"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!

2-23 Easter Celebration - 2010

2-23 IN held a wonderful Easter celebration on Ft. Lewis with a huge egg hunt, games, food and more. But of course, Ashton had to have her own "appetizers" before the BBQ.

Alyssa hanging out by the "tattoo booth." She wanted one of everything...at least they're temporary, right? :)

Ashton on the hunt for eggs. She loved finding the eggs - not too interested in opening them though. Ashton even found the "Golden Egg" and got a big prize...but was way more into finding them and putting them in her basket. It's all in the hunt! All in all, it was a great SUNNY day - Yes! Just wish that Daddy would've been there to share it with us.

Charlie Company: March 2010

Photo of Charlie Company (Cco) after they finished doing their missions surrounding the Iraq elections. Jay is in the front row, third from the left. Looks like a dream destination, doesn't it? Ha.

R&R Fun!

We had tons of fun while Jay was home. Just the 4 of us took a two night trip to the Great Wolf Lodge (huge indoor water park) That was an awesome start to his time home. Jason "wrestled" with his girls many a night.

We had lots of good friends/family over for a serious Rock Band Party! This is the "Varsity Team" (as they like to call themselves) Yes, that is Jay singing!

The 4 of us took a trip to the Zoo - they both love the "Maui fish" aquarium. "Shish" as Ashton calls them. (I swear Alyssa has tons of cute clothes - this outfit just cracks me up - she's just "expressing herself", right?)

My gang! This was the night before he had to leave. The girls had to say good-bye to him before they went to bed, because I had to take him to the airport at 4:00am...and it's better not to let them see Mommy cry like a baby.

I've never wished away a summer before now...C'mon SEPTEMBER!!!

Waiting for Daddy to arrive for R&R: Feb 2010

After a day and a half of delays - The girls anxiously await his plane to pull up. (he arrived at 11:00PM - hence, Ashton's jammies...can't really explain Alyssa's outfit - she insists on dressing herself).

There were about 30+ soldiers on this plane coming home for R&R - Ashton saw Daddy before I even did. (He's just coming through the door in this photo). There was about 6 of us wives with all of our kids at 11:00pm waiting for our guys - lots of tears and hugging/kissing going on at this terminal! xoxoxox

Finally! Alyssa jumped on him and Ashton wouldn't stop saying "DaDa" and pointing at him. (getting teary eyed again while I type this...it was too precious)

"Ready? Okay!"

Getting ready to head out and make the "spirit tunnel" for the players to run under. Not sure what the face is for...please don't tell me "cheerleader rivalry" is starting already?! (help me Rhonda)

The "spirit tunnel!" Goooo Upward!

The 5/6 year old Cheerleading squad - named The Rubies. Alyssa is third from the left and Paige is second from the right. They are too too cute when the are out on the floor cheering and they both LOVE it!

Christmas 2009 & Disneyland 2010

Christmas Morning! Alyssa was very excited to see that Santa had found us in Palm Desert! Ashton enjoyed the wrapping paper way more than the actual presents...I'm sure next year will be complete chaos! :)

The last weekend we were in CA, Mom and Dad took us to Knott's Berry Farm and Disneyland. Ashton LOVED the Disneyland Parade! I had to run out and grab her multiple times, because she wanted to part of it. Wish I would have video-taped her reaction to "It's a Small World" - too precious!

Alyssa really wanted to go on the Tea-cup ride, but that ride literally makes me ill - so thankfully, Poppa went with her.

We went through Mickey's house in ToonTown and he was actually home! Alyssa & I were much more excited to meet him than Ashton...she wasn't real crazy about any of the characters we ran into. She's trying to wriggle out of my arms, but I was determined to get this picture...classic. :)