Phone Call, Birthday and School Oh My

Busy, busy times I tell ya'! First on Sunday my BABY turned NINE!!!! How the heck did that happen and where the heck have I been??? Didn't I just deliver him yesterday...whew, time flys! Since we had already had a birthday party while Daddy was here, we had some friends (all from same family--the one where baby was born same day as Avery) come over and share some cake and ice cream with us. The boys in our friend family LOVE light sabers (and now my boys do too--though I don't--lol) and they very nicely brought them to share. So I got a few pictures of them "sword fighting" with the light sabers in the rain. Tristan really enjoyed himself as did all the kids. The highlight of the day was Daddy's phone call (only the 4th one--we usually communicate via IMing and email) just for his birthday boy. Brian is SUPER DUPER busy right now (I am sure you have seen the news) so it was really great that he was able to call (his last call was on Keagan Monsters b-day).

Oh and before Tristan's birthday and the day after she lost her first one, Sammi lost her second tooth, no really, she lost it. We were at Wingers eating and she looks at me "MOM!!!" holding out her bottom jaw. UH OH no tooth. I had warned her she might eat it, since she wont let me pull 'em, she just lets them literally fall out. She insists she didn't eat it. While eating her chicken, she felt something crunchy, took it out of her mouth, and tossed it over her shoulder. Don't worry we immediately had a table manners talk...lol.

The day after Tristan's birthday was the first day of school for my two eldest, Keagan starts on the 5th. The like their teachers a lot, so hopefully they were placed well. Not a lot to report here, since they are only into their third day of school now. I can tell you that crazy me, I miss them a lot!! But Keagan and Avery keep me busy. I am really gonna' miss my little monster on Tuesday.... oh well.

I have forgotten to mention some important anniversaries around here. On August 20th I have been smoke free for TEN YEARS!!!! YEAH ME!!!!! I read a report that by ten years the lungs are back to the health of someone who has never smoked... look at my lungs aren't they beautiful!?!?!?!??!?! The next big day is August 25th, and it is a big day for two reasons: Brian has been in the army for FOURTEEN YEARS!!!! YEAH BRIAN!!!!! Also we are now halfway through the deployment... Brian hit six months on the 25th. I don't know what to think about this one, I mean I am glad we have made it to the half way mark, but then I realize we have to do the same amount of time over again!!! Well at least half way is something.


I will be adding and deleting some pictures in a few minutes, check em out if you like at:
http://www.msnusers.com/PilchFamilyPhotos

Also I was trying to add a picture of my birthday boy here, but it wont let me Hmmph!

Anywho... I am wishing you ummmm... a good one...hummm.... that no peas make it up your kids nose today... and if you have no kids, I am hoping you don't put one in your own!

Girl Firsts

Today has been a big day for my girls! They both had some firsts. You can see Sammi's right there... she lost her first tooth! Avery's first is pulling herself to a standing position. I told you she is a lady on the move. She was too funny though... she was giggling in her playpen behind me (I was uploading pics on the computer) , I thought one of the kids was playing with her. Tristan comes in the room and screams "AVERY IS STANDING UP!!!!", and sure enough she is. Meanwhile she is giggling at herself...lol. After a bit, she falls over and then she is really POed. She pulls herself up again and lo and behold, she starts giggling again. I am really happy that she is just as proud of herself as we are! No, I did not get a picture, the camera was attached to the computer downloading pictures and I did not get video because I ran out of tape Wednesday night video taping me waking the kids up (story in a sec.). So, no pics this time, but she will stand for years to come, I am sure I will get thousands... if not millions the way I take pictures!

So about me waking the kids up... on wed. night/thurs. morn, I got the kids up at midnight. "What emergency did they have this time?" you may be asking yourself, fear not silent reader for there was only fun to be had! We left Avery to her slumber, while the rest of us had an hour long "Mid-night Party" the kids arose to cake and ice cream and 1 round of Skip-Bo (I updated the picture website and there is one of them eating said treats). It was REALLY alot of fun.... and the kids were soooo shocked!

Anyway please visit the pictures here:

http://www.msnusers.com/PilchFamilyPhotos

comments about what you are about to see:

--Avery in pink shirt/white background is her 7 month "b-day"
--The overalls that Avery is wearing, all four of my kids have worn and they STILL look great
--In one picture Avery is sitting with her cute little friend Sabrey who was born on the same day as Avery, but in the morning.


Well folks that is about it. Since I am feeling sleepy right now, I will go ahead and honestly wish that you find peace and tranquility in your day today, I know I need it!

