WOO HOO!!! Tuesday December 15th Marilee & I went to NYC to Radio City Music Hall for the.....

Our evening began with our coach bus ride into the city. We were able to sit, realx & have adult conversation without kiddo's interrupting. Once we arrived & were dropped off at Radio City we did a little shopping. First stop Ann Taylor! I bought some new comfy PJ's. Then we eat dinner at the Heartland Brewing Co. At 7:45pm we were walking through the doors of Radio City Music Hall to take our seats. The show was amazing & everyone I know should experience it. So... if you want to go, let me know. I'll go again & again! Seriously!!! I know it's a cliche, but the rockettes were trully "SPECTACULAR".

Marlena's First Day: Thursday December 10th

West Point Middle School (grades 5-8th)

So... the elementary & middle schools are in a big cul-de-sac. With the Gym (pictured below) sitting between the two.

I was given strict instructions to not take any pictures & to be on the "dl" with my camera. I asked if I was embarrassing & she said no. Hum... I'm not convinced. Regardless, I did respect it & took no pictures. I will have my mental ones of driving by the youth center (I was not stalking, but driving to the youth center parking lot to meet Marlena to pick her up after school) & I passed her & a group of 5 girls all walking together . She was talking & laughing with a girl to her left. Jordon was her name. Marlena made friends with 3 great girls on her first day. She loves her schedule & her favorite teacher is her Science teacher.

Marlena is a strong, confident & resilient military kid. She is so excited to be here at West Point & the kids at school were terrific at welcoming her. The best part about military kids is that they have all been the "new kid" more than once & know what it is like. Regardless, I think I was more nervous her first day then she was. We all know that girls can be so mean & I (just like any mom) want her to be happy!!!

Friday Dec 11th Maximus First Day at West Point Elementary

Thrusday we went to West Point Elementary to finish registering.

Heading to school for his first day!!

Parents were invited to stay for the story Gingerbread Baby by Jan Brett & to help their student make a little Gingerbread house.

Maci's second day of Pre-School Thursday Dec 10th

The front of Maci's Preschool at the Child Development Center
The view from her preschool playground!


She's very excited to get to class.

Waiting patiently for her teacher to arrive!
Her lil cubby!!

She's all clean & ready to play!!

McGrath's at West Point

WOO HOO!!! We've arrived to West Point!! We were fortunate to have excellent driving weather the whole way here!! On Friday November 20th we left Ft Carson & began our road trip out east. Our arrival on the night of December 2nd marked our 12th day of travel. The girls traveled with me & Maximus traveled with Scott. I don't know which vehicle had more fun, but there were moments I thought we would never arrive. Marlena was a great shot gun rider & helped entertain Maci & myself with singing her made up driving songs. I thought you'd enjoy this......

The Twelve Days of Our Trip (to the tune of "The Twelve Days of Christmas")

On the first day of our trip this is what I saw-our trailer lights not working. On the second day of our trip this is what I saw -two pickup trucks and our trailer lights not working. On the third day of our trip this is what I saw-3 dead skunks, two pickup trucks & our trailer lights not working. On the fourth day of our trip this is what I saw four minivans, 3 dead skunks, 2 pickup trucks & our trailer lights not working. On the fifth day of our trip this is what I saw- five backseat fights, 4 minivans, 3 dead skunks, 2 pickup trucks & our trailer lights not working. On the sixth day of our trip this is what I saw six broken headlights, 5 backseat fights, 4 minivans, 3dead skunks, 2 pickup trucks & our trailer lights not working.

Seventh day-7 miles miles of road work
Eighth day- 8 cars a-speeding
Ninth day- 9 railroad crossings
Tenth day- 10 roadside rest stops
Eleventh day- 11 cop cars hiding
Twelfth day- 12 bumper stickers

Now if this hasn't brought you enough joy, she also sang us:

1,866 miles to Go on Our trip (to the tune of 99 bottles of soda on the wall)....
1,866 miles to go on our trip. 1,866 miles to go. Step on the gas. I think we can pass. 1,865 miles to go on our trip. 1,865 miles to go. Step on the gas. I think we can pass. 1,864 miles to go our trip... until we reached zero.

YES I wanted to kick her out of the car!!!

WE really did have lots of fun on our drive. Along the way stopping in Illinois to spend the Thanksgiving holiday with family. Thank you to both McGrath & Guerra families for putting us up & keeping us fed! We very much enjoyed the unseasonally warm weather and decorating of Christmas trees. It was great seeing the kids playing with their cousins and definitely a highlight when all the kids got together to make red & green paper chains to decorate the tree. Marlena kept busy stringing popcorn & making paper snowflakes to decorate windows. We are now settled into the 5 Star Inn (more like a one star!!) at West Point while we await housing. Our home will be ready for moving in around January 22nd. We plan on hanging out until December 18th at which time we plan on heading back to Illinois to spend the holidays with family until after the New Year. I've wasted no time in organizing our family trips to the Big Apple. On Saturday the 12th of December our amazing friends the Turner family (Jamey & Marilee our friends from Ft Hood & will be at West Point until July) are taking us to the city to see the lights, store windows, Time Square, to go the Rockefeller Center to see the HUGE tree & go ice skating!!! On the 15th we're headed back to the Big Apple!! Marilee & I have tickets to the Radio City Christmas Spectacular starring "The Rockettes". Needless to say I'm super super excited.

The kids will be starting school on Monday & I hope to get Maci enrolled in some sort of preschool or activity a couple of days a week.

Scott will work in DMI and was advised that he'll be an instructor of Military Science for freshmen to juniors (MS 100, 200, and 300)- job positions changed as we were driving here and they have one branch rep for Maneuver, Fires, and Effects. He will assist for Armor.

Thursday December 3rd Scott met the people in his department & we were invited to the DMI holiday party for the following day on the 5th. The kdis had a great time & we had the opportunity to meet even more people & their families. Santa paid us a visit at the party & our kiddo's received book presents from the Jolly ole Elf!! Today Maci & I went to a Mommy & Me craft event at the Craft Center on post. We made Rudolph Aprons while Daddy, brother & sister went & unloaded the rest of our stuff into storage!!

Tomorrow will be a whole new day of adventures.... starting with Breakfast with Santa @ the West Point Club!! Good times!!