Where Am I?

Being Prepared - My List and Grocery Store Bingo

Moving In

Dan went to work for a little bit on Wednesday to pick up the gear he shipped home. He took Jaelyn with him while I took Allie and Caden to run errands with me. I need to stop and admit that I do not like taking all 3 of my children shopping. It's hard work and not fun at all. Taking 2 and even 1 some this week was soooo nice. Anyway, Dan brought home 5-6 HUGE foot lockers filled with camouflaged stuff! I'm sure there's a more technical term than stuff, but to me, that's what it is. I was really impressed with Dan. Normally, he's not into work and would have brought the boxes home to leave them in the basement, unpacking them slowly over several days, leaving me a huge mess that would drive me slowly crazy. This time, he unpacked all of the stuff the first day and I didn't lose my house to a sea of camouflage. The kids had fun helping him unpack and looking at all of his treasures he brought home. Our favorite by far is the Aladdin lamp.
Caden carried it around all day. The girls wanted it so badly. Eventually, I had to take it and put it in my locked cabinet. Dan did give it to me after all.

I think Dan needs to work on his Iraqi yashmagh (aka turban) wrapping skills.

A Soldier's Gear

Fringe Benefits

Showing Daddy We Can Swim

We took Dan to the pool today. The children were very excited to show him how well they've done. He was impressed. We only spent a couple of hours because it was kind of hot and well, Dan's not into hot these days after spending 270 days in a desert. His poor white as can be skin couldn't take another minute of sun. While we were there, though, Dan had fun throwing the kids around and they had fun climbing all over him.

We had a little couple time too while the kids swam. I posted this on my 365 blog, but it needs to go here as well! :)

Relaxing By the Pool...Together

Dan's Homecoming

Yesterday was a crazy day as we were waiting in excited anticipation for the phone call telling us what flight Dan would be on. First, it was a late night flight landing at 10 pm. Disappointing. Then, we rushed out the door when he called to say he got an earlier flight and would be to Baltimore in 2 hours! We still had to buy our balloons and hang our banner, you know? We did everything we needed and were heading to the interstate when the phone rang again. Stand-by...and no one had given up their seat to a soldier returning to his family from Iraq. Pathetic. Majorly disappointed that time. In the end, we set out for the base about 8:30 to ride with Sgt. M who had to drive Dan back to the base because of his weapon. We made it to the airport a little before 10 ~ perfect timing as his plane was scheduled to land around that time. Sgt M dropped us off at arrivals and we ran in to the airport. We passed the luggage return flashing Dan's flight so we knew he had already landed. We got up the escalator and the area was empty. We looked around and there was Dan with a luggage cart piled high with stuff looking for us. All my plans of having the kids lined up with their signs and "American Hero" balloons were dashed, but I guess it really didn't matter as the kids rushed into his arms!

We made it home about midnight tired and very happy to be a family together again.

Welcome Home

Tomorrow is Today!!

Two hundred seventy days is a long time. That's 6480 hours and sometimes we survived literally hour to hour. Deployments, encase you haven't figured out, are all about survival and just getting through them. I'm so glad this one is finally over. Dan called this morning with his flight times...landing 10 pm tonight after a layover in Boston (crazy). I was disappointed and a little unhappy about the late night with the kids. Then he called and said he got on an earlier flight and he'd be home by 4. We hurried to hang our sign and balloons and jumped in the car. We were so excited. We were 10 minutes from our house when Dan called to say he was stand-by and hadn't made the cut. Talk about deflating happy hearts. We are now back to the 10pm landing.

Tomorrow is the Big Day!

Dan just called and he'll be home Monday night!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He won't know his flight until the morning, but he thinks it'll be late afternoon. We are obviously so excited and ready for him to be home. It's been a long 270 days. Thank you to everyone who has supported us. It's meant a lot to us.

The kids and I spent a few hours this afternoon making a sign to put on the house and making posters for the kids to have at the airport.

