305 Happy Halloween!!

From my scuba diver entangled in a jellyfish and some delicious cotton candy!

304 Sometimes it Feels Like...

...somebody's watching me!!

My lame attempt at decorating for tomorrow's holiday.

303 Baby Gift

My sister-in-law had a baby boy last month, and I finally got around to making his baby gift!! (He's still a baby, right!?)

Today I got it all packed up and mailed. 

I hope they love it as much as I do!!

302 Dinner Party

We had friends over for dinner tonight. They have two boys and I was worried that our pink, princessy house would bore them. They did alright, but once the DQ turned on the Kinect, they were in heaven!

301 Problem Solved

Found this at the commissary today.

Genius.

We used them for dinner and they were perfect. 

Really though, I like the picture of what life was like before them.

Oh, first world problems...

300 Everybody Dance Now!

The DQ went to the Halloween dance at school today. She is still involved with several clubs there, and has been helping organize the event. She even went early and stayed late to help out!

The kids wore costumes and she was really excited to wear hers. She reminded me several times that she was going to enter the "most creative" contest.

And guess what!?

She won!

Well, she technically tied, but the boy she tied with had a store-bought costume, so in my mind, she won.

She still got a super cool "Most Creative" sash and another sash made out of candy.

Can you guess what she is??

Hint: She is not wearing the mask or snorkel...

She's a diver entangled in a jellyfish!!

299 Tailgating

Since the LT works closely with the Commanding General here, we were invited to a tailgate party at his home before the Fort Benning Doughboy's football game. I was not thrilled about going because there were not many LTs invited, but it turned out to be really nice. The LT about fell down dead when I whipped out my camera and asked a woman to take our picture. I know he gets annoyed with my constant snapping, especially at work functions, but I waited until most people had cleared out. And hey, it's not like I said "Let me get a picture of you and the general!" 

Anyway, since I had someone take it, I set it to manual so the poor woman wouldn't have to take six pictures while I made sure the lighting was right. And I am posed pretty awkwardly, but there aren't many photos of the LT and I on here, so here we are in front of Riverside, all gussied up for the tailgate party!

298 Pumpkining

The DQ's church activity tonight was carving pumpkins. The girls got into groups to plan, clean, and carve. They had a blast! Afterwards, they were treated to brownies and hot apple cider. Getting into the fall spirit! (in a t-shirt and shorts of course)

297 Boo!

Inspired by some photos I'd seen floating around the internet, we decided to "Boo!" some friends in the neighborhood. The theory is to leave some Halloween surprises at someones door, and "ding-dong-ditch" them so it's a surprise. We baked cupcakes and put together little buckets. The girls were really excited to deliver them. We decided not to leave them at the door because, I don't know about you, but I'm not exactly willing to eat things that I don't know the origin of. It was fun too because we got to see the joy in the little kiddos faces when they saw their goodies. We really do love our friends here on post!!

296 Such is Life...In the Army...

Another friend is moving on...

We grabbed lunch today before she and her boyfriend head off to Texas. The great thing is, we have been good friends for a year and a half, but have only lived in the same area for two months. I love that no matter where the army takes us, we will always be connected and remain friends!

Love you girl!!

PS, we didn't plan the outfits. Great minds think alike!!

295 Me and Nature. We Don't Really Get Along...

We had dinner tonight with some friends. As per usual with the army, just a day after seeing a family reunited early, this family got the surprise "you're deploying in 2 weeks" notice just a few days ago. Such is life...but I digress...

We were enjoying a lovely meal outside when I looked down at my phone to find this:

I had to use the LT's phone for this screen shot

Gross!!!

On the plus side... I am thankful it was my phone and not my head...or my food!!

294 This is What It's All About

I did a photo sesh a few months ago with a friend who had a baby while her husband was in Afghanistan. He was able to "attend" the birth via Skype, but obviously, that is not the same as actually meeting your baby.

She texted me two days ago and said she just found out he would be coming home early and asked if I would come along to take pictures.

Um. Of course!!!

What a beautiful experience it was!!

It wasn't like you see on TV where there are 400 soldiers looking for their loved ones, there were only a handful of soldiers who came back and so they had this intimate moment in the parking lot.

I suppose I don't really need to say anything more. I'll just let the picture speak for itself.

293 Green Surprise

I was sweeping out some dead leaves from our driveway and a bright green tiny thing came flying out! Upon closer examination, I realized it was an itty bitty frog! It's hard to judge the size by this photo, and the thing was so darn fast I couldn't get a great shot, but this is in concrete, and those pebbles in the concrete are pretty tiny! 

This was the cutest critter that I could have been surprised by while sweeping leaves. (Other things found - black widows, roaches, giant brown spiders, worms...)

292 Doughboy

I was out doing a photo session with a family this evening and we ended up at Doughboy Stadium. I realized that there are some pretty gorgeous buildings here at Benning, and we only have a few more weeks here (yay!) so I thought I'd try to capture some of it's beauty. (not our house of course)

291 Landforms

Bean and I have been studying the earth and the different landforms all around. Today we made a relief map out of salt dough with various major forms. Her favorite to make was the volcano.

We are really excited to paint it. I wonder how long it will take to dry...?

290 Abracadabra!

We went to the library today and Bean found some books on magic tricks. She found a princess wand and a scarf for a costume, but was saddened to learn we do not have a top lying around.

The clever girl substituted a bucket for the hat and pranced around the house making things disappear.

289 Sunset Dining

We drove out to Auburn tonight in the hopes of procuring 2 chairs to use as photography props. The seller hadn't gotten back to me, but we drove out there anyway, in the hopes that he would so that I could have them for a session tomorrow.

Unfortunately, no word back.

We consoled ourselves with dinner at Chipotle.

