homecoming :)

A couple of weeks ago, after countless date changes, it was finally THE DAY.  The one we'd been anticipating for the past 348 days.  HOMECOMING.

The flight was scheduled to come in at around 10:00pm.  Christopher and Nicholas went to school like any other Thursday and Ben, Lexie, and I met Stephanie and Luke for breakfast at Panera.  We ran some errands to kill time and then picked the big boys up from school.  I didn't want to take the kids home and mess up the clean house so we did some more running around before meeting Stephanie and Luke at Green Ramp (where the planes land) at around 5:30pm.

We were the first to arrive (our plan to secure the front row), however, we found out another unit had a homecoming there before ours and they wouldn't be done until nearly 8:00pm AND our homecoming would be an hour later!!  We all ended up heading back to our house and relaxing a bit before heading back to Green Ramp.

When we got back there (with Katie, too) the other unit was done with their celebration and we started setting up for ours.  Since we're all involved in the FRG we needed to help coordinate the set-up for the food/water for family members as well as our table to sell the company shirts.  The kids all had a blast running around, talking to people, and doing arts and crafts provided by the wonderful people from the USO.

Ben coloring-- you'd never know it's three hours after bedtime!!

Stephanie and Katie spent the next few hours holding down the fort at our front row bench while I dealt with all the drama of a large homecoming (food was late, people weren't in the right place, etc).  It was finally around 11:00pm and you could hear the rumble of an airplane.  They announced the flight over the loud speaker and everyone cheered!!  We watched them walk off the plane and then headed back inside for the ceremony.

clockwise from top left: Lexie playing with an airplane from the USO; me, Steph, and Katie; Christopher playing DS with his friends; Ben and Lexie waving flags in anticipation

The Soldiers came inside the building in a single file line (so it was easy to spot your Soldier) and then lined up in formation.  After the invocation and ceremony- which was surprisingly quick- the Soldiers were all released and able to go find their families!  This is video of them walking in and this is video of the invocation and ceremony.

Where is he???  DADDY'S HOME!!!!!!!

♥ TOGETHER AGAIN ♥ 

day 261: santa bring my baby back (to me)

Music Playlist at MixPod.com

I don't need a lot of presents

To make my Christmas bright

I just need my baby's arms

Wound around me tight

Oh oh Santa, hear my plea

Santa bring my baby back to me

The Christmas tree is ready

The candles all aglow

But with my baby far away

What good is mistletoe

Oh oh Santa, hear my plea

Santa bring my baby back to me

Please make these reindeer hurry

Well their time is drawing near

It sure won't seem like Christmas

Until my baby's here

Don't fill my sock with candy

No bright and shiny toy

You wanna make me happy and fill my heart with joy

Then Santa, hear my plea

Santa bring my baby back to me

Then Santa, hear my plea

Santa bring my baby back to me
-Elvis
(thanks to Angelita Ballada for the amazing photos!)

day 184: a tour of his room

Now that Jacob's all settled into his room he sent some pictures so that everyone could see. Unlike at Adder where they lived in CHU's (Containerized Housing Units- like trailers), they live in barracks at Cropper. It's a 2-man room with bathrooms down the hall, so very similar to a dorm room. There's not a ton of space but having bunk beds helps out a lot. The rest of the room is filled with various electronic equipment, guitars, and the insanely crazy amount of gear that's required.

day 183: halfway there

It's been six months since he left which means that this deployment is FINALLY halfway over. It has been half of a year and while the time does fly by, some days it seems to stand still and take forever. It is amazing how much everyone has changed in just six short months. And then again, six months seems so long. It was Ben's birthday, my birthday, the last day of school, Christopher's birthday, the first day of school, and Jacob's birthday. I'm just glad that we have finally made it over the hump and it's all downhill from here. Only six more months and we'll all be together again.

day 169: far away

Music Playlist at MixPod.com

Far Away

This time, this place

Misused, mistakes

Too long, too late

Who was I to make you wait?

