We'll always be Georgia Peaches, even if we don't live in the state!

As you know, Dusty and I are/were on the move, again! This makes 3 places, 3 towns, and 2 states in the year 2011! The movers came last Tuesday and Wednesday and packed up our stuff and moved us to Raeford, North Carolina (Fort Bragg). They were at our house both Tuesday and Wednesday for hours, but finally got us all packed up. Layla, Paisley and myself were locked up in the guest room while they were moving the stuff. They took the front and side doors off the hinges so we stayed in the guest room with the baby gate up so the girls couldn't get out. Let's just say I got a lot of reading done while stuck in there! And of course, the girls slept most the day, when they weren't whining to get out! After the movers left on Wednesday, Dusty couldn't sign out of work until Saturday, so we stayed with our friends, Amy and Brandon, Wednesday through Saturday morning. Dusty's MCCC (Captain's Career Course) graduation was on Friday morning. He did really well during the 6 month course. He was in the top 20% who make the Commadant's list (an A avergae the entire course). I am so proud of him, and know he definitely earned it. Friday night, we got our last Georgia BBQ fix with our friends Amy and Brandon and also our friend Amanda,who now lives in Birmingham. It was a really sad goodbye leaving them. Amy and Brandon's little girl, who is a little over 2, kept giving us hugs and kisses as we were leaving. Of course, she thought we were coming back. We got up Saturday morning and drove to Dalton to spend time with my family. My mom was out of town on a choir trip, but we hung out with my dad, Grandpa, sister, her husband and my nephew. It was so good to see everyone. We stayed outside most of Saturday in the nice fall weather. We rode the 4wheeler (even Layla and Paisley, and Branton took a ride), walked through the woods, and went out to eat with my dad. That night we babysat Branton while Rachel and Beau (my sister and her husband) had their 10 year high school reunion. Branton is so much fun! He is 15 months old; runs wherever he goes and is just so much fun to be around! Sunday, Dusty and I got up and made the 7.5 hour drive to Fayetteville. We stayed the night in a hotel and Monday morning, got the keys to the house and met the movers and got to work. Dusty and I worked hard most of this week and got everything in place. We had dinner with James, Dusty's good friend from West Point, Monday night. Then James' mother came into town and we had dinner with her and some other guys tonight. We've been busy, but also have had some down time. Tomorrow, Greg, Dusty's other friend from West POint, will be coming into town from Savannah and hanging out with us. Any chance the three of them, and me, can get together, we do. It's rare that they are all in the states together, and within driving distance. Greg is stationed at Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah and James is here at Fort Bragg. We are excited to live in the same town as James, and be only a few hours from Greg! On top of moving, I got a phone call on Friday afternoon for a job offer on post. I did accept it and I will be working at the Child, Youth and School Services as a Program Assistant. I am looking forward to working with children and youth, along with their families, on post. And learning more about what I'll be doing. I don't have a start date yet, but hopefully it will be soon! Thank you for all your love, support and prayers!!! (Pictures to come, hopefully)

Our time in Georgia is coming to an end...

Dusty and I went to North Carolina last weekend to check out the area, and most importantly, find a house. We succeeded in all areas and will be moving next weekend to Fort Bragg. We will be living there for about a year and a half while Dusty is in the Q course. We have been lucky over the last four years and have lived in Georgia the whole time, except for 3 months in Missouri. Our time in Georgia is coming to an end. I have lived in Georgia my whole life, except for the time in Missouri, so it's kinda bittersweet for me to be leaving and moving to NC. I think will we have a great time in NC; I've heard all good things about Fort Bragg, the surrounding towns, and NC as a whole. We are looking forward to the change- a new state, town, house, job, adventures and friends! We will be further away from family, but will be surrounded by good friends and more to come. I will keep you all updated once we are there and settled. Thank you all for your love, prayers and support!

