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."

Back in the USA

If you are receiving this blog entry as an email, it is because you have not subscribed to our family blog. It is very easy. All you need is an email address (you don't have to have a "gmail" account--any email address will work.) Our blog is set to private, so if you want to be able to see it and read it, please register for the blog. I will be sending an invitation shortly.

Mike was supposed to arrive in Nashville at 3pm today. He called me this morning at 6:30am once he got to Atlanta, GA to let me know that he was in the USA AND that he was able to get an earlier flight. He was set to arrive in Nashville at 9:45am. YAHOO!!!

The kids and I were out the door early, so we could get a security pass to go down to the gate. (I don't know if other Airports do that, but I am glad that Nashville does). It was a little hectic getting through security, but we made it to the gate with a few minutes to spare.

Mike was flying on Delta. As a courtesy, they invite Military Members to de-plane first. So we stood at the top of the breezeway as 14 soldiers filed out. Everyone in the concourse started clapping when they saw the soldiers. I started to cry. I am so proud of Mike and what he does. It is nice to have that small public "Thank You."

Here comes the plane

Mike was the last soldier off the plane.
I could see Amanda looking intently at EVERY soldier as they walked by.

They just about knocked Mike over. Amanda kept squealing, "Daddy's Home, Daddy's Home!"

Yup, I had to put in a kissing photo

I will try to keep things updated over the next few days.
Lots of Love,
Robin, Mike, Adam and Amanda

R&R of years past

Mike gets home in less than 18 hours. I can't keep a straight thought in my head. I am so excited! The kids are so excited!

I wanted to share a few reunion photos with y'all. The photos always make me smile.

I will post current photos as soon as I get around to it.

November 2003 R&R Adam is 2 years old


Welcome Home July 2004 after being gone for 15 months Adam is almost 3 years old

R&R April 2006 Mike met us on the curb, we got stuck in traffic Adam is 4 1/2 years old, Amanda is 6 months old
Welcome Home September 2006

Garage Sales

So, those that know me, know that I love to go Garage Saling. It is how I get my shopping "buzz" for cheap. There are many reasons, why I love to Yard Sale. I love finding just the thing my family has been looking for but couldn't (or wouldn't) pay full price for.

Like the riding lawnmower I got for $100! Seriously, I felt like I had been led to that yard sale. And in the 2 years that we have owned it, I have only had about $100 worth of maintenance and repairs.

I also love Yard Sales because you can try out items for cheap. Like Dinosaur Pancake Molds. I know, was skeptical at first. I have seen the cute shape molds in stores. They are pricey!

And what if they don't work!?!? Well, a few weeks ago, I found a set of 3, brand new in a box for .50. I couldn't' resist! I tried them the next time I made pancakes and now the kids ask for Dino pancakes every morning.

Last weekend was the Neighborhood yard sale in my parent's neighborhood. I wasn't looking for anything (remember I drove the little car from Tennessee--we already looked like the Clampetts) However, we (Jacqui, Dad and I) found a HUGE set of Discovery Toys Marbleworks. I had seen it on Friday, and the woman wanted $10 for it (total bargain). When I went with Jacqui and Pop, she still had it. Pop offered her $5 and she said, "YES" Total score. Adam and Amanda spent a good hour playing with the set today. It will be a good Grandparent toy.

Well, enough ramblings about Yard Sales. I am off to dream about the next treasures I will find this weekend.

They say that catching up is hard to do...

Oh, dear friends and family. Where to start? Most of my faithful blog readers know what I have been up to, but for those of you who don't. Here is the update.

Adam got out of school May 21 at noon. I had high hopes to be on the road, driving to Denver moments after he got off the school bus. However, I had spent so much time getting ready for the trip, I was exhausted. Mike encouraged me to wait and be well rested. It wasn't like I had a deadline (except yard saling with Jacqui on Saturday morning).

So, I waited until Friday morning to start my LLLLOOOOOOOOONNNNNNGGGGGG trek across the United States.

My dear friend, Melissa lives in St Louis, MO. That is a good 5 1/2 hours from home, so I figured that would be a great place for a lunch break. We had a delightful time with Melissa and her kids. Then we got in the car. As we were driving out of her neighborhood, we had the windows rolled down. I kept hearing a rythmic clicking sound coming from the back passenger tire. When I stopped to get gas, I checked my tires. Sure enough, I had a screw in the back passenger tire. I called my mom and opened my FAVORITE atlas--the Wal Mart atlas. It has every WalMart in the United States listed. I know, it is a shameless advertising ploy. BUT it works. You know, when Mike and I were looking at getting tires, I said, "I think we should get them from Walmart. With all of the driving I do, there is always a Walmart in the next town." There was a WalMart just 4 miles up the freeway. They repaired my tire for FREE (I had the road hazzard warrenty) and I was on my way in about an hour.

The rest of the trip was un eventful. We stayed in Kansas City at a nice hotel that had a pool. My kids couldn't get enough. Since we were the only ones in the pool, I let them get all of their energy out. The pool was only 5 feet deep and the hot tub shared a wall. Adam and Amanda loved going from the hot tub to the pool and back.

