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To the beach and back...

Yesterday we hit the beach. In less than an hour, we were sitting on the sands of Tybee Island. $5 for parking, no fee for beach access and the warm waters of the Atlantic...it was awesome!!1 Tybee Island is a beautiful place. It was easy to get to (less than an hour) and pretty empty...going on a weekday was key. The beach was beautiful and the kids had a great time. I'm sure Julia will get some pics up soon. After the beach we went to the Crab Shack (www.thecrabshack.com). What a place! Right on the water, lots of alligators on display (live ones!) outdoors and under big mangrove trees. We then went over to see the Tybee Island Lighthouse which is right next to Fort Screvens...an old coastal defense fort built in the late 1800s. A quick trip for ice cream completed the day and we made it all with out sunburns!

We passed Fort Pulaski, build by General Lee when he was a Lieutenant which Mike will end up spending a lot of time at. Looks like another warm sunny day. Have a great one where you are!

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MySpace Countdown

Now we understand....

...why everyone loves Savannah!!! We took a drive into downtown Savannah the other day and it is just a gorgeous city!! The palm trees and spanish moss creates an unreal atmosphere, especially as you drive down a literal tunnel of trees! The weather has been great so far, just as warm as Kansas but not as bad as we expected. We continue to meet more of our neighbors and should be able to get our pool key today for the neighborhood pool...now that's just cool!

We've got internet and a phone in the house as of this morning. Julia will e-mail out the phone number later today I suspect. I'm waiting for the movers to arrive with our stuff so we can start getting the house put together. The kids continue to enjoy our fenced in yard with the huge swingset and Chloe loves being able to run around outside...so far it is a home run!

We'll try and get pics up once we find Julia's computer amid the approaching wave of boxes!

And we made it!

Well the travelling Sullivans made it to Richmond Hill yesterday. For over 1000 miles of driving, the kids and animals are fantastic! Julia had the three kids and Chloe in the minivan and I had the two cats in my car. We stayed in southern Illinois the first night and in Kennesaw, Georgia (outside of Atlanta) the 2d. We arrived in Richmond Hill around 3 yesterday, picked up the key and Julia finally got to see the new house in person. She loves it! Its a great neighborhood, lots of kids and the house is just perfect. The painters last week did a great job getting the exact colors Julia wanted and the Rainbow play system in the back yard (fenced in back yard mind you!) was an instant hit with the kids! I'm not sure who was happier, the kids with the swingset, Julia with her new house, or Chloe running around in her own fenced in yard. I'm just happy that everyone loves it!

Our stuff comes on Tuesday so we'll stay in a hotel for a few more night but at least its the same one. We'll spend the days getting stuff for the house, setting up and letting the kids play. We're headed up to Savannah today for what I'm sure will be the first of many trips up there!

Thanks to all of Julia's friends who called her during the drive and kept her sane! She by far had the worst car to drive...I only had to listen to hours of meowing! We'll get pics and more posts up in the next few days, especially after we "offically" move in!

Moving Update

Mike on the mike here. Update to our move. All of our stuff is now on a truck somewhere between Kansas and Georgia. Russ, our 75 year old driver, showed up with a truck with about 6000 pounds of another move. Needless to say, not all of our stuff fit in the truck. Most of our outdoor toys and furniture are now strapped outside and on the back of the truck. If you see a North America moving truck with a large green turtle shaped sandbox strapped to the back of our truck, thats ours!

Julia finally took the kids to the Great Wolf Lodge around 5 yesterday after we realized it was going to be a long day of packing the truck. I ended up leaving post around 10 at night. The kids had a great day yesterday and this morning at the lodge, playing in the water park. Both Timmy and Katie had swim vests, making it even easier to enjoy the water! We ended up back on post this afternoon cleaning the now empty (nearly) house while the kids played with their friends outside. We're in the Embassy Suites tonight and tomorrow night. We'll be back to clean again tomorrow then turn in the keys to our Infantry Barracks apartment after nearly 3 long, but great years!!!

I outprocessed SAMS today, and more importantly, got my final copy of my monograph turned in....whew!! Now the wait to see if I was successful in my KSU quest.

We'll keep you posted when we can. By Thursday, the Sullivans with 3 kids, 2 cats and a dog will start the trek southeast to Richmond Hill, Georgia!!!

It's here!

