Adjusting to Deployment life

I know I know its been three months since I did a personal post. Lets just say , we've been busy.. adjusting!  For one, Ryan's been gone and we miss him terribly. And for second, We are Expecting again!  Found out just weeks after we got here. As of right now we are expecting Smith baby GIRL (as long as that's confirmed at my appt in Jan) come May 20!'

 I haven't really been  in the Christmas mood this year.. it just isn't the same without Ryan here. Ive really tried to be though for the kids! But I CAN say Ive gotten all their presents. even though I never feel like its enough LOL. I'll just be glad to be a family again:) THAT will be the ultimate present . I get to talk to my husband quite often .. but never for more than a little bit so we don't really get to discuss a WHOLE lot.. now and then it'll be for a bit longer. These "hey , how are you, I love you ,bye" conversations just don't cut it. But I AM thankful for them. So thankful for technology.

Bows-N-Ties.com

Since I'm not really a "tie wearer" and my husband isn't available:) I talked my dad into being my model/tie wearer. It didn't take much convincing since this was such a nice tie. Bows n Ties has a WIDE selection of high quality ties available at a great price because they import directly and there are no middle-men. Each of these ties is handmade from finest Jacquard woven silk.

I'm pleased to say that he really enjoyed his tie and it looked awesome! He got tons of compliments on it at church and Im sure it has become a favorite in his collection!
Along with the already great price from Bows n Ties, they have given me a special 20% discount to share! The code is "TR239YU". This will give you a 20% storewide discount at Bows-N-Ties.com

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Halloween Treats/ Trick Or Treat Cookies from Smiley Cookie

   We received the best little treat in the mail the other day ! The perfect gift for this season! These Halloween Gifts are round little cookies  painted like mini Jack O Lanterns. Both the kids gobbled these down and I dont think they lasted more than a couple of days here, But my girl def enjoyed them the most! I managed to sneak a few for myself so I can really say they were great! These cookies are nut free, kosher, and UNDER 100 calories. :)

These nut free, gourmet mini Jack O Lantern Cookies are the perfect Halloween treats for your family, a spooky party, a kids Halloween treat or for neighborhood Trick or Treaters! They are the perfect size for little hands but big enough to for adults to love too. These Halloween Cookies are also available individually wrapped mini Jack O Lanterns available on their site for this Halloween. You can use the coupon code "BLOG10" at checkout to get 10% of any of our unwrapped Halloween cookie gifts!

 Visit SMILEY COOKIE at http://www.smileycookie.com/  for all your cookie needs:) They have cookies for other holidays as well!


I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Back in Bama

Well here we are, me and the kids back in Alabama. Trying to get settled in and away from the big city again. I have to say... I've always enjoyed being out in the country, but I sure do miss my husband. He is finally at his end destination of his deployment.. and is getting settled in his work routine. I like that because I know a little better when to expect  him online. I just don't sleep great anymore :( Got the kids sleeping together in one room..and me alone in another:(. 
Hoping this deployment goes by fast. Thank goodness for Skype and the internet.. I don't know how people dealt back when there was no technology.
Pictures from this Sunday morning

One thing I do love is being back at my home church.:)  Always nice to be around good people:)

Packaway boxes review

Packaways is a brand new Storage Box that ships and stores in the flat position. When needed, simply press on opposing corners and the bottom "Automatically" folds into place and locks. When not in use, simply press on the bottom and the box folds back down flat for easy, out of the way storage. Ideal for homes, apartments or living quarters where use is intermitent and space is tight. Many applications: Moving; Back To School; Organizing The Kids' Rooms; Basement or Garage; Seasonal Items, etc. You can color code your things or have the colors match your decor. Proudly made in the U.S.A. from durable corrugated plastic. Great for harsh storage conditions or long-term storage since moisture and humidity won't effect the integrety of the boxes. Will last hundreds of cycles under normal circumstances. Many, many useful applications. Comes with 2 Wipe Away Panels that allow you to conveniently identify the contents of the box. If you use China Dry Erase Markers, you can simply Wipe Away the previous contents and remark the box.

