Best Hiding Place Ever!

November 30th...

Man, I have to say: I am having the most fun Christmas shopping this year! It's probably because Cael is older and I can get him some fun stuff...and Averi is a girl so all her stuff is fun! Today I got them each a zhu zhu pet! I am such a cool mom!!

Alright, I get like this every year. I buy presents and then I get SO excited because I think they are the coolest most amazing presents in the world and then come Christmas morning, and mine wasn't the "hit." It happens. One year I bought my nieces this huge awesome book called "The girls guide to everything" or something like that. It had tons of cool stuff in it, how to talk in code, how to make friendship bracelets, even stuff on how to get boys to think you're cool. I just knew they were going to love it. We get to there house Christmas morning to find that they had already opened some other presents from other relatives and someone else had gotten them the same book! I thought I was going to cry. They opened it together, and LITERALLY tossed it aside. It was horrible.

Then there was last year, Derrick and I found a wow wow wubbzy toy that goes in the bathtub, and wubbzy was Cael's favorite cartoon. He was only a year and a half old, so we both thought the fact this his favorite character being HIS present was going to send him over the moon! I mean...he's little, he's going to think that's REALLY HIM! No. He could have cared less. Derrick and I just stared at each other for a minute and went "huh...thought he'd be just a tad more excited" Anyway, the point of my story(ies) is, I buy presents, and I get really excited about them, but you never know honestly what is going to be the favorite. That just makes it that much more fun though!

As I was writing this, I forgot that the point of my blog tonight was going to be about the hiding place lol, not the presents themselves. I got a little carried away I guess. Well the HIDING PLACE, is very clever I think! It's behind the corner of our "L" shaped couch! Cael doesn't ever look back there, and there is so much room! Derrick hid Averi's presents there for her birthday and I honestly didn't think it would work...but it did. So that is now the official present hiding place in our house!

A Sleepover? You Are Growing Up...

November 29th

My baby got to spend the night at a friends house tonight! Averi and I are feeling a little under the weather, so my friend asked if she could take Cael for the night to give him a little break from being cooped up. I left it up to him (partially hoping that he wouldn't WANT to go...every 2 year old still wants to stay close to there mommy...right?) but the first thing he did was run to his closet and get out his spiderman backpack. I didn't even know it was in there! He must have been keeping it safe. I helped him pack it up with some toys, his bedtime stories and a blanket, and he stood like this by the door waiting to be picked up. I am proud of him, and I have no doubt he will last the whole night there...but sheesh. There wasn't even a tearful goodbye. Except maybe on my end. The house feels so empty without him, I can't wait until tomorrow when comes home and can tell me (sort of) about what fun he had!

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree...

November 28th...

Decorating the tree this year was honestly, a little depressing. If my husband had been home, it probably would have been a middle of the afternoon "event" with help from the kids and all of us making a big deal about it. But since he isn't here to decorate it with me, I figured I would do it myself, late at night, so the kids could be surprised when they woke up. I had some Christmas music playing on my iphone, so that helped my mood a little, but it just wasn't the same. To be perfectly honest, there are only like 10 ornaments up this year. But I figure...thats ok! It's not the amount of ornaments hanging on the tree, but the significance of the ones hanging, that makes us feel all Christmas-y inside. And even though it may not be the most extravagant, I still want to curl up in the glow of the blinking lights with my hot chocolate and watch the snow fall. ....I just have to wait for the snow to start falling...

Passing Movies Along

November 27th...

It feels good to "pass movies along" to another generation. There are so many trillions and trillions of new movies for kids that come out every 15 minutes...it's hard to know which of them are going to become classics. I figure, instead I am going to show Cael the ones that were classics to me. And my parents and grandparents too. Like the Wizard of Oz! I saw it on TNT tonight and hit record just for him, and I knew he would love it! The monkeys didn't even scare him, he just said "Uh Oh!!"

BLACK FRIDAY!

November 26th...

Well I got up at the butt crack this morning and shopped for black friday! I have only done it once before, with my sisters, but I was mostly window shopping that time. Today I actually had a goal, and new what to go for! I got to Kmart at 4:50 and this was the line waiting for the doors to open. There were people in line for Office Depot (not 100% sure why...) which didn't open until 6! I felt bad, there were only like 6 of them, they probably could have waited in there cars so they'd be warm...

