Apples

So today.... not as productive as yesterday. I got up as Ryan left with the kids and I had great intentions to work the whole day, but right before lunch I got sucked into relaxation mode, and after I ate my lunch, I was seduced into a nap. It felt so good to lay in bed and do nothing. And of course I felt justified because I worked so hard yesterday. I will have to get back on the horse tommorrow morning bright and early to complete the work before my doctors appointments tommorrow afternoon. When the kids came home, we ate dinner, and I went to the neighbors for a moment. The neighbor across the street is a 3rd grade teacher, and will be helping us with Zoe. We are hoping to get her grades up by the end of the year. When I came back we had a visit from another neighbor who gave Thomas some more Thomas the tank Engine trains and tracks which he promptly got taken away for whining. What is it about whining and fit throwing that annoys me so much. I sometimes think that ignoring is the best route, but then he keeps doing it. So the new strategy is taking away toys. I did however send the email with questions about the requirements for becoming a chaplain.... so we will see what happens. I was so excited today to find out that after this Old testament History class is over, I only have 8 classes to go before I get my Bachelor's Degree! After dinner, we attempted to make Apple somethings.....I was originally going to core the apples and wrap dough around it, with sugar and cinnamon and butter. But the apple slicer I bought was more than just to core the apple, it was to slice and core, so we ended up just slicing the apples and rolling them in the croissant dough. Gonna have to get the other tool to do it differently next time. Still trying to think about a service related activity.... need ideas..... hmmmmm

Monday

Today was a very productive day!!! This morning I got up and started right away on my homework and I was able to accomplish all this weeks work today. So tommorrow morning, I will start off with a quiz and continue to the 3rd week of work. I am taking New testament History this semester and there is alot of work! After all the work was completed I headed to Walgreens to get some over the counter drugs to help with the post surgery pain I am still having. I picked up Thomas and mailed Katie's birthday package! After I returned home, Ryan had dinner cooked... boy I am I one blessed woman! We took a family walk and ended the evening with a movie. I sure hope tommorrow is as productive as today!

New beginnings

Well... it has been a year since I last blogged, and I have been renewed in focus by my best friend Katie. Today we went to church, and after church enjoyed sandwiches and a nice walk on the Ocean Springs bridge. It was beautiful today!! 71 degrees and sunny with just enough breeze. Why does it seem that there are so many beautiful days of sunny weather when I cannot run? I did realize that I need to take more photos. Hopefully I can figure out how to get them from the phone to the computer soon. This week at church, the message was about service. I am hoping to do something service related this week, hopefully with the kids. I will definitely have to think hard on this! Also this week, I am hoping to get ahead on school work so that when I go back to work, I don't feel overwhelmed. In addition to all that, I am going to try to find out what is needed in order to become a chaplain. Ok, so lots to do this week, and I'll try to take more pictures. Thanks for the inspiration Katie! :)

Running....working....homework......now studying for my exam tommorrow!

Zoe's best time for the 1 mile!

Ryan's best time for a 5 k!

SMSgt Kreiser and Chief Fox

Me, Jayly and stephanie

Me and Jen at the 1c0x2 Heritage banquet

Here are some very dear friends of mine, BobbiJo and Tracy

Here are some photos from the Rascal Flatts concert went to 2 weeks ago.

I thought I would share some recent pictures as well as a homework assignment from my Old Testament History class at Wayland Baptist University. Our assignment every week is to write a 1 page journal on what we learned the past week.

Zoe has run with us in 2 races so far and seems to like it.... if you ask her on a good day. I can't wait until Thomas gets running fever. I was going to run in the St. Patrick's day run with my squadron, but I figured I should spend some time with the kids because I have been away so much this last week with the heritage banquet planning. I am so glad it's over... and it went off without a hitch!

Well here is my assignment..... enjoy.

