Step 1, Complete.

We broke down and told the kids about Matt's upcoming deployment. We've debated and dreaded about when to tell them. We didn't want to tell them too soon, for fear of them having so much worry for such an extended amount of time. On the other hand, we wanted them to have enough time to digest it and spend some quality family time with Dad before he leaves.

I'm not sure why I was so fearful of telling them. Landen is older this time around and really understands how it will all play out. Maybe that's why. We were eating lunch and decided to spill it. Landen's reaction was pretty upbeat. We quickly followed the announcement with, "but we are going to AR" this summer for a long time! He sat there, Matt left the table and then I could see the wheels spinning in his head. He looked at me with big tears in his eyes and said, "but I thought they only had to go one time and dad already went." Unfortunately, as I fought back tears I had to share with him that some moms and dads have gone several times and we are lucky it is only for 6 months and not a full year.

Hayden's reaction was , "oh... man!" Then, he was off to play. He can't grab that concept of it yet, and he doesn't remember him being gone when he was 2 years old. I'll have more of an issue with him, when it all actually transpires. We calculate time by how many sleeps we have until an event. Matt explained it will be 180 sleeps.... that's the best way we can explain it to him now.

Jordyn, of course, has no clue. She doesn't understand. It's going to break my heart because she looks for daddy to come in the door every day. She asks for him the minute she wakes up and wants to know where daddy is a lot. Every time he leaves for a trip and comes back, she sits by him and hugs him and won't let him out of her sight. She's like his own personal stalker! I wonder what she will do after not 2 or 3 weeks of distance, but 6 months.

We'll get through it as every other family does. It's the same worries and fears that thousands of other mothers face, so I know I'm not alone. I don't have to like it though. Now, onto the next steps. We have wills to update, power of attorneys to get, issues to discuss, presents to figure out for Matt to give the kids before he leaves, car registrations to update, and my list is continually growing. The stress begins along with the anticipation of it. It's all starting to roll.... like it or not.

This and That

There is really no theme to this post, it's just a mixture of random thoughts and what has been going on lately.

Matt made it back from the US and had a great time. He had the opportunity to visit Fort Smith and see his family one last time before he deploys. He hasn't been back since we moved over here and that's been about 21 months for him. I think it's the longest either of us have ever gone without a trip to Razorback country. I'm looking forward to my turn this summer. I am still in some serious denial that he is leaving again. Reality is slowly starting to set in... we are going to start making preparations soon. There are so many things to think about and get done before he leaves. At least I have started jotting down a list of a few things.

He returned with a super duper Valentine's present for me and all of the other miscellaneous things I asked him to come home with - 4 buttons, a long sleeved leotard, spanish peanuts, a bible for Hayden with his name on it, Spongebob DVD's, and more miscellaneous things. These are typical of the small things that frustrate me here because a) I can't seem to find them or b) there is one choice, and one choice only.

Matt also brought back a 2 1/2 X 3 1/2 picture frame. My sister made Jordyn a small cross stitch and brought it to her when she visited us in the fall. I haven't been able to frame it, so I asked Matt to bring something back. He pulled through with a .98 picture frame from where else... Walmart. I threw a few rhinestones on it and added a bow and wahh... lahh.. it will work for now. Thanks, Terri.



The boys are finishing up basketball season and we'll have a nice break before we begin baseball. Hayden has had a fantastic season and loves it. Landen's team has struggled quite a bit, but he has been a trooper and hung in there. It has been a good learning experience and we will just leave it at that. He's looking forward to baseball and hoping he gets on a more talented team.



We have been talking of taking a quick day trip to a US cemetery in Luxembourg. However, the two times we have tried we have awoken to snow and ice on the ground. One of these days, hopefully soon, we will make it there. On the weather note, we have had a lot more snow this season that last. It never accumulates a whole lot, it's just more of a constant thin layer of snow and ice. The boys aren't even really excited to see it anymore. It's funny how the excitement disappears once you take something for granted, isn't it?

I guess that's all of my random thoughts for now. Oh. Happy Birthday to my mom yesterday and Matt's dad today. We love you both!

2's

Here's a little update on Jordyn. She's 2 years and 4 months old. Does that mean I have to start saying 2 1/2 year old? Not for another 2 months, right? Between tantrums and her repeating things 500 hundred times we try to manage some fun times. Her tantrums are loud, but very short lived.

She is afraid of everything! She doesn't like the doctor, the dentist, the pharmacy, dogs/cats, and she doesn't enjoy some strangers yet loves others. She didn't sleep with anything for the longest time. Yet now, she sleeps with everything she can manage - a baby or two, it's bottle, her purse, a brush, 2 to 3 blankets and sometimes other miscellaneous things. I don't know how she has room to sleep, but she does. She loves to talk on the phone no matter who is on the other line. She will have full on conversations with her play phones. She also loves to play with play dough.

We started her in gymnastics in January and I will be sure to get some video of that soon. It is mommy and me gymnastics so I'm going to have to recruit Matt to come watch and video at some point.

Her latest phrases are:

"Help"
"Mommy! Mommy!"
"Don't cry at gymnastics"
"You're mean"
"Mommy, I poo poo!"
"That's nice" with a head tilt
"Mommy! Mommy!"
"I want Patrick" (from Spongebob)
"Don't touch it. K?!"
"I don't want to play" (when she's going to the babysitter)
"I want to play Wii"
Did I mention "Mommy!"?

I know there are many more, but I can't think of them at the moment.

I'll close with a few pictures below of the kids watching the Super Bowl. We had to wait until Monday after school, but it wasn't so bad. We did miss daddy! Speaking of which, he called me today as he was going through the drive through at Sonic. Is that just cruel, or what? Ok, probably not to you, but when you've lived overseas for a few years and play the game of what we miss in the states, it's just cruel!

Kid Art

I love looking at my kids art. I don't know why, but I never seem to take pictures of it. It really just dawned on me that I could make a whole file of pictures of my kids drawings and keep forever. I'm going to try and start doing that! Landen has always been a bit of an artist... I really think he has a little bit of talent in that area and he certainly didn't get it from me. My mother in law has a hidden talent of drawing... my brother can draw as well so maybe that's where he gets it. I really think my sister can do a little sketching herself... (Norma, I still want you to draw my kids for me and I'm going to keep bugging you about it :) I'm lucky enough to have a little art corner for the kids downstairs. It's really a little hallway beside the steps that we put a table and art supplies in. Of course, they usually end up drawing elsewhere. Oh well.

Anyway... here are a few sketches and maybe I'll start occasionally sharing some more. Landen is really into music as you can see. Hayden has really just started drawing a few picturs. He's never been one to color or draw so I get so excited when he actually brings me something he has worked hard on and is proud of. He's also starting to write his own sentences by sounding them out, which I love as well. Jordyn... well, we'll have to wait and see!




Landen's - age 6









Landen's more recent ones






Hayden's



"Water is good for you. Water is bad for you. Water is mad. " LOL!



Our Art Corner