Ready to go!

Sorry we've been so bad at posting new stories, but a lot has been happening in the last few months!
First, for those of you who didn't know, we are moving to Sitka, Alaska! (Yes, just like from The Proposal.) We are all very excited! Even Sophia, who just turned 3, on Friday, gets excited every time someone asks her where we are moving too. "To AlaaSkuh!" she says with a huge grin on her face! She can even point to it on a map if you show her one!
So after we found out where the Coast Guard was to be stationing us next, the planning begun!
First things first, Lance had to get qualified for the new job he will be taking over once we arrive at the new Air Station, which took him away from us for 5 weeks down to Pensacola, Florida (Lucky!) We got to visit him for a week for Easter weekend which was a blast, aside from the headache of trying to travel by myself with the 2 kids! But it all worked out beautifully...Papa picked us up from the airport in Orlando and we got our first taste of what traveling in the motor home (which we purchased from Papa & Grandma) will be like. Lets just say, it took A LOT longer than expected. You don't really realize how much time you can actually lose going 55-60mph as opposed to 70-75mph!! 10 hours later...we made it to Pensacola for a fun week!
After being back in North Carolina for a few days, I unpacked the bags only to pack them up again to head to Connecticut for a few weeks to spend some much need time with the family! Mom was gracious enough to fly into Norfolk as me and the kids headed north, only to get in the car and head straight back to Connecticut, so she could help me along for yet another 10 hour car ride. Not to mention, she had had surgery on her foot only a few weeks before. Thanks mom! Always good to be home.
We got to celebrate with GG for her SURPRISE! 80th Birthday Party, and even got a visit from Adam (from Florida) and Jack (from Springfield College) for all of about 12 hours!
We did get another quick visit with Lance, because unfortunately his Grandfather passed away. He flew into Boston for a weekend trip so we could go up to New Hampshire to visit his family and attend his funeral.
So, how, you are wondering, am I going to get back to North Carolina? Becky, my sister-in-law, along with her 2 year old daughter Izabella joined us for the car ride! Certainly surprising both Becky and I, all 3 kids did absolutely wonderful!
Back in North Carolina, Papa and Grandma joined us again to help keep an eye on the kids while we started getting ready for the movers to come. Lance and Mimi drove up from Florida together so we could celebrate Sophia's 3rd birthday at The Little Gym. What a great party that was. "Stress Free for parents!" is what they advertised and that is exactly what it was. All I had to do was show up with a cake and we also had some wraps and little sandwiches from chick-fil-a! Sophia was as happy as could be, being the star of the show!

We got one more evening with Lance before he was off again for another course down in Mobile, Alabama. Conveniently the week the movers were to come!
I couldn't help but laugh on the day they arrived because the 4 guys were all gung-ho thinking they were going to get the whole house packed and loaded on the truck in one day. At about 1 o'clock, they decided to "work as hard as they could until 6, and finish up tomorrow by 1 or 2" It took them all day to pack only the garage and the master bedroom. Granted we had the garage stuffed full of all our attic goods and extra clutter we had cleared from around the house during the period of trying to sell the house. So I knew they had their work cut out for them!
The next morning they didn't show up until 11, apparently because of a "mandatory meeting" they had that morning, but really I knew it was because they were hung over from the night before drinking too many margaritas! (Cinco de Mayo). So there was no way they were going to finish by 1 or 2!
They were at the house until 8:30 that night! They head guy was saying "this should have been a 3 day move, 2 days to pack and 1 to load the truck."
15 crates later, the house was all packed up and bound for Alaska!
Lance came home the next night so we spent the weekend trying to organize our things that we had left behind, things that we'll need for the next 3 months. We went to the Hail and Farewell for Air Station Ecity, exactly what I needed after that week! phew! Even more greatful that I got to send the kids home with my in-laws so Lance and I could enjoy the evening with friends, who we will certainly miss! Good times had by all that night!
One final course for Lance. This time he was off to Washington DC, but this time we got to go with him! We left North Carolina that Sunday, Mother's Day, after a nice brunch at Montero's Restaurant. We dropped Becky and Izabella off at the airport, and headed to DC for the week. We got to go to the Reston Zoo which was mostly a petting zoo. Sophia had a great time feeding all the animals!
We spent the week relaxing, playing, visiting friends, and, oh yeah, shopping!! Something I don't normally get here in North Carolina. There was actually a Target less than 5 minutes away! I think I was there every day! And that other little favorite place of mine that I know I was at every day...Dunkin Donuts! I gotta get my fix before I don't see one for 3 years!
Friday was Sophia's 3rd Birthday! I can't believe it! We spent the day, after Lance got out of class, walking around the monuments, then headed down to visit Jim and Grace who took us all out to dinner and for some more shopping for the kids.
We left Saturday afternoon and headed back down to North Carolina. We decided to sleep in the motor home for the first time to see what we were in for. It went pretty well! Both kids slept right through the torrential rain and thunderstorms! I didn't unfortunately! But my wonderful husband let me sleep for a few extra hours in the morning, Thanks honey!!
I know I barely have even mentioned sweet little Brett. He is growing so fast. He just started clapping his hands which is so cute. His hair is finally growing in, and its curly and blond! He's just about ready to walk now, he will be turning one on the 27th!
So that pretty much brings us up to date as far as the beginning of our moving adventure!
Stay tuned for more to come!!