Day 208

Today is my day to be childless and I am trying my best to enjoy the peace and push all the random thoughts and must do's out of my head. My morning stared when the kids were picked up around 10. I decided I was determined to finish Good in Bed, by Jennifer Wiener. I opted to end my reading time with a phone call and then quickly decided I must order Chinese, go buy a bottle of wine, and go buy dessert and chips for later.


So my day has consisted of watching Labor Pains, Nurse Jackie from Showtime, 1/2 way through Confessions of A Shopaholic, finally finishing that book and starting The Duggars: 20 and counting. Now I am making my nachos, just poured the rest of the bottle of wine into my glass and will sit down to watch the rest of the movie and maybe start a third, Miss March.


While the day has not been as productive as it could have been. I am enjoying laying around in my jammies with no sound in the house!!

Day 207

Thankfully today was one of the few and far between crappy blahhy really wish would end kind of days.

Day 206

Straight up exhaustion today. I am still trying to finish the P90X routine. I have been doing it 2-3 times a week plus about 15 miles a week since mid January and it is really starting to drag on. I have 11 workout days to finish and I really excited to show you all the before and after pictures. Today's workout was 60 minutes of chest, shoulders, and triceps. Plus 43 minutes of cardio and I ran 2 miles on the treadmill. I am pooped. I did take a good 90 minute nap but I am still groggy and starting to feel a little sore. I think I will take it easy tomorrow with a short 30 minute routine on the treadmill and some abs.


This afternoon my good friend Katie took care of dinner and the kids. Logan stayed with Katie and Kresta while I took Emma to her last gymnastics class and we got back just in time for a super yummy Salmon dinner complete with fried green tomatoes. Oh, it was the perfect evening to sit back and let my friends take care of me, I am sooooo lucky:)

Day 205

It was another pool party at the Thom's today. We had our good friend Amy and her son over as well as the Knights, and Horrigans. Always, a good time when you through in those two:) We started the day around 11 Am and the kids did not officially get out of the pool until close to 7. After lunch we put the little one's down and the adults enjoyed watching the older kids play in the water while we toasted our skin in the warm 85 degrees. It was a beautiful day and ended with a early bedtime for all!!

Day 204

Bye-Bye Sweet Honda. Today was a very bittersweet day for me. We sold the Honda:( I wanted to cry as I pulled away from the gentlemen who bought the vehicle. This is really a great thing because we can now start paying even more towards the principle on the Jeep so I can get my Tahoe sometime in the near future. But I was so attached to that vehicle. I remember driving it off the lot in Germany with only 6 miles on it, happy day that was.

Movin on I suppose. I did find the motivation to get in a 5 mile run and mow the lawn while the kids were in care today. I am now done with all the chores that I like to do with no kids for the week. So we will now be able to spend the next few days in the pool with our great friends!!

Day 203

Flower of the Month!! This month I received another beautiful arrangement of orchids. This is something that I truly do enjoy and love knowing I will be receiving something to place on the island. Kudos to Matt!!

Day 202

Today was our big pool party/sleep over. We had such a blast. At the end of the day we ended up with 7 families for the pool party and 4 families that spent the night. We swam, bbq'ed, swam some more and than after the kiddos went to bed the adults enjoyed some good laughs and conversation out back in the gazebo. This place is defiantly going to be missed when we have to sell it next year. Have I ever mentioned how blessed I am to have some awesome friends??

Day 201

Today was my day to take the Horrigan kids for 24 hours. What fun we have had!!! We started the day off by me picking up their vehicle and taking all 4 kids home during nap time to feed them lunch. (I was running a little late) After singing at the top of my lungs and annoyingly tickling the two youngest kids I got the kids home awake to have lunch and then go down for a nap so I could have some down time.

After naps and snacks we played and played. The above picture is the kids having apples and peanut butter for snack. Logan licked the bowl clean before he started to eat his apples. I even made cupcakes for dessert, the kids were playing very well together.

