We are in!

We got all of our household goods yesterday and it has been a tornado of cardboard and packing paper ever since. Besides finding new places for old things in our house, it has been nice to slow down a little and really absorb everything that has happened recently. 

This past week has been a complete blur! When we were packing up the Norfolk house I was feeling fantastic about the move. Everything was going really smooth, even the movers that came to pack and take away all of our stuff were excellent. But the moment we were taking our last walk around the house I suddenly felt this heaviness in my chest. I was sad. It kind of took me by surprise but I was deeply saddened; not just to move but to leave the home we had made, the friends we love as well as the town we had began our married life in. Norfolk will always hold a special place in my heart. 

Moving is without a doubt one of the hardest parts of this lifestyle. I came to the conclusion a few years ago that in the outside world, it takes about a year to get comfortable in a new city, another year to make friends and another year to really cultivate your relationships. But for us military folk that is just in time to pick up and move again. We have to speed up the process and find our footing a lot sooner then the average person. While it may seem like a sad lifestyle it actually is quite the opposite. In these past 3 years I have made some great friends that I know I will have for years to come, I got to experience a new state and city that I never would have lived in otherwise and finally I got to know myself better too. When you only have a few years in a place, you have to knock down your guard walls and really put yourself out there sometimes. When Hubby was working or deployed and I didn't know anyone yet, I forced myself to get out of the house and go to a dinner with other wives or a meeting or squadron party. I worked some odd jobs, took some interesting classes and even cooked meals for people that I didn't really know yet. How else are you going to meet people?

With one more move under our belt, it is time to start the three year cycle all over again. But the beauty of the Navy is that it is a small, small world. We already know a good group of people that moved down here before us and we get to catch up with all of them! 

So wish us luck on our newest adventure. The Emerald Coast: We are here! 

I LV DC

Hubby and I both love Washington DC. It was one of the first cities I ever left Texas to visit as a teenager and I was completely in awe of the monuments, museums, memorials, and traditions associated with DC. Hubby went to college at G.W. right in the heart of the city. He spent some of the best years of his life there and made some of the most amazing friends. His friends are honestly one of the reasons I fell in love with him. You can always tell a person by the company they keep, and he keeps some fantastic company. Even at our wedding, the best man, Tim, gave his speech and called up all the guys to help. You can't beat that kind of friendship and loyalty.

Oh memories 

So naturally, this past weekend was definitely the most bitter sweet time that we have spent in DC. We were saying bye to honestly some of the best people I have ever met. Especially now that the guys have wives, fiances, girlfriends, and babies that I absolutely adore. It makes saying good bye even harder.

We started with a Birthday/Homecoming/Bon Voyage brunch at Old Ebbitt Grill that was fantastic. If you are ever in DC and hungry for not only delicious food, go there. You will not be disappointed! The gentleman sitting on my right was our 'welcome home' guy Tom. He has been stationed overseas in Japan for the last three years and everyone was so glad to have him back stateside.

Almost the whole gang at brunch 

Hubby and Tim, the Birthday Boy

Sweet victory!

After day drinking...I mean brunch...we moved on down memory lane and headed to the guys' college hang outs: Froggy Bottom Pub and Buffalo Billiards. 

They moved to a new fancy location. No more basement dive bar.

Look! Actual glass cups!  

Not everyone was thrilled about the changes. Sorry Bob. 

I found out I am terrible at shuffle board

I will miss that crazy bunch, but it won't be long until we are all going to meet up again. We have two weddings in the books so far for this year and everyone has invitations. I just can't wait until someone gets sick of  the cold weather and decides they want a beach vacation. I've already starting bribing them with free room & board and a DD if they come to Pensacola! lol. I hope someone takes us up on the offer sooner rather then later. Yall know you're sick of the snow! Come on down to the beach! 

You know you wanna!

The wait is over

We are going to the land of white sand beaches, Blue Angels and Emmitt Smith. We are going to...

Pensacola! 

Yay! Yay! I am so excited! I loved living in Pensacola. We were there when Hubby was in flight school a few years ago and it was a blast and a half. Out of all the possible options for us to go to next, Pensacola reminds me of home the most. 20 minutes to the beach, small town feel and southern hospitality. Not to mention we are 3 hours from New Orleans (Can you say Mardi Gras!?) and a mere 6 hours from our beloved Walt Disney World! 

Ahhh. I am relaxed. I feel like I can breath easy again. Limbo is over. Granted we still have a few major holidays here, it feels nice to just know. No more wondering or worrying about the next step. It is decided and we are thrilled. Now we get to sit back and enjoy the rest of the time we have here in Norfolk. I'm thinking of making a Hampton Roads Bucket List of all the things we haven't done that we need to do before we hit the road. 

:) P. Cola here we almost come!