Tasting whip cream ....


Yummy!



... I think I'll have some more!

We went to Seabreeze restaurant on Verona Island and had breakfast for dinner ... Olivia had hot chocolate with whipped cream on top -- so Cole got his own little taste of whipped cream. Mmmmm...good.

thoughts ...

Today I am having a rough day dealing with Gary being gone. I feel empty, like something's missing (I know, you're thinking, duh - someone IS missing.). Emotions like this seem to surface when spurred on by some event or knowledge I've acquired. Recently, I was given a blog address of some friends we knew in college and after seeing photos of them with their families and reading the entries about time they've spent together... playing with kids, visiting the beach, enjoying eachother's company ... it made me think of what we are missing as a family. Our friends also serve in some capacity in the military, so I know they have experienced their fair share of separation, but I feel jealous and sad because I want to spend time with my family and our family includes Gary. I try to be strong and not wallow in self-pity because there are so many families who experience this, but sometimes that fact doesn't help make it easier. And I know life doesn't stop just because Gary is gone; we stay busy, there's always something going on, but I miss sharing it with him. Life isn't the same without him to share it with. So, I guess I just have to pick myself up by my bootstraps and keep trucking...

Gymnastics Girl ~ Springer Gymnastics 2008

Here's Olivia working it at the gymnastics show ... the audio doesn't have a lot of commentary, but you may have to contend with the playlist. Just pause the music if you really want to hear the audio.

GO TEAM USA! ~ 2008 End of the Year Gymnastics show

Today Olivia had her first gymnastics show -- a enormously large group of preschool-aged children (a scary thought in itself) were gathered to show off their um, skills and talents, to all willing to watch! The theme was the Olympics, so they were all to wear red, white and blue ... go team! Jumping, and rolling and flipping around, they know no fear! They all were so cute! Pictured above is Olivia and Doug, her coach, after the performance. Next week, we start a new class - she does such a good job and really enjoys it! Go Olivia!

a new discovery...

Well, on my adventure to figure out the world of blogs, I discovered that photos can be inserted into posts and then archived when instructed to do so. So, I have placed a few of Gary's pics into a "post" so I will have room for new entries next month. The latest posts aren't "new," just reorganized.

Watch out, they spit!

Gary says there are camels everywhere ... it's funny, after he sent this photo, I watched Ellen on tv. Jack Hanna was a guest and brought in a camel to "show and tell." Turns out everything on a camel is useful...they can carry up to 5x their body weight, like having a cadillac to cart your house around, you can use their milk to drink, fur for warmth AND... the kicker...when they go to the bathroom, you can cook it and eat it as meat! I probably wouldn't suggest trying it, but it sounds like a camel is a good friend to have in the desert. :)

See inside? Say hi Gary!

A macho combination ... combine home improvement, days of thunder and rambo ... Not a good spot for those with weak stomachs. :)

Gary in Kuwait

One of the first pictures Gary sent us ... desert cammies are the fashion in Kuwait, where he completed more training for his new adventure in the middle east. This was on his way to Iraq.

G.I. Gary

Gary in Battle Rattle -- This was Gary in South Carolina shortly after he left on his IA for Iraq. They called it battle rattle because of the metal plates inside ... and rattle rhymes with battle -- whatever. He said it weighed 60+ pounds, but when I looked it up online, it was A LOT less! So it was a big debate and I called him a wuss for complaining so much! We had a lot of fun bantering about it and I don't think we ever found out the exact weight. Also, since they were being trained by the ARMY ... they said they were in the "NARMY." What men will come up with to amuse themselves! Ha!

A Father's Day without Daddy

Today was a gloomy day in Maine - rainy and overcast. It was kind of gloomy in our hearts, too, with Daddy being so far away. We sent Daddy a package with cards and goodies for Father's Day and Olivia made mementos at school, too, but I don't think it arrived before today. Just one of the many special occasions that we'll be without Daddy. It really makes you cherish the moments more when you are together, especially because kids grow so fast.

Gary is a great dad, I couldn't ask for a better father for my children. He loves them so much and you can see it in everything he does with them. There is nothing he wouldn't do for them. Even this IA is for them; he is supporting our family and securing our family's future by supporting our country and protecting the freedom we sometimes take for granted ... so Olivia and Cole will have a safe place to grow and live. It's the ultimate gift for them. I guess I couldn't ask for more from a father.

Let's Have Some Fun

A short video clip from Gary while in training ...

(You'll need to pause the music from my playlist to hear what is being said)

The next frontier...

Gary left for Iraq on April 27, 2008, intended for a 406 day tour. It was an extremely sad day for us, one that we didn't look forward to and pretty much avoided until the final moments before departure. We've never done a deployment of this magnitude but I'm finding that it's almost easier than when Gary was on submarines. I have more reliable communication with him, which is both a blessing and a curse. Sometimes I absolutely love talking to him (and seeing him thanks to webcams and skype!) but other times I feel like instead of relying on myself and my own resources, I find myself unable to get into an independent groove. But it's definitely more comforting knowing that he is there when I need to talk or just hear his voice. We're almost through month #2, but although it feels like he's been gone forever, we still have forever and more left to go. The kids are doing pretty well; Olivia asks about Daddy everyday. We've told her that Daddy's at work and very far away -- I don't think she understands why Daddy hasn't come home from work yet. The duration of time is sometimes incomprehensible and overwhelming...even for me.

In the beginning...

I have decided to start this blog in an effort to keep family and friends in cities and ports around the world up to date on the events in our lives. The inspiration comes from a couple we knew in college, who we don't get to see or talk with often, but always think of them. Their blog gives us a taste of what their life is like and what is going on and I feel like we still know them through the pictures and comments they post. And although I'm not technically savvy and may flop and twitch trying to figure out what I'm doing, as simple as this program may be, I'll do my best to keep this up to date as possible.