On the road again......

Well...we finally made it to Arizona. We left on Wednesday and had a brief stay in Vegas. That place is quite a sight. I have NEVER seen a place like it before and that is a good thing. It truly is sin city. Every sin you can think of takes place within a 5 mile stretch. I can't wait to go again in June!! :) We did get to see a few family friendly things with extra thrown in on the way. We were going to put Dixie, the dog, in a kennel while we were there but instead opted to sneak her in in a rolling suitcase. It was my awesome plan and it worked great! She did pretty good in the hotel and it saved us some money.

There were a few good things in Vegas....

We saw this nun outside the Bellagio.

...and the kids got their picture taken with Red and a Jack Sparrow look-alike.

We rushed out of Las Vegas on Friday morning. We were wanting to get to the Ft. Huachuca so Charles could sign into housing and see what kind of a wait we had until we got a house on post. They had told him on the phone that they didn't close until 4 p.m. We rolled into town about 3:30 and rushed to the housing office, only to find they had closed an hour early for President's Day, which is on Monday. If there had been a moose around I would have punched it (think National Lampoons Vacation @ Wally World). So we won't know a thing until Tuesday. It's ok though, at least we're together. Charles and I got to spend Valentine's Day grocery shopping. I sure do love him.

We are currently in a 700 square foot "hotel" with our entire family, including the dog. The place is an old, historic building that they have tried to update. The accommodations are decent but it definitely doesn't have the conveniences of home. The kids are digging it since they don't have to do real chores. They will finally start back to school on Tuesday and hopefully we'll be getting into a routine very soon.

I had forgotten how drab and depressing Ft. Huachuca and the surrounding town is. Not much has changed in 5 years. I won't complain though, since living here means Charles won't be deploying for at least 4 years and he'll have the opportunity to finish his degree the last year of this stay. There are a lot of outdoor things to do here and it's always exciting to get a fresh start with a new move.

So here we sit watching TLC. Has anyone heard of the fattest man that lives in Mexico? His name is Manuel. Oh good gosh, it is disgusting. Now, I'm fat and I know this. But for heaven's sake, he is ridiculous. I can't even imagine what one must eat to ever get to weigh 1300 pounds. I can't believe he is still alive. He has to have people wash his butt and everything. Can you imagine having that job? Dadgum....and you thought the Little Caesar pizza guy that has to dance around with the sign had a bad job. I feel like Kate Moss watching him on TV.

I'm back for a minute.....

At least until we leave this afternoon. We've been busier than a one legged man in a butt kicking contest. I guess you can accumulate a lot of junk in 15 months. We de-junked when we left Tennessee and we still had to do more leaving here. It has taken our packers 3 days to get us out of here. I firmly believe it's because we had no women packers this time. We have always had women to come and pack boxes and obviously men just can't move as fast :) We were hoping to be outta here this morning but the loader decided yesterday he wasn't going to load any of the furniture on the truck so they are here as I type loading up all of our crap. At least I don't have to do it though.

Well, since we are leaving Ogden, we had to eat out at the Utah famous Maddox Ranch House last night. We went with the Budge's and after seeing the way Trisha looked after we left I for sure want no more kids!! She had crap all down both of her sleeves and the back of her sweatshirt by the time we were ready to go. I had forgotten how it is to eat out with small kids. WOW!! Trisha's awesome! I will surely miss her and her family. This has been such a bittersweet transition for us. I have never been so sad to leave a place we call home. I was more than ecstatic to leave Clarksville. We've always been ready to move on when we get orders but this move downright sucks. I have loved living here. We live amongst the simplest and humblest of people. I will definitely miss it....except for the snow. It's is snowing RIGHT NOW! I'm sure we'll miss even the snow once we get to sunny Arizona.

