My Loves

Besides just spending time with Aaron, Clara and Colton when Aaron is home, one of my other favorite things to do is to take pictures of them. I love sitting behind the lens and forever capturing the moments of bliss, one after the other.

At Funtopia, enjoying the sun

My Boys

One last dance before Daddy goes back to Afghanistan

R&R is over. We took Aaron up to the airport in Louisville last Thursday. We enjoyed a magical two weeks reunited as family. We had the perfect balance of fun trips, spoiling, date nights and lazy, relaxing "jammy" days. We did playgrounds, pools and spray parks, backyard picnics and pool parties, art museum, jump houses, roller skating, trips to the diner for ice cream, princess movie nights, dance parties, and, wow....I'm getting tired just thinking about all the fun we had. We made a million memories that are sure to hold us over the next five months until our Soldier comes home to us.

Saying good bye after R&R is by far WAAAAAAYYYYYY harder than saying goodbye when deployment starts. When Aaron left in January I had mentally prepared myself to be separated for one year. Sure, we knew there was that glorious two weeks to look forward to, but you don't think about that in the beginning. You focus on the big picture. When R&R rolls around it's almost like a tease. You had been preparing for twelve months and suddenly your handsome soldier is hugging you at the airport after only seven months. But, you have to say goodbye, again.  Prepare for one year, hugs at seven months, and you're expected to let go, just like that, after only two weeks. It's painfully cruel. Despite the pain of having saying goodbye a second time I would never trade it for the world (well, except maybe for never having to deploy again, ever). The amazing memories we made while Aaron was home are priceless. It's an excuse to spoil the kids, go out to eat more than usual, go on dates, relax, cuddle more, go fun places, and just focus on the things that you've missed about being apart, without the distractions of work. In fact, two weeks of R&R should be mandatory, every year, whether or not it's sandwiched in the middle of a combat deployment. Once the bitterness and heartache subsides and I get back into our routine I will be able to find comfort in knowing we are more than halfway through the torture of deployment and the next time we hug, we won't have to say goodbye.