Welcome Darkside2SIX,
I am new too, with kids, and in Washington State, thou I live in the part down in the south eastern were it is sunny most of the time. And thanks for your service (funny, how much more thankful we become as parents, for the sacrifices our young service people make, or maybe it's me, but as a father of daughters I am so thankful to be able to raise them in a free country).
A few things I have learned in the last 10 days:
1. people here will help you if you put in a little effort
2. Out of all the places I have gone to learn, I have learned the most by far here at brickpicker.
3. I am by far not even close to being able to give advice on what to buy, but these sets seem to get good feedback
A) 10220 T1Campervan
10211 Grand Emporium C) 10214 Tower Bridge D) 10225 R2D2 E) Possibly 10237 Tower of Orthanic
4. With my kids I am finding that I am trading or selling my old stuff for ones that I can enjoy with my girls. (they like Trains, Mindstorm, Technics and friends( they are not really into the princess Lego, but love the Princesses))
5. I plan on parting out about 10-15 sets a month (selling the figures) to get free or low cost bricks to build with. They want to make a blue, pink, and yellow train next.
?6. After surviving baseball cards, beanie babies, pong and so many more. The biggest thing I have learned is to pick one. Be a collector or be a dealer/seller (just a personal observation)
I hope that at least some of this will be helpful, good luck and remember
"A kid without Lego's, is a future trouble maker! So make sure the kids your kids play with have Lego's at any cost, you are only as strong as your weakest link, and there is nothing weaker than a child with out Lego"
Sent from my tired self up to late using Brickpicker...