We now interrupt your regularly scheduled program

For pictures of our new pool!

It's Edwards, it's hot and you can't go outside from 9:30-6:30 from May to October unless you have one of these......

Look how classy we are with our above ground pool!

"Look at all my hair mom!"

From There to Here Part II

You may be thinking, "Wait, the kids are in IN, why are you going to TX?"
We can make the drive from FL to TX in one long day, but we can't make the trip from FL to IN in one day. There's only about a 3 hour difference, but we are stretching it to make it to TX, and we just can't make those three extra hours to IN with a uhaul. Sooo, if you can follow me here, we drove Cory's truck and the uhaul to Texas to my parents house. We unloaded the uhaul stuff into their garage and had a relaxing evening at their house sans kids. I have to say it was kind of weird for all of us. I think the last time that happened was before we got married. And even then, we were busy with wedding preparations. We hopped on a plane the next morning to Chicago and Cory's parents picked us up. We arrived there in the same time we would have if we had driven and this way we only had one car to drive, the minivan (that my inlaws drove from Nashville).
We stayed in IN for about 5 days, and visited with Cory's brother and sister and their families along with plenty of time with the grandparents. All the kids had a great time on the zip line, the pool, mini golf, the water park, and driving around in the boat.
After our time in the Midwest, we all hopped into the van and drove back to TX. We had a stop in Springfield, MO, and made it there in two days. We spent about the same amount of time in TX, 5 or 6 days. We did a lot of swimming In Uncle Daryl's pool, visiting with family and even had a fun trip to the new water park in town.
Cory and I ate lots of Chipotle and frozen yogurt and were satisfied.....

Vivi



All the Midwest Cousins

Trey was flying through the zipline

We soon figured out we needed more tnesion for the older girls.

Carter

Making sure Clay didn't let go

Even Viv gave it a go.

Everyone at my parents' house.

From There to Here: Part I

I know everyone is dying to hear the nitty gritty of our trip. We laughed, we cried, we went to the bathroom 303458754 times.
We started off by having my mom fly to FL and move into the TLFs with us. We packed up 2,000 lbs of stuff we were going to move on our own and took it, my mom, and the kids down to the base and left them there. Cory and I slept in the TLFs with everyone and then would drive to Crestview (where our house is) to supervise the movers, clean the house, etc.
I know a lot of people that do their moves different ways. The way I prefer to do them is by moving to the TLF the day before the movers get there. I want to have every towel, plate and thing clean before it goes in the boxes. It makes my life much simpler on the actual moving days. I don't have to watch them like a hawk making sure they do/do not pack certain things. If it's on the property: it goes! Everything that stays with us is already at the TLF. This works for me. I don't like camping out in our house for several days on an air mattress with a few plates/forks while the movers are there. I know my makeup or car keys would end up getting packed and I would be irate.
Everyone always has a 'good story' with their moving company. I say it in quotes like that because that actually means a story that won't be funny for several more years.
We haven't had too many horror stories, but there's always some issue with something completely ridiculous.
This time our first issue was that they didn't bring enough guys on the 'put your crap in the truck' day. Somehow the size of our house/shipment was relayed incorrectly and they came under prepared. So it took them forever. And our driver had these weird rules for his team. He made them line all 15 thousand pounds of our stuff on the driveway/front yard and then he inventoried it from there and then he was the only one that could physically put it in the truck. I was kind of panicky when I realized nothing was in the truck yet and it was 3pm.
Also, they took EVERYTHING APART. INTO ONE MILLION PIECES. I mean, normally they  will take the legs off of some furniture, the entertainment center comes apart in a few big pieces, the beds in a few pieces. But they took the furniture and everything else they could think of apart into flat boards and hardware. You know, like when it comes in the box from the store?? They took apart Cory's garage organizer into about 50 pieces, they took apart our computer desk into about 100. They took the futon down to springs and wood pieces. They took the springs off of the furniture! They took my stroller wheels off my stroller! Are you getting the picture here? And lucky them, the guys who did this are not the ones that have to put it all back together. The moving guys on this end are. I felt so bad for them. But thankful that they stuck it out and got everything together pretty well.
 Also, my stroller wheels are nowhere to be seen. Every box has been unpacked and they are no where. My Phil and Ted! Jeez! Don't they know that stroller holds more than babies? It holds memories! Of Korea and all my other Phil and Ted sisters! in 2008, Osan AB was a walking Phil and Ted advertisement. I bet all the moms out there now have different strollers. I shudder at the thought. 
They day after the movers came, my mom went back home. (She babysat kids in the TLF for a week!) Then, we got the kids and the dog and drove to Nashville. We met my inlaws at the airport and did a quick lunchtime hand off of the kids, dog and our minivan. Cory and I rented a car and drove back to FL while my inlaws drove the rest of our crew up to their house in NW Indiana. Cory and I needed another 4 days to ourselves to clean and do maintenance on our house. We finally got renters (the day our packers showed up! Nothing like waiting till the last minute!) and we needed to get everything ready for them to move in. We finished all the cleaning and repairs, rented a uhaul and loaded our 2,000 lbs and started our drive toward TX.

