So Much to be Thankful For...

For the first time since we have been married, I was in MN for Thanksgiving this year. The past 3 years, we had family come to our house. 2008 was Bud's family, 2009 my mom and sister came, and 2010 my dad came for the long weekend to meet our sweet Claire bear! It was also the first time since we have been married that we have spent this holiday apart, and man, did that bite. I didn't even realize that until the end of the day, when I couldn't figure out why I was in such a funk about the day. Then it dawned on me...I have done seemingly every other holiday/birthdays/anniversary alone, but not Thanksgiving and Christmas. We had been very lucky with being together for so many years, and I know it is my turn.

Claire and I started the day with my mom's side of the family. Keeping with tradition from practically before time, we eat at 1 pm at my Grandma's house. The food was delicious, the kids were adorable, and I did the dishes for (I think) the first time. I'm a big girl now. :)

A few pictures from Grandma Carey's...

Claire opening her ornament from Great-Grandma

5 of the SIX great-grand daughters!

First time in 3 generations (probably more) girls out number boys--

my mom has 4 brothers, I have 7 male cousins (only 3 girls)

and NOW...

6 boys and 5 girls! So fun!!

After that meal, Claire and I went to Bud's Granny's house for dessert. Claire had her first taste of french silk pie and she approved. :)

Then on Friday, we headed to Iowa with my parents to celebrate (and eat) again with my Dad's side of the family. Our weekend was full of food, family and laughs....all the best things in life. :)

Claire got to love on her sweet cousin, Lainey WAY more than Lainey would have liked! Claire is a little obsessed with her, and poor Lainey can't defend herself yet! Claire just couldn't get close enough to her and there is no such thing as too many kisses for sweet Lainey!

She also showed her goofy side in full force, and had the entire room of adults watching her and laughing at her. She is a lot like her daddy some days. :) And, check out the hair on this kid. Totally cracks me up at the end of the day when I pull her pony tails out and it does this.

Like always, there was game time after meal time. Until I was about 13, my grandma didn't have a TV in her house. This lead to lots of creative play, time outside and many, many games of LIFE and paper football. We also still giggle like little kids when my Uncle Bill is around....Aunt Barb always tells us NOT to encourage him, but it is so hard not to! :)



Even though I was missing my husband so incredibly much, I have so much to be thankful for. I like to make lists, so here are my top 5 things that I am thankful for this year.

5--I feel really lucky to own our own house and vehicles, to always have food in the cupboard and clothes on our bodies. In this economy, I understand just how blessed we are to be in the position we are.

4--Our families and friends are awesome. Simple as that.

3--The chance to stay home every day with Claire is something that I will cherish forever and something I am INCREDIBLY thankful for. I am so lucky to be able to spend my days with her!

2--Claire and Lacey are making this deployment much less lonely than the last two. I HATED sleeping alone before, and now with Lacey on the pillow next to me (very spoiled, yes), it isn't as bad. And, Claire is just amazing. Her smile lights up a room, and I am lucky enough to be her mama. You should be jealous. ;)

1--My dear, (sometimes) sweet, (always) sarcastic, AMAZING husband. I tell him this often, but almost everything that I am thankful for wouldn't be possible with out him. He works so hard and gives up so much to not only provide for his family, but protect the nation. He is my hero and my favorite person in the world to be with. I miss him so much it hurts, and I can not wait for May to be here so I can have that sassy man back in my house. I love you, babe!

Hope you all had a great, long Thanksgiving weekend filled with lots of yummy food and precious time with the ones you love!

Deployment Update

We are almost two months into this deployment! Yay! Bud is doing great, and we have been lucky enough to be able to talk a lot lately. He and Tim got their own tent and a computer and phones to do their reports on, so he has been able to call A LOT and it has been awesome! Hearing his voice puts me in a fabulous mood and plasters a smile on my face for at least 24 hours.

A couple weeks ago, the combat photographer went out with Bud and Tim and got some awesome pictures of them. Just looking at all of Bud's gear makes me tired...I can't imagine carrying around all that extra weight all the time! He said one day they did have to run to a call...my incredibly in shape husband admitted he was REALLY tired and REALLY sweaty by the time he got there after running in all his gear! :)

that black thing at his feet is his metal detector

bud (left) and tim


Bud finally started getting his packages this week--between him and Tim I think they got about 10 boxes in two days. :) Two very spoiled (and very deserving) guys! Since it is just the two of them in their tent, he said they have food everywhere, two tables just full of it. They took everything out and organized it all so that a like things are in the same box. :) You think they have been a little slow with work this week? ha. He is healthy, eating well, getting plenty of rest and has been able to call almost every day for the past week--I couldn't ask for much more!

Update/Trip to the Zoo

It was brought to my attention today that I have been seriously slacking in the blog department. Sorry! Not completely my fault tho--our computer really started acting up before we left NC, and it wouldn't let me upload pictures to here, and what fun are blog posts with out pictures?

