almost home....

just a mere 24 hours to go (hopefully) until Monty is home. While I am very excited I am also very guarded about getting my hopes too high. The army has a terrible habit of delaying/extending things (ie deployments, training, flights across the atlantic ocean.) We've made our banners and we bought new outfits, stocked up the pantry with some of his favorite foods, and prayed that the army, the weather, and whatever else doesn't delay him arriving home safely to us tomorrow night.
I promise to post pictures sometime Friday, although it will not be in the morning as Monty is letting me sleep in! Which is the only thing that I asked for when he comes home. One day that I don't have to get up at the butt crack of dawn with the kids!
One more goodnight without him, one more wake up without him-we are finished. hooray! we are finished!!

Christmas time is here...

and the kids had a wonderful time opening presents from us, family and Santa Claus. here are a few of my favorite pictures. Monty should be home in a week. We have missed him and this Christmas was nearly unbearable for me. Sadly, despite Christmas being one of my favorite holidays I am glad it is over!

love to all,

michelle

Christmas Eve dinner (and yes she has clothes, she just does not wear them...)

Christmas Breakfast, before Santa eat his cookies and drank the milk. (homemade cinnamon rolls and milk for the kids.) Kody opening one of her presents...which was all dress up clothes...

Peter celebrating one of his two favorite gifts (and his inventor supply box is the other one.)

While she wasn't sold on the dress up stuff at first (ok all day, she did choose this one dress to put on

and wanted to sleep in it..how do you tell a 2 year old princess that she can't wear a princess dress to bed?)

this is Peter giving the lesson for FHE on Christmas Eve, he read some scriptures on priesthood lineage and I was able to show him Monty's. He conducted FHE, made popcorn for our treat and handed out assignments..

This is peter and his first invention, made from the supplies that Grandpa Leo gave him, he was very excited about his "upper pulley stringer lifter."

Peter opening presents.

can I just say I love my Dad!!

Today I got a Christmas card from my dad. He always sends a card, and types a message. He wrote (typed) "Another year come and gone, and I didn't get to see ya at all. Things will change for the better soon. All of you are with me always." We haven't been able to visit "home" for over two years, my dad is one of my best friends! My dad has always been that one constant, steady and reassuring force in my life. And I miss him very much. Some of you know how rough things have been for me lately, so when he said things will change for the better soon, it gave me a little hope. Which has been missing for a great while. He is one of the few people that I know that always tells the truth. And if he says it's going to get better soon then it will.
And Monty and I made a compromise that we would visit his family in the summer and fly home for Christmas next year. Here's to Christmas 2009!!

these are a few of my favorite things...

just a quick list of my favorite things right now...

• josh groban's Mai (it's a rather sad song, but his voice is wonderful) from his Awake cd.
• my shirt that has a picture of turtle on it with the words "Shut the shell up" above it! It just cracks me up!
• my friends and classmates from school. Sabrina and Paula especially! And I seriously want to come back in a 2nd life as Limary! And my favorite advisor Pepsi & Peanuts!! All these ladies truly rock!!
• my nursery kids at church! They are a true blessing, in addition to my own kids, in my life!
• my husband's voice. It's been a huge struggle for me this past year, spiritually and emotionally, and he is just so calm and love just overflows from his voice.
• my new computer chair, because I can spin around and around and around!! LOL!
• cherry coke, popcorn and a milky way bar! YUMMY!
• rain. it's was so comforting to hear it on the roof a couple days ago...reminds me of home.
• The movies "Sons of Provo" and the "Home Teachers" because they are both soo dumb it's funny! And no I don't care to play Survivor Utah! BUT I TOTALLY LOVE EVERCLEAN!! (you'll have to have seen the movies to get those last two lines.)
• my Christmas tree with all the white twinkle lights...so pretty!!

Ok, I think that's all for now...just trying to reflect on all the good things instead of dwelling on the negative things (like my previous post!) that I face each day.

love to all!

teeny tiny almost microscoptic vent....

Many of you know that down here at Ft. Stewart, we have three major brigades. 1st and 2nd brigades came home from their deployments in the late spring and summer, and that is fine because they left much, much earlier than 4th. However, the 4th brigade is slowing trickling in and most should be home for Christmas.

MY SMALL VENT!!!

Just because most of the 4th brigade is coming in doesn't mean all of the 4,500 soldiers will be home for Christmas! So do not come up to me and with such excitement and joy to exclaim "It's going to be so great to have all the soldiers home for Christmas, I can just see all the kids waking up on Christmas day with their dads home. I can't believe how blessed you are! I bet you are just so thrilled."
UMMM! Thanks crazy person, but my husband isn't coming home for Christmas, seriously thank you for being so uncaring and insensitive, thank you for just assuming he'd be home and not asking me first. Thank you for making me want to dump my hot chocolate on your freakin brand new shoes! And most of all, thank you for reminding me that he'll be gone!!!

Now, just let me say, while I understand that separation is part of the military life and we knew he would most likely not be home for many, many holidays, anniversaries, birthdays etc.. people just word it better like...

