Update - 9/28/12

Just a short little update this morning!  Also - I don't know if, with the new settings I've set for this blog if you are getting these updates.  If you are reading this blog, please take a minute to shoot me an email and let me know!


*  There really hasn't been much to update as he has not started flying yet, but is hoping to do it today. There really wasn't much for him to be doing over there since the aircraft were not cooperating.

*  You should have received my email with his address.  You can go ahead and start sending packages.  We're finding that it can take anywhere from 10 days to 2 weeks to get there.

* He had one night with no air conditioning, but it was fixed within 24 hours. 

*  We have been able to chat online every day since he's been there and Skype once.  The girls (and Zoja) were thrilled.  I haven't gotten an actual phone call yet.....but that's ok.

*  The girls are I are doing well.  We've all been extremely busy with planning our Fall Festival and Christmas Party for the deployed families and soldiers staying behind.  We've been at the base 2-3x a week with planning meetings and activities.  We had a potluck dinner last weekend with some other spouses and it was great to get together and laugh.  The girls have found their own little "battle buddies" too -- the kids of other soldiers deployed with Marc.  It's cute to see them sitting together and talking about how they miss their daddies....and then seconds later, they're off playing Barbies.

*  The girls are adjusting very well.  Of course they miss Marc terribly, but they're tough and strong little girls.  I'm so proud of them for handling themselves the way they do.

*  We're also being very well take care of.  Military friend come by to cut our grass, check out the cars, and help with some minor things around the house.  It's great to know that I have an army behind us here -- just a phone call away.  I know that makes Marc feel better too.  We love our Army Family!!!  Our "civilian" family of friends is just as kind!  We've received care packages, gift cards, meals, and the big thing for mommy -- babysitting!  We are just so blessed to be so surrounded by such wonderful people!

*  That's it until our next update!!  Any questions, please let me know!

*  Marc is in Udairi, Kuwait at Camp Buehring.  Here are a few photos:

KFC in the "Food Court"
 

Marc doesn't drink Starbucks, but it's a good place for internet connections
 

Overall look at the area
 

Tent living quarters for E5s and below.  Marc is an E6 and is in a 4-man "hootch" - which is like a cabin
 

"Coffee Bar" and MWR lounge.  It has TVs, the movie theater, internet connections and more

PX - Clothing side.  You can see that they do have access to a lot of things over there.
It's like our PX back here.
 

PX - Food/Snack side.  Always available and always stocked with snack foods, etc.

Update.....

After 2 days in Delaware and 2 days in Germany, Marc is FINALLY in Kuwait.  I got a call from him around 5:30am this morning.

He is not settled into a room yet, so please hold off for about a week before sending any care packages over.

As I hear more, I'll let you all know!

~ J

My Crazy Kids

And THIS is what I'm living with for the next year.....

 

 

If you're reading this in email and can't see the video, click here

Update!

Hi everyone!

Just a quick update!

On Monday the 17th, Marc and 2 others took off with the C-5 from Ft. Hood.  That night, his C-5 and the second one landed at Dover, DE - broke.  It was to be expected.

They ended up staying for 2 nights.

At 5am this morning, I got a text from Marc that they were loading up and heading out.  After a few hours, I hadn't heard from him and hoped that they at least made it off the runway

I was correct.

About 2:30pm, I got a quick phone call from Marc.  He's in Germany.  They don't know how long they will be there, so I couldn't tell you any of that information.  Once he gets settled and gets in touch with me, I'll let you know.

This evening, I will be emailing you his address.  Please remember if you are sending him care packages that you will still need to fill out a customs form, even though it is an APO address.

Any questions - please let me know!

On Their Way

There really hasn't been much to share lately since Marc's been on leave and they've really just been sitting around since they got the aircraft ready to fly over.

Last night, the girls got to talk to him one last time before he left and today we texted a few times and had a few quick phone calls before he finally headed out around 4pm Colorado time.  He did send me these few pictures from the departure of the main body of the Battalion earlier this morning.

It will be a couple days before they get over there because they will have a few fuel/rest stops along the way.  We anticipate that it could be anywhere between a few days to a few weeks before I actually get any communication from him at all.  As soon as I hear something, I will post it here.

As of now, we do have an address, but the FRG is waiting for approval from the Command back here at Buckley before we can release that to the families.  As soon as I get it, I will be sending it via email only.  If you share it, please do so via email only.  I attended an intelligence brief for FRG leaders this past Saturday and was surprised to learn that Facebook is more infiltrated than we believed.  So none of that information should be passed through Facebook.   

I am working on another post where I can share some of the pictures of where Marc will be stationed for the next 10+ months.  We've had an advance team there for about a week now, and we've been lucky to have an A Co. soldier as part of that team....so I've been getting a lot of good information that way.

Any questions.....please let me know!

Daddy's Girls

While making our deployment playlist for my iPod, I came across this song by Jessie James called "Military Man".  She wrote this song about her dad - who was in the military.  It's such a beautiful song -- and the girls have now adopted it as their "anthem".....always asking to hear the "Military Man song".  I put together this little slideshow for them and Marc using this song.

If you get this blog through email, you'll need to click here to go to the actual slideshow.

First Day of 2nd Grade!

Well, the first day of school arrived!  I now officially have a 2nd Grader!!!

The Back-To-School Fairy paid a visit during the night and left Danjela a handwritten note along with some very special 2nd Grader pencils for homework!

Then we had our special "First Day of School Breakfast" - funny face pancakes!

Then before we left for school, we took our pictures outside by the tree.  We've been taking school pictures every year since Danjela started preschool.  We'll do the same thing for Nadija next week when she starts!

Nadija tried to sneak her backpack out of the house too.....packed with her new school shoes.....

After school, we got home and had a snack.  I found this awesome "After School" printable and loved the idea behind it.  Instead of printing off multiple copies, I just put it into a picture frame and added a dry erase marker.  This way, every day she can share about her day....and every once in awhile, we'll take a picture of it to send to Daddy.  Today's was all about doing math drill and playing with her new friends.

Overall, I think she's going to have a great year.  Her teacher is absolutely wonderful.  When we met her at orientation, Danjela told her that her daddy was gone for a year.  Ms. Watson took her by the hand and pulled her over to the side and I heard her tell Danjela "Why don't you tell me more about that...."  Right there, I knew she was going to have a great teacher and that I didn't need to worry.

And I still can't believe I have a 2nd grader!!!