It’s Official: We’re Moving to…
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We’re a military family. It’s a known fact that we are going to move a lot, but for some reason, we haven’t. We have been here at our first duty station for over 6 years now, and finally two months ago we got the word: it’s time to move!
Orders didn’t come down exactly. My husband saw that they were looking for people in the state of our choice, so he applied for a job and he got it. We were excited because this is the exact place we wanted to go when we did PCS because it is a great area for special needs kids.
We had about 2-3 month’s notice, and it’s certainly been a whirlwind! But I’m excited to tell you that it’s finally official. We’re moving to Colorado!
There are about three different bases up in Colorado Springs, and my husband will be stationed at The Air Force Academy. We feel so excited and blessed for this opportunity and are hoping that we will be able to stay in that area longer than the usual 4-year assignment.
This is our first official PCS and our second move in six months (we moved to a bigger house, same neighborhood). I have two special needs kids and had no idea where to start. Moving across the country is way different than moving across your neighborhood.
I’ve made so many lists and downsized our things once again. The closer it gets the more excited I am. I love traveling and I love new places and sights. My only worry has been my kids. How will they adjust to a big move? What about all their doctors, therapists, and specialists?
Of course, Colorado was our state of choice so my worries should be small, but I am still a worrier with a mama’s heart! As it’s gotten closer I have found most of the doctors and specialists we will see. I have done so much research to find the best everything. The best school system, the best housing areas, the best doctors, and lots more.
I feel ready now as it is only a few weeks out until we leave. All that’s left is waiting on our official orders. We got official medical clearance for the kids a few weeks ago and now we are just waiting on orders. We can’t schedule our move until these come through, so I am just praying it happens soon.
My husband is about to return from a one week trip to Colorado to search for a home for us. We officially also have purchased our first home. It was quite the journey, but I am so excited to finally go to Colorado and see the house in person and not just on Skype!
So far I have just been winging it. But I’m curious… What are your PCS tips? Have you moved across the country with children before? What things did you do to make the move an easier transition?
Colorado Springs! So happy for you! I’m so in love with that area and Colorado in general! We’d love to PCS there one day. We visited friends there a few weeks ago, and we truly had the best time! We moved twice last year (1800 miles the first time and 1300 miles the next!), and I have two big PCS tips that have saved my sanity! One – We always designate the master bathroom as the loading zone of ALL THINGS that we are taking with us. Starting about 10 days out, I just start putting things in the bathroom that I know we’re taking. It usually gets pretty full in there, so we use our daughter’s bathroom to actually shower and stuff. As soon as the movers leave, we take everything out of the bathroom and pack it up neatly to throw in our cars. Two – I always bring someone with me to drive with my daughter and me. I’ve brought my mom once and my sister once. Having a “trip nanny” helps tremendously with kids! It also helps us so much when we arrive because my mom or sis would take our daughter out for a day or two while we receive the truck and unpack.
Good luck!! Excited to follow your adventures in CO. 🙂 – Erica @ WhimsicalSeptember.com
You’re going to love love love love it there! Colorado Springs is wonderful! <3
Congrats on the new orders! I am a Navy Spouse with 2 special needs kids. I would recommend calling ahead to the Military Treatment facility (if near one) and see if there is a caseworker that you can talk to in advance. That eases a lot of stress.
Moving is hard for little ones, especially special needs. I learned that no matter how much I wanted to unpack the house, I had to unpack the kids room first. They felt more comfortable with the environment change, surrounded by their things. I would also recommend packing an “unpack me first” box, filled with everything you would need to survive for the first few days: shower curtain, towels, toilet paper, soap, paper plates, cups, etc…. Hope that helps!
For our past several moves I have asked for several extra boxes when the packers leave. Those are used for all of our bedding. I mark them so I know exactly what is in them. That way we can stay in our “old” house as long as possible and then, when our household goods arrive at our “new” house, it is easy to put up the beds and find the bedding so we can sleep in our beds that first night with sheets, pillows and all even if the rest of the house is a mess! Also, have lots of large and small Ziploc bags on hand (you will use them to keep lots of things together or so the packers don’t put a bunch of loose items in a box) and a Sharpie. When the beds are taken apart, put all the hardware into a Ziploc bag mark it and tape it to the head board. That way, you will hopefully not lose any pieces. We loved Colorado when we were there. Best wishes!
Congratulations Kathryn! I know how much anxiety a move can be, as Church ministers, my family has moved around quite a bit.
But you be at peace, do all you need to do, I know that God has already gone ahead to put things in place for you and your family.
Congratulations! My husband got to put in a base of preference not to long ago and he got picked! So here we are four months later living in Florida. We had about three months notice. Our first time buying a house, also not in person! But I do not have special needs children so I do not have much input on that. Honestly, I just tried not to panic! As odd as that sounds, we knew we needed to just approach the move with a calm head. We did a DITY move so my husband got the moving truck with the dog and I got the vehicle with the two kids. I bought extra things to keep them entertained and we chose to stretch out the drive around 450-600 miles a day throughout four days. I did have to research and plan all the hotels a head of time. I wanted something that was easy access for a moving truck, and not in a bad area, but the hardest thing was finding pet friendly hotels! It was a bit stressful at times. But looking back, I loved the drive and I miss it! I got to see new parts of the country I had never been through. Beautiful new, scenery, and wonders. Good luck and I’m sure you’ll do great!
I just happened apon this blog and got all excited when you said you’d be pcsing to the springs! That’s were we’re from, we just did our first pcs to florida with the air force last August. I miss colorado so much! You will enjoy it! Blessings!
so excited for you!
Thanks you!!
Congratulations Kathryn!
How exciting!!! Much love to you and your family! Xx
Thank you so much Jenn!
Eek, congratulations! I met my husband while he was stationed in England and then we moved to Okinawa (where we are now) but we always talk about where we would like to go if/when we go stateside and CO is the top of our list both with or without the military (although technically he would need to do a special duty to be assigned there). I look forward to following along as you make CO your home!
Congrats! I hear the area is very nice. I’m sure you’ll enjoy it.
Congratulations on your move to Colorado! I’m sure it is very exciting for you and your family. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you, it is very exciting for us, especially after 6 years. 🙂
I think this is such a great change! Colorado Springs is the best, I’ve been there! Don’t forget to blog about… a lot, please! I wish you all the best and I hope you’ll like it!
Moving to Colorado was a very difficult thing, perhaps one of the most difficult things I have had to do. But at the end of the day, Colorado was a pretty good place.