Sunday, November 29, 2009

Weekend fun!



We were able to go to a tree lighting celebration here in Va Beach this past weekend. We are trying to get out and see as much Christmas type things because we will not be decorating this year:-( It is a good and sad thing. I always love to decorate as I have at least 6 tubs full of decorations and it is such a joyous thing! However, it is kinda a good reason why we aren't this year. We will be gone pretty much all of December visiting family and enjoying a vacation, so decorating would have been a lot of work for a little time. We will get to see plenty of Christmas trees and nativity sets in the families houses we will be staying at!

The tree and town all lit up!
Mike being a strong Daddy...Logan on his shoulders and Austin in a carrier!

Daddy and his boys...




After Thanksgiving we went to Colonial Williamsburg for the day. It started as a chilly sunny day, but ended as a rainy cloudy day. We still had a good time and had lots of laughs!
This is my friend Joe and Casey (almost 6 months pregnant). It was fun to watch him feel their little girl kick and I tried to get a sentimental picture for them.
Logan was feeding Uncle Joe...sometimes got it in his nose

All bundled up but having fun Austin!
Mike and Logan playing at one of the buildings!

Saturday, November 28, 2009

A Happy Thanksgiving!


We had a great thanksgiving this year. We celebrated it with "extended family" or our good friends who live in NC. We celebrated with them last year also. Of course we always seem to forget to take pictures with all of us every time we are together:-( I thought I took more pics of the day, but I can't find them. Maybe they were mental pictures if you know what I mean! Our Thanksgiving started on Wed when Mike started making his Apple pie. He has made it before and has always been a big hit. Then Thursday came and we had the day planned out to the minutes and degrees of what dish needs to be cook. It was mainly a sunny day (which was good for me!) and Joe, Casey, Dakota, and the little girl bean arrived around 12. Lots of great fellowship and appetizers was done until time to get the feast ready. The 19 lb turkey (yeah I know a huge turkey, don't know why I bought such a huge one!) was put in and I cooked it in an Oven Bag this year. The most simple way I have ever cooked a turkey and turned out better than I could have imagined! Green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, fruit, candied yams, rolls and sparkling juice made the feast a grand delight! I felt bad because Casey had a cold so she couldn't taste much of it so I sent her home with lots of turkey and potatoes!
We decided to go to Williamsburg the next day, which is only an hour away. Friday was supposed to be a great day, but ended up being incredibly cold and started raining! Hopefully they had a fun time as well as we did (despite quite a few tantrums...why always on the days you need them to behave??!?!?!). Joe and Casey were very patient and understanding through it all! Thank you!!! After naps and some food we all hung out and enjoyed the evening. It is so fun to see Casey pregnant (almost 6 months along) because I haven't really been able to watch my other friends pregnancies like this one. I can't wait to meet the little angel!
Anyways, it was a great weekend and there is so much to be grateful for this year...i don't even know where to begin~to have a God that Loves and fills my cup, a husband who still makes me giddy when he walks into the room, a two year old that makes me laugh inside and out and gives some of the best hugs, and a baby who lights up a room and is already teaching me things. My family who has stuck by my side through deployments and just normal days...and my friends who have become my extended family through these times. So much and I feel so undeserving! Thank you to all you wonderful people!My little turkey...logan wore this too on his first thanksgiving!
making Daddy's apply pie!

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Random pics

Some random pics...we decided to reupholster our chairs (long overdue). We have had our table set for 6 years now and they have lived in 3 different houses. It is a quick project once you get the hang of it, but it can be tricky. I love the new pattern I picked and now that I know how easy (and CHEAP) it is we will be doing it more often!!




At a friends birthday party...i turn around and this is what Mike let Austin do...yeah tell me about it!






This was after church one day, he is so zonked every time we get home from there. He was so precious and peaceful.



