What happens while you are gone!

                                                  Mama gets stuff off of Craigslist!  1) new easel not sure what happened to ours we had in Germany maybe it fell off the boat!

2) I see that it costs way too much money to rent a bounce thing for Bubba's birthday so I found one on Craigslist!  What a deal!

3) While doing schoolwork I look over to this sight snoring on the couch!  She hasn't gotten up here in months!

4) While at National Night out Carlie decided to unroll the firehose and play in the water  (just kidding the firetruck was squirting the kids)

5) Bubba decides to eat everything on his plate and Sofia's he loves this Ravioli that I make!

6) Sofia decides that Water from a firetruck ain't half bad!

7) And last but not least Mama decides that it is time to get out those dinner trays and let the girls use them in the living room!  (ok bad choice we may try again in a year or two!)

So just so you know this is what happens when you are away!  Oh and we have fights (which I don't have pictures for), tears all over mama's shirt from late night missing Daddy, and prayers Daddy we pray for you every day a few times a day!  We never forget to just think of you and what you are doing for us You are AWESOME!  Love you babe!

What a Week

WEll this week was full of excitement, Birthday Parties, VBS, American Girl Doll excursions, Girls Night out, Saying goodbye to a sweet sweet friend, having the longest drive of my life, and a wedding.  And Yes that was just one week.  WE started out the week by dropping Carlie off at VBS at our church, she had a great week and I am singing the theme song right now in my head!  It is extremely catchy!  WE had a Pool party for a friend of Carlie's who was leaving that night to go back to FL.  I have been looking for a train table for Bubba and found a really good deal on craigslist.  My GOOD friend Rachel said she would go with me on an adventure to get it even though her neck was hurt!  Little did I know the house was 10 miles from the PA border!  WE got it and Bubba loves it so it was well worth it!  Then on Wednesday me and my mom took Carlie to the American Girl Doll store in Washington DC for the first time, she had birthday money and this is where she wanted to spend it.  I was amazed at the store and wished I could have gotten a doll too!  Well worth the trip but my advice is plan to leave either before 2 or after 6 from the store leaving at 5pm during rush hour is not the best idea I ever had!  Thursday night the girls and I went to play Bingo in Laurel we had such a good time didn't win a thing but it doesn't matter!  Friday morning as we were packing to go to VA for the weekend I had to go down and say goodbye to my sweet friend Clare, and Emily, they are off to Hawaii!  It is so sad to see your friends leave, and I admit I cried, it is rough, our street will never be the same!  This is the second really good friend I have had on my street leave since I have been here it is not fair!  The good thing about the military is we could get stationed together again one day!  We will keep in touch, I mean we have to our kids are going to get married one day!
Then I left for what was supposed to take me 4 hours to get to my in laws house took me 8 and a half!  Traffic was so bad, it had me in tears!  I have never been in traffic that bad, the kids were good thank goodness because my nerves were shot from the heat, and  going 8 miles an hour for 3 hours!
WE finally got to the rehearsel dinner (we missed the rehearsel) and ate then went to Papas to sleep.  The next day was the WEdding of Renee and Rick, Steven's sister.  Sofia was the flower girl and I was really worried she was going to pull a Sofia and not walk down the aisle.  She did great she was actually handing the flowers out to the people in the seats on the end instead of throwing them down it was so cute!  Renee looked beautiful and I am so happy for her and Rick I hope they have a wonderful life together.  We are now back at good ole Fort Meade waiting on our next adventure!