It is very exciting to know that Charles won't be deploying any time soon. When I think of how simple our life is when we live in Arizona I am very thankful. Of course the last time we lived there my oldest was only in the 1st grade. It may not be as simple as it was then but I will have a spouse that will come home every night. Our kids are doing surprisingly well considering they don't want to leave either. I guess moving around is all they really know. They're pretty well rounded and have gotten to see quite a bit in their short lives. Cody isn't really bothered by moving other than the fact he is going to miss Adam and Tyler. Josh doesn't really care either. He's pretty sure his life will be fine and dandy as long as Mom and Dad are there to take care of everything. Charlie and Ryan are older and have good friends they will miss. I have a good friend I will miss too and it does suck. For as long as I can remember I have always hated to say goodbye. Luckily my kids don't seem to have inherited this trait. Of course Charles doesn't have that gene. They all have penises and I don't think people with those have that gene! Charles has never had a hard time saying goodbye unless he is leaving his family behind.

Well I have been thinking of what I will miss in Utah and I am going to compile a list.....
Having the school, where all 4 of my kids go, at my back door!
Being within walking distance to church.
LAGOON!
The beautiful mountains
My cute little, simple house
4 seasons
My good friends, the Budge's
All the fun things there is to do around here.
The Quilted Bear
The health food store
Having a distribution center 5 miles away
A temple ever closer
Matt and Jade
Scouting program

Man, Utahns have it nice.

whatever you like.....

I really wanted to sleep in today but didn't get to. We had a humanitarian project at 9. I was going to go unshowered and in gym clothes but quickly realized I had forgotten to get the tables out and ready to go for the event. I dropped Josh and Cody off at Trisha's and walked in the freezingness to the church. It was good though. We got it done quickly and got home way before we were scheduled to. Charles and the big kids got home from their cold camp out and got the car washed up super nice.Well, Charles did that all by himself. I was impressed with how nice it looked and super glad that it got clean and I didn't have to do it. I wasn't fond of that job while Charles was gone. We got our little Utah house rented and it is a relief to know that someone will take care of it while we're gone. The day was good! I am very ready to be packed up and have all the overwhelm-ness over!

This post has now moved into Sunday. I had to stop writing last night to watch 48 Hours mystery with Charles. He was tired and wanted to go to sleep and since it's our tradition to watch it together I had to abandon blogging! Today was a sad day at church. I have never been sad to leave a ward until now. This has been such a great place to live. It's convenient to everything and my work load was downsized while we were here. I have forgotten what it's like to have to drive kids to school and drive them to scouts or anything having to do with church. Everyone around here is simple and doesn't have a desire to keep up with their neighbors. I am very sad to leave but I did get a super cute apron from Sis. Linda Marsh today, since I'm leaving and all! I also had to surprisingly bear my testimony in RS! I had to do my 2 worst things in one standing....speaking in front of others and saying good bye. I HATE saying good bye.

Our house is a mess and I still need to separate the crap we will be taking with us. Packers come tomorrow and I still can't wrap my brain around the fact that I will be an Arizona resident, once again, by week's end. I am just glad that our family is whole again and I have help and a few other perks with having Charles home :) There is light at the end of the tunnel now and for that I'm grateful. I wouldn't trade any of my experiences for anything.

Here we go.....

Today was a much better day and things seemed to run a little smoother. Charles has gotten a little motivation bug and it has worn off on me just a teeny bit. He's been clearing out files and sorting through all of his junk. He has way more than me. He's a little clutter bug and it makes me nuts. That is one thing about moving....you get all your junk cleaned out every few years. I have no problems throwing things away. I do not like clutter or mess. I do not understand that hoarding disease people have. It makes absolutely no sense whatsoever to me. I just wish this move could hurry up and be done. I guess it will happen soon enough. I need to remember I would rather be doing this than sending Charles off to Iraq again.

I had to go with the RS president tonight to do a food order. Now I'm not judging....well maybe a little...but if I had to humble myself and ask the bishop for assistance I would not be asking for all the luxuries the storehouse has to offer. I mean give me some beans and rice and call it good. There is no way I would have the balls to ask for hot cocoa and granola. I mean maybe that's just me but that's how I feel about that. I guess I have an opinion for everything, huh? We're all entitled to one!

