Day 177

June is OVER!! It is incredible to think we have made it 6 months. Emma still very much enjoys her calender and reminds me nightly if we forget.

Day 176

Today was a super busy day with no pictures again, Sorry. This morning we headed right to day care where the kids spent the entire day. I was able to get the entire house cleaned and the entire lawn mowed before I had to pick them up. I feel like I accomplished a ton today. You can also see that I finally updated the side bar pictures. I will update a picture of Matt and I on the 2nd or 3rd:))))

Day 175

Today was a day of no pictures and just a bunch of fun. We had a bunch of meat that had to be grilled up so we invited a bunch of friends over for a pool party. We are so blessed to have so many wonderful friends here. After a few hours of jumping in and out of the pool we bbq'ed and enjoyed dinner and then jumped back in the pool. The kids had so much fun with their friends and I always enjoy cooking and entertaining my friends:)

Day 174

Here is a video from our beach trip we took the other day. We had such a blast. It was about 50 minutes from the house, so you can imagine the kids feel asleep. Logan was actually awake when i took this pic. And Emma patiently waited for Logan to fall asleep on the way back so she could steal his me-me:)

Day 173

This video is from the other day. I totally forgot that we had this little baby pool so I drug it out and blew it up. I was even a super nice Mommy and despite the 80 degree temp outside I pulled the hose into the basement to fill up the pool with warm water. Logan Daniel had a blast. The other baby, baby Logan, is a good friends baby who was staying the night with us. While out big pool provides lots of fun for all ages the baby pool provided this Mommy with some much needed relaxing in the sun while watching the kids laugh:) God is Good

Day 172

Emma's last day of Pre-School. It is hard to believe how big she has gotten over the last 10 months. Where has the time gone???

Day 171

This months Flower of the Month was another selection of Orchids. They are absolutely beautiful and I will hope to take better care of them this month.



Today has been a emotionally challenging day as my patience continues to be tested with this dag gone Jeep. All I can really say is I hope to settle the claim within the next 3 weeks so Matt can help me pick out a new vehicle and we can wipe our hands clean of the never ending pile of crap.

Day 170

Today our little girl graduating from Pre-School. Where did the time go? It is hard to believe that just a few short 10 months ago we were putting our little girl on the school bus. She has grown so much and learned a lot.

Today the kids put on a little performance before they received their diplomas. They did a Bell Performance, A Musical Pantomime( Driving In my Car), Grandma Moses, and Kindergarten Here We Come. It was all absolutely amazing. After receiving her diploma we stayed for cake and punch and a little play time. Please check out my face book for clips of the performances.

Day 169

Day 168

Happy Father's Day Daddy!!!

Day 167

The kids and I at the Half-Way Home Party

We are half-way there People!!! I gotta say the time is flying. We are staying very busy between school, gymnastics, bible study, friends, girls nights out, and plenty of fun. I feel so incredibly blessed to be surrounded by awesome women. These ladies are my everything. They sense when something is up and act quickly. I am so grateful for their never ending love and support.I know how these ladies do it and it is exhausting just thinking about it. They not only are they raising kids by themselves, keeping the house up, supporting their husbands, actively involved in the FRG but they are incredible women who deserve some props. Words will never be able to express my gratitude. As I go through the same things I can only pray I am as good a friend to these women as they have been to me.

Half- Way There Ladies!!

Day 166

Today was my day to watch a good friend's children for her. So we set out this morning to hit up the grocery store before meeting up with Mitchell and Dylan. We picked them up around 9:40 AM and headed right home to hang out and play before lunch. After lunch and nap time Kresta called and we invited her over to bbq and enjoy some cupcakes. While we waited for our friends Mitchell, Emma, and Logan helped make cupcakes. They had a blast. Once our friends arrived we played in the basement and then headed upstairs to get dinner ready. After dinner and baths the kids were in bed by 8 PM and I got started on the next day's activities.

All in all today was a great day. It really was not too bad having 4 kids to take care of. If this were ever to happen to me I would definitely need a maid to do some of the heavy cleaning but I wonder if I could handle it??? (Don't get any thoughts Grandparents:))

Day 165

This morning when Emma came down stairs she brought this drawing with her. When I asked her what it was she pointed out Mommy, Daddy, Emma, and Logan. Watching the VDD's (DVD's) with God watching above us. I love it!!

