Four months

I was just thinking the other day that I meant to post as each month of the deployment passed about how it was going on my end and how I hadn't done it since the first month. I was thinking I could still go back and do the third month when it hit me that it was the 21st already and we had made it four months! That was a nice surprise.

To say we have been busy would be an understatement. We have hardly had a dull moment. Robert left March 21st. We had a great first week. Everyone stayed well and slept and nothing major happened. I couldn't believe it! Something usually goes wrong before the plane is off the ground! But then, at the end of week one, we got the stomach bug. Sam puked all over me for a week and I didn't feel so great either. Then we proceeded into The Month of No Sleep. This lasted through Easter and Sam's second birthday, all the way to Mother's Day. Sam would wake up coughing and be awake for 4-5 hours, before falling into a good sleep about the time I needed to get up and get Gabby ready for breakfast. By the week of Mother's Day, I was so sleep deprived I wasn't sure I could go much further.

About the time we finally started sleeping, we were deeply entrenched in T-ball, Daisy Scouts, the last month of school, and working on my grandparents' 70th Anniversary party. We ran day and night. School finished up June 11 and we left for Tennessee less than a week later. We had a wedding, family reunion and said 70th Anniversary party, and a visit to all the families on the agenda and spent three weeks taking care of all that. Father's Day and Independence Day passed while we were traveling.

We got back home two weeks ago. The trip back was not easy and it wore me out. Then three days later we went to see Thomas the Tank Engine - a great day but tiring. Gabby launched into VBS the next week and enjoyed. I have to say I am glad I didn't volunteer this year. I felt guilty about it but I just felt like I was being called to stay home. It was a great VBS but I really needed that week to recover and rest.

So now that July is almost over I feel like we are finally getting to start our summer. Days of doing things we want to do in nice weather. Taking it easy every now and then. For a few hours at least. And having a little time to be spontaneous. I'm getting to scrapbook for us again. And I worked on a quilt (more on that later), which I haven't done in a long time. I have gotten some areas of my house cleaned out and organized. Still working on that. And the fourth month sneaked past me. Amazing.

We have had our share of trouble, as is required of any deployment. I had to fix the weedwacker - not a machine I am familiar with. Sam broke my glasses, which I am still in the process of replacing (7-10 more days of wearing my sunglasses all the time!) I am still trying to fix the piece that is falling off the couch - my first attempt was not successful. The puke virus.

So, on to the fifth month. My mom is coming to visit next week so I'm looking forward to doing some of the more far-reaching things with help. After that, we still have a few more weeks before school starts here to do some things we still want to do. Here's with the constant hope that it all goes well and that we can have some fun!

More Bike Riding

Here's a pic and another video of Gabby on her bike. I know, I know, redundant. Daddy's deployed, remember?

What's Missing?

Something is missing from this video? Can you tell what it is? Gabby started riding her bike without the training wheels tonight. My wonderful neighbor helped talk her into it and then helped her do it. It was pushed along by the fact that the training wheels are starting to bend under her weight and use. I knew she could do it but she has been scared to try. It helped to have someone else there so she couldn't get so mad at me. Cheryl was more patient than I probably would have been too! She's still working on turning and steering and keeping it going but she was doing pretty good for a first timer!

My Mickey Kids

The kids spent a day roaming around in their Mickey hats. They were so stinkin' cute!

A Day out with Thomas

Gabby got to call up to Thomas to see if he was ready to turn around.

We went to Snoqualmie, Washington on July 10 to spend a Day out with Thomas. The kids both love Thomas so it was a good trip for both of them. I think we did everything there was to do - tattoos, play tent, videos, coloring and stamping, Sir Topham Hatt, bounce house, puppet show, musicians, the small work train, and of course, we rode Thomas. It was a beautiful day and we all had a good time.

Hundreds of Dollars' Worth of Toys...

...and they play in the box. We had a box of clothes from Aunt Laura waiting on us when we got home. I unloaded it. The kids played in it. Silly kids.

Fourth of July

We were busy on the Fourth! We took the older kids to Home Depot to do their Kid's Workshop. Then we took them bowling and to lunch. In the afternoon they painted their creations and played a while. Then we went to the pool to swim and to Aunt Harriette's house for supper (we were going to eat at the pool but the gnats were too bad). After we got back to the Hilliards' house we decided to ride back to a spot to see the fireworks from town. We watched for a little while and then went to bed. Gabby had Sam saying "amazing" and "awesome" during the fireworks. It was so cute!