Last Few Days in America!

The neighbor boys had an awesome farewell party for Cole. They made him cake and picked out balloons for him. It was super sweet. Rather then singing happy birthday to him Or a fare well song- They sang the ABC's!!! They thought happy birthday would confuse him. I miss them already and so does Cole. We look at facebook and I show Cole there pictures! Never a dull moment with four little boys running around.

Do you ever wonder what it looks like to move around the world? Here is a picture of our life packed in bags! It was a crazy Journey. Josh left the first flight out our Appleton and flew into DC. He still had to final out! A minor glitch and poor planning by the Military...But he put on his uniform and took care of the things he needed to Do. Cole and I flew out of Appleton several hours later and landed in Baltimore where Josh met up with us. We took all our bags that you see in this photo and headed to the hotel. I brought Cole Swimming and filled his belly with some food! Josh meet up with a friend that was holding a few of his bags. More luggage to add to the pile! Our hotel room was feeling small! Next morning we loaded our stuff and headed to the Baltimore Airport we flew to Settle! Two Days Down, One More To Go!!!

Running Around!

Now that I had a little time to sit back and think about what all happened this summer I forgot a few things. First off Josh's welcome back party. My family, several neighbors and my Best Friends and her ever so handsome hubby made it to the airport. It was so cool to have all there love and support! We took the party back to my dad's house and enjoyed a few beverages and several brought treats to pass so we snacked the day away!!! It was a good feeling. After several months of counting it down the day was finally here. Josh was back "Home." My neighbors gave us a gift certificate and a party favor! It may be too much information so I'll leave it at that.

We gathered some things and headed to the cottage. Josh, My Dad, and Gregg fished and fished and fished! Apparently there is no fish in my Dad's lake. So don't bother packing the boat up and heading to the cottage. I put in a few hours too! Just like old times. My dad and I headed across the lake and I soaked up some sun. After being out there awhile I had to use the restroom. For those who know the lake there is no spot to pull up on shore! My Dad asked me if I was afraid to go in the boat! (As a kid-you either went in the boat or over the edge and I don't have the right equipment for that) So my Dad hands me the electric battery cover my new porta potty! And he turns around. I have to go so bad at this point it was my only options. I begin to laugh and my dad thinks "wow she really did have to go" because you can hear it running over the edge. But that's where I have to correct him. There were slates in the cover and it was running down the slates and I wissing on my foot. Not a very proud moment but a funny one!

After our trip up north we had several cook outs with my family. One of the several things I miss about being in Wisconsin. Cook outs, Friday Night Fish Fry, and Camp Fires!

We had several things to take care of. Josh needed to be back in DC like I mentioned before and we had two vehicles to sell. Our Audi was on Craigslist in DC and Nova area and sold in a flash. We had so many contact us it was amazing. The first person interested went through and purchased the car. We also attempted putting my LandRover LR3 on Craigslist in Appleton. Not as many people were interested and it ended up Berstrom's purchased my truck. It was hard to let it go. Both vehicles were super good to us. I loved my truck because it was such a comfy ride and had the storage for my pup and stroller and I could still have other people in the car. And when I would drive out and people would pull out in front of me I was never scared! I usually said "Really? I'm surrounded by 5,000lbs of steel you are really going to pull out in front of me" the joys of driving a huge ass vehicle I always felt safe!

I can look back and say things really went smooth. We had friends in DC that let us stay with them. We got see JD our friend that was back in the states for R&R for two weeks and we got to say goodbye to Jeff and David my family and Boss!

At that moment I thought things were crashing around us. A plan never went as planned but we always could see the light at the end of the tunnel! I'm lucky that my dad has his frig stocked with beer and wine and freezer that had yummy margaritas! That helped at times too!!!

We ran around like crazy. Buying last minute things, getting paper work situated, and boxes and bags packed and ready to go!

Next We...

After Josh made it safe and sound back to America- The Land that he loves but just doesn't spend very much time at! We took a vacation with our amazing friends to Jamaica. It was a sort of last horrah with old friends, a little quality time together, and a I'm sorry I missed Christmas, your Birthday and Anniversary Again Trip!!!

We had a lot of fun. I ate so much I truly gained almost 10lbs! Okay eight to exact!!! I wanted to die I was so miserable. And I was sort of Rum Dumb when we got back to the states. Everyday we hung out poolside and spent some time at the swim-up bar! We drank dirty bananas! Richard would call his filthy bananas. April and I couldn't find a drink that we loved. And I would eat desserts at lunch and dinner! Now that's a vacation!!! We had great laughs, some good heart to hearts, and ventured out to some amazing spots. We climbed the water fall, went zip lining, and spent time snorkeling, kayaking, and sailing!!! It was awesome. I just wish it would lasted a little longer.

After several days taking in some tropical drinks it was back to reality. Josh and I went back to DC and prepared for our PCS to Japan. We went and separated boxes in our storage unit. What items would continue to stay in storage and what items would make it to Japan. It was something!!! Boxes Boxes and more Boxes. I have no idea what is coming. Lesson Learned-That's what happens when you are Rum Dumb. So when our items do get here it will feel like Christmas. We haven't seen our stuff in a really long time. We packed up everything September of 2010 when Josh left for his deployment and Cole and I went to Wisconsin. Several things we will see in the next month or so the rest we wont see until 2013!!! Crazy-It's Just Crazy!!!

You thought I lost interest!

We're back up and running. I need to fill you in with the past several months.
First off...Cole and I survived the Wisconsin weather! Yes it's true. We spent a lot of time at the local YMCA. I have a great workout buddy that I left behind but hope to see her and her family in the future.
Grandpa Bob is styling with a new bathroom and some new flooring. Hopefully my Dog isn't tracking up the floor too much but if he is, the new floor is so easy to clean it's ridiculous! What a world of difference.
Cole and I miss GB like crazy. Several nights out of the week Cole will want to call Grandpa Bob. I have to tell him he is sleeping. Which is so true! There is a 14 hours difference! One day ahead. So when Cole is ready to call Bob it's usually around 8-9 o'clock at night here which makes it the crack of dawn there. No one should call that early. But we make the exception once in awhile! Cole will ask GB "are you sleeping???" Gee I wonder!!! And from the sound of Grandpa's voice we know that he was curdle up in bed with his blankets. So they chat a second and Grandpa Bob gets to start his day early and have some coffee and read the paper before the birds are even up.

While Cole and I were surviving Wisconsin. Josh was traveling back from his deployment. I have the pictures of that posted on Facebook. He came home skinny as ever. But with several hot sticks and fish fries we fatted up in no time at all. Once we were a family again our time in Wisconsin flew by. Josh had several things to do back in DC. He had to in-process from his deployment then out-process from his last duty station. It was a tease to see him for a bit and then he had to leave so fast. Cole and I stayed behind in WI. It was too much for all of us to go. First the expense. We would need to buy Cole a ticket because now he's TWO!!! Then the logistics just didn't make sense. Josh had to be in Maryland, DC, and Virgina. Cole and I enjoyed our time with family and friends. Before our next big adventure. Moving to Japan. More to come on that.