HEREEEEE they are!

Making signs means that Daddy will be home SOOOOON!

*Kissies*

We had SO much fun, laughing and playing :-)

Working together is GREAT!

Heyyyy Mommy!

Here are the pics from Christmas Eve at my parents house. Because it was like 80 degrees outside, we decided to take the opportunity to make Bryan's welcome home sign for our house. Now, I must preface these pictures by saying that I fought every inner urge to take over this project and create a 'perfect' sign that followed the lines of the letters perfectly and looked visually appealing.... I finally just decided that this sign was for the kids, and they should enjoy the process just as much as the sign. I wanted them to remember the fun that we had on Christmas making a sign for Daddy together--and I think that they will.

So what, exactly, is going on with Bryan's homecoming--you ask?? Well, at this point we don't have a final date. We won't have that until he is about 48-72 hours out. The brigade redeployment ceremony is still set for January 15th, and they SHOULD be home for that. As of right now his block leave is set for January 24th and I am praying that is true. We really need to have time to get our townhouse ready to rent, before the 1st of February. Moving has been difficult enough, and I definitely want help with that :-)

Until I get that call, we are waiting. The first big group comes in tonight at 11 PM. Even though I was well aware that he would be one of the last home, it still hurts to realize it when other guys are coming home... I just want to cry on a daily basis, because I don't get to talk to him but for like 15 min--every other day. I just can't wait to have a face to face conversation with him, and to have him give me a hug when I'm sad. All of these things that we sometime take for granted are so precious.

I will update more when I get a chance! I'm thinking of you all, and moving is coming well. I will post pics as soon as I have them :-)

Can't WAIT to put this up!!

More to follow!

Here is a sneak peak at pics that I will be posting SOON. I am packing up the house tonight for some guys from a local ministry to come move tomorrow. I am UBER busy--but some of you actually check this... so know that I am thinking of all of you, and will upload more soon!!

Not ready, set, GO!!!

Merry Almost Christmas!!

My Parents Christmas Party was a HIT!


Elyse said, "Mommy, it's so WEIRD seeing you dressed up with makeup on!" LOL!
I even got to wear my backless shirt from VS! I've never been thin enough to! YEA!

I am DEFINITELY ready for 2008 to be over with so that I can see Bryan, and have him involved with our lives FULL TIME again... however, with all of the things that I have going on with moving, etc. it is difficult to say that I am 'ready' for the next few weeks. When I think about him really coming home and REALLY being here it's scary to say the absolute least. I love him dearly, but it is frightening when you haven't seen someone in so long.... Most of the time though, if you haven't been through a deployment you can't quite wrap your head around anything but joy when it comes to homecomings.

The new house is coming along OK. We are closing on the 29th, but have a request in to be able to start moving stuff on the 26th so that we can have that weekend as well. We are on standby when it comes to Bry's homecoming. He is in Kuwait--and it is about a 24 hour flight from there to Ft. Polk. So, that means when he calls me and tells me that he is going to be leaving, then me and the kids get in the car and head to the POLK!! We are praying that we find favor, and get a cheap place to stay while we are there for the reintegration classes. We know that God has provided for us thus far, and he won't stop now! We definitely give Him all the glory for the many blessings in our life, and for those that are to come. We pray that all of you do the same :-)

WooooooHooooooooo!!!

ONTO KUWAIT! In about 8 hours, my hubby is boarding a plane to Kuwait... and then after that.... WHO KNOWS?!!?!
LOL! :-)

OK, OK... It will still be a little while until he actually gets to Fort Polk, but it's exciting to know that he is OUT OF THAT COUNTRY that has taken so much of our life from us... This also means that he is only a 24 hour flight away, so it kind of puts me on edge with everything else going on with our house, etc.

~THAT SAID~
I have (AGAIN) lost my camera and am veryyyy bummed. I know that I will find it, but it just adds to stress when I am not able to take pictures of the kids everyday. :-( I have been using my cell phone to takes pics, though. They aren't the best quality, but I am going to upload them to show you guys the past few days.

Saturday

Yeah so, we are TOTALLY broke this year because of our purchasing the new house. Because of that, I am making picture frames for our family pictures--necessity is definitely the mother of invention. YEA! I love them!

Friday

It was a coooold day here in Florida! Bundle Up! We also went to visit Grandma Great after her knee surgery :-)

Let the festivities begin!

YEA! OK, so the last 2 Christmases have kind of stunk~2006 Afghanistan, 2007 Iraq--this year... on his way home? Because we have been moving this time of year for 2 years in a row, we haven't been able to decorate our home for the season. :-(

However, this year I have been able to take the kids to a few events to help with their Christmas spirit this year--and that has helped LOTS! It doesn't hurt that Bryan will be home shortly after Christmas, either!! We even put one strand of lights up outside so that we aren't the ONLY ones in the neighborhood with no lights.

Friday Night-Parade

Look, Sissy! Those floats have lights on them!

Saturday Night-Symphony in Lights

Butterflies!!

((EXCITEMENT!!!!))

So now that there is a semi-official word that everyone SHOULD be home no later than January 15, my stomach won't STOP fluttering!! I could hardly eat today just thinking about Bryan holding me, playing with the kids and simply being around our house. I went to Wal-Mart today to get the kids t-shirts for the 'Welcome Home' ceremony~I will get those done and pack some emergency bags in the next few weeks, just in case I get "the call" :-)

I have been trying to keep busy around the house, and there is NO lack of things to do. I am sorting stuff, throwing away, and beginning to pack the things that I have boxes for. I have been selling quite a bit of stuff on e-bay as well, which is helping with the bills and expenses. I am praying and believing that God is going to provide a place for me and the kids to stay in LA before Bry gets there, and the money for a hotel room after he does arrive. I have also been working on things for Kayne's bedroom! He has not had a bedroom to this point, and I'm excited about decorating a little boy's room. The theme will be monkeys and his comforter set is from Bobby Jack and the colors are turquoise, brown and lime green. :-)

Here are a few pics of little wood 'sayings' for his wall that I bought from Michael's and painted to match his room. They came already painted, but I painted over to match exactly.

Here they are painted--I will probably continue to decorate the other words too!

Here are the backs of the words, showing the colors that they actually came in...