New job, new craziness...

So, as if being a part of the 82nd Airborne Division isn't hectic enough, we have definitely reached a hightened level of "crazy" with Chris's new job.  Chris took over as 1st Brigade Executive Officer last Monday and… well, I'm quite certain we won't see him again for an entire year.  I only wish I was joking.  Anthony, the man he's replacing, is nothing short of a machine, Chris said (Anthony graduated FIFTH from West Point; 1st at many well-known Army schools; owns 18 homes on the side that he and his wife "flip" and sell on the weekends; built their own home with his own two hands; owns $250K in baseball cards; is #1 in his entire Branch; and is moving to Italy in two weeks, just to name of few of the awe-inspiring things he's shared with Chris recently.)  Chris has huge shoes to fill but is already doing an excellent job.  He leaves our house at 4:15am and hasn't gotten home before 8:30- 9pm ever since.  (Anthony said to get used to those hours. They don't change.  Yikes!)

COL Bredenkamp (on the left), Anthony (the outgoing BDE XO),
Chris (the incoming BDE XO) and others after PT...

Anthony Barbina (the outgoing XO) and Chris

 Last week we attended our first Brigade Hail and Farewell.  That's COL Bredenkamp on the left "welcoming" Chris and me to the Brigade.

And since life isn't crazy enough, Chris texted me this message an hour ago….

"Normandy Housing Office just called and offered us a house on post… 4 Lafiere Street, Ft. Bragg.  Available mid-to-late July.  I have to respond by 5pm tomorrow."

Of course you do.  Because only the Army would ask you to make a decision in 24 hours that involves moving three children, two adults, two pets, and an entire house load of stuff in less than four weeks.

Tomorrow at 5pm is long before we'll know how long we're scheduled to stay here.  Whether or not Chris's next assignment will come through as planned.  But it is definitely within the timeframe to know that no, we cannot move our children away from the home they know, the friends they love, the school they adore, and the life we've made.  If it were just Chris and I?  Yeah, I'd jump at the opportunity to do something different, to purge and donate and get rid of "stuff" with the anticipation of setting up a new house and home, to meet new friends…

But those reasons aren't good enough to move our boys.  But our eyes are already on the horizon for our next adventure!  Hopefully this time next summer we'll be packed up and moving on…

Can't wait to see what's next!