Spring Is Here

Prince M is so excited to see flowers again! Of course we still have snow at home, so we had to venture to Grammy's house to get a good picture on the grass. Pretty soon I'll be picking grass and rocks out of his mouth as he crawls around the yard, chasing his big brothers. And I can't wait!

One picture says it all...

I am just the luckiest mom in the whole world...

School Days

As I watched Prince K walk to the end of the driveway this morning I was suddenly hit by the fact that he is growing up so fast! I want to always remember how proud he is to meet the bus all by himself, and how he struts down the driveway like he's 16, not 6. It's a far cry from the boy who refused to ride the bus at all just a few months ago! I am so proud of the big boy he is becoming, and can't wait to witness the changes as he continues to grow!

Good Morning Time!

Prince L goes running down the hall at the slightest peep from Prince M so he can be the first to sing "Good Morning Time!" to his little baby brother. Prince M always greets him with a smile, and kicks his feet in excitement. I can tell these 2 are gonna be good buddies as they grow bigger.

Sittin' Pretty

Look what Prince M has been up to! He is getting to be such a big boy, and he's happier than ever. I think he really likes his new view of the world...

Who needs snail mail?

Skype is an amazing invention! Each morning Prince K and Prince L scramble to the computer and wait for Daddy to "talk" to them. And never fail, at precisely the same time each morning, the computer starts to "ring" and up pops a picture of Daddy! I have learned quickly that they need to take turns though, otherwise the boys end up screaming uncontrollably. Probably mostly because they don't fit on the same chair very well. Hubby patiently listens to them, and always has something to say that puts a smile on their little faces. Even Prince M loves to see his Daddy's face on the computer... or perhaps it's just the sound of his voice that makes our littlest baby smile. Each night, when the kids are tucked peacefully into bed, I await my call from Hubby. It is the only time of day that is really "ours" right now, a time when we can talk uninterrupted, and catch up on each other's lives. It certainly makes living in 2 different countries a little more bearable. But don't get me wrong, I'd still prefer to have Hubby home, tucked into bed next to me, right where he belongs. So hurry home soon, my soldier, your family is waiting.

American Flag

Prince L - "Look, Mama! I have an American Flag on my army man coat. That means I'm an army man just like Daddy is an army man!"

Gotta love that boy... when he sees the American Flag he is not reminded of our Country, but of his Daddy's important duty. He recalls seeing the same flag stretched honorably across his Daddy's bicep each morning as he puts on his uniform to go to work. And every boy longs to be just like his Daddy in one way or another. Prince L prefers to be an army man any chance he gets.

The other day we were driving to pick up Prince K at school, and were waiting (impatiently) at a stop sign for oncoming traffic to stop. All of a sudden Prince L starts loudly squealing and pointing to the back of a rusty old pickup in front of us. It had a huge American flag painted across the back. "Look, Mama! An American Flag! That means Daddy is an Army man!"

That same flag now tugs at my heart every time I see it, too, no matter where is flies. Because not only is it a symbol of our blessed freedom, and the wonderful country we are a part of, but it is now, too, a symbol of Hubby's strength, courage, and determination to fulfill his duty. He may be one of many, but he holds my heart in the palm of his hand. And he always will, no matter what soil he may be standing on, and I am so proud of him.

But don't worry, my little one, Daddy will be home soon.

Blessed

Last week I had the opportunity to fly down to visit my husband one last time before the really tough part of this year really gets into full swing. Oh, how I love that man. And how blessed I am to call him mine. Prince K and Prince L stayed behind with Grammy (another goodbye would have been too torturous for such little guys), but Prince M still needs his Mama 24/7 so he got to go on his first airplane ride ever. I think his daddy was shocked at how much he has grown already, and a bit heartbroken to think of all that he will miss in the months ahead! Fortunately I take a lot of pictures though.

I will cherish the memory of that trip forever. We had a lot of quality time spent together in our whirlwind 36 hour visit together, and had so many unforgetable moments. I was reminded of why we are such a good pair as I fell in love with my husband all over again. Unfortuantely saying goodbye again was 10 times harder, and if I didn't have 2 little boys waiting for me to return home I probably would have hidden in the back of a humvee or something just to see him a bit longer.

We are grateful, Lord, that you have given us the opportunity to share these happy and enjoyable hours with one another. Let the memory of this day fortify us and have the power to give us strength on those days when our lives happen to be a bit more difficult. Until we can be together again, Lord, I pray that you watch over my husband, keep him safe, and surround him with the love we are holding for him here at home.

Daddy Pillows

The boys got an amazing package delivered the other day... and they are in love! Prince M is too little to sleep with a pillow, so his pillow case is in hanging next to his changing table. Prince K sleeps on his "daddy pillow" every night, and Prince L sleeps next to his, but is sure to bring it out into the living room each morning to snuggle with. These boys sure do miss their daddy! As you can see from the picture below, Prince K is the only one who can actually write what he is feeling at school, and often he comes home with artwork about his daddy... this one nearly broke my heart.

I do find it adorable that the people are both crying and smiling at the same time - a sure sign that the boy has happy memories of his daddy and can't wait for his return.

Hurry home, daddy!