it's like time travel!

So, it is 4 in the afternoon here. It is just after midnight in Iraq. Tyrone just called me to tell me happy new years! For us, it's still '07, but for him, '08 already! For some reason, this has mightily amused me!

Tyrone is doing well, and it sounds like spirits are as high as they can be over there, given the circumstances. We have definate dates for R & R!!! I can't go into when they are, but we are very excited. Please pray that everything goes as planned, and nothing happens to prevent this visit!

It may sound silly, but Tyrone will be home from this deployment in '08, and that makes tomorrow sound much closer to being with him then today! Bring on the New Year!!!

Christmas Craziness...pt. 2

So, after pt. 1, and a nap, we headed to Melissa's house. The kids played, and we exchanged gifts. I am truly blessed to have so many people that love the kids and I, that we weren't alone any on Christmas, with Tyrone gone. We spent the night and hung out until late morning the day after Christmas. Fun times!

Melissa got each of the boys a cute pull over from old navy, and Shiloh 2 VERY cute outfits! And, I got some new pajamas! ALWAYS love a pair of comfy pjs!

Kearstin and Shiloh, pretty girls!

Melissa and Landon, opening Landon's present from us

Gabe, opening his present from Melissa

Pretty smile!

K, opening his present from Melissa!

Christmas Craziness....pt. 1

So, a few days late, but here comes a full accounting of the fun that was Christmas!

We went to Jeanie's house for Christmas morning. My sister decided that we should do Christmas EARLY....like, 6:30 in the morning, early. Mom and I (we live, literally, a 6 or 7 min. drive from each other) are about 35 min. away from Jeanie. This had me getting up at a quarter 'til 5! NOT my best time of day!!! :) So, with instructions to my sister to have the coffee ready and waiting, we started dark and early!

I got the kids up, and we pretty much raced down the stairs to see if Santa had eaten his cookies (he had!) and to see if he had read our note about taking our presents to Neanie's (what the kids call my sister) house. Not only had he read it, he had answered! That was exciting, and then we were off (I let the kids go in their warm pajamas...Christmas morning should be experienced in pajamas, don't you think!?)

We got there and everyone was ready to go! Santa had, once again, outdone himself. I happen to know that the jolly old fellow throughly enjoyed procuring the kids' Christmas presents this year. Kaleb, Gabe, and Tyler were all happy with their stuff, although a little overwhelmed, not knowing what to look at first, because there was so much! Shiloh was her usual happy self, and had a very good haul for a first Christmas!

So, we did presents, and then Mom made breakfast burritos. They were very good! I won't get my present from Tyrone until R & R, but, my mother showed herself to once again know me VERY well, and get me wonderful, unexpected presents. I got a whole set of Cook's Essentials cookware....GREAT stuff, I am an absolute fan! This is something I have wanted for a long time, and, WOW, am I glad to have it!!! I also got a coffee maker that I am totally in love with. Nicer than any I have ever owned, my mother hit the nail on the head! And, my mother and sister together got me a new outfit. I am now a total fan of the Bitten clothing line. I have a brand new black dress, black sparkly shoes, and sweater to go over...pics of that coming!

This was also the first year that Kaleb did his own shopping (at the Secret Santa Workshop at his school) and he did an awesome job. He got his Daddy a flashlight for work (which we mailed to him....he loved it!), me a very pretty necklace, his sister a purple teddy bear, and his brother a squishy google eye (total boy thing!) I was so proud of how he got into the giving spirit, and it was adorable to see him as excited about giving as receiving.

We missed Daddy very much, but he was not far from our hearts, as always. How we are looking forward to next Christmas when our family is all together!

No, none of us are at our best. But, I bit the bullet and put the pic of me up, too, so none were spared! It was, after all, VERY EARLY!!!

pt. 2 coming shortly!

Christmas Eve Gift!!

Does that count?! You're probably going to tell me no, huh? Well, it was worth a try! Here's hoping everyone is having a lovely, blessed Christmas eve!

pic from "the sandbox"!!

Here is a pic i just got from tyrone of his platoon....no, a black stripe is not the latest in army wear, i have done some mods to this so that it is compliant with opsec. But, aren't they wonderful?? (especially that handsome soldier on the far right?!)

6!

So, yesterday afternoon we had Kaleb's birthday party! It was smaller than we had planned, but we had fun. Jeanie and Tyler couldn't come come because Tyler is very sick, and Tiny and her kids couldn't come because she was having car issues. So, we had a small party with Melissa and her kids and mom. Kaleb had a grand time.

We took cupcakes into K's class on Wed., which was his actual birthday

All dressed up for big brother's party



Me and Melissa

The kiddos

The table-all spiderman!

Spider web cake! made by grandma, decorated by mommy!

Mommy and her birthday boy

Me and Mom

Lighting the candles

singing!

Lots of help blowing out those candles!

Hot wheels from Grandmother and Grandfather (my grandparents!)


Aircraft carrier from Mommy and Daddy!



A good birthday!

i am the mommy of a 6 year old

Today is Kaleb's birthday. His party isn't until Sat., and pics will be coming then, but I couldn't not say anything about my wonderful boy. He came bounding into my room this morning, first thing, saying "Mommy!! I'm 6! I'm 6!" I can't believe he is this old.

Like I said, plenty of birthday fun is forthcoming on Sat....but in the meantime....

Happy Birthday, Kaleb!