How to React to Life (When You're Five)

So I know it's been a long and I mean a LONG time since I last wrote, and I'd love to say something poetic like I have been tremendously busy climbing Mount Everest, or hunting jaguars, or homeschooling, but the truth is, the reason I haven't blogged in so long is because 1) I was on vacation in Washington, and then afterwards 2), we bought a dining set at Costco, which we can't put together yet because we haven't sold our old table, so it's been sitting in it's big ass boxes in the dining room. And thus blockading my laptop and I haven't bothered to climb over the boxes to access until now. 

What an adventurous life I live. 

First of all, big changes in our life. We received moving orders from the Coast Guard, and we will be relocating HERE:

So the initial reaction was "blegh". Southern California is not really my forte in terms of living full time. And it's a massive city, and still farther away from home than we wanted, and I hate palm trees. I mean I really HATE palm trees. I don't know why. They bother the shit out of me. Also, Brad is going back on a 378 foot cutter, which means back to the old 3 months home, 3 months deployed bullshit.

But then I got to thinking about one thing: 365 days of sunny, 70 degrees and a light breeze. Oh.Em.Gee. Which actually entails to 365 days of things to do OUTSIDE. And sooo many things to do. And also, taco trucks. So now I'm excited. 

Fine print: We do not have a move date yet, but assume June. We do not know where we are living yet either, but trying for Murphy Canyon Navy housing in Northeast San Diego. 

We waited until this past weekend to explain to Calen that we were moving. I was concerned that he would be upset about leaving the only house he really remembers. We planned out what we would say, bought books, mentally prepared etc. So we sat him down and explained to him that we are moving into a new house far away, and that a moving truck is going to come and take all our furniture and his toys etc and drive it to our new house, and he'll be able to play outside a lot and make new friends and and and. This is what my almost five year old got out of it:

 
Aaaand that was pretty much it. We played the "review" game with him to see if he actually "gets it" (ask him what exactly is going to happen? Where are we going? etc). And he gets it. "we're moving to a new house far away AND A MOVING TRUCK IS COMING." Whatever. At least there were no tears and he's so excited that that moving truck is coming. 

More serious discussions hit us three days later as the family lost Brad's grandpa on Sunday, the family patriarch. Since Brad is planning on flying back for the service, we were forced to explain to Calen what happened. He's never really dealt with a family death before. So we explained that great Papa got really old and really sick and died, and he went to Heaven to live with Jesus. We braced ourselves for impact, and again, his reaction:

 Life is so simple when you are five. 

We played the "review" game again. "Great papa got sick and died and went to Heaven with Jesus and Daddy is going to help Grammy and Papa be sad. So do you want to play the game now?"

Accurate.

Fine print. We are so very sad to say goodbye to Grandpa Hansen. We was a giant among men, and the world is a lesser place without him in it. That said, we are so relieved that he is at peace. Rest in peace Leonard Hansen. 3.10.14

 

 

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