I was very excited to get my packaway boxes! They came just in time since me and my husband were putting everything in storage. Im moving home while he is deployed and spent a lot of time packing things up. My boxes came in a flat cardboard box but they assembled quickly and effortlessly.

I like that they are square like a box and not rounded like those plastic bins with lids. You can pack more things when the whole container is the same shape . The wipeaway panels were very convienent.. This way I can reuse the boxes and write what I change the contents to. I love that they collapse flat when not in use. That means no empty boxes sitting around, I can fold them up and slide them under the bed or stick them in between things. That way they will not be in the way, I wont want to get rid of them, and I will still have them the next time I need them!
I also love that you dont need tape or anything to put these together!

You can  purchase these at
http://www.packaways.com
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Where do we go from here.. CHATOM!

In between packing and cleaning...and refereeing the kids, the weekend has snuck up on me. Ryan took our other car home to his dad and is on his way back here with his mom:)  I think i have thrown away a LOT of things in this house LOL... I never knew just how much junk we had accumulated. When we moved on post, I didnt look at stuff because the Army had someone pack and move us... but since Im doing this packing on my own, lol some stuff just wont make the cut. The kids wont let me pack up the last of their toys .. and I guess they do need SOMETHING to play with ...

The kids are already so attached to their daddy dolls.. :)

Look who put herself to sleep the other night:)
I was a proud mama >>>>>>>








We got the privilege to keep Miss Avery the other day:) aka Em's bff:) I am sure going to miss my Aimee:) Em and Avery have always gotten along SO great! 

Now that most of the house is packed up, I guess its microwave, takeout, and delivery for a while.. Im sure not complaining about not having to cook! Tonight was Dominos
As much as I am NOT looking forward to deployment.. I am looking forward to being back in Alabama and being around family more often. I know the kids will enjoy both sets of grandparents too!
<3 you Ryan!

Dollar tree now accepts coupons!

Dollar Tree is now accepting coupons, beginning on 8/26. This means we can now snag many free and cheap items there! AWESOME!
Click here to go to the official Coupon policy! (its at the bottom of the page)
 Or just read it here!:)


IN-STORE COUPON ACCEPTANCE: GUIDELINES & LIMITATIONS
DOLLAR TREE WILL ACCEPT COUPONS IN STORES BEGINNING SUNDAY, AUGUST 26, 2012

1. Only original and intact manufacturers’ coupons will be accepted. Retailer-specific coupons will not be accepted.
2. Coupons are void if copied, scanned, or if they have been altered in any way.
3. Only two (2) print-at-home Internet coupons may be redeemed per transaction.
4. We are unable to accept coupons for “Free” items with no purchase requirements or where the amount for the product is blank.
5. Coupons can only be used in stores and must be presented at time of purchase. Coupons cannot be redeemed for cash at a later time.
6. Coupons will not be accepted without the purchase of the item specified and are subject to the terms listed (e.g. expiration date, size, limitations, quantity, etc.).
7. Coupons cannot be redeemed for more than the purchase price of the item.
8. Only one (1) manufacturer’s coupon will be accepted per item.
9. Management has the right to refuse any coupon or otherwise limit quantities.

Potty Training!

At this age, Dustin was NO where ready to even begin to start potty training. He didn't tell me when he went or anything. Emmy will not only tell me, but will tell me before and run to the bathroom. She will sit on the potty.. But has yet to actually go in it!
She prefers big girl underwear.. and goes a good LONG time in between going. She can even take a nap and wake up dry... MOST of the time.
But that is about as far as we have gotten...
Im half sad that my baby is growing up and then half happy and very proud of my big girl:)

 

I think her and Dustin are on a secret spy mission. They are both on top of all my packed boxes with guns.. On the lookout LOL

Blog activation for Linkfromblog

just a test :)
buy blog reviews
Feel free to visit that site if you have a blog:)

For lack of a better title Aug 23 .2012

Its so funny how Emmy acts when Im TRYING to get a photo of her LOL... She will be in the cutest pose..as SOON as I get up to get my camera she ..rolls over or moves.

