On the day of Grandma's auction, Adam was the person primarily responsible for packing all of the things we bought, as quickly and securely as possible because everything purchased by us and my parents would be sent back to Grandma's house in a U-Haul. So rather than being sorted in a logical manner, things are packed partly according to when it sold and what sold with it, and partly according to what would fit into the available boxes.
Because I did not get to organize the items sold and because I did not get to take what I absolutely wanted BEFORE the sale as was stated in Grandma's will, we had to buy A LOT of stuff to get the things I really, really wanted and to get things that I just liked a lot. So I ended up with a lot of strange odds and ends, things I didn't even know existed in her house, and things I would have never chosen myself.
It was a very daunting, stressful, emotional task. After many failed attempts, I admitted that I wouldn't be able to sort it alone.
Luckily, we have some very awesome, helpful friends. Having non-relatives help forced me to sort more quickly, not get as hung up on emotional stuff, and even to admit that some of the things I ended up with are a little ridiculous. Like all the boxes of empty picture frames that didn't sell.
While several offered to help, only one was available on the weekend my parents were gone (one person wanted us to do all this sorting later, not to name names), so Betty got to come see all the crazy stuff I acquired at the auction whilst and at the same time combining everything into as few of boxes as possible. And I kept a few things out to begin decorating with my auction trophies.
My strategy? Maybe not the best one. We emptied EVERYTHING out of as many boxes as possible and then began putting it all back in more logical groups. We put all of the china painted by Grandma in a couple boxes, all the Christmas decorations together, Easter in another box, and so on.
And don't forget the I-don't-even-know-what-to-do-with-this-thing pile, which ended up half in a box and half loose in a flat for now.
There are still A LOT of boxes from the auction, but we consolidated about a third of them. Which was a major achievement! Just ask poor Betty, who has probably now seen more tea cups, saucers, and ceramic birds than she had ever really wanted to in her life.
Look! Empty boxes! Hooray!
Meanwhile, Adam had a fun adventure called "Entertain our Three Children and Betty's Two Children All at the Same Time". He did very well, even without any naps for the older kids. It helps that our girls and her boys know each other and get along, and that her boys are really fun. And play doh, chalk, and a random assortment of weird stuff coming out of boxes help, too. In a follow up post, I will introduce you to the best gems of the auction purchases.
The older kids play chalk and discover where the doorbell is.
Time to pick up Thanks for the help! 
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