And, I have been a bit busy since Bud left. :) Between the kid, the dog, keeping up with the house and packing for a 6 week trip, I haven't had all that much free time!

Bud is doing great...he sent me a couple pictures a couple weeks ago that I will post tomorrow (PROMISE). I will give you a better update on him tomorrow.

Claire and I are doing well. We are enjoying our time in MN, and Claire is soaking up all the attention. Unlike her mother, she looooves to have people to entertain. She hates when I leave the room, but as long as I am in there, she is a little social butterfly. It is quite hysterical. She is officially a walking, talking toddler. She is so incredibly busy, and cracks me up all day long. She is making this deployment fly by and I am so thankful for her.

On to our trip to the zoo. Before we left North Carolina, we had been keeping busy with a lot of the wives and children of the guys in Bud's section. There are a lot of children between all of us, and we all get along quite well. It is really great to have this support system of women around me who understand what I am going through.

Anyway, one morning, Courtney, Jaci and I and our 4 kids decided to check out the 'zoo' that is just outside town. I say 'zoo' because, growing up where I did, the MN Zoo was the zoo I went to, and it is hard to compare I guess. Small town zoos just aren't the same! The kids had a blast anyway, and towards the end, the owner brought out a few animals for the kids to feed and touch. Claire wasn't too into it, but Cayden and Leila (both 2) loved it! Here are a few pictures....

This poor goat...Cayden kept chasing him, and he did not appreciate it!

This turtle was enormous! Leila loved it, but Claire REFUSED to touch it.



We thought we could get all 3 kids to touch the turtle and what a cute picture that would be to send to their daddies...Claire had other plans!

Best picture of the 3 big kids

(Connor was in the stroller)

ONE!

(pardon Claire's not super happy look---poor baby has a cold, and isn't super happy with the idea of posing for pictures!!)

Can someone please explain to me how in one short year, my baby went from the picture on the top of the blog to this tall, skinny, sassy, sweet girl?!? I am absolutely amazed at the kid that has grown out of that baby. Claire really is no longer a baby. She is walking, blabbing, has a HUGE opinion, and is just so stinkin fun I can hardly stand it. :)

I had planned on putting up every puppy picture for her birthday post, but we had some computer issues this summer and transfered all our photos off the computer, so I have to load them back on to do that post. I am finishing packing tonight to go to IOWA!!!!, so will do that post next week when we are back.

Claire and I head out bright and early tomorrow morning for the best weekend ever at my sister's house. If if had asked me 10 years ago if I would ever be this excited to go to Iowa, I would have told you that you are nutty in the head. :) I must really love my sister, brother in law and niece!!

Check back next week for posts about Claire's daddy doll, 12 months of puppy pictures, and Claire's 1 year photos!!

Here we go.....

It has been almost two weeks since we said good bye to our favorite guy. We are starting to get into a little bit of a routine, but all the girls in this house are really missing our Marine. Claire has been a little whiny and not sleeping well, Lacey won't really eat and has decided she can now lay on the couch, and I am just plain ole tired. Having all the responsibilites rest on my shoulders for 7 months is a little bit daunting. I still feel like I am just waiting for a couple weeks to be over, and then he will be back. Just like he is in the field. Unfortunately, the field he is in is NOT just down the road!

I have talked to Bud a few times, and each time it is so nice to hear his voice. I missed his call yesterday and was pretty teary the rest of the day. I just really, really miss him. Seven months isn't THAT long, right?!?

So, anyway, as we start getting used to life this way I will really try to blog some more. I need to update you all on Claire's birthday party, her walking, standing up, etc.

A lot of the wives and kids from Bud's section got together tonight and went to dinner and pumpkin patch. It was so fun to catch up with everyone and see that we are all in the same boat, just taking it all day by day. We all agreed that we could each use a wife. :) I will post some pictures from tonight soon.

I promise I will update again soon, so check back in a few days for lots of pictures from Claire's Birthday party!!

Best Buds

Claire and Lacey have a lot of fun with each other these days. They actually played with each other on Friday, and I got to just sit (less than a foot away) and watch. It was so sweet and put the biggest smile on my face. This picture is from when we were in MN in August, but I thought it was too cute to not share. I promise I will write a long post with pictures and update you all on our lives the past couple months--between traveling, planning Claire's party and preparing for Bud's deployment that is coming (way too) soon, we have been very busy and I am wanting to spend my free time with my husband and not on the computer. :) Please forgive me!

Look What I Can Do...

I learned how to open my drawers.

And, I can empty them REALLY fast!

Why do my jammies need to be in a drawer anyway?
On the floor is fine with me!

Hmmm...empty! Now what?

Oh, Hi Mom! I didn't do it!