Milton Goodbyes

Again, this is a little out of order.

I knew I had these pictures...they were just left on my memory card still! Oops.

With Dan's job we tend to move. A lot.

Quick refresher...
Jan-June 2006: Mobile, AL
June-October 2006: Elizabeth City, NC
October 2006-May 2009: Cape Cod, MA
Jan 2009-June 2009: Ocala, FL {boys and I while Dan was at OCS}
June 2009-June 2010: Milton, FL
June 2010-December 2010: Corpus Christi, TX
December 2010-???: ???

There is a lot about moving I enjoy. Getting to see new things. Going to new places. Experiencing different parts of the country.

Then again, there is A LOT about moving I don't like. Packing, unpacking, learning a new city, a new grocery store, etc. Making new friends...leaving those friends.

This move has been particularly hard for me. We were only in Milton for a year, if you want to get technical...1 year and 3 days. However, I made some awesome friends. Landon made some great friends. We had a blast! I think what has made this move harder than the others is that the majority of our friends in Milton are not military. I know if we were to have stayed there the kids could have grown up together. Gone to schools together. Played sports together. On and on. Before the majority of our friends have all been military. I knew if it wasn't us moving it would be them. No one gets to stay in the same place forever. So the goodbyes were tough!


The first day the packers came Christy invited us over to play. Logan was at daycare and I was wanting to keep Landon out of the packers way (G wasn't coming until the next afternoon). So we headed over to Mikey's! We were there for a little bit then Riley came over also.

Mikey, Landon, and Riley hanging out

Riley, Landon, and Mikey.

Hanging out in Mikey's tree house.

Riley kept kissing Landon--

he wasn't very down with the idea!

The next day we met up with Kathi, Levi, and Meadow at ChickFilA for lunch.

The playground there was crazy, so we headed over to Benny Russell Park.

The boys on the tire swing.

In the Pensacola area you just can't escape the Blue Angels!

Landon giving Meadow a squeeze.

That night Levi and Kathi stopped by the house.

Kathi put a lot of work into an awesome going away gift for me and brought it by.

She had Mrs. Jonette get Landon's hand print on a plate.

Then had a friend paint on it.

It was awesome!

Unfortunately, just minutes after she gave it to me, it fell and broke.

We tried to piece it back together but it wasn't quite perfect.

So we had it replicated.

Not exact, but it is pretty close.

Levi hugging Logan.

Me and Kathi.

The boys trying to climb up a tree.

Then it was time for tumbling in the yard.

Or attempting to anyways.

The boys' last morning we stopped by the Baysden's house to say goodbyes.

Emily was still sleeping so they just got to say goodbye to Paige.

They are moving to Juneau, AK soon--actually on their way right now!

Landon and Paige.

When Landon saw this pic he said,

"Aww now that's a cute picture!"

Landon and Mr. Rob

Camp G

Before I was really ready, the movers came. Well, I guess we were ready in the sense of having everything put together, sorted out, etc. Just not in the sense I was ready to leave!

G drove up and picked up the boys and took them back to her house. That way they didn't get into the packers and movers way plus Dan and I were able to clean the house and get out of town quicker.

So off to Camp G (and Grumpa!), they went. Something G has been asking to do since Landon was a wee fellow. They got to Ocala on Thursday, Dan and I got in late Friday night. We had Saturday with them and then the hubs and I left again on Sunday. We went on a cruise! That will be a different post in itself though. We were gone for a week. Came back for a few days before we headed West to Texas. While we moved the boys stayed in Ocala. Then eventually G was brave and flew out with them! Here are some pics she took while they were with her:

Getting ready to hit the pool.

I think this is one of the few times they were in clothing/bathing suits while there!

Landon holding a frog that was caught in the skimmer.

He loved to check the skimmers daily (or multiple times a day)

for little creatures!

Logie ready to go in.

Aww *hearts*

One time when we were at G & Grumpa's we made gingerbread cookies.

Now Landon wants to make them every time.

So they did!

Hi-5's after making the cookies.

Having some fun in the sprinklers

(are you beginning to see what I mean about the clothes yet?)

Logan having a sprinkler taste

One day G took them over to Aunt K's house.

Or rather, Neena's.

Grady and Wyatt (one of my cousin's boys) were there too.

This is a fish that Landon and Wyatt caught.

Grady, Landon, Wyatt, and Logan.

We have a pic of them in this same pose from 2 years ago at Kanuga!

Landon jumping into the pool.

He has become obsessed with cannon balls!

My little fish.

Logan floating around.

One of the times he would actually wear his swimmies!

Logan checking out a butterfly.

G had to wash these PJs almost daily!

There are more from when they were there (like going to a friend's farm and seeing the animals), I just don't have copies of them...yet!

Oops...some more May days!

I really need to get my photos better organized. I forgot these pics weren't in my usual folder.

A boy in Landon's class, Drake, lives on the water. On May 27th they invited us and several others down to play.

Everyone had a blast!

