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!!!

A Lot of New Things Coming Your Way

Hey have you noticed the videos??? Did you, did you??? They are really my way of expressing myself. I put my two favorite THINGS together (pictures and Music) and I get to look at my favorite people in the process. Once I make one of those videos I watch it probably 15 times in a row. To date I have made seven of them and I just figured out how to share. So, I am going to start putting up the old ones... wish I had done the old ones first, they are not near as good as my more recent one. Like anything else, I get better with practice. First I have to go through all the old ones and remove our last name since I have to publicly post these video's on YouTube in order to attach them here. Anyway, I am just now saving the video of Samantha in the "online/safe" version and I will post it here tonight, or tomorrow morning. So theses are the seven I have made in the order with which I made them:

A picture collage of all of us for Brian
another picture collage of all of us
One for Tristan
One with pictures of only Brian and I
One for Samantha
One for Keagan (posted)
One for the girls (posted)

Now, before Brian comes home I want to make two more (not much time left...YEAH!!!)
One of boys set to Superman music
One of all the things we have been doing since Brian went back to Iraq from R&R.

Hey I could use your help. I will not make one for Avery until she has gotten a little bigger, but I have yet to find a song that fits how I feel about her. Not many songs for baby daughters out lately. All the other kids had songs "for" them before they were born, poor Avery. Anyway, do you know any song that might fit how we feel about our baby girl? Suggestions are very much welcome!

Anyway, keep checking back for more videos, but please don't be too critical of the older ones, I was just learning how to use the video maker. Also if you see a weird picture (as in what the heck is that???) in the movie, it is because our name was on there and I had to block it out... nothing is wrong with your screen...lol.

Okay hopefully when you read this, Sammi's video is already up there. If not...SOON!!!

I hope your artistic outlet brings you as much joy, pride, pleasure, calm, stress reducing as mine does!! And if you have no outlet... GO GET ONE!!!

Avery's Birthday!!!

CAN YOU BELIEVE IT???? I sure can't! my BABY girl is 1 year old!!! We had a great day. She woke up in great spirits, had eggs pancakes (minus syrup) and special drink (vanilla yogurt blended with banana's, raspberries and blackberries) for breakfast. Then she got dressed in her pretty little dress (that used to be Sammi's) and played a round a bit. Later, Ms. Tina dropped by to wish happy birthday. Then it was time to open presents. Nap time was next. Then she woke up and shortly after her best friend and birthmate Sabrey and her family came over to celebrate their birthday together. Avery had BBQ Chicken, broccoli and rice for dinner. A short while later, Ms. Tina came back and joined us in "Happy Birthday" to Avery and Sabrey. Then the girls got their very own cakes while the rest of us looked on, drooling! Avery had a great time eating all the pink icing first. She rather enjoyed making a mess, until I showed her the cake underneath the icing. She didn't enjoy that a whole lot, so it was time to take a bath! Earlier Sabrey had put her foot in the cake and didn't enjoy that very much. Avery saw her and copied. AJ didn't mind it on her foot, but she sure didn't like it when I uncovered the cake! After a quick bath it was time to play in her new robe. We had a GREAT time with our friends today and we are thankful for all the lovely gifts. I took SO many pictures that I deleted all the old ones on the picture page and couldn't upload all the pictures I wanted, just not enough room. Anyway, happy Birthday to my precious baby girl, I can't believe she is one, brings a tear to me eye.

A couple of night s ago we had a little excitement around here. Have any of you ever heard of a "Wind Warning?" I haven't, but we got one. The wind was blowing SO hard that my windows were closed, but the curtains were billowing out from the air that was forced through the seals. The kids (and I to be honest) were a little freaked out as we saw a branch or two rolling down the street. So the kids asked if they could sleep in the hallway, away from all the windows. I let them. Avery and I slept in the middle between our kitchen and livingroom, also away from windows. We are all fine, no branches breaking windows, but it some parts it did rip off roofs (not on base though). We went to the gym in the morning and there was debris everywhere!

Well please visit the picture page for all the new pictures:

http://groups.msn.com/PilchFamilyPhotos

You will see plenty of pics from her birthday, some others and the kids asleep in the hall.

BRIAN update: Okay so here is the plan NOW. Brian will be picked up by the unit here (I am not permitted to go to the airport) and since there is only a few people coming to this base, they will each be dropped off at home. So Brian will be coming straight to the house, no welcome home ceremony when he first gets here (his choice, they asked him if he wanted a little something, he said to just take him home). Eight days after her comes home there will be a formal welcome home ceremony in Hoensfels (sp?) which is about 3 hours from here. I will take pictures of Brian after he gets mauled by the family and I will get some at the ceremony and post them here. Alrighty then, I am off to have a little more cake and Ice cream and sob because my little baby is a little one year old now. Where did all the time go?

Thanks for stopping in, hope you have a messy, delicious meal today.

