Let the projects begin

Can you guess what is about to happen?

Since we skipped church today due to the puking going on and the kids are just taking it easy watching TV, I decided to use up the leftover blue paint we had.

Getting ready to conquer the wall

Can't get anything done without my amazing crew

They are awesome at helping!!

drying

NOTHING gets done without her input!

Only 3 hours from start to finish.  Not bad for a sick day at home.

Another angle.  The other 3 walls are going to some shade of brown.
Which I think is hilarious because I used to HATE the color brown.

I hope you like it M since you are not here to share opinions!

Several more projects I have planned include:

Painting 3 walls in living room
paint downstairs bathroom
paint kitchen
build and set up a covered sitting area in the backyard
build a kennel for the dog which my cousin suggested how to build
install the Arbor M and the kids gave me for Mother's Day
paint the other 3 walls in the bedroom


Just the fact that I am starting a list of projects means that 2 of the first 3 days have NOT got me down!  Now in 5 months if we are still having trouble I may loose it. But I am still determined this deployment will go much more smoothly!  Never ever ever did I dream I could get painting done with 3 young kids in the house.  However, it is happening!  Thank you R.S. in PA for the motivation!

NOT AGAIN!

Do I have a deployment curse?  Is there a black cloud that only pours when M is gone?  We really are doing well.  The first 24 hours were awesome in fact.  Then last night Connor was cuddling with me cause he didn't feel well.  Then he cried out and the puke started.  I couldn't move because he was on top of me but I was able to catch it with two glasses which were right next to me.  Then Caleb had it from the other end.  Tonight Caleb just puked.  I don't know where this deployment curse came from but...make it stop!

Actually except for the moment right before puke the boys have been fine so this must be some weird pukey thing.  Whatever, my kids puke more than anyone I've ever met, they just seem to set their puke records when daddy leaves.  Unfortunately it was just long enough between pukes that we invited our friend from next door over this evening because we thought we were clear.  Sorry for being a bad neighbor!  We will be skipping church tomorrow due to the puke.  Last deployment we made it to about 9 Sundays of church.  I am determined to break that record, but we will miss this first Sunday.

The next several photos are a "show" the kids did for daddy and I today.  They were excited to have it filmed so daddy can see it later.  Hope you enjoy our performers as much as I did.  ;)

She likes to dress up like Mary, as in Mary Mother of Jesus.

Would Connor dress up as anything other than a Super Hero?

Caleb tried his talent on the keyboard

He can only dress up as a Pirate, Woody or the Blue Power Ranger.  Pirate it is today.

I have no idea if this video will work.  I have never put a video on here so we shall see.  Hope you get to see it grandmas!

Swimming Fun

The baby pool has had its last days!  Last summer we just barely pulled off the kids playing in it.  Yesterday on the spur of the moment I decided my kids NEEDED the $24.00 pool from Kmart.  So the kids opted to cancel our plans (trip to the aquarium) and spend the afternoon in the pool.  Here are a few snap shots of them having fun and of the yard.  Enjoy.

Connor practicing being a daddy by throwing the doll in the pool

He was very proud to have defeated what was now a monster attacking

the finished play ground daddy and Uncle Brandon built

A tree planted for each kiddo

My birthday roses from my dad and step-mom from last year

the herb garden which I have never used

the daisies I cut and pass out to friends

18" deep pool will definitely bring us lots of fun til it breaks

Lando the dog

he misses M too

He's leaving on a jet plane...

For our last dinner together we surprised daddy with a trip to Outback.  He LOVES one meal in particular so that is what he got!  The restaurant even surprised us with a free dessert and they covered M's meal!  What a treat!!!  Thank you Outback!!!

Big smiles for daddy 

He loves his blooming onion 

Can you tell the boys just woke up?

Our yummy and FREE dessert

There's the Caleb we all know

Amazing how a little bread in the tummy can perk you right up!

L decided to hide in our family photo

Time to say goodbye to our favorite man in the world!  The kids did great!  M had the idea to take them to Chuckie Cheese right after our goodbyes.  Since that crazy Mouse House was waiting for us the kids were very excited about our next adventure...resulting in just a few goodbye tears.

take 1

take 2

take 3

love this family

they love their Marine!

last hug

last hug

last hug

onward to our next adventure

She will carry that photo with Chuckie around for the next week

His favorite game!  Just like daddy!

