When you tell other Navy friends that you have been stationed in Lemoore, often times you get a look of shock and pity similar to that if you told them you had an aggressive cancer. I have been determined to go into this with a positive outlook and the mantra to "put myself out there". Greg left the second day we were here in Lemoore so he has actually has never seen the inside of our house. In 2009 and 2010 Greg did a year of work ups and a deployment. A 3 month separation then to me was a breeze. In 2011 we were so blessed to only have Greg leave for 2 week periods sporadically through out the year. I was so spoiled in 2011 that it took me awhile to get back my single mom swagger.
The princesses were ready to move into their new castle
My Mom got married to her 14 year long significant other (GrandBob) on January 2nd. We were so sad to miss the wedding in Northern Virginia. Instead of immediately going on a honeymoon, she decided to come to Lemoore January 6th to help me unpack for 5 days. Then she headed to Utah to help my sister's family with their new baby for a week and a half. She is so selfless and I am still in awe that she put such a joyous occasion of a wedding on the backburner to come into the Valdez disaster moving zone. I get a lot of strength from her. She raised me and my two sibblings by herself for 16 years, I can be a single mom for 3 months. I'm so happy she came because I was wiped out from the stress of the holidays, the move, becoming mammoth pregnant, and Greg leaving. We unpacked about 200 of the 236 boxes while she was here. Ellie was attached to GiGi's hip while she was here and wanted nothing to do with anyone else. We are looking forward to her return in May when Teeny Babe makes his debut.
Presenting my newest nephew Stein Ferdinand Braun. Born on January 11, 2012. Weighing in at 8 lbs, 9 oz and 20.5 inches long. He is just precious and we can't wait to meet him in person. I also cannot believe how incredible my sister Betsy looks after having her 5th baby! I will not be looking this vivacious and camera ready after having Teeny Babe.
This was the most random find from the boxes in our move. What?! Why? Where did they get this?
Our movers were a bit challenged in putting things together. Our table fell apart because they put the wrong screws in it. Our guest bed fell to the ground because they assembled it incorrectly (it fell while my mom was on it too). They didn't set up our washer and dryer. Other minor things are broken too. Unfortunately, Greg has all of our tools in his car in Nevada. We have adapted and are using our fold out tables and the guest bed is on the floor. My neighbor Wade Ashley, was kind enough to come over on one of his last nights with his family before he left for a detachment and set up our washer and dryer. We aren't sweating the small stuff and are thankful that nothing major is broken. The Browns are visiting soon and Matt is saving the day with fixing things.
Mom gave us one of her curio cabinets so we are excited to finally display (possibly use?!) our China for the first time in 5 and a half years. Not pictured here: Duck tape on the side. Ellie, our resident engineer, learned how to open the doors and was climbing into the cabinet. The duck tape gives us time to get to the scene of the crime if she decides to strike again.
Penny's welcome to California gift was a new bed. She is enjoying our big yard, lots of sunny spots, and side walks in our new neighborhood. This is Penny's 6th home in her lifetime.
The girls still managed to have fun in the chaos. Here Ellie was telling us she was checking her map to get around traffic. Side note: I do not make Ellie walk around in a helmet all day. It is now her accessory of choice and will claw you if you try to take it off her.
The girls miss their VA family. Here they are listening to a Charlie Brown Christmas read by their Aunt Jess and Uncle Justin.
Most afternoons we are heading to the park. There are 3 different parks in about a 5 minute walk from us.
It has been a lot of work having the girls close together in age but I am so thankful for it. They really enjoy playing with each other every day and are making their new surroundings much less intimidating for each other.
My life would be so much more difficult and stressful without the Ashley Family living across the street from us. Megan has watched the kids several times while the movers were here, having to sign paperwork, and other time consuming move items. Ava and Emmy are in the same class at preschool so we carpool everyday. Her kids have become the ultimate bribe for my kids to behave during the day so they can play with the Ashley kids in the afternoon.
One of the many meals the Ashleys have made for us since we have moved here
The kids favorite indoor activity right now is dress up. Brenner is such a good sport having all the girls boss him around and dress him up. They are a riot to watch play together.
The radioflyer biker gang!
We are starting to get into the swing of things and develop a new schedule. Here the girls are enthralled with story time at the library. They are up front in the white and pink long sleeved shirts.
This separation from Daddy has really been hard for Ava. Here I found her asleep with the deployment book I made her in 2010. She mostly misses him at night but luckily, Skype has been a savior for us. I truly believe Skype has been the best thing to happen to the military community in the last few years.
Ellie acts like a big girl now but she still sleeps curled up with her butt in the air like she did when she was a baby.
One of the rewards from this week of good behavior for the girls were manicures and pedicures. The girls went to the store and picked out their own colors. Ellie has finally learned to sit still enough for a pedicure to dry. She is so proud of her purple toes and tells everyone she encounters about them.
Every afternoon we have craft time. Today we did stamps and this is the first time that stamps did not end up on the wall! We are slowly becoming a civilized household.
With Ava back in school, Ellie and I have our quality time together again. This is on our morning Penny walk. Its hard to believe I only have a couple more months of mornings of just her and I.
