...Donnie has been home for two weeks...
The Welcome Home sign has been taken down, the kids winter break is over, and life has returned to "normal." It is hard to believe that two weeks ago we were having breakfast together for the first time in 9 months. It has been heartwarming to watch Donnie enjoy some of the simple pleasures we take for granted. For example, the first thing that he ate when he walked in the door was a banana. Who knew that would have been something he missed. 
He has spent time learning the kids favorite video games.
The picture on the plasma has been gray since after Thanksgiving, but it just wasn't a task that I was willing to tackle. It was on the top of Donnie's list! Less than 24 hours home and he had the kids taking the TV apart to see if the problem could be fixed. Unfortunately, this wasn't one he could fix so we are now enjoying family movies on the new 60" LED with built in wi-fi. Certainly, a pleasure he wasn't enjoying in Afghanistan.
...Catching up on sleep is an important
part of adjusting back to life at home...
...and sometimes that means falling asleep
and snoring at any moment...
...because after all, you need a lot of
energy to game with the boys...
...We have been savoring our time as a family...
...Eating...Drinking...Laughing...
Doing the things that families are supposed to do together!
This post really would not be complete if I didn't talk about the little things that have made me laugh as Donnie is adjusting to life back at home. I think most everyone would agree that having a phone is important. Not Donnie, he did not want me to activate his cell phone for him so he would have it when he got home. Never mind that we don't have a home phone and I am not one to share my iPhone. Finally after being locked out of the house (we were home, but no one heard him at the door) and Katie getting her eye busted open, and having to borrow a neighbors phone to call me home, guess who has a new iPhone 5?
I loved when he came home from the gym and said, "It is so awesome to have mirrors at the gym!"
Apparently, it is a lot easier to lift weights when you can see yourself! Dang he looks good!
...Driving...
This is a separate topic in itself. He says that he survived 9 months in Afghanistan,but my driving is going to kill him. He was not allowed to drive for the first 48 hours back at home. The fastest you can drive anywhere on post is 35 mph, and if passing a pedestrian it is only 10mph. So needless to say I wasn't driving fast. But, he was VERY concerned that I was driving way too fast. He thought 35mph felt like we were flying down the highway! Guess this is what happens when you don't drive for 9 months and the speed limit in Afghanistan is even slower than on Fort Drum.
Thankfully, he has adjusted to driving.
...and my favorite...
He actually forgot how to add tip to his credit card at a restaurant.
We went to dinner at our favorite peanut place and when the waiter brought the check. He got out his gift card to the restaurant and his credit card. I said, "Just give them the gift card and then they can put the rest of the credit card." He looked at me very confused. The waiter came and picked up the cards while Donnie gave him the same puzzled look. He looks at me and says, "How is he going to know how much tip to add?" No, I am not joking. He was totally serious. I explained that he would bring the receipt we would add the tip and sign it. It was like I was talking to an alien. He did not remember this concept at all!! It wasn't until the waiter brought the ticket back that it clicked and he looked at me and said, "Shut up!" I was dying laughing. Poor guy, but don't worry he as fully adjusted to spending money and using his credit card again!
It's the simple things in life that we forget.
