The Twinkles Turn SIX .....

Having a large family and having done 6th Birthdays with the Twinkles FIVE older sisters you would think that I would be over the whole they grow up, get older and omg they move out on their own but STOP!!! these are my babies I won't get new ones after these ones grow up damn husband and that smart idea to have a vasectomy...at times I hate that decision and other times I am like he is such a smart man...but our babies are SIX they are both smart but so different one is silly and smiley the other is loving and smiley. They are both a blessing and a joy and bring so much happiness and laughter to our lives Happy Birthday to our twinkles I am so happy that I get to be your mommy ...

Where in the world are the Big Anderson Girls??? 2013

Every time someone asks me how many children I have I hesitate because I get asked this so much and I know what questions come after my answered reply....I have SEVEN DAUGHTERS, 7?? Daughters?? looking behind me 1, 2, 3, 4, 5?? you are missing two? Well we have 5 here with us and our oldest two daughters are in the states. Oh ok I guess that makes sense...Makes sense to you maybe heck I am their mom and am still trying to wrap my brain around the fact that our oldest daughter Kate got married ugh but so very proud she is in college look at her studying hard...working and going to college...

 Our second oldest Jules off in Montana at college I cried for 2 weeks after she left I can't explain all the reasons why tears just flowed from my eyes randomly for 2 weeks straight....living in a dorm co-ed ugh boys but I am so proud of her too...

Merry Christmas 2012

 Santa decided this family needed some fun fun family activities for Christmas so a family that Nerfs together stays together...Merry Christmas 2012

Welcome Home Pachenko 2012

 Red, White & Blue hanging in the background of our beautiful Apache. Welcome Home to our beloved Soldiers....Since homecoming times can change up until the last minute we decided not to tell the girls that Pachenko was coming home we didn't want to disappoint them since Christmas was looming in the near future so the girls just kept praying that Santa would bring their daddy home in time for Christmas and God decided it sounded like a good plan and Santa delivered the Big Poppa in time for Christmas...He arrived at night after the girls were asleep so they woke up and were curious as to what was going on and out walks their daddy from the bedroom...cheers, shouts and tears of joy all around...Merry Christmas 2012

Fun in the "Wait"

I have had some wives say to me that they didn't think it was right or fair for their husbands to have fun while deployed, away at training or in the field. "I told my husband he can't go to the Movies or out to eat or to USO shows" or they get mad when it looks like their man is having some kind of fun or looks TOO happy in a photo posted while he is away from home. Some might bash me on this one but I am secure in who I am, I am secure in my marriage, my spouse and the truth is if my husband didn't want to be with me anymore then I respect myself too much to want a man who doesn't want me..see ya later alligator! That being said if my husband can find some happiness, a moment of silliness, a good belly laugh so lightheartedness in the middle of a Dessert then I would be over joyed. So some of the amusing photos that came my way during my husbands deployment. 

My advice is to tell your husband to try to have fun...if he is going to be there for Halloween send him a costume nice and early ..I didn't even think about that my husband never dresses up for Halloween (he is not in any of these costume photos lol) but next time I am sending him something way cool to wear..

Pretty in Pink

 I love being a volunteer combine that with the opportunity to raise money for one of my favorite causes Breast Cancer Research well sounds like the perfect reason to throw a " Turn your city pink" event here are my girls all dressed out in their pink tops for the cause



Below is a group photo of some friends who joined me for the cause...

A Walk To Remember

How many parents can say that their children know what the words Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity and Personal Courage mean or that they exhibit these great qualities? Service members children being raised in patriotic families watching their fathers and mother serve in the Armed Forces. Growing up in a military family I was proud to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance placing my hand over my heart and reciting the words from memory. I am just not repeating the words I think of each word and what that word represents I think of the sacrifices of the military families, the loss of loved ones, the pride in being part of something great.  I am raising my daughters to know this pride and the freedoms and liberties that come with being an American citizen for it is on the sweat, blood, tears and hard work that our great country was born. One of our greatest tragedies was Sept 11th 2001 a day etched in history for all future generations to learn about. Children of Service members people who serve be military, police, firemen, and rescue workers...people who run into harms way to protect and serve those who are in need those are the children who know and live these qualities below is a photo from our Army Posts Sept 11th remembrance walk these little children walk for the fallen of that horrific day. They understand the fear and loss knowing that their father or mother walks into danger to protect our country. 

Sept 11th 2012 Remembrance walk for Sept 11th 

Raise them up and watch them soar

The beginning of our life changes we started as a family of 9 but now we are a family of 6...

