All packed up and waiting to go

My Monday and Tuesday were spent hanging out with my husband, staying out of the way of our movers, entertaining a 2 year old, and calming the nerves of an overly excited pooch.

It's all said and done, and our belongings are on a truck headed toward New Mexico. Now I'm very ready to head out of here. Josh and I were talking the other night about how we cannot believe we're at the end of our 3 year tour. We thought for sure it was going to feel like the longest 3 years ever, especially since we would be away from family and friends while bringing a baby into this world, but it's all gone by so fast, and we are so grateful for the time we've had here. But now it's time to move on and experience some new adventures!

 The movers used boxes for some stuff, but a lot of our odd shaped items were wrapped using this cardboard roll. I'd never seen it before, what a clever idea!

 If you couldn't tell, Gosselin Group moved us!

 I was okay with our living room getting packed up. I was good with our bedroom getting packed up. When it came to Coleden's bedroom, I got a little choked up seeing it all boxed up.

 We made a fort on Tuesday, and I think Cole was in there most of the day! Boys and forts, always a winning combo!

 When he wasn't in his fort, he'd walk around investigating things and came upon plastic straps (I have no idea what they're called) and decided to ribbon dance with them. Who needs toys? He also spent some quality time with a few boxes!

 We have a lot of crap, man. A lot. We filled up 8 of those crates.

So. Much. Crap.

So...Photo Friday...

It feels like I have really dropped the ball this month with Photo Friday. Sorry about that. Instead of trying to play catch-up, I'll save the photos I didn't get a chance to shoot and apply them to a future Photo-A-Day. As much as I love Photo Friday, I think it'll be around November or December before I can even think about starting it back up. With our big move coming up, I don't think I'll have the discipline to keep up with it, I've already proven that, huh?!

Speaking of PCSing, Josh finally got his orders for New Mexico. I have been going crazy, making lists and Excel sheets for our upcoming move. Last time around, I wasn't fully prepared for what needed to be done before the movers showed up.

This time I'm determined to be more organized and take a more active role the day the movers do come. In Biloxi, I didn't know what to do with myself, so I just stayed out of their way. We lucked out and had some amazing packers, like really amazing. I don't think we had anything break, at least nothing important. When the movers come this time, I will be more vocal in what I think needs extra care (I've unfortunately heard too many horror stories with the German moving companies).

We're still about a month away from when Josh and I are wanting to have our household goods picked up, and I feel like I'm already behind. If I start packing for vacations a month in advance, how much sooner should I have been preparing for our big move?! Yikes! I'm getting stressed out just thinking about it.

Moving Day...Again

I feel like a nomad, but I guess that’s the life of a military family! We’ve been in Germany for about a month and a half and are FINALLY moving into our new home tomorrow!

I’ve been packing all morning, so that when Josh gets home from work we can run and try and set up our internet service so we won’t be without it for too long! After that, we are loading his car up as full as we can so that tomorrow all we need to do is hop in the car and go to the place we’ll be spending the next 3 years of our lives!

Oh and I had a doctor’s appointment a couple of days ago, still haven’t heard the heartbeat, but I got an ultrasound since the baby wasn’t cooperating, I think the baby secretly did it on purpose, because the whole time we watched our little Etcha (that’s what I call the baby instead of “it” since ultrasounds remind me of an Etch-a-Sketch) on the screen there was a lot of flopping around and even some waving to us!!!

Well, I still have lots to do; I just wanted to update everyone! Also, Thanksgiving is in a WEEK, only 7 more days until I get to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade!

So much to do, so little time!

The last time we spoke, the packers were here, that seems like it was ages ago instead of 2 weeks! It's not even like time is going by slowly, I thought it would because I'm excited to go home for a while and see everyone; but I have been on the go and I prefer it that way!

So to get you up to speed, our house is empty, except the essentials we kept and the essentials that we had to go purchase, because we didn't realize they were essentials until we didn't have them anymore!

Oh, we made sure we had a coffee pot, but who knew we'd need a can opener?!

Now it's cleaning time, and because we live in base housing I have to take extra care, not that I wouldn't have anyway, but it's a little nerve racking to have an inspector come in while I'm still here and say whether my cleaning skills are up to par.

I don't want you to think that all I've been doing is cleaning, I'm a square, but give me credit-I'm not that dull! For Labor Day weekend we decided to go to New Orleans! Originally, we were going to go to N.O. to drop off my car so it can be shipped to Germany, but we weren't able to get the paper work in time so we decided we'd go for leisure! Josh and I were joined by Sarah and Tim and oh the good times we had...