Busy Busy Avery

Well this update is mostly about Avery because she has been so busy learning new things, in her own unique way. She has reached many milestones in the last few weeks, some while Daddy was here and some since he has left. While Daddy was here she learned to crawl, and on the same day learned how to put herself in the sitting position. She seemed to think sitting was more fun, because she put herself in that position more than she tried to crawl. The thing is, silly girl didn't know how to sit!!! LOL!!! So, she would put herself in the sitting position, then one, two three, conk...she fell over. That didn't deter her though, like I said she kept doing it. About ten days later she could actually sit and now sits so well that I do not "guard" her head. Just a few days ago she learned to say her "first word" (not sure if she knows what she is talking about). Then the next day she learned her second word, and the third day... you got it... her third word. ALL of my kids have said "MaMa" first (well... Tristan called me "BaBa" until he was about 18 months... but he said the word "MaMa" first). Avery, ever the different red head, said "DaDa" first!!!! Sadly she did it about 3 days after Brian left, so he missed it. Next day it was "BaBa", then finally "MaMa." She seems to say "MaMa" when she is crying, it must be easier to say then...lol, she babbles "BaBa" and "DaDa." The kids and I try to reinforce the word "DaDa" and it's meaning by showing her pictures and talking about him "Where is Daddy?" when she says it. I would be THRILLED if when she sees him again in February/March she says "DaDa" to him. So, I think that is all her new stuff. Oh one more thing, now that she can move, anyone who has been around my kids you know what I am talking about: She is EVEN MORE ACTIVE... she is constantly moving if her eyes are open... lordy I hope it helps me loose more weight...lol.

Okay so other news...
Brian has requested a curtailment (I think that is what it is called) that is sure to get granted. So, we are expecting to be leaving here on or about April 15th of 2007. Our destination is the reason he thinks it will surely get approved, we are going to MPCCC. Yup, that's right Missouri here we come! I have some "silent readers" that never post, but you see "rfamily" respond (she is usually the only one "brave" enough to do so...lol) to most (or is it all) posts. She lives in Missouri, so rfamily... I'll be seeing you soon!!! Will you still post on my blogger?...lol. Also, I just found out that another friend is moving to Missouri (currently in Aleebamee), perhaps in the May time frame and I hear that she is SOOOOOOOOOOO EXCITED TO SEEEE MEEEEEEE!!!!!! You know who you are lady...lol!!! Anyway, I really am not that egotistical, I am just being a goof. I am looking forward to seeing familiar faces in Missouri especially since to me, the state really is "Misery." If I HAVE to go there, I am thankful I have friends there too. What is also really cool is my Mom-in-law and one of my Pop-in-laws (I have two...lol) live nearby, I think we figured 1 and 3/4 to 2 hours away. So expect us to be on your doorstep!

What is really crazy is this will be our first "official" stateside assignment since 1995!!!!! We have technically been overseas since Aug 1995.... almost 12 years when all is said and done. For those of you wondering... Netherlands 95-98, Alaska 98-2002 (yes this is an overseas assignment), Brian was only TDY when he went to OCS and OBC, so next assignment is here in Mannheim where we have been since 2002. We are hoping to go back to Alaska when Brian finishes MPCCC school.

Well this is a LONG post... I guess I will be leaving you with this... I hope you find peace, love and tranquility today...

... FORGET THAT... I hope you have a rip roaring good time today... save peace, love and tranquility for another day!!!

Brian Left Yesterday

We had a fantastic visit!!! We pretty much chilled out "around town" for most of his visit, though on the 6th we had a party for Tristan (he turns 9 on the 27th, but wanted a party with his dad), and from the 8th to the 11th we were down in Garmisch. I took 177 pictures while he was here, but my website only allows for so "few" I had to select the ones that I thought would be of interest for the different people that look.

It was really hard to say goodbye yesterday, much harder than the first time! We all got really used to him being around, now we have to adjust back to life without him. Avery did REALLY well with Brian. She took to him right away! You can see it in the first few pics, they are on his first day here. I think it is because: 1) her siblings were all over him, so she probably thought he must be a cool guy; 2) Before he deployed, we made videos of him reading bedtime stories and I play them for all the kids, so he was not unfamiliar to her; and 3) Brian just scooped her up and acted like he had been here all along. To reinforce the bonding, I went to a website:

http://www.daddydolls.com/

and ordered Avery (and one each for the other kids) a daddy doll. It is something that was started by soldiers wives, check it out, cool products there. On our picture page the one with Brian in Uniform, is the one I took and submitted to be put on the doll. I also ordered him a pillowcase and submitted a good pic of all four kids, I will send it to him for X-Mas. When we get the dolls (about 4-6 weeks) I will take a pic of them with their dolls and put in on the picture page. Okay so now a little commentary about the pictures....

http://www.msnusers.com/PilchFamilyPhotos

-Brian fed Avery her first fruit, pears, his favorite fruit.
-The squirt gun fight pictures are Tristan's birthday party. I had told him that Daddy would not want a bunch of other peoples kids running around on his R&R, so Tristan said "I'll have a grown-up party". So, we made a day of it. We invited our good friends Tina and Eric and went to a fabulous brunch in the morning (about 45-60 min away), came home had a squirt gun fight with some awesome squirt guns, then had a fabulous dinner with shrimp, steak and other stuff. I really think it is the best time I have ever had at a "kids" party! Tristan had a blast too. You will see our friends in the pictures. Oh one more mention of the party, my son's favorite cake is strawberry, so you will notice a pink cake... and yes he did get slightly teased for it... he laughed.
-Brian is teasing Avery on purpose with the french frie
-Sam's muddy back was after a bike ride with Dad...OMG!
-When you get to the pics of Brian in a blue shirt with the kids individually, we are at the airport waiting a bit before "sending him off." Once you see the group hug with Dad, Tristan, Sammi, and Keagan that picture and the rest are our last moments with him before he went through security.

I hope you enjoy the pictures and I hope your day is going well. We miss Daddy terribly, but every day that passes is another one closer to when he will come home to us for good!