Something about me Saturday Blog Hop!

I am having so much fun with these blog hops!  Thanks to DisneyBird for hosting!  Be sure to check out the other posts HERE!

Since my hubby left this morning for 2 weeks of training I figured I would blog about my life as a Military Wife.

I am the proud wife to an Army National Guard Soldier.  Mark has been in the military for 12 years now with no plans for getting out.  We have been through 3 deployments together since 9/11 and are gearing up for another one possibly sometime in 2012.  People ask how I do it.  That is an easy one.  I love him and I have no choice.  I would never leave him and I support him 110%.  He is my hero! 

Deployments are hard but I have learned after 3 some things to help pass the time.  get involved in family support in your unit----being around others that are going through what you are going through is the biggest piece of mind.  Also we had so much fun sending Mark packages.  We sometimes sent fun things like wiffle ball bats so they could play on down time, crayons and coloring books, and then of course things that remind them of home.  BIG TIP HERE!  Don't package soap and homemade cookies in the same box.  Poor hubby got Irish spring flavored cookies one time.  LOL!  I have learned since them.  You never have a date that they are coming home but we had fun gathering supplies and planning Mark's homecoming.  Also to help the kids while he was gone---we went to build a bear before he left and made them each daddy bears complete with camo outfits and we did the record a voice for each so when they pressed the bear's belly they could hear his voice.  these proved to be invaluable.  I have tons more tips and maybe I will do a whole post about surviving deployment in the future.

Sorry for the digression, i do that alot.  As I was saying Mark has been deployed 3 times since 9/11.  His 1st started the day it happened---he was sent to the Pentagon to help with recovery and security---he is military police.  He was there a few weeks before being sent to Fort Stewart, GA.  Before they were sent to GA, he was granted leave to come home so we could get married.  As soon as 9/11 happened, we decided to move our wedding up (was supposed to be August of 2002) and I planned it all in 3 weeks---thank goodness I already had my dress.   It was beautiful.  We had one night together and he left the next day.  I visited while he was in GA and then they finished their year off back at the Pentagon.  That was nice because he was able to come home on weekends---that is how Roseanna happened.  Luckily Mark was home from deployment well before I had Roseanna. 

Mark was home a short 8-9 months before being told they were going to Afghanistan.  We were given 1 week's notice before he had to report to NJ for training.  Mark left when Roseanna was 7 months old when Mark left and it was the hardest year of my life!  But it would prove to get worse.  At his homecoming, Roseanna was petrified of him and would not even go to mark.  It took months before she would be alone in a room with him without me.  It broke my heart!  Thankfully she is now a HUGE daddy's girl!

We had years between deployments.  #3 came while Roseanna 4 and Russell was 1.  this time it was Iraq and to compound the stress, my little brother was sent with the Marines at the same time.  Mike is my  only brother and I was so worried about him.  It was yet another stressful year.  But they both arrived home safely within a week of each other.  Here are some pictures of the last homecoming (get your tissues ready)

banner we had made for our house

had to decorate the car

Roseanna and Russell waiting for the buses with our soldiers

the local fire dept sent 2 ladders to raise a flag at the entrance

Wait that flag is not big enough, let's get a bigger one

Roseanna under the flag

Russ and my dad watching (I MISS YOU DADDY!)

the BIG flag waving in the wind

my attempt at a cute poster

kids posters

the family waiting

everyone waiting at the armory

more people waiting

The freedom Riders escorted the buses

THEY ARE HOME!

Daddy missed his baby girl!

HUGE relief!  Russell remembered Mark and was so happy to see him!

he would not let Mark put him down

Roseanna gave Stitch to mark before the deployment and Mark took him everywhere.  To this day Stitch rides in Mark's car with him in the backseat (he even wears his seat belt!)

YEAH!  DADDY IS HOME!

the excitement was too much for him!

her too!

Told you to get your tissues out!  The homecoming is the such a reward for a year of heartache and worry.  I know I will face these moments and again and hope I have the grace, love and patience to raise 3 kids alone and give Mark nothing but support.  I truly love being a military wife and would not trade it for anything.  My heart swells with pride every time I say:  My husband is a solider!