Catch Up Time

WEll what a few weeks it has been since my last post and everyone seems to be doing fine.  I don't even know where to start it has been a busy Summer!  My Parents came down around the 5th of July and my mom just decided to stay a bit, she is still here!  It has been nice having another adult in the house, and someone to watch the kids so I can do commissary trips and errands.  For those of you who don't know I am finishing up my Bachelors and I will be done December 5th!  You don't know how excited this makes me!  I have been trying to finish this for 10 years now.  Speaking of 10 years in about 7 days will be mine and Steven's 10th anniversary!  It has been 10 great years and I don't know what I would do without him, he is just what I need and the perfect person for me.  We have 3 beautiful children to show for 10 years and another on the way should be born by the end of January.  We are excited!!!  I always wanted a big family growing up an almost only child with a brother who was 12 years older than me.  I love our family and can't wait to see what another little Coston will bring.
Last week Carlie tried out for a Missoula Children's Theater Play and got a part as a Aristocrat!  She had a ball last week going to rehearsels and singing all the new song's.  She also met a bunch of kids that live in our community and have some of the same interests which is awesome.  She saw a few at church yesterday and they all had that "yeah we are cool" look on their face!  She did two performances on Saturday and some of our friends got to come out and support her and I really appreciated it!  Thanks Rachel, Kate, Clare and Jamie.  You girls rock!
It has been a long day so this is all for now but I promise to write more soon!
Enjoy the pictures!!

Ok ok so it is week FIVE!!!

What a week it was, we headed down to North Carolina with my best friend Rachel and her 3 little ones.  So yes that is 6 kids, 2 moms and 1 dog!  Poor Doodle got things dropped on her and a little bitty place to lay but she didn't seem to complain too much!
We had a blast at my parents house, we played outside, we went to a pool went to the children's museum, went to the mountains to a park where the kids played in the creek ( I think this was my favorite), we had Carlie's 9th Birthday party with friends and family, came home then had another Suprise party for Carlie with all her Maryland friends.  It was a good week.  Bubba had his first ride on a lawnmower this week with Grandaddy boy did he enjoy that!  I couldn't get him off every time Granddaddy would come near me to get him he would say uh uh and hold on to Granddaddy.  He is such a funny little boy.  The kids loved Grandma's of course who wouldn't with all those toys!  Grandma always has good snacks too!  She had bought everything for us as usual.  She is awesome!
On Tuesday Doodle did something and she hurt her back, I took her to the vet because she was really in pain, while trying to get in the car she yelped, and I tried to help her and she yelped more.  We got to the vet and that rotten dog showed no signs of anything being wrong with her!!  She let the vet move her legs and push on her back and made me look like an idiot, the vet gave her some pain meds anyway, then while trying to get in the car she did the same thing!  I was so mad!!!!
Getting home Sunday night the toughest part of the trip was having to unpack, you see my wonderful husband usually does that part!  I hate it!  The worst part about traveling is having to unload and put away!  Monday was good though the kids slept in and I had to be quiet all day about the surprise that night!  I made cupcakes, and homemade macaroni and cheese, and had Miss Becky come get everything to set up!  Carlie had no clue, the kid is totally clueless!  She believes everything I say she asked me what the cupcakes were for I said I thought we would just bring them to the pool and share with our friends she said okay!  I think if I told her that the sky was orange she would believe me!  I was happy that some of our old friends got to come, Nicole and her family came and so did Lissie and hers.  IT was good to see them and have them share another Birthday with us.
The hardest part for me right now with Steven being gone is at nights I just want someone here to talk to and hang out with.  It also breaks my heart when Bubba talks about him!  The other day at the pool Bubba saw a man that had a hairy chest like Steven (sorry babe)  and Bubba said Dadu Dadu and was shouting for him!  I said that isn't Dadu Baby and he said my dadu my dadu!  I just wanted to cry!  Poor boy he needs his Dadu!  He takes this Thomas book that STeven prerecorded the story too everywhere and he doesn't want his sisters to mess with it.  It is sweet, I just hope that he continues to think of him as often as he does.
Well that is it for week 5 enjoy the pics from NC they are awesome!!!

Week number 4 one month down!

