Alot has happened again. We moved into a newer house on base (which is AMAZING.) I still hate Oklahoma but at least I love my house. Noah's finger is completely healed and will not need surgery. Hallelujah! The kids are out of school for the summer. I hope I can keep them busy over the next 3 months!!
Today is the day that we've been dreading since late last year. My hubby left for deployment. We were able to get family gate passes so that we could wait with him there until he boarded. It was very emotional. He flew in civilian clothes so when we started hugging and crying we got alot of side glances and I even saw a few people roll their eyes. It made it that much harder for me. I don't wear my emotions on my sleeve and for people to just assume I'm overreacting to a business trip really made me upset.
The kids had a hard time with it...especially Noah and Sophia. Noah's old enough to understand it more than the other two. And Sophia is so in love with her daddy that she didn't want to let go. It was rough.
My heart is so full of love and pride for my husband, yet it is empty because he is not here. I am fighting within myself to stay strong for my kids who need me now more than ever, but all I want to do is go to bed and not get up until these six months are over.
Now we try to dry our eyes and hike up our boot straps and move on. Not every day will be this hard and we'll get into a routine. Soon our lives will look normal on the outside but to us each day will be anything but. Life must go on and I pray it does so quickly!
Showing posts with label moving. Show all posts
Showing posts with label moving. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Friday, February 25, 2011
It's an adjustment.
Last night my oldest, laid back as can be son had a meltdown.
He is not really a meltdown type. He's so cool, calm & collected most of the time. He played it off like he was frusterated with his homework, but then I heard the truth in the form of a mutter: "I hate Oklahoma. I wish we never left South Carolina."
And it hit me like a ton of bricks.
The hubby & I had noticed some uncharacteristicly low grades coming home in his folders lately, and a major attitude brewing. Granted, he's 9 and I've been told that the attitude of teenagers starts early, but it was so out of the norm for him. He's such a go-with-the-flow kind of kid. These were signs of him not adjusting, and I just didn't see it. I was too busy wallowing in my own self-pity of hating the crazy, can't-make-its-mind-up weather and longing for my friends and the beach that I didn't even realize he was having an even harder time acclimating that I was. Way to be an on-the-ball mom. Nice.
I feel like it's partly my fault, too, because I'm guilty of voicing my complaints about Oklahoma in the presence of my kids. I realized last night that if I want my kids to succeed in getting used to a new place, then I need to show them how. I can't just expect them to dive in headfirst and come up smiling. I need to show them how to hold their noses and then swim to the surface. I need to give them positives instead of just pointing out the negatives. And I'm the first one to tell you I'm a pessimist, so that's going to be a major working point for me. But if it means that my kids will be better able to cope with a new environment, then I will bust my butt to get myself in the right mindset to make that happen.
It's going to be a process, I'm sure, but I know that they'll get there. We all will.
(It will definitely help if the weather can warm up and keep the snow and rain and tornado threats away though!)
He is not really a meltdown type. He's so cool, calm & collected most of the time. He played it off like he was frusterated with his homework, but then I heard the truth in the form of a mutter: "I hate Oklahoma. I wish we never left South Carolina."
And it hit me like a ton of bricks.
The hubby & I had noticed some uncharacteristicly low grades coming home in his folders lately, and a major attitude brewing. Granted, he's 9 and I've been told that the attitude of teenagers starts early, but it was so out of the norm for him. He's such a go-with-the-flow kind of kid. These were signs of him not adjusting, and I just didn't see it. I was too busy wallowing in my own self-pity of hating the crazy, can't-make-its-mind-up weather and longing for my friends and the beach that I didn't even realize he was having an even harder time acclimating that I was. Way to be an on-the-ball mom. Nice.
