About two months have passed since we moved to Illinois. Things are finally starting to settle down, and we’re getting into a daily routine, which is pretty easy to do when you have an almost 10-month-old who needs naps to keep from being a grouch.

We’re still unpacking. Or maybe it’s that we haven’t unpacked much in the last couple of weeks. At any rate, we’re moving at a snail’s pace. There’s still a lot to be done, and not much time to do it before our time is up to file any claims with the moving company. (If only they wouldn’t break or damage anything in the first place!)

Aside from the usual daily ins and outs, we’ve had some fun making visits to St. Louis, but there’s still a lot to see. Aside from the zoo, we had the chance to visit Eureka, Missouri, where a lantern festival was held on Brookdale Farm. It was pretty cool to see hundreds of lanterns released into the night sky. Aside from that, most of our endeavors in Missouri are shopping related.

Lanterns being released at Lantern Fest in Eureka, Missouri.

I’m starting to find my way around without the help of GPS, which is encouraging, and I’m feeling much less confused when it comes to which gate goes where anytime I leave home. That’s one advantage to being on a smaller installation. Everything is sort of close together, so there’s not much you can do to get lost.

The cities nearby are fairly large, which helps a lot. It’s interesting being back in the Midwest. Sometimes I forget I’m not still in Washington.

I find that I’m still trying to get used to not knowing anyone yet. I’m used to not seeing my friends for a few weeks at a time, but being in a new place is a bit tougher. Hopefully we’ll get over this particular hump soon. After all, friends can definitely make or break a duty station!

I hope those of you who PCS’d to a new duty station this year are finding it easy to settle in to your new surroundings. I know it can be tough!

That being said, I want to wish all of you readers Happy Holidays. My next post won’t be until right before the New Year, so I hope you all are celebrating the holiday season with the people you love, whether they’re your military family or your actual family. My best wishes for a blessed holiday season!

How did you get settled into your new duty station? What were some challenges you faced? Sound off in the comments below!