Listening to a Voicemail

Today was one of those days. I have an old voicemail on my phone from a few months ago. Nothing important- just him clarifying what I needed him to pick up on post for me. But I just wanted to hear his voice. I may have listened to it like five times- or so. I had talked to him earlier today. He sounds good- just tired. He flew up to the Memorial for the two pilots we lost last week and they all got stuck on that base cause of the weather. I cannot believe that next week- we will hit two months already. It has flown. No complaints- but makes me sad that he is missing so much...

On to a better note. Trying to figure out where we want to go for RnR. His parents are coming over and overlapping with him being here. I have amazing inlaws and having them around is always nice. The kids adore them and it is nice for Lee to see his dad. I know he won't tell me some things or talk about some stuff cause he doesn't want to worry me. So when his dad is here- he can talk to him- over a German Hefe.

The real benefit is that Lee and I get a little mini vacation with no kiddos! I am going back and forth between Dubrovnik Croatia, Siciliy and Santorini Greece. Right now I am leaning towards Croatia. Looking at 4-5 days at an all inclusive resort.

 Croatia

 Croatia

 Sicily

 Sicily

 Santorini

Santorini

I am SO looking forward to some time with my man. This is one of the HUGE benefits to going back to NC after here. My inlaws are right there!!

Any thoughts friends... locations I have missed?

He's HOME!!!!!

He is home! This year has been a tough one and also a great one. I have learned alot about myself and become a better person because of it. How can you not be when you are left alone with 2 kids in a foreign country while stressing about your hubby being at war?? lol

Here are a few pics. I had some absolutely fabulous friends come out and support us welcoming him home. I appreciated Jay holding lil man for me. He also thought to make a GREAT sign for us to hold up! I loved it. Kim took amazing pics for me. Katie, G, Patti came and just supported... as did many others- which is tough when they are still waiting on their men to return!

Keep the 1,000's of still deployed troops in your thoughts! There are many who will miss the holiday season with their families!! Enjoy the below pics!!

Last weekend

So--- tomorrow this time- I will be anxiously awaiting those magical hangar doors opening and getting a glimpse of my hubby for the first time in 6 months! I cannot possibly explain the feeling that will come over me. It is a little overwhelming to think about it right now. That first hug- that first kiss. The look on his face while he hugs his little ones. The look I am sure he will have when he see's Carter- whom he last saw at 1 month old. I am ready for our little family to finally be back together- at least for the next 14 months or so:)

I just pushed through an 8 page paper. I need to go through it tomorrow and clean it up. Right now my eyes are blurring all the words together. I was going to relax at home tomorrow but I think I will head to Hais school and do an hour of observation for my final project that is coming due really quickly! I am already going to have to pay a ton of money to get it sent through the mail in time to my professor in NC. Three parts of it has to be given to her by Dec 1.

Had a great day at Church today. Then a nice lunch at the DFAC afterwards. Then Katie was awesome and took Hais for me. They had a girls day- shopping. I get the following message from Katie about 2 hours into their day...Hailee said, "I like Katie and Hailee" time. Love her!! She's being good! They went shopping. They walked Layla. They went to dinner with the Rabb girls. And it allowed me to straighten the house and complete my paper (almost).

This weekend was fabulous. Friday night we went to dinner at Katies. She is a super fabulous cook and I always enjoy my Katie time:)

Saturday I had some ladies over to put together the cookie bags we will hand out to the soldiers returning tomorrow. It was Katie, Molly, Crystal, Isi, Krystal, Denise, Meghan and her two lil boys. We had some enchiladas and stuffed the cookie bags- and taste tested some of the cookies! Of course...

Tomorrow I am sure will be one of the longest days of my life. I am not complaining though. I am pretty lucky- my man is coming home. Some of my dear friends are still waiting for their soldiers. And there are still some who will never hug their soldiers again.

Another deployment down--- whoooo- I can finally breathe...

