Sweet Slumber

I NEVER get tired of watching this sweet boy sleep.

Smarty Pants

Just had to share a super cute one of Aslinn :-)

We are still alive and kicking!

We are here in San Antonio and are in fact still alive. Since moving from Japan things have been crazy to say the least! We visited family in Wisconsin for a few weeks, we bought a new car, we drove to Kentucky to spend Christmas with my mom, we drove ALL THE WAY to Texas (NOT a fun trip with a nursing infant and toddler who was bored out of his mind), and we planted a garden, we rented a house and we are still trying to settle in. Whew!

Chris is back to work and currently an instructor. He will be teaching Airmen (and women) who come to Lackland to become dog handlers. He was hoping that he would be working specifically with dogs but because he is so close to getting his degree they thought he was smart enough to teach :-)

I am working on getting my photography business back up and running. This is a whole new ballgame here in the states so I will have to do a lot of marketing. Back in Japan I knew so many people 99% of my business was by word of mouth. I am also going to be only photographing newborns and pregnant mamas. Those are my favorite to photograph and I feel like I really excel at it.

Noah is going to be turning 4 in about 2 months!!! I just cannot believe it, didn't I just bring him home from the hospital? Noah is in love with our house because it has a treehouse/playhouse in the back yard. He loves to go outside and play in the mud and poke at bugs lol. It has been so warm lately that we have filled the kiddy pool up and he and Aslinn get to play in it.

Aslinn is going to be 1 in about two weeks!!! Oh my goodness does time fly by! We are going to throw her a little bbq party, I am going with a pink and yellow theme. She is full of energy and sass...oh this girl is sassy! lol It's Aslinn's way or the highway. But she is such a sweetie she loves to give kisses and hugs. Chris and I are amazed by her vocabulary, she talks so much! It is so strange hearing an 11 month old say "Puppyyyyy" and "Bird".

Fingers crossed I can keep up to date on this blog lol. I have lots of things to share pictures, our garden and of course the family! I will leave you with a few recent shots of the kiddos :-)
~Susan

Military Wife.

Lots of moving...

Moving...

Moving...

Moving far from home...

Moving two cars, three kids and one dog...all riding with HER of course.

Moving sofas to basements because they won't go in THIS house; Moving curtains that won't fit; Moving jobs and certifications and professional development hours.

Moving away from friends;

Moving toward new friends;

Moving her most important luggage: her trunk full of memories.



Often waiting...

Waiting...

Waiting...

Waiting for housing.

Waiting for orders.

Waiting for deployments.

Waiting for phone calls.

Waiting for reunions.

Waiting for the new curtains to arrive.

Waiting for him to come home,

For dinner...AGAIN!



They call her 'Military Dependent', but she knows better:

She is fiercely In-Dependent.



She can balance a check book;

Handle the yard work;

Fix a noisy toilet;

Bury the family pet...



She is intimately familiar with drywall anchors and toggle bolts.

She can file the taxes;

Sell a house;

Buy a car;

Or set up a move...

.....all with ONE Power of Attorney.



She welcomes neighbors that don't welcome her.

She reinvents her career with every PCS; Locates a house in the desert, The Arctic, Or the deep south.

And learns to call them all 'home'.

She MAKES them all home.



Military Wives are somewhat hasty...

They leap into:

Decorating,

Leadership,

Volunteering,

Career alternatives,

Churches,

And friendships.

They don't have 15 years to get to know people.

Their roots are short but flexible.

They plant annuals for themselves and perennials for those who come after them.



Military Wives quickly learn to value each other:

They connect over coffee,

Rely on the spouse network,

Accept offers of friendship and favors.

Record addresses in pencil...



Military Wives have a common bond:

The Military Wife has a husband unlike other husbands; his commitment is unique.

He doesn't have a 'JOB'

He has a 'MISSION' that he can't just decide to quit...

He's on-call for his country 24/7.

But for her, he's the most unreliable guy in town!

His language is foreign

TDY

PCS

OPR

SOS

ACC

BDU

ACU

BAR

CIB

TAD

And so, a Military Wife is a translator for her family and his.

She is the long- distance link to keep them informed; the glue that holds them together.



A Military Wife has her moments:

She wants to wring his neck;

Dye his uniform pink;

Refuse to move to Siberia;

But she pulls herself together.

Give her a few days,

A travel brochure,

A long hot bath,

A pledge to the flag,

A wedding picture,

And she goes.

She packs.

She moves.

She follows.



Why?

What for?

How come?

You may think it is because she has lost her mind.

But actually it is because she has lost her heart.

It was stolen from her by a man,

Who puts duty first,

Who longs to deploy,

Who salutes the flag,

And whose boots in the doorway remind her that as long as he is her Military Husband, She will remain his military wife.

And would have it no other way.

--Author Unknown

Jump.

Noah was SO excited to do this photo shoot! Normally he is not allowed to be jumping on any beds whatsoever so when I told him it was okay he was a little uncertain. But he soon got the idea and was a jumping fool! Love him!
~Susan

Nwe Diapers!

Just got Aslinn's new diapers in the mail today and I love love love them. Coola Baby makes the most adorable cloth diapers.

This is only part of our diaper stash!

{Giggle Girl}