Anyway, Kmart was an absolute madhouse, but a fun madhouse! I walked straight to what I needed and grabbed it, even though someone was reading the box. Kind of mean of me, but hey, don't decide what you want once your there! There are people on missions here, and I had been planning for days. Luckily, it wasn't the last one, so I spent about .5 seconds feeling bad. Then I moved on. Kmart was the only store I hit this morning though, I got home at 5:30 and went back to bed! Lucky me, Cael was up at 6:30...yay...

Happy Thanksgiving!

November 25th...

Today I am thankful that my husband, though far away, has been kept safe from harm for almost a whole year. I am thankful that my daughter is finally starting to get better and that her infection stopped spreading. I am thankful for my son...nothing specific. Just him. I am thankful that he came into our lives on started us on the path we are on. Because of him, we knew we wanted to have another. Cael is the reason our family has 4 people in it, instead of just 2. I am thankful that my friends (and neighbors) were willing to invite us over to eat today, so we didn't have to be alone. I am thankful for my parents, in-laws, and sisters back home who all made sure to call and make sure I was ok today. And lastly, I'm thankful that it snowed today! Now it looks like a holiday.

I have a lot to be thankful for, I love my family and I love my life. :)

Slide Baby Girl!

November 24th...

We spent the evening at Jump Zone with some friends of ours and the kids had a blast! I had never been there before, but it's this big place full of inflatable slides. There is a little baby section with toys, and I thought Averi and I would hang out there while Cael played, but no way! Averi wanted on those slides so bad, so I took her on one and she laughed the entire time. We went a few more times before I finally decided to let her see if she could slide down by herself (With my friend at the bottom, of course) and she LOVED it! I had never seen her as excited as she was on those slides. She is definitely my little daredevil!

Merry Christmas Hon!

November 23rd...

We spent today getting Derrick's Christmas box ready, so we can get it in the mail tomorrow. There is not a flake of snow on the ground, it's hardly even cold here yet, there were no jungle bells or Christmas songs in the background, no tree set up in our house...but decorating these cookies with the kids put me in such a winter-y mood! I loved it, I felt like we should all bundle up and go caroling or something. I wonder if people do that here...I don't think I have seen carolers since I was one as a kid.

Salad, good job Darci.

November 22nd...

I am not a prime example of how to eat right, i'm actually exactly the opposite. My eating habits are terrible, and I'll be the first one to admit that, but what can I say? I love myself a cheeseburger sometimes! And french fries too! But today for some completely unknown reason, I ordered a salad.

It was after I took the kids to tumble tots this morning, they both did quite a bit of jumping around and worked up an appetite so we stopped at Sonic on the way home. Cael was having such a hard time deciding what he wanted, that I guess his indecisiveness rubbed off on me somewhat. When they lady asked to take my order I just blurted out "crispy chicken salad" and then sat in my car thinking to myself "...why on earth did I just order that?" It was good though! I have no complaints! I think I might get one next time too :)

A Pat On The Back

November 21st...

I must say, I'm a little proud of myself. Normally I get my Christmas cards drawn pretty early...but I don't get around to sending them until way late. Some of them don't even get sent at all. Not this year! Cards are done, envelopes are addressed, and half of them are already mailed! The other half are waiting on stamps, and then they too will be sent out! It feels good!

Movie Night!

November 20th...

It has been so long since we have hung out with my friend Stephanie and her son! Tonight, out of the blue, she called to talk and we decided we should let the boys have a movie night so we could catch up. Toy Story 3 had come in from netflix today, so it was perfect. Not that they sat down to watch it at all...

It was really fun just to have someone else around, it's been pretty quiet around here ever since Derrick left.

Booster!

November 19th...

What a big girl! Averi got to sit in the booster seat today while we ate lunch, and she thought she was pretty cool. Cael thought that meant he got to sit in the high chair, but that's not happening. I will not have one reverting every time the other one progresses, that's just too much to handle! I love that she is my baby but sometimes I am ready for them both to be walking and talking...I think it might be easier...but I could be very wrong.

