Retirement, moving, new home build, school...

So we have officially moved into the world of military retirees!  Who knew that this would really ever happen??  I am still in the IRR and hoping (well, kind of passively thinking about it) that I will, at some point, accrue enough years in service on the books (as opposed to those I actually have...the paperwork doesn't reflect how close I REALLY could be...) to be able to drop those papers faster than you can say, "I'm outta here!"  But I digress.

We relocated from metro DC area (Northern Virginia, living in post housing with our kids running free through the neighborhood) to Mesa, Arizona (desert-ish and not so population dense but kids have almost zero freedom) in August.  The trip here was amazingly smooth.

The kids and I were able to precede Andy from VA to MI by three days and stop in West Virginia and visit some dear friends and their awesome kids.  We had such a good time!! Boy do we miss them.  The boys still ask if we can drive to their house for a visit.

We spent four blissful days at a lake house on Lake Michigan as guests of really wonderful friends.  They have to be wonderful to put six kids up for more than one night!!  After that we headed to the Windy City where I was totally unprepared to entertain my family for two days.  I kept thinking of all the things I love about Chicago; walking from the Loop to Michigan Ave, running along the lake, reading in the park, eating at a hole in the wall joint...ummm...with little kids...not so much.  So, we ate at Ed Debevick's, visited the HUGE American Girl store, went through the Museum of Science and Industry and rode the 'L' around the loop.  Going to have to make that trip again with only a few kids at a time and see some shows and explore a bit more...with a plan first.

Then we headed to Kansas to help my dad and his campaign staff celebrate his victory in the primaries for Kansas Senate.  He is now a sitting Senator in Topeka!!!  Way to go Dad!!!  That visit was far too short for me and the kids but our caravan must continue to AZ and my parents had a campaign to continue!

We then were able to link up with my cousin and her husband and adorable kids for dinner in OK.  I really wish we all still lived close by all our family in the same town, as we would have 100 years ago.  Or at least in neighboring towns.  There are some Mormon families here in Mesa who live in compounds with extended families.  Don't think Waco, TX compound.  Think super up-scale living, resort style compound.  Maybe not THAT close.

Another one night stop in Albuquerque, NM with another friend completed our nights on the road.  Andy's car broke down a few hours west of Albuquerque and he returned to awesome Dave's house for another night of fun and a few hours of watching his car repairs while chatting up the mechanic...Dave.  THANK YOU DAVE!!

So...we arrived in our home-sweet-furnished-rental.  Complete with a fully stocked kitchen (gear, not food) and TWO WHITE COUCHES.  HELLO??  Bed Bath & Beyond so thankfully allowed me to purchase slipcovers and those white couches were covered before any small hands, feet, mouths or toys even so much as breathed on them.  That house worked well while we figured out that we were going to build a new home.  They told us five and one half months.  February-ish.  RIIIIGHT...we close 8 April.

Going to have to sign off and get my defensive driving course finished on line so I can get that ticket taken care of!  Don't ask...

I hope this finds all of you having a Blessed and Inspired Lent.