We are in the Process of Moving....

We are in the process of moving and going on vacation. The movers came to our house last week and packed up all of our belongings and loaded them into a huge moving truck, which both boys were fascinated with! (Once we have checked into our new home in Charleston our things will be delivered there.) It was also the most efficient packing and moving process yet, exceptionally smooth in fact, that I fear the rest of our future packers may only disappoint us! Then we spent our last few days in Norfolk saying goodbye to friends and James checking out of his command here. We stayed in a nice hotel for a few days and James proudly announced to his pre-K class the morning subsequent to our first night at the hotel, "Guys.... I live in a hotel!". It was a bittersweet farewell of course, as we have meet and become friends with several families here in our course of activities and time here in the Hampton Roads area. We will miss you all dearly!

Right now we are in Myrtle Beach visiting with James'parents and Grandparents at his Grandparents' beach house. Thankfully James Sr. and Susan flew down from Alaska (my mother and father-in-law). I'm not sure, for my own sanity, if I could have handled flying to Alaska also during this holiday/move time. This morning we took the boys with James Sr. and Susan to the Myrtle Beach aquarium. We had a great time and both James and Gabriel were obsessed with the stingray touch tank. Son James got a new shirt from the gift shop; I am sure you can guess what happened to the one he wore prior to playing in the tank.

On the 23rd we will fly to WA State for two weeks. We look forward to seeing our family and friends there for a few weeks, taking James to his first Nutcracker ballet in Portland Oregon, and enjoying the SNOW in the Pacific Northwest!

Once our time in WA State expires, on January 7th, we will be flying back to the East Coast and making our very short drive from Myrtle Beach to our new home in the Charleston area. We look forward to James being on shore duty for two years and being able to enjoy our time together mostly as a family there and with friends in the area. Yippee! :)

Our Christmas letters and pictures are only halfway done! If you get one from us in January, I apologize, we are just busy, enjoying family and going through a moving transition. Merry Christmas everyone and remember the reason for the season! :)

Pictures from our adventure to follow once we are settled in Charleston!