What a crazy few days it has been

This week has flown by. I am always amazed at how fast weeks go by lately. I cannot believe it is now Thursday! That is so exciting!
I am trying very hard to be patient. As most of you know me well enough- patience is not a virtue that I have:) But I am really trying. There is no official word on when Lee will arrive home. I have sadly missed his last two phone calls. The second one- he sounded pretty sad... which sucks. I am sure he is bored and needing those phone calls. Whereas I am the opposite. I am out and about- not sitting home- trying to get through these last few days. Do not get me wrong- I want more than anything to hear his voice. What is getting me through these last few days is knowing that hugging him is RIGHT around the corner...

So- what does typical Brenna do? I fill my days. I keep myself insanely busy. I sat home all day today. Angie and Bethany came by this morning and Bethany did my hair- which was long overdue. I had highlights put throughout and she trimmed it up for me. It feels so much better. Then we ate this yummy Mexican soup Bethany brought!!

Tomorrow I am going to get the van outta the shop. We are officially dent free (at least on one of the cars- lol). Those darn German poles! Then we have to run to the commisary and get some groceries for the dinners I will explain in a lil bit. Then we will be heading to Spieloase to meet up with some awesome ladies and their kiddos. Spieloase is this awesome awesome indoor playplace. I will include pics in the next post... Hais loves it and I think even Carter will enjoy it this time- cause there is a little play area. Plus- mommy loves it cause the kids go crazy for hours- it is safe and they have yummy cappuchinos!! Then we will be heading to Katies for dinner. She is the most amazing cook and we always feel blessed to go there for dinner! Plus we love love love her! Anytime with her rocks!

Saturday my goal is to clean the house completely. Then we will be having a fun group over to make cookie bags. We will be greeting 52 wonderful Joker soldiers in the next two weeks. We are making homemade cookies and filling bags with them to give the guys when they arrive home. So---- what started as inviting my new co-leader Meghan and her boys over to stuff the bags, turned into a dinner party/bag stuffing... it is now Katie, Denise, Bethany, Angie, Meghan, her two boys, Crystal, Krystal, and Molly. So... I am making chicken enchiladas and beef enchiladas. It will be a fabulous way to make the day go faster. While I realize that it will mean another big cleaning afterwards- that is alright!! Bring on a fun dinner party!!

Keeping my fingers crossed that in the days to follow I will be greeting my man. So ready for my family of 4 to finally be together!! Cannot happen fast enough!

It is almost over

Lee getting his flight award!!

Send my hubby home QUICK!

Really- they need to send my hubby home now! I am filling the gap I am feeling- with internet shopping!!!! UGH! It is awesome though to get boxes at our post office though!! Yesterday I got 8 boxes! It makes you smile!
I have to say- I spent a lot of money but everything was on major sale! I ordered new duvet covers for my King size bed and my gueen spare bed. I also got the matching decorative pillows and shams for both. Total cost= $60!!! I saved $113! Holy crap right???? I couldnt pass them up. Unfortunately- Target won't ship them to me- so I had to ship them to Pat- my fabulous mother-in-law... she always comes through for me.

I also ordered peacoats for me and Hais- Old Navy has a huge 50% off sale right now on outerwear. So I got mine for $29! A peacoat! I also got Carter a snowsuit and winter jacket, snow boots and some jeans. He also got some fleece pants. I figure I need to start getting him into more little boyish stuff- cause he is still in the Carter brand pants. They are cute but he needs more jeans.

I am almost done with Christmas shopping. I am completely done with the kiddos. I am also done with my nephews. I am almost done with my parents- need one more thing for dad. So- that leaves my sis and my inlaws.

I also ordered our London tour tickets today. I just have to call on Monday and pay for them and for the Ferry tickets to cross into England...

Feel like I have a ton I need to do for trips-

-Ireland- book a hotel for Dublin on the last night. Figure out budget for the trip- I have already reserved the rental car and B&B. Already paid for flights.

-England/Scotland- Call to pay for the Ferry and the London tour. Figure out budget.

-Cyprus- Budget

Hmmmmm... super excited about the trips- just need to finish school and some other committment. Just finished my first Welfare Request round for the Spouses Club. Done with that until January. That is one thing off my plate for now...
-Fundraiser paperwork needs to be submitted for PTA...
-Research paper for Soc 2200- due Nov 15
-Field Experience project for ECE 3110 Due Dec 1


Lots to do but it is keeping me busy and time flying for this last little bit before my man gets home!

~B