Day 164

Super Busy Day today. It all started at 8:30 AM when Logan and I headed to Watertown. I am incredibly blessed with some great friends and I was able to drop Logan off before picking up the Sandwiches for Day 2 of the Sub sandwich Fundraiser. Once I dropped off the sandwiches I then rushed home to get Emma and then headed to another elementary school to pick up my FRG Leaders Pre-school er. Once the fundraiser was complete Emma and I quickly made a stop at Old Navy to buy new summer PJ's and a new outfit for each of the kids. From there the busyness continued. We quickly picked up Logan on the way to pick the baby-sitter up and drop everyone off at the house so I could go have my teeth cleaned. After we got the baby-sitter home we took 15 minutes to sit at McDonald's and eat dinner and play before we rushed off to gymnastics. After all the craziness of today the kids were still in bed by 8 and I am FINALLY relaxing!!

Day 163

Super Cool little Dude

Day 162

This last week at some point Emma found this small "ring" on the living room floor. I am pretty sure it is from a toy or possibly from a set of keys. It happens to fit perfectly on her fingers and she has been wearing it daily. To include church yesterday, school today, and then day care today. She is too funny:)

Day 161

Day 160

This post is early because I know I will not have a chance to post again for a few days because we have a super busy weekend. The pics above our from our trip to the ice cream stand the other day. After my long run I told Emma we would go pick out a treat and she wanted a ice cream cone. We had a great time:)

Day 159

We had super fun day today. After Emma went to school we went and saw a good friend that was hosting a potluck lunch and while the kids ate pizza and ran around the building I had a chance to chat for a few minutes. After lunch we headed over to the commissary where I am pleased the say the kids were great. We were in there for over an hour and Emma just sat singing and talking away. Of course, Logan was trying to upset her by pulling her hair and hitting her but she remained chipper because she knew there was still fun times ahead. After we got home and put Logan down for a nap Emma helped me clean the pool. At one point Emma had her little legs dangling into the pool and I asked if she would like to get in. She happily said yeah, and ran to get on her bathing suit. Logan also woke up so I got him all ready as well. It was so cold. The water read 70 and outside it was only 76. Emma did get all the way in at one point but mainly just popped her little body in and out. Logan wanted nothing to do with the water once I popped him in. So he just ran around trying to sit on the ladder.



At great friend has offered to watch the kids for me tonight. It has been nice. I ordered Chinese, picked up a Carmel sundae and ordered New In Town on Paper View. It shall be a peaceful night.

Day 158

Logan, Logan, Logan- How I love my Logan

Day 157

Today was the end of the year Picnic/ice cream social for Emma's pre-school class. We met all the other students and teachers at the local park for some play time, music time, lunch, ice cream, and it all ended up a magician. Emma loved running around with her friends and Logan enjoyed every slide he could get onto. The last picture is one of Emma and one of the "teachers" that Emma took a liking too.

Day 156

Today was another busy day. I had FRG meetings both this morning and this afternoon. While we were home briefly in the afternoon it was just enough time for naps and I even got a little done.

The above pics are a few of Emma and Logan's friends. Mitchell and Dylan are Katie's kids and we are really enjoying having her and the boys back in New York. It will be a awesome summer!!

Day 155

Tired and busy today. I wanted to try to sleep in this morning but then Logan woke up at 5:30 so after I quickly got up to refill his water cup and got him back to sleep I decided I might as well just get up myself.



We had a special visitor in town today. Matt's 2nd cousin on his Dad's side was in New York and made a trip to Watertown to take the kids and myself out to lunch. We enjoyed chatting with them and of course I enjoyed talking all about Matt.



After picking up the Honda from the detailer we were going to hang out with Kresta and Katie tonight but it became apart that I was a tad cranky as the kids were growing more and more tired. So here we are tonight. The kids are now in bed and I will be headed that way shortly.

