Lions and Coyotes and Bears, OH MY!

When we signed for our new housing, they told us that there was a black bear problem in our neighborhood.

I knew we were living in the moutains, next to a forest.......

I just never even thought of mountain lions or bears. Coyotes we have in Texas, and I never had a problem with them.

I saw a bear on my first day in Alaska while visiting my sister.

Apparently though, the bears are out there a lot.

I went over and introduced myself to my new neighbor. First thing out of her mouth was about the bear problem. She said there was a black bear out in our cul-de-sac every day. The mountain lions were attacking the deer behind our other neighbor's house yesterday. She hasn't seen any coyotes.

When we were dealing with CYS yesterday one of the employees heard where we were living, and she immediately told us about the bear problem.

I love where we live because it isn't so congested or busy, so if a few bears come our way, I can live with that!

It's a Brand New Day

I am now prescribing to my son Junior's philosophy of life. Every morning he wakes up, looks around, and shouts out "It's a brand new day!".

I searched for daycare last night. Some people recommended a nanny, but I am living in a hotel right now.

I signed up for a service my sister uses to find a sitter, but $10-$15 an hour doesn't justify me working. I have a call into a center that the on post daycare recommended. Junior is 3 though, and many daycares are maxed out in that age group, plus he isn't potty trained which elminates most preschools, Potty training is not going too well here in Casa La Quinta.

I can only try though. I left a message for the principal so hopefully he will call back and we can discuss a few options my friend Dave and I came up with last night. If it doesn't work out, then I will move on with plan B.

We are stuffed to the gills here, and are finally finding the time today to move our bikes, the trainer, my tri-gear, my school books, and all the spices that we hand carried, over to the house. Maybe the housekeeper won't faint when she comes in.

I thought we were going to be forced to do laundry today, but I found a bag of clean clothes that I grabbed from my mom's dryer the morning we left. I cringe when I think about spending a $1.25 to wash a load of clothes, and you know that they have the smallest washers possible so that what I can cram into one load at home takes 4-5 loads in a hotel!

We've tried three new restaurants in the past two days, and while they were great, I can't wait to eat at home again!

Please explain the logic to me....

Today we went to stop by to fill out the registration paperwork for the girls, and they let us do Junior while we were there. They called us last Tuesday and said that they had an opening for him. Great!

So as we are filling out the paperwork, they see that he is allergic to eggs. They asked for his paperwork, which we had a copy of the old one, and they said that wasn't good enough. We needed to get a new form filled out, saying what they can substitute for eggs (ie beans, cheese, etc.). Okay, great, so can he still start on Tuesday?

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Why not you ask? Because after they get that paper back they have to send it to the Community Health Nurse, who has THIRTY DAYS to sign it and get it back. Will they save his spot? No, we get put at the bottom of the waiting list.

I was livid. But it's not his fault or mine that he is allergic to eggs. Shoot, we did all this stuff for the last daycare and they still fed him eggs. I called the daycare that he used to go to (since I love them so much) and asked them to fax over the newest dietary requirements for Junior.

Of course since he has been out over a week they have pulled the paper and hopefully filed it.

It was 3 pm on a Friday and she said she wouldn't get to it till Monday, and then she would fax it over. They changed the sheet in November, right before Thanksgiving, so I know that they have a valid one, it's just a matter of whether or not they kept it.

So now I can't get a job at all, because my son is being denied care because he has an allergy.

I really think I could have gone postal. They told me I could go off post and probably find something immediately. That's looking better and better, but I remember last time I investigated daycares at Hood that were located off post, and there were incidents at every single one.

I don't know what to do now. I guess I will just hang out and waste everything that I worked for since there is no way to get Junior in to the doctor till next week sometime (it might be two weeks since it doesn't qualify for a same day appointment) and then the nurse has 30 days to sign off on the form, which puts us after the start of school.

And I guess the icing on the cake is that we went through the whole process, TWICE, of having all of our information and forms sent to Carson by Hood, and now they don't have anything. I didn't even put down that Abs had ADHD because I am sure that would postpone things for months and months.

So even if I get offered a job, from my second interview, I won't be able to take it. Then they jumped all over me about Em and Junior being in a playroom unsupervised. I said I didn't see a problem with it since she was allowed to babysit siblings at home for up to two hours.

......As I am writing this, I got a phone call from the place where I interviewed. I let it go to voicemail and just listened to it. I got the job. Now what.....

Here We Go!

The kids went to sleep last night and Junior slept all night long. Thank goodness! I don't think that Gunner and I could have handled another sleepless night!