Thanks for taking a peek into my life.  Be sure to check in on the others blogs on the hop!

see ya real soon!
Nikki

The Letter B is for .........

It's that time of the week again to hop on the ABC blog hop hosted by Heidi .  This week is the letter B.  Be sure to check out all the others on the blog hop too!  Just Click Here  Warning, I went a little overboard this week :)

B is for Baloo!

                               


B is for Burrrrrrrrrrrrr   It's cold!  Last trip we had record cold!

B is for Bones.

B is for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

B is for Balloons.  Mickey ones of course!

B is for Big Al.   TWANG!!!!!

B is for Boatwrights.  I thought this was surprisingly good when we stayed at POR!

B is for Bruce



B is for Buzz Lightyear

B is for Boardwalk

B is for Beer

B is for Block Party Bash

B is for Bibbity Bobbity Boutique.  Roseanna getting her princess makeover on her 6th birthday.

B is for Birthday   Our dessert we ordered at 1900 park Fare for Roseanna

B is for Beauty and the Beast

B is for fun in Great Britain

B is for Book

B is for Big Ball.  that is what my kids lovingly call the Epcot ball

B is for Brothers on Riley's 1st trip to Disney.  December 2010---he was 2.5 months old.

B is for goofy's Barnstormer

B is for Bakery.   YUMMY!

Thanks if you went through the whole post---it was a long one!  I just love doing these and remembering all our fun times in Disney.  I can't wait for the letter C!

See ya Real soon!

Nikki

Avid Autograph Hunter

Our Family LOVES seeing the characters and collecting autographs each trip!  Over the years, we have done the standard Disney autograph books, I have made them scrapbooks with pages for each character but my favorite way (and the only way I do them now) is personalized pillowcases.  I love these because at night, the kids have a constant reminder of their trip.

I embroiderer their names, a quote and the year in the center of each pillowcase before each trip and also purchase fabric markers and a clipboard.  We keep the clipboard inside each pillowcase to make it easier when we see a character.  Once we see a character, the kids select a color marker and go visit with their "friend"  Be sure to pull the pillowcase tight against the clipboard to make it easy for the character to sign.  I also have a purse for me that I did the same thing with.  They are great daily reminders of our trips to Disney!

Some Character Hunting Tips!!!!

1.  Get a times guide and map when you enter  the park.  These list character greeting locations as well as times certain characters will be out and about!  NOTE:  characters also "pop" up in many places not on the maps so be on the lookout!

2.  Another Great Place to visit with your favorites is at a character dining experience.  Many Disney restaurants have characters meals where the characters will come table to table and meet with you, sign autographs and take pictures.  Some of our favorites are Chef Mickey's, Ohana for breakfast with Lilo and Stitch and the Cape May cafe for breakfast with Mickey and Friends.

3.  Looking for a specific character?  You can ask at guest relations in  the park or any cast member that is with a character.  They can usually "find out" if that special character will be out and about that day!

4. Be courteous and have your camera, photopass card and autograph item ready so as to not take extra time when you are with the characters.  Remember there are lots of other kids waiting too.  Besides I would rather take our time interacting with the characters then fumbling for everything.

5.  Photopass?  YES PLEASE!  Sometimes you will see photographers with the characters.  These are photopass photographers.  They will give you a card that you can use your whole trip.  they will take photos for you with the characters or around the parks.  We always stop when we see them.  At home or as prepurchase (save $50!) you can buy a cd with all the photos and the copyright to get them printed wherever you please.  We do this every trip.  i think it is a great value!  You can also add digital photo frames at home before you order the cd.  I never have less then 500 photos.  Not bad for $100-$150 I think!

6.  HAVE FUN!  characters love to interact with you!  Say tick tock to Captain Hook and watch him get scared or ask Stitch what his badness level is.  It is awesome to see their reactions!  My kids also get tons of compliments on their clothes if the characters notice themselves on there!

Hope you enjoyed my brief tip guide!  If you are interested in one of the pillowcases, they are available in my etsy store.

See ya real soon!!!!

Nikki