Day 330

November is Over!!!!

Less than 18ish days;)

Day 329

Kind of felt yucky today. I have a feeling all the crap and sweets I have eaten the last 4 days caught up with me. So the kids and I ended up with a comfy day. I pulled out the hide a bed and piled the pillows high. We watched The Santa Clause and then we (Logan and I) took naps. I am feeling better tonight and hope to feel even better after some sleep and some yoga in the morning.

Day 328

We had such a blast decorating the Tree and house on Friday. It was so relaxing and I am not kidding. The kids helped when they could and then danced around to the Christmas music. Emma enjoyed decorating 2 trees that day. Logan tried but could not understand. Instead he noticed that some of the ornaments are shaped like cookies and he began to "taste test" each and every ornament before handing it off to his sister. I am truly blessed and felt all the Christmas spirit filling the house on that day.

Day 327

Emma had such a good time decorating her tree. Last year we picked her out the tree and a few special ornaments and even a Disney Princess Tree skirt. She was tickled to decorate it and have it all for her own!!

Day 326

We had a incredible day today. The morning was spent hanging out and watching the Parade while I prepared my side dishes. We also enjoyed going to our friends house for dinner where we met many of her friends and had a blast. This evening, we are cuddled up watching Charlie Brown and about to make popcorn;) The below video is of a story that Emma learned at school. The glass decorated the hat and Indian clothes and made the turkeys!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Day 325

We had such a wonderful day today. I think it was the first day in months since we were able to stay home all day and had no real agenda. While the kids played this morning I was able to organize the office, clean the mudroom, and clean the bar area in the basement. After lunch, Emma helped me start the pumpkin cheesecake and then after Logan woke up we started to work on our Thanksgiving shirts. Not sure how they will turn out but I will post a picture tomorrow. It was a great day and evening!!!!

Day 324

Today, Logan and I spent a couple hours making beds for the Single Soldiers and placing a few "treat" bags to settle them in for the night. Logan was such a great sport. With the help of about a dozen Soldiers we were able to make 78 beds in less than 2 hours!!!!

Day 323

I am getting in the Holiday Spirit. I even looked for the Sirius Channel for Christmas music but it is not there for a few more days. I got all the lights up. I am rather proud of myself!! And I did the garage with icle lights. Matt, why is it we have so many unopened boxes of those?? There is only 2 things missing from this get-up. The Welcome Home Banners will be proudly placed in less than 26 days!!!!

Day 322

This picture was taken yesterday morning. Yesterday was a nice easy lazy morning and I was pleasantly surprised when I went to see why the kids were being so quite I found them cuddling on the couch watching TV. It was definitely a proud Mommy moment:)

Day 321

Today I finally made it to the Bee Creative Pottery Painting place here at the mall. I am not creative at all and usually have a pretty hard time planning and coming up with ideas. So, as I sat painting this snowman the only way I knew how I went to pull up the sleeve of my Oregon shirt and thought??? why not give frosty Oregon Ducks gear too!! GO DUCKS:)

Day 320

I have waited nearly 11 months for the ticker to switch from months to days and it FINALLY happened today!!!


The kids and I had a great evening. We ordered some Chinese and Pizza sticks and made Puppy Chow (Crispix w/peanut butter and chocolate) and enjoyed Monsters VS Aliens. After the kids stopped jumping on the walls and crawling on the back of the sofa we brushed teeth and cuddled up for some DVR shows. It was a great Friday night after the stressful long week we had.

Day 319

Today we received a fun new book from Gramie and Grandpa. Gramie found this adorable story called The Elf on the Shelf. And it came with a little elf that will sit wherever I put it. In the book it explains to the kids that the "elf" will be watching and every night he will go back to Santa and report the days activities in regards to behavior. I am anxious to get this started.

As, I am preparing for Thanksgiving I am thinking the kids and I may spend some time by ourselves. The thought of staying home and making a big meal with the kids and then decorating for Christmas sounds kind of nice. Our weeks have been so busy and the next few will be even more hectic. We have so much to be thankful for this year. Daddy is coming home in time for Christmas and we get to have a houseful of visitors!!!

