Finally, a good boring day!

I am a writer, at least I hope I am. I know being a blogger isn't the same thing but it's something. Not to mention that I've been attempting to write a novel for quite a while now. Sometimes I barely think I've written anything but then others I feel accomplished. But what Sylvia Plath said, how you can never write anything the way you want to, it's true...

Anyways, today was rather uneventful, thankfully. I woke up to Beau, as I normally do, and he'd broken a soya sauce bottle (bad dog!) and my son had spilled his cereal bowl. So I cleaned all that up, relaxed most of the morning and did some laundry. Today was a good day for the relaxing. I needed it considering the amount of pain I've been in lately.

Other than that, I just hung out with my babies (all four of them), watched Crossing Jordan on Netflix (still am) and continued reading City of Bones on my kindle. It's been a very good day in my book, a much needed good day. Every day has had something bad in it... last week was the infuriating army wife drama and my dental surgery and this week was finding out the dentist made a mistake and having to endure a rather awful day. So today being restful and relaxing was appreciated.

Tomorrow Luna and Beau have a vet appointment, which Steve is taking them to. For Luna, she needs her shots and her microchip. Beau needs a few other things. He needs to be dewormed, his shots, his microchip and I need to find out his exact age and to see if the 40 or so ticks that we've found (we found a few the other day and gave him another tick treatment) have done any damage to him.

I did discover that Beau definitely loves me and has no inclination to run off anymore. He likes when I let him out in the yard and when he comes in he gets treats. :) He also loves to sit on my feet during the day and he always lays near me at night. It's really sweet. And tonight, when I went to check on an injured cat (I heard it howling and Steve had mentioned that he'd passed one while walking Beau but it didn't seem hurt at the time, it wasn't there), he'd gone out to the front of the house and waited for me. Steve said he didn't even try to run. :) :)

Love,
Leah

PS. Photos above are too cute not to share. :)

Weekend of March 8th

Well this weekend has been interesting to say the least. Steve and I finally managed to have a decent talk and it only took him blowing up over the smallest thing.

I know we love each other and I know we are both stressed out and worried about everything that has been going on, each for our own reasons. The thing is, we don't fight. I know that sounds made up but for us, it's really true. I think we've had two or maybe three fights in our entire two years together. We have disagreed and one of us has been mad at the other but we've never really had a fight that results in me crying because he's a jerk... but this weekend we did and although we made up, the fact that we have fought at all hurts and makes me question how people bounce back from that first serious fight. How do you pretend that the person you love didn't say all those awful things? How do you pretend that you didn't hear them, that they didn't cut your heart?

You see, we're different when we get mad or are stressed. I talk about everything. I make sure that my feelings are known unless I'm not sure, then I think about it until I am and let people know after. Steve is different. He holds it in until he starts saying things that cut little by little. And I, often let the little comments go, but when he blows up... like he did, I first fight back and then when I'm on the verge of saying something I don't mean, saying something hurtful, I stop myself. I walk away until I've cooled down. Now whether or not he meant what he said, which I don't believe he did, the words are still stuck in my head... the argument was unfair and he was actually mean.

Part of why I fell in love with Steve, part of why I married him is how we have always been able to talk things out before we fight. In fact, before this, I would say he was entirely incapable of fighting or saying mean things, but now I know that's not true. Now I know he forces himself not to. I love him, with all my heart and I've never loved someone more than I love him. But today, it made me realize that I married a man who does share some qualities I hated in others, but the key to me still loving him as much as I always have was also realizing that he doesn't want to be like that and 99.9% of the time, he's not, but today that .1% came out and reared it's very ugly head.

Steve and I ended up talking about it after, once he realized he was wrong and that all the things he said were unfair, unwarrented and uncalled for. He apologized and told me he loved me and that he would try to let me in before he got to that point again. A part of me still wonders how he even got there. I have known for a while that he was stressed out and try as I might to get him to talk, he just wouldn't. I begged him to talk to me on Saturday night and he finally said some things and while they hurt me, I was relieved because he was talking. I knew he was exhausted so I made him finish what he was doing for the house and sent him to bed while I stayed up and deep cleaned the majority of the house.

