It is not always easy to keep the excitement level "up" for kids during a big life change.  Especially when the process takes months, like having a baby, a massive home remodel or blending families.  Children (and let's face it...even adults) want what they want now!  I have an eleven year-old daughter and a four bedroom house.  I bought it years ago when I found myself single but financially ready to settle down.  Since then I fell in love with an incredible man, with two kids, who has all the characteristics and morals I was looking for.  Trust me, I was shocked he even exist!  Well, now it is two years later and we are all moving in with eachother and preparing for the wedding.  It is an exciting time and the kids want to be under one roof...yesterday.  But several things had to happen first to combine these two households.  We had a couple garage sales to unload unwanted furniture and made countless trips to donate duplicates like toasters, tea pots and TV's.  Then we had to move my daughters room into the larger spare bedroom, then repaint and decorate the old spare bedroom for my soon-to-be step-daughter and then move the office out of its room to make space for a wide smiling seven-year-old son who wanted a black and blue room.  Yep, more painting.  Not to mention that each and every closet in the house is filled with my clothing which I am putting off addressing until the last possible minute.  These things all take time, especially when you do them right.  I guess it is a life lesson for children to see how every step has a step before it and after it.  They were anxious to be moved in together seconds after the paint was dry and life just doesn't work like that.  I did hang five stocking with care, which made everybody smile, even though at Christmas we'll still have two houses, three anxious kids and a dozen finishing touches before happily ever after officially starts.  Don't ever see that in a Disney movie, huh?  Even if you are lucky enough to find your Prince.