My two little alligators

Day 8

Not much to report today. We had a pretty quiet day. We all got up and just played and worked around the house. We received a phone call from Abrahm this morning so that was definitely the highlight. Nothing new to report from Afghanistan. He is doing well. He will probably be going on his first flight tomorrow so please say a prayer that it goes smoothly.

After Adalee's nap, we packed up and headed to the grocery store. I needed to pick up a couple of things so we just went to Kroger instead of going all the way onto Post. All 3 were remarkably well behaved so it was a pretty quick trip. We then came home, ate lunch and everyone took naps.

After naps the boys played. They cooked me many wonderful things in their kitchen. Adalee had a pretty rough afternoon. She was so whiny and fussy and I just had a hard time making her happy. She finally got happier when we ate dinner. She ate a ton! We had baked chicken, mac and cheese, peas and peaches. She loves feeding herself. When she wants to she can put away some food.

All 3 are sleeping now and I am finishing up our load of laundry for the day. Not sure what's on tap for tomorrow. Maybe a trip to Nashville, but more than likely just cleaning the house instead. Sounds like fun. Don't you want to join us?

Day 7

One week ago this evening I dropped Abrahm off for the third and final time! After all of the craziness with the delays I was ready for him to leave, but at the same time my heart was breaking. Now a week has gone by and we're all doing okay. We've had a week of ups and downs (like any other week) and we've survived! The kids and I are making it as well as Abrahm. He called today and we were able to talk for a while. He is finally getting settled and into a routine (aka: lots of meetings). So tonight after the kids went to bed, I got out some cheese and crackers and poured myself a glass of wine and toasted US. All of us. I toasted us making it through the first of many weeks to come. I so wished Abrahm were here to share this glass of wine with me, but in just 15 short months :) he will be! So Lovey, here's to us and making the most of the next 15 months until we're reunited again! I love you!
PS. I'll save you a bottle of wine (unlike donuts, it should age just fine!)

Our first trip to the Post Office today. We mailed Abrahm 3 packages! The theme was Winter Wonderland. Can you guess what was in them????

Alden playing at Cracker Barrel waiting for his lunch. Our neighbor is the manager of our local Cracker Barrel. Just FYI, anyone in the area that is military, just make sure you tell them at your next visit and you get 20% off of your lunch and any other purchases.

Adalee eating lunch at Cracker Barrel

Alden making me toast

Adam busy cooking this evening

Day 6

We had a very busy day today! We dropped Adam off at school at 8:30 this morning. Then Alden, Adalee and I went to our Mom's Group Bible Study at church. While we were there Abrahm called. We were able to talk for a little while today. Things are going well there. He is now finished with classes and will officially start his real job tomorrow!

After Mom's Group we went to Chick Fil A with friends. Alden and Adalee had a great time. Alden loves playing on the playground and they even have a little section for Adalee to play too! After Chick Fil A, we picked up Adam and headed back home for Adalee and Alden to take naps. While they were napping Adam and I worked on his Hidden Picture book. He loves looking for hidden things on the pages. He's actually pretty good at it.

After naps we went to church for dinner and choir and class. Adam was cute tonight. We were sitting at the table eating dinner and he leaned over to me and pointed to the table beside us and said, "Mommy, those are my dance teachers!" (They were actually his choir teachers.) I guess they've made an impression on him!

Nothing else exciting to report from here. We're heading on to Post tomorrow to grocery shop and pick up refills of the kids medicines. Hopefully tonight will be as uneventful as last night!


The boys watching Abrahm read a book before bed.
Right before Abrahm left the boys picked out several books for Abrahm to read and record. So at night before bed the kids catch watch Abrahm. They get so excited, they keep wanting to watch more! What a great way for them to stay connected.

Both boys pointing to something Abrahm asked them to find in the story he was reading

Adam thinking about something Abrahm asked them while he was reading

Smiling at Daddy reading a story

Adalee holding her bottle one handed before bed this evening

Alden eating his ice cream from Chick Fil A this afternoon. Did you know that at Chick Fil A you can take the toy from the kids meal and trade it in for an ice cream cone? We always trade our toys in . It's a win-win. The kids get ice cream and I don't get those junky toys all over my house! :)

Adalee playing at church this morning

Day 5

Well after a good night's sleep, things were much better around here today. The children were still up at normal time, but they played really well. We played with trains and legos and trucks and blocks today. It amazes me how much time they can actually spend playing with their trains. I bet they spend 1 - 2 hours a day at least with them.

When Adalee took her morning nap we played Bingo and wrote in their journals. Abrahm and I started keeping journals for each other when we were separated way back when we were dating. So I thought it would be a good idea for the boys to keep journals for their Daddy to read when he gets back home. They just tell me something to write that's on their mind and I write the words and they draw the picture. It's very interesting since Alden really only scribbles still and Adam seems to inherit my lack of artistic ability. He draws some things, but definitely prefers to color instead.

We ran a few errands for Abrahm's Winter Wonderland package we're going to mail him. The kids had fun and then we came home to nap. The boys both took good naps, but little Adalee didn't rest. Her diaper rash or possibly another ear infection is really bothering her. We'll see how she is tomorrow and if she doesn't sleep well tonight we'll be heading back to the doctor. Such fun!

Nothing else very exciting going on here. Tomorrow will be a super busy day so I should have lots to report about tomorrow!


Adalee with one of the boys sippy cups. She can actually drink out of them now. Looks like I need to get her her own pink one!

The boys with their super long train!

The boys working on the computer. For those of you with preschool age kids a great website is www. starfall.com. It's all about phonics and reading. The boys love it.

Day 4

Well the word for today would be sleep...or lack of it! It seems everyone's adjustment problems are coming out by way of not sleeping. Adam hasn't napped in 2 days and was awake at 4:45 this morning. Alden was awake off and on all night last night and didn't go to sleep during naptime. Adalee also had a really hard time sleeping last night and during nap today (I think her rash is bothering her). Usually sleep is not an issue for our family. Everyone takes naps in the afternoon and they are all in bed no later than 8:00. But for some reason sleep is getting awfully hard to come by here. I hope our luck is changing. Tonight they all went to bed very easily and fell asleep quickly. Let's hope they all decide to sleep all night!

But for sleep deprived kiddos they did okay today. We just stayed home this morning and played and worked on a couple of little projects. The boys got along very well, especially since they were both so tired. This evening we dropped sack lunches off at our church for some of the homeless men our church feeds. We then went to the grocery store, where everyone was once again pretty good. It's never fun to take all 3 grocery shopping especially at 5:30 at night, but they all were really well behaved. We came home, ate dinner, put our jammies on and were in bed by 7:30. Cross your fingers for us this evening!

As far as Abrahm is concerned, he called this afternoon. Adam actually got to talk to him as well. He is doing pretty good. He had classes all day today and tomorrow as well I believe. He is going to try and post/comment on the blog in the next couple of days. Computer time is hard to come by right now. He is currently sharing a computer in his office with the person he is replacing. He should be able to get the internet hooked up in his room before much longer which will be a big blessing!

Well speaking of sleep, I think I am heading that way myself. Below are pics of the kids actually sleeping this evening. After the past couple of days, it felt like a great accomplishment! :)


Adalee asleep in the corner of her crib tonight

Alden falls asleep in the strangest ways