Time for Daddy to Come Home

Reason #1:
Yesterday we  picked my mom up at the airport in Omaha and as we were headed up the escalator, a guy in ACUs (army combat uniform) was hurrying up the elevator behind us and then passed us as soon as we reached the top (he seemed to be in a huge hurry...I'm guessing to catch his flight).  As we walked past us Makenzie says really loudly, "That guy looks like my dad.  But he's not here right now."  Truth is the guy didn't look anything like her dad, except the ACUs.  I was pretty sure the guy heard us and was more than a little embarassed. I started saying to Makenzie, "your daddy has a uniform like that one doesn't he.....and the guy stopped, smiled at Makenzie and said, Your dad must be in the army too.  That's cool."  Seriously made Makenzie's day....she smiled, hid behind my leg and then as the guy walked away she said, "That guy talked to me.  Does my dad have a backpack like his too?"  :)

Reason #2:
Today Makenzie requested a grapefrut with her breakfast and as I was cutting it we were discussing whether or not she needed to share 1/2 of it with her brother.  She was pretty sure she didn't need to and then she said, " Well, do you know my dad?  Because one time a long time ago, he gave Micah a bite and Micah spit it out."  Has she really forgotten that I know her dad?? :)

9 days and Tom will be home!!  And 6 days until I get to see him!! 

Just What I Needed.

You gain confidence through knowing that I am with you--that you face nothing alone.  Anxiety stems from asking the wrong question: "If such and such happens, can I handle it?"  The true question is not whether you can cope with whatever happens, but whether you and I together can handle anything that occurs.  It is this you-and-I together factor that gives you confidence to face the day cheerfully. 
                                                                                  --From Jesus Calling by Sarah Young

Coincidence that I read this the day Tom left?  I think not. 

Yep, I still hate saying goodbye....

So, I'm just not going to --we're saying "see you later" instead!  Tom is on his way to San Antonio....both babes are still sleeping and I'm kind of a wreck, but I'll spare you the sobbing and just post pictures!  We had a picnic at the park last night --but you don't get to see that because I forgot my camera and the picture from my phone won't post (check facebook, I'll try to upload it there!) 
Tom said his "see you laters" to the kiddos at bedtime and even Micah gave him big hugs and kisses --so, so cute!  Makenzie told him, "but I might miss you" and then she prayed for her daddy to have a safe trip to Texas and a safe trip home.  :)  I'm SO, SO glad I get the spend the next month with these two!! 

Here's the HUGE calendar Makenzie and I made to help her count down the days till Daddy gets home.  Thankfully she didn't seem to notice my inability to draw straight lines and make the squares even.  She wanted to hang it above her bed so she can color in a square each day and then she can count the empty ones and know just how many days until her daddy gets home. 

And it wouldn't be a trip without a care package -lots of candy...check, crackers just in case the meals are terrible...check, pictures of the cutest kids EVER....check, and special pictures drawn just for daddy by Miss Makenzie...check! 

Love you and miss you already Tom!! 

Top Five

ONE WEEK till Tom takes off for San Antonio....for a month!  I have a whole new appreciation for military wives/moms who send their guys off to Iraq or Afghanistan for MONTHS at a time!  And just because it doesn't get said enough, THANK YOU to all the troops for your service to our country! 

I was looking at the calendar and figured out that Tom is gone for parts of 5 weeks....so here it is, my list of 5 things that I'll miss the most in those 5 weeks.  I could come up with a lot more, but I needed to stop at 5 or I was going to have myself in tears! 

1.  Laying in bed after a long day and talking about how cute are kiddos are, all the funny things Makenzie said during the day, all the naughty things Micah did, and just how blessed we are.

2.  Sleeping in  (redefined sleeping in....you know like 7:30 am) on Saturday mornings while Tom gets up with the kids (at 6 am). 

3.  Having a helper, someone to share everyday life with....talking on the phone once a week just isn't going to be the same!  I love that Tom helps out so much - and for the next month I have to cook AND clean up dinner AND keep the kids entertained while I do the cooking and cleaning up! 

4.   Having someone to rant to after a hectic day at work....someone who listens and never reacts, never gets worked up when I'm going 100 mph in circles about nothing!  There isn't anything that can take the place of a hug from my man or his shoulder to cry on when I'm in a tizzy. 

5.  My trash man.....I can't tell you how much I hate trash duty, and in over 6 years of marriage I can probably count on one hand (maybe 2 hands) the number of times I've taken out the trash and I HATE thinking about having to take out the trash myself for the next 30 days! 

And because I don't want you to think its all gloom and doom around here while Tom's gone, here are 5 things I'm really looking forward to in the next 5 weeks: 

1.)  4th of July in Dubuque - Tom's grandparents live in Dubuque and we've gone there every July 4th for the last several years.  His grandpa is 92 and they just moved to assisted living (If I'm 1/2 as sharp as his grandpa at 92, I'll consider myself amazing!!)  I think it will be a little hard to not spend the time at their house -- the house they built when Tom's mom was young and have lived in all their lives, but I'm SO excited to see them!!  Hopefully they're still up for a trip to Eagle Point Park. :) 

2.) Go Fish concert -  We LOVE Go Fish!!  We went to one with Makenzie shortly after Micah was born and I found out they are coming to Kearney in July....so we got tickets and my parents, the kids and I are going to Go Fish!  (Hope Grandma and Grandpa know what they're getting themselves in to!!)

3.)  A week away --of course this would be better if I could call it a FAMILY vacation, but I'm still looking forward to it!  Several days of no work and lots of fun with my kids!  We're headed to Lincoln/Omaha to see friends, my grandparents, go to the zoo and hopefully hit up a children's museum! 

4.)  Makenzie picking up the phone and saying, "Oh hello dad" just like she's 3 going on 16  - MELTS my heart to see her smile when she hears her daddy's voice on the other end of the phone!

5.)  July 26th - party at the Nelsen's....MY HUBBY GETS HOME!!  :)