Day 318

Emma's Kindergarten Shot

Day 317

The plans are coming together!! Matt's Mom Terri, Father David, Lori, and Brother Patrick will be flying in for Matt's return home. The time is getting closer and closer. I am soo ready. I am dreaming up the "feast" that we will prepare and purchased the welcome home attire we will be sporking. I am looking forward to the laughs and good times ahead. I am so anxious to have my husband back in my arms and see the precious faces of our kids when they realize Daddy is really home. Watch the ticker above--- it soon will switch from counting down months to counting down the weeks!!!!!

Day 316

I had a great day today. I had a chance to put Logan in care and go do some shopping. I really DO NOT like to shop but it was nice to not have the kids and be able to take my time and enjoy the quite;)

Day 315

We had a silly fun evening around here. Emma decided to take out all her dress up clothes. And after deciding on her outfit she thought it would be a great idea to get out her ironing board and iron all the extra clothes. Oh, the imagination!!

Day 314

Today was the Holiday Parade here. Emma had a chance to ride along with the girl scouts this year and had a blast. She really enjoyed being surrounded by the girls and throwing out candy to the kids. Logan was not too thrilled until he realized that their was "lollipop" in it for him:)

Day 313

Logan likes to do and say everything his big sister does. Every morning Emma is so sweet to help her little brother get his toothbrush and then they even wash their faces together. And usually he then follows her to the living room where she will decide she has had enough and they will start to argue!!

Day 312

Today has been a busy yet low key day. This evening as the kids were getting ready for bed Emma was jumping off the walls singing to her Strawberry Shortcake Songs. I was able to snag a little video of her making up the words.

Day 311

Today was a rare and very nice lay in bed and sleep the day away for me!! And I quickly snapped back to reality after picking the kids up we did a little winter coat shopping before we enjoyed the McDonalds Play Place and some dinner. After swim lessons we finally made our way home and into bed. Even after spending the entire day in bed I was happy to see it again:)

Day 310

Today was a busy day with Logan at home before I took the kids to a friends house and started my last 24 hour break from the kids. After a quick FRG meeting I met up with some great friends and enjoyed a few drinks and many laughs.

Day 309

Today marks 30'ish days until Daddy leaves Afghanistan. So, Emma and I made a link chain that will end with Daddy starting his travels. I don't think Emma has any idea what that actually means but she had fun cutting all the stripes and putting glue on the end:)

Day 308

Today was a perfect fall day here. Today it was a sunny 61 degrees outside. After naps and quite time the kids and I headed outside to get stuff done in preparation for the snow that is sure to come soon. We cleaned out the garage and got the snow thrower and salt equipment all ready. And then we gathered some of the backyard stuff that had been left out. The kids even helped me vacuum out the Jeep and wipe it down. Logan and Emma also had a chance to enjoy the swing set. Logan did not want to get out of the swing he was having such a great time. We rounded out the evening with grilled hamburgers and Annie!!

Day 307

There is so much excitement in the air and now on the Fence!! Our Soldiers will slowly start to make their way home starting this next week. The fence is decorated and we will meet up soon to make the Single Soldiers beds and leave out goody bags with snack foods and toiletries. Here in our household we still have a little time but Emma and I are excited to start planning the party and the houseful of guests it looks like we will have!!

Day 306

After school the kids and I decided to have a easy Friday night with junk food and movies. We curled up with Aladdin and The Apple Dumpling Gang with TV dinners, candy, and popcorn. Emma and I enjoyed the last movie by ourselves. Or at least until I fell asleep. She woke me up at 8:45 PM when the movie was over:)

Day 305

Today we have had some fun with our friends. Tonight I put on a DVD that we have not watched in awhile. Emma and I used to have so much fun with the Mommy and Me DVD's. So I thought is was a perfect way to burn off the last of the energy for the day!!

Day 304

Day 303

Today was a super busy day. I started this morning with a fundraiser on Post. After we sold out of chili we closed early and I headed to do a little shopping before picking Logan up from care and then quickly came home to clean up and put away the groceries. Tonight was Jazz class for Emma and I was able to get one of the dances on video. The girls have their holiday recital coming up the 1st week of December.

Day 302

A extra video clip for today. Nothing new to report. It was a nice day at home with Logan. Really enjoyed it and needed it!!

Day 301

Not only have we passed another milestone, OCTOBER IS OVER. But we also have made it over 300 days!!! I really do not know where all the time has gone and for that I am thankful. When I look at the photo albums I have created I am thankful for my great friends and the 2 smiling faces that have kept me smiling each day.


We can now say, Daddy should be home next month!!!!