Totally unrealistic

So, yes, we've moved and we have a new cat and the kids are all insane these days, but we have more pressing issues to discuss. I really have a love/hate relationship with moving. I really dread it on the forward end, but then am always glad to purge/organize on the other end. I really like to organize and really wish I were better at it. So, of course I have to go buy little to-do lists and calendars and what-not to make me feel accomplished during the day. I don't like to just rely on mysmart phone. I want to write it on paper and then MARK IT OFF. Sometimes I will even write something on my to do list even if I have already done it, just for the satisfaction of marking it off. I want to see that satisfying little line through my words. ANYWAY, I bought a few things at TARGET!! a few weeks ago and came across this little dandy.

*you might have to click and enlarge this to see it well

And I couldn't even unwrap it because I was so upset at the TOTAL UNREALISTIC mock schedule on the damned thing.

So here we have what I am assuming to be a wife, husband and two kids in a family, right? So it appears the wife (who is apparently nameless) works part time from 9am to noon on Tuesdays and Thursdays. First of all, what mom has a job with hours like that? Okay, maybe I am getting ahead of myself, and the husband supports everyone and she works at like, the church office or nursery, or some part time job just 'for fun'. I mean, I know several people that work only a few days a week, but it's usually  nurses that work 12 hour days, or work PRN. But 6 hours a week? Is that even enough for gas money to and from said job? Then apparently she has a meeting from 1-3 on Friday, *NOTICE* not during her normal work time. Is this a work meeting? Is this a crafting meeting? Is this a school/extra curricular meeting? If something's just labeled 'meeting' wouldn't you automatically assume it's work-related? Bur what on earth would you need to have a meeting about if you only work 6 hours a week? Maybe, "Hey, we're not paying overtime, so you better clock out at 5:59!"?

Also, this lady apparently makes time for herself as noted by her scheduled yoga and hair appointments throughout the week. BUT, is she in school too perhaps? There is a PROJECT DUE! on Friday. I hope she can get it done before her MEETING!

Also, the painter is coming on Saturday, so Greg, don't make any plans buddy.

The kids in the picture seem to be of school age since they have history tests this week along with their soccer, ballet and drama. But EVERYONE is washing the dog on Wednesday, don't forget! Do people really schedule dog washing?

And wait, Greg must be a student too. He has a science test on Tuesday. Everyone is in school? The whole family? Good thing his test isn't on Wednesday since he will be out of town on business. Who's bringing home the bacon here? I mean firstly, who has soccer games at 2pm in the middle of the school year. And what working adult takes off at at least 1:30pm every Monday to coach soccer games? Surely "nameless wife" isn't the bread winner since she is only working 6 hours a week.

Obviously I am too distracted by this dry erase schedule to use it. I haven't unwrapped it because I am planning on taking it back. I can't support this agenda, I mean, really.



OCD Moment

I've been experiencing some insomnia lately. Especially on nights before I wake up for early gym time. It's like my body knows it's only going to get up in a few hours, coupled with anxiety about how many guys will be in the weight room with me. Ugh, I hate the weight room. I love weight lifting, but hate the weight room. I would be perfectly fine doing everything with the soft 8-10lb free weights, a body bar and a exercise ball. But since I am following a certain workout plan, I am trying to not to alter my exercises and 'cheat'.

So, insomnia leads to thinking about crazy things I don't normally have time to think about. But you want to know something that bothers my OCD? Seeing dogs of completely different sizes/breeds/shapes together. Wait, let me explain....

It's not that it is wrong, or I think it doesn't make logical sense. I think people who have all types of dogs, or have a few are great! They're wonderful for being open to all shapes/sizes of doggies. But for some reason, I get that little 'sting' that accompanies OCD/anxiety when I see people walking dogs that are totally different.

For instance, I could never have a Basset Hound and a German Shepherd. I can't have a chihuahua and a Rhodesian Ridgeback. These dogs are so different in their size, breed, demeanor. 

I could have two chihuahuas, or a chihuahua and a pomeranian type doggie. I could have two similar typed terrier breeds. I would even be fine with A German Shepherd and a Lab. Those mixtures are okay. They are similar enough in size and temperament. But ideally, I would have two identical animals.

I noticed this mostly when we were visiting the shelter last weekend. We played with this little (10lb-ish) black and brown pincher-chihuahua-some dog that was bigger-mix, and I just couldn't commit to him. First of all, his temperament wasn't what we were looking for, so before you banish me to hell for being a doggy racist, we wouldn't have gotten him anyway. BUT, I just couldn't see having two dogs that looked so different! Is that weird? No, keep that opinion to yourself. 

Now, some of you are going to say, "Well, but you got a CAT! What could be more different than that?'

But see, it doesn't bother me when they are different species. For some reason. I don't know why, but it doesn't. But now, If we were to ever get another cat (this is totally hypothetical) I think it would need to be orange-y, or at least short haired. I couldn't have a short haired tabby and then a long haired something or another. 

Disclaimer: This isn't supposed to make sense to normal people. 