WEll it has been a month since Dadu left and we have been busy!  I am trying to get in a routine with the kids one that will keep me sane and keep them happy.  I am struggling with the bedtime thing now that it is Summer.  Should I let them stay up a little extra?  I think it all depends on how they sleep in the morning!  Carlie had her last day of school this week she wasn't sad like last year I think she is actually glad to be out for the Summer, third grade was rough for her, and she had some hard times with math and science this year.  She is a smart kid though and I have all faith that in fourth grade she will do great!  Grandma Joyce and Austin came up this week and spent some time with us, it was nice to have them here.  The kids had a great time and I was able to get some running around done without three little tagalongs!  We went to Ocean City on Tuesday it was so much fun I love it there.  The kids rode rides, had fries and ice cream, and played on the beach for three hours.  They were so tired on the way home!  The day before we left for North Carolina Sofia had a Soccer party and she got her first trophy she was so proud!!  She is going to be my little soccer star!  I am cutting this one short because for week 5 I have lots to say!!!!

Week Three Another one bites the Dust!

So this week has been full of hot days and sun bathing at the pool at our house and the big pool.  WE have gotten into somewhat of a groove this week, it has been rough thought the children have decided to get up earlier and earlier each morning it seems like.  So I have been going to bed earlier and earlier every day.  Friday night I sat on the couch at 7:15 and I don't remember what happened next but I woke up around 9 panicing because I had schoolwork to do.  Yes I am finishing up my degree and will be done in December!  I have doubled up right now on classes so I can take a two week break in August to go to the beach for two weeks.  I have had a lot of schoolwork this week and juggling that with kids, and school, and whatever else life throws at me it has been a very tiring week.
Bubba had an eye dr apt on Friday, he has amblyopia which is pretty much a lazy eye, he will have to wear a patch on the good eye for an hour a day for a while to see if that will correct itself.  If it isn't corrected by age 4 he will have surgery to correct it.
I am signing Sofia up for preschool at a church for the fall she will have her own class and she will love having something that is just hers, and Bubba will love having the time to play with his trains without Sofia  taking them and hiding them.  Bubba has turned into a train lover the past few weeks and he will play with a train and the tracks for hours as long as Sofia will allow him.
Carlie has her last day of 3rd grade tomorrow and she is excited she has her outfit all laid out Hat, sunshades and dress all matching!  I will put those pictures on for next week!  I will be taking her in the morning and then going to eat lunch with her on her last day.  Steven's Mom and Austin are up for the week so I am going to get some things done this week that I normally would put off because I don't want to drag three kids around!  I am also going on a date with Carlie this week, she is having a rough time with Steven being gone, she acts all tough but the minute she gets thinking about it she has an emotional breakdown, she had two today!  She is going to miss that attention that only her Daddy can give her they have a special bond, and she has a missing place in her heart for him it is written all over her face.
Church today was good, I enjoyed the message and the music as always.  There was a family in our church that lost their whole house in a fire they weren't home but their pets were so they lost their home and their pets.  The church is really great about reaching out to families in the community and helping them and they were asking for donations of gift cards.  I had two in my wallet and gave them to them I hope that they can use them, I will keep that family in my prayers.  I can't imagine losing everything like that, what would you do?
Ok now to why this post is entitled, "Another one Bites the Dust"  Bubba is having a rough time yesterday and a birthday party he got plummetted on to the ground by 5-7 kids as they were doing a game, and he has a huge goose egg on his forehead, then tonight while trying to get into the bathroom his lovely sister had walked out of the shower dripping wet, (which she has been told hundreds of times not to do) and he fell flat on the back of his head!  I asked Grandma ,"Is he going to make it?"  I worry about him he is the baby and the girls are so careless sometimes!  I feel bad for him.  Oh and a few weeks ago Sofia would do her normal thing and push him down or hit him or whatever she is in the mood for that day and he would do nothing but cry now the little guy is fighting back and he is back for avengens!!!!!!  They had a knock down drag out fight yesterday morning!  They were both throwing punches and Sofia finally stopped because he was hitting harder!  I don't know what to do with these two!
So week three is come and gone!  I wish Steven were here to witness all the madness that goes on in just one week, there is so much I didn't write about!  Well till next week

