We're Here!

**Long detail filled post...for journal purposes and for those family members that are wanting to know all the little details.**

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WE HAVE ARRIVED!

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Well, technically we arrived in Wichita Falls, TX yesterday afternoon, and I'm actually shocked and surprised that I have a chance at this point to already do a post. The AWESOME (layered in heavy sarcasm) EconoLodge I'm at has free high speed internet! Apparently their definition of "high speed" is more like how I would define "fast dial up"...maybe that's a slight exaggeration, but only slightly. I really shouldn't complain, because at least there is even any sort of internet connectivity around. That and the fact that Marty has his lap top down here and has unselfishly offered to leave it with me since he doesn't use it a whole lot and our home computer is in Utah patiently waiting for some kind movers to bring it to us. What a nice guy! He knows I can't go long without my connection to the rest of the world.

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So the trip went a bit like this:

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Drive, drive, drive, pee, eat, look at the beautiful scenery - the kids particularly liked all the cows and horses - drive, drive, drive, sleep...repeat 3 times and you have our drive from Utah to Texas.

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I like to think my kids are pretty much the most well behaved and beautiful children around. They both did really well. I was very happy that there was VERY minimal whining, and that the voices coming from the back were happy little ones. The only real "issue" we had was Brielle's false alarms of "going to poo my pants" type things. We would do whatever it took to stop ASAP for her, didn't need any accidents in the car. Unfortunately she has a habit of confusing poo for gas and would do that on the toilet and go "he, he, oops, I guess it was just a toot." Won't she be SO glad I shared this when she grows up and reads it...if she reads it??

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My dad was a trooper as well, he drove the entire way and I just sat there and did nothing but help my kids and sit. It's been a LONG time since he's traveled with small children, I'm not sure he loved it but he didn't complain. :)

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I had heard that Wichita Falls is a bit of a hole...someone else's words, not mine...and was kind of hoping for the best. I can't jump to conclusions yet as we've been here just barely 24 hours, but if I was held up by a crazy gang of banana wielding monkeys and forced to make a quick judgement, I would have to say I am in agreement. For those in Utah it is a bit West Valley-ish I guess. Probably not the worst place in the world, but a little crowded, busy and a little run down. Although we have decided we kind of think a lot of it is just culture and not necessarily a reflection on the people themselves. I'm sure there's good people everywhere you go. The jury is out on that as we haven't MET any people yet...I will have to get back to that at another time.

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The base is nice, I obviously feel safe on there because, like I told Marty, "they aren't letting crazy bums on there who are going to mug you to get their next meal". Maybe I'm a little dramatic at times...I will accept that.

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Want to know the huge bummer of the trip? I went to get my military ID out of my wallet at our first stop....it's nowhere to be found. I emptied my wallet and purse and checked the car and can't find it. This was the first time on the trip that I was near tears...my hormones are out of control I tell you! I mean it can't be that I was driving further and further from the only place I've ever known as home and I was going to be dropped off by my dad, have to send him home and be in a city I've never been. Then to add that I couldn't get on the base since I didn't have my ID, for some reason my eyes were close to sweating and hormones went off the charts.

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I'm hoping it's at my house - well, I guess OLD house - somewhere and we'll find it when all our stuff finally arrives, but for now I'll have to get a replacement. So, yesterday when we got here Marty had to walk from his barrack to meet us at the visitors center outside the gates and get us a pass to get on. I had to just bite my tongue and quietly say "ok" when they denied me access with my driver's license and Marty's orders, because I felt the tears coming.

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I mean, it's not the best thing to have driven 1100 miles and then be told "sorry, you can't come on the base without a military id" and have no idea how you were going to see your husband or how you were going to DO ANYTHING on the base....especially since I ALREADY HAVE AN ID SOMEWHERE AND JUST SOMEHOW LEFT IT AT HOME!!! I keep ranting, I know, but really I was just so mad at myself for not checking for the ID before heading off on the trip, but I almost NEVER take it out of my wallet and therefore had no reason for thinking it wouldn't be in there.

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So this morning I dropped my dad off at the little airport...I cried a lot. I'm a big baby and my dad has always taken care of everything for me. I like to think me and my dad have a different relationship than he has with the other kids. I was the one still running and jumping in his arms when he got home from work when I was like 12 (I told you, I'm a baby) and have always really depended on my dad....oh dear, here go the waterworks again. It was really hard to realize that we're REALLY on our own now. No family here to lean on or have take care of us, it's us all by ourselves. Nobody that's going to slip me a $20 and say "you go on a little date with your husband".

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Don't worry everyone else I said goodbye to before we left...I cried after saying goodbye to you as well, even if you didn't see the tears, they happened.

