All 3 kids Pumpkin Picking for the first time.

Connor and Caleb enjoying the park in cold NJ.

Caleb not sure about Santa.

L and I got to go to a Mickey Mouse Magic show...she was delighted!

Connor and Caleb finally hold their own bottles!!!

The boys' cribs are set up...no more guest bed, sorry grandmas. Their room is officially done and they are in their own beds. They have been for awhile, but the cribs were right next to each other due to the guest bed.

Also, the kids got upgraded in the bathroom department. I loved my daisy bathroom, but too many breakables. Now the kids can enjoy a bathroom made for kids!

We are all unpacked and sleeping back on Okinawa time. We were so thankful to see so many friends and family! We are amazed that the boys will be L's age when we get back to the States again, but we are half way through out tour! This year is harder than last year to be away from family for Christmas. I would so love to be spending the holiday with my little brother and sister or our niece and nephews....but that will be another year. I think because we were just with everyone, it is fresh in my mind how wonderful it is to be around family and friends in the States. We are appreciative of all the WONDERFUL friends we have here and will enjoy our holiday celebrations with them!

I am especially sad for our close friends who have their loved ones over in the sandbox. We are grateful for your service and appreciate all that military families sacrifice for our country! (As we travelled, I kept thinking in my head during the very rough spots, "You're welcome America for serving overseas! Because if we didn't server overseas, we wouldn't be having to do this long flight back and forth!!!" Seriously, we are truly appreciative of the men and women who are in the midst of combat. Thank you and Merry Christmas.

We have plans to go to one of the restaurants on the base we live on. We will be sharing a meal with several friends. We are excited to have daddy home or several days ---maybe go to the Aquarium or something! Basically we will be having a very quiet Christmas in sunny warmer weather.

Merry Christmas to all!

Christmas Carols

I am actually humming Christmas Carols! This is huge because I only hum when I am joyful and the last 6 days and been FULL OF JOY!

You know we went to the States from Oct. 28 - Dec. 9. So many of these joys are a result of that trip, but I am listing them out so you can know why I am so thrilled.

1. The boys now go to bed/sleep at the same time. This is a gift my good friends, who have 2 year old twins, blessed me with.

2. The boys hold their own bottles (also gift from friends above).

3. The boys are using bottles only (that means no more parasite-like action from my body. We are done nursing which means that after about 3 years, my body is mine again.)

4. The boys are now sleeping from 7 pm to 5 am. Take a bottle and were in bed today until 8:45 am!

5. L is back to being a sweet child now that we are adjusted to being back home.

6. While on our trip we got to see so many family members! Family flew in from Bermuda, South Carolina, and Kansas City. We also got to see lots of our family who lives in Jersey.

7. I am able to keep up with the house this week because the kids (all 3) take naps in the afternoon at the same time!!!

8. I get to shower each and every day because I can now count on the boys taking a nap in the AM at the same time!!!

9. I was blessed with a fabulous family who kept the kids 3 different nights while we were in the States so that I could have a full night's rest and relaxation.

10. I am grateful for webcams and all of our family who takes the time to get on and talk with the kids! For families who live far away, this is an awesome way for kids to stay connected!

11. I actually got to buy clothes that fit and didn't have to return them through the mail!

12. It is so easy to live in America! I really enjoyed the ease of being in the States.

13. Thankful for a husband who works a job with health insurance, because C and C have had to make a couple of trips to the ER/Dr. lately.

14. Loving the warm weather this year again in Okinawa as the States have it terribly cold and snowy right now and you know how I HATE the cold!

15. Aside from an Act of God, we will not have to do the newborn thing again! This has been the hardest year of my life (worse than recruiting and you may remember how hard that was). I am grateful that the itty bitty phase of our lives is over.

16. I am grateful to be celebrating Christmas with all 3 of my children -- the boys had a very rough start so I am so appreciative of the fact that they are overall healthy and here.

I hope that you are feeling Christmas cheer in your life!

Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday Jesus!