Making Cookies with Pop

Since Jocelyn had been up sick most of the night, we just had a home day on Saturday.

Madison helped Pop make cookies while Jocelyn was napping.

Way to line them up.

High five!

Time to go in the oven.

Madison helped Pop read how long to cook the cookies.

Uncle Guy, Aunt Nelda, Mia and Blayke came over for dinner. We had a nice family dinner with everyone and then enjoyed Madison and Pop's cookies and apple pie for dessert. After dessert we drove to Uncle Guy and Aunt Nelda's neighborhood to look at Christmas lights and see their house.

Unexpected Trip to North Carolina

Clay called us on Thursday night and said that he had the weekend off. He asked if we would drive to his parents' house to meet up with him for the weekend. Needless to say the girls wanted to go see Daddy. I packed our stuff and loaded the van Thursday night and we were on the rode at 9:00 am Friday morning. The six hour drive wasn't bad except for the fact that the girls asked "Are we there yet?" or "How much longer?" every 10-15 minutes.

Once we got there the girls had tons of fun playing with their cousins Mia and Blayke.

All of the cousins piled on Pop's chair.
Pop made meatloaf for dinner because he knows it is Madison's favorite.

Pop also surprised the kids with Santa hat cupcakes for dessert.

Nana got the girls cute little reindeer from CVS.

Jocelyn with her bright red lips.

Blayke looked like he had lipstick on. :)

After dessert, Mia and Jocelyn snuggled on Pop's chair and looked at books.

Tickle Bug Pop got his M&M girls, Mia and Madison!

Clay finally arrived around 7:30pm. It was so nice to see him. For the first time ever Madison wanted to sleep with Daddy instead of Mommy. Unfortunately, Mommy and Jocelyn didn't get much sleep because Jocelyn was up sick most of the night.

Deployment Day!

Nine years ago today Clay asked me to marry him. I would have never thought that nine years later the girls and I would be saying goodbye to him as he leaves for his deployment. He is headed to Fort Bragg for some training first and then heading from there to Afghanistan.

His bags are packed and ready to go. We woke up very early this morning to drive him on base to pick up his weapon. The government car met us there to drive his luggage and weapon to the airport. We met the government car at the airport and proceeded to get Clay checked in. Everyone was very nice and understood how difficult this day was on us. As Clay stood at the counter, Madison just held onto his leg crying. It broke my heart.

Madison is going to miss her Daddy very much. She LOVES her Daddy Doll though. It was very helpful this morning. She just held him tight and kept playing the special message from Daddy.

Daddy got some good snuggles with the girls while we waited for his plane. The goodbyes were very difficult. They both cried the entire way to the car. Jocelyn seemed okay once we got to the car, but Madison cried the entire 40 minute drive home from the airport. Jocelyn doesn't exactly understand because when we pulled up to the house she yelled, "look Daddy beat us home." She saw his car parked at the house and assumed he was home. I had to remind her that Daddy was on the plane and his car will be sitting there for the next 7 months.

The Countdown Begins!

As I was looking for ways to help the girls countdown the time until Daddy will return from his deployment, I came across several ideas. Of course you could put X's on a calendar, but that didn't sound like much fun, plus they don't have a very good concept of time. Another idea was to make a paper chain with one link for everyday that the person will be gone. The idea is that you would take one of the paper chain links off each day and write what you did that day on the piece of paper and mail it to your loved one. The paper chain will help you countdown and keep your loved one informed about what is happening at home while they are away. I liked the idea of the paper chain, but I didn't want to have a 225 link long paper chain in my house. As most of you know, I don't do well with clutter. :) Plus we weren't sure that we would be able to send Clay the paper links, so I decided on this deployment countdown idea instead.

We made a "Daddy's Deployment Countdown Jar" filled with chocolate hugs and kisses. The girls will each get to pick one hug or kiss from the jar for every day that Daddy is away. It isn't the same as getting a real hug and kiss from Daddy each day, but it will have to due for now.

Deployment Gifts from Daddy!

Tonight Daddy surprised the girls by giving them their Daddy Dolls!

Jocelyn is in LOVE!

Madison was shocked that Daddy was a doll.

They were even more surprised when they squeezed the tummy and heard the special message that Daddy recorded just for them.

Madison, Daddy and her Daddy Doll.

Daddy told them how much he is going to miss them when he is away.

Jocelyn couldn't believe she had a "small Daddy."

Madison couldn't stop looking at her Daddy Doll.

Madison snuggled her Daddy Doll in Daddy's chair and listened to her special Daddy Doll message.

The girls also got their Deployment Bracelets tonight.

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We are waking up very early tomorrow morning to drive Daddy to the base to pick up his weapon and then we are following the government car to the airport to see him off. Please pray for us all. Saying goodbye will be difficult.

Ballet Day!

Today was observation day at ballet.

The little girl next to Madison kept falling down. :(

Madison was happy that Daddy got to come observe today before he leaves for his deployment.

The Academy of Ballet is performing "The Nutcracker" this weekend. The girls and I are looking forward to going. Maybe next year Madison will be in the show.

A is for Advent

Grandma got the girls this book two years ago for Christmas. We are looking forward to reading one page a day as part of our Advent activities.

Madison opened the 1st box on our Advent calendar today that Grandma and Granddaddy sent us. Madison wanted to know why they don't put the numbers in order on an Advent calendar? That is my girl, she likes things in order just like Mommy. :)