Back Together Again

Dear Family and Friends,
I hope this post makes your day. We picked Mike up on Saturday night at 8:30pm. His flight was supposed to arrive at 9 am on Friday morning, but it was delayed for mechanical reasons.
Here are a few photos and video clips of that evening.

Clip One: Since this is our FOURTH deployment, I knew there was a 99% chance that Mike's flight was going to be delayed. I told the kids that we would pick up Daddy no later than, Monday. We drove to the family parking area and Adam started reading all of the signs that people were carrying, "Welcome..Home...Daddy...?" Here is the clip of his reaction. I took the video on my phone so it is fuzzy.



Clip Two: Amanda had fallen asleep in the car on the way over. She is a little dazed. She is also a little cold. Until Saturday morning, we had been having un-seasonally warm weather. But Saturday night, Fall found us, so it is about 40 degrees.

Amanda warmed right up after we got into the hanger and she got a flag.

They let the families go out to the flight line to see the airplane land. It was COLD!!! I am glad I packed their mittens and winter coats. I wish I would have found my mittens.

For all of you who follow Brenda's Blog , and you were wondering where is her "Friday, I'm In Love" post?..Well now you know. Thanks Brenny and Darren for being here. I will let her tell you about their adventures--check out her blog. (Darren, I am glad that University of Wyoming won)

Big smiles on the flight line! The plane is just a few minutes from touching down.
Since Adam was small, he managed to wiggle his way up to the fence.



I swear there were half a million soldiers on the flight!! It was so cold and difficult to distinguish one soldier from the next (they were wearing their helmets and full battle gear) that most families gave up and went back inside where it was warm. Adam was DETERMINED to see Mike, so Darren and I waited with him, while Brenda took Amanda inside. We finally spotted Mike. He was one of the last soldiers off the plane. Mike set his gear down. We were yelling like crazy. Finally, he saw us. Adam was so happy when Mike waved back, I thought he was going to climb over the fence. We ran back into the hanger because the ceremony was going to start. As we ran, Adam kept saying, "Mom, we saw him. I am so happy. I am crying, mom. I am so happy." I looked down at Adam. Tears were rolling down his cheeks, but he had the biggest grin on his face.


The soldiers line up in formation outside. Then they open the hanger doors and they march in. It is quite a site. This photo can't even capture the emotion and presence that fills the room when they march in. There is a brief ceremony and then the soldiers are released to their families for a few minutes. Ummm, how can I say this--mass pandemonium breaks out.
Mike spotted us while he was standing in formation.
We didn't have any problems finding each other.

Mike has 7 days of mandatory re-integration training. We are planning on packing up our house and moving in with our friends in the next 20, yes, I said 20 days. As Mike and I were driving home from the ceremony, he started planning and making a list. I stopped him and said, "Let's just enjoy 'this' for 3 days. Then we can start our lists." Never a dull moment. We will keep you posted.

Happy Halloween

I have to hurry up and post this entry, so that I officially have 3 blog entries for the month of October. Remember, I am trying to be better about updating my blog.

I thought you might enjoy a few photos from the evening. Growing up in Denver, we could carve pumpkins early in October and they were usually good until Halloween. In Tennessee, we don't have that luxury, it stays way too hot. Pumpkins start to go moldy a few days after you carve them. We picked these 4 pumpkins at the Pumpkin Patch earlier in the month. I was waiting for the perfect time to carve them. At 4:30pm this afternoon, I realized, we hadn't carved the pumpkins. The kids drew the faces and I cut, gutted and carved the pumpkins. I think that is some kind of record--4 pumpkins in 40 minutes.


I have to give credit to my good friend , Michelle Ocampo, for this photo idea. Adam lost ANOTHER tooth at school today. I had to get him with his Jack-O-Lantern. Can you see the similarities?
Amanda didn't want her photo with the pumpkins. Ummm, I wonder where she gets that need to be the center of attention.....



Adam was Batman and Amanda was a butterfly. She was quite offended when people called her a cute fairy, or princess. "I am not a princess--I am a butterfly." She would say in her grouchy voice.

Well, I am off to sort through the candy, hide 1/2 of it, throw 1/4 of it away and put the remaining 1/4 in a bucket on top of the fridge and give it out, a piece at a time for good behavior.

Pumpkin Patch

Three years ago, we started a tradition in our family. In the fall, we go to a pumpkin patch. We found a really cute family run farm in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. So, Christian Way Farms, has become our "Family Farm."

This is a photo of Adam, holding Amanda (2 weeks old) in the pumpkin patch.