Just one chance, just one breath

Just in case there's just one left

'Cause you know

You know, you know

That I love you, I have loved you all along

And I miss you, been far away for far too long

I keep dreaming you'll be with me and you'll never go

Stop breathing if I don't see you anymore

On my knees, I'll ask

Last chance for one last dance

'Cause with you I'd withstand

All of it to hold your hand

I'd give it all, I'd give for us

Give anything but I won't give up

'Cause you know

You know, you know

That I love you, I have loved you all along

And I miss you, been far away for far too long

I keep dreaming you'll be with me and you'll never go

Stop breathing if I don't see you anymore

So far away, been so far away for far too long

So far away, been so far away for far too long

But you know

You know, you know

I wanted

I wanted you to stay

'Cause I needed

I needed to hear you say

I love you, I have loved you all along

And I forgive you for being away for far too long

So keep breathing because I'm not leaving you anymore

Believe it, hold on to me, never let me go

Keep breathing because I'm not leaving you anymore

Believe it, hold on to me, never let me go

Hold on to me, never let me go

Hold on to me, never let me go

-Nickelback

day 143: spouses of deployed soldiers retreat

About a week ago the kids (minus Nick who was still in MD with my parents) and I headed to Myrtle Beach, SC, for a Spouses of Deployed Soldiers Retreat through the Strong Bonds program.

Strong Bonds is a unit-based, chaplain led program that helps Soldiers and their families build strong relationships.  The program's mission is to build Soldier readiness by providing skills the Soldier can use to strengthen his or her marriage and other relationships.  Initially, Strong Bonds was intended solely for married couples, but it has now been expanded to include single Soldiers, families with children, and the special needs associated with deployment and redeployment.

On Friday we met up with some friends here in town for lunch and then drove down to Myrtle Beach together- with a quick stop at the store for some forgotten necessities.  We arrived at the hotel and checked into our rooms just before a big storm came through.

Storm rolling in- view from the balcony

Ben and Lexie were excited to be at the beach and loved playing on the balcony.

On Friday evening we headed to the conference room for dinner and then dropped the kids off at child care and went to our Meet and Greet event.  We started off the evening with some getting to know you games and then briefly went over the plans for the weekend.  The kids and I went to bed early since we knew it would be an early morning on Saturday.

Saturday morning we had breakfast and then took the kids back to child care.  We were in sessions all morning and went over the 7 Habits for Highly Effective Families and how we could apply those to life during deployment.  Then it was time for lunch and we were free for the afternoon.  We took full advantage of that and headed to the beach.

Fun in the sand!

Ben on the run.

Sand is tasty!!

Silly girl.

Say "sand"!!

Sandy Ben- he loved how the sand would stick to his wet hands.

Model pose

After the beach we hit up the hotel pool for awhile before heading upstairs to clean up and rest before the evening activities.  Surprisingly, the kids all laid on the bed watching iCarly while I got ready.

Rest time.

After our afternoon rest we headed back to the conference room so the kids could eat dinner and then go to child care for the evening.  The girls and I went to Miyabi for some hibachi and sushi and had a nice, childless dinner and adult conversation!!

Goodnight Myrtle Beach

We wrapped up on Sunday morning with breakfast and one last session.  Then it was time to check-out of the hotel and head home.  Or in our case, further up the coast to North Myrtle Beach to spend the week with Grandma and Grandpa.

day 124 (part two): anniversary fun

Today is our eight year wedding anniversary and I can't believe that it has been eight years since we got married.  So much has happened (numerous moves and 4 kids) and it seems that time has gone by so fast.

This was the first year that we weren't able to celebrate our anniversary together.  Our traditional anniversaries aren't anything huge- we usually just watch a movie and have take-out.  Since we weren't able to do that this year, Jacob made sure to make the day extra special.

Fed-Ex came by the house while we weren't home so I was bummed to find out that I'd missed a package. Luckily, our driver came by a couple hours later with not one, but TWO packages for me!

What could it be??  A styrofoam ice chest?!  With a layer of dry ice??  YUM!!!

A BEAUTIFUL hand-carved wooden sculpture entitled "Acrobat Lovers"

day 124: "better together"

Better Together

There is no combination of words I could put on the postcard

And no song that I could sing, but I can try because this is your heart and this is

Our dreams and they are made out of real things

Like a shoebox of photographs with sepia-toned loving

Love is the answer at least for most of the questions in my heart, like

Why are we here?  And where do we go?  And how come it's so hard?

It's not always easy and sometimes life can be deceiving

I'll tell you one thing, it's always better when we're together.

Mmm, it's always better when we're together

Yeah, we'll look at them stars when we're together

Well, it's always better when we're together

Yeah, it's always better when we're together

All of these moments just might find their way into my dreams tonight

But I know that they'll be gone when the morning light sings

Or brings new things for tomorrow night you see

They'll be gone too, to many things I have to do

But follow these dreams might find their way into my day to day scene

I'd be under the impression, I was somewhere in between

With only two, just me and you, not so many things we got to do

Or places we got to be, we'll sit beneath the mango tree now

Yeah, it's always better when we're together

Mmm, we're somewhere in between together

Well, it's always better when we're together

Yeah, it's always better when we're together

I believe in memories because they look so,

So pretty when I sleep

And when I wake up you look so pretty sleeping next to me

But there is not enough time

And there is no, no song I could sing

And there is no combination of words I could say

But I will still tell you one thing

We're better together

-Jack Johnson

day 121: promotion

Congratulations on your promotion to Specialist!!

day 117: "american soldier"

Music Playlist at MixPod.com
American Soldier

I'm just trying to be a father, raise a daughter and a son
Be a lover to their mother, everything to everyone
Up and at 'em bright and early, I'm all business in my suit
Yeah, I'm dressed up for success, from my head down to my boots.

