Happy New Year!

As we look back over 2009 we have had so many changes. We have embraced those changes and been blessed enough to come out as better people. We feel so blessed to have our daughters ( yes, all 5 of them! ) and look forward to a wonderful 2010! Ben will be home in July and will be coming home to a new house and a busy summer time. Brinnly and Savannah start kindergarten this fall and we look forward to being able to spend the holidays next year with all of our girls. God has blessed us and we will continue to be thankful for every day that we have together. We wish you all a wonderful New Year as well. Here are a few of our memories from 2009!

Baby, I hope you are safe and we will make lots of great new memories when you get home. I love you!

Ben and I at the Military Relocator benefit auction for the Museum of the Marine.

                                                                                                    

Sniper School Graduation

                                                                                                                                 Marine Corp Ball in New Bern, NC

" NEW BEGGININGS"

Ben and I had thought seriously about building a new house while he was deployed. As we made the choice to do so he then got orders to leave sooner than expected.  So we decided to go for it and we were fortunate enough to do all of our upgrades and color selections together before he had to leave. We were even able to choose our lot and found an amazing floor plan that will accomodate all the girls well.  I will keep updating new pictures as they progress. It was an uncleared field when Ben saw it last so when he comes home he will see our new home! It helps keep me plenty busy and is set to be completed May 28th!!

Baby, I cant wait for you to see it all!! We will have such a great summer!! I love you and miss you.

Kadence gets her first hair cut!!

Kadence turned 3 in September and I thought it was definitely time for her to cut the baby curls that had turned into waves and give her a much needed hair cut!! She was very excited about this. After finally deciding to get the cut, both places we went to were booked and me being impatient decided I would just do it myself. So......here are some pictures. It really turned out good and I will just take her to my stylist Kristi to clean it up if need be. She definitely looks more grown up, which makes me a little sad but she loves it!

Christmas is just not the same.

I made an ornament for the tree that will always remind us of Ben's deployment this Christmas. It definitely doesnt feel like Christmas when half of your heart is in Afghanistan but I am blessed to be able to spend it with the little girls.
We sent a huge package full of presents to our little Brinn and Nana said she wanted to open them the day she got the package!! I talked to her on the phone that day and she agreed to wait until Christmas. Daddy gave her " The Night Before Christmas" recorded in his voice and that was definitely keeping her busy as she listened to it over and over!  Next Christmas we will be all together...Ben, myself and all 5 girls!!

My Baby leaves on his deployment :( December 10th, 2009

Early Friday morning I watched the buses leave as Ben left on his deployment. It was a very sad day for me and him as well.  He has a mission to complete and will be home safely in the summer. Please keep him in your prayers.

I love you and miss you baby and we will see you before you know it!

Our Thanksgiving

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Kelly and Danny (and we cant forget Gnat !) brought our beautiful Brinnly up from Georgia and we had a wonderful visit. I must admit making the meal was a little stressful but everything turned out fabulous. The girls all made gingerbread houses and Kalli made a gingerbread tree. On Friday we packed up and went to Myrtle Beach. We stayed at an ocean front condo. The girls loved the indoor pool and hot tubs. ( ok so I really liked the hot tubs!! ) but we also went to Dixie Stampede and that was a blast! Kadence threw up on the way but had no problem eating a tub of popcorn and half a chicken!! LOL They all enjoyed the beach regardless of the cold and we really just had a good time.