So Long New Mexico

On Mon we drove out of New Mexico. I couldn't believe it was the last time I would be driving off base and through Alamogordo (Joe will be back next year after his deployment as he has to return there to outproccess.)

It was a very stressful and emotional week. I can't believe how unprepared we ended up being for this move, and how last minute everything was. You would think this was the first time we moved together, but it was actually the 4th. The difference was the first 3 times we moved ourselves instead of the military moving us.

Once they had everything moved out of the house I couldn't believe the dirt and dust that was left behind...and yes we do clean house! That is one thing I won't miss about NM - the dust that you just can't get rid of!

So all is said and done...we passed the housing inspection on Mon morning. (All that time scrubbing toilets and she didn't even lift the lids on either of them!) I'm glad that is all behind us and we've learned some lessons for next time.

We had some time to relax and do something fun amidst the craziness. Friday night we went to Joe's squadron's Christmas party, Saturday morning out to breakfast with 2 families he worked with, and Saturday night I was able to go to dinner with some friends from MOPS. Maybe that's why were were still working on cleaning the house on Sunday night! LOL

We had a high and a low with Kayla at school on Thursday. It was her Christmas program that afternoon and the principle called and said she was in the office and we needed to come get her...she colored on the carpet. Ugh. Obviously that was the low; and he did let her participate in the program ... I thought we were going to have to take her home. The high was that when we got to the school she was sitting in his office with the resource room teacher. She had to show us that Kayla just learned to read this sentence, "I like my doll." We were very excited to see that!

On Friday there were many tears shed saying goodbye. I'm sure her teachers never had a parent who cried while saying goodbye! LOL They told me they already cried at the end of the day because all the kids were hugging Kayla saying goodbye and some of them were crying too. Mrs. R told me 2 of the boys who were good friends with Kayla were visibly upset too. One of the boys mom is an assistant in the other room and he asked if he could be excused because, according to Mrs R, he just couldn't handle it. Of course that broke my heart! All I ever wanted for Kayla was acceptance, and these kids sure did accept her. I pray she will continue to find this acceptance throughout all her school years. She was given a "My Traveling Box" filled with things for her to do in the van. She also received two "certificates" for "Perfect Attendance" and "Most Improved Student."

We've been in OK this week and on Friday we continue on our trip to MD. It'll be a long trip, I'll be glad when we're all settled and on our new adventure!

Merry Christmas!