It Changes Again **updated**

**Brian tried to call and again couldn't get through. He emailed me and said he would try again tomorrow.**
The Army is sticking to it's ways by changing Brian's return again. The date is the same but the "procedure" is different. Now it looks like the guys from this area (Mannheim and Heidelburg) will be going to a place in Heidelburg for a welcome home ceremony direct from the airport and we can greet them there. Still, this is subject to change again. We are hoping to have a meeting with the local FRG leader on Wednesday at 1000 with the main FRG group. We should have more definitive information then.

In "Avery" news she has had an EXPLOSION of communication skills in the last 2 weeks. She isn't so much talking but using body language and following directions. If you ask her if she wants more food, she does a sign for "more" and will shake her whole upper body in a "yes." If she is done eating she will shake her head "no." She goes to bed very well for a little thing, but sometimes it is nap time and she would rather play, so she will shake her head "no" when I put her to bed, but she stays put and falls asleep anyway. She will also shake her head "yes" or "no" when asked (sometimes). She will also blow kisses when asked (sometimes) and we caught her doing it in the picture above. We get excited when she "communicates" so now she does the things she can a lot. Additionally she can follow SOME commands, but is not consistent. I ask her "Where's your binkie?" and she starts looking around and will grab it when she finds it. Or if I say "give that to mommy" she usually will give it up. I think she says "diaper" (though I have thought so for sometime). It sounds a lot like "DaDa" but instead of "Da" and "Da" sounding the same, the second "da" is a lower tone. She says this when she is running around carrying a diaper. Oh yes and when she is hungry she will say "NaNa" or fling herself sideways (think nursing...lol).

Tristan, Sammi and Keagan have been really enjoying this 4 day weekend and I have been enjoying it with them. WE HAD A FANTASTIC time with all the girl scouts here. 7 ended up coming, with Sam that is 8 and with my kids plus the other adult we had 13 people to feed dinner and breakfast. For dinner I had pre-cooked some chicken and steak strips and chopped up about 7 different types of veggies and made some rice. The girls (and my boys) got to pick what food they wanted and then cooked it up themselves in the wok. The other adult, Ms. Nina, brought a wok as well so we could do two at a time. Dinner was DELICIOUS if I do say so myself. In the morning we had special drink (vanilla yogurt, bananas and 2 types of frozen fruit), eggs, beef sausage and pancakes. Sammi (with some help) had her turn being troop "leader" and helped the girls earn two patches while at our house (on computer use and safety). That was a lot of fun too. The last girl asleep was Sammi at 1 am!!!! Crazy girl was still up just before 8. Meanwhile the boys and I went to bed at about 2200 and got up at 0630 (Ms. Nina is more of an evening person and slept in the livingroom with girls). The boys had a fabulous time playing on the computer in the back and watching movies all night. Avery loved being the center of attention. The girls were all aged in range from 7 (Sam is youngest) to 9 and they played with AJ and "ooohed" and "ahhhed" with her all evening and in the morning. AJ LOVED IT!

Well, tomorrow is my 34th birthday. I plan to cook nothing all day. Ms. Nina is taking me to lunch, and I am taking me and the kids to diner and then the movies (gonna see Night at the museum). Each of the eldest three bought me gifts and wrapped them by themselves. Ms. Tina is taking me to the brunch in Ramstein on Sunday, so I am really getting spoiled.

Brian is supposed to call here in a little bit. If he does, I may have another update today. He was supposed to call yesterday and then couldn't get a line out so I am hopeful, but not holding my breath.

Okay so this has been long huh? I have a bunch more photo's at the picture website. I deleted all the old save for one. There are a few of the Girl Scout sleepover and some of me, Sam and AJ playing. AJ and Sammi giggle so easily and the smallest thing makes them laugh... ah to be young.

http://groups.msn.com/PilchFamilyPhotos

Oh MY how could I forget MLK today!!! Happy birthday to him (as today is the actual B-day too I believe). I hope you all take a moment to reflect on how far we have come, and on how far we have to go to complete equality. I know I will.

More frequent I hope

Okay, I am hoping to post more often as the time draws closer to my man coming home. Besides there is a lot going on between now and then. Here's the scoop on Brian's return as I know it now and what I feel comfortable putting out there into the internet world (must think operation security you know). The plan keeps changing but the FRG (Family Readiness Group for you non-military types) liaison told me that the guys will all fly in and then vans will be there to drive them to their separate parent units. However, the lady did not know as of yet where on post the guys would be dropped off. So, I am going to meet him here on post, NOT at the airport. It is soon, very soon considering how long he has been gone. Once he is safe, i.e. in Kuwait I will post here when we expect him home. But please don't hold your breath there is still some time to go. At some point I will start doing daily updates even if I have nothing to actually write so you all will know what, if anything, is going on with Brian.

One piece of "Meghan" news. I just reconnected with a "lost" family member. He was never really lost of course, we didn't have a falling out or anything, but when you have a family, time can get away from you. Anyway, it was really nice doing all the catching up.