In your reading of Genesis, chapters 1-11, what did you learn abut humankind and what did you learn about God?
First, this week got me thinking a lot about how creation is perceived throughout the world and what my own personal thoughts are. I believe that God used science to give us the world. I think that a lot of people struggle with that thought these days because so many things in our universe have become “white-and black” type issues, and for some people that rings true here as well. In the first chapter, I learned about the parallelism that was used in the story when we compare the 1st -3rd days with the 4th-6th days. In day 1, He created light and dark, night and day as well as filling the earth with stars and the sun and moon to govern night/day on day 4. On day 2, heaven separated from water and gave us water filled with fish and a sky filled with birds. On day 3, He made land and on day 6 vegetation formed. On day 6 was also his most important creation, man. Something interesting I noticed that I had not before was that he did not create water, in the Bible it seems to say the water was already there. In chapter 2, the Lord recounts his human creation and explains that they are to be in charge of the wildlife and plants. In chapter 3, we read about the fall of man and how although Eve was told not to eat from the tree she did anyway, by temptation from the serpent. Immediately they knew their sin and were forever cursed by God, and banished from the garden. For the serpent, he must crawl on his belly; to Adam mortality was given, and to Eve, pains in childbirth. In Chapter 4, we learn of Cain and Abel. Abel was a shepherd and Cain was a farmer. Cain became angry over what was supposed to be an offering to God, because in his eyes Abel brought something better, so he killed his brother and tried to lie to God. Also in chapter 4, we see the first genealogy traced to Adam and Eve beginning with Cain and his wife. (Which by the way, made me think of something I never have before that this woman had to be his sister.) Chapter 5 traces the roots from Noah and his family all the way to Adam. Chapter 6 gives us the story of Noah. Here we see where God calls Noah to build the ark. In Chapter 7, we learn of all the details of the flood (40 days and nights, animals 2 by 2 etc..) In chapter 8, God remembered Noah and commanded him to leave the boat and be fruitful and multiply. Chapter 9 gives us the first covenant that God made with humankind; that he would never again flood the earth, and the rainbow as a sign of that promise. This week the Lord revealed to me that the rainbow in the sky is a promise made by God, but have you ever seen the rainbow in the water stream as your washing your car? For me that is a reminder that the things of the world can look eternal, but they are not. Chapter 10 gives the Table of Nations, and explains that different lands had different languages. This comes to practice in chapter 11 where the people decided they would build the tower to heaven and God caused them all to not be able to speak to each other; another reminder of how great He is; and what a great sense of humor He has!

Running

Nasty bites from the gnats!!!!

The last couple of days have not been worth writing about really but here goes......

Saturday was the Valentines Day 5k in Ocean Springs, and there are no other words other than it sucked.....We got up on Sat morning and it was raining. A Mississippi specialty, raining and hot.

We get out there, and we have to get race bibs and fill them out. They are under this tent where gnats have acculmulated..... ok these gnats are ginormous (that would be gigantic & enormous put together) and now I am getting eaten by these birds called gnats..... AHHHH

So I fill everything out, get the t-shirt, and I am ready to leave. LOL So rain gear on and the race begins..... in the rain.... I'm thinking, wow these people have nothing better to do with thier time than run in the rain? Oh yeah, I am out here too.... ok, this stinks.. movin on. Then I realize it's hilly, and curvy and I might just get run over by a car. So I see how hilly it is and I feel defeated.

Besides the fact that Ryan leaves me because I am running too slow, now I am running next to the 70's club who I chase for almost the 1st mile. They are the walkers, you know the really old in shape grandpas.... and they keep passing me up! And I pass them, and they pass me......and on and on it goes. I finally finished at 40:oh who cares........ and I was mad... worst time ever.

Then I find Ryan and Zoe and she whines that she wants me to run with her. So I strip off the rain gear and the Ipod, and I run with her. We get to the halfway point and I point and say "Run to the cone Zoe", and she says.... "Mom, why didn't you go all the way to the cone?" Well Zoe, let's see, I just went "TO THE CONE 6 TIMES!!!!!" She goes oh........

So all said and done it was not a total loss although she didn't seem to understand why she didn't get a trophy.. Hmm let me think about this... maybe because there were kids more than half her age who could out-run us.... who were only like 3 years old and whose dad's are running alongside them saying pace yourself....... wow some people are way too serious....Then we get back to the van, and it won't start. You may stop reading here...... it gets ugly.... Ryan knew that the van would not start so he was "taking care of it" but when we were done I asked if a tow truck was on it's way he says, "I don't know" in his very non-chalant demeanor that makes me very angry in situations like this. What do you mean you don't know!!!!!! Now I am going to call a tow truck, because you obviously cannot handle a simple task, is what I am thinking.....so I go through the motions, and call a mechanic and he is on his way when Ryan says "the guy will be here in 30 minutes he is stuck in traffic.... WHAT!!!!!!! I was so angry....ok I know dumb thing to be angry about......whatever! Needless to day I could not get out of there fast enough.