Week two

This week has been a hard one probably harder than the first week.  It is starting to sink in with the kids that Daddy will be gone for a long time and they are sad.  At dinner when we pray Carlie will tear up just like me when we mention Daddy.  Sofia has decided that Daddy lives in the sea for now, she is quite partial to this cd that Daddy put in out cd player in my car before he left.  She loves the two pirate songs in it and this weekend I figured out that in her little 3 year old mind that is where she has put him.  He is a pirate on the sea and she talks to him while on the potty through a decorative sea shell!  Sounds crazy I know but think of it in the perspective of a 3 year old!  Bubba is obsessed with the computer he sees me sit down at it or hears that skype noise whatever it is then he comes running "dadu, dadu".  Before Steven left he recorded a Thomas story for him and it is his voice, you should see his face when the page is turned and his Dadu is telling him the story!  For all of you military wives with small ones I highly recommend getting one of these!  He is in heaven and every time he turns the page he says Dadu with a big grin on his face just like he does when he sees Steven on Skype!  It is absolutely precious!

I am so lucky to have such good friends here, I don't know what I would do without them.  They seem to know when I am down and pick me up.  I appreciate them and I hope they all know what they mean to me.

There is only 6 more days left of school, I am happy and nervous, I will then have three kids all day to entertain and take with me everywhere!  I am excited though not to have to plan everything around school! Having Carlie home will be great she can be a big help when she wants to be!

Friday my mother in law will be coming up we are looking forward to her visit and I will love having another adult in the house for a week.  Then we leave for NC for a week for Carlie's 9th Birthday!  It is going to be a very busy June!
This week our pool opened on post but the hours are kind of crazy, but when school is out it will be better, I look forward to pool days!  WE had a few really really hot days this past week I think we had a record on Tuesday of 98 degrees in May!  Then Friday it was cooler so we did a picnic with friends at the fountain on post!  The only thing I know to do to keep my mind off of the long time I will be without my sweetheart is to keep myself as busy as possible without wearing myself and the kids out of course.  It just helps.

Week one without Daddy

This week was a tough one, full of tears, and hurt feelings.  But let's go back a few weeks and talk about what an awesome time we had with Daddy the last weeks he was here.  We went to the Zoo, on a dinner picnic to the park, a trip to Grandmas, and went to an Air show.  It was awesome having Daddy all to ourselves for those weeks, and him not having to go to work.  So that made it even harder to say goodbye. Carlie is almost 8, Sofia 3 and Bubba is 22 months, and they all know something is not right.  Carlie cries daily for her Daddy wears his dog tags to bed and sleeps with her Daddy doll all tucked in tight next to her. Sofia has learned what the noise of the skype on the computer means.  She comes running, and Bubba today tried to call Daddy on Skpe by himself while I was in the front room.  So they are all adjusting to having him gone.  The skype is awesome though it gives them a little interaction with Daddy daily for now until he gets to Afghanistan.

So when does it start to feel better?  When do you stop thinking about all the things they will miss?  Will I be able to do this alone?  The last deployment we did was back in 2005 we had one 3 year old, now we have an almost 9 year old, a 3 year old and a 22 month old, a dog and a cat, and one ME!!!!!  I am so outnumbered.

The first night I didn't feel like doing much of anything, I didn't want to cook, clean I just wanted to lay down and have a good cry!  I did but I felt the next day compelled to do that again.  Then we finally got to talk to Steven and he told me to stay strong and keep the kids doing normal things.  I got my act somewhat together and made dinner that night and we starting doing a prayer at the dinner table again something we used to do, but just lost.  W now are doing it every night.  The kids are catching on quick and have started putting little prayers in.  Of course the first thing we pray for is Daddy!

The next night we did Tacos which I found out is a pretty good hit in our house!  scroll down for pictures!

On Friday we went and picked Strawberries at a local farm that was fun I haven't done that since we were in Germany.  Then Saturday was Yard Sale day which went well the kids made lemonade and goodies to sell and they enjoyed that.  Then Saturday night my girl friends came over for a Beach themed Keno.  We had fun and it was nice to have a few drinks.  Today we went to church and then home for the rest of the day.  I have been working this week on my discipline for the kids and I am hoping my technique is going to work.  I am trying the reward system of discipline and seeing if that makes a difference!  Until next week Steven I love you we will miss you until you are back here with us!