A Surprise

Daddy and Mommy have a surprise for the kids

Daddy brought them backpacks from Iraq

Mommy helped him fill them with fun activities

And a little puzzle tucked in for Gabby...

Fun with Daddy

Daddy and the kids playing a game while Mommy puts the lights on the tree. How does it always work out that way??

Hop on Pop

Family Snuggle

Happy baby

Just some pics of the kids and Daddy having fun while he was home. I am working on Disney and will start those soon!

R&R Homecoming

There's Daddy's plane!

First hugs

Sam couldn't stop smiling

And Jordan was one happy dog!

Whew! Yesterday was crazy! Rewind to our R&R planning. Robert was scheduled to come in on Sunday. On Wednesday, he started his journey and it didn't look good. He wasn't manifested on the flight out of Baghdad. All the flights from Dallas to Seattle on Sunday appeared booked. I was getting nervous because we are leaving for WDW on Tuesday. He got his way on to the Baghdad flight Wednesday so that was good. Thursday morning I get up to an e-mail that says he's coming in on a Friday night 825 flight to Seattle. Ok, now I'm hustling to finish some things up! There was an earlier flight that arrived at 655 that he might be able to make. So I sat down Thursday night and made a plan for getting it all done and thought about getting to the airport on Friday evening at rush hour. I planned for three hours.

Friday morning I get up and get Gabby to school. I stayed for an hour to help with popcorn and then headed out for a few last minute errands. Cell phone in my pocket the whole time. I get home at 1205 and see the phone blinking. There are three messages from Robert saying they got in early and they are coming in on the 255 flight!! He forgot the cell phone number (we only had it a couple of months before he left) so didn't call the cell. I was already inside my 3 hour window. I wasn't dressed, Gabby was at school, I had groceries in my car, things were undone. AHHHHHHHHH! I ran around like a crazy woman slinging things here and there, threw Sammy in the van and went to the school. I snatched Gabby out of recess and we ran (literally) out to the van. I have probably sealed my reputation as the crazy mom. At least she had a substitute.

Thankful that I had filled my van up with gas that morning and had my camera ready, we took off. Praying for light traffic, easy parking and no line at the ticket counter and security. I made it to the airport in 30 minutes. From DuPont. I have never driven that fast in Washington. At one point Gabby said, "Mommy, it seems like you are going faster than the speed limit." "Um, yes. I am." There was one person ahead of us in the line at the ticket counter so we easily got our gate passes. We had an hour. I wheeled around to security and it was empty! No stress loading all the coats, shoes, bag and stroller onto the belt or getting it all back together afterward. Gabby had gotten lunch but Sam and I hadn't so we got a snack and got to the gate to wait, with lots of time to spare. Thank you, Jesus!

So we stood at the window and waited till the plane came in to view. Two other families were there meeting soldiers and there were about ten guys on his flight. You can see the rest in the pictures. Gabby and Sam ran to Daddy and gave lots of hugs. It took us a little longer to get home. By then it was 4 o'clock on a Friday heading south. And Jordan was overjoyed to see Daddy. Everyone has enjoyed having Daddy home. The only downer right now is that Gabby is sick. She has a fever and congestion. So we're praying she perks up soon. Enjoy your weekend, everyone! We are.

Disney on Ice

I missed the wide smile he was giving when Mater and Queen first appeared but he was mesmerized by it all!

Must spend too much on spinny, lighty things...

...and snow cones.

That's Gabby in the black and pink coat waving at Princess Tiana.

And who can resist Sam in a Queen hat?

Last night we went to Disney on Ice with friends. We saw the Worlds of Fantasy show with Cars, The Lion King, The Little Mermaid and Tinkerbell and Friends. It was a great show, although not as spectacularly staged as the Princesses on Ice show Gabby and I saw in 2008. The kids enjoyed the show, the sugar and all the hype and so did I. Disney World, here we come!

Veteran's Day Art Contest

Gabby entered the Veteran's Day Art Contest at her school this week. Her picture was good, in my very biased opinion! They had a very nice Veterans' Day assembly this afternoon. I have video of the nice song the whole school sang but it is apparently too big for Blogger. I'll have to try something else to share it. Thankfully Daddy should be home on R&R next week so he can see it all then.

Second Cheerleading Video

Sorry, folks, another video for Daddy.

First Cheerleading Practice

Gabby had her first cheerleading practice tonight. It's very chaotic in this tiny gym with a basketball team and cheerleading squad practicing, plus all the parents waiting and siblings running around. But she held on well despite the distractions and enjoyed herself.