Daddy was home this weekend, mainly because it was a 4 day and we were able to sqeeze a worth while trip home in...and it doesn't need to be said that of course we had an amazing time. This was his last trip home until he reports to his new unit here at Ft. Bragg in a few months.
 It's quite ridiculous the little things you come to appreciate when someone else actually does them. Not having to fill a sippy cup, getting to skip out on bath time...snacks..entertaining. It's so so soooo nice to have those little things get done and not actually be the one doing them.. It's sad that I can't remember a time having daily help. I am going to be in heaven when all of this is over. Each time I have to give him back to the Army it makes me realize how truly ready I am to have him home for good (well "good" isn't totally accurate, we are talking about the Army here). If everything goes right...my husband will be home on 8/18/2012...Ladies and Gents that is one day away from my bday! I hate to rush one of the few years left in my 20's down the drain buuuut the countdown has begun. Bring on 28 as long as my husband is the one delivering it to me. Well that's the major countdown anyways, we still have a week trip to Augusta to see him for the 4th of July. Next, Em and I are driving down for a day trip on July,18th for his AIT graduation...then FINALLy we will be heading down to Ft. Benning to pick up my Airborne school graduate and bring him home! I hate that our visits are coming to an end...but it means is that all of this is almost over. We have ALMOST made it...we've barely survived...but the finish line is finally within sight and I am ready to rip through that damned tape, stomp on it, punt it, and then burn it.

Sad rabbit isn't tall enough for lazer tag.

So over mini golf

Daddy teaching his lady how it's done properly

Again, Daddy teaching how it's done properly.



Memorial day cookout and some sprinkler action.



Memorial Day

My husband and his father participated in an 8 mile run, in which funds provided would be matched and donated to the Wounded Warrior Project. They ran down our busiest stretch of road carrying the American flag in honor of those who gave all. I am so proud of my guy. Watch the video HERE.

The world lost someone great..

This is my way of honoring who he was.


http://fortbragg.patch.com/articles/mark-salazar-s-death-is-a-loss-to-our-community

Mothers Day

Happy to celebrate the day with my ladies. Nothing super fancy just a BBQ and family....perfection.

Em in boots

Goodbye beloved rain boots, I'm sad to see you go! Sad because it means they have become just a memory..every picture will take me back to my daughters toddler years. I'll be able to remember how she would refuse to leave the house without them on, that when I hid them because they didn't go with an outfit she would still stand her ground until I caved. I'll remember trying to dig around in her closet to throw stuff together that somewhat matched for when we would go out in public...and secretly hoping it would be a rainy/over cast kind of day so I wouldn't have to explain! That..she even wore them around the house.....with nothing else on...yup nothing. I have my very own Em in boots..

Anyways, I figured it was too hot to wear them everyday now and started the search for something comparable ...I scored these gems at Old Navy (for those dying to get a pair). They were perfect!! She has all but forgotten about her rainy day wears.....


Meet "cwow-boy bootsth"..I'm sure you'll be real familiar soon ;)

Time to purge again

Emerson's first shaved ice at Big T's on Hope Mills lake.

Riding with spidey man

A visit from her bestie Mace moo

So maybe I didn't really think this through....

3 kids with finger paint...a fun crafty project to keep them entertained right?!!

Wrong. I'm so guilty of not really thinking my project through....It was really a disaster of epic proportions.

Dear daddy

I had a blast with you this weekend. I hoped the days were so long that it felt like you were here a while. I love having you home and already can't wait to see you again..I wanted to thank you for taking me to the Dogwood festival and the fair....it was the most fun I've ever had. I'll never forget being able to hold your hand, share your popcorn and nachos, going on the rides and helping me win some stuffed animals mom warned us she didn't want us to bring home!
I want to wake up to you every morning and fall asleep with you every night. Come home soon Daddy.
Love,
Em-boogie

Our first ER visit

Yes. It was bound to happen, and if we are trying to find some positive..I should be appreciative that we were able to go 2 + years with a clean record!
Basically...I had a bottle of hydroxycut in a suitcase a friend had given me on a trip to visit her over 6 months ago. She tried it, felt like crap and asked if I wanted to give it a whirl...maybe?!! So I stuck it in the bag and there it stayed. While I was getting dressed to run to the store, Emerson was in my closet. I heard the shake of the pill bottle.... but at that time her annoyingly chirpy plastic chick with hard candy inside came to mind. See this chicks head bobbles and it chirps incessantly for 3 minutes at a time...enough to make you want to drop kick it off a bridge like baxter...and the candy also comes out his little rear(cute yet sick). Anyways I stuck said Easter mistake onto a shelf in my closet, and assumed she found it. I had detached his poor head to prevent creepy late night outbursts, and thought that's why he wasn't making noises. I told her she could bring him out and he could ride in the car with us. She pops out with the hydroxycut bottle in hand...the lid is MIA an she has pill chunks in her mouth.
I dropped to my knees jammed my finger in her mouth..made her spit..washed out her mouth..then dumped the remaining pills...Counted them, then read the label on the bottle conforming that it came with 60 annnnnd we only had 43!
I rang my girlfriend to see if she remembered how many she would have taken...and she couldn't. Next call was to poison control, they didn't seem too worried just advised I monitor her till bed time.
My mom-dar wouldn't turn off...so we went to Womack. Her heart rate was 122BPM...and she was all over the place, it was now 11PM. How do you control a toddler who ate caffeine pills designed for adults?! At least she entertained the night staff as she peeked under and around the curtains..sometimes while doing a headstand other times with gloves on.
I let her run amuck. Whatever! Dr. Saw us and checked her heart rate again..gave another call to poison control to confirm the time for I'll effects had passed and we were discharged at 1AM...Emerson was still awake......but finally fell asleep on the ride home :)

Em bunny!

We had a pretty Easter day complete with candy...egg hunts..pretty dresses and I may have mentioned this one already, candy.
Em ended up joining me in bed the night before so she woke up and found her basket at 6AM, before I was even awake! She's pretty stealthy...
I did however wake up to my two year old holding a giant lollipop screaming "candy mama!" beside my bed. So that was pretty cute.
We did all the usual Easter festivities, and made it through the day without daddy.

7 days of iphone pics

Reading her St.Patricks day card from Great Aunt Ann-Mo!

Here we go again. I admitted previously to taking a copious amount of pictures...I have an obsession, her name is Emerson, and  my life is just what happens around her.

Playing in the bradford pear tree flowers that have taken over my  driveway life.

Spreading more weeds for mom! I'm pretty sure
the picture proves I have plenty already.

Morning Daddy!! Breakfast time.



Play time with her cousins. She LOVES these boys.



She works hard for the money.



Roasting marshmellows with Papa...one of their
"things".



What daddy is REALLY up to while
he is away.

Seeeeee daddy!!

Bathtime for my silly face.