Been a Long Time

Okay, so I am not going to be regular with this blog (obviously...lol). I wanted to be, but I always seem to be busy. Anyway, We are now living in Kentucky and Brian is back to work at a normal job. Since my last post we have had some new additions to the home. A new vehicle, Toyota Sienna, which I HIGHLY recommend, we love it and two kittens named Areia (say area, Sammi made up the spelling and wanted something unique) and Zephi. We had a lot of family come for the holidays: Brian's Mom, Dad1, Dad2 and sister and my Brother Michael and Shawn were here all on X-mas day and my mom and her husband came on the 30th to meet the in-laws (we exchanged Hanukkah gifts earlier). Unfortunately, Aunt Toni (Brian's sis) got pretty sick with a sinus infection, but I don't think she let it ruin her fun. It was nice to see all of Brian's family and we even had massive family photos done at Sears (which I get back in 2 days and will scan and share). We haven't done that for 6 years.

Since we live closer to Cincinnati (2 1/2 hours away) where my Mom, her husband, Michael and Shawn live, we have made several visits already up there and they have made some down here. The drive is really nice and seems to go rather quickly. I have not gotten to see my friends that live up there yet, but I do hope to soon.

Brian is deploying again in late spring early summer, this time for 15 months. I am a little nervous about the length of time, but I know we will all manage.

Okay well, that is all I can think of at the moment. Post and let me know how you are doing. When you have the time, check out the pictures I have posted at:

http://groups.msn.com/PilchFamilyPhotos

During the opening of presents I made all the adults make a goofy face holding up a present, enjoy the silliness!


Hope you all are doing well, and I hope the year 2008 is the best one you have had so far!

WOW a new post (above date is wrong, today is the 9th)

So much for keeping up more regularly huh? Ah well....

So, Baseball season has been over for some time now. All the kids had a great time and we really enjoyed watching them. However, I must admit that the break from the CA-RA-ZY schedule was nice. For about 2 1/2 weeks now I have had the eldest three in swimming lessons (Avery's age group was full). If you don't know, we have not had FREE/CHEAP access to a pool until now, so my kids did not know how to swim (since we visited the pool very infrequently). However, all three of the oldest can swim now. Tristan is pretty good and has built up his endurance to where I think he is on par with other kids his age. Sammi is a graceful swimmer, but does not yet have full confidence in herself. She can swim, and well, but is still a bit scared. Keagan has NO fear and thinks he can really swim, and he will be able to soon, but for now he can just swim a few strokes and then he sinks. Give him a few more days (maybe even just tomorrow) and he will have it, I can see it. Also in sports news, we signed up the boys for soccer which starts monday. Thankfully, they have the same coach. This means no scheduling conflicts this season (yeah) and one practice is right after the other on the same field (double YEAH). I am really looking forward to watching them play.

Hmmmm..... what else????

Oh for those of you that don't know, we are "trying out" a new business with my brother. He lives in Cincinnati and has for almost all his life (since he was one) so he is VERY familiar with the area. Additionally he manages a title agency so he has many "connections" in real estate and construction etc. So, we are going to be flipping houses. I say "trying out" because we have only commited to doing one home at a time, but if it works out, we will be doing this on a more permanent basis (i.e. I will get a real estate license). It has really brought us closer as a family with my bro so, even if this doesn't work out, I am still thankful. We have been under contract with one house, but when we did the inspection it had a lot more problems than we thought, so we backed out. We currently have a bid in for another house, but it is with a lender so they are a bit slower to respond. We may or may not be under contract soon. Oh and we will be naming the business Teska (Tristan, connection letter e, Samantha, Keagan and Avery). Wish us luck!

