Working....

I bet your thinking that I have got a job. Nope! Not me, but I have been working on my daughter's cross-stitch name project. 

It took me forever to find a letter alphabet that I liked. Well, I found Mary Engelbreit: Alphabets with Personality at Hobby Lobby originally but I linked to Amazon if you'd like to purchase the book yourself.

I originally fell in LOVE with her M which has a mermaid incorporated into the letter. So of course I JUST have to do both Abigail Marie. So I bought a piece of Linen (which I've never worked with before) and subsequently threw out the package so I'm not ever sure of the size or count. I've been using DMC as that's the only floss I can find at Michaels, Hobby Lobby or even Walmart. 

I have made some significant progress since I took these photos on my husbands phone. I do have to say his phone takes some good ones. 

Here is the G A. I do have to say I REALLY REALLY love A's and I's when I'm done. 

Up close of the A.

I have completed the I on the left and started the B. Sorry for the shadow of me while taking the picture. I was just taking on for my mom. The I have a white quill that will have back stitching with I words. I haven't gotten to the back stitching because I want to make sure I have all the floss to complete the letters and then will get what I need for back stitching. 

I can't wait to get to her middle name to have a few more other letters than A and I. 

Of course I ended up asking her if she'd like me to hang it or make into a pillow and she jump at a pillow. Now I have to figure in sewing (not my speciality) and stuff and probably lining. 

My son is watching the progress and thinks it's so cool. I would use the same letters but P is Princess and I'm not sure that would be to cool. 

Slacking

I have definitely been slacking on here. I could blame it on the fact that since Memorial day we have moved in with friends, went of vacation, were in a wedding, moved out of friends home and into our own home, unpacking, and then had a 3 year old computer mishap (resulting in computer in the shop), school started and sickness. I do not know if that covers everything but I am not lost.

We are in year 2 in El Paso, TX. I love this place. I know love is a strong word but I do. In one month we had gone to the Zoo at least once if not twice a week. Found out some interesting information. They got a male tiger so they could breed the two female tigers. They open a giraffe encounter, you can pay $2 to feed the giraffes. They have such interesting tongues and actually wrap them around the lettuce. The female orangutang Ibu turned 19 and the male Butch were out in their exhibit together. Under close monitor.

Abs started school in a new school district and I have to say so far it seems so much better than El Paso Independent School District. She has two teacher Ms. Rico and Mrs. Hernandez.  She also is doing the Breakfast Club, so she has to be at school at 7:00 am, which is kind of nice.

We bought a house. I know I haven't updated the weekly photos, but we love it. Bought a hanging pot rack. We also after 10 years have a bedroom set. Love it!!!

On to Patrick, we had a rough couple weeks with him. He took detangling hair spray and sprayed it all over my keyboard on the laptop. Took 3 weeks to get that fix, luckily they could just replace the keyboard on my MacBook Pro. Now, he is recovering from croup/laryngitis. He was admitted for an over night stay at William Beaumont. Patrick pick my hubby as the one to stay with him overnight and he didn't get any rest. Lets just say, he's recovering nicely and back to his mischievous self.

I should be updating more often now... Upcoming a 4th birthday party, grandparents visit, and life.

Easter

So this year I thought I'd make the kids baskets. Well, they ended up looking more like eggs. I wished I hadn't gotten a 48 hour GI bug because I need to paper mache Patrick's egg in white paper before adding the tissue paper. 

The Beginning

 I grade school I remember doing paper mache. Well its just as messy then as it is now. Found a recipe for the goop (my term), bought some balloons and a newspaper. I think the next time I'm going to skip the newspaper and go straight to the white paper.

Middle

 Before the end. Here I painted modge podge on the out side of the paper mached balloons. Wrapped them in tissue paper. 

End

 I liked how Abbie's pink popped better with the white background than Patrick's. If I  hadn't gotten the bug and didn't go anywhere except the bed to the bathroom, I would have gotten white paper on Patrick's. 

Filled

The loot!! 

Patrick trying it on as a hat.

