We were thankful to have the chance to go to Georgia and spend Christmas with our families.  Most of our family lives within a few minutes of each other, so we get to see everyone during our trips. We arrived at my parents at 4PM on the 18th and our first Christmas party started an hour later! I'm terrible about remembering to take pictures during parties.   Girls getting their presents before the adults White Elephant game. One of the traditions that I treasure most is going to my Ma-maw's for Christmas Eve.  Up until a few years ago, we would first gather at a local nursing home and sing Christmas carols up and down the halls.  Then we would head back to Ma-maw's for dinner, reading the Christmas story, playing games and opening presents.  Opening presents was always an after thought for me there because there were too many other special things to do.   As we've grown older and moved away, the schedule has changed, but it is still a highlight of my Ch...

Our Addison just turned five!  She has been anticipating this birthday for a while now!  Not sure when you start dreading birthdays instead of anticipating them...maybe when your next birthday is the big 3-0. Back to Addison... ;) Addison is still bouncing off our walls most days!  We keep thinking she may slow down one day, but we're still waiting on that.   She enjoys homeschooling for Preschool.  She is learning so much, so quickly!  She has started reading 3 and 4 letter words.  I can't wait for her to start really reading! She loves to watch TV.  I know, I know.  Bad mom.  She doesn't watch it all the time, but would watch movies all day if I let her.  Her favorite movies are: Rapunzel, Dophin Tale, and anything Disney Princess.  She still loves gymnastics and practices all the time. She has finally started trying new foods.  She loves chicken and has never eaten red meat or ground meat of any kind.  Not su...

Our sweet baby Mya is now 2!!  While we were in Georgia, we celebrated Addison's 5th birthday and Mya's 2nd birthday, but more on the party in another post.   Mya has such a sweet personality.  She loves to give hugs, kisses and say "I love you!"  She has become even more attached to Mommy and still likes to know where Daddy is.   She enthusiastically plays with Addison and loves to share with her.   Weight: 24 lbs., height: 32 inches  Still loves for us to sing Jesus Loves Me at night, but now calls the song "Bible" instead of "Jesus" Talking more and more!  Her words are becoming clearer and has started saying more phrases.  You can always tell a kid is getting older when they go from saying "Hold you" to "Hold me Mommy." Still sleeps 12 hours+ every night and naps 3 hours a day if she can.  She will sleep pretty much anywhere there is a pack-n-play. She doesn't like to stay fully buckled in her carseat.  She unbuc...

Poor Mya - no baby book, not many pictures...and now I can't even keep up with her blog posts. This picture is from our trip to Disney world.  More blogging about that soon.  So despite being a week late, here ya go... - One of the biggest changes in the past few weeks is Mya's vocabulary.  She has started talking a lot more and is very clear with lots of words.   - She still loves her "papi."  We are driving home for Christmas and will spend about 18 hours in the car each way, so we will not be getting rid of the pacifier before that trip! - weight - 22 lbs. - length - not sure.  - She has now cut all her teeth.  A few are still coming in, but hopefully we are done with teething! - Her favorite foods are peanut butter, yogurt, humus, chicken.  She is hit and miss with some veggies, but over all is a good eater.  -Is still a champion sleeper. Wakes up between 7:30 and 8:00 (or later!). She Never whimpers when it is time to go to slee...

I have been doing a poor job at updating the old blog.  I am going to follow my friend Regan's lead and give you some bullet updates on the Monroes for now.  Ever since Chad has been home, some how spending time with his is more appealing than sitting down at the computer to blog.  Also Pinterest has been stealing most of the computer time I do get!  If you haven't been on Pinterest, check it out! 1. Chad has a four day weekend for Veterans day and we have used it to do things around the house. We both have become pretty big fans of Pinterest and have been trying to actually do some of the craft/DIY ideas.  On Friday many restaurants offered free meals for veterans, so we took advantage of that and went out to dinner with some friends.  On Saturday we had another friend over and then her and I went to a Scentsy show at a friend's house.  We also pulled the Christmas decorations out.  I normally don't decorate before Thanksgiving, but since we'll...

I realize yesterday's post title included "snow" and I neglected to get around to those thoughts!  So for what its worth, here's my thoughts.  Realize this is meant to be humorous, but also very true... Snow is an important word here.  Its basically a way of life November-April.  Fort Drum was in the top of my list of places I never wanted to go in the Army (#1 on that list is Alaska) for one main reason - SNOW and COLD. I hate being cold.  I really do.  I also hate snow.  I am also sick of people tell me how much I should love it.  Just because you like snow, does not mean I have to like it.  Being hot is so much easier and CHEAPER than being cold.  I have had so many people tell me how much I am going to love the snow here, especially with my girls.   I lived in Ohio for four years, and while we didn't get 13 feet a year, we got enough for me to deal with.  I've had my car plowed in, I've driven in the snow where I couldn't...

As a friend said on her blog, I might as well stop apologizing for being behind on the blog.  Tis the story of my life these days.   I'll start with the most important and exciting update in our family - welcoming our hero home!   On October 28 last year we began our 2nd deployment. On October 13th it was finally our turn to welcome him home.  As an FRG leader, I tried to be at every welcome home ceremony to celebrate with families and welcome soldiers home. It was fun and exciting to go to all the ceremonies, but it was bittersweet leaving alone each time.  At Ft. Campbell we were able to see the plane land and the soldiers marched in basically right off the plane.  They had to take care of a few things after the welcome home ceremony and then we were free to take them home.  Ft. Drum does it differently.  The soldiers take care of everything before the ceremony, so that when you see your soldier, you don't have to watch them leave again, even...