3 More Days

Good news! Our household goods have arrived and can be delivered on Monday. Three more days of camping and then we all get our own beds back. It feels like a weight has been lifted, just knowing that the end is near. I also interviewed two young women as babysitting candidates and have scheduled "trial" dates for next weekend so they can hang with the boys. And Chris and I get to go out! What a treat that will be, even if only for a few hours.
Tomorrow Evan and I go for our orientation at the base CDC (Child Development Center) and I can then begin to sign him up for "hourly care" affording me another opportunity to take some time for myself. Or, make time for the mountain of freelance work that has chosen this moment to pile itself on my desk. Alas, soon the bills will begin to roll in and I'll be glad for it.

Camped out

So, we made it through the weekend. I didn't sleep a wink last night, but the boys did fine on their air mattresses and new surroundings. We ate dinner tonight on the floor in the dining room and Chris bought us chaise lounges yesterday as our living room furniture. It is quite a comical set-up we've got.
We had a great breakfast (out) this morning at a restaurant whose specialty is macadamia nut sauce on their banana pancakes...it is a MUST when you come to visit! Then we went to the beach, got drenched and headed home.
Tomorrow I meet with the housing office about loaner furniture so we can look forward to proper seating arrangements soon. That's a sure sign the household goods will arrive. I've also got a few sitters I'm going to interview this week so that Chris and I can take a date night now and then.

Moving Day

Uh-oh...we just found out we have been paying out of pocket to stay at the Villa for the past 7 days, so we are making a hasty retreat tomorrow morning to Mapuana Street. We'll live like refugees through the weekend on borrowed air mattresses and sleeping bags, but the base will provide loaner furnishings Monday or Tuesday...
Another adventure begins.

Posting from Phone

This is just a test to see how well my phone can post and upload photos. Here's one of Jake before school on Aloha Friday and Evan on Kailua Beach.








- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

A little bit of home

Yesterday we received our express shipment: some toys, dishes and kitchenware. It was fun to see our stuff again and means we are one step closer to being settled. While I waited for the truck, I drove around the neighborhood, picking out the best "block" for us to traverse on our walks. I also spent some time watering the yard. The homeowner did lots of planting, but they've gone neglected for a few months and now need a kick in the rear. (Or some water and MiracleGro.)
I went to my first spouses club meeting last night, now a department head spouse and presumably with a bit more responsibility coming my way, especially as Chris prepares to deploy in the new year. The wives seem very kind and look out for each other in the absence of family: I'm looking forward to knowing them better and becoming 'one of the gang.' I was once again welcomed to the group: this time with a lei, a pineapple and a serving dish from the club.

Just In

Just back from our first trip to the new house. It's smaller and more-70's era than I recall from my first viewing, but the yard is just beautiful and there's even more storage than I remembered. I'm starting a mental to-do list that includes new chandeliers and painting the bedroom and maybe a wall of the living room. And a trip to the nursery: they've left lots of pots for me to fill, as well as a vast array of their own plants, including orchids (!), herbs and roses. Time for me to step up to the plate when it comes to yard work!
The owners are just wonderful and made themselves available for whatever help we need. They raised their children to adulthood in the house and put a lot of hours into making it a place they could enjoy, so I have no doubt we will too.

Loving it

Have I mentioned how much I love it here? It is so, so beautiful everywhere you look. Even the utility of the base is overshadowed by the majesty of the natural surroundings. The mountains today are particularly stunning, the way the sun shines and creates highlights and shadows on the sharp contours. I'm really enjoying my mornings alone with Evan after we drop Jake off at school. Today we went to Kailua beach park, the prettiest in town, and just sat and played in the sand and listened to the waves. Isn't that the most perfect?? All while Jake is merrily off in a wonderful school where the principal meets the car and he gets to eat a sloppy joe for lunch. I'm drowning in happiness.
Tomorrow is our walk-through at Mapuana street and the official start of the lease. I can not wait to see the property again and walk around mentally placing our furniture. In that sense it's a good thing the furniture hasn't arrived: we'll have a chance to consider the arrangement before movers start slinging boxes around.
Jake starts t-ball on Saturday and is on the Brewers with 2 other boys he knows. They'll practice 2-3 times a week with games on the weekend at a local school. He's gonna be wiped with all that activity on top of kindergarten!

Long Weekend

We are officially in the midst of a long weekend. Chris had yesterday off, and of course Monday as well. A rare treat. Yesterday we went to the Mall at Pearl Harbor to shop for Jake's school supplies and search for Chris' elusive Jeep. This morning Chris has promised us a family trip to Pyramid Rock beach, the nicest on base. We are careful to go early and not stay too long -- not a problem for Evan who is nonplussed by sand and waves. Everyday we keep our fingers crossed for our household goods shipment...wouldn't it be fun to be in the house next weekend?

Ready for school

So, good intentions be damned, we decided to just enroll Jake in St. John Vianney in Kailua. He went in this morning for "evaluation" (the teacher said he belongs in 8th grade) and enrollment and he'll start at 7:30 a.m. on Monday. I am so excited for him and know this year will be wonderful for him...and me! The office manager, Annie, is an absolute doll and the heart of the school. If it hadn't been for her warm welcome and commendation of the school and administration, I think we might have pursued other schools with more vigor. In any case, we left with a bag full of second-hand uniforms to be worn as follows: 2 days khaki and polo shirt, 2 days PE uniform, 1 day "aloha" gear. What, you ask, is aloha gear? School sanctioned crazy hawaiian shirt day. Anyway, I'll post photos on Monday!

Our first photos of Mapuana Street! It's on a corner lot, and we could just photograph the exterior yesterday, but it's really pretty. I guess there's a guava tree and one of the neighbors has harvesting rights and brings the jam that she makes from them.

Sweet Fancy Moses, We're on a Roll

Thank the maker, we seem to be on a roll here. We got a nice call this morning from Marilyn, who said she would be pleased to rent us our first choice house, 1257 Mapuana Street, Kailua. (BTW, we were also offered Kuuna Street, but declined since we'd decided Mapuana was a better fit for us without the nasty vibe.) We sign our lease on Monday morning and will get the keys on the 15th. I can't wait to show it to you guys! I'm going to order some vintage hawaiian travel posters to give it a real hawaiian vibe.
We also toured Saint John Vianney with the principal this morning, though the kids are on break until October 12th. The facility is old, no doubt, but the class sizes are small and feel like he would be well-cared for in such a small community. I think I will at least look at the public school option, but think SJV is going to be our choice.
I'm off to a wives event this evening and Chris has a work event tomorrow night but the rest of the weekend should be relaxed, finally!