Thats okay though:) She cooperated SOME:) Like above:)
other times I get some liek below..but those are great too:)

 

Dustin has been begging to go Chuckie Cheese for like a month now.. so tonight I talked Ryan into it.. after all..its not every Thursday that he doesn't have work and we have the time...

Now we are home and I need to desperately get to packing some more... I have 5 of the plastic totes full and the house doesn't look like its missing a THING.

Opp leave

Its been a busy week. HA not
Ryan has the week off, its his "opportunity leave" before deployment.I wish we could make a flying trip home. But it means we need to get as much done this week as we can because we don't really have a date of when he will be leaving. (Not that it'll be posted when we do ! OPSEC ! So please don't ask me when he is leaving.. because the only answer I can give is .. too soon:(
I signed up a while back to start some doing some reviews and got an email today that Id be receiving plastic storage boxes from http://www.packaways.com/ soon. They should get here just in time to pack them full of stuff to go into storage. So that's great:)

Dustin has become obsessed with Ryan's army gear:) He is growing up to be such a little ham:)
Last night he "gave" Emmy one of his old spiderman pj tops to wear :) So they could match.

Fuel Rewards! SIGN UP NOW!

I am so excited to tell you about this program that Shell has! They have an AMAZING Instant Win game where you can earn $$$ money off of every gallon of gas. With the price of gas these days everyone can use so extra $$$ savings.
CLICK here!
After you play make sure to grab your own custom link to share with your friends. You will earn $.05 off per gallon for each friend that signs up- NO LIMIT.   Everyone wins with this awesome promotion and the rewards just get better and better the more of your friends that play!   That can really add up to some cheap gas!!!
AS LOW AS $.01 Per Gallon!!!
Once you sign up, to check your rewards Log In to Fuel Rewards with the info you used to sign up with for the Instant Win Game.

PLAY HERE!

Chicken Nugget Soup

Thats is what Dustin wanted for lunch... I gave him the choice between chicken noodle soup and chicken nuggets and french fries.. and his response? Chicken nugget soup.
He is such  a ham sometimes..
Em is on the VERGE of potty training.. she tells me when she needs to pooop..but not pee..
She will sit on the potty.. get up there with help from a stool but no help from me. ...but she just sits there.. so I guess thats a start LOL. Then she always tells me when she need a changed diaper..
Itll be nice  to eventually not be changing a diaper lol

Creeping Deployment.. Stay away!

That's what I think this deployment is doing, its creeping up... and soo fast. Ryan brought home the daddy dolls and some Comfort bear package for the kids today. The bear had a bomber helmet , goggles, and scarf lol Airborne symbol I suppose. 

Another birthday has come and gone for me.. I'm now 26. I sure feel that old sometime.. but most days I feel.............. OLDER LOL . My baby boy is now 4! And my girl will be 2 in OCT! My babies aren't babies anymore:( Since Ryan is deploying, we will be moving back to Alabama to be around family while he is gone. I look forward to the being around them part..not so much to him being gone for almost a year:( .

Dustin is in a afraid of the dark phase...actually we are up right now. The routine has become, Ryan takes Emmy to bed with him and I stay up with Dustin. He is watching cartoon (yes I know my 4 year old up at 11pm isnt good). Usually I lay in bed with him until he falls asleep and then go to bed with Ryan and Emmy (her bed is "sidecar"ed with ours, though she doesn't sleep in it much).


Emmy is now a weaned toddler(from breastfeeding)! We started weaning when we went home for block leave in July and just completely weaned about a week ago. Im relieved 
and sad all at the same time. Breastfeeding that long was a new experience for me and I canNOT say that I regret it. IF(thats a BIG if) we had another child, I wouldnt change and would probably breastfeed the same length of time.
We started cloth diapers with Emmy kinda late compared to most (close to her 1 year birthday). I tried just about everything before sticking with RAR (rumparooz) for daytime and Ecoposh for nighttime. But recently we have REdiscovered gdiapers and love them now!

Well now that Dustins drifted off to sleep here by me on the couch, I guess it's time to carry him to his bed (He is really getting to big for me to do that these days.. he is a whopping 40 lbs)