Christmas came early! - part 2

I wrote about my Christmas present here. The boys also got to choose and then open their gifts from my parents. We're not sure when we'll all be together again. So, they decided that now was as good a time as any!
Some new swords (they're NERF!):

Indoor sports equipment to stave off cabin fever:

And Diego stuff:

Christmas has never lasted this long around our house! It will probably stretch all the way into January!

Christmas came early!

Hubs and my parents got this camera lens for me for Christmas last Saturday. I can't even begin to tell you how incredibly excited I am. Now I won't have to change lenses anymore!


Here's 18 mm:

100 mm:

270 mm:

Paul Revere and a Baker?

Gator has been studying the Revolutionary War at school. They did a program last Friday covering what they have learned so far. The kids had to research a person and prepare a mini-biography of him or her. Then, they read their reports to the class in costume. Gator was Paul Revere. He also drew the picture on the board. He was shy to begin with (of course), but quickly warmed up and read his report perfectly! We are so proud of how well he is reading now. He really enjoys it!

While my parents were here, Bull made cookies with my mom. He did a superb job of pouring the ingredients into the mixing bowl. Then he got to enjoy the fruits of his labor. We froze half of the dough for later. So we will enjoy his skills again soon!

Happy Thanksgiving!

It's a beautiful, crisp, fall morning, with the sun shining brightly and no clouds in the sky. I'm used to being stubborn about wearing a sweater on Thanksgiving Day. Because It's Thanksgiving! It should be cold! I'm wearing a sweater (or at least a long-sleeved shirt)! Today there's no doubt that I'll be wearing a sweater. And I have a warm home to stay inside if I choose.

As I was thinking about it last night, I realized that this is the first Thanksgiving that I've ever spent away from family. It's a bit strange to not be traveling to Georgia today. Since I was a kid, we have spent nearly every Thanksgiving in Georgia visiting all of my Mom's extended family. Then on Black Friday, we hit all the amazing shopping opportunities. I sure do miss being with them today.

But I have much for which to be thankful. I have an adopted family living all over the world because of this military life we lead. I live in a country worth defending. My husband's livelihood is caring for the soldiers who defend our Constitution. In fact, today he (along with the other officers in his Battalion) will be serving Thanksgiving dinner in their dress blues at the Dining Facility (DFAC) where most of our single soldiers eat every day.

Our meal will be simple today, but it will be more than enough (though I would love some of my grandmother's Divinity). My pantry, refrigerator, and deep freezer are full of delicious food and ingredients to make filling meals for my family. And all of these are located in a house that we don't pay for, on a street filled with families of heroes.

My family slept until 8:45 this morning, a VERY rare occurrence in this house. We are still in our pajamas, watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. I "put my foot down" this morning and told this house full of boys that since I was going to watch hours upon hours of football over the next few days that we were going to watch this parade! I am thankful for the comforts that we enjoy.

As I wrote yesterday, I am thankful for the little one who continues to grow and get stronger in my belly. I'm thankful for this house full of boys in which I live (even with all of its craziness). Right now my little guys are pounding on my biggest boy. I'm thankful that he's home today, and not deployed. I'm thankful that one day, some day, there will be girls around when my sons bring their wives and families to visit.

Most of all, I am thankful for a God who lives to bless His children, who loves like a hurricane, and showed the depth of that love by sending His Son to take my place.

May you know the depth of His love today.

Faith or Fear - Part 2

36 weeks with Monkey! (There's a contest at the end!)

Remember this post? I have once again been battling with a teeny tiny bit of fear regarding Monkey's delivery. First, a bit of background...

I went into labor with Gator at 35 weeks 5 days and delivered him at 35 weeks 6 days. I checked with my midwife earlier that week to be sure that I could still travel that weekend, and she gave me the green light. We went to my husband's hometown for a massive baby shower. On Friday night, my water broke. Just about the time I would have been opening presents at my shower on Saturday, I was having my baby. While Gator's delivery had the potential to be very harrowing, it really wasn't. I would be lying if I said that I wasn't scared though. However, he was healthy! His only complication was jaundice.

My pregnancy with Bull was hard on me physically. I was very sick, and Hubs was out to sea for the first part. I'm so glad that I was living with my parents and sister at the time. I don't know how I would have done it without their help. We moved to Louisiana and Hurricane Katrina took all of our possesions. Then, we moved to Tennessee 6 weeks prior to Bull's birth. It's not easy to move when you're that pregnant, especially considering the circumstances under which we made the transition. Medically speaking though, Bull's birth was very easy and very fast and only 5 days early.

This week last year, I found out I was pregnant with #3. Four days later, I miscarried.

Of course, this pregnancy has had its ups and downs. I was very sick again and we had to deal with the possibility of having a child with special needs. But we had the joy of finding out that Monkey is healthy and will make us a three-of-a-kind family (actually, this is the first time that we found out the sex of the baby before birth).

I had been anxious that Monkey would come while Hubs was gone to Fort Hood and Arlington. Because the hospital here on post doesn't have a NICU, if you go into labor before 36 weeks, you are automatically moved to the closest big city which is an hour away (or 18 minutes by helicopter - so I've heard). I am breathing easier now that I am 36 weeks. I am officially in the clear!

So, to celebrate...it's time for another contest!
Whoever can guess the birthday, birth weight and length of Monkey will win a fun prize! I'll allow anonymous comments on this one post only so that everyone can participate! You have until the 28th to enter. Happy guessing!

