Funny Miss Emmie

Emmie said a couple of things today that I thought were pretty funny, so I thought I would post them here so I could remember them later.

Emmie has been really worried about me going back to school, she is worried about what will happen if she gets sick at school etc. and I am not here to go get her. I never really thought about the fact that the kids have never had me anywhere but home, so it didn't occur to me that they derived any comfort from the fact I have always been available. I keep assuring her that I will keep my phone on me and come home if I am needed, and that I wont take any summer classes, but she still asks when I am starting all the time, and I kept telling her the date I might start if accepted for this semester (not a done deal since I was technically past the deadline.)

So today when I got my letter of acceptance from the school I told her about it so she stayed in the loop of what was going on. When Paul got home I mentioned to him that I had called my mother to let her know what was going on (I wasn't too specific because we didn't tell the kids too much about what was going on with the possible job change.)

Emmie turned to me and said, "You told your mom about being accepted at school so she would send you school supplies?"
I laughed and said, "no, Nana won't send me any school supplies."
Emmie: "Why not, my mommy gets me my school supplies?"
Me: "I know, what a rip off huh?"
Emmie (getting indignant) : "Ya, a total rip off, alls you gets from Nana is a good luck!"
Me (trying not to laugh): "What the heck? Where are my school supplies?"
Emmie (getting more and more irate) : "Ya, and sometimes Nana tries to bite me!"

ummmmmmm........... okay. (to be fair my mother is a notorious baby nibbler, she loves to kiss and bite little cheeks)

Then we went to the gym (where Paul tried to kill me) and dropped the kids off at the play place. Paul and I went to workout (where he really did try to kill me) and for a run on the ellipticals. When we were done we decided to go and get the kids so we could go home and get cleaned up so we could go out for a celebratory diner. I picked the kids up, we all headed out to the car, and about half way home Emmie burst out in a pannic,

"Oh NO! I left that girl at the gym personal jinxed, what if I never see her again?"

we had to convince her that saying her name in the car counted, and indeed *Hope* will speak again.

Paul's homecoming

Yes I know these are all kinds of out of order, but I am just trying to catch up as I find pictures of last year.

I didn't post much while Paul was gone, because I was kind of a bummer then, but also because I never know what to post security wise, so I would rather not post anything!

The day Paul called me and told me he was coming home I just cried and cried! I was so excited and even though I knew he wouldn't be home until late at night, I put the sign the kids and I made on the house and ran straight to school at 11:00 a.m. to get them!

It was so funny, as soon as I got to the office to check them out, they asked my what I was taking them for, I burst into tears again telling them that my husband was coming home (It is making me cry now just thinking about it, I am such a baby.) This very tall complete stranger gave me a big hug, and everyone was laughing at me, not meanly but I just think the happiness was infectious. Isaac and Emmie came bursting into the office and as soon as they saw me Isaac shouted "Is Daddy coming home?" (Oh my gosh, I'm such a baby, I cannot tell this story at all with out just sobbing. I had put off doing it in the hopes time would make me less of a baby, but no luck.)

Anyway after months of holding it together I just sobbed as I started driving with the kids, and then I ran out of gas!!!! I KNOW what a stupid thing to do, but apparently it was exactly what I needed because I just started laughing, and it snapped me right out of the freaking out I was doing.

I hadn't had any car trouble the whole time Paul was gone, and the day I go to get him I end up on the side of the road, calling roadside assistance, and having gas brought to me, wouldn't you know it I had no cash on me, so it was an ordeal to get them to take a card # and then because I had sat for so long with my hazards on the battery needed to be jumped! I just kept laughing the whole time, it was the grounding I needed. We drove up to BWI and checked into a hotel, and changed our clothes in preparation for seeing Paul for the first time. I was so nervous, you see I had lost 30lbs while Paul was deployed, and I was so excited for him to see me!

When we got to the airport there was a whole greeting committee waiting for the flights that were coming in. The kids helped Operation Welcome Home volunteers hang signs, and we were beside ourselves with excitement while waiting.

The kids had made special t shirts that said "my daddy is my hero" and they had painted American flags and yellow ribbons on them. They hurt my heart so much to see them standing there, they had missed him so much.

Paul was the second flight for the evening, and one of the last people to get off of the second flight, we waited for so many people to come through, I got so worried that some how he wasn't on the flight, then all of a sudden I saw the shadow of his distinct walk coming around the corner, and I knew it was him. I tried the whole time we were waiting to remember the advice of the MC while my sister was in the Miss AZ pageant, and try to "pretty cry" but I don't think I managed it.

I was such a mess, but luckily had been smart enough to remember to buy water proof mascara for the occasion.

Poor Paul couldn't find a moment to disengage himself from any of us the moment he got back, we went to the hotel room so he could change, and then out for a late diner since none of us had eaten.

That evening was so special for all of us, we missed him so much while he was gone, but are so proud of his service, he is the best man I have ever met, and being in the Air Force is a huge part of who he is, and we love all of it, even the hard bits.

here is the video of the first time we saw him.

Paul's last day in DC

On Paul's last day working in DC we all went with him so we could be a part of his going away ceremony. He was awarded a medal for his time in DC and given a book as a reminder of his time there.

We all went to the O'club for lunch to celebrate with him and to say goodbye to the coworkers that Paul enjoyed so much over the last 4 years (well not all of them, it's the military after all, lots of people had come and gone during Paul's unusually long time in DC)

A quick family picture, can you tell we are all very proud of Paul?

That night we all went to Applebee's as a family (the kids like the apple restaurant) and they happened to have a face painter there, she was awesome!

Isaac was the human torch, and Emmie was Daddy's favorite cat, a snow leopard.

Have you ever seen eyes like these?

I love his smile, he just puts his heart into it!

Disney World

So, after Paul got back, we decided to celebrate with the kids in Disney World! We invited my sister Sarah and her husband Scot (who Paul and the kids had never met) to come with us, we all had a wonderful time! Sarah and Scot flew into Richmond so we could all drive down to Florida together, and we had a great time chatting on the drive. We are lucky enough to have kids that travel really well, so we actually love road trips and the concentrated family time.

We are all HUGE fans and believers in Disney Magic!

Sarah and her Hunny!

My swiney kids, they really adore each other honest!

Epcot!

This picture makes me smile, Miss Emmie is always trying to squish between us!

We all loved the fast rides, it's so fun to go with people who all want to try the same rides!

The Everest Experience rollercoaster!

We spent 5 days in the Park and it was awesome, I had gone away with Paul after he first got back, but this was Isaac and Emmie's time to really be with Dad again, and I hope they made memories that will last forever!