Cpt Barbeau Is Home!!!

This is a post I have dreamt of writing for the last year and FINALLY here it is. We got our beloved solider, husband, and dad home from Iraq! He came home on Sunday the 24th in the evening. We decided we wanted to surprise the kids so my dear friend Dana (huge huge thanks) kept the kids over night for us and we surprised them on Monday (more on that in a minute)

The whole process of them coming home is crazy. They land at Hunter Army Airfield where they are shown a "welcome home" video told their work schedules and sign up for classes they need like the motorcycle safety class then they are bused over to Ft Stewart. When they get to Ft Stewart they march onto the parade field and after the Anthem, a short speech, a prayer, and the Dog Face Solider song they are released to find their families. Thank heavens Ben and I had our phones...I text him where I was standing and didn't move...in fact he came to me. I wasn't about to loose a limb or an earring for that matter in the chaos of girls jumping and running for what they think is their man...hey lets be honest until you're within 3 feet one Solider looks the same as another.  I know I'm making light of this ceremony but in all honesty I was in tears the whole time. I can not explain the sense of pride, love, and appreciation you feel standing amongst a group of others who have carried the same burdens, cried the same tears, and celebrated the same milestones as you for the last year. Its in awe that I watched all 300+ of those Soldiers come home to their families physically intact. I hugged Ben and instantly felt 1000 pds lighter and an unspoken stress washed away within seconds. I love this boy of mine and am so so very proud of him! Words can not begin to explain how excited I am that he is here with us.  Here's a video of the Soldiers singing before they were released. The kids love this song...

On Monday Ben and I went to breakfast and then to the kids school to surprise them. I'm so mad at myself for not recording this I had told myself all morning I would and then it all happened so fast and I was too excited.

I had told the kids I had to work so they were staying at Danas house Sunday night but I would have to check them out early for a dentist appt on Monday. The Secretary was so excited when we told her what was going on she went and got the kids herself and Ben stood in the hall where it turned so they couldn't see him and I stood at the end where they could see me. As they walk up Pais saw Ben and just says "Daddy!?!" and without taking her eyes off him walks right to me. Easton saw Ben though and went for it...he ran over to him and wouldn't let go. After we checked the kids out they were in disbelief and loved the surprise. All the rest of the day Pais was on Bens lap and Easton kept saying I cant believe dad is home for good.

We have tried to break him in slowly but we cant help take him everywhere and show him off!

WELCOME HOME!!!

Fight Night At the Barbeau Hizzle

This video needs no explanations but I do wish I could bottle Paisleys laugh and keep it forever!

Its all very "Silly"

Each and every time I buy my kids a pack of these darn bracelets I cant help but wish I was the weirdo who invented these! Honestly stretchy lil bracelets that are shapes? Who knew they could be such a hit. The kids have millions...I do mean millions. In fact dear Pais who has about double the amount as Easton can layer them from her wrists to her elbows on both arms and still have some on her ankles plus a few laying around the house. I find them all over, the car, laundry hamper, floor, bathtub, they even stick them on me when I go to work to share with the sick kids (which never happens since Michelle steals them!) I can bribe my kids to do anything for a pack of Silly Bandz though so for that I am grateful for the dumbest invention ever!

 Here the kids are decked out after church one day...

yes they wore all those with their

 nice church clothes (I'm picking my battles!)

 Amongst the millions they each manage to have a favorite.

 I'm not sure what Eastons is but Pais of course is her

 favorite princess Sleeping Beauty.

After we took pics of all the Silly Band fun I put the camera down to take a lil nap and here's what happened....

 Pais took a self portrait...a pretty good one even

 Then E got in on the fun...cute kids!

Then of me napping...

They are so proud of this...in fact they said they were going to tell Grandma on me. The more I think about it the more I'm convinced I learned this from my mom. In fact...I remember growing up and my mom would make us have quiet times conveniently during the hours of Oprah or General Hospital...hmmmm yes I remember mom! Plus we all know Sunday naps are a must and she always indulges!  So go ahead and tell on me dangit!

And just a few more blog worthy items:

We get our Benji back in about a week! Can you believe we survived a year...a whole year!?! Its funny because I can remember so vividly when he first left and thinking about the day he had a month left then a week then a few days and I thought it would never get here. So much has changed this last year and its funny how different of a place we are in now then we were when Ben left. I cant decide if its all been good or bad but I know for sure I am ready for it to be over.  I'm done living in survival mode and I'm ready to be a family who lives together and get on with our lives and not have another deployment luming over us in a year or two. Two is plenty for this family. Ben is getting out of the Army the 1st of Jan and he is going back to school for Physical Therapy. I'm excited for him since I think this is a great field and he will be awesome in it but I'm nervous for the move. I enjoy moving but this one is different because of a few things and its not to my ideal location but it is only for about a year and then Army Baylor in Texas is our goal. I'm sad to leave our home and our dear friends but somewhat relieved to move on from Ft Stewart and I'm sorry but I'm going to admit it but my church responsibilities as well.  We are headed to the St. Louis area which puts us closer to my fam (yay) and since it appears they have winter weather there I suppose its time to invest in winter shoes and actual coats...I will miss my warm SAV!



