Starting to settle in...

Jetlag stinks! =) We’ve all been trying to adjust to the new time difference and it’s exhausting! Every morning I start with a big to-do list…and every day I only accomplish one or two items on that list and somehow the day is gone and it’s time to fall into an exhausted heap in bed. So that means I still haven’t unpacked my suitcase, I still haven’t signed up or purchased a cell phone plan, I still haven’t done laundry, I still haven’t caught up on any e-mails or posted any detailed blogs, I still haven’t set up our rooms…wait – maybe it would be easier to tell you what I HAVE done! Hmmm…what have I done? =) I have had some yummy Mexican food - and a quick trip to Wal-Mart...though I had to leave with only half of my needed items because both boys were screaming and carrying on...and people were looking at me like, "Get out of our store..." =)

Luke and Will are having a blast. This is the first place we’ve lived that Luke can go outside and play in a fenced in backyard – and he can’t get enough! I think he’d be out there from morning ‘til night. I’m very anxious to see if all his health problems will begin to clear up now that we’re out of the moldy apartment.

I haven’t started work yet, but am excited to when the time comes. Next week I hope to buy my new computer and get all my software installed – and then I’m ready! YAY!

Alright, that’s it for now. Will is screaming…Luke is screaming…and I need another cup of coffee and a shower…

More later!

Made it Home

Well, after an extremely LOOONNNGGG day yesterday, we have finally made it home! I’ll go into details on a later blog – as we’re dealing with a bit of jet-lag – but I’ll get around to it within the next week or 2 – as well as get you caught up on pictures from my dad’s visit. Here’s the short version:

All went well with the move. The airplane ride was pretty icky as Will and Luke were beyond exhausted by the time we boarded…let’s just say we made a few enemies on the flight…BUT – we’re home! Right now we’re settling in and trying to let our bodies readjust to the 6 hour time difference. I’m sure within the next couple weeks we’ll all feel right as rain.

Alrighty – more later! Just wanted to let you know we made it home ok!

Dad's in Germany!

I have a ton of pictures to post – but most will have to wait until I get set back up in the states. We have been so super busy that I’m not sure I could even tell you what day it is today. However – today was an incredibly exciting day because my dad flew into Germany! We are all SO excited!!! Dad’s flight got in this afternoon and by the time we got home – it was after 6pm – and we’ve had a great time together already. Luke is Grandpa’s shadow and won’t leave dad’s side – it’s SO cute! Grandpa and Grandma J bought Luke Filmore the Van from CARS – and he won’t let it out of his sight – in fact, he’s clutching it in his sleep! He has talked Grandpa's ear off already -and excitedly played show and tell with most of his things. I'm sure Luke will be up at the crack of dawn asking were Grandpa is tomorrow! =)

The next few days will be busy busy busy busy…and I won’t have internet after tomorrow – so this might just be my last post until I get back to the states. Once the boys and I recover from jetlag – I will work to get the posts and pictures caught back up again. Until then – Bon Voyage!



At the airport!


Playing before bedtime...

Top 10 List

Top 10 Things I will do when I return to the states (in no particular order):

- Catch up with family and friends and of course love on my puppy and kitty!
- Sleep!
- Eat Mexican food
- Go for a run
- Shop for clothes that fit…especially jeans…I have 4 pair in my closet…2 are too small…1 fits but has 2 buttons missing (so I have to use a safety pin to “button” them)…and the other pair is way to big…need new jeans!
- Get a hair cut (short short short all the way!) and pedicure/manicure
- Play outside with the boys WITHOUT being surrounded by bees/wasps
- Buy new computer – yay!
- Start new job
- Go to Wal-mart

So there you have it – the top ten things I will be doing in my first few months of returning to the states. =)

Alrighty – I guess I have to get back to work…

So.Much.To.Do!

Returning to the States...

Our ERD (early return of dependents) orders came through this week and the kids and I will be returning to the states at the end of the month (though keep in mind this IS the Army!) =) Luke is really looking forward to his first plane ride - but I dread the jetlag - especially for the boys! Eeeek! We are super excited, but also saddened about leaving the wonderful friends we’ve made here.

So the big question - why are we returning to the states early? Well, there are lots of answers to that. Though Chris won't be back from Iraq until next summer - he has decided to pursue other career options. Thus - he'll be getting out of the Army a few months after their re-deployment. We would like to settle in Maryland if at all possible. Because of this - and because I have been given an amazing job opportunity - we have decided to return to Maryland - get the boys settled back in the states - and allow me to pursue some of my ministry goals. I will blog more about all that later though. So - that's the short answer(s)…=)

My dad is flying in next week to help me with all the moving stuff. It'll be SO nice to have an extra set of hands to help with the boys too! I can't wait for him to see Luke again and meet Will for the first time! I haven't seen my family in over a year - I'm SO excited!

