Today, I've finally decided that I need to let everyone know how we are doing. We just finished our third week here and things have been....well...interesting.
It is really interesting living on post. We have a pool in our neighborhood we can go to any time we want for free. They mow the lawn for us. They do pest control for us--which is incredibly important! Oh, the bugs!!! The grocery store is not only cheap but tax free and is closed on Monday's (???). Gas prices are at $2.44 right now. They have a park for dogs, a park for horses, 2 Lakes that I know of, and a mini-mall. The schools are run like private schools. The best part.....helicopters fly over our heads all day and if you listen, you can hear them having target practice with their 50-caliber guns. There is also a really cool museum with a bunch of helicopters for Bryson to climb in, a bowling alley, and a theater.
I will start by saying that when the news says there is a heat wave in Alabama and it's really hot...they are NOT KIDDING! The temperature gauge reads 101 Degrees but the heat index because of the high humidity
actually makes it feel like 115 Degrees. And were 
not talking the dry heat of Vegas...which is hot...but you can still walk to your car from your house without getting soaking wet from sweat. Not in Alabama! It's so hot, you cannot breathe! Don't get me wrong! I will take the heat over the snow any day! That is what met us when we stepped off the plane on July 30th.
actually makes it feel like 115 Degrees. And were 
not talking the dry heat of Vegas...which is hot...but you can still walk to your car from your house without getting soaking wet from sweat. Not in Alabama! It's so hot, you cannot breathe! Don't get me wrong! I will take the heat over the snow any day! That is what met us when we stepped off the plane on July 30th. The beach pictures are from Pensacola. We went there for a couple of days with Jack and Lynette before they had to fly out. Very pretty!!!
Now that we've been here for 3 weeks, it has cooled off. Today it was 95 Degrees and felt like 101. I really have noticed a difference. I really like how green everything is out here. Lots and lots of trees....so thick you can't see through them so you feel like you are driving in a green tunnel. There are no freeways down here. Just two-lane highways....that's one lane each way. It's takes awhile to get anywhere. Oh, and the rain! I have never seen rain like this! It will literally be sunny one minute and then pour for the next 10 minutes and then be sunny again. It rains so hard in those ten minutes, you can't see through the rain, my backyard fills with 6 inches of water, and you can get soaked through instantly. Ethan and I were leaving a store when it hit once. I was wet the rest of the day. My hair looked awesome! POOF!!! If you love the smell of rain, move to the south! :<)
It is really interesting living on post. We have a pool in our neighborhood we can go to any time we want for free. They mow the lawn for us. They do pest control for us--which is incredibly important! Oh, the bugs!!! The grocery store is not only cheap but tax free and is closed on Monday's (???). Gas prices are at $2.44 right now. They have a park for dogs, a park for horses, 2 Lakes that I know of, and a mini-mall. The schools are run like private schools. The best part.....helicopters fly over our heads all day and if you listen, you can hear them having target practice with their 50-caliber guns. There is also a really cool museum with a bunch of helicopters for Bryson to climb in, a bowling alley, and a theater.
Justin finally gets to be home a lot. He goes to PT (Army workout time) at 5:45AM, gets home about 7:00AM, reports to his unit at 8:45AM, gets home at 11:00, reports one more time at 1:30 for about 5 minutes and then is home the rest of the day. He will have this schedule for 90 days. It varies sometimes....like today, he went to a training from 7:00-8:15AM and that's all he did today. He is in this "job" while he is waiting for his next class to start which we have been told will be in about 4 months. It is really nice for him to finally be home. For those who know our family really well, you know that Justin hasn't been around much the last few years so it's nice for all of us to have Daddy around!
I am patiently waiting for our household goods to arrive (which should be either Tuesday, Wednesday, or Friday of next week--everyone pray for Tuesday!). I like the ward so far and am meeting some very nice people!
Bryson is going to ALL DAY KINDERGARTEN! BAA!! I was having a hard time sending him to half-day kindergarten with all of this change so when I found out it was all day, I was a little distraught. He started school on the 6th of August (yes, a week after we got here) and he loves it! His teacher is named Miss Condon and she is exactly what a Kindergarten teacher should be--very happy, fun, energetic, and talks to everyone like they're five. I love her! (Oh, Christine, if you are reading this blog...thank you for preparing my son for school! You are a miracle worker and I will be ete
rnally greatful for the wonderful person you are!) Bryson is also making lots and lots of friends. He is meeting so many new kids that he is having a hard time remember all the names! What a good kid he is! He loves everyone and just wants to play.
rnally greatful for the wonderful person you are!) Bryson is also making lots and lots of friends. He is meeting so many new kids that he is having a hard time remember all the names! What a good kid he is! He loves everyone and just wants to play.Ethan is bored. There's just no other way to put it. He has had at least 3 adults and a big brother around to enter
tain him is whole life. Now, he only has Mom and Dad--part time. I think he needs our household goods as much as Mom. He needs things to climb on and play with. But, we are getting pretty good at being silly with him. He is getting really big. He is trying really hard to talk and walk. He wants grown-up food and needs to be included in everything. He also misses his brother like crazy and loves it when he comes home from school. We do have him back on his routine so at least he's sleeping well. He is also getting 3 teeth at the same time. Poor kid!
tain him is whole life. Now, he only has Mom and Dad--part time. I think he needs our household goods as much as Mom. He needs things to climb on and play with. But, we are getting pretty good at being silly with him. He is getting really big. He is trying really hard to talk and walk. He wants grown-up food and needs to be included in everything. He also misses his brother like crazy and loves it when he comes home from school. We do have him back on his routine so at least he's sleeping well. He is also getting 3 teeth at the same time. Poor kid!Well, I think this is plenty long. If any of you have questions or need me to explain anything, let me know. But, for now, I'm headed to bed. Tomorrow we have a primary activity and a Luau at the Lake to go to! Oughta be fun! Love you all and miss you more than you know!!! Enjoy the cute videos at the bottom of this post!
What's a kid to do?!
Look what I can do!!!
Nicole, what a wonderful blog.... so great to hear all the details. Makes us not miss you as much if that is really possible!. When Donna and I moved to Arizona, years ago, our family (donna and I) had to really rely on each other. This all ready looks and sounds as if it has been great for you all. We are so blessed to have you in our family!
ReplyDeleteYou guys are so cute and look like you are doing so well! I love you all! =) (keep up the posts. I love seeing you guys!)
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