Our new home

is amazing. Email with address, etc to follow. :) Still can't find the camera cord.... :(

Note to self

When you take the kids to Chipotle Grill, buy their drinks before you feed them the spicy food. Otherwise they will sit fanning their mouths while Dad gets in line for the 2nd time--this time behind 10 other people. Well...at least I didn't have him buy my margarita on the first trip.

We have officially made it. We rolled into Kansas City, Kansas yesterday afternoon and were happily splashing in the hotel pool when Bill came back from post this morning. He grinned at me and said, "Are you going to play all day or do you want to come get keys for the house?" We move in tomorrow. Say a prayer that our stuff moves in soon too!

The Drive

Friday--We had our housing inspection at 10 am. I stood outside in the 95 deg heat + humidity waiting to find out the damage. Downstairs medicine cabinet broken. Downstairs carpets need to be replaced at a depreciation of 20% per year we lived there (might fight that one). Linoleum stained from pastels in the art closet. We were limp by the time it was over so we collapsed on the couch of a friend and let her feed us before we left. At 1:30 we were on the road. 3 hours later we had gone 30 miles due to traffic on I-95. Let's just say Virginia was helping us say goodbye.

Saturday--We started in Charlottesville and got all the way to Louisville, narrowly avoiding a repeat of Charles' car sickness from Fri. There is stuff everywhere in both cars and I can't take a picture because I can't find the charger for the camera battery. On the plus side, it's chilly out instead of hot which makes traveling much nicer, and Around the World in 80 Days has been a great book to listen to.

Sunday-Bill's birthday. Found the charger as we drove to 9 am Mass. I'm fairly certain the Mass was valid. To be charitable, I will only mention that the parishoners were VERY friendly, and we managed to leave the church by 11:15. We made it to St. Louis late this afternoon. At dinner we shared a 9" piece of chocolate cake and sang to Bill. He got a card and gift from his parents, some running shirts from my parents, and a card with the bottom of a Holiday Inn pen from us. I'd share the picture of our celebration, but now I have to find the software and the camera cord in the van. I know they're in there somewhere..... Tomorrow, the Arch!

Moving Day

This is it. We have to try to find space in the cars for all the stuff in the hotel, and then we'll head back to post to clear our house. My friend Leslie came over yesterday and did most of the work shampooing the carpets while I painted, vacuumed, and finished packing the last things inside, Bill finished the outside work, and our cleaning lady did her magic. The house is at its best so I pray that we don't have too many charges for damage. I advised Bill that his response to anything the housing people point out is, "That's normal wear and tear for a family of 9."

I don't know where we expect to be tonight. The adventure begins!

Saying Goodbye

This is the hardest past about moving and not something I excel at, but it's time to say goodbye. Bill's dad came down for one last Saturday of lunch and picture taking. As he was about to step into his car, we remembered to have him be the subject of the picture for once, instead of hiding behind the camera.

To all of our friends and family here, we'll miss you!

PCS--the moving list

We are coming to the end of our race--or to the sound of the starting gun depending on how you look at it. Today I'm up early to begin a list of household goods to keep out (or clearly mark) when the movers come. These are the things that we will need immediately when we move into the new house. As you go about your day, if you see something that you use repeatedly and it's not on my list, please tell me!

Hold Baggage
*Hold baggage is the Army's term for the things you send ahead by air when you move overseas. The weight is severely limited compared to the overall weight of your house. Our hold baggage has to fit in our van and car for this move.

Bedrooms
Pillows
Sheets
Blankets
alarm clock

Bathrooms
Shower curtain
bathmats
towels
pool towels?
washcloths

Livingroom/office
school books--pre-packed and marked clearly
laptop
a few kids' dvds
Sharpie markers--for marking moving boxes
book to read
games--Banangrams
audio books for the car

Kitchen
Dish towels
Electric tea kettle
coffee pot
grinder
can opener
measuring cups
measuring spoons
plates
cups
bowls
coffee mugs (2)
cookie sheet
Bose radio
phone
toaster
utensils
oven mitts
trivets
pitcher
plastic ware
trash bags
aluminum foil
plastic bags
wax paper
3 trash cans
big trash can
sharp knife
cutting board
rice pot with lid
Everyday pan with lid
sieve
rubber spatula
cooking spoon
pancake spatula
pasta stirrer
grater
DW soap
dish soap
cooler
cookbooks
apron

Tool kit
duct tape
painter tape
hammer
screwdrivers
Engineer's tool
razor blades
scissors
box cutter

Personal Baggage (1 person)
4 shirts
4 pants
4 shorts
4 undies
1 undershirt
PJs
1-4 socks
Sunday shirt
Sunday pants
Sunday dress
Sunday socks
Sunday shoes
bathing suit
pool towel
goggles
snowsuit
boots
coat
hat
mittens
scarf
sweater/sweatshirt
toiletries
uniforms
pack'n'play
cell phone/charger
ipod/adapter/charger
camera/battery charger
address book
calendar
medical records/birth certificates
budgety stuff
atlas

To do:
cancel library cards
buy blinds for house
paint and fill holes
mow
shampoo carpets

Cleaning supplies
vacuums with bags
broom/dustpan
carpet steamer
rags
paint
paint brushes
laundry baskets
drop cloths
putty

This is a list which I'll use to pack anytime we go out of town or move so I tried to think of a variety of scenarios like trip to sisters' in winter with an indoor pool, door-to-door move, or moving to Hawaii. I'll just cross off what I don't need.