Operation Move Family Out in One Weekend

Wow. What a whirlwind week. That's how much time we had from hearing the good news that J got the job in TN and actually being in TN along with all of our household. It's crazy. Only a week before that, we were still settling into life in the big city. It was becoming comfortable. I had made a friend that I got to see almost daily because she was my (next door!) neighbor. We'd go on walks around the neighborhood and chat about our sweet kids. She kept me sane. I will surely miss her. Things were lookin' up in Jacksonville. I can't believe that just two weeks ago this possibility didn't even exist. And here I am- writing from my mom's house- the boys are napping in my old childhood room and it's as if I never ever left. Anyway, I just wanted to say a huge thank you for all of the comments and congrats you left for us on my last post! We appreciate you celebrating with us. Now that Operation: Move Family Out in One Weekend has been accomplished, we are on to Operation Find Family A Home. It might be a long process, but God has worked out so many of the details in this situation that I've lost count of all the blessings. It is amazing! I just know He has a plan for this part, too.

The drive really wasn't so bad. I imagined total chaos. I pictured me pulling all my hairs out. Or crying uncontrollably along with my two under two. Because this move was so last minute, we had to get out immediately and we weren't very prepared. Thankfully, J's dad came to our rescue (again) and helped us get moved out by our deadline. Friday afternoon we found out that someone was renting our place which was awesome news because we were locked in until January if they couldn't rent it out. A huge financial burden was lifted, but then suddenly we realized, umm nothing is packed. We didn't really have the first box. Saturday was insane. We packed up everything we own in a day and loaded the Uhaul to the brim. We'll see if it's all broken when we finally get to unpack it all! Anyway, we pulled out of our home in Florida on Sunday. J's dad was driving the Uhaul, J was driving his truck and towing another, and I was driving the third car with the babes inside. An eight hour drive was ahead of me and I was NOT looking forward to it.

My boys did so well. I don't give them enough credit sometimes. They were little angels mostly. I mean YOU wouldn't think so if you'd been riding with us, but as for myself, I thought they were great. I'm with them all the time and I know what they're capable of! Those sweet boys didn't sleep, but they didn't cry too much either. I arrived in TN in crazy, good time (I only stopped once). Still, the stress of packing up our lives for the fifth move in four years was wearing on me and I was so happy to walk into my parents' house and hand off a kid or two. The first night was tough on Baby A. He woke up a lot and we didn't get much sleep. I think the unfamiliarity of it all coupled with his change in schedule has really screwed him up. I'm hoping I can get him back on some sort of predictable schedule this week. We're all very tired...

but so happy to be home.

On the Road Again

If you're reading this within 8 hours of me posting then I'm on the road. I have driven away from family and friends for the umpteenth time to start a life in a new state. This time, the U.S. Army had nothing to do with this decision- it's on us. It's exciting and stressful all at once. Because Captain J (can I still call him that?) is off training for his big boy civilian job, I am left to get our house unpacked and ready for our family. I suppose it's a good thing I've spent the last years doing typical Army Wife duties because nothing really ever changes, does it? While the Mr. is working hard in Ohio, I'm off to Florida with my two boys in tow. The mission? To pick up rental house keys, meet the movers, and unpack the house. I know this sounds like quite a feat with two under two. Fear not. I'm not totally insane. I somehow talked my lovely sister into helping me on this adventure. I'd say she probably started regretting that decision at around mile number twenty.

Say a prayer for safety and sanity? We'll need it.

XOXO,

Roadtrip!

May I start by thanking you? Thank you oh so much to all of you who read my last post and commented, texted, sent emails, or facebooked me with encouragement on the matter. It warms my heart to hear that you all care about what's going on in our little world and it reminds me that I'm not alone. From the bottom of my heart, thank you!

I promised some happy things, didn't I?

How 'bout I tell you about our quick weekend in Home Sweet Tennessee?

We hopped in the car on Wednesday and set out on Baby K's first ever roadtrip. We had a 12 hour drive ahead of us and that's not counting stopping to feed/burp/change little man along the way. I was pretty sure we dropped our marbles somewhere when we set out on this adventure, but Baby K was such a little gentleman. He is a good little traveler. His grumpy moments were few and far between on our drive. In fact, his daddy was much more irritated than he was.

Captain J was in a poopy mood. At one point, I asked him if he needed me to help drive. His response? Without even the slightest tilt of his head, he said, "That'd be a death sentence." Still trying to lighten the mood, I told him I would sing to him to keep him awake if he'd like. For some reason, he declined that, too. What's up with my boys not adoring my singing voice? Earlier today Baby K puked after I sang him a song. I digress.

Anyway, we eventually pulled into my parents' house in my small, sleepy little East TN town at around six in the morning. Our arrival coincided with my step-dad leaving for work, my brother getting up for school, and my mom anxiously waiting to get her hands on her newest grandson. Within an hour, they looked like this:



I'm so glad they've had some precious moments to bond.

Yaya had to go pick up another cute grandson of hers to take him to preschool so Baby K and I hung out while Daddy slept. We posed...



and made funny faces...



and had a grand ole time! It felt so good to be home and finally be able to show off my little bundle of joy to friends and family who hadn't met him yet. While we were in town, we went to my former high school's football game. My sweet boy must be athletic--he caught his first football!



Just before the game, Baby K was overloaded with a host of new (and old) admirers. He met his extended family and my very best friends. Here is my little man with his great-grandmother, aka "Mimi":



Perhaps he got spoiled with all that attention and that's why he has been acting totally insane the last couple of days?!

Anyway, we had a ball. We visited "JuJu and Pap" at their boat. We hung out with "Lolly and Pop" at their yacht club party. We I ate at Carl's a lot. And by the end of the weekend, we decided it just wasn't enough. Captain J started to re-think his whole military career, but that is another post for another time...

We drove home with a blanket of sadness over us. It's hard to drive 12 ish hours in the opposite direction of the ones you love when you know you won't be returning for awhile.

The good news was that we only crossed the Mississippi once on the way back...



I can't say that's true for the way there. SOMEbody made a few wrong turns. I won't mention any names, but it might be the one who claims to be "a master of land navigation". Maybe.

Anyway, all went well so long as the paci was firmly in place-



and our little Louisiana town never looked so good as it did when we pulled in our driveway. "Home" at last.