She sparkles

Ava makes the best cheerleader.  She works both her loud voice and killer smile perfectly.  Watching her from the stands with her perm-a-smile I know she is having a great time.  There are big all-state cheerleader shoes to fill from her aunt and she is well on her way.  The last couple weeks our home has been filled with the classic chants of cheers, claps and happy hands.  She loves to walk around the house bellowing out her cheer and more times then none, sister also joins in the mix.  My mind went directly to middle school when I would watch my sister and her best friend practice their cheer routine and jumps for hours upon hours... The one and only time I tried out for the cheer squad I didn't make it which doesn't surprise me because God did not bless this body with any sort of athletic ability.  He blessed Ava though and I look forward to seeing her continue to grow in her athletic ability.  Here are a few pictures of my little cheerleader. 

 

Ava with her friend, Gracelyn.

 

Me and my mini me.

Enjoy your family~

Dreaming of lying on the beach with my husband today.  Just us, the sun, the crashing of the waves and the smell of the saltwater.  Relaxing together and enjoying some much needed alone time.  Right now, that's all I can think about- wishing I was packing my bags and leaving on the plane with him.  Ugh, so many more months. 

Poker themed care package

Being in full birthday party planning mode is making the weeks past quick and I know the first two weeks of February will fly by because they always do but I cannot quit thinking about Joe.  Lets see we have Ava's birthday, my birthday, Valentines day, St Patricks day, Spring break, Easter, Joe's birthday and THEN... we will be getting close.  I spend my days thinking of fun goodie box items to send over to Joe.  The corner of our bedroom is my packing area with stock of packing tape, sharpies, boxes, custom forms and items to place into his boxes.  I told him the other day that the corner will look bare once he's home and all the stuff is packed away.  Although, I will be sending boxes to the man who is taking Joe's place but I will not be sending him a ton of stuff like I do Joe.  One box I will send over for sure is the poker themed box for the boys to have a poker night.  This was a fun box to pack up and I also sent one to Joe and the guys.  In the box I packed a dealer visor, play money, root 'beer', peanuts, cigars, pizza flavored snacks, gold coins, summer sausage and crackers, poker chips, casino themed plates, dice, playing cards and a green poker table cloth. 

 

 

 

 

  I really hope the guys had fun playing poker and they were able to have some fun downtime.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Enjoy your family~  

Delicious Healthy Snack

  
  
                                      

Found these little gems on Pinterest.  I am eating healthier these days and these came into my life at the perfect time.  Lately I have been wanting to stuff my face with anything containing processed sugar.  Candy bars, ice-cream, pies, frosting, cakes, cookies and... well you get the idea.  In order to not do that I have been drinking chai tea or hot tea a lot more to curb my incredible hulk sweet tooth.  When I found these on Pinterest a few weeks ago my mouth began watering and I decided to make these today.  Here is the recipe and I hope you run into your kitchen and make these as soon as you are done reading my blog unless of course you are my sister then you may not want to run into the kitchen for risk of stubbing your toe.  Go ahead and double the recipe because they will be a family hit.  Guaranteed. 

1 C. dry oatmeal
1/2 C. chocolate chips
1/2 C. peanut butter- I use the lower sugar/reduced fat peanut butter
1/2 C. ground flax seed
1/3 C. honey
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Mix it up with a spoon.  Roll into small balls.  Tip: Dampen your hands when rolling out the balls.  It will help them not to stick to your hands as bad.  I keep them in the fridge because flax seed is best when refrigerated. 

For those of you who don't know flax seed is high in fiber, omega 3's, low carb and full of antioxidants. 






Enjoy your family~

" A part of you has grown in me. And so you see, it's you and me together forever and never apart, maybe in distance but never in heart."

Chicken Noodle Sop

If anyone has been sick and in need of a easy yet yummy homemade chicken noodle soup recipe:  Here you go:

Ingredients:

2 T butter
1 Cup sliced celery
1 Cup thin sliced carrot
1/2 Cup chopped yellow onion
1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves. 
1 teaspoon poultry seasoning
32 oz low sodium chicken stock
3 Cups water
2 chicken bouillon cubes
6 oz egg noodles
2 Cups cooked chicken- time savor tip= use leftover chicken from last nights dinner and shred it for the soup or you can cook the chicken 1-2 days in advance, keep it in the fridge and shred it when you need it.

Directions:

Melt the butter in a large pot.
Saute the celery, carrots and onion in the pot for 5-6 minutes.  Careful not to burn them.
Add the thyme, poultry seasoning, chicken broth, 2 Cups of the water and the bouillon cubes.  Bring to a boil. Slight boil for 10 minutes- taste the broth for seasoning.  Too salty, add the other cup of water.  Not salty enough, add a dash of salt or maybe another bouillon cube.  Once the seasoning is how you like it, add the noodles and cook on low for 20 minutes.  Stir in the cooked chicken with 5 minutes left to warm through.  Sprinkle with fresh parsley if you like. 







Enjoy your family~

The lovely flu season

Everywhere I turn I hear people talking about how sick they have been. Their kids have had the flu, their husbands are sick, their neighbors child tested positive for RSV, doctor's offices had to close because everyone was out with the stomach flu and a school in Kiefer, Ok had to close on Friday because half the kids were out Thursday due to the flu.  All this sickness talk does not sit well with me and my germ-a-phobic self.  I like being healthy, but then again who doesn't? 

