BYE BYE DADDY!

OK, so this isn't going to be the happiest post ever, but I everyone was asking for pictures, etc. We have almost made it 1 week since saying goodbye! Justin left last Monday to go to Camp Shelby Mississippi. He will be there until the end of May. From there he will head over to Afghanistan. He will be there until March 2010. The kids are so used to him being busy and always gone, so they are actually doing fine. Jonah asks to drive back to the "army" to get daddy. He just doesn't realize it isn't going to be for quite some time. We are keeping our fingers crossed that we will be able to see him before he goes overseas. Thanks to everyone who has called. I am so lucky to have the best friends and family here. My mother in law, was laughing because my cell phone was ringing off the hook between, text messages, phone calls, e-mails, face book messages, etc... Hugs to all the other military family's who have their dad, son, brother, uncle, gone. Keep them all in your prayers! Here are some pictures of "the day!"

FIRST CRUSH

I am laughing so hard that my sweet, sweet daughter that is only 6 (almost 7) told me all about her "boyfriend last night." I had gone to eat lunch with her at her school and the boy sitting across said to me that he didn't like what she called him. I initially thought she was calling him some awful name. I asked him what she called him and in his quiet voice he said "She calls me her boyfriend." Trying to hold back my laughter, I turned to her and asked her about it and she said that she did call him that because she wanted him to be her boyfriend. I kind of ignored it until last night when she talked about it again. She went on and on about how she loved his hair and glasses. She said she loved him and wanted to marry him. She told me that she hoped that he would let her sit by him at lunch. It is so funny. I took me back and made me realize how fast they grow up these days and I want to slow down and enjoy every age because before I know it, she will be grown and gone. I am glad I have many years before she has a true crush and I can enjoy her being little. No boys until she is 30! Hugs to you my sweet girl! I love you!

ANOTHER ADVENTURE

As most of you already know, Justin has been activated to deploy to Afghanistan for 12 months. We got out of active duty so we wouldn't have to do this again. It is shocking and I just figured there would be a way to get out of this deployment being national guard, but he is going. In Justin's positive way when he called to tell me he said "Well, I have never been to Afghanistan. It is another adventure." (He was in Iraq last time.) We have done this once and didn't ever expect I would do it again. BUT...here we are and we will get through it like everything we have gone through. Thankfully, his job here in Atlanta has been more than supportive and will be able to slip right back into his job when he gets back. Like other military families, I am so proud to be American and even more proud to be married to a wonderful man who is willing to sacrifice everything he has, literally, not only for our family, but for our country. So here's to you honey! Go get'em! He leaves February 5th for 3 weeks, for training in Louisiana then back for a week or two then off for a year. Please keep all the soldiers and their family's in your prayers. I will continually keep you posted on him and his "endeavours!" Thanks to everyone, all our friends, family, & neighbors for all your love and support. We couldn't get through it without you!

CHRISTMAS TIME!

I guess I need to start scheduling in a time to "BLOG" every week since I am so slow. I loved Christmas time this year as I do every year, but it is so much fun as the kids get a bit older and understand more. I wanted to start our own family traditions, so I thought about what I did as a kid and one of my favorite memories was going ice skating. So Christmas Eve, I took the plunge and brought the kids to the ice rink here in Atlanta. They had so much fun and I felt like a kid all over again. Jonah of course lasted 10 minutes but did well and loved it. Hailey would of skated the whole night. She did amazing. She insisted on doing it herself and if I even tried to help her up after she fell, she would yell at me and tell me she wanted to do it by herself. That is so Hailey. She is SO determined and insistent. She had a blast and wants to go back.

Then Christmas! What a wonderful blessing it is to have the opportunity to celebrate the birth of Christ and the precious gift that is. The kids were so much fun and I loved every minute of watching them open their gifts and see the excitement in their eyes. Here a few pictures. A little late but better than never!

P.S. The "stuff" they are throwing on the driveway is food they left for the reindeer!