In personal image news I have decided to slowly return to my natural shade of brown hair (I am more comfortable with myself that way). I have been blonde since late January. On my path to dark brown hair, I have made a pit stop with red. We mixed a darker blonde with some red just to spice it up. I have posted new pictures at our website and the first few of me is blonde (with some scary dark roots) and the last is with the red. Please feel free to view these at:

http://groups.msn.com/PilchFamilyPhotos

We do have some moving news to share as well. As most/many of you know, we were trying very hard to get stationed in Alaska so we could spend some time with Brian's Dad (better known as Gumpa). The COL up there even had a by name request in for Brian. However, that fell through (for long military reasons, if you are military and really want to know, the position has yet to be officially requesitioned). But we did find out today that we got our second pick, Fort Knox. This assignment is gonna help out our "business" because it is only 2 1/2 hours from Cincinnati. My Mom, her husband and my bro-bro live there too. It is also close to many friends and is not too far away from my mom and dad-in-law that live near here. So, I look forward to visiting you all.

Well, I think that is it for now, ah wait... tee hee... today is my sister-in-laws birthday... everybody say "HAPPY BIRTHDAY TONI!!!"

20 days later **UPDATED**

Well howdy folks. I have just taken a few pictures and would like to share them with you. I am debating doing another youtube video. If I do I will let you know. Please check out the just updated pictures at:

http://groups.msn.com/PilchFamilyPhotos

What has been going on here? Well, Brian and I have decided to try and join forces with my brother Michael to buy and flip houses in Cincinnati. We have a little money to put into it and he has A TON of expertise. We have been searching for just the right home and when we find it we will let you know. We are aware that it is a buyers market and in MOST areas it will be hard to resell the house once we fix it up. However, it is a buyers market from spring until September for first time buyers. So, we are only looking at homes in first time buyer neighborhoods, with things a first time buyer is looking for. If we don't find anything semi-soon, we will wait and go house hunting again in Jan/Feb so we can buy it and fix it up for next 1st time buyer season. This has been a really gun thing to do as a family and while I have always been close with my brother, I think it has brought us all together on a more adult level (instead of him being my baby brother...LOL). Wish me luck.

What else? Well, we are also thinking about buying a 2007 Toyota Sienna. Our vehicle is payed off, but it is "old" and Brian worries it will break down on me. So we will keep the SUV for Brian and if we get the new car, I will be the primary driver of it. NO we are NOT made of money lol, just all these things came up at same time. So, you fit in what you can. I also call this the Iraqi curse. EVERYONE I know that has returned from Iraq has shortly thereafter bought a new car. Not sure what that is all about...LOL.

We almost got a dog that we saw on the side of the road (Stephanie, on the way to walmart). She was a lab/retriever mix for free, about 7 weeks old. Why we didn't get her??? I don't really know. We went back later in the day and the lady with her puppies were gone. We REALLY wish we had gotten her. Ah well, so much going on probably better for her and us if we wait.

Last Sunday we went to Branson, MO to visit with my mom-in-law. That was really a nice visit. Have you heard of Branson before (STEPH you can't comment here, no fair you live here...lol). I never have, but apparently it is quite the tourist town. There were a TON of performance theaters and water parks and hotels galore! We ate at Olive Garden (YUMMMMMMMMMMMM) and then went to the Titanic Museum (for those who don't know, Brian's passion is history in general, Wars and the titanic in particular). The museum was a bit pricey for me, but it does refer to itself as a museum attraction (says it is the worlds largest). I am just used to spending very little to get into museums. I think getting into the Louvre in France was less expensive. That said it was a really neat experience. When you go in, you get a passport with a person's name on it. Throughout the museum you can pick up little tidbits about your person (maybe even an artifact) and at the end you see if he/she survived or not. All of us but Sammi-Sam were unknowns. She was "The unsinkable Molly Brown!" I am so glad that she was someone famous. When we got to the store at the end, my reader could actually buy a book about her person and we all learned a lot about her. Anyway, it was a lovely visit with mom-in-law, good eats, good viewing and good learning!

Well, well, well that droned on MUCH longer than I had planned!

I hope you have a nice visit with family in your near future!

Whoops, forgot to warn you... naked baby pictures on webpage...LOL! Don't worry the "front butt" is covered or cropped out, but there are some "back butt" shots...LOL

**Updated--I actually got a notice from my picture page that I had to remove the one naked butt picture...LOL... I thought it was okay, but I was wrong, it is not the first time I have been wrong (oh wait yes it is...LOL). **

Not Much New, How 'Bout you?