It was well worth the drive.

Chipotle is across the street from the engineering building at Auburn. This is the gorgeous view!

288 Sucked In

The DQ finished this book the other day, and so I finally caved and started reading it. It's the third in a series and the last one came out a year ago...I barely remember what happened!!

Nonetheless, I started it and I won't be able to get much done until I finish it!!

287 Dog Park

Today the weather is PERFECTION. Seriously.

I feel badly for anyone not living here today. 

(but only today...)

We took advantage of the day and walked to the park. We brought Lola along and she was really more interested in sniffing little kids. We've never taken advantage of the dog parks on post, and there weren't any dogs in the little dog park, so we let her loose. I swear the running wore her out in about 5 minutes, and she was ready to go home. 

The rest of us certainly enjoyed it though!

286 Showered

Tonight I went to a baby shower for a good friend (the one in the middle...can you even tell she is 2 weeks away from having a baby!?). It was great because it was in the evening and I was able to catch up with some great friends with no kids around! These three ladies have been such amazing friends and I am so grateful for them. The fact that we are moving is starting to sink in. I feel like I've known these girls forever and I will be really sad to leave them! But as I've mentioned before, it's just "see you later" in the Army. I know we'll meet again some day!

285 Six Months

The day she has been counting down to has finally arrived.

Today marks 6 months since the DQ's surgery.

She is now free to run and jump and return to normal activities.

I know that for that first month she thought she'd never feel well again.

Thankfully, as the great doctor promised, she is feeling nearly back to her old self. Her back does ache if she's up and walking a lot. He said that at the one year mark she will have made as much progress as she ever will. Meaning, if there is something that is kind of bothering her, it will forever if it hasn't cleared up by then.

What a miracle science is.

We are eternally grateful for the care she received, for our health insurance that covered the procedure, and most importantly, to our Father in Heaven for keeping her safe, comforting us all during the scary times, and helping her to heal so well!

284 Rainbow Dasher

We went to try to find wintery clothes yesterday and came home with only a Rainbow Dash (from My Little Pony) shirt that is a size too big. I mean, it was only $3, how could we pass that up!? 

Well little Bean refuses to wait until it fits her (it's really not that big on her) and insisted on wearing it again today. She has added these butterfly wings because Rainbow Dash is a pegasus. 

Bean zipped around the neighborhood on her bike pretending that she was Rainbow Dash.

Life is good when you're 6.

283 Priceless

Today Bean was looking at the little wallet I carry that has all of my important cards in it. She said "Mom, you don't have any money in it!" I explained to her that the wallet just carries my ID and bank card, there is no room for money. Then I said "I don't have any money anyway! I don't have a job, except to teach you. Do you want to pay me?" I giggled and said I was kidding. I told her that I love teaching her and she pays me in hugs and kisses.

Then she disappeared for a moment and returned with a handful of change from her piggy bank.

"Here mom. I want to pay you because you do such a great job and I love you. I want to give you money so you can buy a pretty belt or a dress for yourself."

My. Heart. Melted.

What a sweet little girl she is. I hope she understands though, that money isn't what matters. I am paid far more richly every day by the blessings of being able to spend so much time with my babies!!

282 SOOTC

As in Straight Out Of The Camera. No photoshop necessary.

We went up to Callaway Gardens today with friends and I managed to snap this gem. It was so gorgeous up there and the weather was perfect! We've been spoiled by this 4 day weekend for sure!!

281 Bonfire!

Some friends invited us over to roast marshmallows this evening. The day had been pretty warm, but once the sun started going down, it got pretty chilly! This little guy LOVES the DQ. He was so excited to hang out with her!! We will certainly miss good friends when we move.

280 Who Are These Two!?

We went to a birthday party today and these silly glasses were in the goody bags. The girls thought they were hilarious. They certainly look pretty silly!

279 It's Fall Y'all!

I couldn't resist that title! It cracks me up, but it's so appropriate for the South.

We met some friends up at a pumpkin patch this morning. 

Don't let their outfits deceive you... it's still not quite sweater weather yet, we were hoping it would be though when we left this morning.

I love these girls SO much!!!

278 It's Getting Scary Around Here!

We went on a walk tonight and were amazed at how many people have decorated for Halloween! People really go all out here. This house doesn't seem that exciting, except for the fact that the eyes on the skeleton head spin around wildly!! I'm so glad Bean isn't as easily frightened anymore because she'd be hiding her head every time we drove anywhere!

277 Books!

This came today from the DQ's school! Forty four pounds of books and school equipment! Time to get crackin'!

276 Road Trip!!

We took a field trip today to Providence Canyon in Lumpkin, GA. 

It was SO much fun!! We brought a good friend along and ended up hiking 5 miles around and through the canyon.

Bean brought along her notebook and took some notes, but was just too busy looking around to take many.

My favorite was when we found some mushroom looking things, that I finally just said were some kind of fungus. She got out her notebook and said, "How do you spell haggis?" 

"Haggis!? What are you writing about?" 

"The stuff here on the tree!"

"Oh! Fungus!!"

275 Sending Sunshine

Things have been sorta rough for my mom. Just a lot for her to betaking care of, and I've had a hard time being so far away, I just don't know how to help her!

Enter pinterest. Seriously, it is the coolest thing ever. I pinned an idea a while back about sending a box of sunshine to someone who needs a pick-me-up. Well, my mom certainly does, so the girls and I hunted all over Target this morning for anything sunshiney. We found some great, happy things to fill this box with. Then  I painted the inside yellow and whipped up a cute card. I'll send it out tomorrow.

I can't wait to hear from her after she gets it!

Most importantly though, I hope it helps to bring a little smile to her face.

I love you mommy!!