...gotta start back sometime...

...and not just to school...

...my hiatus from blogging has been ridiculously long...

 

My plan is to go back and fill in the last few months on the blog, but for now I am going to start fresh.  And what better day to start than the first day of a new school year! 

My little cherubs were up and
ready to go before their alarms even went off!

I love how excited they are for the first day of school!

It was my first day back to school too!
I am working as the aide in Kindergarten
three mornings a week! I love getting to spend
extra time with my Luke!!

Donnie was home to see them off to school too!

Katie with her 4th grade teacher, Mrs. Rios.
Katie only has 7 students in her class this year. 
WOW!! I know she is going to learn a ton!!!

Momma and her Kindergarten baby!!

Being the aide in Kindergarten has its perks! I loved being able to steal a few quick pictures of Luke working and having lunch with his best buddy, Abbey.  And it certainly made sending my last one off to school a little easier.  I made it through the first day with no tears!


John didn't want me to take any pictures of him in his class
with his new teacher, but he did let me take a picture at lunch!
Such a big 2nd grader!!!

Somebody thought 4th grade was AWESOME!!

 

Luke said, he had a great first day of Kindergarten and couldn't decide what his favortie part of the day was because it was all good!!! He did love riding the bus!! And I loved that he got to sit with his big brother!!

 

...my heart was happy and whole again...

...seeing their smiling faces get off the bus...

Happy Birthday Luke!!!

...Five...

Wow!!! I can hardly believe my baby is five!  Five is an age that I have been dreading since I knew that Luke was our last baby.  Five means he is ready for Kindergarten next year.  No more littles at home with momma. We have joked all year about what I am going to do next year when he is in Kindergarten.  He ask me who is going to help cook dinner or bake cookies or run errands with me??? I tell him that I am going to keep him home with me, and not let him go to Kindergarten (oh, how I wish I could).

 

Luke is a fun, loving and easy going.  The perfect little buddy to have by your side.  I hope he never loses these precious qualities. 

 

We celebrated Luke's actual birthday at home, and lucky for him Grandpa and Grandma where still visiting and treated everyone to frozen yogurt after school! Yummy!

To be followed by pizza and cupcakes later that night!

Luke really wanted to go bowling for his birthday, but the bowling alley was closed on his actual birthday, so we decided a Friday night bowling party with friends would be even better! 

 

I loved all of the pictures I took of Luke bowling! They were so precious and showed so much of his personality!

...all the kids had fun...

...and Luke loved celebrating with his buddies...

Happy Birthday Luke!

...Spring...

...in the North County...

...is nothing like the spring I remember growing up...

Spring meant it was time to break out the flip flops and shorts, and while it wasn't always warm enough for a swim suit, it wasn't exactly unheard of.  I assure you, no one was busting out a pair of flip flops or a swim suit this far north on the first day of spring!!!

It was this week 15 years ago that Donnie and I met on our respective Spring Break trips in Florida.  That night at Harpoon Harry's in Panama City Beach changed my life forever.  "Yes, I do believe in love at first sight!"  We celebrated 13 years of wedded bliss with a romantic dinner.  Cheers!!!

March 18, 2013

...........................................................................

 

Donnie has been home for a little over a month.  For the most part, I think we have settled back into our family groove.  He has made an effort to spend special one on one time with each of us.  That has meant special days shopping, gaming, trying new things, and going out to eat at special places. 

 

This week Katie got to spend an afternoon learning to shoot a bow, or as John says, "Katie went bowing!"  Something I think that each kiddo wants to learn to do with their Dad.

Luke has been celebrating Dr. Suess this month at school. And after reading Oh, the Places You'll Go, his teachers asked them what they wants to be when they grow up.  It is no surprise to me that Luke wants to be a Dad when he grows up.   In fact, I am pretty sure he wants to be just like his Daddy! Luke you will be a wonderful dad one day!

Donnie has played catch and done just about whatever the kids have asked him to do on those rare days when it warms up a bit.  So even after a month home, the new hasn't worn off. Dad is still AWESOME! He is WAY cooler than Mom, and makes everything SO much more fun than I do! And the best part of the kids thinking Donnie is better than me is that I get more time to do what I want to do!

 I sure hope the kind of spring I know and love is around the corner, but I am not holding my breath. I just checked the forecast and snow is predicated for at least two days!   

He's Home!!!

...I have been waiting 272 days to write those words...

 

I want to say thank you to everyone who supported us throughout this deployment...with their love, prayers, and support. To my friends who have truly been my family during this deployment. Thank you doesn't seem adequate, but I honestly could not have made it through this deployment without you!  I want to say a special thank you to Jen Ulasiewicz who took beautiful pictures of our homecoming. She captured moments and emotions that I will treasure forever. 

I see so many emotions on my face when I look at this picture taken before the ceremony.  The exhaustion of so many sleepless nights, the nervous excitement (yes that is an emotion) I felt waiting to see Donnie for the first time, and my sweet little ones ready to find their Daddy and give him the biggest hug!

