Summer Update...

I don't imagine many folks noticed that I was gone for the last ten days or so. :P Anyhow....for those few who might have noticed or those curious about how the house-hunting went earlier this month....here's a little update.

We haven't moved yet. That drama will take place toward the end of July.

I went house-hunting earlier this month and we have a contract on a beautiful home in Crestview, FL. It's a brand new home still under construction...so I'm really excited and more than a tad nervous at the same time. I'm praying for really mild weather there for the next month or so, so construction is not delayed. We can't close on it until it's finished and has earned it's "Certificate of Occupancy" from the county. I've got some pics that I'll post at the end of this thread.

This last absence of mine was due to my hubby and I traveling to Langley AFB in Virginia for Squadron Commanders' School. They have a rather extensive course for the spouses as well...although attendence and participation is strictly voluntary. It was really cool getting to make a trip like that....I had my own set of military orders and the military paid for all our travel and hotel and stuff. It's the first time I ever got to take a trip like that with my hubby (who takes trips ALL the time, all over the world! LOL). We left the kids with relatives and had some much needed and very welcomed alone-time each evening. I wouldn't call it a "vacation" in any sense....but was a nice break from parenting, at least. Now my head is full of a rather intimidating amount of information about all the tasks and responsibilities of being a commander's wife. Scary stuff....but exciting, as well.

Still have the move coming up in late July...and then the Change of Command (big deal ceremony) on Aug 11th...then the kids start school at new schools...and then I run away to Daytona for a few days.... LOL Still much excitement and busy-ness ahead for the summer!

Here's some pictures of our house....it's still quite a mess and has a long way to go. When it's done, the yard will be fully sodded with a very nice lawn and the backyard will be fenced.

5BR, 3Bath, ~2800sqft
http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...Home/front.jpg

Partial view of the living room...looking out toward the back yard. Kitchen on the right...doorway leading to one of the bedrooms with its own attached bath on the left. (Petra is VERY excited about having a room with its own bathroom!)
http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...iving-room.jpg

Kitchen
http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x.../kitchen-1.jpg

More Kitchen
http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x.../kitchen-2.jpg

Granite Countertops and solid oak cabinets. It doesn't show in the pics, but the granite has a beautiful sparkle throughout.
http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...me/counter.jpg

Back yard with HUGE oversized patio. (12 x 28!) When it's finished, it will have a really nice wooden pergola built over it. (If all goes as planned! LOL)
http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...Home/patio.jpg

Anyhow....that's about it for now. I hate being away from the site for such long chunks of time...but sometimes it just can't be helped. A couple more months of chaos for us...and then things should settle back down into a predictable routine where I can devote as much of myself as this site deserves!

Yay! Congrats on the house! Its awesome, and brand new too! Can't wait till your back and settled down!!

That ROCKS Judy!!!! Like I said, I'm gonna miss you in TX :( but I guess I'll haft to share ya with some other BPNetters! LOL

Best of luck with the move!

Congrats Commander's-Wife-To-Be Judy! A-ten HUT! :salute:

It must have been cool to attended those classes with your hubby...and I WANT THOSE COUNTERTOPS! *Droooool*

Oh Judy it looks gorgeous! I bet Petra is excited about her own bathroom. I know at her age I'd have killed to have my own bathroom (sharing a bathroom with your nasty brothers is just...ick! LOL)

I cannot imagine how crazy busy this summer will be for you hon, but I know you have the fortitude to get through it with flying colors. Congrats to Dean on the promotion and to you on becoming a C.O.W. :) You know we'll want pictures from the ceremony when he assumes his command. :salute:

We DO notice when you're gone and we miss you every day!

Congratulations! I'ts so awesome when good things happen to good people :)

I'm intrigued about this school for wives....does it have to do with keeping government secrets or is it more about tea parties>?

That house is gorgeous, and all the best Judy. :)

Congrats on the house it is beautiful :D

Beautiful home~ inside and out!!! It will be so nice when you get all moved in and really make it your own :gj: Wishing you strength!!!!

Huge congrats to your husband and to you for being *such* a supportive wife and mother. It is not easy to keep everything together on the home front while the husband is away and still be able to integrate him when he returns. You do an awesome job Judy :P

As for all of us here on the forum: We miss you and are trying hard to be good in your absence. At times, this is not easy :rolleyes:

We'll be here when you return :D

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Originally Posted by stangs13

Yay! Congrats on the house! Its awesome, and brand new too! Can't wait till your back and settled down!!

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Thanks, Justin! I'll certainly be glad when this summer draws to a close and things settle into some sort of sane routine again!

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Originally Posted by Laooda

That ROCKS Judy!!!! Like I said, I'm gonna miss you in TX :( but I guess I'll haft to share ya with some other BPNetters! LOL

Best of luck with the move!

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Awww Laura! :hug: I don't wanna live in a state that you don't live in. You'll just have to move to Florida! :D (Or at least make it to Daytona..... ~hint hint~ :halohorn: )

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Originally Posted by cassandra

Congrats Commander's-Wife-To-Be Judy! A-ten HUT! :salute:

It must have been cool to attended those classes with your hubby...and I WANT THOSE COUNTERTOPS! *Droooool*

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Hehehe....thanks! Us little ol' wives don't usually get saluted...but it IS cool to walk around the base with hubby in uniform and watch HIM get saluted all the time. :D And I luuuub my new countertops! And all new appliances! I've never....ever....had a brand new dishwasher before! LOL

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Originally Posted by frankykeno

Oh Judy it looks gorgeous! I bet Petra is excited about her own bathroom. I know at her age I'd have killed to have my own bathroom (sharing a bathroom with your nasty brothers is just...ick! LOL)

I cannot imagine how crazy busy this summer will be for you hon, but I know you have the fortitude to get through it with flying colors. Congrats to Dean on the promotion and to you on becoming a C.O.W. :) You know we'll want pictures from the ceremony when he assumes his command. :salute:

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Ohhh yes....little boys (and not-so-little boys!) make for some naaasty bathrooms! Even though it's in her room...I may have to make Petra's bathroom the official "guest bath". :rofl:

I'm sure we'll have lots of pictures....although just the thought of it makes me shudder. I hate being on the wrong end of a camera lens! LOL Guess I better get used to it.

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Originally Posted by fishmommy

We DO notice when you're gone and we miss you every day!

Congratulations! I'ts so awesome when good things happen to good people :)

I'm intrigued about this school for wives....does it have to do with keeping government secrets or is it more about tea parties>?

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Awwwwww! :oops: You're too sweet!!

And the school....'twas neither about keeping secrets nor about tea parties. :giggle: It was lots of briefings by "official" personel in various areas of military life....legal issues...family support services....protocol (about the closest we came to "tea party lessons" LOL)....military medicine....child education....death & mortuary affairs....deployment procedures....etc. And lots of talk with more experienced commander's wives about how they handle the role as well as support their husbands in their very demanding positions and somehow manage to balance out family life and careers of their own.

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Originally Posted by LadyOhh

That house is gorgeous, and all the best Judy. :)

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Thanks, Heather! :hug:

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Originally Posted by Sasquatch Art

Congrats on the house it is beautiful :D

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Thank you! :D I can hardly wait to start decorating it! Never had a brand new house before!