I feel like it's partly my fault, too, because I'm guilty of voicing my complaints about Oklahoma in the presence of my kids. I realized last night that if I want my kids to succeed in getting used to a new place, then I need to show them how. I can't just expect them to dive in headfirst and come up smiling. I need to show them how to hold their noses and then swim to the surface. I need to give them positives instead of just pointing out the negatives. And I'm the first one to tell you I'm a pessimist, so that's going to be a major working point for me. But if it means that my kids will be better able to cope with a new environment, then I will bust my butt to get myself in the right mindset to make that happen.
It's going to be a process, I'm sure, but I know that they'll get there. We all will.
(It will definitely help if the weather can warm up and keep the snow and rain and tornado threats away though!)
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Update!
Ok here's a recap of my life since Christmas:
Christmas day decided about 2pm to drive to see my hubby's parents in Daytona Beach, with the stipulation that we take the kids to Disney World one last time before our big move.
Day after Christmas was spent freezing our tushies off at the Magic Kingdom...but we all had a blast! It was a great last hurrah on the east coast!
The week of New Years was spent getting ready for and dealing with our house being packed up and shipped off to Oklahoma. New Year's Eve and New Year's day was spent cleaning the house for our security deposit inspection. Fun huh?
We spent New Year's Eve with our wonderful friends like we've done every year since we moved to South Carolina. Every night until we left we stayed at their house too b/c we had no beds!
Tuesday, 4 Jan was our last day in Summerville. We left town between 5 and 6pm and drove until we got to Atlanta, where we made our first stop.
On 5 Jan we left Atlanta and drove to Memphis and stayed at a wonderful hotel for 2 nights. If you find yourself in need of a place to stay when you're visiting the Birthplace of Rock & Roll, you need to book yourself a room at the Marriott Downtown Memphis. It's right near the river and there's a door from the lobby that takes you right out to a trolley stop and for $1 a ride you can ramble down the street and get off at any of the cool old downtown places your little heart can desire. We ate dinner both nights at Blues City Cafe on Beale Street. Oh so yummy...and family friendly too.
January 6th we spent the day at the Memphis Zoo with the kids. It was pretty chilly but we practically had the zoo all to ourselves.
We headed out again on the 7th of January and planned on stopping somewhere along the way, but decided when we were about halfway to OKC that we really didn't to prolong the trip yet another day, so we just sucked it up and drove the rest of the way and got into Oklahoma City about 6pm on Friday. We couldn't get into the base billeting because it was a Guard weekend and our reservations didn't start till Saturday. But we found another place to stay and crashed.
Saturday & Today have been spent house-hunting...very unsuccessfully I may add. We're going to go to the housing office first thing Monday morning and see if there's anything available we can get into right away. We're on the list for a new 4 bedroom but that's about a 6-8 month wait. So we're going to ask for an old 3 or 4 bedroom and see what can be done. I'm praying hard that we can get moved in sometime soon...the tiny little 1 bedroom apartment that is TLF here at Tinker is rapidly shrinking with my family of 5. They don't even cater to families over four people...there's only 4 chairs at the table and 4 place settings. I have to admit I cried when I walked in.
On a good note we're hoping to get the boys enrolled in the base school tomorrow so that they can at least get back into a routine...they've already missed one full week and I'm afraid that they'll have to repeat this year if they miss too much more.
As soon as we're somewhere more permanent I'll be able to show pics of our Disney trip and our move. I'm not quite sure where the cord is for my camera right now, and the internet connection is hit or miss in TLF.
Ok well, I'm off to go check my laundry. I've taken over all 4 washers in the building's guest laundry room. That's what happens when a family of five travels for almost a week straight!
Christmas day decided about 2pm to drive to see my hubby's parents in Daytona Beach, with the stipulation that we take the kids to Disney World one last time before our big move.
Day after Christmas was spent freezing our tushies off at the Magic Kingdom...but we all had a blast! It was a great last hurrah on the east coast!
The week of New Years was spent getting ready for and dealing with our house being packed up and shipped off to Oklahoma. New Year's Eve and New Year's day was spent cleaning the house for our security deposit inspection. Fun huh?