Monday, November 23, 2009

God's Love is in between

Our church has sung this song a couple of times lately and I have heard it numerous times before, but the way they sing it is so powerful and when you sing it to the Lord it is so humbling. It is called Times by Tenth Avenue North. I see it has a love song between me and the Lord. Wrestling with ourselves, wrestling with the Lord and just pouring my heart to Him. The first part is about how we feel towards Jesus, how we want Him, but we feel so unworthy, how we know we need Him and want to love Him, but we just feel like our sin is too much. Paul says that he does the things he doesn't want to do and the things he wants to he cannot because of his sin. I feel like that most mornings, when I think about the day before and how I could have done things differently. The feeling of unworthiness and defeat can be so strong. And then in the second part of the song when the Lord answers and just so plainly says and reminds us of his love that is so perfect and genuine. So overwhelming and filling. It surrounds. He loves us when we don't deserve it but He does it anyways and so well. I know in my heart and head that I wanted to say more about this, but I just become so humbled by the thoughts of Gods love. Plainly said. So grateful this thanksgiving season for the Love that Jesus has shown me this past year. It sounds so simple but I wish I could portray the awe I have in words. Enjoy the song! The link for the song is at the bottom.




I know i need you
I need to love you
I love to see you, and its been so long
i long to feel you
i feel this need for you'
and i need to hear you
is that so wrong?
now you pulled me near you
when we're close i fear you
still im afraid to tell you
all that i've done
are you done forgiving?
or can you look pass my pretending?
Lord i'm so tired of defending
what i've become
what have i become?

(the Lord says...)

i hear you say "my love is over,
its underneath, its inside, its in between
the times you doubt me, when you can't feel
the times that you've questioned 'is this for real?'
the times you've broken, the times that you mend
the times you hate me and the times that you bend
well my love is over, its underneath
its inside, its in between,
these times you're healing
and when your heart breaks
the times that you feel like you've fallen from grace
the times you're hurting
the times that you heal
the times you go hungry and *are tempted* to steal
in times of confusion and chaos and pain
im there in your sorrow under the weight of your shame
im there through your heartache
im there in the storm
my love i will keep you by my power alone
i dont care where you've fallen, where you have been
i'll never forsake you
my love never ends, it never ends

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sw_8o85lFxA&feature=related

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Daddy and Son's project

When we were at Lowes the other day, we saw a sign for these Saturday Kid workshops where you could go for free and do a project or craft. Mike decided to do it with Logan and they had a blast today. Logan received an apron like the employees wear and a badge that I will sew on it. They made a wooden snowman that you can put a picture in it. He got to hammer some nails and put stickers on it. Logan was so excited to show it to me and tell me all about it. I love and cherish these moments!
Having so much fun together!! Mike is an incredible Dad and daily thinks and does things to grow his sons up to be Godly and manly men!
Cuteness....in every way!!!

Growing up!!!

Not too much going on...just growing up here! Austin is now 9 months old and we are definitely seeing his personality. It is a mix of a terror and a cuddler. He is all smiles and an all around happy baby! We weren't able to get in for a 9 month check up, but I did weigh him at the Docs the other day and he was around 20.9 lbs. I still have to measure him though. He started pulling himself up after the cast came off and last week started cruising around the couches and pushing things while he walks. I still think he has a long way to go before walking. He is now doing the knee - hand crawl...not the bear walk any more. We also think he may be getting his two top teeth in. We don't see the white yet, but those bumps get bigger and bigger every day!


Logan has truly been growing up these past few weeks. I hate to admit that I hadn't taught him till now to drink out of a regular cup. Only sippy cups. I guess I didn't realize that he was at that age! So we worked on that and of course there are spills and as you can see in this picture, plenty of liquid mustaches. (that one is chocolate milk). He has been trying more foods also which is so very nice! One other major thing is potty training. He has been peeing in his little potty pretty much every day for the past 5 days now. Even went #2 at his church school on Wednesday! He continues to go to the bathroom in his diaper and even underwear (I just throw those stinky ones away) but we are so proud of him for trying and getting comfortable with the toilet. Him and Austin continue to wrestle and play around. The newest thing is for Logan to pull Austin by his feet when Austin is on his tummy trying to get to something he shouldn't. (all the time!) I can't wait till Austin is more interactive and they just go to town playing!