The interview went well, but if I got offered the position I would have to start Monday. I don't know if I could do that. Gunner was supposed to leave for school on Monday, but they had a group of them that they delayed. They decided that they needed to get their families in houses and settled before sending them off. Gunner is the schools guy now, so he can reschedule it. Whew.

The new Harry Potter came out today and Em has been all over us trying to get us to go to it.

Abs got her haircut today but won't let my mom take a picture because she wants to surprise me. I bought her a tshirt and a postcard that I need to get out to her.

Travel vouchers have been submitted. Dislocation allowance has been turned in as well. This is the part of PCSing that I love!!!!

Gunner just told me the rules of reception: No drinking. No Hiking. Cannot leave the Colorado Springs city limits. No Sexual Activity. Must wear uniform till 1700.

Sounds like good times. Wonder which rule people break the most?

Checklist

Housing is done.

Household goods will be delivered...a week after we get housing. Thank goodness for hotels!

Medical is done.

Job interview tomorrow.

Clothes for interview found.

Daycare for Junior lined up.

I know where to go register the girls for school and which schools they will be going too, just need to get all their paperwork together.

Looked inside house.

Talked to my friend Dave, and made plans for his visit.

Applied for my teacher certification in Texas. I'm glad to have the letter from my program that it was finally over and done with and I could apply!

Found out I made A's in my two classes this summer!

Still tons to do, and I am hoping we can get it all done in the next two days. I need a vacation!

It's beautiful here and we spent this evening at the pool and hot tub.

Junior did not sleep at all last night and Gunner and I are plain exhausted.

Booked Ab's ticket out to Colorado.

I'm ready for bed....

We're here!

Left this morning and just got to the hotel tonight. The kids were doing so well and we just wanted to get here. We sign for housing on Thursday on base. Yep, on base! So tired, more later...


-- Post From My iPhone

Triathlon #2

I survived! My time wasn't exactly what I wanted it to be, but I did it! My swim was better (first in my age group, woohoo!) and my transitions were faster. Focus on the positives! I hurt my ankle on the run, but nothing too serious, just a little....maybe a lot.....of pain. I'll just rest it and get ready to hit the trails in Colorado!

We are packed and loaded. Colorado or bust!

Housing plans are in the work, things seem to be working out.

Gunner is loving the weather in Colorado although he says it rains almost every evening. I can live with that.

I can't wait to see all my friends (& Gunner too!).

I'm exhausted but setting this to post in the morning when we are hopefully on our way.

Wish me luck!!!

Abs is home!

All three kids are under my mom's roof again, and it's almost 10 pm and no one is sleeping.

Junior has walked out a couple of times, given a fake yawn stretch and told us "That was a great dream".

Abs snuck a flashlight to bed, but since she is in a room with Em, Em of course had to tell. The screaming then started. "No I don't" "Yes you do" "No I don't"....it's like they never left each other's sides.

No one is sleepy except for me I think.

Gunner went to pick up a rotisserie chicken and some tortillas. They were out unfortunately, so no telling what he is dragging home for our late dinner. I just hope it's healthy!

I'm trying to study with a killer headache.

Gunner called me and he hit a deer. Thankfully he is okay, the car is okay, and the deer was little enough so there was no damage to the car. Unfortunately the deer did not make it. My mom had several thousands of dollars worth of damage to her car when she hit a deer, and I remember my friend Peggy having a ton of damage. That's not what we would need right now!

I think I am back to staying here over the summer. I've called tons of places, and we cannot stay in a two bedroom because we have three kids. BHA doesn't cover anything but drug infested, crime infested places. I'm not thrilled with keeping the kids out of school, but what the heck. Stay tuned, I might change my mind tomorrow.

I ran this morning and my foot hurts now. It can't be hurt, I have a triathlon on Sunday!

Two more days of classes....two more days. After grades are posted, they will issue our certificates and we can apply for our license. Not having it is hurting my job search as I can't apply for a license in Colorado till I get my Texas license. No rush, I know there has to be something I am qualified to do!

Gunner is home and dinner is served....

Em is home!!!

I sure missed that smiling face, but alas, she was more excited to see her brother. He saw her across the grass and was off and running for her. He threw his little chubby arms around her neck and didn't want to let go. Emily said her hi, gave a couple of hugs, and then was back with her friends. I'm glad she had such a good time!

They had a dance one night. She said that the rules were if a boy asked you to dance you had to say yes and go. This boy that she had talked to a few times came up about 3 feet away from her, stopped, and couldn't say anything or move or anything. Then he panicked and ran away after about 5 minutes. Poor kid!!! Em said she was kind of sad. My baby is growing up!!!