Pearls go with everything...

I have to wonder if bedtime is this "fashionable" at everyones house each night. As I was calling kids in for family prayer tonight before bed I couldn't help but laugh at their bedtime attire. Honestly...pearls, a headband, and a leotard!?! Then we cant ignore E in his UGA hat (he considers himself a fierce fan) and the house robe. E insists on sleeping in his under roos but bc of 6 yr old modesty issues he walks around in his house robe til hes ready to be tucked into bed.  OK fine I will admit it...what cute kids!

I took the first picture and then dear Pais says "do it again mom and let me get comfortable" so she throws out the hip...hmmm.

I truly do love them but I find myself wondering "why o why me"...a lot.

Heaven On Earth...

When my hunka hunka man was home on R&R (yes I know that's been a few months ago) we were able to ditch the kids (million thanks Christensen Fam...Holla!) and escape to the most amazing place just 2 hours from our front door. For 2 nights and 3 days we lived in style here....

The Ritz Carlton on Amelia Island

With a lovely private beach

And a cute to boot husband...how lucky was I and am I!?! (Hes mine!)

It was just what we needed! We ate amazing food and layed out on the beach...I think I was born to lay in the sun. There is not a more peaceful and relaxing place on earth then the beach. When it got dark we swam in the pool and chilled in the hot tub, we stayed up late and slept in and guess what...NO KIDS or dog! Of course we did a little shopping at the adorable shops downtown. It truly was what the deployment dr ordered and I love that we will always have this special place we can get away to with great memories. A million thanks Benji! I love you...more then lipgloss and diet coke. (that's a huge place to be in my wee lil heart)

xoxo

This weekend....

We wont be found here...

because we are escaping to here...

seriously...

this get away couldn't come at a better time!

The only thing missing will be Ben but we will love

every minute we get to spend with our dear friends Muthu and KJ

I cant wait. I feel peaceful just looking at the pics

Hurry up Friday and get here!!!

Just Another Day At the Office!

When Ben was home on R and R he left his camera here, well today I happened to pick it up and start looking through ALL the pics on it and please let me share these lil gems I found. I guess after this Ill know if he ever looks at the blog. Clearly this day was both hard and very productive!

My guess is this is the end of the day! Look at that cute face!!!

Their So Vain They Probably Think This Post Is About Them!

(This is an awful pic from my cell phone but I love how they let me dress them alike! E doesnt love it but he lets me!)

See those cute lil faces above? Well... I have come to realize vanity is a problem at our house. Neither one doubt their cuteness and value in society...especially in the world of 5 and 6 yr old love. Every mother wants confident children but sometimes I wonder if they both could use a bit of reality. Here are just a few of our everyday conversations we have had lately.

Me: "Easton you look handsome today."  Easton: "MOM! I know! I hear about it all day long at school please don't make me hear it at home!"

Easton: "I don't have a girlfriend because how do I pick just one when they all love me?"

Easton: "Pais the girls in your class think I'm cute and stare at me that's why I come and sit by you in the car line now."

Pais: "Mom, have you ever known a 5 yr old with so many ex-boyfriends?"

Me: "Pais, how was school?" Pais: "Good, everyone loved my hair bow and shoes" Me: "Really everyone?" Pais: "yes mom, everyone ALWAYS loves my shoes and hair bows!"

Paisley was asked out for ice cream by a little boy Easton plays football with and her response to him asking her "Perfect timing I just broke up with all my other boyfriends!" then as we are walking away she says "I knew Christian always loved me!"

Sometimes I'm tempted to lock my kids in their rooms and hope and pray the world wont touch them. Ben has his hands full with Pais and the boys now what o what will he do when shes a teenager? We are already running into the issue of Eastons friends like Pais and Paisleys friends like Easton. What happened to girls and boys are icky!?! PLEASE make them stop growing up and PLEASE I pray they start believing in cooties!