The movers are coming next week. I am just amazed at how smoothly and quickly everything is falling into place. I know that this is the right time - because God has worked miracle after miracle in this whole process. I'm exited to see what He has in store for us as we move to Maryland and as I begin to work at the church there.

At the same time, I am sad to leave...I have made some really spectacular friends here - as has Luke. It will be very sad to leave them. I wish I could take them all home with me! I am also a bit sad about leaving Germany. We've now been here for over a year - and some of it's endearingness has rubbed off on me. I didn't think I'd be sad to leave the actual country - but I kind of am.

Alrighty - I have more to do than I can even comprehend in the next two weeks! I will try to post a few blogs throughout the process but no guarantees. =)

Movies!

Memory Lane Monday - Chris's Graduation

A few years ago we experienced the nightmare of losing a ton of pictures when one of our external hard drives crashed. It’s always heartbreaking to lose pictures! The other day as I was looking for some software, I came across quite a few picture CD’s that had some of those very pictures on them! Though I know we’ll never be able to restore all the pictures we lost, it’s been fun to go back and look at “days past.”

I thought it would be fun to start doing some blogs of our older pictures. Though most of my “older” pictures are back in the states in photo albums (when we lived in the days of film cameras) I have found quite a bit to stay occupied with on these CD’s and my computer for awhile.

So my first “Memory Lane” post is of Chris’s college graduation:

If you click on this picture to make it bigger - you'll see that the sign now reads: Education with a Chris purpose...



Chris got an "A" on his Senior Thesis!

Graduation Day:

Smiles all around!






Relaxing at the end of the day with some mini-golf...

I hear the ocean...

I know everyone is going to be shocked when I say this – but we’ve all been sick again! I know, I know – we have the weakest immune systems ever! Luke has been fighting a fever the last few days and Will and I have been nursing a cold. I made us all stay in this weekend – and I think that tomorrow we can finally get back out and on with normal life. I’m not even surprised anymore when sickness comes our way – I’ve just learned to accept it, deal with it – and not dwell on how much the boys have been sick this last year. I've learned there's not much I can do about it - so I might as well just take it as it comes. =)

Luke is definitely on the mend – and aside from Will’s gross runny nose, he’s doing better as well. I am feeling quite a bit better – though I have more fluid in my ears than the ocean has water. It sloshes around and makes me dizzy and I hope and pray it doesn’t develop into an ear infection. Those of you who have had the “privilege” of being around me when I have an ear infection know that no good can come out of it. =) I always lose my hearing and all you’ll hear out of my mouth for the next month is, “huh?” “Could you repeat that?” “What was that?” “ehh?”

I don’t have a lot of news to report – and it’s past my brain functioning hours to think of all the cute things the kids have done these last few weeks. The one thing I can provide you with is pictures though – so enjoy!

Mr. Will...


Mr. Luke likes to sit in boxes...don't ask me why...


Luke has found a new use for the Boppy pillow...


Will trying to stand...I can't keep this boy still for a moment! EEEK!


Splits anyone?


Yummy pillow...


Luke is great with tools!

Playground pictures!

Will didn't have too much fun - other than the few minutes he wanted to swing. This was his expression most of our time there. In his defense, it was hot.

Luke loved getting on these and shouting "eeehaww!"

Luke being a "firefighter"...

Monica, EA, MC and Will joined us later. We had a good time until a wasp gave Monica a very painful sting. We went home after that!

Big Will and Little Will playing together!

"I will dump all these toys for mommy to pick up...muhahahaha!"

Will in his lair of pillows...

Luke sat Grover and Elmo in the booster...

Then he provided toys for them to play with...Look at Elmo's expression! HA! (PS -I know they're not alive...hehehe!)


Angry face!

This is why I need to baby-proof...

Luke and Will LOVE crawling together - just the other day, Luke was "crawl chasing" Will around saying, "I'm gonna get chu!"

Here Luke is trying to play the "roll it" game with Will...

Will just tries to eat the ball...

Smile!

Because Will has been trying to pull himself up, I had to move the crib mattress down another notch. I did so - put Will in the crib - walked out of the room - came back in and saw he had pulled himself all the way up! Eeeeek! Slow down boy! Now he's pulling himself up on the couch...and pretty much anything he can get his hands on. It's all over now. No more sitting down for mommy!

Luke loves it when I let him play on the bed. I was changing the sheets here, so he had free reign...

Luke loves to pretend to talk to Daddy on the phone...

Here he's letting Will "talk" too...

I wish I could get Luke to smile for the camera...this is usually as close as I get...

What a big helper!

Look at that face!

Luke and Will hanging out in the crib together...

and playing with trains together...

Cute Cars outfit!

"Look mom - I have no hair!"


More later!