It's been a long time...sorrry

Sorry it's been SO long since I last posted. It has been a little chaotic adjusting to Chris being gone and having to do everything alone. First let me start by saying that is was so hard to send him off. He said goodnight and good bye to the kids the night before and it was horrible! Brody doesn't understand, of course, and Reilly was really sad. We got through the next day and so we started our first week without him.

He started in Mississippi, and that was great because he had a regular schedule and was able to Skype with me and the kids almost every day. He filled us in on what he was doing (mostly paperwork to get ready for deployment) and Brody got used to seeing him on the computer. In fact, every time I went to sit downat the computer he came running, screaming "Daddyyyyyy" and then screaming even more when I told him he wasn't there.
Reilly was doing a little better about it. It was still summer and we had fun things planned. She got to sleep in my bed and we had Mommy/Daughter slumber parties with movies and popcorn. She enjoyed that and it kept her mind off Chris being gone. She also did a week long "Footloose" Camp witch she thought was awesome. So all in all the first week was ok.

Then he went to Fort Dix, New Jersey......This is where the bulk of his training takes place. He is shooting guns, driving Humvees and learning how to choke people out with his bare hands. Wonderful! He likes the training but obviously misses his family. We don't get to Skype as much because he doesn't have internet in his barracks so he has to go the rec center or bowling alley. He is 3 hours ahead of AZ time so it makes it a little hard to catch him at one of those places. Also, his training is all through the day at different times everyday. We talk  when we can and the kids get to see him on Skype every once in a while. He usually calls every night before bedtime though and that is always nice.

He has had a few different briefs on "Kuwait" and so far all we really know is that he is going to "Kuwait." If you know anything about the military it's that they don't tell you anything until moments before it happens. He did find out that he can take a 2 week leave while he is there and that the military will pay for the ticket. So, that's nice.

Other than that we are just eagerly waiting for him to come home after all his training. From what he has hear he should be home at the very beginning of  September but it will only be for a few days, then off to Kuwait.
We miss him like crazy and we are hoping that the time goes by fast!

7 days

It's here...the last 7 days before Chris leaves for training. It is amazing the things you remember have to be done when you know your other half won't be with you in 7 days.
We had to fit a camper in our garage, which meant cleaning the garage and trying to shove as much into the attic as possible. But not anything that i might need while he is gone.
We finally finished up Brody's room. Got everything hung on the walls. Chris Put closet organizers in the kids closets. We need shelves hung still.
Chris went through his clothes and packed the ones up that he wanted to keep, to give me more room in our closet (that was nice, huh?) He set aside a special pile of t shirts for Reilly, so I can make a quilt out of them and a "Daddy Pillow."
He set up a landscaper so I wouldn't have to worry about the yard and gave me an excel sheet of all the important numbers. Who changes the oil and how much it costs, passwords to oddball accounts etc..
It's just so hard to think of everything that needs to be done. I know I will have people to help but it won't be the same as my Hubby.

It really hit me Monday afternoon. I am going to have to figure things out alone for the next year and two months and learn how to get along without him. He really does a lot for our family and I can't imagine living without him.

Most of all I am sad for my kids. Brody will be a totally different boy when Chris comes back. He has just now really stated to cling to his Dad and call him by name to give him hugs and kisses. He loves playing with his Daddy so much and he lights up every time he sees him. My favorite is when he runs for him and screams "Daddy...Hiiiiiiii!" I hope he will have the same reaction when he sees him on video or on skype.

Reilly may be taller than Chris when he gets back. She is getting so tall already. She hasn't said much about him leaving but I know it is on her mind. When I ask her about it she just says it makes her sad and she doesn't want to think about it. She is going to miss him shaking his booty on stage at Dance Competitions and at the end of the year "Daddy/Daughter" dance. She will miss her Daddy and I know that we will help each other get through this.

This week has been all about friends saying their last good byes.

Monday was swimming and dinner with friends
Tuesday was a movie and dinner with my parents
Wednesday was Hanging out and dinner with friends
Thursday is swimming with all the soccer peeps and dinner
Friday is Breakfast with friends and dinner with Chris' parents
Saturday is Reillys Birthday
Sunday morning Chris leaves

My overall feeling while writing this post is extremely sad :( However I know it won't even come close to the feelings I will be having Sunday morning when I have to tell my kids to give Daddy one last kiss and say Goodbye...

Chris' Thoughts

In case you didn't know, Chris has started his own little blog through Facebook. It is defiantly not as cool as mine....well, it's not too cool yet but It will get there....I will be posting some of his posts here as well. It will be interesting to compare whats going on in our lives  on two different sides of the world. Enjoy...

"I am definitely not ready to leave for 400 days let me answer that right now.  I still have a house for sale, a garage to organize, a camper to store, stuff to pack, paperwork to figure out, worry about how my family is going to get along without me.....  And so on and so on!  I just hope to get through this as fast as I can.  I want all of the stuff that is necessary before I leave to get done.  I worry that my wife will collapse under the pressure of raising two kids without me, plus try to get through nursing school.  I can’t believe I am leaving in 16-18 days (depending when my flight is).  And what is really weird is that I was supposed to leave on May 6th but I was pushed back!  At lease I got to see Reilly’s dance recital and have one last dance with her, and to play with my son a few more times.  I am reminded by my wife daily that I am going to miss the times that I had with my kids even if those times were frustrating.  I need to soak up every single minute I have because as of right now there are not that many left.  I have a great family and I am saddened that I have to leave them, this will be my first military experience with a family, before I was single without a care in the world.  Two more going away parties to go, one for work, and one for family and friends.  Well stay tuned for the next installment prior to my departure."

My First post!

My first post! I am soooo new to this blog thing so bear with, it will get better I promise. I am starting this blog mostly to keep Chris updated on the happening in AZ while he is away, but I would also love to share it with anybody else who wants to listen. There are going to be sad days and happy days, good days and days that I want to jump off a cliff and I guess this is the best way to share that with everybody! (Especially my hubby)