Tropical Storm Lee September 2, 2011

 Labor Day weekend is our last official weekend down here in Biloxi, and what better way to celebrate then add a tropical storm into the mix! Never letting our spirits dampen (that was probably the only thing that didn't get wet) we fought our way to New Orleans which was much easier than we had expected considering everyone was trying to get out of the city, not in.

We started at Harrah's Casino and then made our way to "The Gumbo Pot" where our fabulous waiter informed us of a gay pride parade that was to happen that evening! We went back to Harrah's for a while and eventually made our journey to Bourbon Street (in the rain of course) we went to "Howl at the Moon" because Sarah and Tim had mentioned how they had been there and they had dueling pianos and we just couldn't pass that up! 

 

While we were watching the pianists do their thing, I spotted the parade floats making their way past the bar and before you could blink I was outside watching! Best parade I've ever been too! I caught so many beads, and the best part was I didn't have to flash anyone because my goods aren't what these men are shopping for! Josh wouldn't flash them so I could get more beads-party pooper! 

Eventually we decided it was time to go because the storm seemed to be getting a bit worse, so it was back to Biloxi we went and that was by far the most fun I had the whole weekend! It seemed our last weekend was doomed because of the weather, but in all reality it was just very rainy. The picture I posted above makes it seem a lot worse but rest assured we were perfectly safe! 

Favorite. Picture. EVER. Josh was pretending to be Nessa haha

Now that I've taken my little break, it's time to get back to cleaning! Hopefully the next time I write I will be lounging it up O-town style!!!

 Also, GO HUSKERS!
Okay, now I really have to go!

RAP/ Moving

So excited! Josh just got done with his PT eval and passed! So, he will be able to participate in the Recruiter Assistance Program when we go back to Omaha! I am very proud of him, but I do feel sorry for those who did not pass and will not be allowed to do RAP. They'll still be allowed to go home, but RAP would've given them some extra time at home without being charged leave.

Also, because I know you were just DYING to know, I have all of my outfits picked out and ready to go! Now the challenge is finding out whether or not all of my stuff will fit in the luggage I already have. *Yikes!*

This isn't actually my luggage, but a girl can dream right?!

I WAS going to be studying my booty off the next couple of weeks for my German driver's license, but it seems that as of a month or two ago it was changed so that only Josh can access it-awesome! From the little bit that I have looked at, it appears those German's seem to have a sign for everything! Bill Engvall would be so proud!


Josh and I have a rough sketch of our schedule for the next month or so:
August 22- Mover's are coming to pack us up
August 24- Mover's are coming to take all of our stuff away
August 25- Josh start's Security +
August 29- Preliminary house inspection
September 2- Taking our Kia Soul to New Orleans to ship it to Germany
September 7- Final house inspection
September 8- Josh's Sec + test
September 8/9- Headed home!
September 12-23- RAP
October 7- Leaving Omaha
October 10- Josh reports!

We have "heard" that once we get to Germany Josh will be given 2 weeks of uncharged leave so we can find a house because the housing market is difficult to get into over there right now. I sure hope that's true but we'll find out eventually!

Exciting News!

The last few days have been hectic at best, but I have finally finished packing, and two days ahead of schedule!!! Yay me!

In other amazing news, I have FINALLY gotten my ring back! After several stressful weeks of dealing with a very disappointing JC Penney's jewelry department, I have my wedding rings! I would not recommend purchasing anything from them (not even to my worst enemy), it has been nothing short of agonizing. But that's a story for another time, the important thing is that I have my ring back!

Josh sent me pictures of our new home and I couldn't be happier! So here are the stats on it: 1750 sq. feet, 3 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths a backyard for Nessa to play in, and just a delightful house to make a home!

We finally have a sprayer!!! Wahoo!

So, to recap: I'm done packing, I got my ring back, I have a place to live, AND I just found out that I am going to a formal dinner with Josh on March 5! The commander's wife sends me emails informing me of the goings-on in Biloxi and Josh had already told me there was a dinner but that was ALL he told me. My attire must be an evening gown an I couldn't be anymore excited!!! 

  

Okay, so my dress won't look like that one, but I will be stunning regardless! I can't wait to see my husband and finally be back to living together, but having an excuse to get dressed up makes me even more amped to get down there!!!