Siding is on!

I just received some new pictures from the realtor. I'm so excited to see the house moving along so well. The outside is almost complete. I picked the siding color out YEARS ago. Way before Aaron and I were even considering building a house. I love it!
Also our fireplace is in. Mantle in still to come but it will be in place soon! I can't wait to see the house completely done!!!!

Life is good

Things are back to normal in our house. The first few days Aaron was home Lane was a little unsure about him. He would give him strange looks and did not like sharing his Mommy with Daddy. But now...he's turning into a Daddy's boy. The other night Logan and Aaron were wrestling...which is a normal every day event in our house...and Lane decided it was time for him to join in. I think he was the wilder of the 3! He would not stop. He laughed and giggled the whole time...it seemed like the rougher Aaron was, the more Lane liked it! I had to snap a few pictures.
Last weekend Logan had his first sleep over. He stayed at Logan Joshua's. Here they are right before Aaron and I left to come home. Lane had already crashed out but we brought him home with us.Mr. Lane going to town on an ice cream cone. He loved every second of it!
And here Aaron is teaching Logan the art of eating easy cheese...by the time they were done Logan was squirting the easy cheese straight into his mouth...of course when Mommy wasn't looking!

There has been a lot of hunting going on with Aaron and Logan. Aaron was off work on Monday and Tuesday so Logan stayed home with Daddy and they rode 4-wheelers and went hunting. Logan killed his first bird on Tuesday. He was so excited but mad at the same time because Daddy wouldn't let him eat it. (Shot had gotten into the meat but Logan didn't understand that!) Wednesday was Aaron's first day back to work on a normal schedule. He had been only going in for a few hours a day to do reintegration classes. I came home Tuesday night to dinner already prepared and the boys already home waiting on me. Everything is just wonderful...it's nice having help! So now I'm off to do laundry. It's amazing how much more laundry I have now that Aaron is home. Who knew one more person could dirty up so much more laundry!

Oh and just so you know...we had snow the past two mornings! Yes SNOW! It didn't stick for long but still...it's only September. It might be normal for Alaska but I'm still a southern girl...and now is NOT normal in September! We have a lot to do this weekend. We have to take down the trampoline and move everything in our back yard to the garage so that it isn't covered and lost in the snow when the movers come. In two months we should be south!!!!! I picked my cabinets, countertops, hardware, and lighting the other night. So the house is moving a long. I hope to have updated pictures today or tomorrow. I can't wait!!!!!!

He's HOME at last!

The boys' shirts say, "I'm here to pick up my Daddy, SSG Potter, so move it or lose it!"
Here we are waiting just a little bit longer for our soldier!
I know I'm a little late with this post but we have been enjoying ever second we have! Aaron's plane landed around 11:40 AM on Monday, September 14. He was finally in my arms around 2PM. It was wonderful. The buses arrived and the soldiers filed off the buses and into formation.

This picture was taken right after I told Logan that Daddy was home!!!!

Once in formation they walked down in front of us. Aaron was on the largest flight of guys so far. Over 400 soldiers arrived with him. The place was packed. Once they were released we looked and looked but could not find him among the all the ACUs that were EVERYWHERE! As I was standing there looking all around me I happen to notice someone squatted down behind me. It was Aaron and he was about to grab Logan!

Lane just stared at him. He wasn't sure what to think. But after a few hours he was usual goofy self and enjoying his time with Daddy too!Off to pick up Daddy's bags.

Logan wanted to help!And one last "welcome home" picture before we all changed and headed out for dinner...all together...and whole again!

The music moves him!

Music was playing on the TV and Lane could not resist the beat! I was just laughing so hard. He really gets into it a few times. He is such a mess! Enjoy!

9/11

I still remember exactly where I was...I remember who first told me...and I remember watching the news coverage and hearing the announcements on the radio. It was one of the first times that I was ever glued to the TV. I was 18 years old. Such a tragic day that America can never forget. Bush said it best, "freedom was attacked" that awful day. The victims, their families, and the many brave heros of that day should always be remembered. I am such a proud American. I love our country and I love how we all joined together on 9/11 and were such proud Americans. The spirit of American was renewed. Our beautiful flag waved everywhere, prayers were prayed and accepted as something we needed. God was once again a part of our country. Sometimes it feels like that renewed spirit is failing again. Let join together and become a proud America once again!

These are the lyrics to a song by Darryl Worley:

I hear people sayin'.

We Don't need this war.

I say there's some things worth fightin' for.

What about our freedom, and this piece of ground?

We didn't get to keep 'em by backin' down.

They say we don't realize the mess we're gettin' in

Before you start preachin' let me ask you this my friend.

Chorus

Have you forgotten, how it felt that day?

To see your homeland under fire

And her people blown away

Have you forgotten, when those towers fell

We had neighbors still inside goin through a livin hell

And you say we shouldn't worry bout Bin Laden

Have you forgotten?

You took all the footage off my T.V.

Said it's too disturbin for you and me

It'll just breed anger is what the experts say

If it was up to me I'd show it everyday

Some say this country just out lookin' for a fight

Well after 9/11 man I'd have to say right.

