Fun Stuff at Fort Campbell

In Washington, I was fortunate enough to find blogs like Thrifty Northwest Mom and Macaroni Kid: South Puget Sound that compile lists of fun things to do around the area at low costs (particularly fun things to do with your children). I'm not sure if it's because this is a smaller populated area, or just because no one has done it yet, but I haven't been able to find any awesome websites like that here.

So, in an attempt to help bring myself out of my funk (see funk here)... I'm making my own list!

I'm hoping this will allow me to become more familiar with the area, and help some other Ft. Campbell girls find fun things to do too :)

Tie Breaker Family Aquatic Center (Website Facebook Page)

When: Open Daily

Cost: (Admission $7 adults, $5 children, 2yrs & under - free)

• After 4pm (every day) - HALF PRICE admission
• Mondays - BOGO admission (Buy one get one
• Military (every day) - $2 off admission

Location: Hopkinsville, KY

Info: If you haven't been here yet, definitely check it out. It's a small (but fun!) waterpark featuring a lazy river, kid's play pool, and two waterslides. Probably wouldn't be much fun for older kids, but I think it's the perfect size for the younger crowd.

Baby and Me Lapsit (Storytime)

When - Every Wednesday at 10 am

Cost - FREE

Location - R.F. Sink Library, Fort Campbell, KY

Info - For infants and toddlers up to 24 months. This program is designed to expose your child to rhythms of language and music by lending a hand in your child’s development through introduction of books and reading at an early age. Expose your little one to activities that enhance both small and large motor skills; such as basic finger-plays, tickles, bounces, and activity songs. Lapsit offers both you and your child the opportunity to socialize, while spending quality time with your child.

The Fair at Clarksville Speedway (Website)

When - June 14-18, Weekdays open at 6pm, Saturday open at 1pm

Cost - FREE admission and parking (Additional cost for rides, vendors, etc.)

Tuesday June 14, is dollar day - $1 per ride!

Thursday June 16, is military day - arm bands for rides just $15 instead of $20.

Location - Clarksville Speedway, Clarksville, TN

Info - From what I'm seeing on the website this looks like it might be a fun way to spend an evening or even a Saturday.  They will have a petting zoo, pony rides, the Kent family magic circus daily, Tuesday and Wednesday will have monster trucks, and Saturday there is a car show and demolition derby (Can you say Happy Father's Day?) You can read the full schedule on their website.

Warrior Week at Customs House Museum (Website)

When - June 21 - 25

Cost - FREE for military! (Admission is reguarly $7)

Location - Clarksville, TN

Info - Customs House Museum wants to honor military families by offering them free admission during this entire week! And on top of that, you get 10% off in their Museum store as well. It's the state's second largest general museum, and has 35,000 square feet of hands-on activities. This is unique museum that the whole family will enjoy, regardless of age. Click here to see all their permanent exhibits. Personally, I can't wait to go!

That's all I've got for now folks, stay tuned for more events and fun as I find them!



We made it to Campbell

Just wanted to pop in and let everyone know we made it! 

We spent 5 days driving, and got in late Friday night. We stopped to see Yellowstone, Mount Rushmore, and the Omaha zoo. And my wonderful husband found a Bob Evans to treat me on my birthday! :)

The trip wasn't too bad. Jack was actually very good. His nana got him a DVD player for the car for Easter, and he LOVED it during this trip. He got cranky a couple times, but hey... he's 1 and riding in the car for 5 days straight is not his idea of fun.

We headed out yesterday (Saturday) to explore Fort Campbell, Clarksville and the surrounding area and we're slowly learning more and more about it. Trying to find a rental house here is already proving to be exhausting and its only day 2! Oy. We're hoping to have better luck tomorrow though, since all the rental angencies will be open (They have been closed all weekend). Wish us luck!

Anyways, here are some pictures from our trip.

Jeff and I

You know you're bored when...

 

Yellowstone was covered in snow and it was about 35 degrees and windy, YIKES! We didn't stay there for long. Silly me forgot to pack warm clothes. Isn't it pretty though?