We spent New Year's Eve with our wonderful friends like we've done every year since we moved to South Carolina. Every night until we left we stayed at their house too b/c we had no beds!
Tuesday, 4 Jan was our last day in Summerville. We left town between 5 and 6pm and drove until we got to Atlanta, where we made our first stop.
On 5 Jan we left Atlanta and drove to Memphis and stayed at a wonderful hotel for 2 nights. If you find yourself in need of a place to stay when you're visiting the Birthplace of Rock & Roll, you need to book yourself a room at the Marriott Downtown Memphis. It's right near the river and there's a door from the lobby that takes you right out to a trolley stop and for $1 a ride you can ramble down the street and get off at any of the cool old downtown places your little heart can desire. We ate dinner both nights at Blues City Cafe on Beale Street. Oh so yummy...and family friendly too.
January 6th we spent the day at the Memphis Zoo with the kids. It was pretty chilly but we practically had the zoo all to ourselves.
We headed out again on the 7th of January and planned on stopping somewhere along the way, but decided when we were about halfway to OKC that we really didn't to prolong the trip yet another day, so we just sucked it up and drove the rest of the way and got into Oklahoma City about 6pm on Friday. We couldn't get into the base billeting because it was a Guard weekend and our reservations didn't start till Saturday. But we found another place to stay and crashed.
Saturday & Today have been spent house-hunting...very unsuccessfully I may add. We're going to go to the housing office first thing Monday morning and see if there's anything available we can get into right away. We're on the list for a new 4 bedroom but that's about a 6-8 month wait. So we're going to ask for an old 3 or 4 bedroom and see what can be done. I'm praying hard that we can get moved in sometime soon...the tiny little 1 bedroom apartment that is TLF here at Tinker is rapidly shrinking with my family of 5. They don't even cater to families over four people...there's only 4 chairs at the table and 4 place settings. I have to admit I cried when I walked in.
On a good note we're hoping to get the boys enrolled in the base school tomorrow so that they can at least get back into a routine...they've already missed one full week and I'm afraid that they'll have to repeat this year if they miss too much more.
As soon as we're somewhere more permanent I'll be able to show pics of our Disney trip and our move. I'm not quite sure where the cord is for my camera right now, and the internet connection is hit or miss in TLF.
Ok well, I'm off to go check my laundry. I've taken over all 4 washers in the building's guest laundry room. That's what happens when a family of five travels for almost a week straight!
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Time flies...
I cannot believe that next week is Thanksgiving. And then just a few days after that, the hubby will be graduating from FLETC training in Georgia. The four-and-a-half months has gone so quickly! If you would've asked me back in July if I thought the time would go so fast I would've laughed in your face.
Actually, I think I did laugh at a few of you who tried to tell me that.
But I am here to admit that yes, it HAS sped by. And it just keeps getting faster and faster.
I'm thrilled to bits that we're at the end of this chapter, but I'm also dreading it. Because the hubby's graduation means that less than 45 days later we will be living in a new state, having to find a new house, send the boys to yet another new school, and we'll all have to make new friends.
I like my friends that are here in South Carolina, thanks.
I'm not saying that people in Oklahoma are bad...not at all. We actually have a few friends in the area already, so that will definitely help. But I want my South Carolina friends. And my South Carolina house. And my South Carolina beaches. And South Carolina. I'm just not ready to leave.
I know that you're all thinking "Well, you're a military wife...you should know that this was coming." Yes, I did know. But I feel at home here and just because I knew we'd be moving away at some point doesn't mean I'm ready for it. We're having a bit of trouble finding a house we like/is in a safe neighborhood/we can afford out in OKC so that doesn't help my "moving mood".
And we are moving over Christmas, so that doesn't make it any easier. I love decorating my house for the holidays. My hubby loves hanging Christmas lights. My kids love putting ornaments on the tree. All of this will be nixed this year. I will, however decorate my fireplace mantle because I'm finally in a house that has one, and gosh dangit I'm hanging stockings from it. Even if it is only going to be for a couple of weeks. They're getting hung.