Still no gym today but I did shower this morning! I have pretty much come to grips with the fact that I will be an exercise-less slob until at least the end of February. I have too much on my mind and since I don't LOVE exercising it wasn't hard to decide to give it a break for a while.

This post was abandoned last night shortly after I started. I had to go with Trisha to our Wednesday night Kirt's ritual. I am not a quitter so I will do that till I leave.

PPPPBBBHHHHHHHH..........

Have I ever stated how much I hate to move? I really do. It makes me depressed. I always try to get excited about a new adventure but the last week before we move I get into a deep, dark, unmotivated depression. It always turns out fine once we get to where we're going and get settled. It's just the actual process of moving and sorting through junk and thinking of saying goodbye to good friends. We start completely over every 3-5 years. New schools, new house, new ward, new town, new everything. Every time, I start getting a little crazy about a week before a move. It's a lot to take in. Oh yeah, and we still have no idea what is going to happen to our house :) I don't understand why I'm so nuts right now...hmmmm! Since I'm a little on edge lately my kids make me a little more nuts than usual. Today I wanted to squeeze Cody until his eyes popped out, like on the cartoons. I guess they are probably a little on edge too.

Other than bake and cook and eat, I haven't been motivated to do much of anything else. I haven't gone to the gym in 2 days and I think I may gnaw my left arm off. I haven't even showered before 9:30, p.m. that is, in the last 2 days. What the heck is wrong with me? I've got so much that needs to be done by Monday. And if I read one more blog about how someone has mooched off of their parents I will smash my head through the computer screen. That makes me insane. Move out people and pay your own dang bills. Don't ya think, let's say, past 23 is too damn old to be living with mom and dad. I won't go into that since I ranted about that last night. But good, sweet crap people, GO!

This weekend is the big, scout klondike derby. It's where all the scouts and their dads camp in snow caves. Charlie and Matt did it last year and had a blast! This year Charles is taking Ryan and Charlie and Matt is joining them again. Not that I don't love my husband dearly, but I have been around that man 24/7 for 2 months. I am ready for him to go to work! I am so ready to get back into a routine and get into my regular life. This is what makes me nuts about moving. The thing is, the misery isn't even over once you get to the new assignment. You still have to register kids for school, get medical records transferred, find a new dentist, unpack your house, stay in a hotel for who knows how long and various other things that are a giant pain in the butt. I know, I know, it could be sooooo much worse. I shouldn't be complaining so dang much but it is just so completely overwhelming. I wanna bawl my eyes out RIGHT NOW! A good, big sob like Holly Hunter in Broadcast News. Sit on my bed and sob and then I would be okay. I think. Hopefully this time next month my life will be calm and I will be in a routine and all these feelings will be a distant memory. Ya think?

LiFe

I've been thinking a lot lately about the life I have had for the last 14 years. Charles and I married soon after I graduated high school. We met and started dating my 11th grade year. He was a mighty fine looking senior. He wore those giant, preppy glasses and had that hair with the long bangs and the short sides and back. Remember that? He did have a nice pair of gams though! Anyway, back to the story.....we moved to Arizona in August of '95 and have been on our own ever since. We've never lived off of anyone and have always supported ourselves. It's never been an option for us to live with parents and have them support us. I am so grateful for this because I know that is why we have such a close relationship today. We had to struggle together and we've learned life's lessons together. We've grown up together. Dang, I love him. Anyway, all of my siblings and Charles' siblings have done it on their own as well. He has sisters that are single parents and struggle as well as my own sister. My sister has a fabulous ability to dig herself out of a bad situation every time she falls into one. Not many people have this. Lately I seem to read about how many young married couples live with their parents. It's like they don't want that struggle so they would rather live with their parents and let them foot the bill instead of going out and struggling together. They miss out on wonderful learning opportunities. I think parents that allow a married couple to come and live with them are doing their grown children a huge injustice. I am much more impressed with someone who has had to struggle and live off of spam and grape kool-aid. What is so impressive about Mommy and Daddy paying for school and giving you and your spouse a place to live? I'm all about saving money but definitely not at someone else's expense. I mean, don't get me wrong, I know bad situations arise in life and family may need to step in and help out but don't glom on and let someone support you forever or until you feel like you're in a great financial situation. Struggle together, it builds character. I love resiliency in a person. It's much more impressive that being a boomerrang adult. I feel happier for someone when they have achieved something big on their own and without the help of mom and dad. Maybe I'm envious that I haven't had someone to step in to rescue us but probably not. I wouldn't trade the great relationship I've have with my husband for all the money in the world. Like I said before, I know we have that bond because of what we've endured on our own with the Lord's help only! Just some thoughts I've been thinkin' :)