Then Sunday, Zoe and I went to WinterJam in Mobile. I had a good time, but I think she was over it, before it was half-over. We got back really late, like 11:30, and she was sleeping on Brittney in the church van.

Monday, I was off so I kept Thomas home from daycare and we hung-out. I put new songs on my ipod and cleaned out my closet. Overall it was a pretty productive day.

Then today, I went to work and got a phonecall at 10:30 this morning explaining that a water main broke on Lemoyne Blvd and that I needed to come get Thomas, cause they were not going to get running water for the rest of the day, and the Health Dept says thats a no-go........

So we took a nap and went to the park... another good day.......

Life

Friday night...... hmm don't remember... Friday during the day I got a pedicure and did some serious shopping with April. She wore me out. LOL Saturday we went to Meme's as usual and ate crawfish and crabs (Papa made crabs just for me). Then Saturday night we went to the Marc Broussard concert at Harrah's. It was definitley the BEST concert I have been to in a LONG time, (and plus no one tops Jennifer Knapp) anyways, it was very good, and Ryan and I enjoyed ourselves. We actually got to see him pretty upclose, and I kicked myself for not having my camera. I also learned that the drummer in his band used to play with my dad a long time ago when they were teenagers and in thier early twenties.
So an update on the kids... Zoe did better with her manners today, we are always working on that! Thomas is learning to sight read, which I am SOOO excited about. The daycare moved him to the 3 year old class eventhough he is not yet fully potty-trained because in thier words he is "too smart". He is still driving me nuts with the potty though.
And that is my life....................

Tired

This morning I had the joy of opening the building for everyone. I had to get up at 0345, so I could iron... why do I bother I wonder? I get to work and it took me 25 minutes to unlock all the doors. But it was nice to settle in my chair before the questions started rolling. At 0730, I decided that I needed breakfast, so me and a co-worker went to bk-fast at the bowling alley. It was good, the eggs were really hot, just like I like them. Nothing worse than cold eggs. We strolled back to work and at 1030 I decided I would go to a spin class during lunch. What was I thinking? Oh yeah, I was thinking that the weather channel said 100% chance of rain all day and that PT would be canceled. Spin was good, I went back to work till 3:00 and PT was not canceled. I got re-dressed in my PT gear and went out to the 56 degree weather with shorts and a t-shirt!
It was cold. It ended up being a quick session, but not quick enough for me! So now it's 7pm and I could crash for the night. Maybe I will................

Runner's high

Well today marked the day I ran my 1st 5k! I was so pumped when we got there. When I woke up this morning, I thought "Why did I get myself into this?" But it was a fleeting thought and I got dressed. In about 20 minutes we were out the door and at the Louisiana Superdome. After a couple texts, we met up with a guy from work and took a Marathon photo. At the start line, I said a prayer that God would watch over my every step and that I would not trip or fall flat on my face. Then we began. At about 0.5 miles, we did a u-turn.... I thought "oh great we get to run in circles" LOL! After that there was 1 more u-turn the entire race, so not that bad. I started off real slow, determined I would make it to the finish. I told everyone the day before at my grandma's that I would finish in about 60 minutes, but I would finish. (5k is 3 miles, by the way).
So here I am going slow.... and I get to the 2.2 mile mark. Gatorade!! YES!!!! I remembered what my co-worker said "Pinch the cup at the top so you don't spill all the drink and drink out of the side of your mouth". Thanks for the tip... the first couple of steps with the cup in my hand I was sloshing it all over myself. But then I got ahold of it and drank more than half. After the Gatorade was gone, I asked a man who I think was waiting for his wife on the sidelines what time he had. He said 18 min and something or other.... I was like "Yeah , right, ok dude!", and as I turned the corner the Superdome was back in sight. Hmmm....weird I thought, I better step it up a little. So as I run faster, I begin to see the purple stands with the time clocks on it. There are two, one for Full Marathon, and Half Marathon and 5K share the lane. As I look up, I look to the left, (we all read left to right......) and I see the time.. 51 minutes... WHOA I thought! I am so disappointed...... I told everyone my goal was 60 minutes but I had my own secret that I had told no one that I wanted to do it in 45 minutes. So I get upset, and I start running to the finsh as fast as I could. The moment before I pass under the stands, I look up and it says 37 minutes and I raise my had and say "SHUT UP-NO WAY!!!!!!!!" and people in the crowd are laughing at me at this point. I cross the finish and put my hand up to wipe the sweat and start crying like a baby. I was so happy! 37 minutes is a personal best for me! I have never run that fast!!! So the lady who took my chip off my tennis shoe saw I was crying and she said how did you do? I said "I am so happy I did greeeeaahhhhhhtttttt" as I burst into tears again. As Meme always says "Sarah Bernhardt!" Then I look for Ryan.... and didn't find him for 20 minutes because he was watching the Marathon Runners and set the alarm on his phone to come back to me in 60 minutes... So when I finally found him 20 minutes later I said "So I ran by so fast that you didn't even see me, he says "Yeah that's what I was gonna say!" But it's ok.... today is not a day I will ever forget!
San Antonio here we come!!!! 1/2 Marathon 15 Nov 2009