Abs should be home in a few days. Class ends soon. I am revisiting going to Colorado in July. My friend Jessie told me her school district starts the 4th of August, and I hate for the girls to miss a month of school. I am thinking it might be best to suck it up and go up there. I can do it, it would just be easier not too.

I wish my dad was here all the time, but it is times like this especially that I really miss his advice. He would make it sound so easy and fun, that I would jump in and be off.

I think I can...I think I can...I think I can. I applied at a few more school districts, but I think I am pretty much down to the wire. It would be easier if I was there. I was also thinking about how to use the $6k for military spouses....reading specialist? I'm looking into programs and colleges out there.

It doesn't help that I have a friend out there right now, whose husband is there on business, and I am blown away by how beautiful it is!

I'm still thinking on it....anyone know any good three bedroom apartments in Colorado that have a 3 month lease or less?

It's getting close!

Next week Gunner takes off to Colorado to check things out, sign in, in process, and then head out to school in KY.

I will finish my last week of classes.

Junior has no desire to potty train. Ugh. I think I will just wait till the 13th of July and keep him outside, naked, all day. I'm sure the retirement community we are currently living in will be abuzz with news on "the streaker".

There was this family that lived near us in Houston, and after I was gone, my sister used to call them the nudists because there little boy was always outside naked. I know why now. Those poor, poor, people!

We are headed to the outlaws today to spend the day with them. They wanted to get together on the 4th, but we have to get Em from camp, which is about 4 hours round trip.

Speaking of Em, we got our first letter from her yesterday and she is having the time of her life. I found a picture of her with her counselor on the website today and a cabin picture too. I used to love going to camp, but way back when, it was $240 for two weeks! It's almost double that for one week now at Girl Scout camp, and Pine Cove is $799 a week and is going up to $899 a week next year.

I'm in the wrong business.

I'm still biking almost every day, and swimming every other day. I found a swim meet on post that I am tempted to sign up for, just for the heck of it. I haven't been doing much running outside since it is toooooooo hot.

......the outlaws was fine. My MIL always makes me german potato salad and has wine. Life is good.

Junior finally fell asleep.

I applied for some jobs.

Paid bills.

Turned in forms to get reimbursed for tests I have taken for school.

I've got to get organized, and preferably before my mom gets home with Abs and sees the mound of paperwork that is piled up on her kitchen table.

I can't wait to get Emily tomorrow!!! No phone calls about broken arms this year. Definitely a good thing since we are looking for a return visit with Junior to the ER since he has "lesions" on his side, and we need to get them checked out before daycare kicks him out. Poor kiddo.

Random Thoughts

I have the day off from both classes tomorrow and tons to do. Just when I thought I was close to being done with school work, I have enough to keep me busy tomorrow. I am hoping to crank it out tonight though.

I want to fit in a swim, bike, and run tomorrow. I need the distraction.

We got postcards from Abs in Utah. She's having a good time, and only the last two nights have I had to sing to her over the phone. Poor girl!

I was perusing the website of the camp Em is going to and found this picture. Looks like she is having a great time!

Waiting...

We've made it to Pine Cove....early of course. Even with the emergency stop because Gwen forgot her bathing suit, we are 40 minutes early. I'm always early. If I am not, it means I died or something.

Having breakfast at Cracker Barrel....


-- Post From My iPhone

Good times?

The birthday was a success and Junior is happy again. He is out of the tub and screeching as he runs around naked "Eeek!!! Don't look at me!!!". Sisters teach him wonderful things.

The German food was good, the beer was great.

I of course had to check email while I was there and found this:

June 26, 2009

Week Five To Continue As Planned Dear Camper Families, We know that you have entrusted your child to us, and we take that responsibility very seriously. With that in mind, we want to update you on some recent events that have occurred here at Pine Cove. We want to inform you that we suspended camp a few days early at the Towers Week 4 because of a widespread illness campers had picked up. Some of the campers have been diagnosed with having a common stomach bug and others have tested positive for Type A Influenza. Regarding Novel H1N1 (Swine Flu) we have no confirmed reports at this time from the Department of Public Health Services; however we have had two parents inform us that their child was confirmed by their family physician as testing positive for H1N1. I have had personal follow-up with one of the parents, and he has confirmed that his child is already symptom free and feeling better. Please click here to watch a video of our Medical Director's comments on H1N1. At this time, all camp activities are running as planned for Week 5. To minimize any future incidences we are undertaking an aggressive cleaning and sanitizing routine at all of our camps. This routine includes but is not limited to: - Deep cleaning every cabin and cabin bathroom. This will entail using an EPA approved anti-microbial cleaning product on all floors, countertops, faucets, light switches, door knobs, etc. (Even the thermostats!) - Cleaning and disinfecting the Dining Hall and Kitchen. All carpets at the Towers are being professionally steam cleaned. We are also cleaning all table tops, counters, door knobs, windows, etc with an EPA approved disinfectant. Each hand washing station is being cleaned, including the surface of the soap dispensers and the water knobs. - Cleaning every activity area. This includes disinfecting all ropes equipment (harnesses, carabiners, helmets, etc.), all sporting equipment, all rocks on the climbing wall, all lifejackets, all inflatables, and all saddles and helmets used for horseback riding. - Quarantining staff that present with symptoms in our health clinic and treating them by either our RN or one of our Physicians or Physicians Assistants. For more information on our cleaning efforts, watch our summer staff sanitizing the Towers Camp. If your child has been sick we are asking that you not send them to camp until they are symptom free for at least 24 hours. We do not want to run the risk of spreading illness to others. We will gladly reschedule your child for another week of camp for later this summer. Our deepest desire is to provide a healthy, safe, and fun camp experience for all of our campers. We appreciate you choosing Pine Cove and look forward to sharing the love of Jesus with your family.

So should I be worried? Of course I am germaphobic, but at least Em doesn't bite her nails like Abs. (Side note, does that fingernail polish that tastes bad really exist, and most of all, does it work?) I told her I was sending her with little bottles of sanitizer. I'm not worried about swine flu or anything, just that she misses out on camp if she gets sick.

The camp is great, and during the hurricane last time--boy, do we know how to pick the week to go to camp!--and the broken hand the first day while she was riding horses, Em had the time of her life. So I called my friend to let her know what the deal was, and she got a little panicky, but I assured her that the girls would be fine. Plus, I just spent the rest of today getting last minute things together for camp, so I am glad that they aren't canceling camp!

Tomorrow brings another long workout, my nephew's play, pack for camp, and hopefully I can crank out some homework too!

I'm missing Abs terribly, but Junior more than keeps me on my toes. I was exchanging emails with The Mrs. about boys, and she totally gets it. After he emptied a tube of toothpaste and then dumped a bottle of Hershey's chocolate syrup in a cup to make his own chocolate milk, we were off and running.

I better get a run in tomorrow morning so I can keep in shape to keep up with him!

Hmmmm....

If I stay till the end of August, I think I can fit in two more triathlons after the next one I am doing. Sounds like fun!

I biked 14 miles this morning at the crack of dawn.

We went shopping and got the final things Em needed for camp.

We are going out for German food for Junior's birthday.

Speaking of the birthday boy, he took a long nap and is now even crankier than he was before. Nothing is making him happy. I am hoping when Em gets here that he will be happy again and distracted.

Pictures later of his cupcake cake (it's cute!) and hopefully a happy boy.

Stories about Ab's adventures can be found here.

Happy Birthday

Three years ago....



Today:

Still those same big blue eyes, but a mischievous smile to go along with it. I can't believe he is three! Happy Birthday Junior, we love you!

New Plan

Creating a new plan is exactly why I needed a good mind clearing workout this morning on my bike. (My bike is the weakest of the three sports, so I am trying to work more on that)

Anyway, I started thinking about why I wanted to be in Colorado, and whether or not the kids would really need to be in school. I'm a teacher, if I thought they needed to be in school, I could do something about it. If we stayed here they wouldn't even be starting till the end of August.

Gunner is going to school from mid July till the end of August, so I decided that we are not going to Colorado.

At least not yet.

We will wait till Gunner gets back from Knox, and then he can get a house and we can move out there. He doesn't have to race out there now, and can spend time on leave with the kids. He can stay in the barracks, and we can spend August relaxing.

I wonder if there are any triathlons in August....

I heart PCSing

Not really, right now.

Housing will be available at the end of the summer. Not a problem, we want to live in it and not be bothered with fixing things or being tied down to a house, etc. I love simplicity...sort of.

Gunner leaves less than a week after we get there. He'll be back at the end of the summer. School starts there at the beginning of August, so I feel like I need to be there. Apparently, after teaching for a year, I have learned that I am one of the few people at the "great place" that believes their children should go to school every.single.day. So I could keep them out, but I won't.

School starts here at the end of August. So if we stayed here (don't worry mom, I know there is a 30 day limit) then we would miss the start of school anyway. If we go, do we stay in a hotel for a 6-7 weeks?

I found one that would work, but it wasn't exactly in an area or had reviews that appealed to me. There is a military one that we could do, but they only book for three days at a time and then after our three days, we could renew, but there is a chance that someone of a higher priority would come along and we would have to leave. Move out of a hotel we have been living in with three kids and a husband gone? Not appealing. I guess we could rent an apartment, get no phone or internet (I love my iPhone) and live with the bare necessities for a few months and hope that they let us out of the lease to move on post.