So, I really don't have much new to tell you about. We are CA-RA-ZY busy with sports and Brian is busy with MPCCC and getting his masters degree. I have kept up working out to about every other day since my knees are having a hard time. I am SLOWLY getting faster and used to running the hills but they still SUCK! We went to the pool yesterday for 2 hours and that was a lot of fun. I rarely burn, but I did this time. My back and my upper thighs. Ah well, hopefully it'll turn to a nice tan. So, I have a few new pictures for you. I was experimenting with what my camera can do, deciding whether or not to byu a new more expensive one. I have decided to stick with the old one, although I am hoping to save up for a better one and maybe get it for myself for my brithday or something. With the number of pictures I take I really aught to have a camera that is good. Especially since I would actually use all the features...lol. Anyway, so this installment has some lables on the pictures again and there are a lot of close up photography. Hope you enjoy it all at:

http://groups.msn.com/PilchFamilyPhotos

I hope you are having fun in the sun wherever you are!

Oh and Steph, we ate at Ruby Tuesday's, so yes we left post for once...LOL.

HA HA a new one again

'Ello 'ello! I 'ave returned.

Okay enough of that.

So, I am here to share my workout progress. I went running yesterday for the first time since February (oh the shame). Anyway the roads are hilly. Sometimes big hills and sometimes just gradual, but those suck too. In Germany the roads are flat, or I ran on a treadmill, so these roads were most unpleasant for me. Yesterday I ran while pushing Avery in the stroller. Can I just tell you that I almost cried going up the big hill on the way home?!?!? Pushing her was SOOOOO hard. This morning the sorest part of my body are the arm, back and chest muscles that I used to push the stroller. So, I ran today WITHOUT the stroller (daddy stayed home with the chillin') and I was so excited becuase I thought it would be MUCH easier....uh nooooo. It was slightly easier, but the hills still totally sucked and I felt like an old man with a cane could walk by me faster than I was running! Today I timed myself then went back and drove the course. It took me 29 min and 14 seconds to run about 2.7 miles. Not too bad, but since I felt like I was gonna' DIE at the end, it aint too good either.

Okay well, Brian is taking us to dinner (where?????) and a movie (the third instalment of Pirates) so I best get to going.

Hope you all have some healthy aches and pains in your future. Get moving America (or the 0.000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000001% of America that actually reads this...lol...toodles!

New Look AGAIN ***UPDATED***

***UPDATE--with all the crazy stuff going on I did forget to mention one visit and it was a lot of fun, so I can't believe I didn't mention it!!!! I am getting old. "Steph" who posts here, lives in the area and she and her three kids came to visit me shortly after all my stuff was delivered. My house wasn't a great place for kids--big danger zone--so we tried the park, but then it rained...LOL! She has been a friend a long time and she even video taped Tristan's birth for us. I was also in attendace to her 2nd childs birth (however, I got the boot when a C-Section was determined necessary). THANKS FOR POSTING AND READING STEPH!***


Hello guys! I am actually not sure if anyone even reads this anymore. My faithful reader doesn't anymore, she just talks to me on the phone. I really had intended to start doing this daily, and once we settle in I really think I will. Why??? I don't know. Maybe to get frustrations out, share joy, share pics, or who knows right???

ANYWAY a TON of stuff has happened since last we "spoke" so this might be a long one...LOL.

First off all we got all our furniture and our vehicle in one week and it was 3 weeks sooner than we thought (re: the furniture). The week went like so: Monday pick up car, Tuesday hold baggage got here and Friday the house hold goods came. While trying to unpack we were dealing with an ant infestation (the house was unoccupied for 2 years). We had a hard time finding a home for everything. The square footage on this house is 1100 feet, more than we had in Germany. However, there is less storage space and less closet space and cupbord (sp?) space. That was several weeks ago, but I still haven't quite found a home for everything. That's okay, cause the movers will be packing it all up sometime in September (beginning part) so I am not gonna sweat it.

The BEST part about our time since I last posted is all the family and friend visits we have had. Unfortunately I was not a great person and did not take many pictures like I usually do. I know I am slacking on the job!

We have had two visits from Brian's Mom and Dad2. The first visit they brought Brian's 69 GTO with them. (side note: he is trying to sell it... you wanna buy it??). We are fortunate to be only about 2 hours from them, so we hope to see them often while we live here.