update on Zoe's party

More pictures coming soon!

Music

well hello there.... yesterday I was extremely excited to recieve a phone call from April telling me that she bought me a present!!! YEAH presents! I have always been a big believer in giving presents to the mother when children have birthdays, because they (and God) are he ones who really made it happen ya know? (which I haven't done personally, but good idea in thoery anyway right?)
Ok, stop rambling..... April came by and gave me the CD she bought for me to sing it's called At the cross, and its a Hillsong piece. Love it!!! When she came by she left the kids in the car and came in and harmonized with me which prompted Ryan out of the bedroom to hear what was going on in the kitchen. He said we sounded great. Anyway, I am extremely excited to practice this music and to do it with April. Two pats on the back for April!
Then this morning, I growled as I woke up to the alarm at 0500, and realized that I had prayed the night before for the Lord to help me up and as I scowled myself, for not getting up the first time when I woke up at 0338 am, (the time HE woke me up) I was mad..... ARGH!
So I proceeded to stomp out the door to a horribly cold morning. And the day was not really any better.
BUT!!!!! God's grace is sufficient, and I will happily pray and try again tommorrow.
I have this great secret idea for Valentines day for Thomas's teachers and it's gonna be SOOOO cute!

Promotion pics

Congratulations!

It's almost my turn to talk

Re-affirming my oath

Ouch!

My commander saying good things about me!

My new hair-do

Here are some pictures of the last couple of days..........as promised

Update

Well it has been a long time since I last blogged...... So many things have kept me busy. The church contata was the beginning of Dec, we went on vacation to Missouri in November, and then of course Christmas and Ryan's birthday and all the normal other everyday stuff. So many things are going through my mind usually that I can't sit and think of just one thing to write about. I've decided that I do not make New Years Resolutions, because they never work past the month of January. I have things I want to accomplish, sure... but I guess I am just not ready to commit.
Today was interesting, I got promoted on 01 Jan, and we finally celebrated today. I'll try to find some time to update the photos. I am having a hard time adjusting to being back at work after christmas break. I find myself not wanting to go to bed because that means I have to get up an go to work. Sad, I know. I am sure I will get back in the swing of things... it will just take some time. Also, I am having a hard time finding the motivation, now that my supervisor has moved to Texas.
I have however learned that if I pray for the Lord to give me energy in the morning, he is faithful. Also, I am learning that I need to make prayer a minute by minute experience rather than day by day.
Zoe started swim lessons today at the Y, and her report card looks good so far, and we are half-way through the year.
Thomas is learning that eventhough he has a big-boy bed now, he needs to stay in the bed, and not wander to Zoe's room or our room. I'll try to post pictures soon!

Veterans Day

Please say a prayer for my brother. He is going through some tough times right now and needs all the prayer he can get.

I am thankful for all the veterans who have gone before us to preserve the freedoms we cherish.
Thanks to all the veterans I know!!!

Happy Birthday

Today was my golden birthday! 28 years old on the 28th of October, and I was born on a Tuesday, how ironic. I had a great day, my co-workers got me a red velvet cake and a funny card. When I got home, Ryan took me and the kids to the Mellow Mushroom for Pizza. It was good!! For my present, I got the Ipod tuner for my van I wanted, which is awesome!! What a great day! Above is the picture of me and the kids at the restaurant. My hair is pulled back from work... not too bad!

Another Day

Today at work we started our pre-UT&W, which means our chiefs are deciding what will be taught for our course. I thought this would be very boring and "death by powerpoint", but it is actually very interesting. After work, Zoe and I went to her last soccer practice of the season. After soccer I felt a huge energy surge and put away mounds of clean laundry. So maybe instructing is what is draining me, or maybe it's being active at 0400 am some mornings and going nonstop till 9 pm.... I definitley felt more energy today than I have after work in a long time, and it was not artificially enhanced by an energy drink, as I have become so accustomed to.