Oldest left to get married see previous blog named "Oh how fast they grow", Husband deployed see previous blog named  "The Beginning of a Deployment 2012"

 When I became a parent it was important to me that my children grew up knowing that they could do whatever they wanted no dream or goal was too big for them to strive for...We don't say can't, we don't say fail because as long as you try, you have already crossed off can't and fail. Failure only comes from lack of action from not even attempting to reach your goals and dreams. When our kids are little we don't realize how fast time is going to fly by in the blink of an eye your baby goes from night time feedings to hugging their siblings good bye when it is time to head off to college. With pride and tears we sent Julianna off to college it was harder then I thought it would be I thought I was prepared but nothing prepares you for sending your baby off into the big bad world...

Julianna smiling as she tells Charlie she loves her and that she is leaving for college

Charlie handing Julianna the bag of her things she packed to go along to college with her. Julianna told Charlie that she couldn't go along to college with her because we didn't have her passport or a plane ticket the look of confusion and sadness broke my heart. 

Charlie was not giving up she decided if we didn't put her bag in the car then she would do it herself. The look on her face says it all "How can you say no to my adorable face?" 

The moment finally came when Charlie realized that she really couldn't go to college with Julianna with teary eyes and a quivering chin Julianna hugged Charlie tight one last time and then Sophia had to drag Charlie away kicking, screaming, tears flowing and begging Julianna not to leave her...This is my heart break and greatest joy at the same time we will miss Julianna but this display on sisterly love brings such happiness to my heart what greater reassurance can a parent have then knowing that long after they are gone their children will have one another a friendship, a bond, a love like no other...sisters

"Raise your children to be strong, confident, self sufficient and adventurous..Read to them so they learn to listen, listen so they learn to speak, encourage there dreams so they know they can be anything they dream of being and do everything they dream of doing teach them to fly so when they leave the nest they soar"
by LRRH

What Really Happens on the Home Front During a Deployment

We bust our buts working fundraisers 

We raise funds for Single Soldiers Homecoming projects

We make beds & make the Barracks welcoming

we take trips with fellow Army Families

and more Co Trips

We build families

we show our Patriotism 

we try new things like Cheer leading

we enjoy quiet family time ..

Every new Military spouse asks the same question when it comes to Deployment. How do you get threw it? Well the simple answer is stay busy!!! Get involved in your FRG you all heard horror stories about gossipy frg and cliques well I can tell you I am a FRG leader and I don't do gossip and I don't do cliques my FRG is a family readiness group I want my spouses to have knowledge and information that will help them be resilient every day not just during deployments. I am a firm believer that if you join an frg and its not what you think it should be then stand up and voice your opinions...A successful FRG is an active one with volunteers who sincerely care I don't do what I do for the perks, pay ?? umm no?? those card stock certificates umm nope I do it because I care and my thought is a happy spouse, makes a happy soldier makes a successful Company, Battalion and Community...Now besides your FRG, their are Spouses Clubs and PWOC check out your Post Chapel...moms groups, ACS always needs volunteers...now on to more fun things we did DFAC lunches and dinners to keep business at our DFAC during Deployment, we did a local Wild Animal Park, Amusement park, cheer camp, oh and check out those Chapel based Marriage and Family retreats ...they have them for Deployed spouses too. The point is just don't sit around marking off the days on the calendar or eating the each days M & M's get out and explore the area around your post...travel with a friend, or another wife...go someplace your husband wouldn't have fun like Polish Pottery shopping, crystal shopping, shoe shopping or purse shopping...I definitely do not encourage crazy spending on shopping!!! I once drove two friends to Cheb a town in Czech to purse shop I bought nothing I just went for the adventure ....I also advice personalizing your calendar my husband is gone 9 months we broke our calendar up into 3 Big events My daughters Senior Prom & Graduation, Her off to college & the little ones back to school, Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas...in our case the twins Bday is Jan 12th ....Homecoming was scheduled for Jan 1st but we heard they might be home by Christmas so we told the girls daddy would be home for their bday...so Jan 12th was circled on the calendar so if he didn't show up for Christmas they wouldn't be disappointed ....so personalize your calendar ...I also say don't move home with your parents or mother in law I promise 9 out of 10 Spouses regret it ...stay in your HOME, go visit family plan a month visit however after 2 weeks you probably will have reached your ok I need to go now phase...lol so visit for 2 weeks go visit some other family, then head back to mom n pops spend a week say see ya later and head on home...SPACE A is your friend....if you are OCONUS ...in the states round trip Greyhound bus tickets Mil discount $208 ??? heck yea no gas cost, no driving woohoo
**** Don't forget Single Soldiers who will becoming back to Barracks ask your FRG leader about Helping out with welcome home baskets & signs*****

A glimpse of Deployment Soldier Side

Deployment time went by fast for me I think it was because the girls and I kept busy and broke the Deployment up into BIG EVENTS . I bet Pachenko doesn't think it went by fast.

 Pachenko got to fly the Apache he loved it and I am surprised they got him out of the bird afterwards.

 Pachenko is not known to be stylish this hat sorta proves that point. I still love the guy though

 The man working hard I am glad he likes what he does and he sure looks good doing it.