Also, we JUST got back LAST NIGHT from Cincinnati! We had a great but tiring time there (up late and early to rise everyday). On Friday we went to Kings Island. Saturday they were releasing a brand new roller coaster so everyone else must have been saving their trip for then, cause it was SOOOOO empty on Friday. Lines were at most 15 minutes long! And I had a surreal (sp?) experience with Sam. When I was eight I went on my first ever roller coaster THE BEAST. I rode it with Tristan, Sam, Brian and Michael... it was Sam's first roller coaster and yup she is eight. SO cool I thought. Saturday we visited with great friends from Germany (and I took NO pictures... stupid me...had camera, didn't take any!) at a mall, the first time I have seen the inside of a "real" one in YEARS! We also took a drive through some fabulous neighborhoods (and not so fab) in outter parts of cincy. I also showed my family my elementary school "The New School," yes that is the name; High School (did not go to a middle school) Walnut Hills High; and the home I grew up in. On Sunday we visited with more friends while eating and drinking at the Taste of Cincinnati which I have not been to for 20 years! It was awesome. We saw the Naked Cowboy there. After the Taste we went to my Mother's home and visited with her and her husband. Monday we headed home, but on the way is the FABULOUS Childrens museum in Indianapolis. My Mom, her Husband and My brother went there with us. It was AWESOME. 5 floors of all touching, learning things. After nearly a full day there, I would say we only did about 1/8 of what they had to offer. The kids could play all day in just one section, we had to be mean and push them along. I got shockingly very little pictures!

So, I have more pictures of our time at Universal resort, but they are on Brian's computer and I need help getting them off. SO, I will post those at another time. Skipping those, I did post the pictures of us at the NASA museum, which we did on our last day in Florida. Then there are a few of our time here in Missouri. I did manage to get one picture of Grandmom (Brian's mom) feeding Avery chocolate. The best way to get close to her is to bribe her with food, awful I know...lol. Anyway, then on to pictures from our trip. Check 'em out if you like at:

http://groups.msn.com/PilchFamilyPhotos

I titled a few this time. I usually don't bother, but I decided to bother this time...LOL.

I hope you had a FABULOUS weekend like I did. Please take the time to share if you wish!

Like the new look? Comments Welcome

Hey Guys!!! New and "improved" around here. I am a big fan of green so I changed it to a green look. I updated the picture page so go check out those pictures at:

http://www.msnusers.com/PilchFamilyPhotos

I have more to add, but there is only so much roomo. So in a few weeks I will delete the old and add new. Anyway:

We are in Missouri! We went to Universal Resort in orlando Florida for three days in route from germany to here. We had a GREAT time!!!! We met my brother Michael and his friend Shawn down there and they were good company and a great help with the kids. Brian and I even got to go on a few rides together! THANKS GUYS!!! Brian got the entrance tickets for free while he was in Iraq from a church... THANKS CHURCH!!! Brian is going to send them a letter with some pictures thanking them it was awsome!!! AND the government had to fly us here, so when we went to go get the tickets, we just asked for a 5 day layover in Atlanta (closest they could get us to Orlando) SO, we didn't pay for the airfare either. Anyway it was an absolutely FABULOUS time. Poor Sammi got sick the first day, but she was a trooper and managed to have some fun anyway (look at the pic's it is the day she is in orange with ponytails). Anyway, I just can't say enough how great it was. On the last day of the vacation we went to the NASA space museum. I think the entry fee is slightly overpriced, but it was a wonderful place to get the imaginations of the kids going and we all enjoyed ourselves.

Other than that we are trying to settle into our home. Our stuff is not here and we just found out today it may be as late as 22 may before our household goods get here... YIKES!!! BUT we are actually enjoying the minimalistic lifestyle we currently have. Our vehicle will likely be here by the end of the week. ALSO, my mother and father-in-law live about 1 1/2 hours away and we are hopefully going to be seeing them very soon!