It is hard to believe they were ever that small! Amanda loved petting and feeding the animals. She was so excited to actually hold a bunny rabbit!
Adam loved playing in the Hay Bale Castle.Who knew that playing in FEED CORN could be so much fun?!?! It has always been Adam's favorite. He tries to smuggle home as much corn as possible. I have been finding it in the car, in his room, in the laundry for a week.

Off to feed the animals. I swear you would have thought that Amanda owned the farm. She worked so hard. Her favorite animal to feed were the baby pigs. However she did say that they smelled like "stinky pig poo-poo."
Adam feeding one of the many goats.
Adam shucking and grinding corn. They loved working on the farm.
Amanda found her perfect pumpkin. The rule at the farm is if you can carry it, you take it home. Adam took them seriously.


Well, Fall Break is over for us. We had a good time, but I am so glad everyone went back to school today. Everyday brings us one day closer to Mike's return.

Worth The Wait

Okay, so it has been over 2 months since my last post. I actually keep checking my blog to see if anyone has posted for me. No such luck, so I guess the responsibility falls completely on my shoulders. In the last 2 months I have been busy to say the least. Here are a few things that have happened.

1. Found out we are moving to Ft Bliss, Texas in February. Notice the proximity of my new home to the Mexico boarder.

2. Found out I was pregnant. I told you Mike and I had fun during R&R. I waited and told Mike on the phone on our 10th Wedding Anniversary.

3. Listed our home For Sale By Owner. I spent countless hours watching "Designed to Sell" and "Stagers" and "Sell My Home." I staged our home by removing almost half of the furniture and knick-knacks. They are conveniently stored in the box trailer on the side of our house. Check out our website if you want to see photos.

4. Started and finished Potty training with Amanda. It was just time. I purposely waited until WE were done with our summer travel plans and Mike's R&R. I don't know why she is wearing her backpack in this photo, but any potty training mommies will tell you as long as they are on the toilet--who cares what they are wearing?!?!?

5. Had a HUGE birthday party for Adam and Amanda at an indoor inflatable park called, "The Jump Zone." Adam turned 7 and Amanda turned 3.


6. Had 2 dear friends come to visit--Jenny Gideon and Michelle Ocampo. We knew each other when we lived at Fort Polk, Louisiana. When they met me, Adam was just a baby. Now, SIX years later, collectively, we have a 7 year old, two 5 year olds and three 3 year olds. It was so fun. Thanks girls for making the drive! I wish I had a photo of all 3 of us, but we were too busy chasing the kiddos to snap a photo.

7. Sold our house. YUP, as of today we are OFFICIALLY under contract and by 1 December, the Mike and Robin Fisher Family will be HOMELESS. There has been a bit of a learning curve, doing it For Sale By Owner, but as of right now, it has TOTALLY been worth the savings. Nice to walk away with some money in our pocket.

We realize that all of these good things and blessings have been from God. Thanks to everyone who has kept us in their thoughts and prayers. The next couple months will be busy with Mike's return, packing up our stuff, living with good friends (Thanks again, Rick and Jenny), looking for our new home in El Paso and actually making the move. Since noone will write my blog for me (Kelli, how did you get Trisha to write your blog?!?!) I will try to be better. But don't give up on me.

More RELAXING

After we left Michigan on July 20th, we drove a few hours to Sandusky, Ohio to Cedar Point Amusement Park. Mike went to Cedar Point when he was a kid, so he wanted to take our kids. We were able to meet up with Jenny and her kids and Larry and Carla (Jenny's parents). We stayed at a hotel and let the kids swim in the pool and jump on the beds. The next morning, bright and early, we headed to the Park. Everyone had a great time. Mike and I were interested to see how Adam did at the Amusement park. You might remember Adam's first roller coaster experience last summer at Sea World, San Diego--"That was a lot scary!" Here are some photos from the day.

Amanda's favorite ride. The Kite Eating Tree insides Camp Snoopy. I loved that they had multiple kid areas throughout the park. I wish you could have seen the smile on her face. She even had her hands up in the air. She is fearless.
Adam and Mitsy tearing it up! I wonder if they know they are betrothed to each other?
Carla, Mitsy, Tyler and the Mike and Amanda. They got caught in a rain storm on the ride.
What is an amusement park without a ride on the Carousel?


This was the roller coaster Adam and Mike rode together. The Woodstock Express in "Camp Snoopy." A maximum height of 38 feet and a top speed of 25 mph. Just perfect for Adam.
This was my favorite ride--maXair. From the website:
Riders on the super-sized maXair will sit in outward-facing suspended seats and their legs will dangle freely. maXair will let loose by swinging riders back and forth in a seemingly out of control pendulum motion while spinning in a clockwise rotation and reaching a maximum speed of 70 mph. When the pendulum movement reaches its peak, riders will be 140 feet high and experience that coveted feeling of airtime.