Wow,I can't believe the move is here! The packers got here a little bit ago (or should I say packer?!) Yep you read this right they sent one packer for today but he seems pretty confident and said that it won't be a problem. More power to him and his words to gods ears.
Katie is watching TV right now,Tim is in school as is Daven. Now that it's THE day I'm just sitting here letting it happen. What can I do. Things are going to get there some how- right?! Ask me about the last couple of days though. We were running around like crazy trying to get ready- but as most of you know there is no such thing.Well it's out of my hands from here on- but I guess I should start packing my clothes. Oh wait... they are still in the dryer.
Being a mom is such a weird thing. I got every body's stuff packed and ready but mine of course. It doesn't matter that I might be in my Pj's the whole move because I forgot to pack my things. As long as my family is dressed well :)! I love it!!
I'm in a really good mood and the day I have been waiting for is now here. I'll keep you posted. I can't wait to leave in seven days and get even closer to our new home.

Needless to say...

...that we are really busy right now. I'm trying to get ready for another move and I know that in the end you just can't be ready. Of course going through all the closets and storage bins I find more and more stuff that should have been out at the yard sale but I guess we'll just give it to people in need!

Mike and I are trying to see all of our friends that one last time and it is so hard to say good by again.Here at Ft Leavenworth we had to say good byes so many times and I'm glad that at the next place people are not coming and going every six month (even though sometimes it's not a bad thing).

Right now I'm torn between being sad and excitement. This is the first time that we bought a house and I can't wait to see it (remember- I sent Mike by himself). I'm sure it'll be great and who cares I WILL HAVE A YARD WITH A FENCE!!!!! The kids are excited because we are going to have a rainbow play set installed for the kids which is going to be great.(It's a really sturdy play set that is going to be installed by professionals, so I don't have to constantly worry that the whole thing is going to fall apart. Check the system out at their web-they are huge!!)Can you tell how exciting that is. I might have to play on it ,too.For all our friends and family - come on over and play!!!

I'm going to have a "jet tub" in the master bath and that's where you'll find me. I miss taking a nice hot bath so bad. In our house now the bathtub is so tiny and yuck I just can't do it :)
Mike is looking forward to explore Savannah! Every body we talk to has nice things to say and love it there.

Well, I have to go and get some more things done ,the movers are coming on Thursday. I'll keep you posted!

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I'm still here!!!

Hello everyone!
Yes,we are still at Ft Leavenworth and things are crazy right now. Last Saturday we had our big yard sale and it was as always-awesome!!!! This is by far my favorite day.The weather was great - more on the chilly side but sun all day :). Our friends the Benda's came from Omaha Friday night and had the opportunity to see all this craziness on that day for themselves.
We do have a lot of construction here on post so it took a while for the people to make it to Infantry Barracks (for those who know post-it took me 45 min the other day to get from Hoge barracks back home. Grant is closed :( ) Needless to say that we were exhausted since Mike got up at 5 in the morning and I followed at 6.
Today I had my open house and it was a great turn out. I had about 20 people show up and we had a great time- even though it got quite a bit busy for me at times. Some of my friends even helped me to get ready because I was a little behind. It's all good.
The next couple of weeks are going to be crazy. We have so many plans to see everybody one last time,we still need to paint back the living room,Mike has some things to get done for school, Daven is playing baseball,...! Oh and we need to get ready for the move. If that's at all possible!
I promise when I have time I will put on the latest pictures, not to forget Daven's first communion which was on April 12! I will write more about that next time but let me just tell you that we had a wonderful day!And he looked so handsome :)
It's time to go to bed. Good night

Just a quick update!

Today is Friday and we are having a busy week end ahead of us!
I have 2 shows,we are going to a get together for Mike's work (just the two of us :)) and we have to paint,paint,paint! I always thought the week ends are to relax but it seems never to work that way.
The kids are doing fine,health wise. I think they can feel what is coming up and I pay the price. Katie and Timmy are fighting a lot (could be the age of course) and Timmy seems to be so whiny.
Not really pleasant since I have other things to do than listen to him complaining about everything. The yard sale is coming up in three weeks and my house is an absolute disaster. There are boxes everywhere just waiting to be put out there - but it's a little early. Poor Mike and kids. Every time I see something I believe they don't need it is going in one of the boxes to be sold. There will be some surprises-I'm sure!
Other than that it's a normal day at the Sullivan house. Taking one day at a time and counting the days....

The Day of Days...

Mike here to share the day of days today. What was supposed to be a normal Satuday at the Sullivans ended up as well, a normal Sullivan Saturday. I got up early to work on painting the kitchen in preparation for our move. Julia woke up with a massive migrane and sick as a dog. She spent all morning throwing up and sick as I've ever seen her. Daven had to do to his first communion retreat. After walking him over, I took Julia (plus the kids) to the hospital off post. Nearly two hours and three shots later, we all ran back on post to get Daven from his retreat...made it just in time. Normal day so far.

