Texas Mutant Creepy Crawlies

In the short time Mike has been gone (7 days) I have had to face one of my biggest fears. Texas Mutant Creepy Crawlies. Who back home has to catch lizards that sneak into the house? Or how about huge, flying crickets??? I'm pretty sure I've never seen a flying cricket before tonight. I know even though all of my friends' husbands have said to call if I ever need anything, I don't think they mean coming to my house at midnight to kill a bug. Ugh, this is when I could really use a man around the house. Gracie did subdue it a little, but would rather play with it than eat it. She eats EVERYTHING else. Even though Mike still laughs at me for checking the sheets every night before I go to sleep, I feel it is totally necessary. I guess this is going to be a big growing moment for me. Killing my own bugs.

Ramblings of a 3-year old. Volume 1

Today in the car we drove by a McDonald's. Ella said, "Chik-Fil-A's fries are crunchy, but McDonald's fries are smooshy. I like smooshy fries better." Me too:)

Grant lying on Ella's bed at bedtime: "Oh Grant. You spit up on your burp cloth. That's good manners."

And a side-note on Grant : He is now rolling from his back to his side and will be ending up on his belly shortly.

So I danced with CinderELLA...

Just had to capture this for Daddy. She was just beaming while dancing and singing tonight. She said before bed, "Mommy, I miss Daddy. Why does he have to be gone so long?" She thinks these 6 days have been long. Can't imagine 6 months.

Social skills teaching from a 3 year old

Ella teaching Daddy appropriate social skills:

Ella: Daddy, are you in Germamy?
Daddy: No.
Ella: Are you at Camp Bullis? (where he did his training)
Daddy: No, remember I am in Iraq.
Ella: Oh, are your friends from Camp Bullis there?
Daddy: No, but I have new friends here. They are nice.
Ella: Oh, well, if they aren't nice to you then you need to say: "I DON'T LIKE THAT. THAT IS NOT VERY NICE."
Daddy: OK Ella, I will.

It's storytelling time

While Ella was looking at a blank photo album today, she turned the pages as if reading a story. This is what I heard:

"There once was a king. His name was Material King. He went walking one day (finger actions accompanied this) and he ran into an iguana. The iguana was mean, a hitting iguana. He tried hitting the king, so the Material King put him in the Hitting Place. There was FIRE in the hitting place. After that, the iguana didn't hit anymore. The end."

Not sure where the fire part came from. Could be all the Old Testament teaching at her preschool :)

Down to the lasts...

Sigh. It is now the day before Mike leaves for Iraq. We are down to counting the lasts. Both of us just had a moment of crying...last time Mike puts Ella down for a nap, last time reading books, last time praying with her, last time playing together in the yard, last "nuggle" before bedtime, last supper (pun intended). I keep reminding myself it could be so much worse, like 200 yrs. ago when wives saw their husbands go to war. Their husbands would leave, and they never knew if they were alive or dead until they saw them again, which could be several years. At least I get letters. Hear his voice. See him on the webcam.

More of Grant Man's first photo shoot

These are a few more of the pics from his first photo shoot. Cooperative little guy. They are going to use the picture of Mike looking down at Grant on the "Daddy Dolls" website as a sample for blankets and "lovies" for deployed families. Mike ordered me a pillowcase, Grant a lovie and Ella has a "Mike doll" that she takes to bed with her every night. It is still not really sinking in that he leaves in 4 days.

Grant's First Photo Shoot

First Blog

Ok, I finally took the plunge. I have been wanting to do this since Ella was born in Germany to share with our friends and family about the goings' on in our house. Three and a half years later isn't so bad! Hopefully this isn't my last post too :)