Cedar Point is know for its Roller Coasters--17 in all. We didn't get to ride all of them, but we did ride a few. Mike made me ride in the front car of the Magnum XL-200. YIKES!! It has only been about 9 years since the last time I rode a roller coaster.

From the website: A true legend! The Magnum XL-200 at Cedar Point didn't just break world records when it opened in 1989 - it shattered them! Standing an amazing 205 feet above the Earth below and cruising at a top speed of 72 mph, this scream machine was the tallest and fastest roller coaster ever created when it debuted in 1989. As impressive as those statistics are, coaster enthusiasts will tell you the element that makes Magnum truly a coaster king is its "airtime!" That feeling of floating over each of the ride’s intense hills helps make Magnum one of the greatest coasters of all time.

That is Lake Erie in the back ground. If I hadn't had my eyes closed, I am sure I would have enjoyed the view. Here is a video clip of the ride, just so you get the picture.

The last Roller Coaster we rode on was the Gemini. To get the full affect, Mike had me ride in the VERY last car. As far as roller coasters go, if one CAN feel "safe," I prefer the tubular steel construction. The Gemini is made of wood. As we waited in line, I tried not to think about all of the humidity (it is right on Lake Erie) and the freezing cold winters that had probably weakened the timbers . Mike tells a story about when he was a boy on one of his visits to Cedar Point, it wasn't very crowded. He rode the Gemini something like 30 times in one day! From the website:
On your mark ... get set ... GO! The Gemini roller coaster at Cedar Point gives riders an opportunity for bragging rights to the fastest train, as not one, but two trains run simultaneously on parallel tracks and race for a first-place finish. Guests cheer on either the red or blue train down the mammoth first hill, around wide bends and down the famous "low beam" hill that you must experience to believe. Even those who have ridden Gemini 100 times in one day say that no two rides are ever the same.Gemini has given more rides than any other operating roller coaster at Cedar Point. Since 1978, the twin tracks have taken nearly 82 million guests on the ride of their lifetime.


By they way, we were in the blue train, and we won! I hope you aren't bored with the videos, but I thought they were cool.



I hope you don't mind that I am about 4 weeks late posting this, but when Mike was home, as you can see, there wasn't a lot of time to blog.

Ready, Set.... RELAX

I don't know who decided that if you were deployed for 15 months that it made sense to have 18 days for R&R. This is my fourth deployment and I still don't get it. But I am AMAZED at how full 4 people can pack 18 days.

A few days after Mike got home (and a little more than a week after my Cross Country trip) we got back in the car and drove 9 hours to Ann Arbor, Michigan for the annual Art Fair. As long as I have know Mike, he has talked about the Art Fair. He has always wanted to go back for the Fair, but it was never possible. This summer, it was perfect. We had a great time walking up and down the streets looking at art--pottery, water color, sculpture, crafts, jewelry, photography, anything and everything.

All of us Down Town Ann Arbor. Tons of People

Who needs a double stroller?!?

Taking a break from the heat. We went early, so it wasn't too bad. Mike said, "This isn't HOT!"

Another great thing about Ann Arbor is that Marjorie and Fred (Mike's mom and husband) still live there. Mom and Fred offered to take the kids for a night so Mike and I could go on a date. We happily accepted the offer. The next morning, Mike and I went back to the Art Fair and out to breakfast. We got to talk to several artists and we found a few pieces we liked. Here are some of the artists we liked:
Carl R Sams II
Nature photographer and children's book author. We were able to visit with him. He had some AMAZING pictures of Eagles. Since Mike is part of 101st Airborne Division--Screaming Eagles, we have developed in interest in Bald Eagles.


John Gaps III
All of Mr. Gaps photos are taken in natural light--no Photoshop AND he took all of the pictures with a camera like mine!! Every photograph I asked him about, he told me how he took it and where he was. He gave me tons of pointers and lots of encouragement to keep taking photos.
Greg Johnson and Donna Gilbert
Mike and I really wanted to bring back SOMETHING from the Art Fair. There were tons of pottery to choose from, but this one caught our eye and spoke to us. A large circular casserole dish/deep serving platter. We could almost taste the yummy lasagna we were going to make.

After a relaxing day of strolling around the Art Fair without children, we headed back to Mom's house to make a "Thank You" Dinner. Mike wanted to make stuffed Fillet Mignon for Mom and Fred. They were SOOOO good. We also made fresh pesto with the basil we bought at the farmer's market.

Cooking at Mom's house Saturday night

Sunday dinner before we headed off to Sandusky, Ohio for more "Relaxing."