4-1-1

Hey everyone.....I know I've been telling you guys that I would get on here and do this but I've honestly been really busy. Lets see where to begin...The kids are doing really well in school and each loves there teacher and are loving being with friends. We have officialy taken the binky away...Haven't had it 2-3 days he asks for it but I honestly don't know where it is. Its been hard a major adjustment since it has been a since of security for him. He just kept bitting the nipple off and stopped getting them. Nathan started t-ball and loves it, of course. He's learning how that he has to play outfield as well as in and he's not sure bout that. Natalie started gymnastics today and was so glad that she's back into it again. I now wish I'd put her in t-ball too and think thats what I'm gonna do next year. She's really a tom boy like me and she loves watchin Nate play. I decided to drop my class. It was one of the hardest decisions I've made during this time, but I felt it was the best thing to do. I'm trying to get things in order for Geoffs mid tour leave so that we can put our house on the market when he heads back. Plus I had a lot of major video assignments due the week he was home and I felt I wouldn't do well since I'm gonna be so absorbed with him here. Just had to much on my plate, but I will resume with my classes at TCC when I move. I felt it was probably best to get that start math test I have to pass so that I don't have to do remedial math anymore. SO, i'm taking care of that. Were down to 28 days till he comes for a visit and the kids are counting down the days. I've been so absorbed in books. I hate to read and lately I've read like 12 books in 2 months and I'm re reading the Twilight series again for round 2. Mrs. Jones would be so proud...huh, mom? That poor women wanted me to like Reading and never took to it. Its given me another place I can go to. I've been working out at the Gym 3 days a week. I'm training for a 5 mile run so I'm runnin 3-4 miles a day and doing some weights. Lost bout 15 lbs. Well, I think this is all thats been going on here we send our luv to everyone. I'll post pics in the morn I have to go finish my book and i'm honestly sorry for the wait.
Luv You Guys

Finally.....Back to NORMAL!

I think this week will bring our lives back to normal....somewhat. Natalie starts school this week. She found out on Thurs. who her teacher is. Its Mrs. Brandon. Shes a lovely lady. She's a grandma and has been teaching for 45 years. She reminds me of Mammaw Peg. You just wanna hug her. The V.P of the school goes to ur church and I talk to her all the time. She told me that Mrs. Brandon is extremley challangeing and is a wonderful teacher. 3 of her friends from her church class will be sitting next her and I'm sure they will all be seperated after the first week. They luv to chit chat. She's looking forward to tomorrow, and so am I. I go back on Thurs. I am really excited to be gettin my life somewhat back with the different things I'll be doing this semister. My GPA is a 3.4 and trust me I've been studying my butt off to keep it that high. Nathan starts back Sept 2 and he is busting at the seems to get back to seeing his friends that have been with him since he was 18 mon. Especially Jonathan. He'll be so sad when we move next yr. My dad is here right now and has helped me tons by getting some excellant curb appeal in the front. My garage is fully organized and we successfully moved MAC to the back yard. Geoff called at the butt crack of dawn this morning and informed me that his R&R dates got moved back from OCT 1 to OCT 15. So, were thinkin he'll leave round the 14th or so so that he'll be here sometime that weekend. The 15th is on a wednesday. THE ARMY DOES SOME CRAZY STUFF! Were looking forward to him getting here. Once school starts back the time (hopefully) will fly.Well I'm adding our latest pics of the kids and things. ENJOY!

