Quick Update from the Road

Here is a quick update as to our progress... More detailed blogs will follow once we get set up in Vegas.

We left Panama City December 15th - not even an hour outside of PC we took a rock to the windshield and it left a huge star in the window. That night we drove to just North of Montgomery, AL. The next morning we got up VERY early to get to Memphis before noon to meet the window company to have the window fixed - we made it just about the same time as the glass company. Chuck's dad lives in Memphis so we spent the afternoon and night with him and his wife, Tina. The next day, we all got up - including Chuck Sr. and Tina - and got on the road to Pekin, IL. (Grandma Schuck lives there.) After spending two and a half days with her, we got in the car again on December 20th. This time our destination was Lindenhurst, IL, just north of Chicago. Here we spent five days with Chuck's Grandma and Grandpa Dunn, Uncle and Aunt Dunn and their kids, and his mom also flew in from VA for three of the days we were there. We spent Christmas with them. The day after Christmas we packed up again and headed three hours southeast to West Lafayette, IN. Here we spent two and a half days with my brother and his wife, my parents, and our newly acquired "Auntie" Sophie. December 29th found us in the car back to Memphis - where our poor dogs had been kenneled for the whole two weeks we were traveling. (Our other car was there as well.) We spent last night there. Today we started our track WEST to Las Vegas - it's all business now. Since yesterday was a long day, about 8 hours, we only did about five hours in the car today.

The rest of trip looks like this...

Tonight, December 30 - Fort Smith, Arkansas
December 31 - Amarillo, Tex-ass (Yes, we are spending our New Year in Texas!)
January 1 - Albuquerque, New Mexico
January 2 - FLAGSTAFF, ARIZONA - one of our FAV places EVER!!!!
January 3 - The end of the road - LAS VEGAS, NEVADA..........

We take possession of our house on Friday, January 6th and our house hold goods are also delivered that day. My parents may be swinging through Vegas on their way from IN back to Kelso, but that has yet to be determined.

The kids are doing pretty well. Addison was never the concern - she is a great traveler. We were concerned about how Sawyer would do, but he has faired decently so far. He hates his carseat so we are dealing with that, but for a three month old baby, I feel he is doing better than I expected.

I am keeping our progress updated regularly on facebook. But check back soon for an updated post. Happy New Year!

More Pics from Grandparent's Visit

Grandparents Visit

The last week of October, Chuck's Grandma, Grandpa, and Mom came down to Florida to meet Mr. Sawyer. They happened to over lap just a bit with Chuck's sister and her husband so we had the whole crew here for a day. (Well, not even a day - a meal, breakfast.)

They were here for a week. Coming in on the Thursday before Halloween and leaving the Wednesday after. The plan was that we weren't going to do much, but it ended up being a really busy week. It was fun, but busy.

Of course we ate - that family is the definition of foodies. But this time we didn't eat out much - a few times here and there, but for the most part we stayed home. Grandma Edie is a fabulous cook and Charlie has certain things he loves for Grandma to make. I also had her teach me how to make peanut butter fudge - one of my favorite things that she makes. (Probably very dangerous knowing how to make it myself.) I may have gained all the baby weight I had lost back the week they were here...

We took them shopping at our favorite place to shop here - Pier Park. The kids made out like bandits. Mainly cold weather clothes. Living in Florida we don't have many of those in our wardrobe and we are going to need them for our trip North on the way to Vegas.

Halloween was while they were here so Grandma Edie and Grandma Kathie went out trick or treating with us for a bit. Sawyer wasn't interested so they ended up taking him back to the house while Chuck and I took Addie around the neighborhood. Grandpa JIm was nice enough to stay behind and hand out candy to the trick or treaters knocking on our door.

The day before they left, we took Edie to the beach. She had never seen the Gulf of Mexico so obviously, we had to change that. The white powder beach and blue/green water is a must on any visitor's list when they come here. It was a beautiful day - a little breezy but ended up being really wonderful on the beach. Addie decided that getting in the water would be fun and was knee deep in it with her jeans on. It was quite a site - jeans and a winter jacket standing and playing in the water. It was Sawyer's first trip to the beach so of course pictures were in order!

It was a great visit that went so fast. But we will be seeing them again very soon at their house for Christmas.

New House

We are so very excited about the house that we have found for our family in Vegas.

It was a very long frustrating search this time around mainly because we don't know the areas surrounding Vegas that well. We know Aliante and Summerlin are great places to be, but we weren't finding much in either of those places that met our requirements that we could afford. We were found a lot of places, but they were either in a part of town we knew we didn't want to live or they were in a part of town we didn't know much about - which would mean we would have to play the wait and see game.

However, about a month ago a friend of mine that I met during our first year here sent me a facebook message. Heather, my friend, is now stationed at Nellis as well and knew someone who was leaving in January and was looking for someone to rent their home. (Perfect timing.) I got in touch with this family and after a few days of emailing back and forth... we signed a lease! This house is exactly what we were looking for. It is in a GATED community, which was really important to me. The neighborhood has a pool - having access to a pool is a must in the Vegas summers. The neighborhood also has running trails, parks for kids, a splash pad for the littles, and a weight/work out room - I feel like I may never leave our little corner of the world. The house itself is big with three bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, a HUGE kitchen with attached family room, huge loft, fenced in yard. The goodness of the house goes on and on... I haven't been in this exact house, but another friend lives in the same neighborhood and her house is the exact same layout - I have been in that house.

I am so excited and so happy it all worked out. I had started to panic that we would never find what we were looking for. And not only did it workout for us, but it also worked out well for the other family. The timing was right and they never even had to do the work to list the property! I can't wait to get in it, get our stuff in it and start decorating! (I will say I definitely do love to decorate a new house every few years - one of the advantages to moving frequently!)

We move in January 6th. And while I have the address, I will not be posting it on here. If you would like it, please send me a private email at schuckfamily@gmail.com.

This house has plenty of room, so make some airline reservations now... Vegas lodging is free for family and friends!