Grandparents Day Weekend

My parents came in town for the weekend to celebrate Grandparents Day with us and to take me to a UT game! :) We started off the weekend with a yummy dinner at Famous Daves and then some UT apparel shopping for the game. The day ended with playing chase in the house, tickling Ellie and eating some yummy cake! :)

Saturday morning, Dad helpedme do some errands (oil change on the Highlander, picking up a part for a toilet at Lowes) so that was productive. Then, Jesse's parents graciously took Ellie for most of the day on Saturday so I could go to the UT/Cincinnati football game with my parents. One of my old jobs at UT was working for the Parents Association during graduate school. This year was the 10 year anniversary of the association and I was invited with my parents to the Family Weekend tailgate. We went down there and had a good ol' TN tailgate lunch and got to see a few old co-workers/bosses. We were able to see the Vol Walk (Mom was determined to see Derek Dooley in person) and catch the procession of the Pride of the Southland Band to the stadium. We went by the bookstore and then went on to the stadium to enoy all the pre-game festivities. We had gotten some AMAZING seats, due to the buyer from StubHub sending me the wrong tickets and getting a choice from them of seats to make up for it. We ended up in section T (around the 40 yd line, right under the overhang) and enjoyed every minute of it. The weather was perfect and the shade made it even better! We also ended up having decent people around us who were there to really watch the game. After the awesome win, we headed over to Jesse's parents house to meet up with Ellie and have some yummy homemade veggie pizza (thanks to Karen Cragwall). It was a great day.

On Sunday, my parents came to church with us and then we met up with Jesse's parents and sister for brunch to celebrate Grandparents Day. Ellie was entertaining as usual! She had made them each a craft at school that week so she gave them their presents there. Mom and I did some errands that afternoon while Ellie slept and then we ended the day with my small group coming over. It was a great weekend altogether. Happy Grandparents Day to Mimi, Pa, Grandmommy and Grandadddy! Oh and GO VOLS!

2 Short Visits From Daddy

Yep, you read it right! The Ft. Dix pre-mobilization soldiers messed up Jesse's flight schedule (and 3 others from his unit) to where he was sitting around waiting to get a flight but they had put him on one and never told him! SO, the last 2 weeks, Jesse has come home on 4 day passes. CRAZY, huh?! Although it has been an emotional roller and a little pricey, we have had a great time having some extra days with him. On the first 4 day pass, I had lots of training for work, so Jesse had some quality time with Ellie, including a little Daddy/Daughter date. We also had some fun at the YMCA pool and were able to celebrate his Dad's birthday with his family.

This last 4 day pass was really fun. We were able to go to the YMCA pool again before it closes, a day trip to the Knoxville Zoo and Litton's for lunch, some errands and a good ol' football Saturday! Jesse was even able to go to church this morning to see everyone. Of course, we got lots of "I thought he already left - what's going on?" looks!

This deployment has been so weird, but I will take any extra days with him that I can get. I'm sure you other military wives know what I am talking about - the quality time outweighs the "goodbye mourning" we have to go through each time they leave. Jesse heads out this week on a flight to Afghanistan so he REALLY TRULY IS GONE this time. No more 4 day passes. No more medical leaves. The deployment really begins now. Definitely pray for him as he adjusts to the time change and environment. Also, he has been moved jobs and company's so he's going into a very unknown situation and work environment.

He's Really Gone This Time

Well, Jesse finally got orders and was mobilized Tuesday, reporting to Ft. Dix, NJ for the next little bit to finish all his pre-deployment training before catching a plane to Afghanistan. We have had 9 WONDERFUL weeks with him full of quality family time and I am so grateful that we had that. The only thing I hate is that we had to do our goodbyes all over again. I hate them with a passion. And the 24 hours leading up to it is awful...the last cuddle, the last meal together, the last outing, the last WHATEVER...it's just cruel. So, this time, he's really gone. He was medically cleared about 3 weeks ago, but we were just waiting around for Big Army to get their act together and write up his orders. Ellie and I took him to the airport and each had our time to say goodbye. Ellie needed to do that to understand a little bit that Daddy's gone bye bye. She is much more attached this time so it's going to be a little more of a transition the next few weeks, but she is resilient. Jesse is missed dearly already and I crave his presence in our daily lives already. BUT, God has a plan and right now it involves him being away for a long time. Lord, grant me patience and contentment as Ellie and I move forward and get through this time of separation. Help us honor you with this deployment. Please keep my husband safe and bring him home soon!

Thankful for this...

It's so true how kids mimick everything you do. There is one thing that Ellie mimicks that I am so thankful for....saying her prayers.

2 Weeks in FL

When Jesse had agreed to do this depoyment, I planned a 2 week trip to FL to have help from my parents and get a little vacation in during the break in my contract with Pellissippi. Lucky for us, Jesse was able to be here during that time to go with us! The only bad thing about the trip was that we were always in limbo on if he would hear anything from Big Army about him going so we had to plan our vacation day by day. She did as best as can be expected on our flights to and from FL, but I'll take a 90 minute flight over 10 hours of driving any day!

We were able to be in Bartow for July 4th this year and our family has always had a few traditions for that holiday. We always have people over, grill out and eat homemade vanilla ice cream. We end the holiday by setting up chairs on the driveway and watch the town's firework show, which is pretty good for a small town! Jesse and I ventured out to Bartow's Festival, but it ended up not being anything more than a walk around the festivities. Here are some pictures from our holiday with family and friends.

The rest of the first week was spent in my parents pool, we had a little date night full of seafood and baseball, and a family trip to the Florida Aquarium in Tampa. We celebrated my mom's 65th birthday and ended the week with a day at the beach with the Shaefer's, but only made it out on the actual beach for about 30 minutes due to weather. Here are some pictures from the rest of the week.

Our 2nd week was full of more time in the pool, some visits with friends, another (with better weather) day at the beach with the Shaefer's and a Friday night Ray's game. I was able to see my high school friends Ashley Valenti (Pup) and Hayley Hurd, people I didnt' get to see during my March visit. We ended up going over to Anna Maria Island for lunch to introduce the Shaefer's to one of our favorite places to eat and then headed back to Longboat Key for a few hours at the beach with them. Ellie had a blast playing with Kinsley and also experiencing the beach for the first time. We had planned to go to the Ray's game and it just so happened that the Shaefer's were going too, so we ended up going together for a fun evening while my parents babysat Ellie.

Overall, it was a great visit to FL and since we were there so long, we were able to space out our time with visiting people and relax more. Ellie was able to spend lots of quality time with "Mimi" and "Papa" (those are her chosen names as of yet for them) as well as quality time for our little family together. Plus, Ellie turned 19 months the day after we returned so enjoy our pics of our growing little girl!