We were about halfway through Kansas, when Adam shared the most important truth of the trip, "MOM, Kansas is SOOO long!" It is folks. Adam also asked, "Mom, how many states have we been through?" I started to count, "We started in Tennessee, then Kentucky, then Illinois, then Missouri. We are in Kansas right now and we will be in Colorado in a few hours." Yes. SIX states and by the time this trip is over, we will count Utah, Idaho and Wyoming.

To their credit the kids did awesome. Thank goodness for DVD players, Leapsters and Lots of coloring books.

Memorial Day Weekend was GREAT. We went out to Daniel's Park. Memorial Day and Daniel's Park is special for many reasons. When we were kids, Mom and Dad would wake us up at some unearthly hour to drive out there and make breakfast on a campstove. All of us kids grumbled and complained, but we loved it. We would eat breakfast and then spend the morning climbing and hiking around. I don't remember there being so many rock cliffs. Mom, Pop, Jacqui, Kraig, Andrew and Josh were all there. It was great to share it with my kids. Thanks Kraig for the YUMMY french toast.

Memorial Day and Daniel's Park is also special because Mike proposed to me 10 years ago on Memorial Day weekend. He wanted to propose to me out at Daniel's Park, but I got lost because they had changed the road since my mission and then it started to rain. Mike proposed on my parent's front porch, but that is a story for another time.

Every year, my college girlfriends (the Half Way House) meet up. Every year is different based on needs and where we are in our life, but this year, 4 of the 5 of us met in Salt Lake City without husbands, without children. I have a whole bunch of stuff to say, but I really have to say thanks to Jacqui who watched my kids for 4 DAYS so I could have a perfect, relaxing vacation. It was so nice to hang out with friends, eat lots of good food, go to a few nice resturants that DIDN'T have kid's menus or a playplace.

Jacqui assured me everytime I called that the children were absolute angels and that she had everything undercontrol. I believe that she had everything undercontrol...not too sure about the angels part.

Since I have been back, Jacqui and I have hung out with each other every day. I hope she hasn't experienced a loss of friends because I keep hogging her time. I also hope that her husband isn't too bugged that I am there almost every waking hour of the day. I have gotten to see Brenny a few times, too. Maybe I need to go up to Greely and pester Brenda for a few days.

Jacqui and I have been working on projects. Again, things I am subjecting her, too. She has 2 sewing machines, so we have made turbie towels and speed cleaning aprons. I will post more about that later. We spent the day in her kitchen, she might do a post about it, so I won't steal her thunder.

I am REALLY looking forward to seeing Cory in a few weeks and spend a few days with her. What projects will we do?

Well, this is super long post. I will be better, I promise.

Lots of Love,

Robin

Why I love being a Mom

A special blogger I know, wrote a very touching blog about all of the wonderful moms in her life. I thought I would do a "Mom" blog, too, but I would like to address "Why I love being a Mom"--AKA "You know you are a Mom when..."

Exhibit A:
You know you are a mom when you love dressing up your children in ridiculous outfits. I think Amanda's expression says it all.
Exhibit B:
You know you are a mom when you will do just about anything for the photo opportunity. Yes, that is Amanda in Mike's side cargo pocket. All she was trying to do was sleep and I wanted a photo so I could prove just how little she was.
Exhibit C:
When did it become acceptable to take pictures of poop? But for some reason, I decided to snap this photo of Amanda. (I think Mike was deployed and I just wanted to share some of every day life with him.) You know you are a mom when your discussions about bodily functions are more frequent and seem more normal than talking about the weather.
Exhibit D:
I could fill a book with the funny things that Adam has said. Now that Amanda is talking more, I could probably fill one for her, too. You know you are a mom when nothing your kid says seems unusual. Adam came downstairs one morning complaining that his underwear hurt. I couldn't understand-it was new underwear, I had washed it, etc. Upon further inspection, I couldn't stop laughing when I realized that he had put his underwear on sideways. Go ahead, I dare you, try it.
Exhibit E:
You know you are a mom when nothing YOU say seems unusual to you. For example: One sunny day, Adam and his little friend were playing outside. When I looked out the window, I noticed that Adam and Rafe were dragging a small tricycle up the ladder of the play fort. I quickly opened the door and yelled, "ADAM, you CAN NOT ride the tricycle down the slide." His reply was something like, "Mom, I KNOW how to ride a tricycle!"

Having their daredevil plans ruined by a mom, they decided to find another source of entertainment. Hummmm, maybe I should have let them ride the trike down the slide.
I hope you had a wonderful Mother's Day. I am thankful for my mom who put up with all of my shenanigans and let me live to see another day.

This is what Mike did this morning....

I got this photo from Mike this afternoon. He titled it "This is what I did this morning" He called me later in the day. I felt kind of silly as I recounted my day--slept in while the kids watched cartoons, made pancakes, took Adam to get a haircut, went grocery shopping, went to Kohls. He called me while I was shopping at Kohls. Thankfully, he never makes me feel bad or guilty because my day didn't involve Blackhawk Helicopters or getting bad guys.
He was sure to tell me that it wasn't just a back drop and that he wasn't Photoshoped in.