Sunday morning, I woke up to him being mad and overwhelmed. The only thing I hadn't managed to get done was the dishes but that's because I'd taken a long hot shower at about 3am and was exhausted and couldn't finish. I'd cleaned the livingroom and the kitchen, including under the stove and the laundry room in addition to doing most of the laundry in the house, I'd left the dishes to be done in the morning, right before we showed the house since everything else was done, the kids rooms had been cleaned during the day and our room has been clean for a while (surprise!) so I figured one quick thing in the morning, no big deal. Well, he blew up and said hurtful things, mostly about how I didn't do what I was supposed to do and that he shouldn't have gone to bed because clearly I needed his help along with a few other things. I finally told him all that I did and he said "I'm sorry but..." For me, that means I'm not sorry because... I went outside and ignored him as I cried. I got dressed and made sure the kids beds were made before we had to leave the house (we had a house showing at 1130).

I really didn't talk to him until after we'd gone to the park with the kids and Beau (who is doing better by the way, very happy and healthy). I had taken my camera and took pictures of the kids and him and Beau. Halfway through we sat down and just talked. He apologized for going off on me, saying that he realized how he was wrong and that he was thankful for all I got done. I told him I needed him to talk to me before he did something like that again because I'm just as stressed out and I don't want to be mad at him, he's my best friend.

The day got better from there. We put Beau in the back of the truck and got the kids in and went and got Crawfish and Shrimp for lunch. It was good. After we ate lunch, it stormed bad and flooded our backyard, luckily that drains into the street so it wasn't bad. We all took a nap and relaxed. Dinner came and went and I fell asleep really early causing me to be awake at 1am and now it's 4am.

We have the movers coming in 4 1/2 hours, I have my follow-up dental appointment (thank God, the pain is worse than before) and then the kids have to get shots (oh that'll be fun). Beau and Luna (who are fortunately getting along now) have their vet appointments on Wednesday morning. Beau is getting dewormed (we've noticed they haven't gone away yet) along with his shots and Luna is getting her shots and scheduled for a neutering. Both are getting microchipped. Thursday, Lily has dance class, which I'm glad for, because she loves it.

There's only 22 days until we leave, but the good news is that the people looking at the house seemed to like it and we're hoping for an offer this week. Wish us luck. That'll make my husband alot less stressed and will make my life so much easier.

Anyways, I should try for a couple more hours of sleep. Hopefully, Steve and I are back to good terms, if I could only get what he said out of my head, because I know he's sorry but I know myself and once the words are there, once they resemble ghosts of boyfriends past, I tend to keep them and how they hurt me to myself. I know he doesn't read my blog because he says he doesn't have to, but sometimes I wish he would, because when weakness strikes I find myself more comfortable to telling strangers than I do telling the one person I love more than anything how he has hurt me.

Anyways, I'm out.

22 more days.

A sad and boring day

Today wasn't very exciting, but I'm pretty glad for that. It wasn't very good either, which seems like has been happening too much lately.

It started off okay enough. Beau woke me up by stepping on me while I was in bed and then Steve woke me up by yelling at Beau for chewing on one of Lily's toys. Frustrating but he's just getting comfortable. It'll take him a little longer than three days to learn the house rules.

After I got up, Steve and I talked about random stuff and he went to work, only to come home a little while later because he forgot his phone. We had coffee together and talked about what we have to do this weekend. Too much.

Beau and Luna have been fighting today which is frustrating too. Luna hisses at him and Beau barks at her, causing her to take a clawed swipe at him. At least, she's not mad at me for bringing the dog into our home... A part of me thinks Steve is not so happy about it.