Hey with all the troops coming home, is monty going to be home for the Christmas this year?

Don't worry I was perfectly nice, I had the words of my mother and grannie in my head and I said something completely nice. Although I really did want to dump my hot chocolate on her or at least kick her shins or something.

Anyways, Merry Christmas!

big girl bed and my mom...

The last few nights Kody has begun sleeping in her big bed and the crib is gone! She loves it! Although she spends the first 30 minutes opening the door and tip toeing down the hallway...only to get caught and giggle as she runs back to her bed. She is such a character, just like her father!

this is her first night in the bed, long after she went to sleep.

So, I bet you are wondering where my mom fits into this super cute story about Kody....well. You see those two bears? Those bears are sprayed (weekly) with my mom's perfume. The story behind that is this...Kody started out with one little bear, that she loved...we lost it one day and spent three more tearful and nearly sleepless nights until I found these bears at the dollar tree. (and yes we have 2 more in the closet just in case we lose one again!) Prior to finding those bears, I bought about 6 others bears. Nothing. On the fourth day she picked up the bear and I thought great this will work. Nope. Out of sheer inspiration I sprayed some of my mom's perfume (Moonlight Path from B&B) on that bear -and she went to sleep. I think Kody remembered that smell as I do not wear that perfume.
When Kody was only a week old, my mom came out here. She was so calm with my mom...it was like "Okay Mimi is here. I am fine." Anyways, these past few days while laying on and beside the bed, I've smelled my mom's perfume.

Let me just preface this with my mom is alive and well, she is just across the country from me and I miss her very much. This last year (and especially these last couple months) have been extremely trying for me, but each night as I smelled that perfume, I thought to myself. "I have a piece of mom here, I am fine." I just felt so calm. That's what my mom is to me, calmness, security and love. And just as the sweet perfume helped Kody to sleep, it too has helped me to feel calm. I love my mom!

some unjuicy tidbits...

• First, just letting everyone know that Monty is in Kuwait now. And no that does not mean he'll be home soon. He is still slated to come home sometime after the New Year. He has some special HAZMAT training and certification and needs to stay and watch the navy load their stuff. Yippee! However, Kuwait is much safer than Iraq. So, we'll take it.
• I added a new song. Of course no list of my favorite songs could be complete without JOSH GROBAN!! Anyways, love this song. As it really is how I see him-Monty not Josh Groban. He is my hero, my angel. Although he'd say differently...he really is more than just a man. And despite his taste in jewelry-he is my eternal companion and the best choice I could have ever made.
• The quarter is almost over! Lots of work to do still, but I am looking forward to our department dinner and dance (dec 12th) and spending a couple weeks going to bed early for a change.
• Confession: tonight for dinner I had two cherry cokes, a huge bowl of mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce. AND I DID NOT FEEL BAD!! I loved every bite and sip! WHOAAA! REBELLION!! TAKE THAT SOPHOMORE SLIMDOWN!! HA!
• Favorite movie line for the week: From the LDS verison of Pride and Prejudice..."just read it or you are going to find hair begone in your shampoo bottle!"

Ok, seriously I think that is all I needed to get out before I put my nose back in my sociology book... see ya!

gingerbread houses...ok so it's graham crackers...

We tried. We mixed up two separate batches (different recipes) and baked them. And while they were delicious to eat, they just were not stiff enough to build with. So, plan B, the ever trusted and faithful....graham crackers!

Here are the kids mixing the batches of cookies and doing some cutters.

Later that night we decorated graham cracker houses...it was a mess but they both loved it! And were so proud of their creative little homes.

Our End Results...besides the candy, sprinkles, chocolate chip and icing vomit explosion on the floor...

Peter-Leo and Kody Nov 2008

one last birthday video!

Ok, here is one more video (and some photos) from today. We celebrated Kody's 2nd birthday we had a small chocolate cake! She had a blast all day!

Daddy's new ATV arrived this afternoon and while I don't have video I took the kids all around our yard a few times (ok it was like for a hour...but whatever-it has headlights!)

Kody and her 3 wheeler!

This year we got Kody a radio flyer tricylce. She loves it!

Enjoy!

And let the birthday begin.....

Ok, so Kody turns the big 02 on Sunday. And we are very excited. We are just having a family dinner, nothing big. Today, my Dad's (Grandpa Leo) present to Kody arrived. I knew what it was, so I let her open it a few days early. Enjoy the pictures and captions.

Kody was so excited...until she realized it was just money!

She was quiet for a second. And I gave her the actual gift...

She was in shock! Yes, they are stickers...not money..

She was so excited....

So many stickers....so little time!! And where to put them all?

Our daughter loves, loves , loves stickers! So, I told my Dad instead of buying her something big...just send a bunch of stickers! I bet she went to sleep dreaming of putting stickers everywhere!!

building a penguin and a monkey

today I took the kids to Build a Bear at the Savannah Mall. Kody picked out a monkey (to match her blanket and purse) and Peter had to have the penguin. After that we had lunch at the Food Court and they were so excited. I guess we need to eat out more often!

