timing wasn't as bad as I was imaging.  I'm anticipating a fair bit of sadness, there have already been tears and jokes about packing up her friends and teacher, but all in all she is excited.  In true Felicia form she was quietly gathering as much information about this adventure as possible.  The day after we told the kids we were going she went to school and informed her closest friend that she was leaving in a month, traveling in her camper for 9 months, and going to Florida and then to see wild horses.  I'd say she is tentatively excited as well.  I love how she matter of factly has said things like, "It probably won't be all fun but over all I think it will be a neat trip."  We've been talking about the need to be flexible and she is particularly good at that, she finds the silver lining in ever bad situation.  I hoping her good attitude can wear off on all of us a bit on this trip.  Then there is Calista.  She's told us she doesn't want to go and she is none to happy about it.  There is nowhere she wants to go and nothing she wants to see.  I'm still holding out hope that we can win her over but for now letting her have those big upset feelings.  It's a lot of change and I can appreciate that she isn't feeling the love for this crazy plan.  Corwin's thoughts on the trips very wildly depending on when you talk to him and who he is around.  With Tenley's excitement he is gun-hoe and ready to go, with Calista's negative attitude close he'll tell you he doesn't want to go either.  I'm not sure about Geary but I'm definitely feeling a mix of emotions about everything right now.  Overwhelmed is probably at the top of the list!  We have three weeks until our launch date and A LOT of purging, packing, and projects to finish.  It does feel good to have most of the major hurdles taken care of though.  We still have all the vehicles to deal with but I figure worst case we donate them and hit the road.  The end or really the beginning is in sight, just have to keep taking those baby steps to get there.