Mike and I are slowly settling in as a married couple again and enjoying this honeymoon phase. We have made dates a very serious priority and have had one since him being back and have another tomorrow night. We talk about Antigua almost every day because it just doesn't seem real to us that we are going! We are excited about a long and fun road trip coming up to visit family and end up in MN for the holidays. Mike doesn't know what the next couple of years hold as he will find out this coming January. We will probably have another deployment before his enlistment is up but not sure when it will be. Mike should be making Senior Tech before the next go around which would make him a team leader. He continues to love his job and I am so proud of all the hard work he does. To be honest I truly don't think about exactly what his job entails because it seems so absurd that he would be disarming bombs or blowing things up. But when I think about all the lives he is saving when doing it and risking his life for others I just see the Lord shining in him. I know his boys are going to look up to him so much. Well, that was a tangent, I am just so proud to be his wife in so many ways. We met about 8 years ago this month and I can't believe how fast that time has flown! And to see all that we have accomplished together. I love how the Lord fits people together!

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

In one month....










Yup! Can you believe it? In less than a month we will be in Antigua enjoying our official honeym
oon! We are starting to get really excited about it as I am shopping around for swimsuits and dresses. Gotta get some sexy clothing for the hubs too! I have my passport, but Mike only had his government one so we had to do the expedited service (a little more expensive) and we are praying it all goes smoothly and we will his passport have in 2 weeks! We have a couple of things that we for sure want to do like a Canopy Zip line tour (I think those are standard in most tropical Islands) a snorkling cruise and possibly a helicopter tour. We even contacted someone who lives there to take some professional pictures of us on a beach one night! Here are a couple of photos of the resort we will be staying in. It is on the West side of the Island so we will have sunsets out our door every night. We booked one of the nicer rooms and it has it's own private plunge pool! They also come standard with a shower that is open to the sky and a hammock on the porch! I still have to pinch myself that we are actually going! I pray it all works out!

Saturday, November 14, 2009

Nor'easter

Here in the East we have storms called Nor'easters...kinda like hurricanes but they aren't as severe. We had one for the past several days...nonstop rain and crazy wind up t0 50 MPH. Wednesday Mike decided to take logan out in the rain and jump in the puddle in our yard. (the way our yard sits it creates a nice big puddle every time it rains...so nice I know) Anyways...they went out there and jumped around! Logan came in soaking wet head to toe but he had a blast!





Falling in the water!

Friday, November 13, 2009

Whats been going on here...


Here are a few random pics from this past week or so. Austin has been feeding himself for over a month now and one night I was cooking dinner and I looked over at him and he had this puff stuck to his nose. It was hilarious because he just kept eating! Lately he loves eating mac and cheese, tomatoes, carrots, and noodles. Big boy!
We are trying to help logan go on the potty and it has been frustrating because he will be dry for so long and sit on the potty but then he finds the time to hide and goes in his diaper. I know it will happen sometime...any suggestions though? I think we just need him to go on the toilet and then it might get better.
Mike was raking the back yard or at least the concrete slab in the backyard and Logan wanted to help. It was so cute and so sweet. He did a good job! He is not our slave and it is good for him to learn responsibility early on!



Logan in action

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Bosu Ball Fun


Logan is using the Bosu Ball that Mike got for his birthday from my parents to jump on Daddy and have a blast!




Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Getting Ready for Daddy to come home!

One of the great blessings of being a military family is free stuff. We got this banner for free and they are originally around 80 bucks! I have waited to show you all this because it was a surprise for mike too! A good friend of mine also got one so the day before they came home we helped each other put them up.

That symbol is the Crab...EOD
Making welcome home signs
Talking to Daddy on the webcam...one of Logan's favorite things to do! Of all people Logan sits and talks to Daddy the longest
My LONG calendar....ALL CROSSED OFF!!! The notes on the sides are from all the flowers Mike has sent me. I love reading them!
One of the best pictures yet. I love seeing them talk to each other!