 

This is where Luna was most of the trip. Relaxin' at Jack's feet with her blankie.

 

Lots of Buffalo in Montana and Wyoming. They pretty much do as they please...

 

Jeff was happy to finally see Mount Rushmore (he's a history buff). All Jack said was "OH WOW!" haha

 

And don't let this picture fool you, it was actually hailing while we were at the memorial. By this time, Jack and I were so ready for some warm weather!

 

At the Omaha zoo, they just let this guy (and his mate) roam around! Not something you see every day, but very pretty... err... handsome.

 

Jack's favorite stop was defiintely the zoo. This is in the butterfly house, he was amazed. (And everyone loved his hat almost as much as he does).

And lastly, a picture of me and my boy in the aquarium. I'm almost 30 weeks pregnant, and you can definitely tell!

a DITY move.. my brain hurts

We were originally planning on letting JPPSO (The Army's relocation department) move us to Campbell. Which means they would pack up our whole house, they would move all of it, and they would move it in when we arrived at our new house. Sounds great, huh?

Well, because "confusion" between Jeff's unit and people at Waller Hall (the people that give him his orders) we are past the deadline for doing a JPPSO move. The average wait time right now for a move date is 60 days wait from when you do your JPPSO briefing. And Jeff can't do the briefing until he gets his orders. We are scheduled to leave here May 10th, Making March 10th the deadline for him to do the briefing, and we're clearly past that.

So, what does this mean? We will be packing our own house, moving our own stuff, and unpacking everything ourselves upon our arrival to Fort Campbell.

I'm trying hard not to stress, military families do this all the time. But the truth is, I'm going to be 8 months pregnant. And so packing wise, I'm going to be virtually useless. We were planning on driving our vehicle anyways, so nothing changes as far as that. But there are a lot of "what if" and "what should we do about this" questions.

Should we sell our cavalier? (that we JUST paid off) because how are we going to drive a moving truck and my equinox and Jeff's cavalier

Should we rent a U-haul or use a service like PODS (where you pack, they move)

How can we be sure about picking a house without being there? (because we are going to have all our stuff with us, we can't be in a hotel forever)

Should we stop in Ohio or not? We have stuff in Ohio we need to move to Campbell as well, so it'd be perfect if we could just load it in the moving truck on the way BUT...

the moving truck is $60 plus mileage (75cents a mile). So we'd have to pay for the extra miles to Ohio, and pay for each day we spent in Ohio. Needless to say, we'd have to stop, load all our stuff, sleep, and then leave. And that would make us sad, not to spend any time with family :(

AND who will help us unpack at Campbell? I mean, we have friends here to help (men to move heavy stuff). But we don't know many people at Campbell. (Amber- I know Mark would help, but it's right around Trent's due date and we don't wanna take Mark away from you two!)

Sorry, I know this is a confusing and big blob of a blog. But I just needed to vent. I feel a little better just getting it out. Off to start packing (I like to get a head start so I don't HAVE to pack every day)

Things that make us excited for Fort Campbell

Since we found out we're moving, Jeff and I have been constantly saying "And you know what else will be awesome when we move...(insert reason why moving to Fort Campbell is amazing)". So I've decided to write them down.

Things that make us excited for Fort Campbell

1. its six hours from home, hello!

3. SUN!!!!!! getting an actual tan in the summer

2. snow, sledding, building snowmen

3. The Corvette museum is close

4. Nashville is only an hour away

5. I can finally take Jeff to Dollywood, the Smokies, and Gaitlinburg

6. Friends and family will be able to come visit more often

7. Bob Evans, Steak and Shake, and Buffalo Wild Wings

8. It's in the Herr's potato chips distributing area

9. Seeing the leaves changed all around us in the fall

10. Being close to great friends (thats you Amber Easley and Amber Welton!)

11. The chance to have another cross country roadtrip

More to come when Jeff gets home and reminds me of all the random conversations about how happy we are and about what.