Puppy Dog Sam

Sam has started pretending to be things. Sometimes it's animals. Sometimes it's "You be Mater and I'll be Queen," or "You be Goofy and I'll be Mickey." See a trend there? I always get to be the silly one. But anyway, here he is being a dog. He was awfully cute.

Changes are A-Comin'

If anyone thinks that things just easily fall back in to place when your husband returns after being gone a year has probably never done it. We've been living in our own normal for the last year, the kids and I. It looks somewhat the same as the normal when Daddy is home, but not exactly. I have already started to remind Gabby that things will be different when Daddy comes home. Not bad, but different.

A few weeks ago, a friend posted a list of 11 things she would miss when her husband came home. I'm starting to think about those things myself. Don't get either of us wrong - the gain is FAR greater than the loss. But as I do some things, I start thinking about not being able to do them when Robert comes home. For example, tonight I was behind on getting supper ready and when I contemplated frozen pizza, I felt guilty for giving it to my kids again. Then I thought that soon, I wouldn't get away with frozen pizza very often and we might as well all enjoy it while we can! So, yes, we had frozen pizza for supper. We'll also be giving up breakfast for supper. The kids and I like it. Robert, not so much. It's something we save for when he is gone.

I've pretty much taken over the bathroom and closet. When you don't have to share, you certainly don't act like it. Gotta get in there and clean off some counter space and a path to his clothes. Oh, yes, and return the clothes I have been wearing. Also have to start sleeping on my side of the bed instead of right across the middle. At least I can remove the three extra blankets to keep me from freezing in there.

I'm not complaining about giving these things up. Just already trying to prepare us all for the major life change about to come. Because it is, in the words of Gabby, "just so different."

Eleven Months

The eleventh month was finally over a few days ago. Boy, that was a long one. You'd think when you start getting that close, it would get easier and you would feel better about the whole business. Maybe it was just that we were all sick again. I felt bad for about three weeks there. Sam did too. Even Gabby didn't feel her usual for a few days. We were quite busy, too. My mind may have known time was getting short, but I sure didn't feel like it. It felt like it was never going to end. To quote Groundhog Day, "It's gonna to be cold, it's gonna be gray, and it's gonna last you for the rest of your life. Side note: Groundhog Day was the movie we saw on our first date and it is what they compare to being in Iraq. It's like Groundhog Day, every day is the same. Newsflash for the soldiers - it sometimes feels that way back here, too.

Back on topic, month eleven was eventful despite all the sickness. Gabby turned seven and I turned 27. (Again.) We crossed over the being here one year mark. We had birthday parties and Gabby and I went to see "Annie". Gabby sold Girl Scout Cookies for the first time and I was a Rookie Cookie Mom. Sam just continued to be his adorable self, as usual. He's thinking more about potty training. I'm encouraging him but not pushing too hard, waiting for Daddy to get home and help out with that.

Finally I can report we are down to the last month. Less than a NTC rotation left. I think we might make it now.

Gabby's Art Show

Gabby finished up her art class today. They learned about Impressionists.

Happy Valentine's Day

Gabby and the Paramount where we saw Annie

My little Love Monkey

Valentine's Day was a good day. Sam went to play at a friend's house (Thanks, Betsy!) and Gabby and I went to Seattle to see Annie. She's really gotten in to the movie and music lately so I did a check to see if it would be playing here and it was only here this weekend. The show was good and we had a nice time just the two of us, which rarely happens.

Gabby's Birthday Party

Gabby had a paint your own pottery party for her birthday. She loves to go to do that and it makes a good winter birthday party. Sam was dying to paint a train they had there so I will likely be taking him back to paint the train. Gabby and I will go back sometime to paint some more too.

Daddy-Daughter Dance

Gabby and Bella ready to go

The neighborhood Daddy-Daughter Dance was this past weekend. It was a little bittersweet since Daddy wasn't here to take his girl but a very kind father of one of Gabby's friends offered to take her. We took the girls to get their hair done that afternoon and then got them all dressed for the dance. I think Gabby missed her Daddy a lot that night but she had fun with her friend. She wasn't the only one she knew there without their own Daddy. She was happy when she came home and was made even happier by a phone call from Daddy shortly after so she could tell him all about it. All of us appreciate Bella for sharing her Daddy and Ben for taking Gabby along.

Happy Valentine's Day!

1993 - Spring Formal at the Officers' Club at Fort Benning

1994 - Pledge Formal, somewhere near Auburn

1995 - Engagement Picture

1996 - Our Wedding in Jackson, Tennessee

1997 - New Year's trip to London

1998 - Just returned from Bosnia

1999 - Mediterranean Cruise stop in Egypt

2000 - New Year's Trip to Tunisia

2001 - Bahamas Cruise after Ranger School Graduation

2002 - Ball at Fort Riley

2003 - Deployment to Iraq day

2004 - Home! The next time we saw him.

2005 - Road trip to the Canadian Rockies

2006 - Snowmobiling in Yellowstone

2007 - Pumpkin Patch in Wilmington, North Carolina2008 - Easter at Fort Leavenworth

2009 - Home for R&R

Stay tuned for 2010 - no pics yet!

A couple of years ago I made Robert a little scrapbook for Valentine's Day with a few pics of us together from each year we've been together. That's why all those older pics were already scanned. We've had a good 17 years together so far. I look forward to many more. (Enjoy watching us age before your eyes.) Happy Valentine's Day!

Climbing Pics

More Gabby Climbing

This was Gabby's first try at climbing.

Sam Climbing

Sam was dying to try it. He was so cute but once he realized he could hang there, that was all he wanted to do. He didn't want to push himself up. This from the kid who learned how to to climb up the side of the swingset to the platform before he could walk. The gal was so nice and pulled him up till he got upset. Then she lowered him down. I think that was his favorite part.

Gabby Rock Climbing

We went to a birthday party yesterday at a rock climbing place. Gabby did a great job, climbing to the top at least five times. She really was getting the hang of it.

Gabby's Seventh Birthday

Gabby teaching Sam with her new school set.

Gabby and Kerrisan right before singing.

Gabby's seventh birthday was January 29th. She had a good day, talking to Daddy first thing in the morning and then last thing before she went to bed. In between, she went to school and was sung to there, came home and played with her friend Kerrisan, had pizza and cake, and played and watched a movie. A good day.

Gabby's Birthday

Kerrisan, Sam and I singing Happy Birthday to Gabby. Don't mock my terrible voice.