For the record, I have no business blogging right now.  I need to be packing.  Just so we're straight on that, on to the pictures.   A quick trip to the playground behind our house a few weeks ago.  Can't wait until they have this park totally finished! A few weeks ago, we went to a BBQ with members of the worship team from church.  Dylan and Ashley Tucker hosted the evening.  We couldn't have asked for better weather! Just guessing, but looks like Addison has something to say... ;)  Mya LOVES dogs!  I wish we were in a place to get a dog, but with moving so much, I don't want the responsibility right now.  Addison however has convinced herself that we are getting a dog when Chad gets home.  Not sure where she got that idea! Mothers Day - sweet girls! Bunny is beloved as every! Nap time!

This has been a big month for Miss Mya! Her biggest accomplishment - officially walking!  While she has been taking steps for a long time, this month she decided it was time to move.  She getting faster everyday.  Her Daddy couldn't wait for her to walk...now for him to get home so he can chase her!  Another big change has been her conversation.  It seems like she's grown up in just a few weeks.  She is communicating more and more and can understand and respond to most things I say.  (ie. go get your paci or get a diaper) words: momma, dada (she definitely knows Chad and calls him dada, but she can't seem to get "Addi" so she calls her dada too sometimes!), ball, yes, Papa -doing very well with sign language weight - not sure if we've broken the 20 pound mark or not! - length - 27 inches - Still just 6 teeth, but again, I'm sure she's cutting more! - same as last month - she would love to take a morning nap most days but that rarely happens given ou...

I was destined to be a military wife.  I've always teared up at the Nation Anthem, I was a history major and focused on military history and have always had a deep love for our country.  ...and when I hear God Bless the USA, just bring out the tissues. On Memorial Day we remember those who have fought and died for our country.  We remember their sacrifice and the sacrifice of their families.  I could write pages about dear families whose wounds run deep this Memorial Day.  No words could express our honor and gratitude for such brave men and women.   One sweet moment sums up Memorial Day for our family.  Addison and I were watching the National Memorial Day concert together.  Toward the end she looked at me and said, "Mommy, some boys and girls daddies don't come home because they get killed."  What do you say to that?  All I knew to say was  "We need to pray for them."  At the end of the concert they played the Armed Force...

Just to be clear...I'm not an Oprah fan.   She has done great things and is certainly successful, but I rarely ever watched her show and differ with her significantly on issues and philosophy.  That being said, I recorded her last show this week.  I recorded and watched the royal wedding and President Reagan's funeral, presidential addresses and inaugurations for the same reason - its a part of history.  Granted, a television show finale is not a significant part of history, but still a part of history. At the beginning of her show she talked about feeling called to do what you do in life.  She said her calling happened to line up with her line of work, but that doesn't always happen.  She talked about how important it is to have a light in your life that pushes you and drives and inspires you in everything you do.  She also talked about God's influence in her life.  I can't know her heart or what she believes, but she spoke about God in a more ...

Our sweet baby Mya is growing up - 16 months old!  During deployments, I feel all too often that I wish my kids childhoods away.  Every day that I want to go by faster to bring Chad home is one day gone from the moments of them being so little.  I experienced the same feelings with Addison at this age.   Mya's personality has certainly blossomed in the last few months!  She is still pretty calm and content most of the time, but she can have quite a temper at times and can be a total ham!  She has the cheesiest grin with tiny little teeth and eyes squinted.  Every time I get the camera out though, she drops the grin and just wants to hold the camera.   Mya Facts: - weight - 19.5lbs - I know, our kiddos stay on the little side of life - length - 27 inches - 2 teeth on the bottom, 4 teeth on the top (that all cut at the same time!)  I'm pretty sure she is cutting her molars right now.  - still hanging on to her morning nap.  Our sche...

I honestly am going to try to catch up on blogging!  For now, I will start with Easter and try to work backwards.   Easter Morning - poor Mya, this pretty much sums up how she has felt the past few days. So excited about her new Tangled Tower from Nana and Papa T. My sweet girls, again, Mya wasn't in the picture mood Our best attempt at a family picture...ignore the Northern New York tan! D-O-N-E Mommy! Egg Coloring time - Addison's favorite If you know Chad, you are not at all surprised he was giving us egg decorating directions all the way from Afghanistan! Chad's Masterpiece Ready....Set...  GO! Yep - that's her Halloween bucket.  She wanted to use that.  Being that she had no competition for eggs, she had enough to fill her easter basket too.

Military wives know far too well the eerie silence of a quiet phone and an empty email box.  Maybe your not a military wife.  Maybe you don't know the quiet relief you feel each time you hear your husband's voice on the other end of the phone.  Most people don't think "oh good, he's still alive" each time they hear from their loved one.  Military families do.  We check to see if they've read their emails, see if they've read our text messages just to know if they are okay.  While this may seem like we sit in a puddle of worry everyday, we don't.  It is just woven into the fabric of our lives to wonder if he's okay today. Saturday was one of those days.  You know somethings wrong, you just don't know what.  You aren't sure when the bad news will come or how close to home it will hit.  You try to keep yourself busy, but the waiting is tough.  You cringe at the sound of car doors and your heart stops if the doorbell rings...even if i...