After he left again, it was almost lunchtime for the kids so I fed them lunch, played around on RBL asking very random questions. The reason I ask the questions in case someone doesn't know and is one of my members reading this: I love getting to know you. I love knowing that you each have these lives that are worth knowing about. I read the answers and I give my own. It's a good thing for me because I am often alone at home during the day with only my children and Steve has homework or other work to get done at night, so I'm pretty bored sometimes and having the connection with others is nice. :)

I also talked to one of my best friends today, which was nice. We talked about how she might be getting a dog soon (she's been wanting one just like me and might have found the perfect fit). And about what happened yesterday and how I've worked to resolve that.

Later, when Steve came home from work, he brought me my prescription (it had run out and I'm still in pain from the surgery, so I called to get more and he picked them up) and had bought me ice cream :) Then we watched an episode of the TROOP where I was an extra back in 2009 or so. It was pretty cool to see myself on TV. I've never watched anything I've extra-ed on before.

But then Beau escaped the yard (he's been kind of bullheaded today and been frustrating both Steve and I, but I'm sure I have more patience for him than Steve does) and I had to run to get him. Then I told Steve that he had to put his tools somewhere besides the top of our extra-large dog kennel (for timeout for Beau, it had originally been the puppy we got last summer's training cage but he died of Parvo after only a week) so we could put Beau in when he did something bad, a nonviolent form of discipline. He got irritated with me and then started moving stuff around.

Needless to say I went into the bedroom, where I am now writing this blog because I'm frustrated completely. I don't like when Steve and I are like this. We are best friends most of the time but after the past week, we're both completely frustrated and instead of talking, he gets quiet and moody and acts like there is nothing wrong, which I know there is and when he does that I get mad and ignore him. I know, childish, but it's better than fighting,  and even though I know we'll probably talk it through soon, it's bothering me that I can't talk to him right now.

So now I'm about to go to bed, close my door, turn on Crossing Jordon on Netflix and read my book until sleep mercifully takes me into the dreamland where everything is stress-free and where things are good. At least, I hope so. I hope there are no nightmares tonight. ... there were last night.



24 days until we PCS and I can't wait.

Love,
Leah

Garden DONE!!!!

I finished my garden.

My front walk/garden :) 

Pretty flowers

Me planting the side garden in front of our bedroom window :) 

Lunatic hiding in my newly planted flowers

Lunatic checking out our garden.

Finished :) 

Front view :) 

side view :) Front walk and gardens 

It took $300 and 20 hours of work but I finally finished the front walk and the garden.... The garden was the toughest part. Louisiana soil is hard to dig into. There are rocks, clay and poor soil, so a lot of work went into it. Between the stones, the soil and the plants, it was back breaking and hard to do but I think it's worth it... We dug out everything for the garden and the path... We put down the outlying stones first, followed by that path stones and the river rock. Then I dug holes for each plant and added garden soil and garden mulch soil to even it out. 

Tomorrow, we meet with our Realtor, and I've deep cleaned the bedroom bathroom, our bedroom, and started on the kitchen and the other bathroom and finished the livingroom (which I have to do again).  Good luck to us. Hopefully the paperwork and the house sells quickly.

Love, 

Leah

Don't wear his rank

I love my husband. When I met him, I remember thinking "I can't fall for this guy. He might be perfect but he's an officer and he's about to deploy in a few months." You see, I'm an enlisted man's daughter, who grew up with rank segregation. I knew that officers were uptight and high strung. I knew that as someone who had grown up enlisted that I would always have a problem with that attitude.

Already I had a wife of a 1LT give me the officer's wife rundown. I was shocked and appauled considering how I don't only care about my husband's career enough to have a public face around his co-workers and superiors but I care enough not do have fun the way I used to, before I became his wife. I never want to be the officer's wife who has a stick up her butt, who acts like her husband is better than everyone else, who thinks she's better than other wives because of her husband's rank. Because she's not. He's not. I respect everyone but I know for a fact that no one, no matter the rank, is any better than anyone else.

