Coming home early!

Yesterday we got a call from Chelsea's camp counselor and she said their is an opportunity for Chelsea (and the other girls) to stay at camp six more days. At first I was worried because she wouldn't get back until the 9th and Steve leaves a few days after that, but Steve said that she would have more fun up there than here with us...so I let her stay. Well then we got a call tonight and they are all coming home tomorrow..... EARLY! There are a bunch of fires up there right now and the air quality is really poor and making it really difficult for them to do any of their activities. This makes me sad because according to Chelsea's counselor, she is having a BLAST!
So tomorrow we will make the early trip down to Richmond, to pick up our teenager. We have missed Chelsea so much around here. I don't always give her enough credit for all she does for me. She can be such a big help with Jaelyn and Tyler (especially now that she is babysitting age) and she also enjoys helping me out around the house too.

Chelsea took it the hardest when we got news that G was leaving. She got the closest to him and they kind of related to each other in a unique way. I feel bad for Chelsea that she had to lose a good friend and brother, but I know she is slowly getting over the loss. I was hoping that camp would help her to see that life goes on and that G is doing his best to enjoy his new home because he has too.
G is doing great in his new home. He is now with two other boys close to his age and he loves it. Each weekend they go to his foster moms sister's place and work. He earns money each time he works there. I think that is the best thing for him. It is good for him to learn to work at his age. Sadly it won't be long and he will be emancipated and living on his own.

My preschool is coming along nice. I actually am thrilled to say that I got a GREAT deal at a garage sale yesterday morning! It is a provider that does care off base for many, many years now and she was downsizing her stuff. I got a water/sand table, kitchen set. table and chairs (kid size) grocery cart, and a bunch of puzzles for only $15.00! It is in great shape too! It makes a huge difference in my dramatic play area and my outside. I am so excited to open, but still have over a month to wait. I will be doing drop-in care and temporary full-time care if needed, so that should help tie me over. My package goes in front of the board the 3rd Tuesday of July, so it won't be long!

Hope everyone is enjoying their summer so far. Things are obviously busy around here. The smoke has slowed us down some, but not much. This week is Steve's last week at work (he is only working 1/2 days) so we are going to try and find as much fun stuff as we can to do before he leaves.

Yes! He's still here.

As I peaked out of my eyes bright and early this morning, I rolled over to look at Steve's side of the bed and my heart lept for joy as I saw him sleeping soundly. I must of had a dream that he had already left for his deployment because for some reason I thought he was gone. My heart did sink though as I remembered how short of a time we have left together as a family. I am not sure what is going on with me emotionally, but my heart feels like he isn't going anywhere...even though my brain tells me otherwise. I haven't been really sad or depressed yet, which is weird for me because he leaves in two weeks. TWO WEEKS and my husband will be away from his family and friends for a whole six months. Again we are going to miss my favorite time of the year together, Fall. All of the Holiday's will once again be spent apart not only from my family, but away from Steve too. I of course will put my big girl panties (not so big anymore though) on and march on with our life as we know it. It is best for the kids if our lives don't get too crazy and hectic. Too much change is not good for them, so I want to keep things as normal as possible. The kids adore their daddy and it will be a tough day to get through that first day after he leaves. I found out that we will be taking him to the airport and dropping him off first thing in the morning. I am sure he will have me drop him off at the curb, since he doesn't like goodbyes. I know it sounds harsh to drop off at the curb, but it really makes it quick and easy to say goodbye. We will do all of our BIG goodbyes the night before.

Deployments aren't easy for anyone and there is so much controversy over who has it the worst, the deployed member or their families left behind. I would say the men and women fighting for our freedom over there right now have it the worst. I have a nice warm bed to sleep in and a clean shower to wash in whenever my little heart desires. Most don't have that over there at all and most of them are lucky to have a cot to call their own. Since we have been in the Air Force the deployments keep getting longer and longer, they are now up to six months for the Air Force. I am lucky though because I know people in the Army who haven't seen their spouse in 18 months! I couldn't imagine at all.

Well, there isn't anything I can do at this point to change the deployment. Like I said, I just have to suck it up and be tough. As I sit here today and prepare my home for the opening of my preschool in August, I realize that I have a tough, but busy road ahead. I am trying to focus on the positive things such as, VBS in three weeks, the preschool at Church, opening my preschool here at home, and also going home to Ohio for Christmas. These things and my children keep me from hiding in my bed all day long, sulking about being all alone. I am a tough, strong, independent mommy and I with God, I can do ANYTHING.

Here are TONS of pictures and ALL out of order of course. We have been busy the past few weeks around here. I can't wait to share pictures of my transformed house into a preschool in the next couple of weeks. Besides my upstairs, I kept the living room as ours. The rest....well preschool kind of took over. The kids are downstairs enjoying all the new toys and games and dress up clothes I brought home today. I am praying that these fires let up some and we can have clean air again to enjoy the outside. The kids and I have been stuck in the house ALL WEEK due to the unhealthy air, with Tyler's asthma I can't take any chances. I promise I will update soon on everything else. I am trying to enjoy all the time I can with my husband and family.



My little girl all grown up now! She is officially a teenager now. She was so excited about going to Camp for the first time. I was so nervous for her because she is going to be gone for 9 day! We all miss her so much around here. I know she is having a blast though!