I don't do it for the money, there's bills that I can't pay
I don't do it for the glory, I just do it anyway
Providing for our future's, my responsibility
Yeah I'm real good under pressure, being all that I can be.

And I can't call in sick on Mondays when the weekend's been too strong
I just work straight through the holidays, and sometimes all night long
You can bet that I stand ready when the wolf growls at the door
Hey, I'm solid, hey I'm steady, hey I'm true down to the core.

And I will always do my duty, no matter what the price
I've counted up the cost, I know the sacrifice
Oh and I don't want to die for you, but if dying's asked of me
I'll bear that cross with honor, 'cause freedom don't come free.

I'm an American Soldier, an American
Beside my brothers and my sisters, I will proudly take a stand
When liberty's in jeopardy, I will always do what's right.
I'm out here on the front lines, sleep in peace tonight.
American Solider, I'm an American Soldier.

Yeah, an American Soldier, an American
Beside my brothers and my sisters I will proudly take a stand
When liberty's in jeopardy, I will always do what's right
I'm out here on the front lines, so sleep in peace tonight.

American Soldier, I'm American,
an American, an American Soldier.

day 116 (part two): care package catch-up

One fun side to deployment is getting to put together care packages for Jacob.  I've lost count of how many packages we've sent, but I'm guessing he's in the running for the most mail/packages received!  Sometimes we send boxes of the necessities he's asked for, sometimes it's boxes (or two, or three!) full of microwavable food, and sometimes, they're fun boxes with lots of random, entertaining things!

A random snack box.  And a "Get Well Soon" package.

4th of July Fun!!

Movie Night: Jacob ordered an external hard drive and had it sent to our house.  Then I loaded it up with over 200 of our movies (talk about time consuming!!) and sent it off to him!

day 105: she's growing up

Yesterday morning, when all of the boys were still asleep, I heard Lexie crying hysterically.  Since she usually sleeps late and then entertains herself in her crib, I figured something was wrong so I checked on her.  She was sitting on the rail of the crib facing out.  In the position she was in there was no way for her to get back in the crib.  The only option was to jump down and she looked petrified.  I grabbed her before she fell and she sobbed while I told her that she is never to try and climb out of the crib again.  Since she was so shaken up about it I figured she wouldn't try again.

So today, she and Ben are upstairs taking naps and I hear a thud.  I figured Ben must have jumped out of his bed so I started walking up the stairs and heard Lexie crying hysterically again.  By the time I got to her room she was banging on the door (because she can't open it).  The little daredevil climbed out again!  She got a stern talking to and I'm hoping she doesn't try it again.  I'm not ready for her to be out of the crib just yet!

Finally cooperating for pictures!

Jacob did some shopping online and ordered surprises for all of the kids.  Lexie's came today and she was sooooo excited to have a package from Daddy!!

What can it be?  Look Daddy, it's Tinkerbell!!  She's my favorite!  I can fly, I can fly, I can fly!

After awhile the silly faces started to come out!

day 100!!!!! "wait for me"

Music Playlist at MixPod.com

Wait For Me

You are not alone tonight

Imagine me there by your side

It's so hard to be here so far away from you

I'm counting the days 'til

I'm finally done

I'm counting them down, yeah, one by one

It feels like forever 'til I return to you

But it helps me on those lonely nights

It's that one thing that keeps me alive

Knowing that you wait for me

Ever so patiently

No one else knows the feeling inside

We hang up the phone without saying goodnight

Because it's the sound of your voice that brings me home

It's never been easy to say

But it's easier when I've gone away

Knowing that you wait for me

Ever so patiently

Yeah, you're everything I've ever dreamed of having and

It's everything I need from you just knowing that you wait for me

What I'd give

What I'd do 

Knowing I'm not there for you

Makes it so hard to leave

What I'd give

What I'd do

Anything to get me home to you

And this time I'll stay

And you wait for me

Ever so patiently

Yeah, you're everything I've ever dreamed of having and

It's everything I need from you just knowing that you wait for me