July .... mid move

I know, I know. Its been a long time since I've posted anything! For those of you who are new to reading the blog, I normally update it once a week or so. However, with things being so crazy, I am a little out of sync and probably will be for another month or two. Then, I plan on getting back to my normal posting.

Just to keep you updated, the boys and I are still in AR and Matt is in Germany. He is doing fine and is getting everything set up. He's found us a house to rent and is already living in it. We won't have our furniture and clothes for another month to a month 1/2. He is keeping busy stocking the pantry, cleaning, working in the yard and getting all of the money sorted out. He's also scoped out lots of places for me to shop! Our house is in a village called Herforst and is about 5 minutes from the base Matt is working on. Landen will go to school on the Air Force Base which will be nice. There are a few American families that live on our street as well. I'll post pictures once we get there and get it all set up. So far, Matt has travelled to Trier and Ramstein AFB in Germany, Luxemburg, and Belgium. They are all just a quick drive away. We miss you daddy!

The kids are doing great. Landen has gone to baseball camp and basketball camp. Both of the boys are attending VBS this week and Hayden is so proud of himself because he "didn't even cry!" LOL They are keeping busy with swimming, playing with cousins... and we've hit a movie, played some putt putt, and are headed to Chuck E Cheese on Thursday.

Jordyn is using her voice loudly these days and is as happy as ever. She isn't doing anything new as far as standing. She still pulls up on everything and cruises and crawls quickly, but is not standing on her own yet. She is eating cheerios and a variety of new dissolvable snacks which she loves. She is also adding to the rolls on her legs and belly!

My sister has been here for the past week and it has flown right by. I can't believe she leaves tomorrow. We made a quick trip to Fayetteville for some shopping and have just been hanging out, visiting with grandparents and running errands. I'll get some pics of her before we leave.

I'm posting a few pics of us leaving Jacksonville and this summer. I don't have my cord for my camera so I'm having to go get pics made on a cd before I can post them. I may add a slide show if I have time. I need to go get ready before Jordyn wakes up from her nap.

Oh, the kids had their pictures made by Mika Beth Edwards and they turned out really cute I think. I don't have the proofs yet, but have seen a few on the computer. Her website is down right now, but I'll post it later for you to see. Jordyn is not too keen on getting her picture made. She cried a lot!!! That's a whole other story.... I tried to get her picture made last week naked and it ended up with her screaming, no picture, and she peed all over me!!

More to come...

Homeless, Husbandless, & Carless....

Well, I'm officially without a husband, home and car. The last few weeks have been very stressful but we are through the hard part. We closed on the house without any problems (thank you, God!) and attended lots and lots of parties and dinners with friends. We already miss them!

I'm in Fort Smith with the kids and Matt has made it to Germany. He has already found us a house and bought a new car. Well, used car. He passed his drivers license test yesterday so now he can officially drive it! lol. I need to start studying.

The boys are adjusting slowly, but surely. We all had some good cries before we left - especially telling friends goodbye. Landen started bawling in the garage the night we left the house and I was already in the car crying... Hayden did fine until we got to Fort Smith and now he is being quite a tyrant. He's whiny, throwing fits, ready to go to "Gernamy", you name it. He's been in quite a bit of trouble. Jordyn is doing fine - she doesn't know any better, lol. She's pulling up on everything and busy getting into Grammy's stuff.

I was going to post some pictures from the move, but my camera card doesn't fit my parents computer and I don't have my cord. So, I'm going to have to figure something else out. It may take a little while but I'll get it eventually.

Just a quick note to let you know we're still alive. More to come.... Lots more!

8 Months Old!

She's 8 months old today and we are in full swing of our move to Germany. This will probably be my last post for 3 or 4 weeks. The movers come at the beginning of the week next week and I will not have a computer for a couple of weeks. I'll have access again when I get to my parents house where I will be staying through the month of July. Matt flies out the day after we close on the house. What a whirlwind! Even though the military moves you, there is still a ton to be done to help once you get to your new destination. Curtains to wash, decisions to be made on what to store/send to Germany, what to keep for the summer, utilities to unhook, repairs to be made, you name it.

I'm putting a few pictures of the baseball carnival we went to last weekend, as well as a picture or two of Jordyn. I'll write more about baseball in my next posts. The season is almost over!

