Its official

Jason has his orders. Due to OPSEC (operation security) I can't give an exact date on here. But he is leaving mid March for 15 months. It is a very stressful time for me and him. He is stressed because he is leaving his family and going to war. And I am stressed because I get to be a single mom for 15 months. Madi is becoming so attatched to her daddy, which is great, but its gonna make is so much harder this time. Last time she was only 11 months when he got back so she didnt know and understand. I just got to stay busy and take care of her.....We knew it was coming but still you never get over how hard it is to send your husband off to somewhere he is getting shot at everyday. He will have more of a "war" job this deployment then he did the last one. But I look at it this way, I did 16 months last deployment, so I should be able to do 15 months RIGHT??? I thought I would put up some pics from his last deployment of Madi, Me and him.... Hope you like... You have to remember I was 5 months pregnant when he left!!!!

Jason getting on the plane to go to Iraq.

Jason with the Iraqi Police on Gate Guard....

Jason working on a HUMVEE over in Iraq.

The last pic taken before I went into Labor...

Waiting on Daddy to get home. He missed her birth by 16 hours... Thank goodness for mothers!!

Jason seeing Madi for the first time. She was 16 hours old.....

Jason getting ready to go back to Iraq....This is the HARDEST picture for me to look at. I couldnt even take it, my dad had to....

One of the MANY fun things I got to do with my family during the deployment. We went and saw the Yankees play the Diamondbacks. I bought Madi a lil Yankees outfit. It was super cute! My family was such a HUGE support to me during this time and for that I can't thank them enough!!!

SO HERE IS TO A SAFE DEPLOYMENT. I WILL PRAY FOR YOU EVERYDAY BABE THAT YOU COME HOME SAFE AND SOON TO YOUR FAMILY.....

Jason and his girls....

We got to spend some time with Jason's other 2 daughters this weekend. We went fishing on Saturday and then went and took pics.... We love having them around because it keeps Madi entertained!! And we love them!!! Here are just a few of my favorite pics!!

Alyssa
Aleah

Jason and his 3 girls!!
My Favorite Shot

She loves her daddy!

An Army Wife's Creed!!!

I am the wife of an American Soldier.

I am a supporter of the United States Army-

An encouragment for the protectors of the greatest nation on Earth.

Because I am proud of my husband and the uniform he wears,

I will always act in ways credible to him, the military service

and the nation he is sworn to guard.

I am proud of my husband. I will do all that I can to protect

and provide for my family in his absence. I will be loyal to my

husband and to the vows that we made as we entered the

covenant of marriage.

I will do my full part to carry on the values

and goals we have set apart for our family

and I will continue to instruct our children in the same manner.

As a soldier's wife, I realize that I play a vital role

in my husbands decision to become a member of a time-honored profession-

that I am doing my share to keep alive the principles of freedom

for which my country stands.

No matter what situation I am in, I will never do anything,

for pleasure, profit, or personal safety,

which will disgrace my husband, his uniform or our country.

I will use every means I have to encourage my husband to be

the best soldier that he can be.

I am proud of my husband, my country and its flag.

I will fly the flag and will always remember the sacrifices

made by my husband and by generations of men and women

that have served our beloved country.

I will try to make my husband proud of the

manner in which I accept his decision to defend my freedom and

the freedom of all American citizens-

for I am the wife of an American Soldier.

Doing what I truly love

Here are some pics I took of Madi today. It was so fun to have the day off and get to spend it with her. Hopefully within the next year I will be able to be a SAHM and start doing photography!!

Larry The Cable Guy

So our Christmas present to each other last year (makes it sound like so long ago!!) were tickets to Larry the Cable Guy! So last night was the show and let me tell you that my sides we hurting from laughing so hard... I even had tears in my eyes at one point. He was hilarious!!! Jason and I had a great time... Pictures didn't turn out very good. I haven't figured out this new camera in an indoor place, but here are a couple!!!

I just have to tell you this funny story. (its not going to be as funny with me saying it!!!) But the guy that opened up for him made a Mormon joke! He was talking about his daughter and how he can't imagine a boy kissing his daughter. He can't tell her what to do he can only tell her what he knows.... And he said but what I know is that sluts don't go to heaven! Then he was like well but then when they leave the house and we keep them locked down the go crazy and slut around. But where we come from we call them Mormons.... It was really funny. But the funniest part about it was the girl sitting behind us made a comment and said you know there is some Mormon girl in here that was like oh my gosh i can't believe he just said that how rude.... HAHA Jason and I just looked at each other and started laughing....