Introducing Sansa

I know, I know, what all of you are going to say. "Why on Earth did you get a cat?" I don't really have a good explanation other than we had been tossing the idea around for a few months, and went back and forth on whether or not it was a good idea. Probably the thought of the eminent boredom at Edwards was the kicker. Bailey had made good friends with the Galloway's dog last week during our drive, and she had a great time playing again. After we got here, she seemed kind of bored, sad even. We were open to looking for a dog or a cat but after visiting the shelters several times this weekend, we couldn't find a pup to entertain Bailey. Maybe a kitten would be a fun playmate for her. The kids have been asking for a cat for awhile, and when visiting the 'cattery', we found one we thought had a good temperament. A 2 month old orange tabby. She's cute, tolerant of the kids and okay with Bailey. By okay, I mean that she hisses and keeps her distance most of the time. However, curiosity gets the best of her and they have had a few encounters. Nothing too dramatic, but I wouldn't call it copacetic yet. I'll take it as a good sign that the kitty still plays openly around the kids and Bailey, and doesn't take to biting, scratching or hiding. So, here's Sansa:

*yes, we named her after the character from Game of Thrones.

The Fun has Arrived

That's what I imagined saying when we drove in through the gate on Monday. You know, that scene from Disney's Tarzan where that gender ambiguous monkey loudly proclaims that yes, indeed, the fun has arrived. No? You don't remember that one? Oh, maybe it's just me and the fact that I listened to Tarzan 34,586 times over the past week.
We drove from Tucson to Edwards on Monday after spending two nights with some good friends, the Galloways. We had actually allowed two days to drive the distance, but we were all so tired of driving/riding, we knew we needed to rip the band-aid off quickly and painfully instead of dragging the thing out. After we arrived in Tucson, we were starkly reminded how HOT it in the southwest. Holy crap. It was hot. When we stopped just north of Phoenix, I thought my skin was going to melt off. No really, It was a legitimate concern. Clay actually cried from the gas canopy to the inside of the gas station because his body felt like it was on fire. Mine did too.

So, side note here, wet heat vs. dry heat. I am here to proclaim that it doesn't matter one IOTA if it is wet heat or dry heat. Everyone always says, "Oh, but at lest it's a dry heat". When you're over 105 it DOESN'T MATTER WHAT HEAT YOU ARE IN. YOU ARE IMMEDIATELY AWARE OF YOUR CERTAIN DEMISE. I will say that under the 105 degree threshold though, there are some notable differences. In wet heat, you are sweaty and wet and breathing becomes more labored. You get a tiny bit of relief one the sun goes down, but not much.

In dry heat, you feel like you have an instant sunburn. Like your skin is on fire. A completely different sensation than wet heat. Miserable, all the same, but different. However, when the sun goes down you do get a good 20 degrees of relief. Which is really nice. In fact, sometimes you even need a hoodie at night. The only exception to this rule that I know of is Phoenix, where it is still 110 degrees at night. I am not sure, but I was told that it is because Phoenix is all concrete and it holds the heat. So there you go, your lesson for the day. I've lived in both dry/wet heat for the past 5 years and I don't ever want to hear anyone ever tell me again, "At least it's a dry/wet heat." It ALL SUCKS, ALL THE TIME.

Okay, so back on track here, our GPS was trying to take us through Los Angeles to get to Edwards, which we knew was NOT the shortest way. However, in all the craziness, we forgot to map out our way before we hit the road, so we kind of willy nilly decided we kind of remembered the way to the South gate and we could kind of 'head that direction' and the GPS would correct itself eventually. We knew to go to the 215, but couldn't remember exactly where we were supposed to meet up with 138, and so on. This leads to us wandering around in El Mirage, CA for about an hour. In case you don't know where that is, it is the middle of the desert, nowhere, California. We were heading the right direction, but going probably the most indirect way you could possibly imagine. After we could have probably gone through LA and gotten there through the west gate, we finally arrived at the south gate (I was so terrified that the south gate was going to be closed, Edwards does funny things like that for no reason). we arrive on base, unload at our tlf, and realize, "Hey, we're hungry and it's dinner time." We promptly decide to head to Panda Express on base for a quick meal and realize the water on base hasn't been working all day! YAY! ALL THE EATING ESTABLISHMENTS ARE CLOSED! Super yay! Don't y'all know that to just drive to anywhere off base is a good 25 minutes? At least? So with three hungry screaming kids we get into the car and drive where? To the west gate! You know the one we probably could have gotten to faster and while over there, gotten some food!?  Hahaha! Such a funny joke after an 11 hour car ride.
We go to some burger joint where Clay proceeds to whine and throw a fit about wanting a sprite and how it's not coming fast enough. Carter spills his drink into my purse, and then Clay refuses to eat his food. After having to switch tables twice because of spills and finding out clay isn't eating because he wanted a soft taco, not a crunchy one (but that would have just made to much sense for him to tell us!) we scarf down what we can and manhandle the kids back into the car to make the 25 minute drive back to base.
I am sure the fun has just begun.