Getting ready for change

Wow! Can't believe it is already 2011. We all had such an awesome Christmas and New Years! It was great taking the girls to Texas and getting to see family and friends. Our trip was very eventful with all the bad weather, flight changes, and Ryleigh hating to fly but in the end it was all worth it. We didn't get to see everyone we wanted but we will definitly have more time in the Spring when the girls and I return.

Justin is leaving for Afganistain in less then a month and I am so stressed out. We have yet to tell Avery and I'm not looking forward to it. We plan on telling her two weeks before he leaves that way she has time to get used to the idea but also not too much time to worry. When Justin has left for conferences for just a week, it really bothers Avery so I don't know what to expect. As for Ryleigh, it really breaks my heart. Justin is her person and shes too little to understand whats going on. I just know this next year will be so challanging for us but we are cherishing every moment we have left and we will get through this together as a family. 

Excited for the holidays!

Wow, Can't believe this year is almost coming to an end. We have had an awesome yet crazy year. We moved from New Orleans to Jacksonville, North Carolina in January. We bought our first house which is exciting for us, not to mention getting out of base housing is wonderful. Justin got settled in with a new job and has been doing great. He has been preparing for his upcoming deployment in February 2011. He will be in Afganistan for 12 months so the girls and I will need lots of love and support from everyone over the next year. I started babysitting this summer to give the girls someone to play with. They really seem to enjoy it for the most part. Avery has her moments when she can't be the boss of them all but it is good for her. She is loving gymnastics for the past two years now and is really good at it. She is such a smart and sweet little girl. As for school, we decided not to enroll her in Pre-K this year so she will start Kindergarten next August. Cannot believe I am even saying that. You're always told you're children will grow so fast and to cherish those moments... boy I was told right! As for my little Ryleigh, She has grown into her own little person and is just precious. She has started talking so good. She wasn't much of a talker for awhile but when she started she just hasn't stopped. She is learning new words daily and really is just a joy to be around. I've never seen a kid have as much fun as she does.

This Christmas will be our first Christmas at our house so we are looking forward to that. Every year we have made the trip to Texas which was nice but having it here at the house will be good for the girls. We will be making a trip to Texas after Christmas for the first time since we left last year. Avery is just so excited. She has had her backpack packed for several weeks now and cannot wait to get on the airplane. We truly are very blessed  and do not take anything for granted what so ever. God really has been amazing to us. We have so much to be thankful for.

Here are a couple updated pictures of the family