Home finally!

Driving into Tallahssee

Our trip to Florida was sooo much FUN! Insanely long car ride with 3 kids, but still we had a blast. We drove into Tallahassee around 7:00 that night and it was really beautiful. Much greener than I expected. I guess when I think of Florida I think of a beach town really flat, with lots of sand and palm trees. But it reminded me more of Georgia or Mississippi. There were the most BEAUTIFUL live oak trees everywhere with moss. We got to the motel and Josh went across the street and got Taco Bell for us and Burger King for the kiddies. And they were quite EXCITED number 1 to just be out of the car, but also because they hardly EVER get to eat fast food and if we do I normally just buy a big thing of chicken nuggets and make them split the fries. But Daddy went all out and let them have kids meals! LOL. So they were happy campers. Isabella kept running around the room saying "Oh mama I love our new home...I love the kitchen!!" (Talking about the mini fridge and the sink next to the bathroom! LOL! Then I had to explain this was just our room for 1 night and that we would look for a 'new' house tomorrow. Anyway we all were so exhausted, we had been on the road since about 9 that morning it was good to just FINALLY be there!

We got up early the next morning to check out some apartments. The first was kind of small and not in the best area. But I didn't want to have a bad attitude so I was trying to keep an open mind even though I was pretty bummed because it was kind of dumpy. We only had two others to see. One we were planning to check out was nearly ALL students. And even though I expected a lot of them to have lots of kids living in them anyway being so close to campus I did want something where there were SOME families. The last thing I wanted was to have to listen to people parting all night and shotgunning beers off the balconies. LOL! The guy told Josh it was over 90% students images up Seminole Ridge came to mind. If you are from you are from Johnson City then you know what I'm talking about.
Anyway the next one was definitely better! Josh was iffy on even going by because it was income restricted. You can only make a certain amount annually to live there. It was REALLY nice. And they showed us a really nice 3 bedroom with 2 bathrooms AND washer and dryer hookups! It had a pool and a really big playground outside. We both felt really good about it. The last was our favorite though.
It was much more space then the other two, same thing 3 beds, 2 bath. And washer and dryer hookups. Which I desperately wanted! Because I do a TON of laundry! The one we looked at was occupied. The girl that showed us unlocked the door then immediately shut it back and smiled and said "Guys, I'm so sorry It's REALLY messy!" We told her it was no big deal because really it isn't I mean we have 3 little kids, neither of us our clean freaks. She said a guy lived there with 2 of his roommates. Anyway, man was it trashed!! LOL! Made me think of Josh's friends apartments back when we were first dating. There were beer cans and dirty clothes and plates ALL over the floor! pizza boxes, and empty bags of popcorn,and empty liquor bottles all in the kitchen and my favorite a gigantic bong as tall as Jackson in the middle of the living room. LOL. I was afraid, for the kids to touch anything. As soon as we walked into the kitchen Jackson says. "I'm hungry!" LOL Isabella said "Mommy this place is REALLY messy.. this IS a boys house!" Even with all that mess, it was really a great place and our favorite out of the 3 we checked out.We just sent in the application so hopefully we should hear something back soon!

Mexico Beach at Sunset.

After we were done house hunting we piled back in the van and drove two more hours to Mexico Beach. It was so beautiful! It was really pretty chilly that day and raining so the kids couldn't swim the first day. But we took them down to the beach anyway and they LOVED it! Especially Jack, he wasn't even two last time we went. The next day was better, it was still pretty windy, but it was warm and sunny and we were out playing in the water most of the day. I hated to leave but I know that two months will fly be and before I know it, it will be moving time!!

Here comes the sun...

Little darling, it's been a long cold lonely winter
Little darling, it feels like years since it's been here
Here comes the sun, here comes the sun
and I say it's all right.-- The Beatles

So much has been going on lately. It's almost too much to take in at once. My sister Anna will be moving with her Josh to Iowa by the end of this month. We are leaving early Monday for Tallahassee we are going to look at apartments Tuesday.... Then we are driving to Mexico Beach. The rates are SUPER CHEAP on this motel I found so... We are going to stay there 3 nights!! I didn't know I was gonna get a vacation out of this trip we were really just planning to go to Tallahassee to look for an apartment. From what I've read there isn't much at Mexico but that's exactly whet we wanted, just a quiet place to enjoy the beach with our family. I'm so excited! I've never even been to Tallahassee actually. I can't wait to see what Jack thinks. He was just 17 months when we went to the beach last time and that was tourist trap crappy Myrtle.

I think the stress of all the change it just wearing me out! I woke up with a migraine yesterday. I haven't had ONE in almost two months which is really good for me. Josh was really sweet about it. I fell back asleep, for two hours and he watched the kiddies. Then I woke up at 1 and still it hadn't let up! So my Mom said she would watch Bella and Jack overnight. Josh drove them over and got me some Advil Migraine which I just started taking a few months ago and so far it really helps!! It was so quiet!! It's just strange to think we will REALLY be on our own,
it's TIME. I can defiantly tell a huge difference in the kids behavior after just spending one night at my Mom's. She pretty much lets them run wild, and they know it's a free for all at Mimi's!! Bella says. "You tell Mimi not to give us candy, and then she gives us even MORE!" Which isn't exactly true but that pretty much sums it up! We are ready to be on our own and have wanted to move for SO long! I think it will really boost my confidence a lot as a Mom to have to do it all myself. If anything my Mom has been way too over involved in the kids lives and it's caused problems. Just because our parenting styles are so COMPLETELY different. And she will also undermined us in front of them which makes Josh livid. But oh well, I know in a few months I'll probably be soooo homesick! But it's time!!! I'm already looking into getting certified as a Doula once we get down there. It's something I wanted for a really long time now. Plus it will put me in touch with other mamas! All good things!!