***

***

Thursday, May 26, 2016

Git 'er done

Less than 3 weeks until we leave the ROK! That's, like, no time at all.

Josh has been working hard to get things arranged for our move.

The time spent between moves is a lot like the time in between your children's births.

As soon as you finish a move, you think to yourself, "I don't ever want to do that again." I mean, you have to use a water bottle instead of toilet paper.
Then, as time goes by, you forget about how painful the experience was. Maybe even begin to entertain thoughts about the "next time."
Then the real work of the next move begins and you wonder how on earth you ended up agreeing to have another baby.

Hang on, I think I mixed up my analogy.

You get my drift though.

We are now in crunch time. We've got orders! This was a process, like it always is.

PCS* advice: TRUST NO ONE.

*Permanent Change of Station

If they say they sent your paperwork along to the next agency, don't believe them. Call to verify.

If they say, "No, you can't travel with your family unless you're taking leave outside of the continental United States along the way," give them the stink eye and ask to see it in writing. When they cannot produce any such thing, proceed to book tickets together.

(I am excited that we can all fly together this time, because I hate flying and I like to share my misery with my husband.)

(Also exciting-- it's not an overnight flight! This is good news for someone like me who cannot sleep even if it is an overnight flight, so why be miserable and tired, when you can simply be miserable?)

PCS advice: DON'T BUY LEGOS FOR YOUR CHILDREN

Because you will wreak havoc on your nails disassembling them. And placing them into ziplock baggies, and taping them into their boxes.
Because if you lose a piece, the set is worthless.
Worthless, I tell you.

So.
We* scheduled the movers for 2 different shipments.
We** sold the car we bought here.
We* booked plane tickets (INC to AZO to SAT***)
We* booked a hotel at the base in San Antonio
We* got on the base housing list

All of these things that we*/we** did required about 500 steps each.

*= Josh
**=Josh, with the assistance of Erin's Facebook account
***= Seoul to Kalamazoo to San Antonio. Our pit stop in Michigan is short because of when Josh needs to report to his next base. Basically enough time for Josh and the kids to recover from their jetlag, and enough time for me to recover 1/3 of the way from my jetlag.

What? I told you I'm a terrible traveler. These things take time.


In other news, we finished school and Alex had her 11th birthday!

Naturally, she received Legos.


She had her friends over to celebrate, and they went bouncing in the trampoline café and then over to the dog café.
No coffee was consumed during these proceedings.






I don't know why that dog is wearing a diaper.


First & Last  Day of school picture comparison. I don't know if their brains grew, but their bodies sure did.



And now I have to get back to watching my husband do all the work to get us moved.

Wednesday, May 11, 2016

The Title is the Hardest Part

Howdy y'all!  (I'm practicing.)

Here's what we've been up to lately.

Baseball. He's so cute!


Everyone wants a turn to be catcher. The best part is when the ball gets past them and they can't find it because all the equipment blocks their view.


Sister cheering on the Cardinals. She looks thrilled to be there, no?

Josh got home a week ago from his really difficult trip to Spain. He was obviously overworked.


He came bearing gifts. Derek was always a Real Madrid fan, and Alex was loyal to Atleti. And just like "our" year in Madrid-- they will be playing each other in the Finals. Súper emocionante! And we will be dressed to represent for the big game.
Which we will not watch, unless it's somehow being shown on Netflix.



A treat after bouncing at the trampoline café. This kiddo will be turning 11 next week!


Found this playground. The slide was spitting kids out like greased lightening. You can see how far Derek rolled by his feet off to the left.



In other news, our time in Korea is rapidly coming to an end. We are hoping to have our rear ends in plane seats 35 days from now. Step 1 to enacting this plan is to have orders (the official paperwork for a military move without which nothing can be accomplished.)

We are currently in Step 0.5-- waiting for orders.

Why yes, astute reader, I do feel that I spend the majority of my life waiting on the Air Force. Thanks for asking.