Happy July 4th!

Well, this is my first blog update since moving to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. The girls and I arrived after a two day drive last Sunday. We arrived before Rich in order to pick out a house on post and have the movers meet me here at the new home. We wanted to do a door to door move and not have our things in storage. It was a long two days in the car especially since Lydia does not like the car at all! She still makes it hard going places locally much less a two day car ride. But, somehow, we pulled into Kansas on time.

We woke up Monday morning and went straight to the housing office. We were offered three sets of keys and then went on a search for a new home. The first home was occupied and had people living there, so that was not an option. Then, we looked at the second and third home. We decided quickly on the third home because it was so close to Lillian's school. I can literally walk her to school in minutes which is GREAT! Lydia will love this too considering how much she doesn't like the car! :)

So, back to housing to start all the paperwork. The movers were already waiting on me and I was going a 100 miles an hour with two kiddos. Not an easy job! We finally made it through all the paperwork and then took the keys to meet the movers at our front door. We arrived and discovered the housing office gave me the wrong keys. So, back to housing...and they couldn't find the keys. I was given the master key and the unloading of boxes began. It lasted all day long and they left at 10:00pm! The girls and I were exhausted, but happy to be in our new home.

We are enjoying the new home and trying to get used to all of our new surroundings. The house has a huge basement and garage! The basement looks empty..we thought we had a lot of extra stuff, but nothing compared to the capacity of this basement. The girls are enjoying their new room and have a HUGE bathroom. It is bigger than ours! How did that work out? But, the boxes are gone, the curtains are hung and the pictures are on the wall. What a relief!

We have enjoyed checking out things to do in Kansas City which is a 30 minute drive. It is hard moving to a new area especially when you love your old home and friends so dearly. Saying good bye to my friends was harder than I expected and I miss them dearly. You guys are so close to my heart and will always be no matter where I go in this world. But, I do miss TX! We will all settle in soon and Rich will start school too. Life will get back to normal.

The girls are doing well and Lillian too is missing her friends. She still talks about going back to TX and she tells me, "Texas is where we belong!" Too cute for a 5 year old and heart breaking too. I know this isn't easy on her and she still talks about going to TX for Veronica's birthday party in July. What a mess!

We did manage to head out to the celebration today at Leavenworth. The girls jumped in a few bounce houses, played at the park and watched a watermelon contest. Rich and Lillian also entered a water balloon toss game and won first place. Lillian won a water gun! She lost the first game, but stuck in there to try it again. It paid off!

It was raining off and on the whole time and then it just started pouring and we had to leave early. It has not stopped raining since we left at 6:00pm and it is disappointing to know Fort Leavenworth still had the fireworks tonight. So, we missed them this year because we assumed the show would be called off due to the weather. They still had them in the pouring down rain and thunder. Oh well, maybe next year! But, it was still a great day and we had a picnic dinner too. So, that is all from the Martin clan for now. I will keep you posted of our life in Kansas! Love you all and Happy July 4th!!

Love,

Julie