Chelsea getting ready to board the bus.
This is the sun this morning. We have so much smoke here we can't even go outside. The air quality is so poor here for the past week or so. I am hoping it will clear up soon. The kids being stuck in the house is driving me crazy.
While Steve and the kids were home, the guys took the boys to a Cleveland Indian's game. The boys night out. This was Tyler's first baseball game ever. I was so excited for him and made Steve take a ton of pictures.

Tyler and Percy at the game.
I can see you! My goofy boy!
My crazy son and his crazy daddy.
And now he is passed out on the way home.
My sweet 13 year old daughter. I can't believe she is now a teenager! Time flies by too quickly. In just a few short year, I will have a driving daughter. That is SOOOOOO scary!

Steve and my cousin's son Nick.
Here is some of my family hanging out at Grandma Johnson's house. Steve went over for a BBQ and hung out with my side of the family for a while. They had a great time. See my cousin Danny in the red shirt? Him and his dad and my other cousin, Jeff are so tall! Jeff is 6'7" and Danny is 6'5". Now can you see where Chelsea gets her height from?
Jaelyn and Victoria again. Not sure why this is blurry?
The two musicians...they both have a passion for music. Steve bragged about how good Annie is when it comes to playing the piano and creating songs. This girl has a talent and I know she is going to put it to good use!
Tyler floating around one of the many times they went swimming.

Jaelyn and Maggie enjoying the water.
Everyone swimming at Kristi's house.
Grandpa and Jaelyn eating breakfast at McDonald's playland. This is Jaelyn's favorite place in the whole wide world.
Grandma with her kids! Yes, Chelsea is missing from this picture. I am assuming she is at Grandma Johnson's. Amazingly she was there only one night this visit. That is a record for Cheslea.
Tyler and Percy all dressed for Church.

The Ousley gang! This is everyone all ready to go to Church.
Here is the sweetest little face! Steve kept going on and on how cute she is!
Here is my cutie nephew Alec! Isn't he adorable. Sorry the pictures aren't that great, but I had to leave that to my husband since I wasn't there!
Grandma and Grandpa threw the kids a birthday bash while they were home.
Jaelyn and Victoria became best buds during their visit. Jaelyn LOVES chatting on the phone with Victoria.

Jaelyn looking cute as ever! She loves smiling for the pictures. This is before they went to Ohio.
Mommy and Jaelyn hanging out at home. This is before they left for Ohio.
Mrs. Santini and Tyler on his last day of school. Can I just say I LOVE this teacher! She is the most organized, caring, and passionate teacher I have ever met. You can truly see how much she cares for these children in her work. We are really going to miss having Mrs. Santini next year.
Me and Steve at the terminal here on base. We are waiting for the bus to take them out to the plane. Don't mind how horrible I look! I was heading for the gym after they boarded the plane. Anything to keep my mind off of being all alone.
They didn't get to Grandma and Grandpa's house until 5am the next morning. After only a few hours of sleep, this is the first place Jaelyn went to of course.

Tyler enjoying one of Aunt Pam's little doggies.
Jaelyn and Tyler in Grandma's bathtub!

What was that?

This is my worst fear...that a huge earthquake hits and destroys everything. This is a picture of the San Francisco City Hall after the 1906 Earthquake. Pretty sad isn't it?

That was an earthquake! Last night as Steve,me, Chelsea and G were sitting in the living room watching tv, we felt the whole EARTH move!! Yes, we experienced our FIRST and hopefully ONLY earthquake last night at 7:29 pm. It was in Green Valley, Ca, which is the next town over!

I was sitting on the couch and felt the whole thing move. It kind of takes you by surprise at first cause your not sure if you are imagining things or if it is real. It's such a surreal feeling. It was a 3.9 on the Richter scale, which isn't that big, but big enough to me. My complete fear since being here in California is that a huge earthquake will happen.

On other news, G is leaving us next week to go to a new home. I have mixed feelings about this because although I know it's best for him, I am going to miss him very much around here. I know my kids are heartbroken too. He is actually very excited and can't wait to leave, but I am sure (or hoping) it's just a coping mechanism. He is going to miss more around here than he realizes and I just hope that he had a good experience while he was here. So, G is leaving for the weekend to get to know his new family and my husband and kids are leaving this weekend to go and see family back home. That leaves me ALL ALONE! I am not happy about this, but I am going to make the best of it. I am going to get alot done around the house preparing for preschool and get all the exercise in I can. Who knows, I might live at the gym while they are gone?

It's also the end of the year again. I am happy to see my kids finish up another school year, but sad that they are moving up to another grade. That means they are getting closer to graduating. Chelsea will be going into the 8th grade next year, Tyler in 2nd grade, and Jaelyn in my preschool. Where has the time gone? The older I get the faster it goes and it makes me so sad because these are the years I want to be enjoying the most.

Be looking for me to be posting lots next week due to having NOTHING else to do around here. I haven't been alone, by myself for a week in years. I am not even sure what to do with myself. If anyone has any suggestions, feel free to leave them in my comment box...Lol. Please pray that we don't have anymore earthquakes while I am all alone!