One Step Closer

Today Philip received his orders to Schweinfurt, Germany. Now that he has his orders we can start the process of moving out of Ft. Hood and back to San Antonio for a couple months and then on to Germany! Philip is showing Joslyn his orders and explaining what it means for our family.

Another Tooth for the Tooth Fairies' Castle

Yesterday Joslyn was fiddling around with her very loose tooth. She was worried that her tooth would fall out while she was sleeping and she would swallow it. I tried to convince her that would not happen, but she wasn't convinced. So I asked her if I could feel how loose it really was. She said, "Okay, but don't pull it out." I wiggled her tooth a little bit and it was super lose. I pulled that tooth out and gave it to her. She smiled and said, "You didn't even let me hold Allison's hand". I asked her if it hurt and she said,"no". Joslyn woke up this morning to a surprise under her pillow from the Tooth Fairy! So here are a couple of pictures of her new smile.

Celebration!

Today Ft. Hood had a celebration celebrating military children and what they have to endure as being a child in the military. At the festival the girls recieved a free T-shirt, we got free food, a ride on horses, face paintings, arts and crafts and rock wall climbing. It was really nice and very entertaining. The girls really had fun!

A CRABBY Day

Yesterday the girls and I went to Blora Lake. The girls took their fishing nets in hopes of catching crabs maybe even some fish if they were lucky. They spent some time walking the shore line of the lake and didn't find any water creatures. After getting use to the water (it was a bit cold and the sun wasn't out very much) the girls ventured out into the lake just to their knees. Yet they still did not find any crabs. We all decided to just sit in on the beach and make a sand castle. We were having a good time, and we had the whole beach area to ourselves. After a while a security truck pulled up along side of us and told us that our dog was not allowed on the beach so we left our sand castle and headed home with nothing in our nets but with memories in our minds! The girls and I had a great time despite their disappointment.

Handing it over to God

This past week my friend asked me to babysit her baby. This was her last week in the Army and I knew this would be my last time watching Azaleagh. I have watched her before and she is so cute and adorable, a really good baby girl. One day this past week I had a Doctor's appointment and Philip met me there. He was entertaining Azaleagh and interacting with her a lot. Philip walked the baby and I to my car and he was just having a great time with her. I was just standing back and of course thoughts of what kind of father he would be if we had a baby together crossed my mind.

Since we were married (3 years and 4 months ago) we both decided to have a baby when Philip came back from the desert. However when he came back and we finally moved in together we both realized how money can go in many different directions. Philip started to get "cold feet" and didn't want to have a baby until we could financially afford another child. I would try so hard to convince him to have a baby, but he would never budge. So for a while I just gave up asking him, and I convinced myself that we couldn't really afford another baby, I didn't want to be pregnant again, and I enjoy my sleep. Well one day out of the clear blue Philip asked me (I remember the day, it was a Friday) if I wanted to start trying for a baby. He about knocked me off my feet with that question. I told hm I did. The next day I called my mom and was in a near panic. I told her, "we can't afford another baby, I don't think I can love a baby as much as I love my girls, I don't want to get fat, what if Philip shows more affection to his baby than to the girls, what if the girls recent me because I am with the baby's father and not their father..." on and on I went. My mom tried to encourage me. Well I went along with Philip and we did try, only 3 times and I was going crazy. I was nervous and REALLY scared. I went out and bought 4 pregnancy tests. Every time they came out negative. Finally I started my cycle. I was so relieved. Well after much thought I have just come to the conclusion, if the Lord wants Philip and I to have another baby it will happen. The Lord will be with each of us as we would all go through the changes of having a baby in our home. Maybe with all the moving we face in the next few months, the timing wasn't right to add another child to our family. I am going to hand all of this over to the Lord and I know His timing and His plan for our lives is perfect and this gives me peace!

Wonderful Company!

