Changes

So. . . We have been wanting this for the past year or more.  Jaime put it wonderfully last night he said "man, I feel blessed! I haven't felt like this in a long time."  Lately it seems like everything we have been trying to do has not been going our way.  We felt like with every step forward we were pushed two steps back.  Nothing was going our way.  Finally things are looking up for us.  We are finally getting out of Italy.  Five years is a long time.  Too long.  It's nice over here and really nice if you have the time and money to travel, but we had neither the time or money to do it lately.  Especially with Jaime having duty every weekend.  We miss living in the US.  Having our American conveniences.  Like stores open late at night, same with gas stations and not having to use gas coupons.  We are ready for a change.  The girls are ready for a change.  I know many people leave here and are thrilled to come back in a few years.  I don't think we will be one of them.  We are ready to start settling down and be near family.  We have a niece and nephews that we need to spend time with.  Grandparents need to spend time with their grandkids.  Same goes with Aunties and Uncles.  We just miss being around family.  Some people don't mind being away from family for so long.  But both Jaime and I are pretty family oriented.  Things are finally going our way.  We should be out of here within a month.  Now it's time to get started packing and cleaning.  Maliah is really excited to be going back to see her Mimi, Aunties, Grandpa, and Nana.  She talks about it all the time.  It will be interesting to see how Kamora reacts to seeing her family.  She knows her Mimi from Skype. But everyone else she only sees pictures.  I'm hoping she adjusts well.  I'm not really looking forward to the traveling but the end will be totally worth it.  We are taking a good amount of leave before we are heading to our next duty station.  Plenty of time to relax.  It will be the longest Jaime has been home since he has joined the Army.  Oh next duty station. . . Forgot to say we are heading to Ft Bliss.  Which is near El Paso, Tx.  Hopefully we will be able to reconnect with some friends from Ft Lewis.  We don't really know what to expect.  But we are hoping we will enjoy ourselves.  We will make the best of it :)
So update on the girls.  Maliah has started to read.  She is doing really good with blending letters.  Of course there is only room for improvement :)  She is my smarty pants.  She can also draw really well.  She gets it from her daddy lol.  She draws people better than I do haha.  She can write a few words by herself too.  Like her name, Kamora, Mommy, Daddy, Cat, Frog, Dog. . . a few more that I can't remember right now.  She can sound out a word and figure out how to spell it.  She is growing like a weed.  I noticed a month or two ago that she was just arms and legs.  She definitely isn't a baby anymore.  I know I know she is four but she is still my baby.
Kamora is growing growing growing... she is really starting to communicate with her words.  She picks up a few more everyday.  Her first sentence was "I Love You" It's so cute to hear her say I love you to Maliah just out of the blue and then she asks for a hug.  She has so much personality.  She can be such a sweetheart but if she's upset watch out lol.  She gets so excited when you understand what she wants. She is really starting to express her opinions.  She walks around going happy happy happy when she is in a good mood.  and if she isn't she will look at you and say no and hit the air haha.  Most of the time she is happy though.
I'm so happy these girls love each other so much and play so well together.  Maliah is a really good big sister.  I hope it lasts haha.