Surprises Surprises

  Well..Saturday morning Kaya and I ran some errands…hauling trash,running to the bank etc…and when we got back..there was a VERY large box on the front porch….and within minutes…a FedEx guy appeared with another box. Jonus had told me to keep an eye out for deliveries on Saturday. He said that the big box would be Steve's and the lil box would contain a few items…that was to be open immediately ….and that I would understand when I saw it.

  Well….Kaya and I tried hard to be patient..but finally made Steve get out of bed and come look …

The suspense was killing us.

  Steve opened the big box first…and was VERY happy. Jonus had sent him a luxury leather computer chair that has the colts emblem on it…and inside the small box..the first gift was a Colts snuggie for Steve to wear. Steve got a big laugh out of that because him and Jonus always tease me that the house is freezing…

When I saw Steve’s face at the next gift..I knew it was something extra special. Jonus had sent us a very nice video camera…with instructions that we were to use it to record the holidays, Addies first day in the world and Kaya ….all so we could share it with him…

  Needless to say I welled up in tears immediately….we now had a way for Jonus to hear Kaya and see her grow besides pictures. Steve hugged me and said it was ok..it was a great gift and it would definitely get used. I think it hit me harder too..cuase this year my brother will not be home for Christmas Eve or Christmas Day..and its hard. Now I could share US with HIM and he could hear us…lol

  We checked it out,charged it…and did our first video…Kaya singing Jingle Bells her style.

  I cannot thank Jonus enough that here he is all the way over there,and he thought of us in such an amazing way. I'm VERY lucky to have him as a brother..and Kaya is blessed with such a wonderful Uncle…

  My wish this year…is more people think about their loved ones…that maybe they need to hug them more, love them a little more..because not everyone will have the luxury of having someone dear to them home for the holidays. I would LOVE to hug my lil brother on Cmas day..any day..but..I have to wait.

  I ask too that everyone remember all the men and women…military and civilian …overseas and stateside that cannot be home with their loved ones for the holidays. As we sit down to a fine meal with family..they will be eating chow hall food or enjoying Cmas out of a care package that someone loved them enough to send…as we open gifts and enjoy our family time…..they will be suiting up for a mission, dealing with bombings and…thinking how they’d love to be at home right now….

Thanksgiving

   Our Thanksgiving went pretty well. Kaya had a blast helping make all the food..she said her favorite to make was the “punkin pies” and “sweet tatoes”…and she did great helping. She even pitched in and helped with dishes…hope that work ethic sticks with her when she’s a teen and its her chore!

  

Steve always deep fries our turkey…and I wouldn't go back to baking one for anything. The night before he marinates it with Creole butter injections…then the next day mixes butter and Cajun powder together and rubs it into the skin…then into the deep fryer it goes…less than two hours later…a wonderful turkey

  This year is was me,Steve,Mom,Kaya and my mother in law Teresa. We all had a blast…and ate too much. Then we through a movie in the DVD player and just vegged out for awhile. It was nice to relax…especially since I had to work on Black Friday which meant being up for work at 3am..ugh..

   This Thanksgiving I was thankful for family…and most thankful for a beautiful little girl that we love with all our hearts.

Been a busy two weeks…

  After a big surprise from Uncle Jonus…he showed up unexpectantly the first week of my vacation…we have really had a blast.

In the last two weeks we’ve celebrated Halloween….

We’ve had Thanksgiving and Birthdays…We’ve celebrated Christmas (Minus the tree to keep from Kaya being completely confused…lol)

And we’ve spent ALOT of family time just being together and loving each other…

  You don't often think of how many simple blessings you have…till you hear someone mention things you never thought of. I know personally after the last two weeks…I value things I do have even more. A soft warm comfortable bed, warm home cooked food, tea(oh yeah tea…lol),being able to hug the people I love ANYTIME I want, and being together as a family.

Our daughter is indeed blessed to have an Uncle that thinks of her as his child. Who loves to spend time with her and yes, he may spoil her..but..he gives her the most important things in life:attention and love.

  Today’s blog may seem a bit random..lol..but..there is alot of emotions today…We are feriously proud of my lil brother..but..letting your brother/child go off to a redzone (war zone) isn't easy. Half your heart is bursting with pride..the other half..is deployed. You know the waiting game begins again..this time for seven to nine months. And..its even harder with a little girl that realizes that her Uncle is gone.

  But…thanks to modern inventions…we can keep in contact by cell phone till he hits Kuwait then he goes on blackout…then..we will have email and facebook….

Its been an insane busy two weeks..but..lots of fun and we’d do it all again to have him home a few more days :)

Halloween time….

 

  Kaya decided this year to go as a Princess Fairy…why..because she loved the wings…and she was a “pretty princess” so she needed a tiara. Cant argue with that logic!

  Since she is recovering from the croup..we only let her venture to our neighbors. She did excellent at saying Trick or Treat..repeatedly till they came out with candy. She received candy, homemade cookies and change. She was VERY happy.