After a loud dinner, clean up, and more play time. Bedtime came a little early at 7:30 PM. I was exhausted and just needed some quite. It was GREAT:)

Day 200

Holy Cow!! Matt has been deployed over 200 days now. Honestly, I do not know where the time goes some days. On most days we keep ourselves so busy it seems like the kids are going back to bed just as soon as the day begins. (Some days that is actually true!!) And then there are the days that seem to never want to end and those are usually the days that remind me how much deployments SUCK!!

As I reflect on the last 200 days I have vague memories of the first 100. I believe that was the snow up to my ears days. We spent a lot of time in the house and at the time it felt like the days were long. The last 100 days have been spent with friends and getting ready for Matt's vacation. I have a feeling the next 100 days will fly by. We still have a month in a half of summer left and before we know it the snow will be back. And then soon thereafter Daddy!!

Thank you all for your prayers, support, and love. I praise God for all the blessings he has poured into my life.

Day 199

Today was a productive and really enjoyable day. The kids started the day in care so I was able to get in a nice long 8 mile run and a big trip to the commissary. I also took a few hours to myself and sat on the couch. It was so nice to have a nice long talk with Matt with no interruptions and than watch a little TV with no kids bugging me.

Tonight was also Emma's gymnastics class. She really enjoys this but I think it will soon come to a end. As the school year and activities start to get started we need to decided what she would enjoy most. I am planning on enrolling her in the brownie's and she has asked to go back to the ballet class that meets here in Carthage. In addition to that swim lessons are going to be a must this year for both kids. Busy, Busy, Busy!!!

Day 198

Today was a beach day. We headed out first thing this morning and arrived a little too early to swim. It was a little overcast but the kids had fun running around. About 2 hours into it, it became aware to me that the exhaustion has in fact set in. Logan was getting super cranky and Emma was not really listening. While it was not enough frustration to up and leave it made me realize how exhausted I am. We did stick it out until our friends headed home but we came right home and had a nice low key evening. Sorry no pics, will try to get a few good ones tomorrow.

Day 197

Reality!!! This morning we headed out to Yoga right away. I so needed to realign my body with my mind and get this day going. I had a meeting on post around lunch time so the kids headed to day care for the day. I even had a chance to go home and get some cleaning done. Except all this exercise, running around, and cleaning made me very tired and cranky. So you can imagine what my mood was like when Katie and I decided to take the kids to the park for a picnic dinner with a 20 month old (Logan) who did not have a nap. After a quick dinner and a little play I decided it was best for me if I took the kids home and got them into bed. Ohhh, I am finally caught up with my blog!!

Day 196

The Second Attempt to get back to reality.... We all sleep in this morning which was very very nice. After we hung out and cleaned up a bit I decided that we would head to our church here in Carthage. Emma really enjoys it there and it was nice to see a few familiar faces:) As I sat in church praising my God I could not help but be so thankful for all my incredible friends. Without, them I am not sure if the second attempt would have been successful.

After church I knew I really did not want to stay home for long. So after lunch and naps the kids and I met up with all our friends for a nice walk and bike ride. Emma is really enjoying her new bike. Katie then informed me that she had a steak with my name on it!! I really needed and enjoyed just a little more time away from my self-pity. The kids played and played and Katie and I enjoyed our steaks, gin and tonic, and good conversation.

The second attempt worked. After giving the kids a bath at Katie's, I headed home with sleepy kids in tote. I stayed up a little too late but managed to fall fast asleep and stay that way until the alarm went off at 6. Back to reality

Day 195

So I think I had been in denial and completly forgot this day was going to come around. Even as I sit here 2 days later I am still wondering if he is going to come in the front door. (for the record he is still traveling back to his home away from home)


We had such a great night the night before that we feel fast asleep. My mind woke me around 3 AM with reality, that the alarm would indeed go off around 4 and we would be saying "see you later" around 6. So the moment came, the last hug and the last kiss. I thankfully had been given a gate pass and was able to hold on to him until the last minute. Another blessing was a friend who also was saying "see you later".

After Matt bordered my friend and I stood talking for nearly 20 minutes before we decided we better head back to Watertown where are friends were waiting to listen to us, to hold us, and to just be there. I am so incredibly blessed. My 2 wonderful friends who are still waiting for there special 2 weeks allowed me to whine, be depressed, laugh, cry, and even talk about all the fun fun times I had over and over again. The kids and I spent the entire day with our God- sends before heading home for the first attempt to face reality.