I am a TSgt's daughter, first and foremost. I have enlisted friends, I have enlisted brothers. I married an officer but it wasn't because of his rank or even that he was in the Army (although, for me, it was a plus). I love my husband for the man he is, the fact that he's an officer, well, it almost turned me off to who he is completely because I've only ever met a few officers before him that I liked enough to even be friends with, and never met one I wanted to be with in a romantic sense. He changed my mind about that. Partially because when he told me he was enlisted first, I thought well, he's got to be smarter than the normal officer. And it turned out he was smarter, funnier, more down to earth.

We don't like hanging out with other officers. My friends here are enlisted and although, we do know a few nice and good officers, we aren't very social with them. We like to stick around the house, hanging as a family, keeping our complaints about this and that to ourselves.

When I got the officer wife rundown, I came home and told my husband. He works with hers (they shall both remain nameless because I'm not out to start drama) and he told me it doesn't matter because what she said wasn't true. I do what I'm responsible for, showing up at functions and being part of the FRG, helping the other wives, being nice and realizing that I do represent him. So I'm a little bit more honest and blunt than most, so I'm a little more wild and free naturally. So I dye my hair bright red and wear jeans and cowboy boots with tshirts, so I am an artist and not a normal "officer's wife" that's ok with me. And, even more importantly, that's ok with my husband.

He married me knowing just about everything about me. My flaws and faults and what I could bring into our relationship. He knew that I would be a good mother with enough history to know what I was responsible for as his wife. He knew I could cook and he knew I could make him look good at certain times. I do things for him because I love him. I represent him at different functions because that's what I'm supposed to do. And he knew the rest, the fact that I swear more than most girls, the fact that I'm more comfortable with a firearm in my hands in the woods than I am with a bunch of ladies discussing how to decorate an Army function. He knows who I am absolutely and I don't hide that from him.

So having another wife, especially one that has less history than I do, tell me that I'm not representing him properly, when my husband has never once complained or even let on that he was unhappy with how I behaved or acted in front of his co-workers and superiors, lets me know that she spoke out of line and she judged me based on my hair, my clothes and my 'don't-give-a-damn-what-you-think' way that I walk and talk. I don't give a damn but when it comes to my husband, I do. I'm a damn good wife and a damn good mother. I can make it through the rough patches that a Military life undoubtedly has in store and I've been through the absolute worse as a daughter. I dress up nice, put a sweet smile on my face, and can hold a conversation with the Lt. Col. of our unit and then have a nice chat with one of the lower enlisted soldiers at the same time.

It doesn't really matter about rank, what matters to me is the person wearing the rank or the person who stands beside him/her. If someone is a Lt. Col and an asshole, I'm not going to talk to him/her much, but if his wife is sweet, doesn't wear his rank, acts like a proper Army wife and carries herself with dignity, then I will like her. If a Sgt's wife wears his rank and acts superior to those who are below her husband and their wives/husbands, well I'm going to dislike her. That's just the way it is.

The wife who gave me the rundown will probably never read this blog, because we aren't friends, but if she were to ever run across it. I would love to tell her that she's in the wrong and that her wearing his rank, acting like she earned it... well, she's acting far too superior for her own and her husband's good. I may not do anything to harm her family by complaining to my husband, but I'm sure I'm not the first wife she's talked to, which means I won't be the last. One day, she's eventually going to start something with someone else, who won't be as good about letting go.

To other wives who read this, and even the girlfriends, please know, that your husband or boyfriend's rank is his. You didn't earn it and you don't deserve to wear it or act like it's yours. You may have stood beside him and given him unconditional love and supported him and made sacrifices for him, but you agreed to that and you also agreed to help his career any way you could. And wearing his rank, well, to be honest, I've seen it hurt relationships and his career. You don't want to be that wife.

Anyways, I was just thinking about that today and I thought I'd share my thoughts on the matter.

Much love.

My garden/front walk

We are working on our house, getting it ready to sell and to move away... I just put in a garden and walkway (well I still have to plant the flowers, probably on Sunday) and Steve and a friend of his are working on the roof.