Day 154

Totally exhausted today. We had a incredible week!! We are incredibly blessed and i feel so loved by my family and friends. Off to get the kids bathed and into bed and then onto mowing the lawn. Only 24 days until he should board that plane!!!

Day 153

"One Cork Closer to the End... Of A Long Hard Deployment 2009 Johnannisburg Riesline..

Last month a few friends and I made a batch of wine at a Local Wine Maker. We had a blast. Yesterday we got together and syphoned the wine into the bottles, corked them, sealed them, and then labeled them. We also got the design our own label. A good friend of one of the gals designed the graphic and I helped come up with the slogan, that is exciting for me!!! This was a lot of fun and totally affordable. 4 of us split 28 bottles. So for $37 I brought home 7 bottles of good wine. I am looking forward to making my next batch already:)

Day 152

I have the best friends. These are just 2 of my really good battle buddies. Kresta is holding the cell phone and Katie is holding her son. We (along with one other friend) have gotten together many times this last week to let the kids play, eat, laugh, and pass the time. These girls mean more to me than words can possibly explain. Us girls and kids got together for some playtime (and gin and tonic), dinner, and a parade last night. Followed by bed time and a fire for the adults.

The kids had a blast at the Parade. Logan had this crazy smile with tears in his eyes and he saw the parade. It was funny because he would get all excited with the big tears in his eyes. Of course, he also had food in his mouth to occupy his little hands. While Emma did great with the first 2 marching bands she got scared when the 3rd game by. It helped having all the candy and all her friends around and she appeared to enjoy the 4th and 5th marching bands sitting next to Miss Kresta:)

Day 151

We finally had the tree stumps pulled up and cleaned up on the side of the house. This was not at all how it was supposed to be done. There should not have been plants and mulch by the basement window there. It was supposed to be grass. But when the landscaper showed up the plants he realized he could not put them in the rock wall flower bed because there is no light. So instead he designed this and put all the Vinca Vine in the flower bed. I love it!! I love that as I am running on the treadmill in the basement I will be looking out at 2 of the pretty blooming yellow plants. The rock steps were also cleaned up and plants planted.

Day 150

5 Months DOWN!! The time is really going by rather quickly here. Probably helps that we are always either at someone's house for the day or having people over:) WE have the best friends in the world.



As the days go on we definitely continue to have struggles. It is a daily battle with Emma as she continues to miss Daddy and seems to be reminded of this every time she mis-behaves. Logan is doing well. We walking slowly every morning down the stairs as we talk about the "I Love Daddy Wall" Logan loves this and enjoys smiling at every picture as he says "Daddddddyyyy".



I am doing GREAT!! We are at the 30 day mark until my husband will be home. I am so anxious to have 2 full weeks with Matt. I am busy dreamin up all the plans I continue to change everyday. Time will only tell what we actually end up doing. But I can guarantee that camping will be involved!!

Day 149

I think this picture is incredible. I also think the mightily good looking fellow in the picture is equally incredible:)



I feel awesomely blessed these days. I have two great kids that definitely keep me on my toes but also keep me smiling and laughing. I have a wonderful God that is watching over me. He has changed me in more ways than I can express right now. I feel his arms around me and know that the choices I have made are good ones. I have a great family that watched out for me and pours their love into my life. I have a beautiful Army family. My friends are my life line right now. They continue to encourage me to smile, laugh, and see the positives within each day. My friends allow me to be me and express my ever changing feelings and emotions. I also have a pretty hunky hubby who will be home in 30 days!! (give or take a few) Life is wonderful.

Day 148

So I obviously have not been keeping up with my blog the last few days. One of my problems is I am not taking pictures and then at the end of the night I tell myself I will get pictures tomorrow and update and never do. So as I am 3 days behind I thought I better update and I will use some of the good pictures Matt has sent my way.



We had a super busy day. The morning was spent with my Katie's kids and then the kids went to Day Care for most of the afternoon. While I ran some errands and got a 7 mile run in. We then rushed home to take baths and eat dinner before the baby-sitter showed up to watch the kids so I could go to bible study. This was a hard day for me. The kids were super tired and just wanted me to stay home. I did get myself out the door and the baby-sitter did a great job distracting them.