SO excited!

I think most people are probably pretty unenthusiastic when they find out they have to go to Montgomery, AL for any sort of training.  It’s not exactly a top vacation spot, that’s for sure.  But Mark and I are SOOO excited about going to the States for 2 months TOGETHER!  One of his friends in the squadron just got back from SOS in Montgomery and said that he’d wished he had taken his family with him because they have a lot of free time.  We’re very thankful we decided to spend the money and all go back to the States together.

I’ve been looking at Google maps and it seems as though the apartment we’ll be renting is in a pretty good location.  There’s a big mall 2.5 miles up the road and TONS of restaurants and shopping (Target, Kohl’s, Ann Taylor Loft, etc) all within 6 miles.  PLUS there’s a Hobby Lobby and a Joann’s nearby too.

My parents are coming down to meet Ben in early April and we’re going to take a quick trip down to Mark and my initial stomping grounds – near Destin, FL.  We’re pretty excited to see Abbie by the ocean and to introduce Ben to the beach.  Mark’s parents and grandparents (and possibly other relatives??) are also coming down for a short visit.  And we’re REALLY hoping to see our good friends, Brian and Erika, and their two kids, whom we’ve never met (nor have they met ours).  We haven’t seen them in about 3 years and they were our first military couple friends that we met 6 years ago.  It would be SO great to see them again, and in Florida, no less, (where we met) with our four new additions to our families.  If time allows for it, we might try to head up to Nashville to visit my friend Liz and her family also.

Packing for two months with a 3 month old and an almost 3 year old is no small feat, that’s for sure.  Considering I brought back like 9 bags for just Abbie and I went we moved back to Italy, now we’re adding 2 more people to the mix, but we don’t really get any additional baggage.  Should be interesting…  Luckily a friend that we met while stationed at Vance AFB is sending some baby equipment with her husband, who is going to be at SOS the same time Mark is.  I’m very thankful for that because I was going to have to buy some stuff for him while we were there so this will save us some money.

Since we’ll only be renting one car, I’ll be without a car most of the time since Mark will use it to get to and from work.  So I’m taking the BOB back with us and I plan on putting that thing to GOOD use while we’re there.  I really want to lose quick a few pounds, and I figure walking (maybe running) will be the best way to do that instead of just sitting in the apartment waiting for Mark to get home.  Although we will have HGTV and the Food Network and Bravo and TLC again so then again, maybe I could easily spend all morning in front of the TV.  Man, I’ve really missed the States!