Christmas in November

We celebrated Christmas a wee bit early this year.
I am so glad that we did!
It really felt like Christmas decorating the tree, listening to Nat King Cole sing Christmas songs, and enjoying the Sparkling Pine candle burning in the room.

The girls (and Eric part of the time) really wanted to hang all of the ornaments, so Josh and I snuggled on the couch and handed them the ornaments.

A few of our favorites!

Our three little E's didn't know that we were going to celebrate Christmas morning early.
After they were asleep, Josh and I wrapped presents and put them under the tree.

The next morning, before they went out into the living room, I read them a book while Josh turned the lights on the tree, lit the candle, started the music and the coffee.

They came into the living room thinking we were getting another book,
but instead they got Christmas!


Josh enjoying his scarf from my mom!

Enjoying presents


This is Eric's new bike helmet from Gamma and Oma.
Josh picked it out but it was Eric who didn't want to take it off.


And the stockings were hung by the chimney with care
(this shot was actually AFTER our Christmas)

This is what was in their stockings
Daddy Dolls!
12 inch dolls made from Josh's picture and a voice recorder inside with a personal message to each child in their dolls.

Eric got his first train!

He really wanted to do it himself

Ahhh..the aftermath

and assembly

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

Josh's Birthday

Josh turned 33 at the beginning of this month. I was so happy that he was home and we could celebrate together. He was able to play games with the kids

and enjoy his birthday ice cream cake

homemade cards from the children


and snuggles with his little guy

Happy Birthday Josh!

Gingerbread House 2009

For once I was thrilled to see Christmas decorations up the day after Halloween!

Thank you to JoAnn Fabrics for having gingerbread houses for sale in time for us to keep our tradition a complete family event. Two days after Josh's birthday, we made our candy delight.

Once again, Halloween candy makes for great decorations and making this so early gave us plenty of candy to choose from.

Eric enjoyed a wee bit-o-frosting!

Josh and the children with the finished product.

Close ups

Eric Singing ABCDEFG

Daddy's Boots

We can't fill Josh's boots while he is gone,

but the children make them look cute!

An Early Thanksgiving

We had an early Thanksgiving this year due to Josh's deployment.

Thanksgiving is best when you have a table full of good people and good food. So, Thursday, November 5th we invited some of Josh's single soldiers over for a Thanksgiving feast. They are wonderful guys and we have had them over before so we knew it would be a great time. This was to be their last Thursday "in country" and I am honored that in the middle of moving out of their houses/apartments they came over to share a meal with us. Thanks Bill, Richard, Mike and Erik!

Eric

Don't you just love that smile!
Josh picked out his outfit for an early Christmas present.


Little Mr. Fix-It, just like his daddy.

I love this picture and the concentration on Eric's face.

Time to fix the wall!

Enough fixing!

Time to save the world from "bad guys"!

My artist...Erin

Erin is quite the artist. Here is a picture she drew of mommy thinking of boys. When asked who are the boys she replied, "Daddy! Because mommy thinks about daddy all of the time." How sweet!

Erin and Grandma

Erin had a great visit with my parents, we all did.

Erin recently drew a picture of Grandma

Here is the close up!

November 11, 2009 Deployment Day

Sorry to those of you on facebook as these are the same pictures.

Here is Josh in front of his company the morning they left.

This is the 1st Engineer Battalion

Col Whittle is addressing the soldiers and informing them that there is talk about more soldiers leaving Iraq this summer, but that will not include us. They will be there for a year and they will be training the Iraqi Army how to find and destroy IED's.

Bags ready to be sent.

We knew we would be there for several hours (this is our third deployment..we know the routine) so we set up camp. What you don't see is our cooler and a bag full of goodies.
Our last family picture until he comes home.

Erin and Emma making pictures for Daddy

Josh giving an award to LT Mike Ruiz

also known as "Mr. Mike" to the kids

A soldier waiting for the buses

Enjoying the beautiful weather

I am not sure who is taking whom for a walk.

Eric and Emma flying high

The white buses...oh how I dislike thee.

Final hugs and kisses good bye

Getting on the bus

One last touch good bye

A look

and a wave

God keep him safe!