Goodbye Steve... AGAIN

It was that time of the year again for our house. Steve has left once again. We are just so grateful for all he does for us!! He will be missed.

1st day of school!

WOW- How could the time have gone any faster?? My baby girl IS NOT a baby anymore. I always knew she was growing up- but WOW is all I can say. Today was not only the first day of school for Morgan (pre-k) but the first day for Aydin.

Aydin is now in the FIRST grade. Where did the time go?? My house that used to be full of noise (that mostly came from the kids either laughing or fighting) is now quite for 3 hours a day. It will be very different around here. It almost makes me sad. I said almost!!

Although I will miss the time with both the kids, they were ready for school to start. Morgan has been talking about going to school since she was 2 1/2, so I was so happy to see her walk proudly in the building and all smiles when she met her teacher this morning.

Morgan with her new teacher

Aydin has been looking forward to school to start as well. He is in the same classroom with his 3 best friends (that poor teacher) and couldnt wait to hang out with them every day.

Aydin with his teacher... along with Ty- one of the friends in the class.

1st football game of the season.

Saturday was Aydins first day of football games. He had 2 back to back games and he did awesome!! I was a little worried at first about how well he would play... but he got out there and did a great job. We were so proud of him. He is going to have a great season...

Before the 1st game...

During the first game... #25
After the 1st game... waiting for game #2

Just got done pushing down the kid...

Horseback riding...

Last Saturday Morgan and I were invited to go ride horses with some friends. On our way there, the clouds decided to open up and pour down the rain. Luckily it stopped for about 20 minutes right around the time we got there- so we had to hurry.

The girls were able to get on and go up and down the road.
Morgan had a blast!! She was a little unsure at first but then ALL smiles while she was on.

Morgan bareback...

Morgan and Tristen together...

We will be going back- maybe when hurricane season is over and we do not get afternoon showers everyday so we have time for all of us to get on and ride. I cant wait- the horses were beautiful.

Military Spouse

I got this in an email today- and thought I would share it. I thought this was great. I hope all you Military wives enjoy! Thanks Tiffany.



Each one may look different and each is wonderfully unique, But this they have in common:

Lots of moving...
Moving...
Moving...
Moving far from home...
Moving two cars, three kids and one dog...all riding with HER of course.
Moving sofas to basements because they won't go in THIS house; Moving curtains that won't fit; Moving jobs and certifications and professional development hours.
Moving away from friends;
Moving toward new friends;
Moving her most important luggage: her trunk full of memories.

Often waiting...
Waiting...
Waiting...
Waiting for housing.
Waiting for orders.
Waiting for deployments.
Waiting for phone calls.
Waiting for reunions.
Waiting for the new curtains to arrive.
Waiting for him to come home,
For dinner...AGAIN!

They call her 'Military Dependent', but she knows better:
She is fiercely In-Dependent.

She can balance a check book;
Handle the yard work;
Fix a noisy toilet;
Bury the family pet...

She is intimately familiar with drywall anchors and toggle bolts.
She can file the taxes;
Sell a house;
Buy a car;
Or set up a move...
.....all with ONE Power of Attorney.

She welcomes neighbors that don't welcome her.
She reinvents her career with every PCS; Locates a house in the desert, The Arctic, Or the deep south.
And learns to call them all 'home'.
She MAKES them all home.

Military Wives are somewhat hasty...
They leap into:
Decorating,
Leadership,
Volunteering,
Career alternatives,
Churches,
And friendships.
They don't have 15 years to get to know people.
Their roots are short but flexible.
They plant annuals for themselves and perennials for those who come after them.

Military Wives quickly learn to value each other:
They connect over coffee,
Rely on the spouse network,
Accept offers of friendship and favors.
Record addresses in pencil...

Military Wives have a common bond:
The Military Wife has a husband unlike other husbands; his commitment is unique.
He doesn't have a 'JOB'
He has a 'MISSION' that he can't just decide to quit...
He's on-call for his country 24/7.
But for her, he's the most unreliable guy in town!
His language is foreign
TDY
PCS
OPR
SOS
ACC
BDU
ACU
BAR
CIB
TAD
And so, a Military Wife is a translator for her family and his.
She is the long- distance link to keep them informed; the glue that holds them together.

A Military Wife has her moments:
She wants to wring his neck;
Dye his uniform pink;
Refuse to move to Siberia;
But she pulls herself together.
Give her a few days,
A travel brochure,
A long hot bath,
A pledge to the flag,
A wedding picture,
And she goes.
She packs.
She moves.
She follows.

Why?
What for?
How come?
You may think it is because she has lost her mind.
But actually it is because she has lost her heart .
It was stolen from her by a man,
Who puts duty first,
Who longs to deploy,
Who salutes the flag,
And whose boots in the doorway remind her that as long as he is her Military Husband, she will remain his military wife.
And would have it no other way.

--Author Unknown

Football season is here!!

Well- I have been very bad at my blog lately... but nothing new has been happening. Until now- FOOTBALL SEASON IS HERE!!

Football has started back up again and it consumes every night of the week from 5:30-7:30. We love watching our kids play in sports and cant wait for the games to begin. I am SO grateful for wonderful coaches who want to teach the kids all about the different positions, plays and rules. They are really going to learn a lot and enjoy the sport even more. HUGE change from last year.

Aydin and Ty

Aydins back is to the camera- getting ready to tackle.