June 2012 In a Nutshell

We started out the month with all the preparations for Quito, Ecuador, we could make:  medical and dental clearance paperwork filed (finally!), traded the van in for a Honda Pilot, Ammie was an almost permanent fixture at the dentist's office getting all her necessary work done, and we were beginning a list of what we would need to get before we left.

Elizabeth and Carolynn returned from Girl's Camp the first of the month.  They were exhausted and excited from their adventure.  Delia and Bubba were loving their time at Grammie and Grampy Long's house.  Lili was so happy to have half her sisters home.  And Chris was getting ready to leave for most of the month to do some training in Ohio.  Ammie was looking at what to do first in the house to prepare for the move.

Chris goes to Ohio.  Ammie is at the dentist when the phone rings...  Well, apparently, we are NOT going to go the Ecuador.  We are going to Belize.  Belize?  What?  Where is that again?  Oh, and now that we are going to Belize, our medical clearances came through for Ecuador.  (Yay?)  Well, ok...

So there you have it!  We will be spending the next three years in Belmopan, Belize!  It is the capitol.  The girls are happy they speak English but a little disappointed not to need Spanish as much as they had hoped to.  They cannot wait to see what life will be like down there after seeing photographs online.  It is not a large capitol- population around 13,000.  And we are not by the water, but we are still close enough to see it in an hour or two.  We are ready to prepare for this move now!  (Oh, and our medical clearances are good for Belize too- phew!)

Congratulations are in order for Chris!  He found out mid-month that he made the cut.  He will be promoted to Leuitenant Colonel while we are in Belize.  Lt. Col. (sel.) Walker, we are VERY proud of you!!  (Enjoy being Major news while you can... hehehe.)

A week or so after Chris went to Ohio, Ammie and the other girls headed up to North Carolina to retrieve the little ones (Bubba and Delia) from their grandparents.  Everyone had a great time on the trip.  The little ones had planned a pirate treasure hunt for their sisters.  Grammie made clues and hid prize bags so all four of the older girls could participate. 

There was a lot of swimming for the girls, shooting BB guns with Grampy, and shopping at the local thrift/antique stores as well.  We found fancy tea party hats to add to our collection of tea party gear.  Elizabeth found another old suitcase for her collection plus a pretty jewelry box her Grampy fixed up for her.  (It is SO beautiful now!)  Carolynn got a new guitar!  She is excited because the name of the model is "San Angelo".  After a trip to the music store, it is shiny, has new strings and case, and it fixed up great!  Delia found a purse she absolutely loves.  Bubba got an antique model 1927 Ford.  We were able to go to an antique car dealership and look around.  Bubba was in heaven!  She just loved every minute of it.  Lili completely loved the baby kittens and the two dogs as well.  She wasn't away when the older two cats came out to play, so she really didn't pay much attention to them.  She enjoyed splashing in the baby pool on Grammie's front porch and running around in the rain with Carolynn and Elizabeth.  Lili looked for the puppies every morning the first few days home. 

We made a footprint stepping stone with Lili's foot to got with the other four girl's stones in Grammie Long's garden.  Then, the girls also made a handprint one wtih all five of their hand prints.  Grampy got a handprint shirt from the girls for Father's Day as well.  It was a great visit.

We weren't able to spend Father's Day with Chris, but we were able to Skype with him.  Lili thought this was so neat.  She kept trying to figure out how he fit inside Mommy's computer screen.  After a while she just decided to show off for Daddy instead.  The girls were all glad to see him and talk to him, too.  We are all so glad he will be home soon.