My parents came up to visit us this weekend. They came in late Thursday night and left this afternoon. We were all looking forward to their visit. The girls didn't have school on Friday so we were able to spend the whole day together. My mom and the girls took the dogs walking in the morning (my parents brought their dog, Molly). My mom came along with us while I ran a few errands, it was nice to have her along. For our evening meal Joslyn and my mom made a pancake soup-its a German dish (we're getting ready for Germany) as an appetizer and my dad and I grilled some chicken on the BBQ pit. We had a delicious dinner. This afternoon before my parents left I decided to join my mom and the girls on a walk, it was hot but nice. We stopped at the park and let the dogs run around and the girls too. My parents' visit helped to make our weekend so much more enjoyable. The next time they come up here it will be to help us move back to San Antonio (just 1 more month). (The last picture is of Philip picking up Allison...just a random picture of what he was doing while I was typing this blog)

One on One time

Joslyn went to a slumber party yesterday. Allison was pretty upset that she couldn't go with her sister. I explained to Allison that we would have fun together, by ourselves. I told Allison we could go out to eat, just her and her momma! I told Allison to pick a restaurant she wanted to go to. She said, "Momma there are 3 places I want to go, Mc Donald's, Wendy's, and Chucky Cheese". I told her she had to pick the one she really, really wanted to go to and after about 3 minutes of thinking she finally picked Chucky Cheese. We went to Chucky Cheese and had a great time. Allison and I were able to talk, play games and have a great time. Just me and Allison. I really enjoyed that time alone with Allison and she enjoyed that time with me too. We came home and I told Allison to pick a movie and we would lay on my bed and watch the movie together. She picked Mary Poppins! Well, Allison fell asleep about half way through the movie and I fell asleep shortly after. I had a wonderful time. Just me and my baby girl.

Accomplished!

Today was a pretty good day. A couple great things happened. First, over Christmas I bought a pair of bermuda shorts. At the time I didn't fit into the shorts, but I liked the shorts so much I bought them anyway and told myself, I'll lose the weight and one day I'll be able to wear them! Well today was that day!
Second, Allison's class went on a field trip. I helped chaperon (and forgot to return my visitors' button to the school office. I'll have to remember to do that tomorrow morning)The 1st grade classes went to the bowling alley. Every lane had 5 or 6 kids. They all had a blast! Thank goodness we didn't have to wear the bowling shoes and were able to wear our own tennis shoes, can you imagine?! The bowling alley was filled with laughter, screaming, hyper and excited 1st graders (I had to sneak off to the food bar and get an extra large soda to keep up with these kids...it was 9:30am)The children were great sports and super cheerleaders for their opponents! It was wonderful. Allison had a great time. I think she likes bowling with her classmates better than bowling with her sister, Philip and I. Her smile was from ear to ear the entire time!



After the bowling alley I followed the buses and other parents to the Cavalry Horse Stables. I had 2 other parents following behind me. I was separated from the buses and other parents in the caravan due to a LONG red light. I had no idea where the buses went. I remembered once when Jason met me at the visitors center to pick our girls up for Spring Break, I saw a sign behind the visitors center for the CAV Horse Stables. I made a couple turnarounds (I was so nervous because the other 2 parents were following me, every wrong turn I made, and who knew what they were thinking about me) Anyway we made it to the stables and the teachers were still unloading all the children from the buses. So, great timing! The weather was dreary. A light drizzle and little chilly. The children were all troopers though! I surprised myself. I was thinking on the drive over to the stables, oh I really don't want to do this, my hair is going to frizz, I'm wearing flip flops, I'm probably going to step in horse manure, why did I agree to do this, why did I "pinkie" promise Allison I would chaperon, Philip should be out here with me. If I have to suffer he should too, besides a horse is a horse you've seen one you've seen'em all.
Our guide impressed me and the history of the Cavalry horses intrigued me. I'm so glad I went and in fact I would love to go back with Allison and take Joslyn too. It was pretty neat! I had a great time even despite the weather, and I never stepped in manure!




Well I returned home at about 12:30. I did ALL the laundry, folded it and put it away. I'm just so happy, I love it! I can actually see the top of my dryer!! Today was an all around great day!

Another Day

Today was just like any other day. The girls went to school and I did some cleaning around the house. I put in my work-out DVD and walked two miles in the comfort of my living room. Boy did I work up a sweat! This is my 2nd time using this work-out DVD. Saturday was my 1st day and I had my girls as my cheerleaders and partners (it was fun and easier working out with my girls, this morning I was kind of lonely). I picked the girls up at the end of their school day and we went to the gas station to get a snack, I pulled out some money from the ATM for a birthday gift for one of Joslyn's friends (this friend of Joslyn's is practically a part of our family). We came home and did homework while eating our snacks. The girls played outside while I cooked beef fajatas. After dinner the girls decided to go outside and do some flips and gymnastics in our front yard. I joined them outside, and did a couple cartwheels myself. Baths have been taken, teeth have been brushed, books have been read and prayers have been said. Now it time for dishes to be done, more laundry to be washed, school clothes to be starched and ironed and a favorite TV show to be watched.