Planning ahead

Ok so im sorry i havent posted in a while, things here have been blah and pretty negative and im not gonna post about that here. I want to keep myself upbeat and posting about all the major problems my unit is having will not do that. SO looking forward to coming home. As my close friends and family know i will be adding a deck to my house as soon as i get home. I put out the call now to all those manly friends and family memebers who would like to help in this adventure to be ready and able. Not to say our womanly friends and family arent more than invited to participate. Sorry if that sounded bad. I hope to be home during the last week in July so this is when i plan on doing material purchasing. The first weekend in August is when the deck goes up..... unless im not back yet. Either way come rain or snow or howling winds that deck goes up. I have a design picked out and I have sent it to my father. I am going to post a link to it here now so if you want to get a picture for yourself you can. http://www.decks.com/deckplans/deckplandetails.aspx?plan=2L084&page=2

What I will need is a few experts at woodwork for this. I wont rely on you to do the whole deck but to advise and direct the hands that will be ready. I want to be involved even though i know im a novice when it comes to carpentry. If tools are need, I can get them, if extra lumber is needed just let me know. I am hoping to have about 5-7 guys/girls able to help, it will be more than a one day build so all 5-7 are not needed on the first day but the second day all hands on deck are called for. If you can, go to the link to see what im envisioning. I want to keep the deck low to the ground and with no railing. I want to keep the feel of openess. I want the off shoot that shows the grill to run right up against the house and come out about 6-7 feet. I plan to put a new stainless steel grill there. I havent decided on wood choices yet. Any suggestions. Please save the dates and be ready to work. If its coming home party or this i would rather have people able to help with the deck. Its something that will make my summers end at home much more enjoyable.

The fence around the carport will be finished so no worries about kids running around in the street and chasing after them. I will provide food each day and beer after each days work. Yes thats free food and free beer.................. now your ready to work arnt you. Any relatives that would like to come into town for a weekend and see the boys and help out you are more than welcome. This will be the weekend to do it.

Thanks again to everyone for everything. I will post more as time permits.

My boys are the best.

Roman moved up to a big bed, and Shamus learned to climb out of his crib, almost at the same time. The boys are closer now than ever. I think Shamus is making his case for a big bed of his own. Let me know what you think? If anyone has a twin bed they want to get rid of let us know.

Marissa Update

So Jessica informed me that Marissa got all good marks. Also since i was home she has had all green days except one. Now for those that arent familiar with todays classroom system green means the child had a good day, yellow means some minor issues and so on down the line. This is a great job for Marissa. She had been having trouble adjusting to a new school every year. This improvment is something I am excited to hear about. Marissa has lots of energy and I am very proud to see how well she is starting to perform in school. For the family that is lucky enough to see Marissa please make sure to mention to her about how well she is doing in school. When i was home on leave she was very proud each day to tell me that she had a green day and tell me how good she had been. Its actually makes me emotional thinking of how well she is doing. I wish everyone could she her scamper down the street to the bus stop each morning. She has so much life in her, its amazing to see her so happy now. Marissa has many friends at school but her best friend is a little girl named Naydia or something like that, i cant spell, sorry.

Well if anyone deserves a great birthday it is Marissa, she has really stepped up her game since i came home and I can only hope things continue. Please remember to send your love and well wishes as our little girl turns 7.

And remember to mention how well she is doing in school, I am just beaming with pride. I know how bad i was sometimes at that age and I can remember having all that energy and sometimes not knowing how to control it all. Marissa has made me so proud, I am counting on everyone who reads this blog to be my arms and voice to hug her tight and tell her how good of a job she is doing.
Thanks

Happy Birthday Marissa

So Today is Marissa's birthday. She is 7. If you get a chance or have a second please call or write Jessica and wish Marissa happy birthday. She is such a wonderful young lady. I am very proud of her. She is reading so well. Marissa is growing up way too fast for me. I can remember when she was a hyped up little 4 year old running around outside on her power wheel. Marissa loves to read and loves to read to people. If you ever get a chance to watch the kids, ask Marissa to read to you. Im sure you will be as awestruck as I was. Marissa loves Hannah Montana and cool clothes. She seems to be 7 going on 17 but I understand she is just growing up. Marissa is having a Birthday party coming up and if anyone would like to send anything or attend please contact Jessica or myself via email and we will get you the details.

Happy Birthday Marissa. I miss you very much.

Packages

Ok so its the time when we start packing and preparing things for the long trip home. yes i know I still have months to go but we are packing what we can in prep for all the small moves we make to get ready for the big move. If you were preparing a package I am sorry, but please dont send it. Unless its something i can eat like tuna, we just wont have room and will end up throwing it out. Sending items that you want me to have or anything else besides postcards is something i have to ask you the wonderful people who supported me, to stop. I cant bring everything home and sending all the items home by mail is quite costly. I have more than enough and that which i cant use or eat is being shared with all the soldiers of the 353rd.

Thank you to everyone who sent anything. Keep the post cards comeing. They are great.

Leave

Well, Im back in Iraq now. Yeah it sucks but getting home to see Jessica and the kids was amazing. I cant believe how big my boys have gotten. I am stunned at how well Marissa can read. Shamus is saying all types of things. Roman can actually keep a converstation and he can state his feelings, sometimes very sternly. Seeing Jessica was the best I could imagine. Its an odd feeling to have one person hold so much of your emotional being in just their touch. Being home and spending time doing the things fathers do was just what I needed to recharge my batteries. I didnt do anything to crazy on leave, i got to spend my wifes birthday actually with her. That is something i havent done during our relationship. I went to Ryans pub in Hamilton,which was great. My best friends Dustin and Richie joined us. We all had a great time. Jessica and I had a wonderful night out for dinner. I got to grill out, only once but it was enough to make me miss it very badly. I got some major things accomplished. Thanks Mom, Thanks Dad.
Dad came over and gave Jessica her Birthday gift... a new over the range microwave. Yes its friggin awesome. It makes cooking so easy and it just fits perfectly into our little kitchen. It made a difference in just the few days i was home to enjoy it. I got to see Marissa off to school each day which is a great thing. I got to make dinner for my family again and sitting down at the table held more joy in it than I would have ever thought.

Thank you to all those who helped Jessica out during the first part of my deployment, Thank you to all those who will help during the second part.

Photo update

This is from Ireland, we had an hour or so layover. So here are some photos that i havent been able to upload while I was in Iraq.