Family Vacation in Paris, France

Philip planned a wonderful vacation for our family to Paris, France. Philip planned the whole trip and made all the arrangements from Iraq. Paris is only about a 6 hour drive from home, but we took a 45 minute flight instead. We arrived in Paris at about 5pm. However we did not get to our hotel until 7pm. The traffic was horrible!When we got to our hotel we unpacked our luggage, and settled into our new "home" for the next 5 days. We took a walk outside and found a restaurant to eat dinner.
** waiting for our plane in the Frankfurt Airport **

** Moriah drinking from her bottle before take off**

**So tired. We had an early morning**

**Moriah,only 8 months old and has almost flown around the entire world.**

** Eating dinner on our first night in Paris **

**Awesome view from our hotel room!**

We spent our first full day in Paris at the Eiffel Tower. We stood in line for about 1 hour to climb the stairs up to the 1st level of the Eiffel tower. That was a work-out!

From the 1st level of the Eiffel Tower we had to purchase tickets again to take the elevator up to the 2nd level.

From the 2nd level of the Eiffel Tower once again we had to purchase tickets to take the elevator to the top of the Eiffel Tower. We made it to the top of the Eiffel Tower! It was windy and cold, yet beautiful! Thank you Philip for making one of my dreams come true!



We spent our 2nd full day in Paris visiting the Louvre Museum. It is so HUGE! We saw the Mona Lisa. Its a lot smaller than I expected.




We spent New Year's Eve at Disney Land Paris! It was super, super cold and raining off and on through out the day. We made the best out of it and enjoyed our time at Disneyland!



New Year's night at 12 am we watched the Eiffel Tower light-up from a near-by bridge.


Our last full day in Paris we went to Notre Dame Cathedral,



we also went to Les Invalides


We had an amazing experience in Paris and I'm so thankful our family was blessed to go!

Christmas 2009

We had a wonderful Christmas this year. I know it would have been even better if we celebrated Christmas in San Antonio with our family and friends. We went to the Christmas Eve candle light service on post at 7pm. We sang a lot of Christmas hymns and read the Christmas story.

After the service we headed over to a family friend's house where we had dinner and a good time.


On Christmas Day the girl's (all 3) woke up to a pile of Christmas presents under the Christmas tree. We each took turns opening one present at a time. It was wonderful to see the girl's faces light-up with each present they unwrapped. Moriah was just intrigued by the wrapping paper, bows and boxes. Typical baby :)


After opening presents and cleaning up all the wrapping paper, ribbons, bows, boxes and such we headed over to another family friend's house for Christmas dinner!
She will bear a son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins -Matthew 1:21

Holiday Rush

Tomorrow is Christmas Eve and I have a few more things I need to do before I can scratch them off my "to-do list". I need to buy Christmas dresses for Joslyn and Allison, I have no idea why I waited until the day of to buy their dresses. I really don't think the PX even has a selection of Christmas dresses anymore. Thursday is laundry day (Tuesdays were my laundry days but since Philip came home we began doing laundry on Thursdays. I'm not sure why or how this happened).So tomorrow morning I'm doing laundry and everyone in this house gets involved with helping on laundry day. Joslyn and Allison seperate their clothes. Tops in one pile, bottoms in another pile and whites in a different pile. I need someone to help me carry all loads of laundry to the basement. Bath towels, all bed sheets, our clothes and baby's clothes. I do about 10 loads of laundry once a week. However having 6 washing machines and 6 dryers to myself makes laundry day a lot eaiser and faster! I really shouldn't complain about doing laundry. Having dirty laundry means my kids are busy at school and busy at playing! I should count my blessings! After all laundry is done its time to fold/hang-up everything. Thank goodness Philip is home now. He gets to take care of Moriah while the girls and I are running up and down the stairs and folding/hanging up laundry.


After laundry is done or while its in the dryer I need to make my Mom's famous Chocolate Cheese Cake. We are going to track Santa Claus online tomorrow as well. Tomorrow evening our family is meeting some friends at the church on post for Christmas Eve service. After the service we are going to another family friend's house for some Christmas Eve fun! Joslyn and Allison are excited because their best friends will be there too. Have a Wonderful Christmas Eve!!

Christmas Season!

Last Christmas was a really lonely Christmas for Joslyn, Allison and I. I was not much in the Christmas spirit. You see last year was the very first time I had Christmas without my parents. Joslyn, Allison and I were only able to to see my parents via webcam (which is better than not seeing my parents at all, so I really should not complain). Last Christmas Moriah was just a little bump in my belly and Philip was in Iraq. I am thankful Joslyn, Allison and I had each other.
This Christmas Season is and will be so much better than last year. Philip and Moriah are both here with us. The only blessing that could make this Christmas better would be having my parents here with us!

My Amazing Grandma

My Grandma was a wonderful woman. I love her so much and I will miss her so much. I am so excited about seeing her in heaven again. I Am so thankful that I was able to see my Grandma one last time. I was able to kiss her and talk with her. I am also thankful that my Grandma was able to meet Moriah and hold her before she went to her heavenly home! I will always remember what my Grandma said to me the last time I saw her. She said, "I am proud of you". I love you Grandma! See you soon!

Pre Funeral Planning

My Mom, Dad and I went to Lewis Funeral Home to pre plan my Dad's funeral. I would suggest everyone do this with their parents. Since my Dad was with us, he was able to decide what he wanted at his funeral. When God calls my Dad home, my family and I won't have to stress over planning and paying for a funeral. Everything has been taken care of and we can grieve without any stress. We joked and laughed most of the time we were there. I am very glad we did this and glad my Dad was there too.

They Call The Wind Mariah

I found the song with my baby girl's name in it! I'm going to buy this CD and Im going to sing it to her all the time!





They Call The Wind Mariah

Maria
Maria
They call the wind Maria

Away out here they got a name
For rain and wind and fire
The rain is Tess, the fire Joe,
And they call the wind Maria

Maria blows the stars around
And sends the clouds a’flyin’
Maria makes the mountains sound
Like folks were up there dying

Maria
Maria
They call the wind Maria

Before I knew Maria’s name
And heard her wail and whinin’
I had a girl and she had me
And the sun was always shinin’

But then one day I left my girl
I left her far behind me
And now I’m lost, so gone and lost
Not even God can find me

Maria
Maria
They call the wind Maria

Out here they got a name for rain
For wind and fire only
But when you’re lost and all alone
There ain’t no word but lonely

And I’m a lost and lonely man
Without a star to guide me
Maria blow my love to me
I need my girl beside me

Maria
Maria
They call the wind Maria

Maria
Maria!
Blow my love to me