Our New Digs

So we've been in our new place for a couple weeks now, and have had our stuff for a little over a week now. We have been working hard to make it into a home, but we're still bombarded with boxes and stuff that I just don't know where to put. But I'm not complaining too much because we really do like our house... a lot.
It's so nice to be able to say house and not apartment! I love my garage, large laundry room, ample storage, and large living areas. It's completely quiet here, which I appreciate so much. But I must admit that I do NOT love the weather here. It is too hot and humid. Argh! We really aren't spending much time outside unless we're in water.
We've made some good friends, 6 out of the 10 in Eric's program are LDS and all have 2 or more kids. So we're planning to do a co-op preschool, since there's about 5 or 6 kids about the same age. Which will be fun! And we all live in the same little neighborhood.
Life is different on base. You cannot speed at all, there are police around every bend. I have to show ID every time I get back on base. There are these intercoms in the neighborhoods and all over base that warn you about the weather, if it's above 90 degrees or if there's lightning, and at the end of the day a trumpet plays a tune called retreat and then the national anthem plays. You're supposed to salute (if you're military) or put your hand over your heart while it all plays. It is nice to be so close to the grocery store and the food is so cheap. Too bad it closes at 7, so I haven't figured out a good time for me to do my grocery shopping since I want to do it sans kids. Eric is able to come home for lunch every day, which is the best!
We haven't been able to much exploring of the area yet, although we did get a membership at the local children's museum, I know we'll be spending a lot of time there. The kids love it.
We haven't taken pictures but I am always thinking that I should because things are different here. Anyway, I do have a couple that Eric took to show me the area before I came.

This layout is similar to ours, except we only share a wall with our neighbor's garage, the upstairs are separate, so it's not all that similar. ha!
Ignoring all the dead bugs that Eric collected on his drive cross country, this is a view of one of the streets in our neighborhood.
The effects of Katrina are still present. You'll see damaged buildings every now and again. Sometimes there's no building at all, like there's nothing but a sidewalk and a stoop, or nothing but a crumbling brick fireplace, or a road or parking lot that leads to nothing. But overall the area is doing pretty well.
The base is right by the beach. We love seeing the water and sand everyday.
This is the commisary and bx.
This is the bay right behind the big wigs' houses. I've heard that there are alligators in there. This is like a couple blocks from my house. Kinda scared to see one. I had an intense nightmare last night about them.

Anyway, we're just trying to finish getting settled. I spent the most of today making curtains for Henry's room. We're hoping that the blackout liner helps him to sleep past 6.

Last Week

Today marks the beginning of Eric's last week of Officer's Training. (Insert Hallelujah chorus here.) Tomorrow it will be six weeks since we've been together! However, we have been lucky enough to be able to talk every day and have skyped twice in the last two weekends, which was really nice to see each other's faces while talking. The kids really loved being able to see their Daddy, and Eric loved being able to see them being goofy together, Henry walking, and Lillie throwing up... okay maybe not the last one (but he did get to witness that.)
It really seems like it can't possibly have been six weeks, but at the same time, our kids are so different since the last Eric's seen them. Lillie is a completely different kid here. She's so happy when she is outside playing all day, every day, by herself or with cousins. She gets so dirty but has been so much easier to deal with since coming here, I usually don't see her much. I know it will be really hard for her to leave, life on a farm is pretty amazing for a little kid. She has become especially attached to my mom, hands down prefers her to me. But hopefully being able to spend time with her Dad, will compensate somewhat.
Henry is also completely changed. He LOVES being outside as much as Lillie. He loves throwing rocks, swimming in the kiddie pool and jumping on the trampoline. He is walking now and is doing a great job. He also likes to talk in his own language. If you weren't listening closely, you might think that he was speaking English. Very chatty baby, just like Lillie was. He has also become very attached to both my mom and dad. It will be hard for him too but I hope wrestling with Daddy will lessen the blow.
I am so grateful to my parents for letting us invade their lives these past 7-8 weeks. There is no way that I could have done this by myself. I am so indebted to them, seriously, they are saints for doing this. And to all the rest of my family for babysitting or playing with my kids or entertaining me. I have had so much help, THANK YOU. I've loved being here this summer. We've had a lot of fun.
Anyway, there are five days till we see Eric. We get to spend Saturday afternoon together as a family and then we will fly out early Sunday morning to our new home.

Eric has changed too, he's gotten a new wardrobe and a new haircut. Can't wait to see this guy.