The boys {Landon, Drake, Levi, and Mikey} all became such great buds during the school year. Drake's brother, Hayes, is just a year older and also was buddies. Add Logan and Meadow into the mix plus little Kerrigan and we had a great crew who was so much fun!

Logan with his "Submarine Rocket."

This was actually a gift Landon gave to Logan for his 1st birthday.

Landon picked it out because at the time he was actually a big fan of Little Einsteins.

Now Logan is a HUGE rocket fan.

Especially of his Submarine Rocket!

The boys had a great time on the slide and doing crazy tricks off of it!

Some of the crew playing.

Popsicle break time!

Meadow, Levi, Drake, Logan, Landon, Mikey, Hayes

Heavy load!

They had so much fun playing in this boat!

For a while they were pirates and fighting each other off.

Then they all piled in and Kerrie pulled them up and down the water.

I think she certainly got in her workout for the day!

We had lunch on the porch. They all wanted to look down below us.

After lunch everyone got dried off and changed.

Then headed out to play in the club house and on 4-wheelers.

It was a great day with great friends. Days like this are the ones I miss already. We were so blessed to meet some awesome families and make so many wonderful memories with them. It is a slim chances our paths will cross again, as in living in the same place, as they are not military and it is unlikely Dan will be stationed in Milton again. Part of me wants to endure the flight school experience again just so we can spend more time with everyone there. We sure do miss them all!!!

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Sunday the 30th I was woken up in the middle of the night. My phone was vibrating. Over and over. Phone call! Who the heck...what the...oh, it's Lindsey! I knew as soon as I got the call what was happening, baby Z was coming! I got on my clothes, somehow managed to, and went to their house as they went off to the hospital. A little while later Sam (10) woke up...not to much longer Abby (5) was up too. We had some breakfast and got dressed then went back to my house.

It was a great morning with wonderful weather, so we decided to break out the inflatable slide. It was actually the first time using it so it took a few minutes to figure it all out. Sam kept everyone entertained while they waited though.

They had Yoga class.

Then did some runway modeling.

Finally got to play on the slide!

Wrapping up May

The end of May was a very hectic time for this Knauss family.

Dan finished Primary, yay! He had his "selection" process. All the other students (Air Force, Navy, and Marines) didn't know at that point what platform they would be flying. Which also means they have no idea if they were about to move or not! Even though the CG does it differently (thank goodness!), so Dan knew he would be on fixed wings and moving...he still had to go to the selection process. I think it is just an excuse to get drunk in the afternoon at work, ha! Fine, fine...tradition...whatever.

The names of everyone who was selecting that day.

I think this was 20May.

Dan's name tag from VT-3.

Put it on a wall with where apparently everyone puts theirs after completing.

I wanted it for a shadow box that I plan on doing.

Again...I guess it is tradition, or so I'm told *sigh*

At least I got a pic though, right?

Only about 5 months late...but Dan's onwing finally showed up to something and cut his tie!

Nothing like waiting until the absolute last minute!

In general aviation flight training when you first solo the back of your shirt is cut out.

Military cuts your tie. Dates back a long time ago to wearing scarves/ties when they flew.

If the instructor liked you they would only cut the end off so you could still tuck it into your uniform and not need to buy a new one. If they didn't like you they would cut it up higher so you would be forced to buy a new one because it wouldn't tuck in.

May 28th was a busy busy day. It was Landon's last day of school at First Steps Christian Pre-School. It was also the T-ball awards ceremony day! I am glad things worked out like they did...having school and t-ball wrap up that week. The following week our movers came!

The last day in Mrs. Jonette and Mrs. Nina's class was a fun one!

It was costume day!

Landon went as Batman. It was just something I threw together last minute.

We had a cape. Target had a cheap shirt.

We showed up at school and Mikey was Batman also--with an extra mask!

So the boys switched off with the blue and black masks during the day.

After working up an appetite running around outside it was time for ice cream sundaes!

Riley, Mikey, Landon, and Levi after school.

Logan with his buddy Lizzy, waiting for awards to begin.

Landon getting his trophy from Coach Barbara.

He was (still is actually), SO excited to have his own trophy!

Levi, Mikey, and Landon showing their trophies off.

It was a long day and one we will remember for years to come! I can't really say that I was sad to see t-ball come to an end, it was a long season and we spent many, many hours at the ball park! I am sad that it meant hanging out with some of our best friends a lot was at an end though.

So this wraps up May. June is when it got really nuts around here...there...well, anywhere we were!

Here we go!

Ok...it's been a while.

Go ahead, say it. I'm a slacker!

Well...partially true. Other part of the truth is we have been incredibly busy. In the past month I have been in 5 different countries, 4 different states, driven about 2,000 miles, and moved half way across the country to a state I've only had lay overs in. Plus add in things like soccer camps, being sick, and things really add up.

So now we are embarking on a 3 day weekend. Well, hmm...for most people...at least most of Dan's co-workers. He got "lucky" and has duty tonight and on Monday, so I guess he just gets a 1 day weekend. It is going to be my mission to get caught up blogging on the past month or however long it has been!

So here we go...