The kids started school of friday. As we thought the school system here is ahead of what the kids were doing in Germany. Tristan and Sammi are only slightly behind, but poor Keagan... in his class here they are already writing short stories and full on reading. I told the teacher what Keagan's class in germany was doing when we left, she sweetly told me that is what her classroom was doing in October of last year. Ah well, Keagan Monster is a little smarty pants, so i am sure he will work it out.

okay I gotta go pick up kids from school!!!

expect more update soon (next instalment will be about my CA-RA-ZY neighbors...LOL)

Well, Still Have Internet

Ok, OK, OK... so we still have internet... looks like it will turn off Monday. Anyway, I got all the pjoto's that were on my camera and had them downloaded to a disk, then I put some on the photo page. Check 'em out at:

http://groups.msn.com/PilchFamilyPhotos

Most of the pictures are just us having fun. For Sammi's birthday we had a treasure hunt with location clues...fun fun!!! The last "treasure" was with daddy. I did take a couple of how I do my hair on an everyday. Well, I am off to cook up some din din.

Hope your day is filled with yummy good for you foods!

We are almost outta here

Hey guys, this'll probably be my last post until we are settled into Missouri. I will not be able to download any pictures until we get to missouri since I have not had whats on the camera copied to a disk yet, but it is on the to do list. We turn off the internet in about 5 days. MAYBE I will post here or there on vacation on the way, just so you die-hards can see where we are and what we are up to and so I can "unload" all of our travel "events" and follies. Maybe you can get a little chuckle out of our hardships...LOL.

Hope your day is going swimmingly (and I hope I am REALLY swimming in about 2 1/2 weeks)!!!!!!

Does it EVER Slow Down

Well howdy! So, we still have a computer. Brian decided to keep it here for the next shipment. I was actually looking forward to not having it anymore, thought its absence would help in slowing things down. Ah well since it is here, I am using it now too. So what is new.... ummmm almost all of my stuff is gone, which is great. Somehow mysteriously my house still gets cluttered. Maybe that is because nothing has a "home" so it just goes wherever. I did make a big mistake though. I shipped ALL of our coats. It was REALLY warm here and we were tired when we decided to just keep thick sweatshirts for everybody. Well guess what, this week it is supposed to snow (hasn't snowed all winter, but this week, after I ship our winter coats it will). I don't get cold so I am good, but our friend Dara has lent us jackets and hats and gloves for the kids. Which is great because I can't even go to the PX to buy any cause they aren't selling them anymore. So a big THANK YOU DARA!!!

Our Vehicle was shipped last Monday and once again Dara is being a GREAT friend and has lent us her van (she has another vehicle for her family). For the most part we walk everywhere, but when we need to drive, it fits us all.

We only have 23 days left in Germany and I am feeling the pressure of all I need to do before then. For example, the military only paints houses every 3 years. Since we have been in Germany they have moved us into three different homes. We have only been in this one for a little over a year, so it is NOT scheduled for repainting. That means we have to paint, or pay for damages (nothing is damaged, but obviously the walls don't look freshly painted). We have decided not to stress too much so we are going to go ahead and pay them to paint, but it costs more if all the holes from hanging pictures are still present. So, we are going to fill all the little holes and the couple of big ones from our larger paintings that hang. Also, there is HUGE calcium build up from the calcium filled water here and I gotta scrape it off the fixtures in the bathrooms and kitchen. Other than that though, there is not much that needs done to the house, just a sweep. Actually after really thinking about what I have to do, it doesn't really amount to much...LOL. Maybe I am so used to being busy, my mind can't accept chilling out...LOL.

Well, I was about to add more pictures to the picture page, but I just discovered that while I have my camera, Brian shipped the cord to attach to the computer. This means I am gonna have to buy 1-2 more memory cards to take pictures while we move. Lovely...LOL. Ah well, at least we didn't ship the passports...LOL!!!

So no new pictures until May, unless I go to the picture place and get them to transfer the pictures to a disk.....hmmmmm... I may do that. Well, thanks for listening to me ramble!!!!

Ummm... I hope you don't accidentally throw away anything you need today!!!

No Time to Check for Typos...

OKay quick shorthand update.