Katie had her first ever swim lessons with Dee Dee today at the pool. After some initial crying for Daddy, she got into it and had a great time. We go back tomorrow to meet Dee Dee for another go at the water!

Daven then had to go back in the afternoon for his First Communion "Portrait"...they take this seriously around here. He put on his "midget suit", looking like a mini-gangster and had a Top Model photo shoot. We came back and settled into the rest of a "normal day"...enter Katelyn.

Katie went to brush her teeth in the kids bathroom down the hall. She shut the door, which she never does and started brushing. Julia, who is now starting to come around and feeling better, went to check on her....and could not get the door open. She calls me and I try...no luck. I figure the handle came loose since the handles are about 70 years old and grab the tools...no luck. She is STUCK in the bathroom. Of course I start to freak out but she's a cool as a cucumber in there...still brushing her teeth. We call the emergency work number and the guys says something like "Oh Man!". I start digging through my closet and find my Halligan tool...see picture below. Its a tool used by both firefighters and military to get into doors if you really need to. I mentally gave the maintenance guy five minutes before the frame was coming off.

He arrived in four. Came down the hall and tried his tool...no luck. He looked at me, looked at Mr. Halligan Tool and gave me the nod. Meanwhile you can here Katie in there brushing her teeth and being Katie. The maintenance guy got a crack open in the door and I jammed the Halligan tool into the frame. Some pushing and pulling and...POP!!! The door came open and there was Katie with her toothbrush and a smile! I never thought I'd need to breach open my own bathroom door. We found out there is actually a lock in the bathroom. We've been here nearly 3 years and NEVER noticed a lock or ever had anyone ever lock it. Leave it to Katie. See below for a picture of the two "troublemakers" this evening.

So I guess it WAS a normal Sullivan Saturday! Julia is feeling much better, the boys are watching a movie (after Timmy preceeded to AMAZE us with his knowledge of Jesus and Easter he's learned at his day care at St. Lukes...to include knowing who helped Jesus carry his cross!), and Katie is asleep with the cleanest teeth on Fort Leavenworth. Fortunately I still have plenty of paint left so the door frame will look good as new, and there is TAPE to keep the lock from every being used again...at least for the next two months!

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It is getting there!!

I hope you all had a great Easter!!!! We had a very nice weekend enjoying some nice weather (even if it was a little chilly from time to time) and of course the Easter bunny stoped by and left a little something for the kids.As you can see on the count down,it is getting closer and closer for us to pack our things. This week end we started paining the rooms back to white and I can say- painting back to white is not one of my favorite things to do specially when I have to cover dark blue,red,orange,...!!!! Lesson learned! If it's me who is doing the painting I will stay in the lighter shades :). Even though I did enjoy the colours while we had them -I guess it was worth it.
End of April we are going to have our big Yard sale on post and I can't wait! I have things waiting everywhere in this house to be sold!!! Yeah!
There will be pictures soon!!!

HAPPY EASTER

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Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!

We had Irish eyes smiling today! Its hard to believe its St. Patrick's Day, you wouldn't know it around Kansas. Well the Sullivans did their part to make sure no one forgot! The day started with Mike waking up Daven with his bagpipes...and half the building heard them! He then played outside for the kids going to school. Everyone in the family had their green on today and Mike played in SAMS! Afterward, Mike again played as the kids came home, in pouring rain to boot! And now its time to settle down to a nice cold Guinness.

Its hard to believe a year ago today Mike was in Iraq on St. Patrick's day for the 2nd time. We're so thankful to be together as a family for another holiday...and its a fun holiday at that! We know St. Paddy's day is a HUGE deal in Savannah, the 2d largest parade in the country behind NYC. So next year we're sure will be another great day to be Irish...even if its for a day!

