Well, this is the first year we have lived in 3 different zip codes! Scott started out his year finishing his year deployment to Baghdad, Iraq while the kids and I wrapped up our year in Niceville, Florida.
April was by far the happiest month of 2011 for our family as Scott came home for mid tour and we headed to the "Happiest Place on Earth" for a week. Truly, getting away from our routines and life in general was the greatest idea. We had a blast touring around Disney and just spending uninterrupted quality time as a family!
FINALLY, the deployment had come to and end and we were set to move from Florida to Virginia and Scott was set to leave Iraq and meet us in Virginia if all went smoothly on both ends. THANK goodness for my parents....I hope you all appreciate your parents as mine bent over backwards to make sure that our move went smoothly and as stress free as possible. From the moment they arrived before we moved to helping us pack, driving a vehicle with us, and helping us unload on the other end. That my friends is unconditional love that was sooooo much appreciated~ Thanks Mom and Dad for making that journey with us and driving until 1:00AM so that Scott and I could reunite!
Truly we should have spent the night and finished out the drive, but when you've been separated from the love of your life and the most fantastic Daddy in the whole wide world you will do WHATEVER it takes to make it. We were all soooo excited that we just couldn't bare to wait any longer then we had to for that great big bear hug!
The kids woke up to their Daddy and I finally for the first time in a year slept in his arms and felt as if the weight of the world had been lifted off my shoulders...I was at total peace!
No time for the weary, we were up and moving the next day-we had our new house to go see. We always schedule moves "door to door" so unloading the house was next on the agenda. Thankfully we had a phenomenal moving crew and that whole event went better than expected.
Ahhhhhh getting settled....I can finally say that we are....but, it truly took a while. From getting the kids readjusted to the area, finding their way at a new school, and our family readjusting to a "new routine" it has been far from dull.
Megan is actively involved in the Advanced Academic Programs at school and that truly takes a ton of her time. We don't have to ask where Megan is because usually she is doing homework or talking to her friends, or helping her brother with homework. She truly has sprung up in size this year. She has officially hit the "pre teen" era and I hope that her Dad and I can at least stay on her "cool" side! :) She is in gymnastics and her favorite activities are hanging out with friends and she is following her Mommy's footsteps and starting to find a niche in photography.
Riley played soccer this fall as well as he is in gymnastics. That is the perfect fit for him as he has always been our "monkey"....He has really taken a liking to art and creating all sorts of things. His favorite love is legos. If you wonder where Riley is you can almost guarantee he's outside riding something around or playing with friends on the block.
Scott is the Branch Chief for Air to Air Missiles at the Pentagon. He is very busy and does a great job as a leader in his organization. We are awaiting the next great Air Force celebration for our family in honor of his promotion next summer. In his spare time you will find him on the golf course with Riley or at Starbucks taking a deep breath and relaxing from our "full" lives.
I have found a new love...photography! In September I launched my own photography business Dwelling Moments Photography. I just LOVE to capturing the "moments!" While Scott was deployed I took college photography courses in Florida. It has been such a rewarding journey thus far. I have been featured in a juried art auction, had a photo published in a journal for art, as well as just won placement in the 2011 National Army Photography contest. I love to photograph everything. My focus this fall has been on families, portraits, and outdoor landscapes. If you would like to see my work feel free to stop by my website at: http://www.dwellingmomentsphotography.com
Well, that about wraps up 2011 for our family! We wish you the greatest blessings for 2012 and thank you for taking the time to catch up with our family! You can always catch us via email, Facebook, or phone. We love visitors so please let us know if you are in the DC area.
Please take a moment and reach out to those around you and say a prayer for the deployed families. Our family is a huge advocate for military families and we know first hand how hard the holidays and living a life apart can be.
Much love always,
Scott, Alaina, Megan, Riley and of course our Baby Bunny Boo Boo :)