We FINALLY got orders. We shipped the SUV today. Our Household goods ship on the 15th and 16th (for you non-military folk that is the bulk of our stuff). So no computer from the 15th of this month on. However, we will go to the library and such to occasionally check the emails. Our Hold Baggage (the rest of our stuff, like clothes, a small TV, a few dishes etc.) ships on April 4th. We will sit in billiting (on post hotel) here for a full week because of the holiday weekend and then we will be on the plane on April 11th. Before going to Missouri we will be taking a little holiday in Florida (shhhhhhh don't tell the kids, it is a surprise) and then we should arrive in Missouri on April 16th. I already called and it looks like we will be in housing the very next day.

A real brief statement about my health. I was having some heart "issues." two nights in a row it would go really fast, skip a few beats then slow then normal and so on. Both times lasted about I don't know 30-45 minutes??? I went to the doctor but since they didn't record it on an EKG they are not sure what happened. 2 weeks earlier I had a cold and they think it may have "traveled" to my heart. I told them I had been under a lot of stress (this all happened 4 days after Brian got home) and perhaps that was it, but they said no it was not presenting as anxiety, or stress. I had two x-rays done and an ultrasound of my chest area and for a brief period of time, right after an "episode," there was a little bit of fluid in my lungs, so that I guess points to the illness thing. Anyway, I only mention this because some of you knew about it and I hadn't given an update. ANyway as it stands now, I am allowed to go back to exercising, I am to start easy and if it happens again, get to the hospital much quicker so they can catch it on an EKG. I am hoping it doesn't...LOL!

Outside of all the apointments for the move, everything is pretty peaceful around here. I can't wait until all our household stuff is gone. We will have almost nothing in the house and things will really slow down and we can have some good family time! Now, if I can just make it to Friday...LOL!!! Wish me luck!

I hope you have a slow day and soon!!!!

I Finally Finished It!

I only have a moment, so I guess I'll have to update you all later. However, as you can see, I did finish Brian's video. He picked out the music and it is reflective of how he felt during the deployment. Gumpa, Grandmom and Grandpa and Toni: You will be getting an IMPROVED version of the one posted here, in the mail soon. We have just returned from mailing it to you. Enjoy guys!

Whoops, I forgot to mention... while it is NOT "sung", the "S" Bomb is in written word a couple of times in the video because I used Brian's words to describe things. Hope it doesn't offend your eyes...LOL!!!

I'm Still here

Okay a super quick update. I have a lot to say to you about the stuff going on here (no drama, don't worry, just daily hum drum stuff), BUT for those of you that know my husband, when there is time for someone to be on the computer, that someone is him. So, I have not really had access to get on the computer much. He doesn't get on much either, but like I said, when nothing is going on, it is him on here not me much. HOWEVER, I did FINALLY get the video of his past year done last night!!! NOW, I have to clean it up for online (i.e remove all visible last names). I'd like to tell you I will get it done today, but it isn't going to happen. Brian returns to work on Monday, so I should be able to get it done soon after that. So once work starts I should post more often!

TOODLES!!!

Brian is Out So Here's the Deal...

######ANOTHER Update:: It is the 09 and Brian is doing that re-integration thing. I wanted to let you know that I uploaded more pictures. I got the pictures from my friend Dara and added them to the mix. I was telling her that I didn't understand it but I look HUGE in the pictures, she says it is the HUGE coat (my coat is WAY too big for me). Anyway she gfot pictures that include some of us outside, Brian walking down the hall and us huging and such in the welcome home room. Also, I fixed my hair today the way I wanted it to be for Brian coming home. Keagan just took a picture of me with it, so you can see what I was SUPPOSED to look like... ah well no biggie...lol (it is the picture with me in a blue shirt) So enjoy the pictures at:

http://groups.msn.com/PilchFamilyPhotos



***UPDATE:: I FINALLY got my picture site to work and have uploaded all the latest pictures (except the ones from my friend... but I will when I get them from her) Please go check them out when you can!!!!!*****


Hey Guys! Brian just left to do a little re-integration (he has to do some work for about 7 days before he can go on leave), so I thought I would give you some info! Here is how yesterday went for us:

We woke up and finished up cleaning the house. I rolled my hair. unfortunately it was pouring outside so I shouldn't have bothered. It was flat and sticky by the time Brian got home, but he didn't care and I knew he wouldn't so I didn't worry about it. Anyway after getting ready we went out and hung all the banners we made (6 in all). I initially tried to keep my hair dry but it became such a pain I didn't bother after a few minutes. LT Tracey helped me hang them and Dara watched the kids while we did the hanging (thank you both, though neither read the blog...lol). Then we hung out with Dara and her baby Sabrey. Then we got the call "about 40 minutes and we'll be there." We thought we had more time so we hadn't eaten lunch yet. Dara went to pick up her child Jake from Pre-School AND picked up some lunch for the kids and we headed over to the company to wait in the rain. A platoon size amount of soldiers (oh I think 30-45) waited inside linning the hallway that Brian would come through to get to his Welcome Home reception. So Brian pulls up and hops out of the car and the kids get to him first (I can't run I am holding baby). Then I join him for a lot of hugging and kissing! Then we go into the building. The first man in the line calls attention, all the soldiers go to attention and Brian walks through them as they all clap loud and heartily for him. You know, it was very special, all this for Oour hero!!! Not only were soldiers there, but the Family Readiness Group leader was there (along with another woman, not sure who...lol) and Dara had just made it back with lunch and two of her kids in tow. Brian's good buddy Eric did not make it because he was accross the street briefing a COL, but his wife was there, our good friend Tina. We chatted for a few minutes and then off we went home. It was very nice what everybody did and it was very brief.

My camera somehow got full with only a few pictures in (dumb butt Meghan remembered fresh batteries, but forgot to erase the card). However, my good friend Dara had her camera and took plenty with it. I plan to upload my pictures to the computer, but I warn you they look HORRIBLE... I honestly have not gained any weight but all the emotion and my akward head position makes me look ginormous. And of course the hair looks like doo doo because of the rain. When Dara get's her pictures to me, I will post them too and I am hoping there are better ones in there. My camera ran out of room I think 3 pictures in to the homecoming, so you won't see the soldiers clapping (but I did get 2 of them waiting for him).

Also, Brian does love my hair (even wet and flat...lol) AND AMAZINGLY once again Avery has taken right to him!!!!! I am really amazed, it brings me to tears I swear!!! This is the girl that screams when strangers look at her if they are too close and he was carrying her and she EVEN LEANED IN FOR KISSES!!!!!!!! She follows him around the house and tries to eat all his food!!! AND TODAY SHE SAID "Hi dada" in her baby talk of course... more like "haaaaaaaaa dada." She said it in response to him telling her hi!!!! I tell you watching videos of him reading books and that daddy doll we got her, as well as the kids and I just loving all over him, really really really helped! The only thing she doesn't like is daddy loving on me...lol... she tries to get between us!

Well, I am off to add some new pictures... Oh yes and I fixed my hair today and Brian got a picture... it is done in one of the 5 ways I can do it... this one is the most boring I think, but the easiest and I was in a hurry this morning. Anyway, you can see the color and the cut... hope you like it... time for the "big reveal"... go check it out at:
http://groups.msn.com/PilchFamilyPhotos

okay okay... no big reveal just yet...lol... I can't seem to get it to work...lol. I will keep trying today, so check it and see if I got it to work before you woke up...lol.

I hope I fix it and I hope you see them and like them!!!!

HE'S HOME

HEllo everyone, Brian is bringing his stuff up from the car and I thought I would take this second to tell you.... OH YES HE IS HOME!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks for everyones prayers and well wishes you have all really helped me through this year. And while I will not be here a lot in the next few days... I will STILL be doing the blog so check back for pictures of his welcome home when I get "back"

THANKS

LANDING

Brian is landing at the airport here in Germany RIGHT NOW (commander called me)!!!! Yikes almost an hour early... YIKES...NOT READY!!!!!!! Well guys he isn't in my arms yet, but he is officially safe!!!!!

