"Welcome Home" Ball for 2-23

The 2-23 "Welcome Home" Ball was last Friday ~ and we had a blast! We got all dolled up for dancing, drinking and some much needed adult time. We even stopped by the bar we met at, Engine House #9 (E-9), afterwards! Ahhh memories. :)

Jay & I cutting a rug...pretty much the only ones out on the dance floor (it was midnight) - but we did not care.

Jason & COL Lawrence "pre-funking" at the Murano.

My "ball-mates": Amanda Huston, Tricia Lawrence & I. Love these ladies ~ we had such a great time and could sweep the "Next Top Model" any day!!! :)

We're Famous! :)

I know it's small and kind of hard to see - but we're famous! This pic was taken by some news reporter who was at Jay's Homecoming and was posted on Yahoo! and MSNBC.com - plus there was a clip of us hugging on Larry King Live! Yep, that was it...our 15 minutes is up. :)

Welcome Home Jay - Aug. 25, 2010

Still had his "Welcome Home" sign from his last deployment. Put it right back up in it's old spot...for all the neighborhood to see - we are SO proud!

Had his car all detailed (inside & out), house was clean (or as clean as I can get it with 2 wild childs running around)...we were SO ready to have him home! It has been one LONG year without him.

Beach Bums - August 2010

Jay wasn't due in until around midnight - so the girls & I (and some great friends) thought a good distraction would be to spend the day at the beach...it was a great idea! The weather was beautiful and we all had a blast. Ashton loves to wear glasses, but usually tends to put them on upside down...she is such a trend setter, eh?

BFF's, Alyssa & Paige. I just love this picture. (we have the same one of them from when they were just 3 years old). Growing so fast.

My little resourceful girls found 2 boards and made a teeter-totter out of them. It's so nice when they actually play nice with one another. :)

Future in Fashion?

The picture says it all! Ashton loves her ladybug boots (hand-me-downs from sister, of course). Pretty sure she gets her Fabulous Fashion sense from her sister too. I learned with Alyssa to pick my battles...and matching clothes/shoes is not one I choose to fight. Punky Brewster lives on in our house! :)

Pool Party

We had a brief glimpse of summer weather last weekend and luckily it coincided with Kaitlyn's Birthday/Pool Party! The girls got to even play with their cousin Harper - Alyssa enjoyed playing "Mommy" for her, because she'd actually let her...unlike Ashton.

Alyssa & Ashton playing at the water table.

Iraq - June 2010

Jay and some of his 2-23 guys posing in front of one of the Strykers. (Jay is 2nd from the left in the front row.) Looking good...but Ohhh so ready for this deployment to be over!