Here are some pictures!

peter and his penguin

kody, her monkey and her pink monkey blanket (Aunt Jenn made her last Christmas.)

Cider Donut recipe for ya'll

For those of you that have been wanting me to post the cider donut recipe here it is as well as the link to her blog page with other really great recipes!

Cider donuts
1 gallon of apple cider (for baking and drinking)
1 cup sugar
¼ cup solid vegetable shortening
2 large eggs
½ cup buttermilk
3 ½ cup all-purpose flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
½ tsp. cinnamon
½ tsp. salt
¼ tsp. nutmeg
Vegetable oil or shortening for frying
Boil 1 cup of apple cider in a small saucepan for 8 to 10 minutes or until cider is reduced to 1/4 cup; let cool. In a large bowl, beat sugar with solid shortening until smooth. Add eggs and mix well, then add buttermilk and cooled cider. In a medium-sized bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, salt and nutmeg. Add to liquid ingredients; mix ingredients just enough to combine. Transfer dough to the lightly floured board and pat to 1/2-inch thickness. Cut with a 3-inch donut cutter; re-roll the excess donut holes and cut scraps back into the dough. Refrigerate formed donuts on baking sheets for about 20 minutes to help firm the dough prior to frying. Add enough oil or shortening to fill a deep (3-inch) pan; heat to approximately 375°F or until the oil is bubbling. Fry several donuts at a time, turning once or twice until browned and cooked through, about 4 minutes. Remove and place on paper towels for draining and cooling.Once the donuts have drained and cooled a bit, shake up the donuts in the bag of cinnamon sugar. Finished donuts can be placed on a wire rack to continue cooling.

The link.... http://grannygrumpstable.wordpress.com/

Happy eating!

DONUTS! A new fall tradition

Tonight for FHE (Family Home Evening) we made Apple Cider Donuts! Yummy! We had a lesson on controlling our tempers (The Temper Turkey) and being patient with others and then made our super yummy donuts. They turned out really well and I decided to make them every fall! Here are some pictures from our FHE adventure.

Love to all!

Peter was the responsible roller tonight. He did a great job! Kody on the other hand was having too much fun!

Kody and her ball of squished dough!
Flour over board!!

Down the dough goes!

Look at the beautiful mess I made!!

And after all the fun...we got to eat the donuts and have some hot cocoa!

And of course, during the mixing process, flour had to be thrown-everywhere!

A spy, a pig and a Fern..

Halloween was so much fun for the kids! Peter was a spy this year....as he did not want to be part of our theme....which was Charlotte's Web...
Kody was dressed in pink as the pig Wilbur and I was the girl, Fern. I decorated the back of our RAV4 as Wilbur's pen and had the main animals set up and anyways...easier for ya'll to look then me explain

Here is a day shot of the back..

Of course....we can not forget our super spy with his serious spy face!

And all of those top secret super spy tools!! (look out 007!)

Sadly I wasn't able to get any photos of the kids actually trick or treating, but here are two shots of Kody towards the end of the night...

Our ET photo...

And she is done..done with walking..done with candy...done done done!!

Peter had a blast running about with all his friends from church, so much so that I barely saw him...but I heard those boys playing and having a good time. Kody is still unsure of what this holiday is all about...she quickly learned if she held up her plastic pumpkin pail and smiled...someone would hand her candy. Alas, even that lost it's charm after 5 minutes and she was done. And now it's off to dreamland for both of them...although I seriously doubt that there are any sugarplums dancing in their heads...maybe a laffy taffy or snickers bar.

love to all!

Peter and Kody busting a move!!

Every night I usually play a few songs for the kids to dance to in the kitchen. Most of the time it is Crazy Frog, Crazy Frog Popcorn, the Hamster Dance, the Gummy Bear Song and the Cha-cha slide. Here is video of the kids dancing....since I don't dance....their dancing genes are from Monty!! hee-hee!

I once knew a toothfairy...

Ok, most of you know that Peter is loosing teeth. Last night, Peter happily runs into my room to let me know that another tooth fell out (it's number #7) and that he is so excited to have more money from the toothfairy. Great, because "our" toothfairy had to rummage through her entire house in order to find $1.oo. Thankfully, she found 4 quarters and exchanged them for the tooth. I advised the toothfairy to keep couple extra dollars just in case it's late one sunday night and a child looses a tooth!

pumpkin carving 101

Since Peter wasn't in school today, we decided to carve pumpkins. It was going great...until Peter figured out he had to scoop all the membranes and seeds out of his pumpkin. And...Kody, well, she was perfectly happy just scooping up the seeds that I scooped out of the pumpkins.

Here I am scooping out the third pumpkin...and despite the smile I am really tired of scooping pumpkins..

One hour later, with pumpkin guts and seeds spread all over the kitchen floor, we ended up with these.
here are our glowing pumpkins!

Sidebar: I can not wait until Monty comes home so he can do all this next year!