My kids! They make me smile

Here I am just watching a show on TV -Flip your house-and Daven walks in just as they have an advertisement for parents on when and how to talk about "Sex" to their kids. A little weird and I switched the Chanel but Daven of course caught it. He told me not to worry because he knows what that word means. WHAT!!!! HELLO!!!! You are 8!!!!
So I ask him what all he knows and of course who told him. He said:"I know mom it means that a boy and a girl go shopping." (OK-there must be more) I ask him why I would change the channel then and he said :"It's because of the kissing,Mom." (Here we go,...) Daven:"They go shopping and kiss- but at least we don't live in France and don't have to FRENCH KISS." (So,what do you know about french kisses and who told you?!) Daven:"A boy in first grade and he says you have to lick each others tongue! That's nasty! What if the other person just ate crackers?!" Gotta love them) So I ask him how this all works and he explains that the people in France,Japan,China -and Yes- Hawaii, they all French kiss. People in America,Germany,Italy,... kiss normal- just like a good bye kiss!!!
He told me that I have nothing to worry about,since we are going to Georgia and they kiss normal. Can you believe my luck ?! :)

This is what I'm thankful for today! Those little innocent kids that always put a smile on my face!
I love them so much!!!

This weather!

Well,nothing exciting is happening but I just feel like posting something!
Today is another "dark" day.It's going to rain any minute which locks us in the house again!
The last couple of days I had some girl time and I really enjoyed it. It's just so nice to come back home and have your batteries recharged-even though I'm always exhausted after a couple of hours out and all I want to do is take a nap :).
This weekend we do not really have any plans yet since it's going to rain-again. We might go back to the "monkey business" and let the kids climb around (since otherwise they'll be doing it on my furniture).
At least I get to dream about the new home and since an old neighbour on another blog challenged everybody to be thankful for something everyday I do have to say- I'm so thankful that we are all healthy and have everything we need! We do have a really good life!

Mike on the Mic...

...well sort of! Finally finished up a bunch of different exercises so I'm enjoying my last couple of weeks of "academic" schedules. We had an interesting week last week working with the folks from the U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM) on some potential operations that could happen within the US. I also got to eat lunch with the Army Chief of Staff, General Casey. Some of the big takeaways from that meeting was the fact that the new army uniform will NOT have the ugly proposed grey shirt with it under the Blues...thank goodness. Also, it seems that color patches on the combat uniforms may be making an authorized comeback. See, we talked about all the important stuff. We also got to talk about the new Army Operations Field Manual (FM 3-0). SAMS did some reviews last year on the manual and some of them made it into the final cut, which was good to see.

Needless to say we are all excited for the upcoming move. I was at transportation scheduling our pick up dates and we close on our house 1 May!!!! I'm trying to get down there for the closing but everything is schedule dependent. If not, we'll close by mail. We can't wait to move into the new house and the main street neighborhood!

Ok, I better find out what my daughter is up to. Daddy's little girl is as cute as a button...but a handful as well!

Past Hostesses get discount on jewelry

I just sent out an email but I had 2 that got kicked back. I don't have the correct info anymore since you moved!Sorry!
I know some of you read my blog so I want to let you know this way!
As a past hostess you get 30% off any item in the new catalog!!!!! Let me know if you would like me to send you a new catalog!!!
Thank you for your business!
Julia

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Just a quick update!

Today was Daven's last basketball game and he was so good. He even made some points and he is very proud.Tonight Mike is going to meet up with a group of guys from Germany to play Poker and I invited a friend of mine over to catch up! We are all so busy and it's just too bad that even though we live so close for a short time we don't see each other more often. But when we do it's even better!!!
It is so amazing to me how many people from Hohenfels I have run into here at Ft Leavenworth! The other night I was at a Southern living show and there were 7 of us. I guess the army is really a small family and that is nice to know! (Most of the time :) )
Now we have to run out and get the boys some haircuts. Like Mike always says :"They look like Hippies!"

Not snow again!!!

When we woke up today it started snowing AGAIN!! This is so depressing. We finally had some days (chilly days-but sunny) to go outside and play and the kids loved it. Even Daven complained about more snow!
I'm so done with this!
So all we could do in the morning was playing play dough,hide and seek,...! We need to get outside!!!!
Daven has his last basketball game tomorrow but at least we have a reason to get out of the house!
I hope it is getting better soon!

St Patty's day

Saint Patricks Day Comments

Yeah!
What 2 weeks we had. It seems like everybody on this post was sick and of course it hit me the worst in my family. I was sick all weekend with tonsillitis (I had no idea that grownups can get this)! Really pain full!
I still held my jewelry show on Friday though - the lady really wanted it -and what a blessing! I got my first "down line". That means a girl signed up under me and I get to train her and teach her. How awesome is that?! And... I booked my first show for Ft Stewart. I guess I was meant to be there :) .
Things are going really well and I couldn't be any happier. The kids are safe and sound, Mike is about to finish his school here and I'm just going with the flow! We are all so excited to get to our new house and of course we are picking out colors for the rooms,looking at a new swing set,...! The kids are a big help,and they do have their own ideas!!!