Catch-up

Well, today is my birthday.....27 isn't that nice. Soon i'll be knocking on 30's door. Geoff said not to worry that i'm still in 20's. Geoff is out of the field for now, but returns on the 26-29ish. We should be hearing bout R&R this next week to see what the dates are and flight schedule. I'm totally excited...didn't think I would be since him leaving the first time was so hard, but the kids are going to love haveing daddy here. Not much is goin on here. I pulled the carpet up in my closet all byself on Monday and I think I'm still realing from it. I'm going to lay vinyl in there so that my bathroom matches the closet. My dad is coming for a visit on Friday and will be staying until Monday. He's gonna go with us to take Natalie to school on the first day. She was bummed that Geoff wasn't gonna be here so I asked my dad if he would come and go with us. He's driving his Harley down and u know the kids are so excited to be getting to see it again. Nathan especially. I decided to up Nates meds and its working beautifully and I think now we acting more like a 4 yr old thats "normal" than a 4 yr old that is ADHD and out of control. Thats good for mom. The boys start school the week after labor day and I'm ready. I go back on the 28th and really excited to be getting back to what I luv. I took the 2nd summer session off and now I'm regreting that decision since I'm out of practice. I've been working out 4-5 days a week and I listen to my MP3 player and sign the songs and thats about all the practice I've been getting. The sunday before last the primary (childrens sunday school) asked me to sign a song or to for them and that was fun. They were just captivated by the movements of my hands. All eyes on me...something I have to get used to. Nathan had behavior therapy today and it went really really well. Were working on a few things. He's learning how to not intrupt me when I'm not able to get to him and his magic words are "Excuse me, Mom..." so thats been nice he's been doing really good so far today. The other thing is dealing with being so aggressive with me and his siblings. This is still a work in progress so nothing positive to report yet. Well thats it for now...and for my dear husband (if he's reading) I miss u and luv u infinity X's infinity and that trumps anything.

LIFE.......

Life is passing us by here very fast. I didn't realize that I haven't updated my blog in awhile. I guess thats in due to the fact that the main reason I started a blog was for Geoff to read while he's away and I've gotten to talk to him pretty much everyday on the phone and on the computer before I go to bed. I can't remember what I updated in my last blog, but I'll do my best to repeat myself. Not sure if I've put in any of my blogs that Nich is an escape artist. He has figured out how to unlock the front door lock and dead bolt and has ended up at the neighbors house while I take potty breaks. And he's gotten to where he can open the door slightly so to where u can't even hear it squeek when he leaves. So, my neighbor put in a sliding dead bolt. Its high so it should do the trick. Trying to keep him in has proven to be my challange in this life. And trying to keep from having a heart attack when realize he's gone. I have to keep an extra eye on him for that very reason. His new favoriate phrase right now is "Thats Disguisting." He says that about everything. At least he says whats on his mind, right. Were in the process of changing Nathan's psychrisist. Had a bad a experiance this week with him and were gonna start getting our meds through our family doctor because there are no other specialist in our area that are coverd by Tricare. He starts speech therapy on Thursday and I luv his therapist, Amy. So, I'm excited to see the progress he'll make with that. He has protustion of the toungue from being on a sippy cup for to long so were curently in the process of pulling him off those. Natalie lost another tooth today that she pulled herself. This is the second tooth that she's pulled herself. Thats her thrill in life right now is to pull her own teeth when there ready. She is anticipating school starting in 2 weeks and I'm right there with her. My dad is coming up on the 23 so that he can go with us on Nattie's first day of school. She is so excited. She's already given him directions to the school and informed him that they can't be late on the first day of school. Geoff comes home for R & R hopefully the first week of Oct. for 14 days. Got tons of stuff to do so that we can get this house ready to sell so that we can move when he gets back. Alls well with me I'm in the middle of reading the last book in the "Twilight" series and soon will be finished and I hate it. Its given such a "get away" from my lifes madness. My babysitter, Melanie, who happens to be a great friend of our family just put in her two weeks notice at her HEB job so that she can sit for me when needed. She's gonna sit for me on Thurs nights so that i can go to school and then one other night a week so that I can do what I want and get a small break. So, I'm excited. I'm thinking I should've been doing that all along, getting away one night a week. Thats what I get for not asking for help I guess. I guess this is a small glimpse into whats been going on in our lives for the last few weeks or so.......check in soon.

A Day Closer

At Least were another day closer to Geoff finaly being home. I try to take the kids to the pool every afternoon before our bedtime routine so that they wear down for bed. That seems to help things run smoother. The other day we were in walmart and I was down asile 4 which is the sauce aisle. (thats nuts right,that I know exactly which aisle is which!) Anyway, I was getting spaghatti stuff and Natalie says mom i need a new bra. I loook at her and say u don't wear bras. Then as loud as day she yells, I JUST NEED A NEW BRA MOM. IS THAT TO MUCH TO ASK???? People just look at me like I'm this terrible person who won't buy my 6 yr old a new bra. I was mortified. Wish Geoff had been here for that one. He'd have luved that seeing how he just luvs crowds and all....LOL!! Of course nathan has to make his scene in the store too with his needing a new batman toy...and Nich trying to pull everything off the shelf. Its a miracle that I got the 5 things I went in for with everything that was going on and got everyone out ALIVE! Thats my life I guess. The things kids say and Natalie especially is full of wonderful things. Well, we've finally made it to half way were over 150 days. ITs late and I'm turning in now I just had to write about our latest adventure to Walmart.