Gotta go finish primpin'...lol

Meghan

Small Sigh of Relief

Well family and friends, he is not safe in our home YET, but he is now in Kuwait!!! One more step and he is home. Wanna hear something CA-RA-ZY????!?!?!?!?! I HAVE NO IDEA what day he will be here!!!! No one has called us and told us anything. So, do I hang the banners now, hang them tomorrow, clean house now and the kids and I make like statues and wait til he gets here???? OH MY GOSH I AM GOING NUTS!!!!!! LOL. Ah well it is almost over!!! Okay, so I vacuumed the inside of the car and washed the outside. I am gonna go down and use chemicals to clean the inside of the car. We should be able to easily keep that clean til he gets home...I hope...LOL!!!! The house isn't too bad, so he could show up and I do nothing extra, butI want to dust and scrub and oh my... so much to do... okay BYE!!!!!


Hope you day goes really swell!

No Movement

Well, I did get an email from Brian today and he is not yet where I wanted him to be. I will post when there is any movement info I can share. I do have one new thing for you though... I FINALLY finished the boy's video and here is the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWmTVxT0PW4

I hope you enjoy it!!!

safe-ER

Just a quick one to let you all know that Brian is a little bit safer. He is no longer doing any missions YEAH! He is NOT yet completely outta there though. I heard from him this morning and everything is going well, although his arrival date was pushed 2 days, so we have to wait a little longer... but still next week!!! I'm hoping to have a reason to post daily from now on, if not that then every other day. So, please check again soon.

Side note: We are ALL sick...ugh and today we have pictures scheduled (I need 11 x 14's of each kid, one of all of them togetehr and a few more of Avery for family for her one year photo's). I am trying to get all the running around stuff done before Brian gets home, so I don't want to delay the photos. Hopefully, Avery will be able to smile and there wont be visible runny noses in the pictures!!!

Hmmmm... hope for the day??? Ummmm, I hope you have some of your own hopes!!!

Things are always changing!

Ok, so here I am again. I was absent for awhile because I could not seem to get the internet to work. All problems are fixed now (I hope). So, I should be posting more often up until Brian comes home. I have removed all the videos from here. However, they are all stil on youtube. Click this link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KifYVimMuK0

And you can click on something that says "More from this user" off to the right and that will link you to all of my videos. I hope to post 2 more before Brian comes home, but I am rapidly running out of time! If any of you know Ross "the intern" Mathews from the Jay Leno show, I happen to be a "regular" at his blog. Anyway, honestly at the request of some of his other bloggers, I made a video of him with pictures from the blog. Amazingly enough I got a message from Ross (via his blog) that he liked it and at this very moment it has had 491 views!!! Also two other people (besides myself) have marked it as one of their favorites. just blows me away that strangers are checking it out...lol.

Guess what guys??? I did it! I completely changed my hair and it is wild, so not me! Brian wanted something different and he is gonna get it...lol. I didn't get the color I wanted (long story but let's just say German hairdressers do what they want, not always what customer asks). I will post before, during and after shots once Brian has seen me in person (as he does visit the blog).

Finally and most importantly the welcome home of Brian has changed AGAIN! "Higher up's" have decided that he can not just come straight to the house. He is the only one returning to this unit (2 others are returning to mannheim in general, but Brian will be arriving alone), so it is special that they will be doing a welcome home ceremony just for him. Even if he comes home in the middle of the night, the commander here is going to rustle up a platoon of soldiers to greet him. So this is how it is going to go down: his unit will pick him up (I can not even gain access to the area of the airport where he is flying in--not accessable to the public at all) and drive him to Taylor barracks (about 5 min from home). The Commander (who is actually a rear-det commander like Brian was 2 years ago) had told me I would be waiting in the basement (new location of FRG room for those of you that have lived here) while a platoon greeted him outside. THEN he could come down to room to greet us. I told Commander... "ummmm NO, I will be outside too" and he sorta blew me off and ignored me. So I emailed Brian and told him... and he so nicely reminded me, I am a civilian and I don't have to do anything the Commander says, so myself and the kids will be outside to greet him as he gets out of the van. All of this will take place NEXT WEEK!!!! That's right he is almost home (and told me I could mention the week just not the actual day here on my blog)!!!!

Anyway, I am so CA-RA-ZY busy, I need to get on it!!!!!

Wish me luck getting it all done!!! And I hope you get whatever you need done today too!!!