Lately I have been enjoying cooking and baking, as I have stated in previous posts. I'm not so sure why I am enjoying this. Normally cooking is so dreadful and I have never really thoroughly enjoyed baking. But for some reason, recently this has been very therapeutic for me. I do enjoy making things my family loves. It is enjoyable for me to watch them love what I make for them. Since we're moving we're down to the bare essentials and I have found thrill in using up food storage and seeing what delicious fare I can come up with. It's quite amazing what can be made out of hardly anything. Now one thing I need is meat. I really should try and get interested in canning. If I knew how to can meat we would have it made food storage wise. I even have a canner and all. Now I just need desire! But we'll see how that comes once Cody gets into all day kindergarten and I have lots of extra time on my hands. I'm a hands on learner so Charles will need to figure out the canner and then show me how.

Well folks I'm a little tired of living in limbo. I feel like I've done this now for about 15 months. I am so ready to be settled and live my own real life again. Now many of you may have no idea what that feels like cuz you're not a nomad waiting for the next assignment. Dadgum! But indeed I am grateful for ALL of my experiences. The good and the crappy, it makes me who I am!

April 1, 1977 :)

Ok, this post is going to be one of the ones where I seem like a happy, perfect person. Today has been a great day for me. I know there are people out there thinking how can I think I have such a great life. We move around like nomads and uproot our lives every few years and move to new places and have no idea how things will work out. Here's the deal, things ALWAYS work out for my family. We move around never knowing what we're going to get or how things will end up but we have never been disappointed. I have met so many good friends and developed great relationships in my army wife life. I have a friend from every place I have ever been that I continue to keep in touch with. I really do have a good life and have a ton to be thankful for. I am so glad we moved here and for the people we've met here. There are tons of older people here that have been great examples of how parents and grandparents should be. I truly am blessed beyond belief X 5! Ok people that last line is an inside joke for my sister! I would never make that statement seriously. I can't be all sappy without some humor, I just can't do it!

Anyway, has anyone noticed how there has been all this news about how fat Jessica Simpson is? This has even been on the Fox news website. I mean seriously, is this really news? I know there are some that will read this and think about how much time is wasted by watching the news and blah , blah , blah. It's something I have been thinking about and it makes me wonder how many women out there are at least that size. I think she looks pretty darn good. Now, I'm not a fan of Jessica but it is nice to see a woman that doesn't look like a 12 year old boy with boobs that look like they've been molded out of clay. I guess it's not important anyway.

I have good kids. I really do. I know I talk a lot about how much they bug me, which they do, but they are great kids. Charlie has my level of tolerance, which isn't very high but he tries so hard to always do the right thing. Ryan is all play and no work. Josh hates to be picked on and cries a lot but is super sweet and nice to everyone, except for Ryan. Cody just slides through life on his good looks. He's about like Ryan with the all play and no work. I love 'em. They do good for kids that have to experience change often. Of course we choose to be who we are. I don't like it when people use their upbringing as an excuse of why they are no accounts. It doesn't matter our circumstances. We have the opportunity to be whatever we want inspite of where we came from. So don't make excuses. You know the saying "excuses are like buttholes....everyone has one and they all stink" or is it opinions.....hmmm....I guess it could work either way. Some excuses are good enough I guess. Anyway, that's all with that tangent.

So April 1, 1977 is my birthday! I'll be 32 this year and I can't believe it. I am completely old and uncool in the eyes of Charlie and Ryan but not to Charles!