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. 

....To Weather the Storm....

...in more ways than one...

I don't just mean these crazy snow storms we have in northern New York.  Those are the easy ones.  You can cuddle up inside all day, stay cozy in your pajamas, and snuggle with your babies.

I am referring to this "storm" called deployment.  I am over the moon that Donnie will be home soon, but I am an emotional wreck. I am excited and happy one minute and literally sick with panic the second.  Everyone keeps asking if we are happy or excited that Donnie will be home.  And I watch people ask the kids the same question.  Are they excited their Daddy is coming home?  The answer is YES! And if you don't say it happy enough, they look at you funny. But, I think most people forget about everything else that is involved with a homecoming.  I am scared to death!!! I want Donnie to see what an amazing job I have done holding things together, I don't want him to see my short falls (and trust me there are plenty of them). I know these are fears that my fellow Army wives understand.  Thank you, Krissy and Heather for being my battle buddies and picking me up when I needed it most. 

 

I want a picture perfect homecoming.  I know this doesn't really exist, but I might just die trying to make it happen or drive myself to the loony bin in the process.  I do my very best to push the irrational thoughts that creep into my head out.  I know Donnie doesn't care about a clean house or the perfect homecoming outfit, but I do.  I worry because I know that things won't be the same.  We've both grown and changed over the last nine months.  I know that Donnie loves me and we will find our groove again once we are back together as a family.  I try to remind myself that we will fall down along the way, but that we will get back up together...

...and like a storm...I know that there will be a calm after it...

So to quote my kids, "I'm over it (deployment)!!!!" 

I will not spend my time in the storm,

because I am ready to enjoy the sunshine. 

Single Digits Baby!!!

We are so close I can't stand it! It has been 263 days since Donnie left for Afghanistan and we are getting so close to the end. Seriously, the excitement is indescribable! So we don't have an exact date yet, but according to the 5 day arrival window we have been given it is less than 10 days.

Looking back over this deployment I am amazed at what the kids and I have been able to do without Donnie. And while I wish he could have been here with us, I am very proud of how strong our kids have been throughout this deployment. We're almost there.....

No more listening to a book that daddy recorded for them, he will be here to read to them at night!

...he will be here to snuggle up with them

and watch their favorite TV shows...

....and dads always know how to build the best forts!...

...and while I am not sure exactly what kind of crazy

ninja game the boys were playing, I'm sure my big boy

will jump right in and play too....

...so we will keep passing them time, doing what we do...

 ...counting down the day until we welcome our soldier home...

 

 

...Good Life...

....I know that I have a good life and so much to be grateful for...

 

When someone you love passes away, it makes you reflect on a lot of different things. Donnie's Grandma (August 20, 1925-January 26,2013) passed away on Saturday.  She was a beautiful woman who was full of spunk, and I know that her spunky personality is what I will miss most.  I am thankful that the kids and I were able to spend some time with her this summer. Katie and John even got to take a ride in the convertible to get some ice cream with their Great Grandma Ginny! I know they will remember the special times like this one forever....

...the thing about life is we don't know if we will live

a long, happy life or if it will be cut short...

 

So enjoy the good days with friends

....celebrate the small things in life....

....don't be afraid to try something new....

....live out of your comfort zone every now and then...

....smile and enjoy the gift of life....

...In loving memory of Virginia Ahrens...

....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!

...playing catch-up...

...this seems to be the theme since Christmas...

...I never quite have everything done, I know that most other mommas don't either, but I usually don't feel quite so overwhelmed and I need a sense of order to keep me calm or as Donnie put it to me today, "Keep Calm and Chive On."  I am giving it my best shot! 

We had a nice Christmas with my family, but it just wasn't the same without Donnie.  I hope that we don't have to miss Christmas together as a family again, but I know that with the Army that isn't something that I should count on...I hate the thought of Donnie missing these little sleepy eyed faces on Christmas morning!


...or seeing how excited they are when

spending time with their cousins...

...or getting to do something special with Mimi& Poppy...

...missing rare moments like a white Christmas in Texas...

It was so nice to be home and be able to have a break from our routine.  We were all able to relax and have fun.  We spent most of our days at home, while the kids played.  I think this is truly what they enjoy the most, spending time together! 

We did take a day to go to the new Perot Museum of Nature and Science in Dallas.  The kids loved it! There was so much for everyone to see and do!  I am so glad my parents got a membership so we can go back and see some of the exhibits we didn't get too!

 ...before we knew it was New Year's Eve and our 10 days in Texas were over, and we were on our way back to NY...

On our stop over in Chicago the kids convinced me that they NEEDED these Chicago Bears hats!  I thought it made a great Happy New Year picture for Donnie! 

Go Bears! 

 

Christmas & New Year's Eve was all rolled into one big night of fun and excitement for us!  We arrived home to a couple of feet of snow (we missed two storms while we were gone), and it hasn't stopped snowing! (I swear, we have snow flurries everyday!)

...and SANTA left some presents for us at home too...

...that had to be tested out immediately...

I wish I had a picture at midnight!  We rang in the new year with Donnie via skype! It was so nice to share the moment with him (at least I got to blow my love a kiss for the new year).  And the best part of this year is that he will be home in 2013!!!

 

I couldn't send the kids back to school without taking them sledding! So on our one day to "get things done" we did what HAD to be done and spent the rest of our time sledding!

...and warming up...

Let this new year be one, where all your dreams come true,

cherish each moment that 2013 holds!