We have arrived

Since my last blog, life has been CRAZY (and that may be putting it lightly). Our last week in Germany we were busy getting our household goods shipped, the car shipped, and preparing for our flight across the ocean. We are now in Washington State, homeless, living out of 5 suitcases.
We are so thankful for our friends, the Wilson's who made our last week so much more bearable. They let us borrow their car, some toys, a playpen and even had us over for dinner, they were a life saver.
We arrived in Fort Lewis on Sunday, October 25. We had a great flight. Both boys were so well behaved, the 10 hours passed by quickly, and it was a good experience. Once we landed craziness started up again. Kyle was taken by his unit to in-process and I was left with my mom, sister, and father-in-law to get  to Fort Lewis and reconnect with Kyle. I'm thankful we were greeted by familiar faces. Once we got back with Kyle we all went and enjoyed Red Robin, before my mom and sister headed back over the mountain home. They left us my parents car so we would not be totally stranded.
Our first week we ended up staying in what they called the "cabins." They were old, run down, and cold. Cold...maybe because they put the switch to the old furnace within reaching distance of a particular 18 month old who took it upon himself to turn it off. Kyle in-processed and the boys and I sat in the cabin. I was so used to having to drive Kyle around I didn't know what to do with myself, they drive him everywhere here. So strange.
Saturday Kyle took 7 days of leave to get the boys and I over to my parents, spending a $100 a night for a not so great 1950's cabin was not our idea of fun. We are on a waiting list for housing. For us, living on post is our best option. Kyle can't drive, and it will be much more convenient and probably safer for us to be on post. But that means we have to wait a bit. We are currently number 73 of 74 on a waiting list. Monday we should be moved to the top of the list, but it could still be a week or so until we get housing.  So Saturday we took off and went to Post Falls to send the weekend with Kyle's dad and family. Sunday, Kyle, his dad, and brothers went up to Priest Lake to do some hunting; it didn't go well, it was cold, wet, and raining. Laura and I hung out with the little boys at the house.
Monday we headed to my parents. We have pretty much just been chilling, being lazy, and enjoying some family time together before Kyle goes back to Fort Lewis on Friday. He didn't want to waste his leave on the weekend. His dad is going to take him back over Friday then they will come back this way Wednesday night or Thursday morning as Kyle has a four day weekend. Hopefully after that we have a house and all 4 of us can head back to Fort Lewis.
Here is a review of our happenings in pictures.
Getting in some last snuggles on the chair before it is packed up by the movers.

 Gunnar found his old costume and wanted to wear it around. Apparently frogs like chips.

 In an empty house the closet made a great toy.

 Lots of daddy wrestling time in a half empty house.

 Some of us worked harder than others.

 One of the two toys Gunnar had.

 The movers did leave a pretty entertaining piece of equipment. Shh...don't tell them.

 We also finger-painted on the movers boxes.

 Wore daddy's shoes around.

 And someone did a lot of chilling and smiling.

 He gave some cuddles too.

 The first night in Fort Lewis, Gunnar woke up at 2am and I couldn't get him back to sleep (jet-lag) so I threw him in bed with us. I got up at 4:30 to feed Ryker, then heard a big "thud." Gunnar rolled out of the bed and apparently landed on his forehead.

 But he seemed alright, his silly goofy self. Don't they look like trouble???

 The boys ready for Trunk or Treating. Gunnar in his $5 Old Navy Monkey Costume and Ryker in a hand me down that is still a bit large, a Reindeer outfit.

 Sweet Brothers.

 Trunk or Treating with the people at the Warrior Transition Battalion. Kyle has a great new place to be a part of.

 Hmmm...so this is our new duty station. Not to shabby, even if the monkey and reindeer don't look excited!!!

 Pumpkin carving with Kyle's brothers.

 More carving.

 My Halloween skeletons.

 Outside with Uncle Shawn.

 Lots of wrestling at the Pettit house.

 Our Wiener Dog pumpkin.

 Ryker and Grandpa Pettit

 Kyle beating up on Caleb.

 After trick-or-treating. We are all super tired.

 Dividing the loot.

 Our pumpkin lit up outside.

 Gunnar loved his candy bag...and the candy.

 My brother Paul, his baby Zane (who is one year) and Ryker.

 Hanging out at my parents.

 What Gunnar does while mom blogs...I don't think this swing is built for two! Ryker apparently thought it was fun and had a big smile on his face when I went to rescue him.

So...that is the recap on life. Hopefully I can do a better job of keeping up and not have to do so much at once.