Last time at Jordan's

One last visit to Jordan's Snack Bar - we're really going to miss the yummy food! But we are really going to miss Memaw and Pepaw even more!

An Evening Out!

Our first date night!! Finally Gary is home and he gets to meet Amy and Josh! Yay! Amy and I have become really close in the past six months and all we needed to complete our foursome was Gary - let me say, I think we all mesh famously! We decided to go to Margarita's one last time before moving and we had SO much fun! Yummy - Quesadilla Grande (my fave) and Spider Cider Margaritas! We also tried a Coco Loco - it's kind of how you feel after drinking it! :) Here's a couple pics from our night out!

Story time with Daddy!

Our bedtime routine is SO much better with Daddy! Here he is reading them stories - it's such a perfect moment, I just had to capture it. We haven't had it for so long, it really makes you appreciate the little things.

Blogging again...

So much has happened since my last post, I don't even know where to begin, but stay tuned because I have a lot of catching up to do. It's now June 23, 2009 and we are in Colorado Springs, Colorado. I'm back-dating the posts so that they will be in order, but I have a lot of adventures to share! The best thing is Gary is now home!! The kids and I had to drive to Norfolk, Va. to pick him up (Boo!), but thank God he is home safe and sound! He arrived home May 21st, earlier than we expected, but only a few days shy of 13 months! It feels so good to be a family again!

Almost Done!

It's Sunday, May 17th and it's kind of dreary today.  It's been raining all night, but hopefully it'll taper off this afternoon and give us a little sunshine.  :)  It's hard to believe so much time as passed, but we are FINALLY almost done with this deployment!  I am SO excited and relieved to have him home, but at the same time, I'm stressed out with trying to get ready for our move.  I hurt my back over April vacation and it's still not better.  I went to the doctor's too, but she said exactly what I thought she'd say - let it rest, don't pull on things, use heat and take advil.  She also gave me a muscle relaxer, but it doesn't seem to help other than put me to sleep.  :)  And we all know that's not a good thing when I'm the only one here (A MOTHER'S WORK IS NEVER DONE).  So, if it's still bothering me in a month, when we get to Colorado, I'll go back to see a doctor and maybe get an MRI.  

But on a more positive note, the kids and I will be driving to Norfolk at the end of this week to pick up Gary from the airport.  His estimated date of departure from Kuwait (yes! he's in Kuwait now!) will most likely put him arriving in Norfolk on Saturday and he can't check out of NMPS or on leave until Tuesday (when people are at work).  So instead of letting him sit around by himself for three days, we decided to meet him and spend some time with Daddy.  :)  Yay!  All I can ask for now is a prayer to keep him safe until he gets here!  

Terrible Two's

Although Colvin won't be two until July - I think it's already starting.  The first video was Cole giving me attitude (and then a little love) and the second was his tantrum after I yelled at him for throwing cheerios on the floor.  Take a look....

**Don't forget to pause the music - though I'm sure you can hear him over it!**

DISNEY WORLD (sans Daddy)

We got home Sunday night after a LONG trip to Disney World (driving there and back) and I have a TON of pictures to go through and post, but I thought I'd preview a couple shots.  We had a good time and it was great for the kids - definitely EXHAUSTING, but definitely great!

**In the pics - Mom, Pop, Olivia, Colvin, Me and Mellanie**

ONE YEAR GONE!

My Thoughts...

