Friday, November 20, 2009

Roller Coaster

This year has been nothing short of a roller coaster ride of emotions. In January Jason left. We have a few visits sprinkled throughout the year-long separation. Then last week he left again, anticipating a deployment to Iraq in early January. After arriving at Ft. Lewis he found out that he's actually leaving for Iraq in December. The upside to that? He gets to come home for Christmas!

There was no way we could afford the plane ticket so my awesome father used 50,000 of his frequent flier miles to secure one ticket from Seattle to Virginia. What an incredible blessing! We have already prepared the children and they know that Daddy would not be here for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any of next year's birthdays. So we've decided to keep this a big surprise. When Jason arrives on our doorstep next month they won't believe their eyes!

I feel like this roller coaster just won't stop. I want to get off already! We're up, we're down, then we're up again. Every time we see Jason again, in the back of my mind I know there's a good-bye looming just ahead. I hope I'm not causing irreparable damage to my children with all of this emotional turmoil. I just know that they will be overjoyed to spend Christmas with Daddy- our first Christmas at home in Virginia in 6 years. Seriously, I am just thrilled!

I don't know how I'm going to keep this secret for the next month. I hope I don't slip up and spoil everything! I'm going to have to watch myself when I'm on the phone running my big mouth.
(Look Mali, it's Snow White!) Is it just me or does Snow White look like Sarah in this picture?
This is what I feel like right now. Exhausted. The combination of this nasty cold I caught and the daily grind of caring for 6 kids are taking a toll on me. I could do just like Leila and fall asleep sitting up. Too bad you're only allowed to do that when you're three.
In case anyone wonders why there aren't as many Disney pictures of Matthew... this would be why. He spent a good deal of the trip pouting and grumpy. Not sure why, except that it is typical Matthew behavior. His moods are unpredictable and even the happiest place on earth can't make him smile if he's having a bad day.
Did I seriously wear pajama shorts to Disney World? Why, yes I did. You can do that when you have 6 kids. Actually, it's probably expected. And I have no shame so I'll even post the picture on my blog. (If Jason ever sees this he'll be embarrassed. He hates when I dress like this and thinks I'm frumpy.)
Again with the little Disney princess toys. They are carrying them everywhere!
Snow White posed for a picture in our rental house in Florida. That townhouse was perfect for us! There was plenty of space, it was cheap and clean, and it was decorated in true Disney fashion. There were mouse ears everywhere, even on the furniture. This is the bench in the foyer.
See? Even the kitchen cabinets had mouse ears! It was such a fun touch and we almost forgot that we weren't staying at a Disney resort.
The babies just liked that they could climb into the cabinets. They did this everyday and it never got old.
Nathan says, "I don't want to hear it!"

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