They love this game just cause it shakes them around

I think she spent all but 2 tokens at this one

She poses each time I say, "A photo for daddy"

She wanted a pic with Chuckie for daddy.  So this is for you!

More silliness for daddy

A dear friend sent this necklace to me on our last deployment.
I will wear the ribbon and dog tags until my baby comes home!

I will try to update this blog every couple of days for daddy and anyone else who wants to read.  I know the grandmas will love the updates.  

We are doing very well.  Chuckie Cheese was a brilliant idea by daddy to distract the kids.  We came home, took baths and bedtime routine.  I even hung out with the dog for a bit.  I am so grateful for a smooth goodbye.  We wish blessings on you daddy as you do your job well!

We are now geared up for our next several months.

ADT -- check

Dog to scare bad guys -- check

  Daddy chain/wall -- check

lots of travel plans -- check

lots of love felt from friends and family -- check and THANK YOU!

I am feeling good today because so many of you checked in on us.  

Thank you so much!  We love you!!

If you are so inclined to send letters/cards to M, here is his address:

CWO2 Matthew T Collins

8th Comm BN FWD

Unit 73455

FPO AE 09510-3455

I know he would appreciate homemade yummies and pictures of what you are up to.  

A piece of our heart

Most know that soon a piece of our hearts, a piece of our lives, and the love of my life will soon be departing.  So to keep our daddy updated, mamma will be updating this again with pictures and stories. We have lots of big deals coming soon...

L's graduation from Pre-school
L's dance recital
C&C's dance recital (which they hate and yell at me about, they want to be back in gymnastics)
L's gymnastics show

...just to name a few!

 SO pictures uploaded hopefully every couple of days and fun stories.

I keep telling myself that this deployment has to go better right?!?!?!  My breath catches in my chest and a few tears have been shed at the thought of how difficult the last separation was.  The seizure, surgeries, the hand, foot and mouth in all 3 at the same time, lice, L's broken toe, my car blowing up etc.

Then I have a self-talk...we are in America this time which makes this automatically easier!  We are within driving distance of several family members.  It won't cost $1500 to fly my mom when things get too hard!  We have a terrific church family which I am actually part of since I am not overwhelmed with twins.  (We had a great church family in Okinawa too, I just wasn't in a place to participate).

A couple of kidisms...

All 3 call their butts "bum bums"
Caleb calls boogers "noggies", Connor calls them "boogies" and L calls them "Boggers" as in long o.
Apparently kids don't make marks on the wall, "fingers" make marks on the walls.
I am "a mean mommy" because kids get in trouble when they get out of bed for the 18th time.
Finally, "daddy is a handsome boy".

The kids are so fun these days!  They make us laugh every day!  There is less stress and SO much fun! We took them into NYC for one day last week and it was AWESOME!  They rode a train, were in a cab, and a ferry all in one day.  The point being that 3 kids is no longer overwhelming!  It is delightful.  We can load up with NO DIAPER bag and just go!  I am excited to share our precious kids with you again.  Maybe grandmas will no longer harass me for photos if I get this going ;).

Holy Smokes!

I am so excited...he comes home today.  Almost 7 months later and we get to hug him, kiss him, know he is safe!  We get to love on him and get back to our regular lives!  We get to have meals together again, we get to play together, snuggle, and have family time!  Over the last months, every time we were having family time or a family day, L would always remind us that our family was missing someone!  Now we get to have him home with us again!!!

Several thoughts that I will probably expand on later...

1. It is not hard to not cheat for almost 7 months apart.  I do not understand wives/husbands who cheat.  It is really not that hard to adore and stay faithful to my husband from afar.

2. This (the deployment) was  A LOT harder than I thought it was going to be; taking care of the kids, managing the house, taking care of our schedules and trying to be here for phone calls and skype calls from daddy, being everything for everyone!  It was rough.

3. The kids are resilient.  Though we would much prefer to have daddy home, they did survive me parenting alone.

4. Marine Corps. keeps the spark in the marriage!  The anticipation could kill me!

5. God always provides just right when you need.

6. "I CAN do ALL things through HIM who gives me STRENGTH!"

Will add pictures and more later...off to finish getting ready!!!