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I've cried a lot on and off today...if we're being honest. It seems the smallest thing sets me off: can't find the store we're looking for, can't figure out how to get out of a one way street, kids screaming in the store (can you blame them after 3 days in the car and no sleep?), realizing this is NOTHING like "home" is ingrained in my mind, finding out the "kitchenette" is more like a cupboard, fridge and microwave...no dishes or ANYTHING else and that I've got to somehow sustain me and my children here for at least 10 days with practically nothing. I told Marty I sure hoped he wouldn't regret us coming down after he has been dealing with his pregnant, hormonal, emotional, needy wife for a little while...he just kind of laughed like "yeah, this could get old but I'm not going to say anything mean because you'll cry some more".

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Gosh ranting is nice sometimes! I'm feeling better already!

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Today we went to the BX and got a cheap little GPS to help us try to get used to the city, went up to Burkburnett and found the ward house - which is a full size church. We were glad to see that since when I looked it up on Google before coming it looked like the size of a dentist office. I have concluded that I must not have been looking at the right place. We then went to Ross and got Marty church clothes (I planned ahead really well...except when it comes to Marty's clothes, oops), went to Walmart and got some groceries, grabbed a quick dinner and retired to our "home sweet home - for now" as Brielle called the hotel.

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So for now my little family is sitting in the hotel room, watching the BYU game...together. Really that's the brightest part of this whole experience, we are all together again and will be from now on. I just have to be in this EconoLodge dump - I mean hotel - until the 15th, then we can get in to our apartment. I brought air mattresses, bedding, lawn chairs, towels, paper products, food and LOTS of clothes so even if our stuff won't be here for a while longer we can somewhat get settled in our own apartment and start to feel like things are becoming a little more stable.

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I already miss Utah A LOT. That goes without saying, I never expected this would be an easy transition, so I'm trying to make the best of it...or at least I will, maybe tomorrow. :)

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And just in case our families have forgotten - WE LOVE ALL OF YOU!

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(P.S. Craig - I realized after we left the house last Sunday that we didn't say goodbye to you. I hope you know the girls love you and we will miss you too!)

Moving Plans

Gosh we miss this guy!

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That right there is the biggest reason for my major push to get down to Texas ASAP.

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However now that it is fast approaching I'm starting to feel really nervous and anxious about this next leg in our life's journey.

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More than anything we just want to be back together as a little family, all this time apart is really not a good thing. I mean I guess distance DOES make the heart grow fonder. You realize all the amazing things that you probably were taking for granted before.

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Being back together is like the "honeymoon phase", because it's been so long you just want to do everything you possibly can to be nicer, better, kinder to each other. But besides that, it really isn't a good thing.

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So me and the girls - and my dad, a.k.a. my chauffeur/adult conversation - are heading off for the land of Wichita Falls, Texas on Wednesday. Don't worry if you haven't heard of it...from what I understand you're not missing much (no offense if you have heard of it and happen to like it).

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We will be splitting the L O N G trip in to three days instead of squishing it in to two as to hopefully avoid to much melting down from the children. My dad will then fly back to Utah on Saturday and then it's time for my little family to be together.

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Marty has Saturday, Sunday AND Monday (thanks to the holiday) off that we get to just spend time with each other.

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One of the things I'm most scared of - judge me if you must - is that I've never lived more than about 9 miles from home. That's right...never more than a quick drive to see my family. I spend all sorts of time just hanging out at my parent's house, playing with my sister, seeing family at any time I want. Where am I supposed to go just sit and spend time in Texas?? I'm sure it will be fine though as we adjust. Easy? No.

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So, back to moving plans. The movers can't come to our home in Utah until the 15th of September...so until that we're just going to be on a long vacation living out of suitcases at some temporary housing on base. Sounds like an adventure huh? Thankfully Marty's mom volunteered (a.k.a. was bribed by her son most likely) to be here on the 15th with the movers to make sure things get handled appropriately. Then we wait until they arrive in Texas with our house.

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Yes, we could have waited until after the 15th to head down so we arrived at the same time as our stuff. But I tell you I just don't have it in me. I can't go much longer without seeing Marty. And neither can my girls. We had planned a while back to try and go over labor day, so when we found out that the movers weren't going to be able to be scheduled that soon...I almost had a nervous breakdown. So we're going anyway.

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So that's that. I don't know how to say goodbye to family. I think I'll just pretend that everything is normal and slip out quietly. I don't want it to be harder than it already will be.

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We'll be without internet for a while as we get settled. So, goodbye people!

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Hopefully I will be back in touch with the outside world sooner than later!

Pocket Full of Sunshine

Sometimes a kid who is TOTALLY wearing on every last nerve of yours does something irresistibly funny or cute and totally redeems themselves for the hours of whining and crying and begging that had gone before.

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Enter Brielle - I know some people find it hard to believe that Brielle, of all children, could possibly be anything but sweet and happy. Normally I would agree and her recent attitude problem has been a shock to me as well.