Being An Army Wife

Much of this post is truly written out of hurt because of some things that have been said to me recently but it had me thinking this morning about this identity I carry around of "Army Wife"
First let me say this...I have always considered myself Bens wife. Yes being his wife makes me a wife of a solider, a solider who's currently serving our country for the second time. I have never considered myself "HOOAH" enough to be waving my proud Army Wife flags and wearing the shirts but that doesn't mean that I love my husband less.
When we first moved here Ft. Stewart was indeed the first place we had lived together especially in this whole world of Army. During Bens last deployment the kids and I stayed in PHX which was close to an AFB which I am familiar with and comfortable with due to the fact I was raised in the Air Force. My first impressions were awful. I meant countless lady after lady who not only proudly wore their army wife tag but they wore their husbands ranks, his awards, and counted down the days til they left because they needed a break. I was disgusted. Is this what being an Army Wife is about? Their cars are decked out in "I love my Solider" and "Half my Heart Is In Iraq" and yet their excited for this extra deployment money and breaks from their marriage. Maybe this is just a  way of dealing with this chaotic lifestyle of separations and moving around but I have always tried to value my marriage and put it before Bens job.
Here's my question. If you don't support Obama does that mean you don't love America or support our troops? No...right! So tell me this. Why is it that if I miss my husband I no longer support him? Why cant I hide under my covers and behind closed blinds when it seems a little too lonely or never ending? Who are you as everyday Americans, family, or friends to judge me because I don't answer my phone enough or I loose touch because its one more thing to deal with when I'm already dealing with enough. I support my husband and I am truly grateful for his job and the living that he provides for our family but guess what...I MISS HIM! I am in this location for him and because of him. This is NOT where my family is this is NOT where I would settle if it wasn't for him but I do it and want to know why...because I love and support him. Deployments are not like all the sudden being single again. It is having your best friend, soul mate, support, and lover (yes I blushed) taken from you and then you are forced to spin 25 different plates of your own plus your kids and his and not let them fall. People need to understand we are not victims but we struggle...this is a hard life.  Deployments are NOT an excuse...they are truly something that limits us as individuals and as families. We love and support our Soldiers but even though we picked this life the pain of separation isn't any less.
I have learned some very important life lessons this deployment...
1. I am a better person with Ben
2. When I'm overwhelmed I shut people out
3. Not everyone in your life needs to be there
4. Distance does not make the heart wander or even grow fonder
5. Our house makes a lot of noise and its not a burglar its just a noise!
6. I can fix plumbing issues
7. I can feel joy, love, resentment, happiness, and shed tears all in a matter of 30 min
8. We are fortunate to have Bens job despite the distance
9. Never bite off more then you can chew
10. I can be 5 places at once
but most importantly this too shall pass!
All those life lessons make me an Army Wife...not the magnets on my car (which I don't have)
Don't judge me because I let one of those plates fall and don't pity me either. I have a beautiful life and what doesn't kill us does make us stronger. I have a light at the end of my tunnel and for that I am grateful. These last 2 months are like the last part of a road trip...they take the longest but in the end we will be together in person as a family again so for that fact alone Ill wait...maybe not patiently but I never claimed that as a virtue of mine.

Oh How They Grow!

It is that time of year already...back to school! I think I am in the handful of moms who actually dread sending my kids back. I love having them home during the day with me. The kids love a break from me though...can you blame them and now that we are adjusted to it I will admit I enjoy it as well. It feels like such a long day for them now I drop them both off at 8ish and I pick them back up at 3:15. I'm in utter disbelief and shock that time has just flown passed me and I now have a first grader and kindergartner now. I didn't realize until I walked back into an empty house that maybe our family isn't complete and I'm not done having little ones at home. Guess I better open a daycare ;)
Their first day was fantastic and they loved every minute of their new school. The schools out here are like a compound. There is one school that has Pre-k and then the next one has Kindergarten and 1st grade, then the next school has 2nd and 3rd grade, then the next school has 4th and 5th. All of these schools are separate but in the same giant area. There is a chaotic yet totally organized driving route to drop off and pick up and each school just has one way in and one way out. I remember when I was in school and when the bell rang we were out the door and on our way but not here the kids are all "held" in the cafeteria and then as each car pulls up they write down the info off the tag and go into the cafeteria and call there little code names and then bring the kids out and load them.

We had our dear friends the Heywood's staying with us while they moved into a new house (welcome back Heywood's...yay!) so all the kiddos got to start the first day together. Look at how Easton towers over Dylan...they are both the same age and Nov babies. Miss Maggie is in PreK. These kids love each other and its great having friends that all get along so well!

Didn't they all look smashing!?!

I have said it before but this time I mean it!

Did you miss me??? Yeah didnt think so ;) I fell off the face of the blog earth but now I am back...I cross my wee lil heart Ill try harder to blog more!

Walk 2 Iraq...

The kids and I joined the "walk 2 Iraq" and we did our 100th mile today!

Now if only we really could walk and see Ben.