Fort Hood update

This is a picture from the day of the Memorial Service at Fort Hood on November 10th. Just before this picture was taken, Hubs spoke with the President and shook his hand.

After the Memorial Service, Hubs continued to minister at Fort Hood for another week. He did everything from write awards to counseling. Once it was confirmed that he would be officiating the funeral and interment of one of the victims (he escorted her family during the Memorial Service), the nice people at Fort Hood allowed him to come home for a few days in order to prepare for the service. So, we got him back on Tuesday night. He left yesterday for Arlington, VA, did the services today, and is on a plane coming home right now. Here's one of the pictures from the service today. Hubs is the one hugging the older blonde lady (one of the victim's sisters) in the middle of the photo.

The last three weeks have been very intense for our family. However, we have been honored to serve the families and loved ones of heroes in this way and at this time. We will continue to lift these that mourn in prayer.

Tuesdays Unwrapped

Today, I am unwrapping the gift of the sun. She's been hiding from us lately (for a number of days actually). But late this afternoon, much to my surprise and glee, she peeked through the clouds just in time to give us a spectacular sunset (it was so much better in person!).

"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands." Psalm 19:1

Veteran's Day Parade

What a privilege to be surrounded by a civilian community that supports our troops and by an Army community that participates in its' hometown! Our Division Commanding General is always invited to be the Grand Marshal for the local Veteran's Day Parade.
There was a flyover by our Combat Aviation Brigade, lots of troops, marching bands (including our Division Band), school groups, Veteran's groups, and numerous flags flying!

Gator's school marched (his first time marching!) and sang "Grand Ole Flag" about 1000 times. Bull had a great time watching from the sidelines. (We decided to just watch. I figured that Braxton Hicks contractions for the remainder of the day was not my idea of fun!) It was really a fun day!

Happy Veteran's Day!

Some pictures of my veteran through the years...
On the Bridge (2002):


In the Torpedo Room (2002):

Change of Command (2003) with Gator:

Navy Birthday Ball (2004):

Airborne Graduation with Gator (2008):

CH-BOLC Graduation (2009):

Air Assault Graduation with Bull (2009)

We are so fortunate as a family to be surrounded by veterans all the time. My boys have a very real understanding of the day-to-day sacrifices necessary to ensure our freedom. But they also understand that this military life has lots of great things too - including the privilege of living with our very own, real-life hero! Happy Veteran's Day, Hubs!

Thank you to all the veterans who have sacrificed for our freedom!

Here are some ideas for supporting military families that I posted a couple of years ago!

Hubs' doings...

11/7/2009
Hubs met with a local Imam today (Hubs is on the left in the first picture, on the right in the second picture)...


visited the site of the shooting...

talked with the press a couple of times, quickly referring them to the Chaplain Lieutenant Colonel that he was with...
and is now watching the Florida - Vanderbilt game in his hotel room.
A very full and sobering day.

11/8/2009
Today, Hubs coordinated the Chaplain resources directly supporting the surge of Stress Response Teams at the Behavioral Health Operations Center. He was "in the zone," doing what he does best - admininstration. He said that he felt like he was the Duty Officer back on the submarine today - phone calls, spread sheets, and coordination.

11/9/2009
Hubs was assigned to the Spiritual Resiliency Center on Fort Hood today. He had the privilege of counseling and praying with a number of Soldiers, including some of the first responders at the scene of the shooting. We are thrilled that the Soldiers are seeking out the services available to them! The Families of those killed on Thursday will be arriving at some point today in advance of the Memorial Service taking place tomorrow. One of their stops will be the Center.
Hubs was also interviewed by our endorsing agent's news outlet.

Heartbroken

over the situation at Fort Hood. Hubs is on his way there for about two weeks to assist the Chaplains there. Please join me in praying for all those affected.

Boys and their toys...

Here are some of the presents the boys got for their birthdays. Gator had a marathon day of putting Legos/Bionicles together.

Lots of fun! He did most of them on his own. Bull has reaped the benefits of his brother's hard work (especially when Gator is at school).

I'm having to keep a close eye on him so that he doesn't break them.

Gator, like most older siblings, would be very mad if his kid brother messed them up!

Pillows!

My gorgeous pillows arrived (that I've talked about here, here, and here)! Karen from Elsie Eleanor Designs did a great job.

Here they are on the bed:

The orange ones are reversible:

I also found one pillow that I already had that I might add to the mix:

Yippee for cute, FREE pillows!

More Colors of the Season

I thought that I had missed all of the sunflowers. But! The other day on our walk/bike ride, I found these still blooming! Aren't they beautiful?! And the sky was really that blue.

I love where our house sits. We back up to a valley. So every night I get a front seat to these gorgeous Kansas sunsets. This night was particularly beautiful, so I grabbed my camera and ran outside to catch it. This picture really doesn't do it justice. But it was so pretty!

I'm joining in Tuesdays Unwrapped at Emily's blog. What is your gift today?

October wrap-up

What a full month we've had!
My big monkeys:

Hubs visited Spring Canyon over this past weekend. There was 3-4 feet of snow on the ground! He got to go sledding for the first time too.

I had two Red Rangers for Halloween.

And I have less than 4 weeks to go with Monkey if he comes when Gator came! Yikes!