Getting Ready

Vacuum Marks Make Me Happy

There's just something about the evenness of vacuum lines that makes my OCD heart happy!

Bugs

We have seen some of the biggest bugs this summer and this one is no exception. So far, we've found a Japanses Beetle over an inch long, a dragon fly with a wingspan of about 5 inches and now this thing...it was creepy!

Reunited at Last

And no, I'm not talking about Dan with our family. I'm talking about my sweet Allie girl and her friend, Alex. A couple weeks ago, I emailed his mom to see if we could set up a play date. Allie has asked to see him on several occasions. It took us several back and forths to find a date that was good for both of us - I'm not the only one keeping my kids as busy as possible. So anyway, after swim lessons yesterday (our last day!), we met Alex and his family at the giraffe park to play. It was a hard play date. Allie and Alex have a lot in common, including their emotional meltdowns and easily hurt feelings. They were both off by themselves crying on more than one occasion. It was crazy. First Jack, Alex's twin, was pushing my kids on the tire swing and Alex was upset "they weren't playing with him." Allie got off and he wouldn't talk to her so she started crying. Finally we got them playing together and then something happened and Allie was off hiding under something with tears streaming down her face. If relationships are this hard at 6, can you imagine 16? They ended up the play date on a good note, sitting on a blanket talking because they were tired. Jaelyn enjoyed playing with Jack (Jack and Alex have an October birthday so they are just a little behind Jaelyn) and Caden and Timmy (their 4 year old brother) had fun playing together as well. Unfortunately, I don't have any pictures...I forgot my camera. Can you believe it? I was so mad at myself.

And it wasn't the only thing I forgot yesterday. I also forgot Jaelyn's dentist appointment to get her sealants on her molars. I called, apologized profusely and now the appointment is rescheduled for April??? Thinking we need to find a new dentist. Also thinking I need to locate my brain! It seems to have left the building.

Broken Chain

Catching Up

Dan will be home in under 5 days. I can't believe it. I should be busy getting the house cleaned and organized, sorting out our closet and fluffing his pillows :p. It doesn't seem to be happening though. I even put off grocery shopping this week because our babysitter couldn't come on Tuesday. The thought of taking the kids to the commissary made me tired so I took them to the swimming pool instead. We've been to the pool just about everyday for the last week. It's finally warmed up and feels like what I think summer should feel like. We hit 96 one day. I love it.

My Grandmother is doing much better after having her gallbladder removed last week. There was a low blood pressure scare the day after her surgery and then she had a heart attack a few days after that. There was probably some heart damage, but for now they aren't doing the heart catheterization one of the doctors wanted. I'm glad. There's no need putting her through that if they aren't going to do anything to fix any damage she might have. She's being released from the hospital tomorrow and will go to a rehab type place to help her get her strength back. I'm hopeful she'll be back in her own home again in a few weeks, just in time to celebrate her 90th birthday...which Dan is letting me go to...BY MYSELF. I'm excited to go home for a few days to see my family and just relax. Of course, Jen and I have booked a spa day at our Destin spa. I can't wait.

My Grandfather is doing well too. He started his treatment yesterday for bladder cancer. He has 5 more treatments over the next few months. I don't have an update on Doris so I think she's healing well from her surgery.

Dan's grandfather, Daddy Doe, is back in the nursing home. The mass they removed from his prostrate was benign. We are so thankful for that. Best of all, Nana has stayed well!!! Thank you for your prayers for all of them.

Seriously? Shopping Gone Very Wrong

I don't know what was the matter with me today. I hardly ever buy sugar laden, fattening food. And then to super size everything...crazy. I was on a roll today when we zipped through Walmart. I even had a list...oops!

Game Night

I can't decide which picture I like the best....
I like the crisp car driving towards me with the blurry Monopoly box in the background.

I love the lighting in this picture. It's just a coincidence of the flash because my camera is on auto and I have no clue what I'm doing, but it looks like a bad storm is rolling in to Monopolyville.

Prepared for My Day