Here's what I did :)

The pathway I put in :)

front door perspective :)

The flowers I will plant on Sunday :)

My husband checking it out :)

Update on life.

Today I had the first of two major dental procedures that will fix my smile and make my life so much better. I am in pain right now but not as much as I would be without the welcome relief of Lortabs. Step 1 done, step 2 in two weeks.

The other day I started building a front garden to the house for a few reasons. One, curb appeal. To make the house welcoming from the street. Two, for practice. I want to practice different styles of gardens in the different places we live, so I can figure out how I want our real house to look.

We celebrated Valentine's Day yesterday. And we were all quite spoiled. Steve got us a beautiful hardwood dresser and he got me chocolates and two bouquets of wildflowers. I got him a set of baseball cards from 2011 (He's a collector). Lily got a robot puppy from us and Jax got a puzzle flower and two tractors and an egg that hatches a dinosaur from the show Dinosaur Train.

I found a book that I read as a child for my kindle and I've been immersed in it. Makes me glad that I've got it. So much easier to get books I want without searching high and low for them. :)

Anyways, off to lay down and relax. Just realized I hadn't updated in a while. Much love.

Leah
~*~

Random blog.

Today was a good day, pain included. It was bad but I was able to take a nap and relax as much as possible.

I did get to put together two photo albums for my family. The first has my children from the time they were in my belly til Vancouver, the second contains all pictures from that point til now. The last picture is this ::

I plan to start more albums and when more children arrive into our lives, I hope that it keeps growing until I have so many albums to remind me of things I will no doubt forget.

Anyways, I gotta go, chatting with my little brother (almost a marine) on facebook and very tired. Pain meds are kicking in again. 

Love,

For now and Forever,

Leah

Day One of 2012

Life is so busy and 2012 has not made it any less so. I have been spending the night cleaning the house...

Trying to get the 2011 clutter cleared out. I have made so much progress.

I cleaned the bathroom tonight, taking care of my husband and kids' empty shampoo and soap bottles and picking up the bath toys and putting them into their bins, reorganizing the medicine cabinet.

Then there is the livingroom, where I rearranged the room to make space for my Wii and my exercise area. I must have spent about 400 dollars on everything I need to work out. From Zumba for the Wii to the clothes for the gym and my pilates/yoga mat and all the accessories for that. My plan is to get in such great shape that when I get pregnant, I can keep exercising  and have an easy pregnancy and delivery.

The kitchen is my next stop. I have to clear the table and make sure that I get that all taken care of.

In addition to all that, I've been planning Lily's 5th birthday party. It's Hello Kitty themed and I have already gotten most of the invites filled out and ready to be mailed out. I'm excited for her. I never had many birthday parties and am so excited to have her party. We are going to do cake, presents and play with the Wii. She doesn't really understand yet but she keeps walking around the house saying "I'm four, almost five and I'm going to have a party for me." I'm glad she's excited and through her party I will get to know more of the mom's in the area. Sadly it will only last about four months until we PCS to Missouri.

I have been reading a great book though called "A Game of Thrones" by George R.R. Martin (it's the first book of a series, the one based on the TV show.) I am just trying to keep a balanced life.

Between my kids schedules and my husband's, I have such a busy life that working out and reading are my time. I'm pulling an all nighter to clean the house and make sure that I get a little me time. It's great when the house is silent and I get to watch whatever I want to and all that. I am planning to do a little Zumba later... My husband promised to take the kids to Catfish Cove tomorrow so I can sleep.

I love my life. I love how busy it is, even with the kids and the hubby and the FRG and all the doctor appointments and the dentists and dance classes (Starting thursday) and birthday parties and play dates and friends... It's a busy life but it's worth it. This is my life, the life of an Army wife and I'm damn proud to be one.

