Changes

So ever since I met Kiersten and Myranda, Kiery has always asked if she could live with us. The idea was always short lived and I knew it was a testing the waters thing. Of course our visits with them always have included fun stuff since they are on vacation when they visit. We don't get to do the normal, mundane, daily routine with them. So our house always seems like the "fun" place to be.  When we got orders to the same base last year, Alex and I wondered if either one of the girls would want to switch households. Sure enough Kiery brought up the idea to me again over the holiday's. My answer is and has always been that I would love to have her live with us, but she needs to talk to her Mom and Dad about it first.  She turned 12 in November and since the hormones have started kicking, things have been rough for her at her Mom (Winda) and John's house.  While I was in Tri-Cities she gave a little too much attitude to Winda and got in quite a bit of trouble. Not to mention our little straight A student started getting D's and F's for not turning in her work.  Alex happened to be down at their house having dinner while Winda worked late one night (John is deployed) and Kiery asked again if she could move in with us. He asked if Kiery had brought it up to Winda. Her answer was No. Alex mentioned it to Winda and the ball began rolling. When I got back from Tri-Cities, Winda, Alex and I all sat down together and talked about how to handle the situation and what would be best for Kiersten. We decided that no matter what we want her to be happy and that it would be solely her decision with what she wanted to do. We offered her a trial period for this last quarter of school, keeping her in the same school and then by the end of the school year she needs to make her final and permanent decision.  She decided she would take the offer. So, next weekend she moves in! We are excited, but I am a little nervous. I am going from being a new mom to a baby to now a full time mom of a 12 year old hormonal girl!  We also live an hour from them so I will have to drive her and hour to and from school every day, not to mention the toll fees for crossing the bridge to get to Destin.  I do think this will be good for her though. She will have some space from her sisters. I also think she will start to feel a little more grown up here since she will be the oldest. Right now she is in between Myranda being close to an adult and Meagan still being little. I think she is craving some attention. Her grades are an obvious clue to that. So we'll see how it goes. If she decides to stay with us then we will switch her to a middle school here in Crestview next year.  It will be an interesting few months!