Playing In the Rain

Well, not much to write about seeins how we just got home from vacation. The kids are keeping me very busy with tryin to entertaintain them for the rest of the summer. Its been raining her for the past two days so the only source of fun is well....playing in the rain. I used to do this a child and have very fond memories of it. My sister and I used to sit and watch the rain for hours. My kids do the very same thing. They pull chairs or Geoffs cots up under the front porch and watch and play in the rain. I'll try to get some pics of this cause I luv seeing them enjoy mother nature in all its beauty. I got out with the kids yesterday and took the boys to get hair cuts at Geoffs barber. If we don't make it up to Camp Maybry (which is Nates favorite place to get hair cuts) then we go to Geoffs barber up in town. They luv it I think because they get succers at the end. A little incentive to be good. We also made a trip to home depot so that I could take a look at the vinyl so that I can lay it in our closet. Gatta get some hom inprovements done to this house if were gonna sell when he returns. I talk to Geoff everyday in the morning for 20 mins and this gives the kids time to connect with him. When they go to bed I log onto AKO's IM and chat for 30-45 mins. Its fun and the time passes quickly. His next mission is scheduled for Aug. Probably at the begining because the end is when Ramadan starts and they need to be back because the Intrepretors are Muslim. Geoffs R&R is scheduled for the beginning of Oct and were counting down the days. On Aug 6th we'll have made it 150 days. I feel like were making it to the down slide of this. Geoff says he's not gonna start counting down till he has 99 days left. He says anything more than 100 days seem to far out. Nat and I are anxiously awainting school to start. I'm taking ASL 4 and since I wasn't able to practice much this summer to get back to work on my degree. Since I'm getting things done to the house I'm only taking one class and probably an online test prep class to get me ready to retest for the state math test I have to pass. My ASL class is on Thurs nights so I'll have Tues and Thurs to myself cause the boys are going back to preschool this year. They start the week after labor day weekend. I'm also busy getting baby clothes together. Geoff wants me to mail him 12 to 18 mon clothes so he can give them to one of his intrepretors that he's become good friends with. I think his name is Sadiqe. His daughter is 11 months. Well, I think this is all thats been going on, but were glad that u keep checking in on us. We have an empty hole in our family with Geoff gone, but know that were truly blessed with our sacrifice. I see the blessings pour in daily. I know that when I can't hug or comfort Geoff in his time of need that our Heavnly Father fills the void...how do I know this?? Because he does the same for us. I'm grateful that our prayers are heard and answered even if its not said allowed, but in our hearts. I'm amazed everyday that my children are learning to rely on there Hevenly Father so they can gain this knowledge for themselves. Natalie has such faith and prays often by herself. I've walked in on many prayers and I see a special light about her and am grateful she feels that love everyday.

Germs????

Today was just like any other day here at the Dennis'. I paid bills and let the kids play. I ran over Nates Spiderman bike and he's begging for me to fix it. Not much damage...just broke a pedal and a trainning wheel, but I can't find any tools to remove them. I know that Geoff is probably laughing now because Nates calling in life is to go through dad tools and use the cool ones and toss the others, so we have no tools in one spot. And when I need them I'm screwed. Natalie finaly found the tooth she pulled at gradmas this past weekend. So, toothfairy came. We ventured to the pool to let some energy out and Nich is just a water baby. Just luvin it. My story of the day is about Nich....As I was getting the kids ready for the pool he was in the bathroom.(I thought he was putting on his trunks) I walked in there to check on him and he was up on top of the sink and had bathed in my antibactrial soft soap I keep out. I mean from head to toe he was covered in this soap. He was just smiling and thought that just the funniest thing..Me not so much cause I had to rinse him off before leaving. We had fun and they went to bed early. Thank the good lord for large bodies of water that we can swim in so that children come out exhausted. Alls well just missin our dad to pieces....