Fort Leonardwood/Lost-In-The-Woods Missouri

Well, we got into Missouri and drove into Mom and Dad's driveway about 6am on Tuesday morning! We left Clarksville at midnight to drive through the night so the kids would sleep the whole way... so obviously the first adventurous thing we did when we got there was crash for hours upon hours on the blow up mattress downstairs... which regardless of its air-head type manner could not have been more comfortable!
The next few days we stayed home for the most part visiting until the day after Christmas when we went out and about seeing the sights of Fort Leonardwood! Now don't worry, no children were harmed during the taking of these photos no matter how much it looks like they are about to get ran over by these monstrous military tactical vehicles!














Now how many kids get to ride on the side of a tank like this? hahaha! There were signs everywhere forbidding the climbing on of the stationary vehicles for show only.... but we just had to get this picture!


It was wonderful seeing Mom and Dad, and one thing wondering around this heavily populated training base did was bring back to reality how much effort goes into preparing our soldiers to risk their lives for this country so we can remain safe at home. It just made me feel so blessed to know that so many dedicated and honorable people have my life, and that of my children, in their best interest....even though they don't know me personally.I am so proud and appreciative of them... and of my Dad who has always taught us to take pride in our country and never feel ashamed of who we are... As the new year approaches I think about all that we, as a country have been through this year alone and I pray that we can come out just as united and strong through this next year. I support our troops, and I pray for them everyday and I just want to say thank you to them all. Wherever they are, deployed or finally home with their loved ones... it may be another year ahead of us filled with more deployments and less time at home, but you are appreciated and loved.
Till they all come home...

Family Time and the End of 2008

So we had a FANTASTIC Christmas and vacation in Missouri!
The girls really made out considering the limited financial budget that "Santa" had this year! lol Cecilia got the coolest rollerskates from her Aunt Jacky with Hannah Montana on them... needless to say she was super thrilled and the Lord blessed us with weather fair enough to do some outdoor learning sessions!
Ciara and Cadince just had a blast tearing as much of the wrapping paper up as possible to discover their many baby dolls and Dora the Explorer activities/toys!
It was so nice to have Jared home. For those who don't know the whole story, a friend of Jared's gave me the ultimate Christmas gift, he paid for Jared's round-trip ticket to come home for the holidays! He leaves out on the 2nd of January so he gets to be here for Christmas and New Years!





We haven't really gotten around to getting decent family shots done so Mom and Dad did us the favor of taking some nice Christmas photos of us! Wow! I never realized how slimming gray is! lol I look ten pounds lighter! hehehehe



Apparently Jared felt that he did not get enough for Christmas so I was instructed to wrap myself up... Well we didn't have enough wrapping paper for such a feat so I ended up looking like this! lol














Another year has come and passed... seems like we just got here... Well, I have one more post before 2008 is over... just to show the really cool things we did at Fort Leonardwood!!! Then, it's off to 2009... God Bless us all as we enter into another year with our savior and out families... who we wouldn't be anything without!

Soon

Three days!
Jared comes home in three days. It is only for a week and a half but he will be home!
He flies in at around nine in the evening Saturday (20th) and leaves at six o'clock in the evening on the 2nd! We are heading out to Mom and Dad's on the 23rd for Christmas and we are sooooo excited for the road trip and to see them. We won't be heading back until the 28th or 29th, depending on what is going on and the weather. Spending Christmas with family is well worth the six to seven hour drive through the rain and hail there and back! Of course, doing so with three crabby kids will be an adventure all in itself. Andrea, I honestly don't know how you do it driving here every year! But Dad made a special trip out to see Jared graduate and there is nothing that's going to stop us from doing the same (the special trip part anyway!)

The girls are very very excited. They have already planned out all the cool pictures they want to make for Daddy and what to put on the banners! They are quite adorable!
As for me, I am stressed as usual. Such excitement also bring extra responsibilities for me so I am trying to catch up on everything and budget for the trip the best I can... Santa is going to Grammy and Pappy's this year and trying to figure out how to tote all those wrapped gifts from "santa" is proving to be a task!

Well, I hope everyone's holiday is safe and fun... we will do out best to see everyone we can while Jared is in town, but we are really going to want as much us time as possible. He comes home for good in FEBRUARY so there can be plenty of visiting then! lol

Merry Christmas everyone and have a great New Year. God Bless you all!

Take this all you Mommies!

Finally one that is different! Here you go mommies - a different kind of tag for a change - it's all about you and your first baby!

1. Were you married at the time? Of birth? Yes... of conception... No

2. What were your reactions when you found out you were pregnant? too many emotions to really name!
3. How old were you? 17

4. How did you find out you were pregnant? Fell out of drill (which didn't happen to me!) and was sent to Smyrna Hospital
5. Who did you tell first? Jared

6. Did you want to find out the sex? Yes!
7. Due date? April 18, 2005
8. Did you deliver early or late? 1 week early
9. Did you have morning sickness? I was sick the whole time! lol

10. What did you crave? Beef jerky and pepsi... always around one o'clock in the morning!

11. Who irritated you the most? who didn't? I was moody! lol

12. What was your first child's sex? girl

13. How many pounds did you gain throughout the pregnancy? 18 lbs

14. Did you have any complications during your pregnancy? I was on bedrest pretty much the entire time... It was a rough one!
15. Where did you give birth? Gateway
16. How many hours were you in labor? Which time?!!! lol about three and a half hours total... but the pushing only took about 15 min

17. Who drove you to the hospital? My husband
18. Who watched? Jared, my mom, my little sister, and too many nurses to count... and my doctor of course (I hope!)
19. Was it natural or c-section? natural

20. Did you take medicine to ease the pain? Nope! I was determined to go all the way by myself

21. How much did your child weigh? 7 lbs 1/2 oz
22. What did you name him/her? Ciara Jade
23. How old is your first born today? 3

Okay all you mommies, re-post this as 'My first baby'