I feel like I need to say something about yesterday, we went to church and listened to a speaker from Vicksburg, MS speak on the so called christian Word of Faith movement. It was very interesting. He spoke about that in the coming days we will see more false prophets and teachers than ever before teaching false doctorines of God that are completely untrue. He named some names of people who he feels are false, like Joel Osteen, Jesse Duplantis, Creflo Dollar and some others frequently seen on television. Ryan and I have discussed it, and I think that we need to seek God for ourselves and not through someone else.

Reminiscing

We have been so busy lately.... wow... soccer, church, singing, work, it's all a blessing, but really hard on my body. I thought this week it might be a good time to reflect on the past a little. I was thinking about where I was this time last year, and the struggles I had placed before God at that time. So in honor of last year, I will post a blog that I wrote a little more than a year ago.

August 8, 2007 - Wednesday

About 3 weeks ago, I got a phone call asking if I would move to Mississippi to be an instructor for my career field. Ryan and I talked and we decided we could do it. He immediatley, (in that following week) found a job near the base and he has taken Zoe and they are living with my uncle. That in itself was a HUGE miracle, although it requires sacrifice, because our family is now split up until my Commander approves me to leave. (apparently I am un-replacable) Anyway, I need lots of prayers to see me through this and the sale of my home, not to mention packing up the house to go to Mississippi with no place to move.....
I know that it will all work out, as we have already overcome huge challenges, such as Ryan not getting immediate reciprocity for his licence, and is only receiving substitute pay until the application is cleared through thier main district, as well as the Air Force not agreeing to let me out of Little Rock until my PRK profile is over... etc...... So please say a prayer for me and my family....
Nobody can touch us now...... I am moving to Mississippi..... I have my orders!!!!



Well, that was 1 year ago, and SO many things have happened since then...... I have fallen in love with my new job, my husband (all over again). I am eternally greatful for the life I have been given. We have been given a whole new fresh look at financial discipline, as we spent 7 months paying rent and mortgage, and it is only by the grace of God that we survived that... thank the Lord for ramen! We also have been given a second chance to make our marriage work. Praise the Lord for that! I recently said I have the best husband in the world, and I really meant it!
Praise the Lord for all the trials of the last year, and all the ones to come!

New movie

I am so excited about this new movie made by a church for marriages everywhere. Ryan and I will be going to see it, next Sunday, and I want you to find out where it is in your area and go see it too..... the website is fireproofthemovie.com....

I now belong to the part of humanity called the "Early Risers"

This morning my eyes opened at 0232. It is now 2105 hrs and I am very tired, this will be short. Work was great today. My prior service students seem to have the hang of things and although my non priors showed up 1 hr late, we took it all in stride. My voice is now sore from all the talking I did today, and my back is unusually sore. Things are still busy at work, but I am hoping to use tommorrow evening to play catch-up.
It is only by the Grace of God that I can live!!!!!

Busy as a bee

How busy are bees exactly? I have no idea. But I am pretty busy. Actually today has been a pretty productive day, and it is about to be over. Work has been extremley busy for me. I start a new class tommorrow and to be honest I am a little apprehensive about it, more so than other classes due to the fact that more than half the class will out-rank me. This is very new for me and I can see how it could go VERY wrong if I am not careful. I need to pray-- note to self.... pray about class tommorrow and that you actually wake up at 0400 so you can get to work at 05oo, like u said u would to a co-worker. AHHHH..... breathe......
So Mondays are going to be soccer practice. Tuesdays, time for Ryan to get some daddy time. Wednesdays church night, Thursday this week will be for my friend Ben who is graduating from the NCO academy, (yes I am going on a date with a man who is not my husband... I know... shame!) J/K! It's not really a date.... it's a function. And maybe Friday will be date night with my husband. hoorah! Now for some random thoughts........ I need to figure out a way to change my eating habits to keep the weight off..... I gained alot back that I recently lost..
I really intended this blog to be more of a spiritual nature and I am dissappointed about that with myself. Mostly dissapointed that I have not remained motivated to be a daily bible reader... yes I said it..... i want to be perfect...... but I know that's never gonna happen. Zoe is doing ok overall in school, but I want her to do better especially with Reading and Language Arts. She really struggles with that.
Thomas on the other hand is doing fantabulous (fantastic and fabulous) at his new daycare. I absolutely love that he is there.... although he has come home a couple days in a row now saying "We no bite our friends!" So cute!
Everyone in our family survived hurricane Gustav with no damage, however my grandparents are still without power. Lots of thoughts and still more work to complete before tommorrow morning. So I'll try to blog more later!

