Braum was in full picture taking mode :)

There is no place like home!

The Day after Thanksgiving

Grandpa and Gramere helped up put out tree up the day after Thanksgiving. We LOVED having them here!

We tired Grandpa out :)

GO K STATE

We love going to the KState games here in Manhattan! Matt and Kelly Thomason our great nieghbors take us to all the home games. Matt is the Head Athletic Trainer for the college.

Cade's Name Sake

Carl David Moss with his Great Grandson, Cade Moss Barton

Camping Trip 2009

Disney

I have been late to get our Disney Pictures up because it was too hard to figure out which ones to put on there - so many good times, so many good pictures!! We celebrated Braum's 37th birthday and Carla's 60th birthday in Florida. Went to all the Disney Parks and Clearwater Florida, to the gulf. Great times!!!!

Easter Egg Docorating

Decorating was different this year. Usually I have to get everything set up and have a huge mess to clean up. I think the girls had just as much fun making the egg dye than decorating the eggs. They did a great job and I got to take lots of pictures. They were so organized in the beginning that clean up was easy. The eggs turned out beautiful and we had a great time doing them!!

Making a snowman!!!

Okay - Braum is home and I am addicted to Facebook and catching up with so many old friends but the pictures are here :) We had a great time in Utah over Christmas break - from building a snowman, skiing, sledding!!!

Christmas 2008

Family pictures that were taken on our trip back to Utah for Christmas!!

Christmas

Here are some of the many pictures I need to post ... I promise to get some more up soon :o)

He's Home!!!

Can you see him?? Brooke found him first, then Rylie - it took me forever to figure out where they were talking about. Then Rylie told me third row, third person.

I love Cade's expression in this picture. He was just amazed that his Dad was actually holding him!! My sweet Rylie got emotional but it doesn't surprise me it WAS very emotional. Not only for us but also everyone else around us seeing their loved ones. People were screaming, clapping, holding up signs. Then they played the national anthem and people starting singing in the crowd. When they released them it was crazy, people running everywhere.
Its so nice to have him home!!!

Happy Birthday Gramere!

Okay my secret is out - I have been a little worried about myself lately and how I just don't feel myself. A big bawl baby actually which I can date back to the beginning of the year with Braum leaving in January. All those who have known and been a part of my year it seemed to spiral downward since then. Since I seem to treat this blog as our family journal I should blog this year and all the crazy just so one day when our kids look back on it they won't think I am making it all up. I feel like I could write a book, but I know we all don't have time to read it, and frankly those of you who have permission to get on my site have already heard it. I really have felt not myself, weak - sad - putting on a brave front - not dealing with things people put in front of me like I want to. Then - - I call my Gramere just to wish her a Happy Birthday ..... and I was blessed! Without her probably knowing what she was doing for me - she made me feel normal, strong, and most of all understood. Some years ago she herself left a strong supportive community in Japan to where she knew no one to a place in Colorado. She too had 4 kids and her husband left her to go to Vietnam. She couldn't talk to him everyday and writing letters was all she had. She was bound and determined to put 200 percent into taking care of their children. She didn't tell me anything anyone else already has, but I found truth in her words. There is nothing wrong with missing your husband you love deeply, and its not easy, one day at a time sometimes one hour at a time and the time will pass and we will make it through it. I haven't been broke. My kids depend on me and there is nothing wrong with them knowing I miss their dad. Jesus made tears and there is nothing wrong with using them. :)
- happy birthday Gramere ...... and thank you!

I wish for my daddy to be safe and come home soon!

Ashlynn turned 6!! This picture was taken 1 hour before we were all in the car taking Braum to his bus for his trip to Iraq. (Happy birthday Ash). He didn't leave until 9 pm, so at least we had the whole day with him. We are on day one with his 4 1/2 month trip and counting. I feel blessed that it is not 15 months, which so many families get separated for, including the unit he is joining over there. They have all been gone since September 07! The thought of that makes me sick to my stomach! In the last week I realized that this is not just a TDY to Ft. Rucker Alabama, here in the states. He is actually going to war. Packing up his bullet proof vest with helmet and having to fill out a sheet of paper asking questions of addresses and contacts that I hope nobody has to open a file cabinet to get the answers too was probably my reality check. Those who are not thankful for what the military and their families do make me sick!! After saying that; I know we will be fine - God is great! One day at a time, and one is already (almost) gone. :)

The Manhattan Zoo

Here we are at the Manhattan Zoo on Ashlynn's Birthday. I am sure you can tell by the pictures, it is nasty hot!!! The heat index was 106!!! The pictures of Cade on the ground say it all - the heat "smoked" us! It was fun to get out of the house and see the animals with Daddy before he left. There is alot of behind the head pictures in this slide show, I thought they were sweet and my kids are sick of posing for pictures for their mom. :)

Chuckie Cheese

Here we are at the Chuckie Cheese in Topeka. We had a great time celebrating Ashlynn's birthday and spending some fun time with Braum before he left to Iraq.