This has been an emotional few weeks for me, and is only going to get harder the closer it gets to us leaving. I fight back tears on a daily basis when I think of having to leave all my wonderful friends here. Some of them I consider family. Shoot...I've spent more holidays with them than I have with my own extended family the last couple of years. I wish I could pack them up and take them with me.
Even my 3 year old begs me weekly to "please please please pack my best friend Gracie in our car??"
My heart hurts.
We are doing our best to make the holiday special for the kids...we plan on bringing our Christmas gifts along in the car with us and wherever we are on Christmas we will open gifts and make the day happy for them. We have a small Christmas tree that the hubby brings with him when he's deployed over the holidays, so we will set that up in our hotel room for Christmas morning. We're taking our time driving out and have a few stops already planned out. We're going to spend a day/night in Memphis and see the city all decorated. We told the kids that since we can't put up our big tree this year, we'll go see as many huge Christmas trees as we can in all the places we stop on the way.
We just have to deal and adapt. It's things like this that I never thought of when I married a military man. But here they are.
So remember military families this year when you're celebrating with your loved ones. Because even if they're not serving overseas, they're are so many who still have to be apart from the ones they love.
Actually, I think I did laugh at a few of you who tried to tell me that.
But I am here to admit that yes, it HAS sped by. And it just keeps getting faster and faster.
I'm thrilled to bits that we're at the end of this chapter, but I'm also dreading it. Because the hubby's graduation means that less than 45 days later we will be living in a new state, having to find a new house, send the boys to yet another new school, and we'll all have to make new friends.
I like my friends that are here in South Carolina, thanks.
I'm not saying that people in Oklahoma are bad...not at all. We actually have a few friends in the area already, so that will definitely help. But I want my South Carolina friends. And my South Carolina house. And my South Carolina beaches. And South Carolina. I'm just not ready to leave.
I know that you're all thinking "Well, you're a military wife...you should know that this was coming." Yes, I did know. But I feel at home here and just because I knew we'd be moving away at some point doesn't mean I'm ready for it. We're having a bit of trouble finding a house we like/is in a safe neighborhood/we can afford out in OKC so that doesn't help my "moving mood".
And we are moving over Christmas, so that doesn't make it any easier. I love decorating my house for the holidays. My hubby loves hanging Christmas lights. My kids love putting ornaments on the tree. All of this will be nixed this year. I will, however decorate my fireplace mantle because I'm finally in a house that has one, and gosh dangit I'm hanging stockings from it. Even if it is only going to be for a couple of weeks. They're getting hung.
This has been an emotional few weeks for me, and is only going to get harder the closer it gets to us leaving. I fight back tears on a daily basis when I think of having to leave all my wonderful friends here. Some of them I consider family. Shoot...I've spent more holidays with them than I have with my own extended family the last couple of years. I wish I could pack them up and take them with me.
Even my 3 year old begs me weekly to "please please please pack my best friend Gracie in our car??"
My heart hurts.
We are doing our best to make the holiday special for the kids...we plan on bringing our Christmas gifts along in the car with us and wherever we are on Christmas we will open gifts and make the day happy for them. We have a small Christmas tree that the hubby brings with him when he's deployed over the holidays, so we will set that up in our hotel room for Christmas morning. We're taking our time driving out and have a few stops already planned out. We're going to spend a day/night in Memphis and see the city all decorated. We told the kids that since we can't put up our big tree this year, we'll go see as many huge Christmas trees as we can in all the places we stop on the way.
We just have to deal and adapt. It's things like this that I never thought of when I married a military man. But here they are.
So remember military families this year when you're celebrating with your loved ones. Because even if they're not serving overseas, they're are so many who still have to be apart from the ones they love.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Changes.
So I know you were all anxiously awaiting my Friday Finds on Etsy post, but once again, life got in the way. I had one of those crazy weeks. Let me sum it all up for you.