 

Once the ceremony started all of the soldiers marched in and like everyone else, I started looking for my soldier.  He wasn't in the front, he must be at the back. Yes, that makes since, I kept looking as each solider filed into formation.  Still no sign of Donnie.

 At this point I began frantically scanning the rows of soldiers.  I told myself, he is the only Major in the group of soldiers I should be able to spot him.  As they played the national anthem I became teary and emotional that I couldn't find him. I knew he was there, I could feel it, but I couldn't find him.  

And then all of a sudden he was sitting down in front of us.  I looked over and he was reaching back grabbing John's leg to let him know he was there.  The overwhelming joy I felt in that moment was indescribable! I didn't want to take my eyes off of him. I sat in my chair a few moments just starting at him, but I just couldn't take it. I got up gave him quick hug and kiss around his neck and sat back down. 

I have no idea what else was said during the brief ceremony, but I felt such a weight lifted off of my shoulders. I was at peace, he was home.

Those first few hugs and kisses are so special. 

I love that you can see the lipstick left on his neck from the first kiss I gave him.  I love that he fought the urge to wipe the lipstick off his neck just for me.

My heart was happy and full watching Donnie love on Katie, John and Luke.

Pure bliss.

Our family is complete once again. 

....Life is Good....

We are finally back into our groove. The holidays are behind us, the kids have had a full week back at school, I've started to actually cook and workout again, and we've enjoyed a few meals with friends this week too!

Life is good!

...the kids have been able to really enjoy their friends this week...

 

...extra playtime on the nights we had dinner with friends...

 

...and a good ole' fashion play date...

Luke and his "girlfriend" Abbey played for hours.  It was the kind of play date where you almost don't know they are there playing because they are playing so well together they don't need you for anything. It is so funny listening to them.  I wish I had recorded a few of their conversations. Their giggles and laughter will make you smile from a room away.  I was actually talking to Donnie as they were playing in the living room and he commented on how they sounded like an old married couple. And in many ways they do, they have such a special friendship that I can't even begin to imagine them not going to school together next year.  Of course, you never know with the Army.

 

The kids even had a sleepover this weekend. The boys crashed at our house and the girls at the other.  I makes me realize how much I must have worn my parents out with sleepovers when I was little. As a parent I now know that it isn't the sleepover that is exhausting, it is the next day that you have to make it through that is the challenge. My kids DO NOT do well when they don't get enough sleep.  But it was totally worth it! Awww to be a kid again!

We've been blessed with warmer weather this weekend too! The snow is slowly melting away, and I know that I should enjoy this brief thaw in our winter because more snow is on the way! Warmer days means the kids can stay outside and play in the snow much, much longer!  Snowball fights with the neighborhood kids, building snowmen, and small forts that don't last long with the melting snow.  Listening to the laughter and squeals while they play makes me smile!  It reminds you that life is good.

We are in a good place.

Holding on a little longer until we are cuddled up together again!

...thanksgiving...

A time to be thankful for all of the blessings that God has given us.

Luke made this turkey at school, and his teachers listed the things he is thankful for...


He said, my scooter, my brother and sister, my mom and dad, and my house and car. I love his list! It makes me smile to see what is important to him at 4 years old!

While we are busy getting ready for Thanksgiving, I am reminded just how far removed Donnie is from celebrating holidays. He had no idea Thanksgiving was this Thursday (he thought it was next week). He won't get to have a special turkey dinner or be with family or friends, it will be just like any other work day in Afghanistan. It makes my heart sad...

I hope the pine cone turkeys the kids made and the pecan pie (his favorite pie) I baked in canning jars brings a little Thanksgiving to him in Afghanistan!

...Happy Thanksgiving...

...end of the season...

We said good-bye to the fall soccer season this week. And I can't say that I'm going to miss it, especially not the nights when we had to endure 2 hours of the cold and the wind!  The kids had a great soccer season despite the weather that was really only a problem for me because the kids seemed to stay warm running around most nights. All of the kids improved their soccer skills, so I predict we will be back at it again this spring!

Luke loved playing defense and often made himself the goalie even though in his age group they don't have a goalie!  He was thrilled to end the season getting a trophy!


Luke spend most of his time at Katie and John's soccer games rolling around in the grass (or cuddling under the blanket with his momma). 

Tonight was no exception!  He and his best buddy, Abbey wrestled and ran around playing all night! I love that they would occasionally take a break to look at the stars.  I think at one point I heard them pretending to watch a movie in the sky.  Too cute!

John played hard and ran fast! I can't wait to see if this is a sport that he will decide to continue with as he gets older! I love watching the kids play a sport they are enjoying!

Katie decide to give soccer a second try this year. The last time Katie played soccer she was 4 years old and it wasn't her thing. She picked dandelions on the field and couldn't understand why no one would give her a turn with the ball.  She has come a long way from her soccer days at the Y. Katie is a really good soccer player!  And a pretty good goalie too!  I'm a pround mom watching them play!


Way to go Katie and John!

...until next season...