It all doesn't matter if we don't have each other.: March 2013

Saturday, March 23, 2013

Only about 72 hours left

While O'lena and I are gearing up to go visit Derick in a couple of days, we went and ate sushi with a friend. O'lena tried her first piece and practiced with her chop sticks! She did such a good job. Our friend Jamie was sitting next to her and almost got whacked a few times, but she was a good sport. I think O'lena likes her. She is always asking to see her, and her friends, and Oma. Actually she generally just goes down the list until I say yes. We have been doing pretty good since D left. A lot better last time, not as depressed, but defiantly stressed. It was by the grace of God that he got four day leave over my Spring Break. I would have been heart broken because I couldn't have taken any more time off of work. We think he is going to be shipped out right after he gets back because that is what usually happens. Then it is the real test.

Anyways here is a video of O'lena eating with chopsticks and then they gave her the little thing they give kids. She did such a goo job!!

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

O'lena getting ready for picture day

I thought this picture was so stinking cute! It was picture day at school and she s so excited to dance around in her "pretty dress".

Saturday, March 2, 2013

Mommy and lenny :)

Life is trucking now that D is gone. O'lena and I are just kind of getting it done. I am just now realizing that it only has been a week....wow it has felt like at least 4 so far... anyways. It has been really nice because we get to talk with him several times a day. He is still in the states in training for a little while. We just found out too that he will get some leave before he leaves and it has correlated with my spring break!! I about died when I found out. I think I scared my students and intern too. (I got the news at school.) My friend and I are in plans now trying to get it put together, but the problem about the Army is that you never know anything until the very last minute. He will ship out sometime between the end of the month and the beginning of April, but they are not telling them specifics for security purposes.

The other day she wanted to dress up like Sleeping Beauty and wanted to go trick or treating. So we got her in her dressed and play trick or treat. I am enjoying this age. She is make believing and wanting to have friends and learning about relationships. We have had a spot of the the sickness. Lena got a fever and had to come home. She is better now. I just hate it when she is sick and he is not here :(

Before he left I made him read some of her books on video. She has started to really watch them. She asks for her daddy books and goes and get his books and my iPad and posts up for a good session with daddy, It has been really nice too that his schedule has worked out that he has been doing story time and prayer time with us on Skype. On ward and up ward!

This is Lena singing her princess song. Excuse the eating of snot at the end....

Derick leaving...again...no wait...there he goes

http://www.winknews.com/Local-Florida/2013-02-23/National-Guard-units-leaves-Arcadia-for-deployment-to-Qatar#.UTKijFf7619

http://www.floridaguard.army.mil/282903

We got an extra day with Derick!!!! Some of the soldiers had to leave from Sebring but D got to come home for another day. We were up early EARLY to get to his Unit. Luckily we have made fast friends with another family and carpooled together. I thought we would be just dropping him off and leaving again but we got to stay and watch him leave. again....and again.... They had some technical issues with Derick's bus so there was a bit of starting and stopping, but they got it together and finally pulled away.

O'lena looking at all the "Daddy soldiers" as she calls them.

Our family picture

Derick on his bus...notice how dark it is....

Went around front then stopped.

Good part was they made all the soldiers get off the bus and I got another kiss!!!!

Stuck bus at the battery.

They totally got a police escort out of town!!

And off they go....notice the light now, haha

They drove them through town and there were many people out waving to all the men. Everyone was following behind in a caravan. It was really neat.

Yeah, this is where I lost it. I was doing great up to this point!

Soldiers say goodbyes in Sebring before deployment | News | Sebring-Avon Park-Wauchula News

D is in the very back on the right.

Here are some pictures from Derick's deployment ceremony. The put together a family day for everyone. It was fun, with a lot of waiting around. I think O'lena had a good time. She got her first experience with clowns. She also learned how to take pictures.