JUST EAT!!

November 18th...

Oh my goodness, this boy is driving me up the wall!! My son refuses to eat anything called "lunch" as well as anything called "dinner." He just won't eat. He acts like putting food in his mouth is the most painful process he has ever encountered, either that or he just cannot stand my cooking. Either way, I know he's faking it, but that doesn't change the fact that he isn't eating!! I am going to have to seriously put my foot down when it comes to snacking during the day...when he's hungry enough, he is bound to eat what's in front of him, right?

Well...tonight was no different. We had burritos, and they were delicious! Averi and I chowed down, but Cael didn't touch anything but a few pieces of shredded cheese that happened to be sticking out of his. And he thought he was done. Finally, I told him "Fine, get down, go play, and as soon as Averi is out of the bathtub, you are going to bed too" So I get Averi done with her bath, wrap her up in a towel and walk out into the living room and what do I see? Cael eating MY burrito! Apparently with me not in the room he decided to try his, realized how good it was, ate the whole thing, and then moved on to mine. I can't believe him! What a good boy, his first filling dinner in weeks! Now I just have to remind him every night that he needs to try it, he might like it!

It's That Time Again!

November 17th...

I can't believe Thanksgiving and Christmas are almost here! It's still a tad early to decorate I think, but Derrick brought the boxes in from the shed before he left, and I just couldn't take it anymore! I started going through them when the kids were napping, only to realize that all I can set up right now is the village. Everything else we have pretty much revolves around the tree, so it will have to wait a few more weeks. At least it was something though, the village is all set up! It's huge, it took over the hutch and the entertainment center, and Cael thinks it's the coolest thing ever. Once it gets closer to Christmas, I will add the fake snow. Right now, I'm just not the in mood to be cleaning that up for a whole month and a half.

Just The Moon

November 16th...

Nothing really major has happened today, and I almost forgot to take a picture, so after Averi went to bed, Cael and I sat outside on the front porch for awhile. I was trying to think of something I could take a picture of in the dark, since I couldn't find anything in the house, and Cael pointed out the moon. Alright, that works. Of course, it was pitch black outside so I didn't know if it would even work. I took a few, than came inside and played around with the coloring on the computer and I think this one turned out pretty cool.

Story Time

November 15th...

Cael was being such a sweetheart tonight! When it was time to put Averi to bed, he was wondering why I didn't read her a story like I do him. Honestly, it's because I'm exhausted, ready to cry at any moment, and missing my husband, and she doesn't get upset with me if I don't want to read one...unlike her brother. So he took it upon himself tonight to read her a bedtime story. She loves it when he pays attention to her, so she was all smiles. I think he read that book to her about 5 or 6 times before I finally went in and turned her light out so she could sleep.

**I apologize for not talking about Averi's head on my blog, I just haven't been in the mood to talk about it honestly. She got an infection, but it's getting better now...hopefully. The doctor is positive her hair will grow back eventually, but for now her pictures might look a little silly...**

I Can't Believe How Hard That Was....Again

November 14th...

When Derrick initially left for this deployment there was no teary good bye at the airport, or even at Ft. Campbell. There wasn't time. He literally gave me a kiss through the driver's side window of the car while two other soldiers grabbed his bags out of the back and then they took off. It was heartbreaking, but I see know how much I prefer it that way. This time, we drove him to the airport ourselves and the nice people that work there gave the kids and I passes to go with him all the way to the gate. As much as I appreciated the gesture (and believe me, we loved and cherished every extra minute we got to be with him) I am almost wondering if it would have been easier to just drop him off again. Just rip it off like a band-aid and get it over with, you know? Being down at the gate meant we heard every "Now Boarding" call over the speaker, and had the same tense moment every time where we would listen for which section she was calling. Being down there meant Cael got to watch the airplane taxi in, and then away again, knowing that his daddy was on it. It was cool for him, he didn't understand just what that meant, but it was awful for me. I got to pretend excitement for Cael's sake though, as we were getting back onto the freeway in Nashville, Derrick's (I'm pretty sure) plane flew right over our car and we all waved to him. What was really heartbreaking was when we pulled up to the house and got out of the car, there was an airplane up in the sky and when Cael saw it he started yelling "Airplane!! Dada home, YAY!!!" I hope this time goes by fast so I can tell him that the planes he hears really do have daddy on board.

