What an amazing 2 weeks!

What a whirlwind of a 2 weeks we had together as a family. I am sorry it has taken me a while to blog it but it has taken me time to put all of my thoughts together.

Picking Steve up at the airport was the source of butterflies in my tummy! I was freaking out all morning and I couldn't wait to leave for the airport. It almost felt like a first date feeling, yet I was getting to see the man I already knew I loved more than anything! The moment I saw him I was overcome with emotions that I hadn't felt in some time. I also was blown away by Jonathan's reaction....he ran to steve so fast as soon as he saw his boots coming down the stairs into the luggage claim area. He jumped up for Steve to pick him up and didn't want to let go. I didn't want to let go either.

Throughout the two weeks, I joked with Steve saying that if I tied him up and didn't bring him to the airport, could I keep him? Of course I would never do that and I knew the answer to it but I just wanted the time to stop. I wanted to savor every moment.

Steve and I got to go out together as a couple while my friend Emily watched Jonathan for the night. We spent the night at Shades of Green which is a military resort on Disney property. We got stuck in a crazy rain storm (almost like the rain we got stuck in on our honeymoon, it was kinda fun). We didn't get to see the fireworks and parade like we had planned but that was okay.

We also spent time at Disney together as a family which was amazing! Jonathan is finally able to ride the 40 inch or taller rides and Steve got to experience the first times for Jonathan. Steve didn't ride Big Thunder Mountain but Jonathan and I did and Jonathan was so brave! He screamed with glee the whole time and when he got off, he ran to Steve and yelled, "Daddy, that was SO AWESOME!" He also rode Star Tours with Steve and me. That is one of my least favorite rides but Steve LOVES that ride so to see the two of them ride it together put a smile on my face:)

For 2 nights, we stayed at the hotel on MacDill Airforce Base and we enjoyed our time together. It was very low key but what a great time. We got to go to the beach and build sand castles. Jonathan thought it was so much fun to do this with Daddy:)

Lastly, we took our family pictures. We had it done through Operation Love Reunited like we did when Steve came back for his 4 day pass back in February. We were able to get our pictures done at the Boardwalk at Disney and although Jonathan was very cranky, Erika Hopkins worked her magic and I just can't wait to see the pictures. She was amazing with Jonathan (she had more patience than Steve and I combined!)

The 2 weeks really flew by. I miss Steve like crazy every single day. I didn't want to bring him to the airport. I was pretty proud of myself though. I didn't cry the night before like I had done both other times. I didn't even cry on the way to the airport. But when he got out of the car and he had already talked to Jonathan, I just lost it. I cried in his arms but knew it was time to let go and let him finish the mission he had started. I can't put into words how proud I am to be an Army wife. There is no other feeling like it in the world.

The final countdown....

I IM'd my dad today....I told him next week at this time, Steve will be here...OMG! I can not even contain myself. I keep visioning the first time I see him when I pick him up at the airport...I feel like it may be like seeing him for the first time all over again...like when we first starting dating. I probably will have butterflies. Actually I already have butterflies. I know he is going to be exhausted, how can he not be!?!?! But I would think it will be a different exhausted because he will be able to sleep in his own bed and not have to worry about everything he must think about on a daily basis overseas.
I can not wait for him to see the new house. I really hope he likes it. I haven't been able to do everything I want to do with it but we have tons of time. I can not wait to go to Disney with him. I can not wait to sit at the dinner table with him and have a conversation with him and not ask him to repeat himself a thousand times (sometimes the connection when we talk over the phone is not the best)...
If you can't tell at all...I AM EXCITED! :)

One week left!

I have one week left of school. I am excited and nervous all at the same time. This first year of teaching has been pretty difficult for me with it's ups and downs but I have loved it all the same. It is actually pretty sureal that it is the end of the year already. It marks almost the halfway point of Steve's deployment. I can not believe it! PLUS, it is now 2 weeks until Steve comes home. I can't even believe it is almost here already! This time away has been so hard on us as a family and I don't think anyone can understand until they have walked a day in our shoes. Every morning, I wake up sad. I look at the side of the bed where Steve would be laying and then I touch it....I rub my hand over it. But I become thankful that we are one wake up closer to being together. When I go to bed, I do the same routine, first sad, then thankful. Jonathan says every single day, "Mommy, I miss my daddy VERY MUCH." It breaks my heart but I know it is making him such a strong and brave little boy!
I still am quite nervous about Steve coming home. I know, it sounds ridiculous! I just want things to be perfect and we have been away from each other for so long, can it be perfect?
So, I continue getting through the next 2 weeks, first by finishing up this school year and hoping they ask me back...and then getting through the week until STeve comes home! But I registered Jonathan for swimming lessons that week (M-Th mornings) and that will help get us through!!!

Memorial Day....

I have to say that it really bugs me when people say, "Happy Memorial Day"...it is NOT a happy day. Not when we are remembering people who lost their lives serving our country. NOT when people here in the USA are living without our brave loved ones who are overseas protecting the great country we live in. Sorry...it is just a pet peeve of mine.