  The rest of the evening since family plans were canceled due to illness we let her play around the house in her costume. She LVOED it.

 

  She has really been into Halloween. Tonight we are having a lil family party…since Uncle Jonus is home…and having snacks and eating off her jackolantern plates. She has been ready for the party since Thursday night! So she should have a good time.

  She loved her costume so much that she even wore it today playing around the house…

  She added her “princess shoes” today while playing dress up. She walks really well in them.

I can admit…

I can admit having my brother home, snoozing under our roof, safe,fed,warm and happy is the best thing ever. We have always been VERY close..and..I'm lucky that he sees my husband as his brother and vice versa. And..I'm blessed to have my husbands family look at him as their own. That doesn't happen in alot of families…but it does with ours. They opened their heart to him, they pray nightly for him, they celebrate with us for him, and they feel my pain when they know I'm hurting cause I don't know where he is or how safe he is…they are FAMILY.

  One thing that has been nagging at me..is when he leaves. I do not allow myself to think about it much..but..it creeps in. And my main worry…is ..Kaya. When he went to basic..she cried. When he came home for Cmas break…and then left after two weeks..she would sit at the garage door crying wanting him (he played video games in there with her and worked out in there with her)…Yes she eventually got over it…talked to him on the phone and online as much as she could and carried his picture around till it was all wrinkly.

  But..hearing your baby cry isn't easy. So I am anxious this time when he leaves. I know she knows he loves her and that he has to go..but..she is a child. Its hard.

Busy Busy…

  Well since Jonus is home..we are all on vacation next week. But..it will be busy. We have plans with Kaya of course..but..we also have to make use of the time we have off together.

Sunday night..Halloween night..as Kaya says “We going to party”…We are having a family Halloween party. Lots of snacks, Kaya in costumes, movies …just together and fun. Kaya may trick or treat at a couple houses but she’s getting over being sick and I don't want to get her coughing again.

  Then…one day next week will be Thanksgiving! Steve is deep-frying a turkey. NOONE does a turkey like him. The meat is simply..irresistible. We will have all the trimmings to go with it.

  Then..we are going to have a day out with everyone at Texas Roadhouse…Jonus wants a “real American steak”…so he’s going to have it. Last plans had twenty five or so of us going. Even if its just five..it will be fun cuase it will be celebrating my brother.

  Jonus and Kaya are going to have a shopping day since he will not be home for Christmas. That should be interesting…

  People may think..does it bother you he wont be home for those holidays? Yes..it does. But. Halloween is his favorite  and that is the one he got to come home for. We will make due with the time we have and celebrate. We will not be putting up a tree or doing gifts..as we can send him his gifts over there…as it would confuse Kaya too much. But..we are going to do everything we can to have “holidays” while he is home.

Homecoming

  Thursday night we were sitting on the couch talking.A good family friend Amy came over to check on Kaya. We hear a knock at the door….I go to the door…standing there is a guy  in a boonie hat and camos. It took me a second to realize it was my little brother Jonus!!!! He was home from Iraq. Its been 10 months since we’ve seen him, almost four months since we’ve heard his voice.

  Come to find out he had got leave, set it up with Amy to pick him up and decided to suprise us for Halloween. BEST trick ever…with the best treat ever! He was wore out since he had been on planes for two days (went through four provinces in Iraq, Kuwait, Germany, Ireland,Atlanta then Indiana) and had basically only snack food and one meal.

I will try to describe how it felt when I realized it was him. My heart stopped…then started beating a million beats a minute..I couldn't stop crying,hugging him and squeezing his face. Mom was..simply..stunned. She didn't speak for ten minutes!! Her birthday was Sunday and this was definitely a great late bday gift!

   Kaya is in heaven. They wrestle together, watch tv together, dance and listen to music together. EVERTHING is Uncle Jonus right now. She is stuck to him like glue and we love it. He was worried she wouldn't remember him. No fear in that.

 

 

  Too many people forget to count their blessings and appreciate the small things in life. I have my brother…who has been in a bad warzone..home for two weeks. That alone is a blessing. He has lost four friends since he landed in Iraq. To be so blessed to be one of the lucky families that has their loved one to hug and hold..is..indeed a blessing.

   I'm very very proud of my brother, proud of what he has accomplished and what he is doing. He is a wonderful example to Kaya that if you set your mind to it…you can accomplish anything. He joined the service at a later age..told he wouldn't ever get in or pass PT..guess what..he did it, is stationed in Iraq..and in three months has moved up rank. He’s physically fit, mentally strong and still has that heart that I love. Listening to him talk about his “life” over there..is hard. You don't realize how nice it is to have FROZEN real ice-cream, real junk food, hot water, pillows, till you hear from someone that don't. Life in Iraq…for the soldiers and the people of Iraq..is not one of luxury and fun. He has MANY pictures of lil kids on his computer…and he not only gives them treats and water..he gives them attention. That..is..a true soldier and a real man.

  Welcome home PFC Wade….just remember..big sis outranks you in this house :)