Day 194

Today was a day that was made about as well as it could have been. We started the morning with homemade waffles made by Daddy:) We all spent the morning and afternoon hanging out and getting stuff together. After Daddy set up the old computer for Emma and got himself all ready we headed to our good friend's house to drop off the kids. Matt's flight was super early the next morning so we decided we would leave the kids with a friend and squeeze in one last date night!! The kids did rather well with this transition. Emma knew what was going on but I think it helped that she had her friends to help distract her and keep her busy. Matt and I also enjoyed our evening. We sat at the Renaissance Marriott having cocktails before we enjoyed a incredible dinner and bottle of nice wine. Before retreating back to our room we sat in the lounge awhile longer and really enjoyed some good conversations. It was a night that we were both relaxed and really enjoying each other as husband and wife.

Day 193

Our final full day at home with the kids was beautiful. We decided we would stay home and hang out by the pool and play in the yard all day. What a treat that truly was. We hung out next to the pool all afternoon before we jumped out to play games in the yard for a little while and then went back into the pool. After a while Daddy even built us a camp fire to warm us up. It was about 75 degrees or so but oh so cold in the pool. After we grilled chicken and corn on the Cobb we changed the kids and sat by the fire to make smores. We had such a relaxing last full day at home. Matt and I ended the day watching some more CSI until I feel fast asleep next to Matt on the couch.

Day 192

Today was a beautiful day in the North Country. We hung out at home for most of the day while Daddy worked. Matt finished the siding on the side of the garage today. What a chore that turned out to be. But after 3 1/2 hours it was done and we were ready to carry on. So we quickly packed up the Jeep and changed into our suits and headed to the beach. The kids had a blast. Because we got there later in the day it was less crowded and we were able to really play. Emma loved the water and the fact that she could touch the bottom of the swim area. Logan enjoyed the sand for awhile and then wanted to run all over the place:) I myself enjoyed watching my incredible husband play with our incredible children!!

Day 191

Today was a incredible day spent around the house. Matt started out mowing the lawn and doing random small projects before he started to work on really child proofing the pool area. There was one small area that was not gated so he quickly built a gate. (I have a great woodsman!!) After I took a nice long 8 mile run I enjoyed laying on the couch during nap time:) After Daddy finished his work he came in and helped the kids make Pizza for movie and pizza night. We enjoyed watching The Tale of Despereaux while the kids feasted on Pizza and brownies for dessert. Matt and I ended the night ordering in Italian food and watching New In Town, that is such a funny movie.

Day 190

Today was a Daddy and Emma date day. The two set out for a little shopping and then went and saw the movie UP. Emma really enjoyed this special time having Daddy all to herself.

The rest of the day was spent around the house. Daddy is almost done with hi "honey do list". And is now onto projects that he has wanted to do but did not have the extra time.

Day 189

A fun filled lazy day around here today. Thankfully the kids slept until 8:45 AM this morning. I could totally get used to sleeping in that late:) We were slow but we got a lot accomplished today. Most of the camping stuff is unpacked, cleaned, and put away. I only have 1 more of the 6 loads of laundry to do. Matt accomplished 3 or 4 things on his honey do list. And we took the kids outside to play. After a chicken kabob and rice dinner the kids are in bed and Matt and I are watching CSI from this last year, I am lovin it!!

Day 188

Day 4 of Camping and I was a little tired!! I so totally love to camp but I am not a tent sleeper at all. I am actually more comfortable with a big fire falling asleep in one of the chairs with a foot rest. So after I sleep next to the fire until around 3:30 AM I was finally able to sleep in the tent, thankfully the kids were also tired and sleep until 8:45 AM!!! We started the morning with another big breakfast before we set out for a short hike that lead to a few waterfalls. Emma and Matt had already been on this so Emma was a little upset and complained about how tired she was the entire time and once we got to the waterfalls Logan got upset because of the loudness. It was all wonderful!! After hiking we headed to a little beach nearby. The kids played in the sand and water while Daddy and I watched on. With the winds picking up and Logan needing a nap Logan and I started to clean up while Emma and Daddy went for a little swim. After nap time we headed out to take a Gondola ride up White face mountain but because of the approaching storm they were on hold. Without thinking about all the rain we headed to another grocery store to buy chicken for dinner. When we did pull back into the campground there were puddles galore and it was still pouring down rain. Looking at all the puddles Logan would love to jump in and the fact there was really no where to let the kids play we decided it was best to pack up and go. My wonderful husband spent the next 90 minutes packing us and the Jeep up in the pouring down rain. Still a little wet we arrived home around 9 PM, in time for showers and bed!!