Anyways, we have had a fun weekend and I can't believe tomorrow is June!!! On Friday night I went out with my friend Angela and her boyfriend, Joe. We went for Hibachi and sushi and YUMM-O!!!! What a great time out with great friends!
Saturday, Jonathan and I didn't do much. I went to the gym and Jonathan and I hung out at home. Yesterday, again I went to the gym and then we went to Jonathan's friend's house for a BBQ. IT was a lot of fun. Jonathan and Nathan had a blast playing together in the pool while I got to have adult time! SOOO nice!
Today, I went to the gym and signed up for 3 free personal training sessions. I am pretty excited for them! I want to get myself in shape and make sure that I am building muscles too. Tonight, my friend Carol is coming over to hangout and we will have some bbq foods and maybe do some organization of the house...my least favorite thing to do.

So another thing that bugs me...Facebook, oh how I love facebook...but I got really bothered yesterday...it was reminding me in my events area that next Saturday, June 5 is my wedding anniversary...like I didn't know!!! Thank you for reminding me that it is my anniversary and Steve is half way accross the world...UGH THANKS!!!
Anyway, a 4 day work week and then this weekend is James Taylor concert with Randee!!! I can't wait!!!!
Thanks for reading.
God Bless America and God Bless our Troops

Wow, it has been awhile!!!

I can't believe how long it has been since I posted a new blog. SOOOO much has happened since the last time. I am going to try to make it short and sweet.
Work has been keeping me busy which is a good thing. I get to speak to Steve every few days which is really nice. Sometimes Jonathan doesn't want to talk to him but it is usually because he is preoccupied with a toy or a tv show or something. I really hope that Steve doesn't take offense to it because I can't tell you how many times he tells me each day how much he misses his daddy.
One HUGE thing that has happened in my absence is the fact that we moved!!! We were living in a town house with not a lot of room. I was driving about 40 minutes to work every day and it was just taking a toll on me. We moved to a house that is rent to own and I am so excited! IT is the most beautiful house i have ever seen and I can't wait for Steve to see it! I am really nervous for him to see it. I want him to love it as much as I do!
Steve gets to come home in June for a couple of weeks and I can not be more excited!!!! But I am also really nervous. It has been so long since I have seen him. Yes I saw him for 4 days in February but in all reality it has been 5 months. What if things are different? It kind of scares me. I love him so much. I don't want things to be different.
I am trying to plan everything that Steve has asked for while he is home. I want it to be a special time. I want him to enjoy every minute!!! UGH I can't WAIT until he steps off that plane!!!
Otherwise, things have have pretty much been the same. I have become great friends with our family readiness chair and I don't know what I would do without her. She has been such a help through this move. Her husband is overseas with Steve so she is someone who knows exactly what I am going through. I am enjoying our new house but it is quiet...I get sad a lot. I cry a lot...but I am doing it...I am making it through this year and no one can take that away from me, no matter how much I cry or complain!

My birthday

My birthday was a day I was dreading. I was really excited on the one hand because my sister was going to be here...on the other hand, without Steve, I felt like a little piece was missing from day. He sent me two different things and they both were super special but for different reasons. On Monday, my sister told me their was a box waiting for me. When I got home I opened it and it had a SHIRT!!! For those who haven't been following my blog closely, I had a shirt from Steve (already worn) and it smelled just like him! I slept with it every night but it finally lost his smell. I was really heatbreaking for me because it helped me sleep. So now I have another one!!! I have been sleeping so much better with it.
Then yesterday, on my actual birthday, I was called up to the office and there was a delivery for me! Steve sent my flowers!!!!!! This is awesome because it was the first time he has ever sent them to me! They are beautiful purple roses! I am so excited!!!
My friends and family really made the day special for me. I still felt a little lost without my better half here to celebrate with me but it is okay, I know next time I celebrate being a year older...HE WILL BE HOME!!!!
My sister and I have been having fun together and we have plans for the rest of the week/weekend until she flies back to MA. I am really excited because she and my friend Carol talked me into celebrating 31 this weekend with my friends so we are all going to Jellyrolls which is a dueling piano bar at Disney! Should be a lot of fun!!!

Such a sweet moment...

Yesterday when I picked up my mail after being away for a few days I had a little note from the post office saying I had an oversized envalope waiting for me. I couldn't think of what I would be getting and it totally intrigued me. Could it be an early birthday present??? Could it be a package for Jonathan???
So I picked it up today and when the person at the post office gave it to me, I saw it was addressed to Steve and the return address was from his old unit in Orlando. I can't say that I wasn't disappointed. I so badly thought in the back of my head that it was something from Steve for me. I politely thanked the gentleman and walked out; package in one hand, Jonathan holding the other.
When we got into the car, I figured I had better open it, just incase it was an important document or something Steve might need overseas. When I opened it, I realized that I had been all wrong! It WAS for me!!! Well not intentionally but it sure felt like it was just what me and Jonathan needed! Last JULY Steve had professional pictures taken at his unit, and that is what was in the package!
So, Jonathan had a really hard afternoon today...It started off that he was overtired but overall, I really think he was just missing Steve. So I cut out one of the pictures and let him bring it to bed. While we were reading our story and saying our prayers at bedtime, he held it, stared at it, and then said, "I love you daddy, I miss you daddy" and proceeded to give it a kiss and then kiss his finger and put it on the picture. I can't tell you how much I wanted to burst into tears but I held it together. I could see in his eyes that he really wanted to be with Steve. Heartbreaking! But it made me smile to know that this picture was helping him feel closer to Steve. I wish I had something that made me feel like Steve was closer...(for those of you who have been following, Steve's shirt officially does not have his scent any longer but I still can not wash it yet).