Tuesday: Took Jonah to the doc because he hurt his finger over the weekend (on the other hand this time). And, you guessed it, he broke it. That makes 2 broken fingers in three months. Poor active kid. There was a few tense hours while we waited for the doc to call us back that afternoon because the xrays showed that the fracture was right along his growth plate. He wanted to have the head radiologist take a look to see if the plate was affected. If it was we would've had to go to the Orthopedic clinic on base and see what the course of action would be. Thankfully, the questionable area in the growth plate was from normal shifting for his age, and the fracture did not extend.
Thursday: I got a phone call from the hubby (he's still at school down in Georgia) and he informed me that the new assignments were doled out. We are being sent to Tinker AFB in Oklahoma City. It is NOT the assignment we were expecting or hoping for. Quite the opposite, actually. We were figuring we'd head back overseas and we were really pulling for that...the hubby wanted Germany or Alaska (somewhere cold & snowy) and I was praying for Hawaii, Japan, Guam or another equally wonderful beach locale. We were both disappointed. So my Thursday evening was pretty much a wash at that point. I didn't even cook dinner...just piled the kids in the car and headed to Chik-fil-a.
Friday: Just before I was about to head out to do my routine payday errands running, I recieved a text from the hubby saying that we had to be in Oklahoma no later than mid-January. Knowing the date was so final for me. I mentally calculated how LITTLE time I have left here in South Carolina...a place that I DO. NOT. WANT. TO. LEAVE. I fielded calls/texts all day from friends saying they didn't want us to leave. Trust me, I don't want to go either. But what can you do? Then I tried to be positive and proactive and deal. But that night when the hubby got home for the weekend, I had a meltdown and cried like a baby.
Saturday & Sunday: The hubby & I spent quite a bit of time figuring out the logistics. The BAH rates are not close to what we're making here, and from the rental rates we saw of the size homes we would need it's going to be impossible for us NOT to live on base. Luckily we have friends stationed at Tinker (although they will be PCSing themselves just a month after we arrive) and she has been so helpful already with sending me phone numbers and giving me info. We also decided that we will be moving our family in December, while the boys are on break from school. It will make their transition so much easier. And while it's the last thing I want to do...spend Christmas on the road or in a hotel...I have to think of what's best and easiest for my sweet babies.
So my friends, my life is in a state of upheaval. Add all this stress to the normal October-through-December chaos (birthdays, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas), my continuing Etsy orders (thank the Lord!), the hubby still at FLETC until December 1st, and trying to figure out how my live-in sister will get back to Florida and you have a borderline basket case. So I apologize now for any big delays in posting like I had this week. It's just crazy right now.
Tuesday: Took Jonah to the doc because he hurt his finger over the weekend (on the other hand this time). And, you guessed it, he broke it. That makes 2 broken fingers in three months. Poor active kid. There was a few tense hours while we waited for the doc to call us back that afternoon because the xrays showed that the fracture was right along his growth plate. He wanted to have the head radiologist take a look to see if the plate was affected. If it was we would've had to go to the Orthopedic clinic on base and see what the course of action would be. Thankfully, the questionable area in the growth plate was from normal shifting for his age, and the fracture did not extend.
Thursday: I got a phone call from the hubby (he's still at school down in Georgia) and he informed me that the new assignments were doled out. We are being sent to Tinker AFB in Oklahoma City. It is NOT the assignment we were expecting or hoping for. Quite the opposite, actually. We were figuring we'd head back overseas and we were really pulling for that...the hubby wanted Germany or Alaska (somewhere cold & snowy) and I was praying for Hawaii, Japan, Guam or another equally wonderful beach locale. We were both disappointed. So my Thursday evening was pretty much a wash at that point. I didn't even cook dinner...just piled the kids in the car and headed to Chik-fil-a.
