Our First Blog from England...

Ta-Da!  The Kistlers have landed in the United Kingdom!  Beware you British road travellers.... you have seen nothing like one Miss Amber Kistler behind the wheel of a right-hand drive car.  But first things first...

It has been quite a while since I blogged, but for good reason this time- REALLY!  Since my last post, we have been up to A LOT....Mallory and I kept very busy in those last 2 months we waited for Daddy to finally come home.  Then it was time to do what we had been dreading all year..... saying good-bye to our friends and family in San Antonio.

Mallory got to have one last princess harah with her two friends, Parker and Emory

And I was lucky enought to spend quality girl time with each of my treasured girlfriends- Christy and Jennifer.  I am so very blessed to have you both right there in San Antonio when I come to my parents house.  Even though I didn't grow up there, having friends around the corner really makes it feel like I am coming home.  Of course, we in the military never say good-bye, but rather "see you later."  I hope I will get to host both of you and your families here in England while we are here!  You are welcome anytime!

Probably the hardest good-bye was to my sweet nephews and niece.  How I have enjoyed being with you all everyday since you moved to Texas.  I had to post this picture because you can see how Frankie is trying SO HARD not to crack a smile!  All the grandkids worked together on this platter for my dad before Fathers Day.  They each placed a handprint hamburger on the plate for his delicious grilling events.  I can't wait to come home again and eat a burger right off of it!
So, of course you know we had a lot more tears and goodbyes..... but let's get on with it, shall we?  Try to keep this upbeat and moving along.  After all, it is no secret to anyone how much I love my parents, sister and brother, and how very blessed I feel for this past year with them..... before I cry, back to happy!!!!

After a very long, eventful, challenging and yet incredibly blessed year, it was finally time for our Daddy to COME HOME TO STAY!!!!! Hip-hip-Hooray! Mallory was so excited to wake up the morning of the very last jellybean!  (She ate one for every day he was away)

Their reunion at the airport- magical as always!

That girl had a smile for miles!

The Kistler Family Crazy UK Adventure was about to begin!

Granny Peg bought Mallory this awesome Toddler air matress for our long road trip.  She loved it, and even used it the last couple days there in Texas!

On June 13th, we headed out... Mallory and I in the truck, and Daddy and JD in the Jetta.

First official stop was in Memphis to see Nanny and Papa.  I never EVER seem to get a picture of the three of them together!  But here is a shot of Nanny and Mallory.  We did our traditional visit to the Peabody hotel to see the ducks, ate at the Rendez-vous Bar-b-que restaurant, and then took a ride in a horse-drawn carriage.

After Memphis, we headed to Chapel Hill, North Carolina to see Charles' sister, Chrissy.

And, of course baby Roy..... who has just turned one, so we can't really call him "Baby" Roy anymore!

Mallory was tickled to be the older cousin for a change!

We celebrated Ftaher's Day there, the headed into Raleigh to stay with Granny Peg.... who I managed not to get one single picture of with Mallory, either!

But we DID get a photo with Great-Granny Dell in Fayetteville a few days later. She looks FABULOUS!!!

While in Fayetteville, Charles and I just HAD to go by the chapel we were married in on Fort Bragg just TEN years ago!  It is hard to believe it has been that long!

Charles was feeling sentimental, and let me drive by our very first apartment we had together.....

He was annoyed I took the picture- but there is our little door- on the third floor!    Aaaaaawwww.....

Mallory thought it was super cool to see the place where her mom and dad shared "true love's kiss"!

We left JD in Raleigh with Granny Peg to finish out his quarantine, then headed north to the DC area to put our car on the boat and fly out of Dulles.  I had not been back to that area since graduating from Mason in 1999, so it was fun to go back and see old friends.  We even had friends we had met in Del Rio, Texas at our first assignment living in the DC area.  I was thrilled to get and see them before we had to go....

Stacy and Allyson are two more of my treasured friends from our Laughlin assignment.  Being together again, it was like no time had passed.......