Jordyn - you are busy, busy, busy and never sit still. Right now, I am listening to you squeal while your brothers play with you. You have learned to use your voice, ha! You are crawling EVERYWHERE! If I walk out of the room and come back, you have usually moved onto a different location and I have to search for you. You have began pulling up on everything from the couch, to your bed, to whoever is sitting in the floor. You know how to use your legs and you love to practice. You are already starting to "cruise" a little around the furniture, but you don't get very far before falling. I'm guessing you weigh about 19 pounds at this point and it is hard to carry you in your car seat. In fact, it hurts my back so I just take you out of it and hold you most of the time unless I pop it into the stroller. You love baseball games now - quite a switch from the beginning of the season! You are eating cereal in the morning, fruit at lunch and a veggie at dinner with a few "dissolvable" snacks on the side. You take 4 bottles a day right now and I have totally weaned you from nursing as of a couple of weeks ago. You've been quite happy the last week or so and just giggle all the time. I want you to stop growing - your so much fun right now.

To My Hubby....

Matt and I have been married 11 years today! Happy Anniversary, honey!

I can't believe 11 years have passed. Well, lets see, we dated for 5 years so we have been together for 16 years now. Wow! I remember our wedding like it was just yesterday. I was nervous and emotional - thats a shock, huh! I cried the whole way down the aisle. We had all our friends and family there... I remember not ever eating a piece of our cake.... how did that happen? I remember the bean bag that was popped in our car - what a mess that was! I remember the flight to Hawaii - what a long one that was. It was such a fun time though. Then, came our first of many moves to South Carolina. I had my first car wreck the first time you went on a TDY. I knew nobody! We had Landen and moved away when he was just 7 weeks old. Then, OKC was just a blink and we were gone... Ft. Walton Beach - ahhhh... the white sand and ocean! California - not my most favorite move, but we survived and brought about our precious little Hayden.... Then, onto Arkansas where the boys have grown, we've spent time with all our family, and now we have our little baby girl. We have friends and are established, so guess what... its time to move again!!!

I don't know what to expect this move, but I know that we will make it and be happy as long as we are together. Who would have ever thought, when we got married, I would actually look forward to moving?!?! While I am sad to go, and many tears will (already have) flow... I am anxious and excited about our next 11 years together. And the 11 after that, and the 11 after that.....

I love you and wouldn't change a thing!!! Happy Anniversary.

Outside Fun!

What a surprise!

Just thought I would write a quick note to let you all know we are still alive. We've been really busy with everything and it doesn't look like its going to stop anytime soon. The sale of the house is still going great. Its already been inspected and the repairs are very minor. Baseball is going well.. Hayden has finished school for the summer and Landen has 2 weeks left. Matt and I are about to go crazy trying to get everything scheduled and done, but we are surviving.

So, my reason for the post was to say that I walked into Jordyn's room today and surprise, she had pulled up and was standing!!! I couldn't believe it. I wasn't quite ready for that yet, but she somehow managed it. I immediately called Matt and he came home and helped lower her bed - it was still up high. Gone are the days.... She is crawling everywhere and follows me from room to room. She's been really fussy the last few days and I just swear she is teething, but no evidence as of today! I don't know why she's so fussy. She's good while we are out of the house, but inside she just complains. I finally gave her some Tylenol today and it seemed to help a little.

I'll try to post some pictures soon. That's actually one of my projects is to finish ordering the prints from the last couple of months. I'm so bad about that. We have a family reunion this weekend and then plan to get some more things done around the house.

Have a safe Memorial Day!

Happy Mother's Day & more....

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms in our lives. Mom, Norma, Shannon, Grandma and all my friends who are moms. We love you all! I was greeted with flowers and some gym shorts which I wanted, a cup of tea from Hayden, Starbucks coffee which I'm addicted to, and various cards. I also have the pleasure of getting to see both of my "moms" today - Norma was here this morning and I get to spend the afternoon with my mom. To my kids - I love you very much and think I am the luckiest mom in the world to have all 3 of you.

On to other things... we had Jordyn's baby dedication at church yesterday. She did great - didn't even cry which I thought for sure she would. It was a short and simple service and very special to have all of our family there (except my sister & uncle Steve - we missed you!) I will post some more pictures, but here is one. Hayden is up there with us, but he is behind Matt so you can't see him! Norma got some with her camera that you can see all of us.

Also, my best mother's day present - We accepted a contract on the house this weekend!!! It is certainly an answer to prayer and a huge relief. We sure hope it all works as it is planned - we are set to close on June 19. The timing is perfect which seems to be the story of our lives. God takes care of us and has it all planned! We've been so worried, but God seems to show us time and time again that he will take care of us through every move. I have story after story that I could share about that, but I won't go into it right now. That's all for now. Enjoy your Mother's Day!