I am officially.............

A soccer MOM!!!!!!

Soccer

Today after work we signed Zoe up for soccer. She seems pretty excited. She did better than I expected at the trials. I am proud of her for wanting to try something new. It was raining, and we did wait in the rain, so now I am cold, and I can't shake it. Maybe some hot chocolate will do. I will be posting pics as soon as she starts practice and games on 02 Sep.
Today I also got tickets for Sesame Street coming to Keesler. Thomas is going to LOVE it!!!
Thanks to all those who prayed last week. Things are definitely better. Last night I went to the bridge alone. I ran the majority of the 3.6 miles. I was remembering back an old squadron commander who used to run back for me everytime and say "Michelle, think of running as a spiritual experience, even if you have to say, oh Lord Jesus, please help me make it to the end!!!" I am definitely starting to see the attraction that people develop to running. I am not totally sold yet, but I am getting there. I had a spiritual experience there on the bridge last night.

struggles

The last couple days have really been a struggle for our family. We are having a rough time as parents, and husband and wife. Seems like we are not on the same page. Sometimes we are not even reading the same book. So if you are reading this and feel inclined to pray for us, please do.
We are having power struggles with Zoe and we need some confirmation that we are doing the right things as parents. This specific time has placed so much stress on us, that we are having a hard time remembering why we got married in the first place because we are so different. So we are all in strife.
Father,
I pray that you use this time for your glory. I pray that you will use this to to draw Ryan and I closer to you and closer to each other. I pray that we will draw closer as a family as a result of this season in our lives.
Amen

More videos

I guess if I say videos, that means more than one, huh?

Videos of Thomas

Mondays

Today after work I went to the doctor. I have been having ear pain and hearing loss since my last cold in December/January. The doc said my ear drums are bulging from fluid again, and gave me more meds. He says now I need to get a hearing test. I sure am hoping the pain goes away soon, although I am not looking forward to how sleepy this decongestant is going to make me.

4th of July weekend

This weekend was pretty uneventful, but very nice and relaxing just the same. For the 4th, (Friday) we went with some new friends, April and Patrick and thier children to a creek near our house. It was nice and shallow, Thomas was able to sit and there were deeper parts for the older kids. Friday night we went back to April and Patricks for fireworks. We stayed till late and had a great time. They are going to become good friends, I can tell.
Saturday we decide to for go the normal trip to NOLA, and try to get some things done around the house. It is so hard to get anything done with the kids right behind us. So we got baseboards nailed down, and the lawn mowed. I went Saturday morning with April for a pedicure and lunch thereafter. It was very nice. Sunday we went to church and our choir leader forgot to tell us to come on stage so we all rushed as the service began. It was kinda funny actually.... had to be there I guess.
Monday we took the kids over to Nick and Cristi's house to swim. We were there for 2 hours maybe and brought the kids home for a nap. We relaxed the rest of the day, and prepared for my work week.

The last week.... very busy days

Last week was very exciting! Monday and Tuesday I went to work. Wednesday we got up and rolled out the door at 0430 to go to Atlanta. We arrived in Atlanta 5 hours later with no problems other than road construction. The kids were really good the whole trip. We took the kids to the Atlanta zoo, and they seemed to enjoy it. I was really greatful that the weather was not too hot.

The meerkats above we took pictures of for Ethan, so he could see what a real meerkat looks like. Then, later that day we met Katie, Don, Robert and Luke at the airport to hang out. (My whole motivation for going on this trip)






We then went to our room. We stayed at NAS Atlanta. It was nice, but a challenge to get the kids to sleep in the same bed. Thursday morning I got up and found out that I am being promoted to E-6! I am SO excited!!! So to celebrate, we went to Steak and Shake for lunch before going to the aquarium.







Thursday night we took the kids to a park in Marietta, close to where we were staying and had icecream. They ate, and then played on the train. Thomas felt like we were cheating him and screamed for a cone till Ryan got him one.





Friday, we drove from Atlanta to NOLA to drop the kids off for a anniversary celebration. My Aunt Julie watched the kids Friday and Saturday night.