I did it!

Our trip to Alabama was a success! I really wasn't sure how it would be flying across the USA by myself with a 4 year old and an 18 month old. All I knew was that after being without my husband for 18 days, I would do anything to see him. It was wonderful! The kids did great on the flights to and from and we had an amazing 11 days seeing the sights in Alabama and Tennessee. Best of all were Brian's welcome home each day from Training. We would wait, watch out the window or out the doors of the hotel & when the bus would pull up Brianna would jump up and down, Brice would throw his hands in the air above his head and yell hooray, then they would run and jump in his arms. He was the luckiest daddy for that week and a half.

Now, we only have 3 days until he comes back home. Hip Hip Hooray! We can't wait to have him back.

At the NASA Air and Space Museum in Huntsville Alabama.



At the Huntsville Botanical Gardens. Brice slept as Brianna and I were in awe of all of the Butterflies. They were enclosed inside a butterfly garden area and hundreds were flying all around. Brianna got to touch several, saw cocoons, caterpillars and butterfly eggs. It was stunning!


We all went to the Jack Daniel's Distillary in Lynchburg Tennessee. This is a huge, beautiful area were the legendary whisky is made & believe it or not Lynchburg is a dry city. They only sell the commemerative bottles at the distillary. It was a georgous day and Brice learned a new word. Unstead of saying cheese for the camera it was WHISKY! GREAT!!!


Horsey! Horsey! Neigh... Brice loves animals and was so excited to take a carriage ride from the distillary to the little shops downtown Lynchburg. Brianna got to sit up front, hold the reins and shout commands to the horse. All the stores in this little town close at 4:30, it felt like a trip to the past.


It was off to Nashville Tennessee & the Grand Ole Opry. Another beautiful day, with rain showers here and there. This structure was amazing. We didn't run into any famous people, but heard the visitors from the weekend before got to meet Carrie Underwood. Lots of memoriabilia from past and present artists.


It was hard to leave after having such a great time. I am thankful that we got to go to a place that we likely would have never gone to & saw so many wonderful things. I am thankful that we got to spend time with the most important man to us. I am thankful that I did it, 2 small children, luggage, a rental car, stroller and carry on items. It was a journey I will never forget.

Adventures in Alabama

We MADE it! It was a rough landing around 2:30pm on Thursday afternoon. Apparently there was a tornado that touched down at the airport moments before or after we landed. As we got off the plane, rain was coming down hard and the wind was blowing, but we were oblivious that a tornado touched down! Things were pretty crazy at the airport but about an hour after we got off the plane, we made it to our rental car. It was a sight to see, luckily Brianna was a pretty good helper!

Daddy arrived back from training and met us in the parking lot at the Hotel not long after we got there. Both kids fell asleep in the car so I needed the help getting up to the room. Everyone was excited to see Dad after missing him for 18 days. On Friday we went shopping and explored Huntsville, Alabama. The only grocery stores around here are Target and Walmart. I asked someone at Target if they had a grocery store around and they just looked at me funny and said with their accent, this is a grocery store. Don't get me wrong, they have groceries but I was thinking a Safeway or Albertson's.

Saturday we got to spend the entire day with Daddy & had a great time. We went to the US Space and Rocket Center. It was amazing! Then we went to a swimming pool in the evening, which was Brianna's highlight. We put the kids to bed and Brian was studying, I was reading & the news was on. We saw flashes of light and the sky started grumbling louder than I have ever heard. We opened the curtains of our 2nd floor hotel room & watched the storm outside as they reported the development and movement on TV. At 12:30am a guy came knocking on all the doors and was shouting "everyone needs to evacuate to the first floor hallway". So... we scooped up each kid and headed with their blankets to the first floor. We all hung out in the hallway for 30 min then they said it was safe to go back to our rooms. At 1am we had to evacuate again for another 30 min. A tornado touched down a few cities away. The storm went through a few states nearby and there was devastation. However this didn't seem to be that big of a deal to most people here, just a common occurrence for this time of the year. Tonight Brianna said "I hope it's not another crazy night" I asked what does that mean, she said "Thunder & Lightning".

Mother's Day was nice, we went shopping at a ritzy outdoor mall, had lunch in a Blues Cafe where there was live music. Then went to the carosell where the kids had a great time. Today we relaxed and had a picnic in the park. Brice called the ducks, chickens and loved feeding them. We waited for Daddy to come home & watched out the window. When he stepped off the Bus both kids shouted Daddy! and Brice put his arms up in the air and shouted Horray! We opened the hotel room door and they ran down the hall to greet him. The love they have for him is undeniable.

Happy Mother's Day

Since we will be in Alabama on Mothers Day, I wanted to send out a Happy Mother's Day note to all you Mother's out there. Being a Mother is the most important job I have, and the one that I get the most joy out of. Being paitient, caring, an example, a teacher, a friend, a playmate and a role model for my children is all I have ever wanted to do. Everyone knows there are no parenting classes you can take, no book you can refrence that will give you all the right answers & no quick and easy fix for the most difficult of times, but I have had many Mother's in my life that have taught me everything I need to know. So to you... THANK YOU

The Magic of a Mother's Love

(Great Grandma with Brianna)

The Magic of a Mother's Love

Brings Harmony and Bliss

It covers like a blanket

And cures boo boo's with a kiss.

(Great Grandma with Brianna)

It offers grand protection

From evil that lurks 'round,

It tames the fears of little ones

And turns frowns upside down.

(Great Grandma with Brice)

It holds a wealth of wisdom

With gentleness it guides,

It holds the hand when needed

Then lets go with tears of pride.

(Grandma with Brianna)

And though those precious childhood years

In an instant pass,

The love and magic mom instills

Will last... and last... and last.

(Grandma with Brice)

-Author unknown

Brianna is her Father's Daughter

Brianna loves to dress up and be fancy. She loves to dance. She is caring and looks out for her brother. She is a lot like me. But....... she is also a lot like her daddy. She says so many things that just scream out Brian. Some examples of what I mean are:

1. "Please do not tell me they still have Christmas stuff up. It's not still Christmas!" She said this the other day when we were driving home from Ballet and a house had Christmas lights still hung up. My response... well honey some people keep them on their houses all year and just turn them on during Christmas time. Her response... "They must be lazy, because you are supposed to take the lights down after Christmas is over"


2. "School Zone Mom! Slow down - do you remember when you were going 53 in the School Zone and you had to pull over. You better go the speed limit." A few weeks ago after a tragic trip to the Dr. office (Brice had 5 shots & Brianna had 4) and a flat tire, we were finally heading home & I was going 33 not 53 in the School Zone. Of course I got pulled over and got a quick warning. Now everytime we go past that spot Brianna is my little police officer in action.


3. "Why did you leave the dirty dishes on the counter after dinner?" My response... because I wanted to play with you and do them after you went to bed. Her response... "You should do them and get them cleaned up so you don't forget, daddy always does them after dinner" My response... Daddy doesn't always do them after dinner I do them sometimes too. Her response... "Well when daddy is here you always do them right after dinner because that is what you are supposed to do"

Since Brian has been away at Training, Brianna has written a letter to him every day and talks to him on the phone every night before bed. She always pretends to give him a big hug and a kiss. I also made a paper chain that she removes a paper from each day to show how many more days it will be until we see him. She loves this and it has become a part of our routine. Here is what she wrote to him the other night:

Dear Dad,
I hope you are safe there. I love you & Tucker is a silly giraffe. I really love you. I love you as high as I can reach, how tall I am & as far as the bubbles go. The chain is getting really short. 5 days, woo hoo!