Since I try to leave all of you silent readers with a "hope" or "wish" (cause I am so pushy like that), today it will be this: in almost all families there are people we have "lost." If you have a "lost" one in your family I hope you connect today, or soon and it brings you a little smile, like it did me!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!! (a few days late)

So, I will happily assume that all of you participated in safe New Years activities and you are all healthy and whole. We had a great time just watching movies and trying to stay up. We put baby to bed at her usual time and I fell asleep almost immediately around 2030, but was awake off and on as the kids were around me watching movies. Keagan was out when I woke up at 2200 and I fell right back to sleep. I woke up at 2330 and managed to stay up with Tristan and Sam to ring in the new year. We had an AWSOME view from our home of fireworks that the locals do off post. They did some HUGE cool ones this year. It was like a mini-show. The two big kids dropped like flies immediately afterward and I read for about an hour and then back to sleep as well.

On Jan 1st we declared a lazy day. These are fun for the kids, but it is hard for me to sit still and do nothing the whole day. NO CLEANING, NO COOKING, NO CHORES, NO NOTHIN' but tv, games, XBox and computer. So we snacked all day on some healthy, some not so much foods and I literally had a headache from doing nothing, but it was fun watching the kids enjoy themselves. Oh, yes, I forgot to mention, part of lazy day is no getting dressed either, so everyone stayed in their PJ's. So, we had fun and were stinky too...lol.

School for the kids starts back up on the 8th. I am genuinely gonna, miss them as we do have fun together. But, I will get a little more quiet time than I get now...LOL. Then again maybe not, AJ will be screaming for her siblings all day!

Next Saturday I will be having all the Girl Scouts in Sammi's troop (I think 14???) coming to spend the night and earn some computer try-it patches. There will be at least one other (maybe two) adult here with me. They will be sorta making their own dinner (I will have everything cut, they will fry up their bowl of veggies and meat) and learning about computers. I think it will be a lot of fun, but prayers for my sanity are welcome too...hahahahahaha.

Well, there are many cool things going on in this month. My birthday (go ahead "me" mention that yours is this month too), Avery's 1st birthday (I will have lots of fun pictures to post then) AND this is the last full month without Daddy!!! It has actually been one year TODAY since Brian left us for training (remember he came home for a few visits before he deployed, but he has not been with us daily for a year). YES he will be home NEXT MONTH!!!!!! Lots of pictures then too!!! The year has passed very quickly in some ways--I am brought to tears thinking about my baby being one--and so slow in others--there are so many things all the kids can do that they couldn't when Brian left and I have "grown" too.

We are all so excited about him coming home!!! But then we pack up and move almost immediately... lots of stuff going on!!! Okay prayer request for real this time... prayers for strength to help us ease the many transitions our family will face this year.

I plan to post more pictures at the picture page right now. Just a few. Keagan sleeping through midnight, kids looking out window, baby, and kids with baby. Oh yes there is some blue stuff in a few. that is an experiment/present of magically appearing action figures that the boys got from Grandmom and Grandpa. Hope you enjoy:

http://groups.msn.com/PilchFamilyPhotos

I hope that there is a headache free "Lazy day" in your future!!!

X-Mas Time has Ended

*** Added Dec 31st-- I was reading this post and wanted to clarify something. On X-Mas morning when we woke up Daddy was already on MSN IM waiting for us, so we turned on the video webcam and even with the crappy connection he was able to hear/watch us open gifts. This made his absence EVEN MORE strongly felt as we could sometimes (again crappy connection) hear him, but he just wasn't "here" you know. We were thankful for the little bit that we got though! While I am here again, I would like to wish you a happy new year, but I REALLY hope your new year does not involve driving on the 1st. We will be staying up watching movies, though I doubt it if anyone makes it to midnight! DADDY-- We are so glad the new year brings you home!***
Well Silent readers, X-mas has come to an end. We had a good one, but we definitely felt Daddy's absence. The tree DID in fact make it!!! YEA!!!! However, as some of you may know, while I LOVE LOVE LOVE X-Mas decorations, once the 26th comes, I am sick of 'em. So, all my stuff is already packed away. The kids loved all their gifts. I updated the picture page. I didn't get as many as I usually do on X-Mas, but it was hard "running the show" and "being the photographer." So, if you go to the picture page at:
http://groups.msn.com/PilchFamilyPhotos
You will see a few of the old ones I wanted to leave up a little longer, and some new ones. The first few pic's are of the big kids playing Halo2 online with my brother Michael. Even though it is butt early in the morning (about 0730) they are dressed nice because later we went to Ramstein for yummy brunch! The pic's where AJ is wearing a pink "Daddy loves me" shirt is her 11 month b-day. Then there are some pics of the kids with their gifts for Hanukkah from Michael. Then there is a pic of them on X-Mas eve and finally some X-Mas day pics.

Daddy is coming home soon and we are getting very excited around here. I feel like I have so much to do before he gets here and I'll never get it all done! Then, in less than FOUR MONTHS we are moving away from here. We will miss our friends that is certain! Prayers for our patience during this time and for my husbands safety would be greatly appreciated.

Hope your holiday season is going well, and I hope you don't have any driving to do on Jan 1st!

P.S. I decided to add the picture of the kids on X-Mas eve to the top of this post!