Only One More Day

November 13th...

Well, this is it. Our last full day of R & R. I really can't believe how fast it has gone by and it doesn't seem fair at all. The snow has started falling over there in Afghanistan and their missions are going to be extremely limited now (if at all...) and he is not looking forward to going all the way back just to sit on his butt for two months. I know I'm just generalizing all the hard work that they do into one lump category, but if they are done with the big stuff until the snow is gone...why can't they all come home? I don't understand it! Why do they need to sit over there and watch movies on their laptops, or play cards for these next few months? Why can't they watch movies with their kids, and play cards with their wives and friends in their own homes for the holidays? Ugh. But, it is what it is and I will keep my chin up until he gets home. I know that's what he would do if it was me who was gone, and that's what he will be doing over there. Just power through it, it's almost over.

An "Ugly" Addition

November 12th...

Snow boots. That's what we went shopping for today. Why? I was wearing flip flops, none of us needed a jacket. Why not? It's payday! Turns out, stores don't even have snow boots for sale yet. We got some for Averi but that's because they really aren't very practical, just cute. That's alright, she's not walking yet anyway. I guess Cael's can wait until it's closer to the time we will actually need them. But our shopping trip wasn't a total bust, Averi got to pick out an Ugly Doll! We got one of these (the yellow one) for Cael when he was about a year old. They are so random and ugly (hence the name) that we think they are adorable! Cael's was named "Fea Bea, The Ugly Stick" and he carried that thing around forever. I took Averi over to see the ones at the mall today and she snatched that purple one up so fast I knew we weren't going to have to help her pick! It's name is Ox and she hugged that thing straight up until bedtime tonight. I don't know what it is about these dolls but both of our kids love them to pieces. As soon as we got home Cael ran and pulled Fea Bea out from under a rock somewhere and they both just sat with them for a while. Welcome home Ox! Don't worry, you will be loved!

Heavenly!

November 11th...

Derrick is a soldier coming off 9 months of deployment. That means he has (just like every other deployed soldier, I'm sure) spent every waking second of those months daydreaming about what meal he was most excited to eat when he got home! For Derrick, it was burgandy steaks! He started them marinating last night and was practically drooling all day long just waiting for dinner time! And I have to hand it to him, they were AMAZING! Throw in some mashed potatoes and gravy and a salad and we were all too happy to even talk. Even Cael loved the steaks, and if you know Cael that is really saying something!

Stay-At-Home Date Night

November 10th...

We have stayed pretty low-key during Derrick's R&R, more than I thought we would to be honest. It actually has been more fun staying home. Derrick loves being here with the kids (and I am loving that he is loving to keep them busy) so we just use their bedtimes as our date time! It was so nice tonight just curling up on the couch, sharing some ice cream and watching Survivor together. It was especially nice because Derrick could care less about Survivor :) Once he's home for good, he probably won't humor me as much...so I am soaking up every moment of it right now!

Helping Momma

November 9th...

Derrick was sleeping, Averi was sleeping, I was washing dishes...Cael was bored! After trying to explain to him for the hundredth time that I couldn't go play in his room with him until the dishes were done, I decided he could help me instead. He loved his job as my "rinser" and was disappointed when they were all clean, so I filled the sink back up with soapy water, got him a chair to stand on and let him wash all his cups for a few hours. Instant childcare :)

Daddy Gets a Thumbs-Up!

November 8th...

I think it's pretty obvious what Averi thinks about spending the day at the park with her daddy :)

Today was a lot of fun, I got to take Derrick to this park that we go to a lot. It's the one with maze of a playground that can swallow your kid whole if you're not paying close enough attention. And go figure, the day that I finally get to have him here to help me...we have it to ourselves!

YES!

November 7th...

Now that her first birthday is behind us, it's time for the awesome changes that she gets to experience! The best one? Turning her car seat around! I have been waiting for this day for MONTHS, it is so much easier when they can see. It's too bad her seat wasn't like this when we drove across the country last summer, she would have loved to see that trip, I'm sure! (Not that I am ready to do it again any time soon)

Party Time

November 6th...

