Getting Dirty

A few weeks before Tim's unit deployed last year, one of his friend's car started having a lot of trouble.  Long story short....he needed a new engine.  So while they were away he was saving up his money for not just the engine but a few other "upgrades" as well.  The new engine was barely in the car before the guys were in the garage putting the rest of the stuff on.  The plan was to install a new exhaust and intake.

Once they installed the new exhaust they gave it a test run and I heard it from inside the house and had to go out to take a look.  It sounded great and they were all a little giddy over it.



They still had shocks that Alex wanted to install so a few days later Tim and Alex worked those.  I think they made at least three trips to Auto Zone/Sears for a certain tool.  Right around 8 PM they thought they had successfully finished when they looked around to find an extra piece laying around that they forgot to put on.  (Oooops.)  It was only another hour or so when they got it all together, and they were grining from ear to ear.

I was kind of sad that Alex didn't have any more upgrades to add to his car.  I enjoyed watching them work and see them gain joy from their accomplishment.  I'm sure something else will come up soon though.

One Big Gift

A few months before Tim came back we began discussing what we wanted to do for the boys.  Tim wanted to buy them one big gift.  We were going back and forth between a Power Wheels (which the boys have been wanting) and a Trampoline.  We ended up going with the trampoline.  I think it was a good choice.  The boys love it.  Although most of the day it's wickedly hot out and we tend not to go out till after dinner, it wears them out!  I've jumped on it a few times myself, but to be perfectly honest it feels completely different since I've had three babies.  (I feel like my uterus is going to come out.)  They love it most though when Tim comes out and jumps with them.

The only thing we are NOT looking forward to is when we move and we have to disassemble it. 

Life as One

As many of you know my hubby came home about 2 1/2 weeks ago!!!  Hence part of the reason I've be a little absent.  He made it in right about noon.  We were thankful to have some of our good friends Matt & Sarah join us for the "ceremony".  They were gracious enough to be our photographer and videographer.  (I'd share the vid...but I neglected to give Matt instructions on the video camera and so half of it wasn't recorded.)

Here's Blaine just hanging out holding down the stoller and all our provisions.  At the last re-deployment ceremony we were there for about 3 hours before they showed up so I made sure to bring plenty of diapers, snacks, drinks, etc.  Thankfully it wasn't that long of a wait this time around.

The boys did such a great job coloring this sign for Tim...

One of the great things about Tim being tall is it makes it a little easier to pick him out of a crowd.  :)

Colin was ready to take off as soon as they opened the hangar doors...

Our 2nd photo as a family of 5!!!!



Tim hit the ground running when he came home.  They were stuck in Iraq for a few extra days due to sand storms/lack of a plane, so he was pretty much able to switch his body's time clock before he got home.  We always try and keep it pretty relaxed the day Tim comes home.  #1 on the agenda is normally coming home and showering.  #2 is grilled cheese sandwiches.  #3 is Oreos with REAL milk.  (I think we've already gone thru 5 gallons since he's been home.)  By day 2 Tim was pretty much ready to go out and already started knocking things off of our "to-do" list. 

We are so thankful to have him home and the boys have done great adjusting to the change.  I'll try and post a few more times on what we've been up to the last few weeks.  We are looking forward to Tim's leave (hopefully by the end of the week) where we'll spend some time visiting family and some time just at home.

8 Month Update

I know I've been pretty quiet on the blog front lately.  Thought I would break the silence today though to write an update on Blaine.

Tomorrow Blaine will be 8 months old!  Currently weighing in at 22 lbs (feeling like 25)!  Blaine's last week of being a 7 month old was very exciting!  About four days ago he started crawling!  He's getting better and better everyday.  He doesn't like the tile floor and he always makes a bee line for any shoes or matchbox cars left lying around.  On top of crawling this last week Blaine has had FOUR teeth break through, with THREE more on the edge!  I have never seen that many teeth come in at once.  (Granted he's only my third child.  Still craziness.)

He loves his brothers and has adjusted very well to Tim being home.  He can still be quite sensitive and seems to have trouble with new faces.  We were at the mall last week and when we walked into one of the stores two other ladies started admiring him and he puckered out his lower lip and started crying.  Then, just two nights ago, Tim was holding him and went over to talk to some of his friends and he just about had a meltdown. 

Here's just a quick clip of him a few days ago....

It's About Time

Today we got to color a sign for Tim's Welcome Home Ceremony!

It's been a little surreal this past week.  There was a few days delay in their flight plans due to sand storms and who knows what.  Although I know he is headed home, it seems kind of un-real.  We've been doing a lot to prepare for his homecoming, but it's hard to grasp that this time he's coming home for more than a 5 day or 2 week visit.  My heart is filled with excitement, anxiety, some reservations, but I can't wait for us to adjust, to work through it together and be a family of one again.

Silly as it may be, one of the simplest things that helps to make this a reality for me is this.....

Today, I got to put my husband's towel back on the towel rack.

No Communication

The first time Tim was deployed I would start to get nervous if it had been 3or 4 days since I had heard from him.  Technology has changed a lot in the last six years, and so has his job in the Army, so now I rarely go more than 12 hours without hearing from him.  That said....the only time I pray that I DON'T hear from him is when Tim is on his way home!!!!!!  No communication means that they are traveling!

Unfortunately, I talked to him today.  Haha. 

They were supposed to fly out two days ago and have been delayed TWICE due to sand storms.  Oh the joy of weather delays.

It was good to talk to him today, but I'm back to praying that he either won't call in the next 48 hours...OR if he does call me he better be in a different country!

In the meantime, the excitement is building so we are doing our best to keep busy.

We've been cleaning, organizing, taking mini-road trips, playing outside in our little pool, going to the lake, going for lots of bike rides, etc.  We've been getting boxes in the mail from Tim and some of the other guys mailing their excess back. Our paper chain which once wrapped itself around a door frame is now down to about seven links.  (I still have a few extra links on just in case.)  Both are great encouragers that Tim's time away from us is almost over!