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She REALLY misses her daddy and for the first time in all the time apart from him has really started acting out in every way possible. Crying over nothing, whining constantly about EVERYTHING.

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Today we were driving in the car.

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The end of the song "Pocket Full of Sunshine" by Natasha Bedingfield happened to be on. You know the one? She repeats the same tune over and over singing these lyrics:

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Take me away: A secret place.
A sweet escape: Take me away.
Take me away to better days.
Take me away: A higher place

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I'm not a huge fan of the song, but for some reason just left it playing.

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After the song gets over Brielle asked me, "Does all she do is just yell in that song? Or does she start to sing?"

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I laughed and said "I guess she yells a little huh?"

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Then I hear from Brielle - yelling but still on tune - "Take me away, a secret way, take me away, take me away!"

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TOTALLY REDEEMED!

It's raining, it's pouring

Do you ever feel like when it rains it pours? Maybe you don't...but I sure do. Just when you think "it can't get harder or worse" you are hit with a big ol' slap in the face of harder or worse.

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This doesn't always happen...and I am nearing 6 months pregnant so maybe I'm just an irrational/emotional mess. I'm sure Marty would probably have to go with that reasoning.

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He keeps being like, "Don't fret so much, you're really stressing too much over these things." And I want to be all, "UH, HELLO! I'm stressing too much? I'm freaking trying to get a house all ready to move, keep two kids happy, grow a third child INSIDE my body, figure out preschool, health insurance, apartments, transportation etc. in a place I'VE NEVER BEEN!" And then he's like, "Just get here, things will be easier when you're here, it'll work out." And I actually do feel better...so maybe the irrational/emotional thing isn't that far off.
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Anyway, I got very side tracked there.

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The other night I got the kids to bed and was sitting down to relax. I heard a little bit of a yell/cry come from the girls room and was about to go in and check it out but it didn't continue. I figured it was some sort of bad dream or something and they were back asleep.

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When I decided to go to bed (MUCH later than I should have) I thought I should probably check on the girls before turning in. I switched Claire over to her toddler bed a few days ago - which has gone surprisingly well - and just thought checking on her was wise.

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I went in to their room and the light of the nightlight was just enough to kind of make out shapes. I saw Brielle laying the opposite way on her bed, and looked and could make out Claire's blanket. It looked as though she had scooted down in her bed and maybe covered herself up with the blanket.

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I was about to leave when I thought, you know, I really can't see her head or a leg or anything...maybe I'll look a little closer. I moved a little closer to her bed and still was having a hard time seeing her. I got closer and realized the blanket was pretty flat for supposedly having a child under it.

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I started to worry a little and moved closer. The closer I got the more I realized there wasn't a child in the bed.

WHAT?!

Where was Claire!!??

I frantically searched her bed (since toddler beds are so huge she could have been in there somewhere right?) and looked around the room. I checked on Brielle's bed, under Claire's bed, over by the closet...still nothing.

I knew I hadn't heard Claire come out of her bedroom and was really starting to worry. I flipped on their closet light to get a better view and again checked the same places I already had.

Just when my frantic-ness had just about reached it's peak I turned around towards Brielle's bed and noticed her clothes basket sitting there.

Something was different about the basket.

(Yes, once I found her I couldn't resist taking a picture)

There she was, sitting in the basket fast asleep...the funny thing is she had pulled some of the clothes up as though she thought she was pulling on a blanket.

I still have NO clue what she was doing in there. I don't know if she fell out of her bed, got disoriented and fell in to the basket and then in her tired state decided she couldn't muster up the energy to get out of the basket and gave up.

I don't know if she got out of her bed and tripped in to the basket hitting her head and knocking herself out...hey, you never know!

She was fine the next day...a little grumpy...but wouldn't you be too if you spent a good part of the night sleeping in a basket with a wooden bed post as your pillow?

I'm sorry to continue an already long post but I'm trying to do a little catch up on happenings before I go a while without internet...so bear with me here.

About a week ago (maybe longer, I really can't remember) we had a crazy hail storm here at our house. The girls were in awe at watching the little balls of ice hitting the ground. It was actually pretty big hail stones also. Once it stopped we went out to check out the hail for ourselves. Brielle couldn't believe that little balls of ice had come out of the sky!

They ran around in the rain and played for quite a while after that.

Seeing things through the eyes of a child has been one of the best things about being a parent. It's fun to remember the magic of weather again, as I remember thinking it was amazing when I was young as well.

So...now back to life and the countdown to Texas. I will not continue this post, I will save those details for another day...keep everyone in suspense (the one person who reads my blog that is).

*I discovered Blurb a while ago. I had no idea something so wonderful existed but thanks to it I uploaded my blog from 2007-2008 and have put it in to books! It's such a wonderful thing, I'd been wondering how to do that. But now because of it I find myself wanting to write more details and more often as to keep an even better record of our lives. Just an apology in advance if it seems that I am just rambling on and on about things.*