Day 187

Day 3 of camping including a move. We had originally only planned to stay 2 nights but we were having so much fun we decided we would pitch our tent and stay 2 extra nights. But first we started the morning by having breakfast with Santa. The KOA in Wilmington New York is only about 10 minutes from the North Pole, the theme for the weekend was Christmas in July. Both kids were a little scared of Santa and Logan would not even get close to him. Emma even won the raffle prize which was a ornament and I was able to snag a picture of that. After breakfast Matt had the cabin all packed and ready to move to the tent site. By 10 AM we were all set up. During nap time Matt took Emma down to the sports area to do a Christmas Ceramic Painting craft which is so totally up Emma's way. Since we had not planned on staying the extra 2 nights we made the long drive to Saranac Lake to buy groceries and see about a air mattress. Once we made the 40 minute drive back to camp we realized we somehow did not grab the bag with the hamburgers and chicken in it. Thankfully, the KOA has a snack shack so we grabbed a quick supreme pizza and enjoyed dinner before Emma and I went to the ice cream social. So, at this point in our camping trip no one but me had taken a shower and we were running out of clothes. After ice cream Matt and I got the kids and ourselves showered and I was able to start a load of laundry. (My kind of camping provides hot showers and laundry facilities) It was rather late by this time so Emma and Daddy cuddled up next to the fire to read some books until Emma's eyes were so heavy she was about asleep. Matt and I ended the night playing Skip Bo next to the fire before I fell asleep in the chair:)

Day 186

Day 2 of Camping starting a little earlier than we would have liked. Logan woke us and 1/2 the campground up at 6:30 AM. We were not going to let it bring us down though. Matt made us up a good hardy bacon, eggs, potatoes, and toast breakfast before we headed out fishing. Emma was so excited to fish with her Go Diego Go Pole. It took all of about 5 minutes for Emma to catch her first fish. Daddy was super excited about this, Emma however, was not so excited. Matt said he thinks she really was not so excited to see a actual fish attached to the line when she pulled it out of the water. After fishing we went back to the campground for lunch and to give Logan a nap. Emma and Daddy fixed Daddy's bike tire and then headed out for bike ride while I sat next to the fire reading my book-- so relaxing!!. After Logan's nap we played at the playground and then went swimming at the Pool. After Daddy grilled us up some steaks, skewered potatoes, and broccoli we let the kids roast marshmallows. The night ended with a fun game of 13-26 and a little campfire before we fell fast asleep to await our early riser.

Day 185

We started our camping trip today. What a Day it was. We started the day leaving early enough that we arrived at our campsite around 1PM. This gave us plenty of time to really enjoy and explore the campground. After Daddy got us all set up we headed to the Sports area and played Candy Bar Bingo and on the cool little play ground they had. We then rented these cool go carts. Emma started out by herself but her legs got tired quickly so Logan and Daddy headed out for a little while on there own and then Emma and I took a turn. My legs quickly grew tired. After some more playing we headed back to the campsite to start the fire and work on dinner. After I got the tenderloin, red potatoes, and corn on the Cobb all ready for Matt to cook the kids and I headed over to ride on the hay ride. We had such a great time. The KOA in Wilmington offers tons of fun family filled activities. After the kids went to bed Matt and I enjoyed the fun game Ladder Ball before we sat around the camp fire, one of the many highlights of the camping trip.

Day 184

The kids got their new "Daddy is Home" gifts today. Emma got a new Princess bike and Logan got a new motorized big wheel. The kids had a blast playing with their new toys. Logan is having a hard time understanding how to get it to run right. Emma jumped on her new bike and took off.