We loved staying with my parents and I'm very thankful that we could stay with them! Nathaniel was gone the whole time, except the last week of our stay. He finished OTS (I might blog about that later) and we were able to spend Christmas together!
Once our two months in AZ were up we flew to Alaska. We're very happy to be home!! It's true that home isn't quite the same...many of our friends have left (or don't have kids, work full time, ect.) and I find myself (and my babies) lacking friendships like we had in Clovis. Caden would get to see his best bud every day. Sometimes twice a day. Now we're just hanging out together until we find some play mates. We've met up with old friends once or twice but it's not the same as having all your friends literally right down the street from you. We're very thankful to be near family again though! Caden and Isla are loving having Gigi and Pop around. Isla can't get enough of Uncle John! And Caden really loves when Uncle Tanner and Vivian come over! Nathaniel's leaving for tech school soon but I'm taking classes through Wayland so I need childcare for several weeks. I'm so, so thankful that Nathaniel's family is here and can help me out with that!
We're all settled into our house on base now. Everything's unpacked and squared away. It's a cute little house! I love this place. We bought some new furniture for Caden and Isla's rooms and some new couches. We have an "Arctic rec room" but I just call it a loft and we put the gross, old, child-destroyed couches up there (where they can hide in their shame) and the new ones downstairs!
Caden and Isla are doing well. Caden asks me when we're going back to Clovis almost every day. He'll ask when he can see his best friend again and when we're going to Mimi's house again. He misses his grandparents too. It's hard on kids to move. And it's hard on me because I hate seeing him upset and I know that this is just the beginning. I've spent my entire life in his shoes so I know exactly how he feels. It was always difficult for me, being a military kid, but I feel like it's harder being the mom. I have to deal with my own emotions on top of supporting Nathaniel in everything that he does and helping Caden get through emotions that he doesn't understand. On top of Isla just hitting the dreaded twos and unpacking and getting used to Alaska again and starting school again...the military provides a good life but it's a hard life. It's good but sometimes it's hard. It's what we chose, it's what we want, it's what we're happy with. But it's hard sometimes. I'm not complaining though! It's a choice he and I made together and a choice I'd never go back on.
Anyway, the sun is starting to stay up longer and we're looking forward to summer so much!! My parents are coming for a visit and Nathaniel's whole family will be back up here. We have lots of things planned for the long summer days :) we've been getting out as often as we can doing "Alaskan" things. We know how quickly times goes by and don't want to waste three years doing nothing. So we're doing everything! We've done a couple mini hikes, watched the ceremonial starts of the Irondog and Iditarod, Zoolights, wildlife center, among other things! We've spent a lot of time freezing our butts off outside haha but it's worth it! We're having a blast :)
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