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Wednesday, April 4, 2012

PCS Party

It's an interesting thing having virtually no control over where we'll live for the next, oh, 17 years of our lives. All we can do is submit Matt's dream sheet, cross our fingers, and hope that the mythical-sounding functionals will use a click of their mouse to send us somewhere wonderful. That time between putting in our requests and receiving Matt's orders is killer, and we are fully aware that the answer we await could be either incredibly exhilarating or incredibly disappointing.

During that waiting period this time around, I came up with the idea to start a tradition of PCS parties. PCS stands for "permanent change of station," and is basically military-speak for "move." I pictured getting Matt's orders, then throwing a party to celebrate the news and start getting excited for our new adventure, wherever it may be. These PCS parties would include a dinner menu from the new location, a delicious dessert, and a little activity in which we'd list all the great things about the new location as well as all the fun things we want to do while we live there. In my mind, I imagined PCS parties being particularly important down the road, with an older Jake and his younger siblings. Having moved around a lot while growing up, I know that moves are both awful and awesome for kids, and I think kicking off the news with a party will soften the blow a bit and help our future family focus more on the awesome.

Then, we got orders to Hill AFB. Wonderful, for sure, but also terribly anticlimactic. (For those of you who are LDS, it felt a little like opening a mission call to Boise, Idaho. Really amazing, but when you could go anywhere in the world...) A PCS party felt a little less necessary since we already know basically all there is to know about the area, so I put it off for a bit. But then I realized that perhaps a party is even more in order to get us really excited about this move. Plus, if I'm going to start a tradition, I might as well start it now. So last weekend, we threw our first little PCS party!
For dinner, Carolyn helped me whip up Cafe Rio sweet pork salads -- one of Matt and my favorite Utah restaurant meals -- and we broke out the sparkling cider. Then we had a yummy cheesecake (hooray for Utah's new Cheesecake Factories!) for dessert and got started on our list. In the end, we had a poster board full of dozens and dozens of the best things Utah has to offer.
We were happy about our impending move before, but I can honestly say that we are excited now! (Even though, I must admit, its close proximity to California is one of the items on the "great things" list haha.) I therefore consider our first PCS party a complete success.

20 comments:

  1. What a cool idea! I love it! So glad you'll be back in Utah.

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  2. we stationed at hill afb.. are you from here :)?

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  3. What a great idea!! Seriously, that will be such a fun tradition for your family. And what a great way to get excited about a new area. It's kind of like a "count your blessings", focus on the positive activity. And after reading your list I am actually quite jealous that you're moving back to Utah! I already thought it was an awesome place but reading everything you listed made me long for it! :) You will LOVE the new city creek center in SLC. I am seriously excited to live in salt lake someday now that that's there. Ahh and all the outdoorsy stuff, and the cheaper living, and the yummy restaurants, and the family....! I'm so excited for you.

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  4. You can live in Utah with me, that's fine.
    (YAYAYYAY!)

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  5. You always have the funnest celebrations! You live life to the fullest and you will love every single place you live and make it a positive. That is how you roll!!

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  6. This is such a great idea (...and I'll definitely be pinning it from you)! We are in the midst of PCSing out of Hill, and, admittedly, I have been a bit focused on the negatives of our new duty station, like no Cafe Rio and over 60 miles to the nearest Target. I admire you for seeing the positives and new adventures that will come with your move, even if it wasn't your first choice. :)

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  7. Such a cute idea Ashley! I am SOOOO excited that you're coming back to Utah. Maybe I'll actually get to see you, Matt and Jakey more than twice a year!

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  8. I'm not LDS, but totally laughed at the mission call comment. So true. LOL

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  9. Yeah for Hill!!!!!!!!!! I bet I could add a few things to that list. Love, love, love the new assignment. I'm proud of you for making the most of life. Kisses for Jake.

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  10. Love the poster idea! What a great way to look at all of the positives and get excited :)

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  11. we are playing the waiting game right now... probably won't be finding out our orders until june. it is so frustrating... but your idea puts a great silver lining to the process!

    we my have to have our own PCS Party this summer... oh my goodness I hope it's Boston (our number one)! a girl can dream...

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  12. Ash, I'm glad you are warming up to the new assignment but, I have to know where you found those tortilla strips. My fave Mexican joint her in SoCal uses them and I have been longing for them in my dishes at home.

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  13. Thats a GREAT idea! We are moving to St. George right now, and it's really stressing out London, so I think we're gonna have to do something similar! Thank you so much for the idea! I was so excited you guys were coming, and now I'll be farther away, dang it! Good luck with your upcoming move, I bet your family is so excited!

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  14. I'm so excited to play with you Utahns! Krysta, you'd better believe cousin parties were high on that list :) And so were BFFs, Ali! We'd better see each other more than twice a year now haha.

    Justine- Matt was born and raised in Utah, and my family moved there when I was in high school. So fun that you're at Hill! And sad that you're leaving, Anne and Brein.

    Nichole- I hope you get Boston!!! That was at the top of our list, too.

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  15. Oh, and Lacey- We picked them up at the commissary in the produce section. I've seen them at Walmart, too. Hopefully you can track them down!

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  16. What an amazing idea! I love it! I am a brand new follower, I look forward to reading some more! Kristle@ Forgetthedognotthebaby.blogspot.com

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  17. What an amazing idea! I totally have to steal it ;) My cousin and her husband have been at Hill for almost 6 years, it is a really great community with wonderful schools. Thanks for the great idea! Annie @ Navywifediary.com

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  18. Yuuuum. That dinner was so delicious! I want to eat it all again! Even though we made it at my house the other day! So addicting! I love your idea of the PCS party. It was so much fun witnessing it and being a part of it!

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  19. What a fun idea! I'll have to keep this in mind. My husband and I are stationed at Edwards AFB right now and while we will be here for a while longer we cannot wait to for the day we get orders. :)

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