Hello Parris Island, SC!!!!

WE MADE IT! After our less than pleasant DITY move..................we are home (for 3 years anyway) and so far, we love it! We traded in the LOUD artillery noises and overhead aircraft of LeJeune for the new sounds of living on a Recruit Depot! Before sunrise we hear things like the Drill Instructors "motivating" recruits to do what they are told, the recruits sounding off responses to those DI's and LOTS and LOTS of cadence as they run/train. It's a different type of base than Pendleton or LeJeune. The housing isn't hidden away in a corner, it's actually right in the middle of it all! The kids play at the park while DI's are across the street in a field chewing out recruits! At first it was so strange and now it's nothing to stand nearby as they "Drop and give me 20"!!!! It's actually pretty motivating and makes you so proud to be a part of the Marine Corps! OOH RAH!! Last week Jason and I attended a graduation and it was AMAZING! It brought back a lot of memories from when Jason graduated just 11 years ago! They all look like such babies! Some are fresh out of high school and they just exude pride and discipline! It gave me goosebumps as the Marine Corps band played and they marched in front of the stands across the parade deck. It was also so amazing to know that my Grandma Fiore graduated on this very same parade deck a loooooooooong loooooooooooooong time ago! There's so much history and tradition on this base! I think the best part was when the recruits were finally released to be with their loved ones! IT WAS AWESOME!

Ok, so getting back to our house.........Don't ask me how, but we were so lucky and blessed to receive one of two historic homes on base! It was built in 1892 and we are sandwiched between the General and the Sargent Major of the base! CRAZY, I know!!!!!!! We LOVE this house! How do we ever leave this place??? It has so much character and it's HUGE! It's a two story, 3 bedroom with an enclosed sun room, two fireplaces and a GINORMOUS screened in porch! There are two staircases! One is a "secret staircase" our maids, butlers and cooks will use and the other is the main staircase everyone can see. Ok, so we don't get maids, butlers and cooks (I wish), but back in the day they must have had them! There's even a butler's quarters located behind our garage! They are in the middle of remodeling it, but it consists of a bedroom and bathroom! HOW COOL IS THAT??!!!!! The ceilings are all 10 feet tall and every room has crown moulding and detailed window casings too! There is hardwood flooring throughout the entire house and tons of windows! Once we got organized, Jason put up the kid's trampoline that was a X-mas gift from their grandparents, but we kept boxed up due to the impending move. Jason and Greg also put up a tire swing and the kids have been in heaven! Their schools are located on Laurel Bay (another base), so they take the bus, BUT the freakin bus picks them up at our door! One morning they weren't going to school and the bus driver even rang the doorbell to make sure! OMG!!!!!!!!!! We have already explored a lot of the area (more posts to follow) as we are only an hour away from Savannah, GA and about 2 from Charleston. So, who's coming to visit?????? Come on down! "Well I do declare, we like it here" ;)

The sign as you drive in (see our neighbors names? Padilla and Yagle.............and Ellis baby! HA!)

COOLEST SIGN EVER!

We need MORE of these signs ALL over the US!

Kids on first day of school

Master Bedroom

Master Bedroom

Master Bathroom

Ava's room

Ethan's room

Kid's Bathroom

Stairs to a very HUGE attic

Sunroom (Kid's TV room &/or Ethan's X-box room)

Shot of two staircases (the one on right is for the "help") We actually use the "secret" ones more as they lead into the kitchen!

Little office area between kitchen and dining room in a little "nook"

Laundry Room

Downstairs Bathroom

HUGE dining room

Living Room (the new TV) :)

Jason's new recliner (gag)

The main stairs (for the n0n-help) LOL

Entryway

Gunther the Gnome LOVES his new home, but wants his brothers to come visit (you hear that Jill, Stacy and Erin!!!!!)

To the left of the front door on screened in porch

To the right of the door

Allllllllll along the front of the house

Sideyard

Back of house

Our teeny tiny garage, the new trampoline (FINALLY) and the butler's quarters in the back

The "Grill Instructor" on his new grill ;)