The only negative thing that happened was my biological father chose to block me out of my sisters' lives because I won't call him Dad. I had a Dad, a wonderful one, who raised me and taught me how to live. I like to say he never told me how to live, he simply lived and let me watch him do it. I learned so much from him and I can't consider the man who abandoned me for a new family my father. He's a biological father, a sperm donor but they are my sisters regardless. And I want to know them, but he is preventing that. Oh well. Anyways, that was my only negative thought of the day.

The positives include starting the New Year with amazing happy thoughts. I am excited for 2012. :)

Love,
For Now and Forever,

Leah

Good-Bye 2011

2011 is coming to an end. And this year, I can't help but count my blessings. I am married to a wonderful man, have two beautiful kids who are just the lights of my life, and a life that I never expected in a million years.

When Steve came home from deployment, I was the happiest I'd been in a long time. I thought that life couldn't get any better. I have my hero home. Safe and sound. I mean, when you talk about blessings that's the number one on my mind.

Then, after meeting his family, after realizing that I am not what they expected, and yet, still having him love me, to need me in his life, that was another blessing I didn't see then, but I do see now.

Shortly after that, he proposed to me, and I had a wedding to plan. And second to my wedding day, that was the best day of my adult life without having childbirth involved.

And then on November 11th, I married my husband and became an officer's wife. I woke up the next morning to being a wife, to having a husband who is the love of my life. Who is a million and one things that I can't even begin to describe.

And now, being married, being an army wife... there are so many blessings. I have more now than I had before.  I have a good life. Even my husband is worthy of pride. He received the bronze star. How could I not be a proud wife?

And my children, they love him so much. They see the uniform of the US Army and it reminds them that they have family everywhere. Aunt Becca, Aunt Catie, Uncle Campbell, Uncle Palmer... etc. The wives and the soldiers. To them, just like it was to me, they are all family.

Christmas was filled with joy and love and yes, lots of gifts. I was blessed more than I can even type. My children got a wonderful Daddy, who loves them. I have a husband who would do anything to see me smile, who overlooks my flaws to focus on my good qualities. To me, I won the man lottery. I found the best man and I am blessed.

So, it's time to say good-bye 2011... I look forward to what 2012 means.

Busy, hectic, frustratingly perfect moments in life

Today, I had the FRG bakesale. It went really well. We raised more than half the money that we had in our FRG account. Which was great considering it was dead. At one point, I saw a few Air Force Captains and called them over. I have always been one of the more outgoing people I know and I yelled "Air Force" accross the PX and they looked over and I waved them over. "You should support an Air Force brat," I told them, "To prove that Air Force is just as cool as the Army." After donating some money for only two cookies, they waved and smiled, told me that they were glad to support 'family' and left. After that I taunted soldiers with that fact. "A Few AF guys donated, don't let them outdo you." One guy told me "I hate the AF" and donated a dollar more than they did. Another guy told me he was just as cool and donated a ten. It was pretty awesome. I think everyone was a tad shocked by my tactics of using an old age rivalry and my family connections to the branches to help, but it worked and they were impressed by the end, especially considering that we only sold half of the baked goods. I ended up taking the rest home to hold until our Christmas party on Wednesday.

After that I went Christmas shopping for Steve. I got him a book about the best NFL moments of all time, a nice blue shirt (he usually only wears those), Tim McGraw cologne, Hickory Farm sausage and some belgian chocolate. There are only a few things left on my list. After I got his presents, I ran into Casie, the FRG leader and her husband, Joesph and told them what I got him and what I was planning still, which is a retro throw back Walter Payton Jersey from 1986 Chicago Bears. Even Joesph was impressed and gave me his approval. I had to laugh and joked that it was to make up for beating my husband at home. Steve will be so surprised. He has a few Jerseys already and needs this one because it's awesome.

Oh, yea, last night, I finally dyed my hair back to dark brown. It's been so long since I had my natural hair color and it looks exactly what I remember my natural color being. With it's length and darkness, it suits me well. Someone actually gave me a compliment I never expected. They said I looked like "that chick off the Vampire Diaries." They are referring to Nina Dobrev, and I don't see it but I'll take it. It's a beautiful compliment considering she's gorgeous!

