West Ghent Halloween Parade

How Do We Do It?

People constantly ask "How do you do it?" in reference to how we manage this long deployment, two kiddos (one who is super tiny and one who is super headstrong), a house, a full time job and full time school.....The question is such a loaded one, and the answer varies greatly depending on when I am asked.  In short, here is a "day in the life" of how we survive some of our days....

I am in graduate school hell....funny, seeing as I am studying Theology

The dog suns herself and sleeps all day (hence the grumpy face)

Trevor plays school and has circle time with his stuffed animals

and Olivia sleeps......

SOME days, that is how we do it.  

Other days (which one day I will get brave enough to share), are a hot flipping mess.  

Olivia Renee::Three Months 10.26.2013

Olivia is three months old!  She has found her voice and how "squawks" at us all the time.  She has such a sweet little voice!  No rolling or anything yet....she is waiting for Daddy to come home to see all that!

My parents came down, so I was able to get a nice setup in the backyard for some cute photos of both kiddos:

A Year Further Down the Road...

Today was my birthday...and even though I had every reason to be lonely and cynical, I found myself  surrounded by love and support from all those who have come to mean so much to me in the past year.

In the last year, I have learned that no matter how horrible and beat-down I feel, that I am strong, that I really am a fighter, and that I can survive.  Part of that strength, survival and fighting, though, is realizing that it is okay to ask for help and to accept help when it is offered.  Martyrs don't get medals.....and in asking and receiving help and support from others, the greatest thing you get overall is the knowledge that you ARE loved, you ARE supported, no matter how much you may not feel like that.

Tonight was a day of ups and downs.....thank you to everyone who called and messaged.  It meant the world to me.

It started out with this:

sheesh.....a decade.  time does fly.  especially when you are surrounded by amazing friends and family who love you.  

Went into the homestretch with a phone call from my beloved Shaner that ended with this:

"Well sweetie, there is the sixty second warning.  Have a great birthday.  I love you.  The next time you hear my voice it will be on the pier."  

Swoon.  My life is complete.

Winded down with drinks with an amazing friend while we skipped the gym.

And ended with girl talk and birthday hugs from a dear friend who showed up with wine and cupcakes.  

I am loved.  
And that is the best lesson I learned in the past year.

I want to add that my birthday was really a four day extravaganza, where I spent an evening with my ZBs and had lunch with one of my closest and bestest friends.  The best, best birthday in a long long time.

Thank you everyone, for making me feel the way I do as I go to bed tonight.  <3 nbsp="" p="">

Thankful Thursday (on Friday)

This Thursday, I am thankful for family....the one I was born with, the one I gained through Shaner, and the friends that have become family.....


Enough said.

Clarke Farm

This evening Brian and I took the kiddos to Clarke Farm for hayrides and pumpkin picking.  Shane and I took Trevor there last year and had a great time, and since it is so close to our house, and is much smaller than others in the area, it seemed like the perfect thing to do again this year.  Trevor had a great idea checking out the animals and playing on the dirt pile.  We went on a hayride through the farm fields, picked pumpkins and then called it an evening. Both kiddos were completely wiped and went to bed super easily once we got home.

Noland Trail

I know I am behind with my challenge to blog every day, but I am going to catch up by tomorrow and at least have a post for every day.  

On Monday, Brian, his buddy Alfredo and I took the kids up to Newport News to do the Noland Trail.  We didn't do all of it, but it was a beautiful day and the kids had a great time being outside after our week of non-stop rain.  I can't wait to get back up there myself and run the whole thing.  I have the feeling that trail runs will be much more my speed.

Kiddos ready to go (it was super sunny where we parked)

Uncle Brian and Trevor at the Lion's Bridge

Looking for fish

gorgeous views!