....except for all of the KIDS we now have!!!!!!!  The oldest one, Bradley, was just 9 months old when I met Allyson for the first time!  How our lives have changed these past 7 years, thank goodness some things, like our friendship, with always be the same!

Mallory and Jillian had so much fun in Texas together before the Cranstons moved to Annaplios last year.  Seeing Jillian again was the hightlinght for Mallory since we had left Texas.

Mike and Charles  led all the kids in a pact to always keep in touch with each other and be friends forever.  Sniff sniff....

I also got to meet up with one of my favorite friends from college, Vi Do- now Vi Hannett.  It was great to meet her husband Joe and see her sweet baby, Gavin.  We had lunch at Red Robin, and chatted about old times and caught up on the past 10 years!

We also got to see Tina and her family before we had to go.  It was great to meet Jim, Wyatt and Tate- they joined us at Red Robin, too!  Tina and Vi were both in my wedding, and I still can't believe that it had been 10 years since I had seen them!

Mommy had sweet moments with Mallory those last 2 weeks on the road in the US.....

And Daddy had sweet moments, too....

.... but Charles and I were beside our selves to share this sweet moment with Mallory.  We visited Grandpa Jean's (and Grandma Jeannie's) grave at Arlington cemetary with Granny Peg and Uncle Johnny.  Our friends know how important Grandpa Jean was to both Charles and I.  Bringing Mallory to his grave really was overwhelming, in a way. We chose Daisys because they were Grandma Jean's favorite flower.   I was so glad we got to pay tribute to them before we moved.  It had been too long.....

And NOW.... the hop accross the pond!

We had an obnoxious amount of luggage- mostly my fault, I must say.  We were lucky it all fit in the Tahoe that picked us up for the airport..... but just barely!

I didn't take any pictures on the plane, in the airport, going through security or customs.... I am sure you can forgive me that!  We landed in London just before 11pm, and got to Lakenheath around 2am.  We were hungry since it was just past dinnertime in Texas, and had no idea what we were going to do for food.  We didn't have to look any further than our TLF room!

The welcoming committee from the 493rd had already struck, and left us a fantastic welcome basket, complete with an English Rose, teacup, tea and loads of info on the base and local area.  But that's not all.....

They had STOCKED our fridge with food!  We had enough to last over three days- just long enough to get our bady clocks in order and make our first trip to the commissary!

Mallory was thrilled.... and STARVING!

Her first official meal in the UK?  Kraft Mac-n-Cheese... and she ate every bite!

Our TLF room is very comfortable.  We get to stay here while we house-hunt (which is being reserved for a WHOLE other blog)  This is the living room.

This is Mallory's room...

The kitchen (please excuse the mess).....

And of course, our room.  We have settled in quite well- not sure how many trips it will take to get us out of here!

After a couple of days, we bought a car, and headed out to look for houses.  One of the first areas we considered was Newmarket.  These were just a couple of sites on the main road.

I love the ivy on the brick buildings here!

And, our first official fish and chips in England.  It was as delicious (and fattening) as it looks!

Mallory gets a kick out of the huge mailboxes here.  She loves how there is a crown on them!

And, really...?  A Frog-crossing sign?

We had lunch at a cute litttle tapas restaurant in Bury St. Edmunds, and just fell in love with the area. 

This is our first official family picture since arriving in England.  This was taken over the weekend in Abby Gardens in Bury St. Edmunds.  We had a lovely day with some friends from the squadron, and feel at home already... all that is missing is a house!

The gardens are breath-taking.  As talented as my husband is with the camera, you really have to see them in person to see how beautiful they are.  We have moved here at the perfect time of year, and all the flowers are just heavenly.  I may actually keep a garden alive out here!

So, that is about all I can do for now.  I will get some more photos together and blog more soon.  Once a week is my goal- but internet is hit and miss out here.  Stay tuned, and let me know when you are coming to visit!!!!  Cheers!