Wild Animal Safari

Dusty, Amy, Brandon, Maddie and myself went to the Wild Animal Safari in Pine Mountain, GA. It was a BLAST!!! If you haven't been, you should go, whether you have small children or not. I know the four of us "grown ups" enjoyed it more than Maddie, who is 2! We rented a van, that would be the snazzy zebra 1992 Dodge Caravan with only bars for windows, and piled in with our cameras, 4 bags of animal food, and wet wipes, and boy was I glad the mom of the group thought to bring wet wipes. Thanks Amy! Dusty volunteered to drive and he was such a good sport about it. He had to drive really slow 1. because of the 5 mph speed limit, 2. there were animals everywhere that would just walk in front of the van and 3. we took endless pictures, which you can see below, sorry! The animals would stick their head through the bars and into the van to get us to feed them! And boy were they hungry! The animals we saw were: an American Alligator (sorry no pics of this- it was at the second part of the park which was a walkabout.); an American Black Bear (also at the walkabout); several American Buffaloes; several Blackbuck Antelopes; Black Mane Lion (caged); 2 Camels (also caged); a Liger (who, besides me and Amy, thought that Napoleon Dynamite made this up?? He didn't, it's real! Don't worry, he too was caged); Capuchin (a little monkey who was caged); Coati/Coatimundi (raccoon- like carnivore, also caged); Elks; Giraffe; several Grevy's Zebras; 3 Kangaroos (caged in the walkabout); Rhinoceros (caged); and lastly a couple Siberian Tigers (caged). Most of the animals were out running around and we could feed from our hands, but not the Zebra's and a couple others- they bite. They also had Cows, Longhorns, Deer, Pot-bellied Pigs and Piglets, Llamas, Emus, Baboon (caged in the walkabout). Funny story and probably the highlight of the trip if you ask everyone but me. I was feeding a Llama and Amy made a comment to be careful because they spit...yup...sure enough, the Llama spit his food out all over me! It went on my chest, neck, face, mouth, yup, pretty disgusting!!! Luckily, or unfortunately, no one was taking a picture at that moment so we have no documentation, but it really did happen. The last picture with me holding the pink t-shirt up that says "I Got Slobbered", that's from the Llama. We just had the best time!!! I recommend everyone going!!!

It's That Time of Year Again...

We have moved! Yes, you read that right. We are no longer in Savannah at Fort Stewart. We have moved to Fort Benning, GA (Columbus)...closer to both Dalton and Memphis! Dusty will start the Captains Career Course May 15. It lasts approximately 6 months. Yes you read that right too...we will only be in Columbus for 6 months before packing up and moving to Fort Bragg, North Carolina (Fayetteville).

I will be between Columbus and Savannah until the middle of June. I am finishing the school year up with my parapro job at the elementary school in Savannah and will visit on the weekends.

We house hunted a couple weeks ago in Columbus for about 5 hours and finally settled on the house we are in. We love it! Since being married, we have lived in a 15X8 in Summerland Key, FL; a duplex on post at Ft. Benning with Greg and James; another duplex on post at Ft. Leonard Wood (Missouri); a townhouse in Pooler, GA; and a 700 square foot apartment in Savannah for 4 months...so needless to say, we are ecstatic to have our OWN house, sharing NO walls with anyone, having our OWN backyard to run around in, throw the ball to the dogs (well just Paisley), sunbathe, and cook out. It has been great! I think we might be getting spoiled!

We moved in on Saturday and worked pretty hard moving in and setting things up with the help of about 4 other couples. I wanted to share the photos of the new house with you. We are really enjoying it!!!

We have already had company! My sister's husband, Beau Bray, and their 9 month old baby Branton, came for a quick visit Wednesday night to Thursday evening. While Beau went to the golf course Thursday morning for his golf lesson, Dusty and I put Branton in the stroller and went for a walk around the park near our house. It's so nice to be close to it. We walked about a mile, then let Branton swing and bounce on the little bouncer things (sorry, I cannot think of what they are really called). We shopped, ate BBQ, had frozen yogurt for dessert, and played in the backyard. We had a really nice visit with them.

Tomorrow, we are heading to the family beach house with Danny and Liz (Dusty's parents) for the weekend. I am currently on spring break and will go back to Savannah on Monday. Dusty starts work on Tuesday. Here are some pictures of the house and Branton. Hope they all fit! Enjoy!!!