Happy Birthday to Me...

... and Happy Memorial Day to Everyone!!!

A day to remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.  We started our day off with a Memorial Day Parade to honor those men and women.  Katie was twirling/marching in the parade.  She said, I was lucky to have my birthday on Memorial Day because not many people get a parade on their birthday.  She is right!

The boys waving their flags
to those marching in the parade.

Luke taking a little break from all the flag waving.

Katie marching by us!
So cute!

I love her beautiful smile!

The parade ended at this Memorial to those who have died while serving in our Armed Forces.  They had a short ceremony, the Carthage High School band performed the National Anthem and the twirlers performed to the Grand Old Flag. 

A relaxing afternoon...

The kids took me out to dinner at Texas Roadhouse or as we like to call it the Peanut Place.  Luke said, "we have to have silly string on your birthday bacause it makes everyone silly and fun!"  He was right!

Luke blasting me with silly string!

They were doing face painting at Texas Roadhouse!
Lucky kids!

Group picture on my birthday!

West Point

We had a wonderful time seeing old friends when we were not enjoying the graduation festivities. The kids ate, played, danced, and laughed a lot!!

We were even able to celebrate Bray's 4th Birthday!

I think mine really enjoyed climbing in their tree, especially since we don't have a tree in our backyard. 

Renee and I spent a few late nights talking. It is so nice to have friends that you really connect with and can share anything. Thank you Callahan Family for letting us stay with you!  Let us know when you are ready to visit Fort Drum!

Class of 2012...

The kids and I went to West Point to see the cadets we sponsored graduate. I love this time of year at West Point. It is absolutely beautiful when everything is green and blooming along the Hudson River. It also reminds me of going to Donnie's graduation 14 years ago on this same weekend. It was such a special time in our relationship. This is truly where we feel in love with each other. I wanted to share a few pictures from Donnie's graduation weekend.  (Oh my goodness we look so young!)

Donnie 1998

Donnie and I after his last parade as a cadet.

May 30, 1998
Donnie and I after graduation & his commissioning. 
What a handsome 2LT!

The kids and I were able to see two of "our cadets" get commissioned as 2nd Lieutenants.  It is such an emotional experience.  Is still remember Donnie's ceremony.  These amazing young men and women are entering our Army during a time of war and very soon soldiers will be looking at these new officers for leadership and guidance.  This is a lot of responsibly for such young officers.  I will be praying for each of you. 

J.C. did a Spiritual Commissioning which was held at the Cadet Chapel.  It was a beautiful ceremony showing their faith and commitment to God and our country.  We were only able to visit with J.C. for a minute before running over to Trophy Point to see another cadet.  Unfortunately this is the only picture I was able to take of J.C.

2LT J.C. Van't Land
(front row in the center)

We ran across campus trying to get to Trophy Point in time to see Eric's commissioning before it started to rain.  We didn't make it before the rain thunderstorm hit, and it was pouring!  Thankfully we did make it to the tent in time to see Eric and several of this friends get commissioned.  We met Eric and his family and his girlfriend, Megan the day before R Day.  I feel so blessed to have been a part of his West Point experience.  He is an amazing young man.  I know how proud his family and fiance, Megan are of all he has accomplished. 

Eric taking his Oath of Office

Eric and Megan are high school sweethearts.
Staying together during his time as a cadet
at West Point is a beautiful testament of their love.

2LT Eric Gross

Despite all of the rain and being drenched we were able to squeeze in a few pictures at Trophy Point.  

We were able to hang out with Connor and his family at his graduation party later that night!  The kids loved seeing all of "our cadets"! They were always so sweet with our kiddos!  Just as we have watched the cadets grow up, they have watched our kids grow up as well. 

2LT Connor McCarthy
I love that he is already wearing his Old Grad shirt!

Katie, John, and Luke loved all of the food at Connor's party! I think they tried every sweet treat!  Of course, their favorite part was playing with the sparklers!  So much fun! 

Congratulations to all of the cadets we sponsored while at West Point.  You are an amazing group of 2nd Lieutenants.  May God Bless You. 

Our Friday...

Slumber Party in Katie's Room!

My babies are wiped out! They only had school three days this week, but it seemed like a full week. We ended this week with our Friday after school tradition, Happy Hour!!! Too bad it doesn't work out every Friday, but I look forward to the weeks it does. Krissy and I chatted and enjoyed a glass of wine, while the kids played in the water and jumped on the trampoline. The perfect Friday Wednesday afternoon! Krissy also prepared a delicious dinner before we all headed to the kids soccer games. Such a wonderful evening. I am so thankful to have the love and support of good friends, especially during this deployment.