Anyways, Today was good. I was busy and stressed for some of it, frustrated a few times, but it was filled with perfect moments like cuddling on the couch with my husband while our kids climbed on top of us and giggled, like him staring at me while I blow dried my hair naked (because my theory is why get dressed if my shirt will wind up soaked, so I blow dry it then get dressed), like the moment he took the kids into the PX to get my Christmas present (well, stocking stuffer), which I already guessed (first try, he sucks at keeping secrets for me, which is awesome), like when he took the kids to the parade so I could shop, like cuddling on the couch after eating french dips together.

It was a really great day. And I'm glad to know my life is what it is. Busy, hectic, frustrating at times, filled with perfect moments with the love of my life and my beautiful babies.

Love,
For now & forever,
Leah

Life

I realized this morning, after pulling myself out of bed, that I hadn't written a blog in a while. Between all that has been happening, the dental surgery and all that, I really hadn't had time or energy to put in. Not that I have much energy now, but I thought I'd better start writing again before the lapse grows too much.

The surgery went well and while the pain lasted more than I expected, I am fully healed and happy with the results. I am happy that it's done with.

There are so many Army things going on this month. Right now, Hubby is the Rear D on a Field Training Exercise. I don't know too many details but I am glad it's only field problems. Rear D, for those who don't know, means he is at Post while the others are in the field.  This weekend is the FRG bakesale, not something I'm looking forward to, but I am the Hospitality chair, so the FRG leader, Casie, and myself, plus our kids and husbands will be at the PX this Saturday selling homemade cookies and wrapping presents. It's for our FRG fund. Next week are several Christmas events, including a Dozer lighting followed by the Company Christmas party and then on Friday is the Christmas Lunch for the S-3 office, where my husband works.

This Saturday, Steve is taking the kids to make a Coal car at Lowes. He is looking forward to it and has really embraced being a father. It's truly a beautiful thing when he comes home from work to the kids yelling "Daddy, Daddy's home" and demanding hugs. Lily loves to get hugs and give him a kiss and tell him that she missed him, while Jax loves to be picked up and tickled. No one would ever know that Steve wasn't their birth father if they didn't know from direct fact. He is everything to them and he loves them so much.

Last night, we got our Christmas tree and set it up. It's beautiful with white lights and tinsel. We are going to decorate it tomorrow, with the ornaments and all that. I did wrap the kids presents and put them under the tree. So far, there is only one present for Steve under the tree and that's his Christmas Eve gift, which by tradition is an ornament and none for me. But I know my husband is going to get me my camera that I've been asking for. I know because I asked for it and he usually gets me everything I ask for, which is why I limit myself and don't ask for much.

This morning was Mikowasch, or St. Nikolaus day, where St. Nikolaus comes and puts small gifts in children's shoes. My kids loved it. Lily got two small "my little Ponys" and a Little Mermaid Pez thing and some chocolate coins. Jax got two small Monster truck toys, a Thomas the train Pez and also recieved Chocolate coins. It was cute to see their smiling faces and, even though they don't understand the holidays quite yet, they know it's Christmas and that Santa is involved. I just wish they weren't so afraid of the Old Man.

Lunatic is good. She's wild and rambunxious but she's sweet and even the kids are starting to grow very attached. I often see them cuddled together with her at night. Sometimes, she rotates from kid to kid and ignores us all night. It's a really sweet sight. The other day, Lily and I were watching Christmas movies together and Lily held Luna through the entire movie with the kitten purring. Lily felt so special to have Luna's affection. Jax and Luna are different, they play together. One is usually chasing the other and they both seem to find the game fun.

Anyways, that's about all I have to say right now. Life is good, much better than last week.

God Bless our Troops

Love always,
For now and Forever,
Leah

Life is good

I have a really bad cold or something. Over the past week, my house has been filled with coughing and sneezing. This weekend, we got alot less done than we had planned to. I do know that my husband and I are incredibly happy together, even though both of us are stressed.

