American Soil

 Erik was set to arrive with his battalion at Camp Pendleton in California.  So, after some creative childcare arrangements and some willing (and amazing!) friends and family, I left the kids in NC and flew away to meet Erik when he arrived.  

Welcome home, Erik!
 Hallelujah!

We had a great dinner with the Zolezzi's during our stay in CA.  Erik had a hard time keeping his eyes open the first couple days - jet lag and a 13 1/2 hour time difference.

We were so fortunate to be able to go to the temple while we were without kids for the week.  I have always wanted to go to the San Diego temple.  It was beautiful!

After the temple we went to the USS Midway Museum. 

Classic.

Erik treated me to a dinner at Ruth's Chris.  I had never been there before, and well, after six months of eating MRE's and mess hall food, Ruth's Chris was definitely in order!

Disneyland and California Adventure.  Could it get any better, really?

It was a chilly day and Erik promised me that we (I) wouldn't get wet.  Uh-huh, sure.

Our favorite roller coaster, California Screamin'.  We went on it three times.  

 

So, all in all I have to say it was the best vacation ever.  I had my husband all to myself, we slept in, ate out and had a GREAT time - together!  It is so nice to have Erik home again - or at least on American soil.

Counting Down...

So, Erik left six months ago in September.  He was originally going to be gone for 8 - 9 months, missing the children's entire school year, but luck was on our side and we were extremely blessed to have his deployment shortened by two months.  This does not happen very often.  

Last fall I started a count down with the kids - Kisses From Daddy.  I filled a jar with Hershey's kisses, estimating the general arrival time of Daddy and counting out the kisses for accuracy.  Each night after dinner and before bed, the kids could reach in the jar and get a kiss from Daddy.  Then, when the jar is eventually empty, Daddy will be home.  This was a big hit with the kids.  I anticipated having to add or subtract kisses as needed, and I have done so over the months.  This is what the jar looked like after Christmas:

 

This is what our jar looks like now:

Whoa!!  We are so close.  Daddy is currently in temporary housing, anticipating his flight home.  Just another couple weeks until he is here and playing with us! 

Now, this six, almost seven, month deployment has gone by fairly quickly.   We had so many holidays, birthdays, and activities with family and friends to keep us busy.  However, out of curiosity I took a look back at some photos I took of the kids the day after he left (the first day of school.)

That was then, this is now:

Don't you think they look so much older?  It just shows that six months  is a LONG time.  We are so grateful to see the end drawing near.  Plans for the party are underway!

Little Man

Benjamin is my little man.  He is still perfect.  He is sweet and cuddly and curious, and he is definitely a little monkey - climbing up onto EVERYTHING.  I found Benjamin on the entertainment center a few weeks ago, pressing the buttons on the thermostat.  He had the heat turned down to 52.  

Benjamin thinks he's old enough to hang with the bigger kids, but he also loves to tag along with mom.    He is already starting to prefer the bar to his highchair.  He likes to play with all of Michael's car toys.  He thinks Laurel is his second mom, "jumping" into her arms from the coffee table.  (Laurel thinks she's his second mom too.)  He loves to go outside and ride the plasma car and tricycle.  Sliding and swinging are favorites too - especially the slide.  He's into everything, leaving a mess in his wake wherever he goes, and he likes to color on the refrigerator and walls when Laurel leaves the crayons out.  (That's my favorite!)  

It's all very adorable.  I love my little man.

Projects

So the past several weeks have been spent doing lots of projects.  I have loved this time that I have had to "get things done."  Most of my projects have been geared toward the house.  Painting, decorating, organizing, hanging pictures, etc.  I seriously have had the most severe case of nesting I have ever experienced, and I'm not even pregnant!  But, Erik will be coming home in mid-March, and I have been eager to have everything PERFECT for his arrival.   Here's hoping I can get everything that way before then.  

Two small projects I worked on over the weekend were a new "Valentine" dress for Laurel, and a new Lightning McQueen blanket for Michael.  Laurel asked me last week to make her a Valentine dress to wear to her Valentine party at school.  How could a mom say no to that?  So, we went off to the fabric store and we picked out fabric, buttons and ribbon.  On Monday morning before school Laurel told me, "Mom, this is going to be the BEST Valentine's Day EVER because I have a new Valentine dress to wear to my party!"  - I'm so happy I could accommodate.  Did I mention that Laurel design the button pattern?  It HAD to be a pattern.  Very important, evidently.

While we were at the fabric store, Michael found a Lightning McQueen applique that he fell in love with.  (MY question is - what Cars parafinalia does he NOT fall in love with?)  I figured I could do something with it, so, after purchasing a little fleece, he got a super soft blanket out of the deal.  Glad I could make the boy happy too.  I mean, look at that face.  That says happiness.

I would post pictures of all my hard work on the house, but I will have to save that for after Erik sees it all.  I love surprises.

Down Time

Normally I dislike January.  It is generally too cold for my taste.  The days are short, and it seems dark and dreary and depressing.  Wouldn't you agree Jacob?  Halle?  You guys could tell me all about a dark January.  BUT, with that being said, I have to admit that I am enjoying January this year.  With all the events that take place during the holiday season - trick or treating, feasting, preschool parties, parades, gift exchanges, holiday choir practices, Christmas programs, traveling, and more - our family can add in all 5 birthdays and an anniversary to the mix.   So, needless to say, I am thankful only one holiday season will pass without my husband here AND - for the first time in a long time - I welcome the dark, boring days of January that have brought me and my family some down time.

Laurel trying out her new headlamp.

Michael playing with his new train set from Bampa and Grandma Biz.

Loading up the Nerf gun Daddy bought him for Christmas.

Good thing we have Benjamin around to retrieve the darts. 

The boys having fun.

Benjamin trying to get in on the treadmill fun with Mommy.

Playing Doctor - "Doctor Michael, at your service."

You need a shot.

Bandaging the wound.

And Benjamin's new trick.  Little Stinker.

Christmas with Grandma and Pa

Since school was out and Christmas was coming, we loaded up the van and drove to Grandma and Pa's house for the holiday.  It was a fun break with good food, a warm house perfectly decorated, good company, and lots of entertainment.  My sister and her family joined us, and it made everything a little more crazy and a lot more fun.

Anyone who knows Michael knows he loves anything with wheels.  This includes Pa's tractor. 

Pa took him for a ride and he had a great time.

Laurel on the swing.

Laurel's turn with Pa on the tractor.

Christmas Eve.  Dressed and ready for bed.

 

Santa brought Laurel a new Jessie doll. 

Michael got a race track - that was the world's greatest gift.  Man, Santa's on a roll with Michael.  The giant dump truck last year and the race track this year.  He's good.

Michael and Pa had to try out the stocking stuffers.

Erik and I gave the kids sleeping bags this year.  They had to try them out right away.

Baby Ben got cozy in Laurel's bag.

We got lucky and it snowed on Christmas day!  It was beautiful to have a white Christmas.

Michael enjoyed the snow.

We took a trip to visit Great-grandma and Laurel and cousin E sneaked outside to jump on Aunt Karen's trampoline.   They had fun - for a limited time.

A couple nights during our visit the girls put on a "show" for all of us after dinner.  E played the guitar and Laurel was in charge of the dance moves.  It was very entertaining.  Very.

Of course, we had to have fat noodles.  A tradition in my family.  Every year after Christmas the ladies of the family rise a little earlier and make homemade noodles for a delicious dinner that night.  Laurel did a great job jumping in to help.  She knows how to keep tradition alive.

It was a Merry Christmas.