Back in Beaufort

Again. :)

When we moved onto base, they had just finished constructing this house and were still working on most of the others on this street. We didn't even have grass. They sprayed seeds and fertilizer down, planted ornamental trees and bushes and told us we wouldn't have to worry about it, except maybe water it if it was real dry and they would let us know. There was a lot of rain when we first moved here and all our landscaping looked lush and lovely.

Fast forward to today - after 5 or 6 trips to Jacksonville since March 17 (I can't even remember anymore!) The trees they planted are visibly wilting, the grass is brown, the plants next to the house are wilting, turning brown and looking visibly stressed. They have reseeded our yard 3 times, this last time OVER the thick layer of oak leaves that have fallen (um.. you'd think that landscaping specialists would know grass won't grow on thick leaves). The grass is growing the best in the planting beds next to the house - in the mulch around the plants!! I feel like if I'd been here all along, this wouldn't have happened. Heck, I'm not even unpacked at the house yet! I'm so frustrated living out of a suitcase and traveling all around. I'd love to see all our relatives after Rafe leaves, but I think I'm going to hibernate in my own home for a while and see if I can't get it feeling like a cozy place and not just some fancy hotel I'm staying in.

I'm trying so hard to be positive, but I feel like all I ever do is complain about what is happening. I wish I could be bubbly and cheerful right now, but Rafe is at Mojave Viper, with no cell phone access and no email except occasionally at work. Amelia woke up crying after her nap like her heart was breaking. I couldn't figure out what was wrong, she was inconsolable until she saw a picture of daddy and we snuggled with the picture and her blankie and called "bamma" (her catch all phrase for grandma and grandpa) so they could talk to her. Tomorrow I'm going to detail all the positive things we've been doing but tonight I'm just going to eat some chocolate chip cookies.