We are really still here!!

Mike and I on the boat for the 4th of July Fireworks

The boys at Sea World
Wow, I know it has been a long time since my last post but I just never seem to have enough time to sit down with no distractions. Well, here it is 2:37am and while everyone else is sleeping, (since I can't seem to) I will update you. We have moved into Fort Walton Beach although not our house. We are living in Michael's Mom's house for the time being. We still have not had our household goods delivered so we are still sleeping on air mattresses (the kids) and Mike and I are on a mattress on the floor. It is really starting to get old but we do what we have to. I thought we had decided what to do about our house here in FWB but Michael has yet again changed his mind. So I think the plan now is to replace all the flooring, have the house repainted inside and then fix the other minor things and move in. Hopefully this can be done in a couple of weeks. I will be over there tomorrow to strip some wallpaper off and then start scraping the popcorn off the ceilings.

The kids start school in just over a week and I feel like a horrible mom when I say this but I can't wait!!! They are going stir crazy right now and need some social action with other kids and a break from me. We have had a good summer I think but a busy one. When we flew into the US, we stayed down south and visited relatives and visited Sea World, the zoo and went on an air boat ride to see alligators. We made it up north here to find our house looking like complete rubbish from the tenants. I am not cut out to be a landlord!!! I don't understand how people don't take care of things.... I won't bore you with the details.. We have been to the Zoo here, we go swimming all the time at our house and we have been to many movies trying to stay busy but man, I sure do miss the prices of the movies on base in England. The prices here are ridiculous!! I am not used to paying so much.

Michael has been busy studying to get re-qualified on the plane. He is done with that so now he is on to studying for Chief. He tests next month. One exciting thing for him is he finally got his Harley. He has wanted one for so long and for one reason or another has never done it. Well, on our last night in England, everything came together and he was able to order one. He is loving it!! He hasn't taken me or the kids out on it yet but he has his safety class next week and then he will have his Motorcycle endorsement on his drivers license and then he will take us for a ride. He needed to get used to it anyway, it has been a long time since he has ridden.

There is nothing else that has been really exciting here, we have only been to the ER once when Dalton tried to cut his thumb off with a brand new cross cut saw!! 7 stitches from that whew hoo!! He now has a really nice scar on his thumb. I think that is a record for us.. I should knock on wood, I know I will be off to the ER tomorrow if I don't. Dawson is not feeling too well himself. He had a 104.1 fever last night and that is probably why I can't sleep. He is in my bed and between worrying that his fever has spiked again and him kicking and laying on me I can't get to sleep.

On a note about me, by some miracle, I have only gained 5 pounds back since leaving England. It has been just over 2 months since I kept track of anything so the fact that it was only 5 pounds is amazing. I have however decided that losing 44 pounds was huge and I was not going to mess up what I worked so hard for. I found a Weight Watchers here in town and I have already lost 3 1/2 of my 5. So I am back on track and ready to get to my goal. I asked Mike when 5 lbs looks and feels like 20? He of course didn't know but my answer is: when you have lost 44 and gained 5 of it back. I will keep you posted on my accomplishments there. I know you are cheering for me Marybeth!!

Well, I will try to post a couple of pictures and then I really should try to go and lay down. It will be a long day tomorrow otherwise! Thanks for looking.

Susan