Today marks ONE YEAR since Gary's been gone.  UNBELIEVABLE!  Even more so now, I'm having a hard time with Gary being gone.  It's been harder than I could ever have imagined - IT'S mentally and physically EXHAUSTING!! - and although I know I have survived this long and it is a great accomplishment to know that I CAN do it, I just want him to be home.  It's like once we hit the one year mark, I feel like I'm falling apart.  I feel like this deployment is never going to end and I have to accept that he won't be home in time to help me with the move preparations, taking care of the house (selling/renting/whatever), everything with Olivia's school etc, etc, etc.  I think that's the hardest because after a whole year of overcoming challenge after challenge ALONE, now I have the biggest one yet - MOVING.  It's even harder because I started to hope (and even feel a little relief) that I wouldn't have to do ALL of it on my own because I thought he'd be here to help prepare a little.  But now, I'm just trying to keep my head above water because now there is no hope.   Oh yah, and did I mention the Navy is NOT paying for his ride home from Norfolk to Maine??!  Yup.  Ain't that grand?!  Over a year away, he comes home from war and they won't even give him a dang ride home.  Whatever.  It's stuff like this that makes me SO bitter.  I'll be so glad when it's all over and he can be home with us.

Also it's been so difficult seeing everyone and their families together, whether it be on tv or in real life, I want Gary home to share our life.   I am super happy to see that our friends have made it home safe and are with their families (Yay Jeff and Irene!) but it makes me miss him all the more.  I miss having him to hold me and hug me when things are rough or just enjoy the good things in life, like our kids.  :)  Like seeing them grow - the new phrases Olivia comes out with (the new "Pooh-ism" - she doesn't hear me because she "has a piece of fluff in her ear") or the tantrums that Cole is starting to throw when he's angry or doesn't get his way (and you thought girls had ATTITUDES!).  Or just to sit down for dinner together as a family, tuck them in bed or read them stories ... some people take even the littlest things for granted and it's the little things I miss the most.  Even Olivia is asking about Daddy more and more everyday - it's like last year, the more time that passed with him gone, the harder it was for her to understand.

Really, I'm trying to keep my happy face one, but honestly it's hard.  When someone asks how we are, I say we're fine, focusing on Gary's return, but inside I'm thinking, "Do you really want to know?"  :)  I really am grateful he'll be home soon, but this truly has been WAY too long.  I guess I will have to try to keep a positive attitude because if I don't, I'll spend most of my days crying.  And with all that I need to get done, what good would that do?  I guess I just need to put things in perspective and adjust my attitude.  I'll just keep telling myself, "a few more weeks, a few more weeks, a few more weeks ...."   I also have to thank God for my family, their support and for my friend, Amy, all of who have kept me sane these last few months.   And I need ask God to help me along - keep chanting Phil. 4:13.  "I can do all things through Him who gives me strength."  (NIV)    All I can say is ... Gary, hurry home!  :)

WE'RE GOING TO DISNEY WORLD!!

Wish you could come!!  Here's our little Minnie herself (a.k.a. Olivia)!  :)  See you when we get back!

Happy Easter!

Today we spent Easter at my Mom's house. It was pretty laid back. We watched a movie, had dinner and did a mini-Easter egg hunt in Mom's living room. Holidays just haven't been the same without Daddy, but we make the best of them. Besides, really, how can you not ENJOY a holiday that revolves around little chocolate bunnies?! :) Seriously? I've posted a couple pics for your enjoyment!

p.s. Geesh, I think Cole looks more like Gary everyday!

Colvin's New Haircut (Take 2)

I took Cole to get his hair cut again (the second time) and he still screamed and cried the ENTIRE time!  Definitely NOT a happy camper - but when it was all over, he was still as cute (and as CURLY) as ever!  See for yourself! 

Happy 6th Birthday, Princess Olivia!

Like Grandfather, Like Grandson

Colvin and Pepaw - Two Pterodactyls 

 

Aaarrrrccccckkkkkkkk!

Birthday at the Bowling Alley

 

 

 

 

 

Today we had Princess Olivia's birthday party at the Bangor-Brewer Bowling Lanes.  We kept it pretty small - Carter (from Olivia's class) and Ruby (Carter's little sister) came and so did our good friend, Lilly, with respective Mommies, Michelle and Amy!  And of course, we can't forget Baby Cole, Memaw and Pepaw. :)  It was a whirlwind party - as we only had an hour and a half to be in and out - but we still had a blast!  Her actual birthday is Monday!  I can't believe she is SIX years old!  Happy Birthday, baby girl!