Today was Averi's birthday party and although I have a million reasons in the world to be ecstatic today...I really wish more of our family could have been here to celebrate with us. We had some really great friends come over, and I do not take that for granted at all! It just broke my heart a little to think about how many Aunts, Uncles, Grandparents and Cousins were over on the West Coast wishing her a Happy Birthday. It would have been nice if they could be here to tell her in person. To all of you, you were missed today just like you are everyday. We don't regret our decision to let the Army take over our lives, but we do wish we could be closer to home. Maybe someday soon!

Happy Birthday Averi!!

November 5th...

It's the big day for our little princess! A whole year, wow! Her party is tomorrow, but she got to open her rocking horse today, and just like we knew she would, she loves it! What a lucky little girl, her daddy came home from Afghanistan to be here for her birthday! Other than her head hurting her, this day could not get any better!!

Geocaching Adventure #2

November 4th...

When I said Derrick had fun geocaching, I wasn't kidding! We decided this morning that we wanted to go find some more! 16 in all, it was the most I have ever found in one day. They took us to some really cool places around Clarksville that I didn't know about, and we saw some very clever caches! We are contemplating starting one together after this deployment, so it was fun to get out there today and brainstorm! Cael found this one pretty much on his own and got to pick out a treasure! Who doesn't need a broken train car?

Birthday Shopping!

November 3rd...

I cannot believe how fast our little girl has grown! Her first birthday is coming up fast and I am so happy to have Derrick here with me. We had a blast shopping for her all day long (we may have gone over our budget just a tad...but she's our little princess so it's justifiable I'm pretty sure) I always having fun wrapping presents, but spending the evening on the living room floor with all these girly presents and pink wrapping paper, just talking with Derrick about everything that has gone on this past year...it was amazing. I love my family.

Geocaching Adventure #1

November 2nd...

I introduced Derrick to geocaching today and to I'm very happy to report that he loved it! This is going to be such a fun hobby for the 2 of us to do together. What a fun way to spend an afternoon! Cael loves to help, and since we live inside city limits that's a good thing because we can find a lot in places that don't require long hikes into the mountains...but...I would LOVE to spend a day doing nothing but hard ones!!

Medicine and more medicine, and more medicine...

Nov 1st...

Well, we are starting November off with a bang! Over the last few weeks a rash has spread over Averi's head and this cream is supposed to help heal it up. The problem? It doesn't wash out!! One day earlier and she could have been a little mad scientist for Halloween! I hope this works, her head is really hurting her and I don't want it to get any worse than it is already.

Happy Halloween

October 31st...

Happy Halloween! We had a great day today. I was a prisoner, Derrick a zombie, Cael (of course) Spiderman, and Averi was a pixie! We went trick or treating at the college where both kids made out like a bandit on candy, and Cael even got a free book! Then we came home to do a little door to door trick or treating, but Cael had a lot more fun watching the door and handing out candy. I can't even count how many identical spidermen came to our door! And Cael was just as excited to see them, as they were to see him. It was a fun, fun, fun night for us! FINALLY, a Halloween that we got to spend with Derrick!

Get Him, Cael!

October 30th...

It is SO great to have daddy home! Today we went for a walk out on the Greenway Trails just to get out of the house (and to hunt for Derrick's first cache) and it was so much fun! It's the little things I am starting to notice, like only having to get one kid out of the car, that are really starting to make me realize just how much I missed him. We get to the trails and I get a sleeping Cael out of his carseat, and BAM! Averi is already out and buckled into the stroller! What a breath of fresh air! Of course I missed my husband on a deeper level than just someone to help out, just having him in the house makes my mood so much brighter! He is such a fun person, we love him so much and don't ever EVER want him to leave again!!!

The Big Day Is Here!!

October 29th...

I can't believe this day is finally here! It has been 9 long months since we have seen Derrick, and these next 15 days are going to be like Heaven!! Deployments are not my friend, but they really do make you appreciate just how wonderful the people in your life are, and how easy it is to fall apart when they are gone. I love you Derrick and I am going to cherish every minute I get to spend with you!