(the kids were so confused by the title...Pais kept asking "when will we see Dad")

We were supposed to do 100 miles by the end up April...

maybe I should get some new running shoes

 and go for another 100 miles before then. Maybe.

Somehow the kids and I have become the family that Marne TV follows for this...we have been on there 4 times now but I have yet to watch any of it...I hate my voice too much to hear it on tv.

Dad your services are needed!

I havent posted in forever...thats the story of my life with this blog and the RS one of course. Did ya miss me!?! Bummer I didnt think so.

BUUUUT let me catch you up a lil on life anyway. While my loverly parents were here for a visit...yes that was allllllll the way back in 2009 (December to be exact)  

(loverly parents)

They did this

Yup...correct DESTROYED the kids bathroom. In fact I worked the night before and when I woke up I saw that and

this

and this white dust covered the whole house

but then after a few days of hardwork, countless and I truly mean countless trips to Lowes my Dad managed to make it look like this

yes we are now void the nasty molded 1980s shower walls and broken faucets

and guess what!?!

It still looks just like that...well except now theres a shower curtain. Nope I havent even painted the walls around the shower.

Pais informed me just last night "mom...Im not going to shower in here anymore until you fix the paint!" That comment didnt motivate me...in fact it just made me pitty her lil friends at school bc Puff is gonna be smelly!!! Dad...please come finish what you started in the bathroom...dont you know the rules...you should always leave it better then how you found it!!!

ooh look! Heres the proof you started this job...now come finish!

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY....

To...

BEN!!!

Today my lil Benji Barboner (yes the nickname is officially out) turns the old man age of 28! Get him a walker already right!?! Just Kidding! So as always I must give ya an aw inspiring burfday post on my main squueze. So here ya go!
Im gonna go for 10 random facts and reasons hes the BEST...and for the record to only give you 10 is like saying you can only have 1 M&M from a bag....yes hes just that awesome!
Drum Roll Please...
#1. Who cant help but love Ben and his sarcasim...oh the sarcasim and how we miss it
#2. Ben makes running...like long long long runs look easy...I kinda despise him for that actually
#3. Ben is passionate for chocolate (the darker the better) and ice cream
#4. He makes you want to be smarter just beacuse hes so dang smart and up with all the current events
#5. He burps like noone you have ever met...its disgusting yet strangly lovable
#6. He can see past ugly..........hence the reason he loves that mut Bella Bop
#7. He is an AMAZING cook...like pack the fat onto your hips and you cant stop eating good!
#8. Ben is the calmest person I have ever met (thats good with a wifie like me)
#9. If a movie has been made then he has seen it and if its really a bad one then he probably owns it ;)
#10. Ben is the BEST dad ever! He loves Easton and Pais and has amazing patience with them and they remind me several times a day how much they miss him!

I hope 28 is a FANTASTIC year for you

I cant wait to see where you are in a year from now!

Can we please get a WOOT WOOT

 for the last Birthday ever in Iraq!

I couldn't live without...

2 things...

My Blackberry Curve

and

Skype

These 2 beloved pieces of technology keep me connected to a husband far away! Words alone do not express my love for them...

I might not get to hear his voice everyday but I do get IM's on my phone and when we Skype I see his handsome face. How wives did these looong drawn out deployments before these amazing devices I will never know nor do I care to.

Happy Birthday Princess P Bop

I'm a day late on this post but who cares because Pais does not have a birthDAY she has a birthWEEK. I cant believe my lil Puffy P Bop is 5...seriously I am not ready for this. Its like shes 15! I think shes the funniest little thing ever and obviously the most adorable Paisley you have ever seen! In true birthWEEK fashion Grandma and I interviewed her so you can get to know the new improved 5 yr old Puff a lil better...ENJOY!

Grandma: Whats your favorite color?
Pais: Pink!

Grandma: Who's your favorite princess?
Pais: Aurora

Grandma: Whats your favorite food?
Pais: Chicken Nuggets

Grandma: If the house was burning what would you grab first?
Pais: my babies, my strollers, my purses

Grandma: What do you want to be when you grow up?
Pais: a dance teacher and a mommy who lives with Grandma

Grandma: Whats your favorite movie?
Pais: Sleeping Beauty

Grandma: Whats your favorite animal?
Pais: pigs!

Grandma: Who's your best friend?
Pais: Prissy and Miss Katelyn

Grandma: What do you want for your birthday?
Pais: 55 $5 bills (nice)

Grandma: Whats your favorite place to eat?
Pais: Chickalay (thats how she says it)

Grandma: Whats your favorite thing to wear?
Pais: Pajamas

Happy Birthday Paisley Bop!

Please Please Please

stop growing up so fast...

I miss your chunk a lunk

baby legs and squishy hugs!