I wondered how long it would take to get to be worn as a hat. I think this is mid-day Sunday. I love my little guy.

Daddy's Girl

Giggles and bird calls

Abbie's been daddy's girl since forever, deployments are probably the hardest on her. She has been dealing with them since she was four. 

Snuggling in Miami

She is really looking forward to the end of December. That is when I told her Daddy is coming home. For the last two days she has said its almost November and then its December.

R&R Feb'07

He may be home before the end of December but I don't want to let the kids know unless its longer. So, now we are in the waiting game; which is always fun. The other day at breakfast, Patrick asked if Daddy was coming home today. Abbie told him no not until December, which I said the end of December because we don't have a date. She just sighed and said I know, wish it was now. 

Welcome Home Sept '07

All I could think was so do I. So, lets just cross our fingers that November and December go quickly as possible.

Kids say the Darndest Things

As we were leaving to go grocery shopping and grab some lunch Patrick (my youngest) said "I want my Daddy." Abbie (my oldest) said, "Sorry he is in Iraq." Patrick replied with "Why?" Abbie answered with, "To kill the bad guys."

I am not sure if I should be worried with this statement or not. When my husband was deployed the first time, she was three like our son is now. I think back to that time when we discussed him leaving and having to go over seas and how it was to be a long time before she could see him again. We told her it was for his work and that is what his boss said he had to do. We never said anything about bad guys or killing for that matter. What gets me the most is she said it so nonchalantly that it was an everyday thing.

A memorial stand my husband and his Chaplain made before his 2nd deployment.

Her dad is a Chaplain Assistant. In war that pretty much comes down to being the Chaplain's body guard. He also sets up services and arranges one on one time with the Chaplain and a soldier if need be and heaven forbid if they lose a soldier he would put together a memorial service. In peace or non-deployment, he does most of the same things in combat but the body guard. Mainly because there shouldn't be a threat here in the states.

If my husband were killing the bad guys, it means the FOB (forward operating base) is having a bad day and the Chaplain is in danger. I'm not saying he isn't qualified to go out on patrols (because I know he has) and take fire and return it,  its just not suppose to be in his day to day operation.

My question is do I correct her and saying no he isn't actually there to kill bad guys but it could be a by product of a situation? Or just let her go one thinking its that simple. It maybe easier for her to cope with him being gone.

Ancitipation

Anticipation: that is the word for the day. Abbie was so excited to hear that her Grandparents are only 4 1/2 hours away. They will most likely be here before school gets out. I can't wait. Patrick is so in love with his Grandparents I know he is looking forward to this visit.

I'm not ready yet, I never am. The floors in the kitchen need to be mopped. I need to finish my grocery shopping. Clean the bathrooms. You would think I haven't be preparing but that's all I seem to be doing. That and keeping up on the house work: dishes, laundry, pretty much everything thing else that falls into my category. Oh that is everything.

Missing my hubby, which has become a full time job. I'm hoping this deployment isn't actually going to be a whole year. I would take any smaller amount of time. Like say homecoming in February. We hit 10 years of marriage and I'd really like to spend it with the one I love and married. (Highly doubt that is going to happen).

I started my new project. It's a shall for my sister-in-law. Pink, she is going to love it. I also got yarn for Kimberly's shawl. Can't wait to start that. I need to get crack-en.

I find it interesting that I found an old college spanish book. Picked up and opened it and was reading the spanish. Was totally comprehending what was on the page. I wonder why I can't understand it while its spoken. I catch phrases I know and what not but not whole conversations. I'm going to keep the book and see if I can't brush up on my spanish. Maybe even get J.B.'s log on for the Rosetta stone.

I also have to thing of what I'm going to do for Patrick's birthday. I'm not really into it this year. Which is very sad to know. I don't know what to get him. If I should order him a cake or make one. He wants a Thomas the train cake. Abbie wants to do his birthday at the zoo. I'm just not sure how long my parents are going to be here. I'm think Sunday, but even then it I don't want to do it. UGH!!!!  Wish I had my battle buddy here to bounce ideas. The things we take for granted.