Gunner wants to head out there next week and scout out the situation. Maybe he should wait till I get there on the 15th and then we can look. He has to be there on the 10th, so I guess he could live in the barracks for a few days or so. Wonder if we can all live in the barracks? Surely it would be easy to hide three small children and a spouse?

And how come the Army guest house is $80 a night with no kitchen? At Lewis we stayed there for weeks and it was less than $30 a night and had a kitchen....and a maid!

I'm not too stressed yet, since I aced my test today (I think) and finished my hour long presentation, which wasn't an hour but he said it was great. I had a great workout this morning and have hit the gym every day this week, and I get to sleep in tomorrow.

I'll save the worrying for another day, I have pushups and crunches to do before bed!

Still PCSing

Gunner finally got clearing papers on Friday and we hit the road to spend the weekend with my brother and his family.

Saturday morning my brother and I ran 3 miles on a great track in the Memorial area. Talk about great people watching. Of course I had to pass the skinny husband and wife that were running with their cute (maybe 6 or 7 month old) triplets twice, so I felt kind of blubbery. It's all good.

We swam all afternoon Saturday and had a picnic. Had a neighborhood movie party and my kids tested out the playset my brother built. He assured me that he jumped all over it before turning the girls and Junior loose. Whew.

Spent time with my SIL and their absolutely perfect little baby boy. He's so good!!!

Sunday morning my brother and I swam.

I met up with old friends from my sailing days at Casa Mare, Karen and Kari and their families. We finally experienced guitar hero. I was not good at all, but Em was a pretty good drummer.

We drove home and I studied.

I'm halfway through my class and have been busy preparing my presentation and working on reading our book on poverty. Scary stuff.

Abs leaves tomorrow morning with my mom on her big dinosaur adventure. I can't wait to hear all about it!!! She will go on an excavation, meet with a paleontologist, and lots, lots, more. For my dino-loving daughter, it will be the perfect trip to Utah.

I hit the gym this morning to run, and went out riding tonight. I am trying to cut 10 minutes off of my bike time. Probably a bit ambitious to cut 10 minutes off, but I'll give it 110% trying! It's amazing how dead the streets are in the evening in my mom's retirement community. They must all be inside watching tv and getting ready for bed. I didn't feel like I was going to be run over.

Our stuff has arrived in Colorado, and eventually Gunner will make his way there so that he can find a place for us to stay. We apparently got deposit waivers for water and at our apartment that we lived in for 4 months 6 1/2 years ago. The apartment complex has changed management numerous times, and we never had to pay water, so we are trying to iron out all the details. Gunner got a letter from the apartment complex and we are hoping that it will take care of both problems.

We are enjoying our last few weeks in Texas, and Em will head to Camp PineCove this Sunday. They have military scholarships available, and she had such a great experience last time that we are sure she will this time, and hopefully not break her arm the first day!

Back to the books....

Fun with Velcro

-- Post From My iPhone

Tomorrow?

They assure Gunner that tomorrow he will definitely, without a shadow of a doubt, double pinky promise, that he will have his clearing papers tomorrow.

We can hope!

He's already cleared his unit, housing, and a few other things, so the list of things on his list of things, should be minimal. He can't start leave until the magical clearing papers are found, completed, and he signs out of "The Great Place".

We are living with my mom, which is interesting in itself. She doesn't like noise or chaos, so try keeping three noisy children on their best behavior all the time is a recipe for disaster. Add in my two nephews that my mom is babysitting while their mom is on a business trip, and you have even more chaos. I hate being homeless.

We are going to my brother's house this weekend to get away from it all. He only has one kid, one dog, and 2 cats. It will also be the first time Gunner meets his newest nephew that is now almost a year old. Last deployment it was his son he had to meet. We will also be telling them goodbye until they come to vacation in Colorado and become ski bums with me.

I suck at skiing. We went once in the Alps, and I just never got the hang of it. I now blame it on the fact that I was pregnant with Em and didn't know it! I am determined to learn in CO and get good at it--okay, I will settle for just being able to get down a hill in one piece and off the bunny slopes!

I'm trying to crank out school work left and right, plus train for the triathlon on July 12th.

Gunner went swimming and running with me Tuesday night. It was wonderful!!! Unfortunately, the kids didn't stay in bed, so it won't be happening again. Togetherness must be overrated somewhere, so we will settle for splitting up the workouts till they are grown, it's all good.

I'm off to another fun-filled day of class....