See ya later Aligator

It is no secret that I was not excited about moving here three years ago. I won't go into all the reasons why, and some of them I still stand by. But the good far outway the bad, and I am so grateful for the time we have spent at Fort Polk in the heart of Louisiana. So before we make our exit I had to share just a few of our favorites.


Only in Louisiana can you eat yummy crawfish, hear crazy aligator hunting stories, visit beautiful cypress swamps, see all those "trailors down by the river", hear my kids say "yes ma'am","ya'll" and "fixin", and listen to gospel songs sung by first graders in a public school.

The cajun culture is so rich with tradition that has been built around these swamps. One of my favorite books from this area is Cane River, by Lolita Tademy. It is a great family memoir put in a fictional story, that really bring this culture and history to life. I love the way the locals talk, and while I don't have the stomach for the spicy food, I do love some of the toned down flavors.


We have built a few Louisiana traditions, that will die with this move. One of them is the weekly visit from the snowcone man. Every Thursday night the neighborhood meets out in the coldesac to wait to hear the littlejigle that says he is coming close. While a little pricy, they are so scruptious, and all my kids have there favorites. Maren loves the rainbow...while she has recently branched out and tried a few new ones, this has been her favorite since we got here,and she always comes back to it.


Amanda loves the warrior special (butterscotch, ice cream, and cream)...


Maren the rainbow...can I say blue everywhere!

Spencer loves the strawberry...

And Jacob loves that mom and dad finally let him get his own...

One of the great things about living on an army base is the never ending supply of friends and the common area we all share. I have loved that the kids all have places to play together and make their own. They have loved it too. I think they have had about six different forts around the neighborhood in the last year. Made from whatever they can find available. It has been crazy at times trying to keep everyone happy, man those fort wars are vicious, but well worth all the fun.

Other random things I will miss well...the Korean (mostly) ladies that take my groceries to the car for me for a small price...priceless actually to me, as there is nothing worse than trying to keep my kids safe in a parking lot while dealing with bags of food. Along those same lines I will also miss the cheap food prices at the commisary, it made things so easy! Also cheap is the extra curricular activities for the kids...wow was I shocked when I started looking at similar things in CO!

So while there is lots to leave behind we have great memories and a few new traditions to take along. One has it's roots with this old bug.


Dave took the opportunity to teach the kids about the slug bug (punch buggie) game on the way to church as we passed this one day. (Not sure punching your sibling is appropriate sunday activity=) But it was an instant "hit" in our car and since has grown to include those awesome cruiser bruisers (PT Cruiser) too. (Which combined can really add up to a bruised shoulder-consider yourself warned!)

I will never again take for granted those who serve our country and their families that stand behind them. I will always smile when I hear a "ya'll", and I will always be proud to say that I got to celebrate mardi gras, eat some mighty fine cookin, and rub shouders with some of the best of friends I have ever had. So...

Till we meet again.