I hope I didnt offend anyone.. I just thought it was funny what the lady behind us said.... But Larry was funny as could be the first thing he says when he comes out was man I have to thank Tennessee Performing Arts Center for workin their A*** off for these decorations..... There were black curtains, a stool and a microphone.... That was it... Anyways we had a great time!!!!

Another new hobby!!

Here is my first digital scrap page... I couldnt find a deer so I had to use a turkey! Even though he hunts those too.... But I didnt really put much effort into this one!! Hopefully my next one will be better. Does anyone know a good program to use??

My husbands passion and some SNOW??

As we all know, my husband is IN love with hunting. I sometimes wonder if he loves it more than me! But he was practicing shooting his bow and arrow that he just got and I decided to capture something that he truly loves.

Of course he was proud of this shot....

Of course Madi has seen snow before, she lived in Alaska for 9 months. But this is the first time in TN!!

K so Madi has this inflatable raft that is for the swimming pool.. She grabs it, grabs her hat and says outside... Apparently she thought there was enough to take her sledding on this raft! It was pretty dang cute though (too bad I didnt get a good pic!!)

Im sorry we made her come in. Heaven forbid!!!!

"PHOTO SHOOT"

So we went to Manchester this weekend for Alyssa's birthday. I can't believe she is 4!! My mom and dad got them all matching outfits for Christmas so we had them all put them on and took pics. After we got done, Alyssa says "Lets go do another shoot"... I was laughing so hard. No one had evened mentioned a shoot, I just said hey lets go outside and take some pics!! haha Anyways here are some photos from it... And just so you all know I weighed in this morning and 3.8 pounds lighter then last Monday!! Yeah for me!!!

3 Days Down!

So this is day 3 and so far so good! I am doing great on this BFL (Body for Life)... But then again it only has been 3 days. I cut out chocolate and diet sodas (well all sodas) and those were my 2 biggest weeknesses.... So Im sitting in the break room today at lunch and a guy walks in (knowing I'm doing BFL) and goes to the snack machine and gets a snickers..... GRRRR!! I said now that is just not nice. He said oh this... don't worry its for the homeless guy laying outside in the cardboard box... I started laughing. I was like oh ok thanks! Then he walks out and is gone. So I finish my chicken salad sandwhich and walk out and there he is chowing down on it. I said hey wait a second, he said oh the homeless guy was asleep I didn't want to wake him.... WHATEVER!!!! Then he had the nerve to offer me some... PUTZZZ! But what a huge step for me I SAID NO!!! Chocolate is like my drug... SO all I have to do is SAY NO TO DRUGS RIGHT? So I started on Monday and I have lost 2 pounds already..... I have an obsession with the scale anyways. My morning routine, get out of bed, go to the bathroom, brush my teeth, start the water to get it hot, get on the scale. In that order! It never fails. I know you shouldnt get on it everyday, but I just can't help it. Im surprised I havent put one in the bathroom at work! So here is to 3 more days, since with BFL you do this for 6 days then get a free day! Yeah for me!!

A new start

So everyone wants to start the new year off right, right?? Well my "new years resolution" this year is to lose 70 pounds. Thats right count them up. I have 70 pounds to lose. Sad I know. Some of you are probably thinking how could you let yourself get like that. I dont know what happened. Im sure I could make up every excuse in the world. But the fact of the matter is, I want to be healthy. I have a short term goal and long term goals. My first goal is to lose 32 pounds in 12 weeks. I think that is attainable. My husband leaves for Afghanistan beginning of March, and I want some GOOD family pics done before he leaves. I have always been bigger then him, and that is my long term goal.... To be smaller than him and be able to fit his jeans (even though I wouldn't wear them!!) He has less then 12 weeks, but that is a good place to start. I am going to try body for life..... We will see how it works out. So I might be posting everyday or less then that. This blog is going to start being my journal for weight loss. Of course I will still put other things up, but this is a HUGE part of my life right now and I want to keep track of it... So here are some before pics, that are HUGE motivation pics for me!!! If anyone has any suggestions, comments, advice I am open and listening!!!