Fevers, aching, coughing, mucus, puke, chills, snot, headaches and congestion everywhere.  Stay away from us people!!  I hear that this is the worst flu season doctors have ever seen- Miss Emma had the flu a couple years ago (even though she got her shot 4 months before) and she was pitiful.  I never want to go through that with her again. 

I know you don't need a health lesson from me but I am going to give one to you anyway.


*Wash your hands.  A lot.  Blowing nose?  Wash your hands after.  Sneeze?  Wash your hands after.
Cooking dinner?  WASH YOUR HANDS.

*Do not touch your eyes, mouth or nose with your hands.  Even if they are clean.  Just don't do it. 

*Do not touch YOUR child's eyes, mouth or nose with your hands.

*Wash your hands.

*Wash your kids hands.

*If you are sick- STAY HOME.  No one wants your germs. No one wants you hacking on them, around them or around their children.

*If your child is sick- Do not traipse them around town to run your errands, eat lunch or to do your daily coffee run.  Acceptable outings include the Dr's office and then to fill their prescription. 

*Wash your hands.

*People make fun of my Clorox wipes but they work.  Clorox door handles, remotes, phones, sink faucets, light switches.

*Wash your kids hands.

*For goodness sakes if you or your child have been puking stay home for 36 hours.  Do not leave.

*Sneeze inside your shirt.  The whole elbow thing makes no sense to me.  People still touch elbows.

There. I feel better.




Enjoy your family~

A day in the life of Joe

Hey everyone, I just wanted to give ya'll an update of how Joe was doing.  I think its safe to say that the highlight of this month thus far was finally finding an ice machine. He hasn't had ice since October but the ice machines are only in the dining facilities so he only gets ice during meals. They are within walking distance but he said as time goes on, its getting colder and colder so walking to the dining facility for ice isn't worth it.  He told me the other day that the very first thing he wants to do once he gets home is take off his boots and just walk around our house feeling the carpet with his feet.  They have community bathrooms and showers so he will have been wearing shoes, boots and flip-flops for the entire deployment. I'm sure by the time he gets home he will be aching for a clean shower with warm water.

 

(trying to keep warm by the fire)

 

Weather wise there it's starting to snow and the weather is turning for the worse.  He said by late March, early April it should start warming up again.  He has only left base once so far.  He was supposed to go on a two day trip but got stuck for 6 due to weather delays. Where he was, the elevation was much higher so the snow was heavier.

(Delayed due to weather)

 

 He also drags his OSU flag everywhere, as you can tell:

He stays pretty busy so his days go by somewhat quick.  He is the Logistics "guy" on his deployment so him and another guy, Jason, spends most of their days moving supplies to different parts of the country to help support the teams that are there with them.

Christmas was interesting for him but to say the least, he said it was just another day.  The days are all the same there. He calls it "Groundhog Day" because nothing changes. Mondays are just like Saturdays.  Thanksgiving and Christmas were just days to him.  He did get to see "Santa" though.
 

And we did take our annual family Christmas day photo... Just looks a little different this year.

(Christmas Morning 2012)

 All of our friends and family have been showering him with care packages.  His tells me everyday how grateful he is to have such great family and friends in his life.  I mailed Joe a "Comforts of Home" box to remind him of what he gets to come home to.  It also helps him furnish his "closet" as he calls it (it's a 6' X 7' wood room)  He received a new electric blanket from me and said that was one of the most comforting things. Anything to sleep comfortably and stay warm in the bitter cold weather.

All in all his spirits are high and I know he is looking forward to being home just as much as I am looking forward to him being home.  Thank you everyone for their continued prayers for his safety and protection.





Enjoy your family~

January 1.

(Celebrating NYE in Afghanistan)

Today is a big day for me. It's the peak of my mountain and I can finally start the climb down the other side.  His return date is in 2013 and I am thankful we are finally into 2013.  Let the months pass and let the climb down this mountain be quick.

Today is the first day of a brand new year and today is our 100th day without Joe. 100 days.  Wow.  That's a lot of bedtime stories I have read, a lot of bathes I've given, a lot of dinner's without Joe and a lot of holidays spent apart.  For 99 nights I have slept alone (except for the occasional 4 yr old pitter pattering into my room and climbing into bed with me) and for 99 nights I have missed seeing him lying next to me.  I still can't see the light at the end of this tunnel but I can at least now see the tunnel.  The tunnel is in my view and with each passing day it's one day closer to seeing him. 

Every night since I can remember I have gone into my girls rooms before I go to bed to look at them, kiss them again or cover them up.  The night before Joe left was no different.  I was heading off to bed and when I walked into Emma's room I saw Joe laying with her. I wasn't expecting to see him in there and when I did it took me by surprise.  I walked out of her room and let him have his moment.  He had his arm around her and I cant even imagine what he was thinking or feeling at that moment.  It broke my heart that would be the last time he would get to hold her for a long time.  That quiet moment they had together I'm sure was priceless to him.  I know it would have been for me if I were in his shoes.  He did the same thing with Ava and I never discussed it with him because I wanted to keep the moments he spent with his daughter's to be special and to be just between them.

The last deployment he went on he bought us both a necklace that said 'God be with us together and apart.' Every time he deploys he wears it on his dog tags.  I have had my necklace on since September 23 and only take it off to shower.  It's a way, in my mind, to keep us connected while he is away. 

                                                                                               

Thank you AGAIN to my exceptional, fantastic, amazing family who have gone out of their way to help during this deployment. I will never be able to repay you... I love you all and we are incredibly thankful for you.  This day is an accomplishment for ya'll also.  100 days guys!! THANK YOU!!!






Enjoy your family~