Friday: Just before I was about to head out to do my routine payday errands running, I recieved a text from the hubby saying that we had to be in Oklahoma no later than mid-January. Knowing the date was so final for me. I mentally calculated how LITTLE time I have left here in South Carolina...a place that I DO. NOT. WANT. TO. LEAVE. I fielded calls/texts all day from friends saying they didn't want us to leave. Trust me, I don't want to go either. But what can you do? Then I tried to be positive and proactive and deal. But that night when the hubby got home for the weekend, I had a meltdown and cried like a baby.
Saturday & Sunday: The hubby & I spent quite a bit of time figuring out the logistics. The BAH rates are not close to what we're making here, and from the rental rates we saw of the size homes we would need it's going to be impossible for us NOT to live on base. Luckily we have friends stationed at Tinker (although they will be PCSing themselves just a month after we arrive) and she has been so helpful already with sending me phone numbers and giving me info. We also decided that we will be moving our family in December, while the boys are on break from school. It will make their transition so much easier. And while it's the last thing I want to do...spend Christmas on the road or in a hotel...I have to think of what's best and easiest for my sweet babies.
So my friends, my life is in a state of upheaval. Add all this stress to the normal October-through-December chaos (birthdays, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas), my continuing Etsy orders (thank the Lord!), the hubby still at FLETC until December 1st, and trying to figure out how my live-in sister will get back to Florida and you have a borderline basket case. So I apologize now for any big delays in posting like I had this week. It's just crazy right now.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Mmmm Mmmm Monday: To Be Continued...
Okay, okay, I know it's Monday and you're all expecting a great recipe. Well, here's the thing...I can't find my cookbooks! The hubby packed them in a box and I haven't found that box just yet. I am searching- I promise!
So as soon as I find them, you WILL be getting a tasty recipe. Cross my heart.
So as soon as I find them, you WILL be getting a tasty recipe. Cross my heart.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Life is Crazy.
So I realize that I haven't been a very good blogger lately. But in the few short weeks that it's been 2010, I have been on the go non-stop!
We brought my baby sister back to Charleston with us when we came home from Christmas, so that she could start classes at Trident Tech. Pretty much all last week I took her to get supplies, books, etc so that she'd be all set.
We also decided right before Christmas that we wanted to move offbase. There's alot of drama going on around us and I don't want to subject my kids to anymore of the craziness. And since we have at least another year here in Charleston, we've gained another adult in the household, and BAH rates went up, now was the time to start looking. We were approved on a great house in Summerville and just as soon as we get our funds flowing from the finance office we're moving in! I have been cleaning and organizing like a mad woman all weekend. We're praying that everything will be in place for us to move in THIS WEEKEND, since it's one of the few weekends we're actually in town and not away for hockey. So the old saying "running around like a chicken with my head cut off" totally and completely describes me right now. Frazzled is another good term.
I will be posting a new recipe tomorrow and trying to post when I can this week, but forgive me if I'm MIA for a few more days. And when we're all settled in I'll be sure to post pictures!
We brought my baby sister back to Charleston with us when we came home from Christmas, so that she could start classes at Trident Tech. Pretty much all last week I took her to get supplies, books, etc so that she'd be all set.
We also decided right before Christmas that we wanted to move offbase. There's alot of drama going on around us and I don't want to subject my kids to anymore of the craziness. And since we have at least another year here in Charleston, we've gained another adult in the household, and BAH rates went up, now was the time to start looking. We were approved on a great house in Summerville and just as soon as we get our funds flowing from the finance office we're moving in! I have been cleaning and organizing like a mad woman all weekend. We're praying that everything will be in place for us to move in THIS WEEKEND, since it's one of the few weekends we're actually in town and not away for hockey. So the old saying "running around like a chicken with my head cut off" totally and completely describes me right now. Frazzled is another good term.
I will be posting a new recipe tomorrow and trying to post when I can this week, but forgive me if I'm MIA for a few more days. And when we're all settled in I'll be sure to post pictures!
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