Well, we are officially ALMOST moved into our new house. It’s been almost three weeks and we are finally done with unpacking boxes and organizing the mounds of crap that we own. All it takes is moving to make you realize how much stuff you have. I’ve already started a giveaway pile and we have implemented a new house rule: buy one thing, get rid of two. We’ll see how that pans out…

Anyway, all we have left to do is paint the kids’ rooms and hang curtains and a few decor pieces. This move was rough, I’m not going to lie. My mom came the first three days to help with the kids while Logan and I unpacked, but three days was not enough. Unpacking with kids is IMPOSSIBLE! I’ve already decided that for our next move, the kids will be getting shipped off to Grandma or KiKi’s house for a week or two while Logan and I unpack. We are both exhausted and there are some days we just didn’t feel like doing a darn thing. On top of that, we had our first blizzard here in which I got to experience the mile long commissary line, and my beloved grandmother passed away.

Logan is back to work now and I am sloooowly trying to find a routine for me and the kids. Before all of this craziness ensued, we were able to spend the month of December and the first week of January in Florida visiting my mother and sister. It was our little pit stop before the big move and I’m so glad we were able to do it. My mother rolled out the red carpet for us and we thoroughly enjoyed our time there.

First up was Jacksonville. The kids and I flew in there together while Logan stayed back and worked his last few weeks at his job.

The kids and I got to enjoy several Christmas functions with friends including a breakfast with Santa. Easton loved pointing out all the Christmas decorations and deemed his favorite to be my mother’s neighbor who had a blow up Santa in an out house in his front yard. Oh, that boy.

Easton baked many batches of cookies with Grandma and I enjoyed taste testing them. His favorite was obviously the Mickey Mouse shaped one.

One of Easton’s favorite things to do was talk to Grandma on her work phone. We even had Logan call it and surprise him one day. Who needs toys when you’ve got a landline phone?

We enjoyed watching the wildlife out on the lake…

playing with Papa Glenn…

and hanging out inside playing with toys and doing absolutely nothing.

There was many a lazy day for everyone, including Semper.

A week before Christmas, we packed up and drove to Tallahassee to spend a few days with my sister and her family. Logan finished up in California and met us there. And what better way to celebrate than breakfast at Waffle House? Man, I missed those waffles. Does anyone have their recipe??

Next up was a tour of a fire station! I may have had the most fun…

And since Logan was finally in town, we were able to chow down at Mellow Mushroom! (I had strict instructions NOT to eat there until he arrived.)

My sister also set up a limo ride with one of her friends to take us on a tour of the Christmas lights. Talk about the royal treatment! We then all headed back to Jax and celebrated Christmas at my mom’s house. The day after Christmas, Easton got to drive his friend around on his new ride! This is like looking at a snapshot of the future I’m afraid….sigh.

After the Christmas hype settled down, things got back to it’s usual slow pace. The boys enjoyed lots of fishing,

and swinging.

Even Amelia got to go for a ride!

We decided to take a chance and go to the Jacksonville Zoo one rainy Saturday morning and I’m so glad we did. The rain subsided by the time we got there and all the animals were out to greet us! I love this shot I was able to get of a tiger.

The rest of the rainy day was spent snuggled up at home enjoying the rain.

Amelia spent most of the day with her best friend, Miss Thumb.

Someone may have gotten a little cabin fever. We’re not used to this much rain!

For New Years, we celebrated by grilling some ribs and shooting fireworks off the dock. Amelia skipped the ribs and opted for Grandma’s thumb instead.

Our last stop in Jacksonville was to the fort in St. Augustine. I remember taking many field trips here as a child and it was nice to see that it hadn’t changed at all. We got there just in time to hear the cannon go off.

It was so nice getting to spend this time with my family and friends. We miss you all already, but are happy to be in our new home and finally getting settled. Now that we’re on the east coast, I’m sure we’ll be back before too long for another visit.