On Friday, Steve got his tough boxes back. In one were his Military gear, and a few presents for me in addition to a bunch of letters from family members. In the second were his DVD cases and sadly, only a few of my letters to him. It seems most of them went missing. Now either the customs agent stole them or someone else did. It really breaks my heart because I wrote almost 200 letters and have less than 40 left. My presents were two beautiful Marble boxes (small and well designed with an Afghanistan map) One had an American Flag along with an Afghani flag. The other had a Canadian Flag with an Afghani Flag. He told me it was for his little dualee. :) He also brought me home a Coach bag that is super beautiful. I am using it now.

Saturday, I spent alot of time organizing the livingroom. I packed up two boxes of my books, sad thing is, that I have alot more books to pack when it comes time. I also set my stereo back up and played some of Michael Buble's new Christmas album. I had Steve put the tough boxes in the laundry room and he filled one up with his military gear, another with his tools. Between getting the laundry room organized and getting the tough boxes out of my livingroom, alot got done.

Yesterday, was a lazy day. Steve let me sleep in til I wanted to get up. He took the kids to church in the morning. Then when he got home, we didn't really do much. Football and relaxation. It was a good Sunday even though we missed out on the projects we planned to do. I did get the opportunity to see my little girl curled up sleeping next to my husband on the couch and I couldn't help but feel like my world is complete.

Today, it's six-thirty in the morning, and I am looking at my afternoon with apprehension. The kids have a doctors appointment from 1330 til about 1500. Then a playgroup and alot to get done around here. I have to pack for Texas, just a few day trip over Thanksgiving, and hopefully, get more done like I plan.

The trouble is being sick. Lily says her chest hurts, which makes me glad we have a doctor appointment for her. Jax and I are having trouble with our ears and coughing. I think our ears are the biggest irritation to us both. I'm glad they have appointments today and I have one tomorrow. I definitely need something just as much as they do. Steve is the only one who seems to have the antibodies available to fight his sickness, even though he's still slightly sick.

Anyways, life is good, even with the few minimal complaints I have.
I love my husband, my kids, my kitten and my life.

Love,
For now and Forever,
Leah

assassinations and life...

Dear World,

                Today, someone tried to assassinate a US Congresswoman from Arizona, a democrat who’d just been elected. I guess, someone was pissed off and took it out on her and several others. The shooter is in custody. Apparently, a Military spouse was also hit. What a world.

                I talked to Steve this morning which was awesome. I love hearing from him and he called to tell me that he’ll be home soon J I’m so excited!!! He’s this incredible guy and he’s going to be in my bed soon ;)  haha. We talked for about twenty-five minutes, which was so good for me because I really wanted to talk to him. I miss him so much. I can’t wait to see him.

                I baked this afternoon, strawberry and blueberry muffins. They are yummy. I also am making dinner right now, penne with my meat sauce. Pretty good dinner menu. I have country music from the 90s playing to keep me company while Lily and Jax torture me with misbehaving and creating a mess where I just cleaned up… It’s unending, twice the kids, ten times the work.

                Anyways, til later, Love, Leah

college and life

Well, I am in College officially and focusing on it is actually pretty hard to do. I've been immersed in notes and working on assignments and papers for the past three days, knowing that I have to get ahead in class so when my Baby comes home (I KNOW THE DATES!!!!) I won't fall behind. And it's alot. I have a test to take this week, one more day of "going to class" and a paper to turn in. Plus there are 4 chapters worth of notes per class in the next two weeks that I'm trying to get written so I can relax when he's here.

In other news, it snowed  today, which was pretty but cold. I don't really like Snow anymore, blame it on the 3 years I spent in Northern Manitoba, but yea, wow, so not my thing.

I got to talk to Steve. We have some really amazing conversations and I'm so worried about him coming home, but so excited. He's the love of my life, and he doesn't even know it yet, but he will. When he gets here.

Anyways, I have to get back to school work. Fun Fun.

Love, Leah