Anything goes...

I am be becoming a yes mom, at least for today! Will you take us to catch frogs? Yes. I hear the ice cream truck (it is 4:45pm). Can we get ice cream? Yes. Can we go eat our ice cream at the park? Yes. I finally say it is time to come inside and have dinner (yes they did just have ice cream). Can we have a water fight in the backyard while you get dinner ready? Yes. Can we have orange crush and eat dinner in our swimsuits? Yes.

I did stand firm on one rule, if we have school the next day you have to sleep in your own bed. A good nights rest makes for a much happier household!

Luke asleep by 8:00pm with his own Daddy Doll.

Doing just fine....

If you would have asked me how I was doing today before noon I would have said just fine. I might have even said, I am having a good day. Of course, I should have known that we were finding our groove a little too easily.  So then came, the phone call from school that John was having a rough day with lots of tears because he was missing his daddy.  My heart just broke, I wanted to go and scoop him up in my arms and make him feel better.  This was a phone call that I would have expected to get about Katie, but not John.  He has been my little rock.  But, after some tears, some prayer and council from a wise friend, I decided that he would be fine and I could comfort him when he got home from school.  Thankfully, about an hour later I received another call from the school saying that John was doing just fine, which put my heart at ease.  I was doing just fine again! 

The kids made it home and I was able to talk to John.  He is doing just fine.  Then I found a letter in Katie's backpack to Donnie. 

Dear Dad,
I miss you so much.  I have been helping mom. Things have been good, but I miss you so much that our house is not complete.  Mom has been crying and so have John, Luke, and me. I love you so much.  Miss you. 
Love,
Katie

Oh how I want my kids to feel complete again. 

The kids were in the backyard getting the sprinkler set up to play.  I stepped out back to check on them when I saw this garter snake slithering up to my porch!

I screamed like a crazy person as my kids would say.  The snake quickly slithered into the grill cover that was lying on the ground next to the grill (I had been meaning to put it back on the grill). Now, I don't know about you, but I don't like snakes at all!! So there was no way this guy was going to be living in my backyard! After poking around in the grill cover the snake came out and I managed to scare him under the fence into my neighbors yard (her husband isn't deployed anymore). I am sure you can imagine the scene at this point. Every kid in the neighborhood has gathered around to see the snake. This poor snake is scared half to death crawling back and forth between the fences and trying to hide in the bushes. I finally brake down and call my friend with boys to see if one of her sons would pick it up and take it back to the woods (we tried to save this snakes life). I can just hear my dad saying, "that little guy won't hurt you." By now we have two boys trying to pick this snake up. The snake took a bite at both of them!!! So the snake got his head chopped off with a shovel! If I never see another snake it will be just fine with me!

We made it through dinner and soccer without anymore excitement!  And I got a wonderful gift bag filled with goodies from my sweet friend, Heather!  Thank you, Heather for lifting me up!  I did my best to get a good picture of the kids after soccer, but this is what you get at the end of the day.  One kid who doesn't even care you taking a picture, one who is actually trying to smile, and another who is like here's a smile for you!

But, if you are wondering, we are doing just fine!

Operation Daddy Doll....

The kids received two Daddy Dolls (the last two they had left) yesterday.  The boys said they would share one since they share a bedroom.  I think the kids must have thought I needed a Daddy Doll because when I woke up this morning one of them was sleeping next to me! 

The kids wanted to give their dolls hair cuts first thing this morning.  John cut his doll's hair super short.  He said that daddy doesn't have that much hair! (John's doll is almost bald now).  Ha! Just the laugh I needed this morning. Katie gave her doll a hair cut too, but she didn't go quite as short. 

We also found a good picture of Donnie to add to the doll's face! I think they look pretty good! Now hopefully we can get a third doll, because I think Luke is starting to feel a little left out.  Although John did let Luke sleep with the doll tonight.  I am actually a little surprised by how much they seem to like these dolls.

It was another beautiful day, so we had a picnic lunch at Thompson Park and the kids spent some time playing at one of their favorite playgrounds. 

Day 1 apart is officially marked off the calendar!  Whoop!  The kids are ready for bed with their Daddy Dolls and stuffed animals.  

Katie wanted to wear one of Donnie's favorite shirts to sleep in tonight! Luke decided that Donnie's shirt was too big for him, so he just picked out one of his shirts to use as a blanket. So sweet! 

What?
I can't heat you
over the  sound of my
AWESOMENESS!

This t-shirt is so Donnie, and makes me smile just thinking of the day he brought it home from work!  Yes, this awesome shirt was a gift!