Monday, November 9, 2009

The Homecoming of our Hero, Daddy and Husband

It was a crazy week of knowing and not knowing when Mike would be arriving home. First it was Wednesday night, then Thursday night and just kept getting pushed further and further back. I had cleaned the house several times and tried my hardest to keep it in some kind of order. I had made several frozen pizza's and mac and cheese dinners because I was so anxious I didn't want to try and make a big meal. Every time I did something like change a diaper, put them to bed, go run an errand, go to sleep alone I would think to myself, "could this be the last time I would be doing this alone?" I had such a hard time not telling people "at this time tomorrow...". It was thursday night and I knew that Mike was leaving Germany (his layover) and would be heading home. I got Logan ready for bed and read him one of the "deployment" books about Daddy being away from home. This one was our favorite. I made a star out of paper to put in the book so that when we were reading it, he would see it and I could then tell him that we are bringing that star to Daddy tomorrow. When he saw it he kinda froze and then grabbed it, looked at it and put it down and wanted it to stay next to his bed.



I got a text at 2:30 Friday morning from Mike saying they were in Maine and going to be leaving soon to come to VA. Our told time from the Command was 6:00am for their arrival. I was going to get to the airport at 5 just so I could get my bearings on the surroundings and just get ready. So I was up early curling my hair and I got another text from him at 3:30 saying they were leaving shortly and it was only a 1.5 hour flight. I was like...ok that means you will get here at 5! I gotta hurry! I had bought a special outfit for me and the boys and even though it was so early, I still wanted to be all dressed up. I woke logan up and said "lets go get Daddy"...ok, just to let you all know, I have WAITED so long to say those words. In the beginning of the deployment he would say "go get daddy?" and I would have to say later. It felt so good and so unreal to say that. He happily got dressed and sat on my bed watching 101 Dalmatians while I got Austin ready. They had matching outfits....the cutest ever! As you can see in the pictures Austin looked soooo tired, feel bad for the babe he had no idea what was going on.

We arrived on base and a good friend of mine was there early too. I was grateful I wasn't there by myself, however because they were early we were the only families to greet over a dozen guys who have families on their way. I felt so bad that they weren't there to meet them right away. Anyways, we got through the security and not ten minutes later were they walking through the doors. I couldn't believe it was happening!
Because they were early, my picture taker wasn't there and so I was able to snap pictures of the boys with mike and there may be some pictures of Mike and I on a friends camera...we will see. We saw Mike walk in and Logan was standing next to me holding his star and Austin was in my arms. He saw us and Mike's face lit up, I stooped down to point out Daddy, and once he saw him we took off for Mike. Logan was saying "DADDY! DADDY!" and I was kissing my man. He never looked so handsome and so incredible. After a long hug and kiss he stooped down and looked at his son.
As I knew it would be one of the first things Logan would say and do would be to show Mike the Monster truck that he was holding and say "Monster Truck!"
There were hugs and kisses.

And Logan and Mike traded stars. Mike had made him a star to give Logan when they saw each other.

Then Mike got to see his BIG boy Austin. Who was only 6 weeks old when he left and is now 8.5 months old. Austin was hesitant at first and just starred at Mike.
But after a quick toss in the air, Austin gave Mike one of his genuine and huge smiles. Kinda neat to see Mike with his gorgeous and amazing sons.
Here we are as a complete family again. There weren't any tears shed once we saw him and we were smiling the whole way home, Logan talking our ears off. The rest of the day was filled with "Daddy Wrestle!" and mexican food. It wasn't until things quieted down that I was able to soak in Mike, and then I let the tears flow. I didn't realize how lonely I was and how much I was holding my breath during the last 7 months. To have the help from my partner and their dad is incredible. To have that loving touch and incredible smile right in front of me is still so surreal. I am so grateful that the Lord brought him home safely and that things are going so well. It isn't easy having to say goodbye, adjust, have them come home, and then adjust again. But when it is the Love of Your Life...it is so much more than worth it.