Chorus

Have you forgotten, how it felt that day?

To see your homeland under fire

And her people blown away

Have you forgotten when those towers fell

We had neighbors still inside goin' through a livin' hell

And we vow to get the ones behind Bin Laden

Have you forgotten?

I've been there with the soldiers

Who've gone away to war

you can bet they remember just what they're fightin' for

Have you forgotten

All the people killed

Yes some went down like heroes

In that Pennsylvania field

Have you forgotten

About our Pentagon

All the loved ones that we lost

And those left to carry on

Don't you tell me not to worry 'bout Bin Laden

Have you forgotten?

Have you forgotten?

Have you forgotten?

The boys dressed today in their RED, WHITE, and BLUE.

This is the sign for Daddy that we are going to hang for him.

The sign Logan made for Daddy.

I told Lane to hold his sign up for me...so he did!

He was charging after me...silly boy!

Rainbow

I've always believed that rainbows were a sign from God that everything was going to be ok. Anytime we would have bad storms roll through and tornado warnings for hours I would just feel the relief flow through me when I saw a rainbow. To me, that was God speaking to me saying, "don't worry Tiffany, I'm hear taking care of you." Well in the past few days the boys and I have seen two rainbows. And I think it is no coincidence that the first one we saw was on the day Aaron left Iraq. My little sign from God that he had done it again, he had taken care of all 4 of us during this year apart, especially Aaron, and was now bringing us back together. Everything was going to be ok. This rainbow we only saw for a short time. I went to shut the front door before getting in the shower and there it was. I raced up stairs to show the boys. While they were looking at it I went to grab the camera...when I came back it was gone. Then we saw one yesterday on our way to pick up some McDonald's! Logan spotted this one on his side just as we were leaving post. I had to take a picture so as soon as we stopped at a red light I snapped this one on my phone. It just puts a smile on my face. And no matter who thinks I'm crazy, I know this rainbow was my little chat with God. Everything is going to be ok...we have made it through another year! See you soon my love.

Writers block!

So I'm finding it hard to write about anything other than my husband coming home. And since I can't broadcast to the world when that time or even day is...I am finding it hard to discuss anything else! I was off work on Monday so the boys and I had a REALLY long weekend. 4 days just me and them with no break what-so-ever can be really tiring! I love them so much but they can be a huge handful! Everyone seems to be sick around here (except us and we are trying to keep it that way!) so we couldn't even get together with friends. Monday afternoon we went to the park. When we came home we all went out and played some football together. By that time Lane was really tired and didn't want to share the football. Tuesday was back to our normal routine as well as today. Again tonight I cooked dinner only to eat pretty much by myself. I can't wait to share a meal with Aaron! Tomorrow I am going to start some major cleaning. As of right now I am pumped to get this house speck and span! I plan to get up early in the morning and get the boys off to school...and then home to clean, clean, clean! I don't know why I do this...Aaron will be home for less than two days and everything will be a mess again. But having him come home to a warm and inviting house is important to me. Well before I start rambling I'm going to close. I will leave you with a few pictures of the boys. Have a great night. We love you Aaron, and we will see you soon!!!!!

The boys and I taking off on the train.

I just love the smile on his face!

Logan was trying to get Lane to slide with him.

One handsome little boy!

Lane made Logan cry...so he just watch him...and would even pat his head every now and then.

House pictures

One of the things Aaron and I miss most about Ft. Campbell are the amazing friends we had there. Keeping in touch over such a long period off time and with such a huge distance makes it very hard but we do still talk with our old friends from time to time and hold on to hope that we will be able to meet up once again. One couple, Matt and Jenilee, were still in Campbell up until a few months ago. Now they are not far away but it would have been nice to still have them at Campbell with us...maybe before too long! But anyway, Matt had to go back to Campbell this weekend so he decided to check out our house for us. I told him his only condition was that he had to take pictures for me! So he did! And he took lots! I can not thank him enough. He took pictures of the neighborhood which is something I had not seen. He also got pictures of the only house and half house (they are building it) next to us. We have a pretty quiet street and I know Aaron will be excited about that. I do wish we were not getting next door neighbors so soon but I would also rather the house be built now instead of when I'm trying to sleep late one morning!!!

And this sign I just can't get enough of!
So here's a new picture of the house taken on 5Sept09.

This what you see while standing in our front doorway.
And when you walk in you see our living room. Have you noticed we have windows and doors now!

To the right of the front door you see the dining room.
And this is our backyard.
Ok, there's a lot in this picture. Matt is standing in what will be my reading area. To the left of the stairwell is the storage room and across from that (next to that bathroom) is the laundry room. Beyond those two on the left is the boys huge playroom. That bathroom is the boys' bathroom.
This is looking into the master bathroom. You see our awesome stand up shower and to the left of it...our jacuzzi tub! The room to the left of that is the master bedroom.

So that is all I have for the tour for now. This weekend has been a lazy one for me and boys. Yesterday we didn't leave the house. The weather has been perfect the last few days so we have got to enjoy the outdoors. Logan played with some of the neighborhood kids and Lane and I played ball and jumped on the trampoline. We talked with Aaron last night before we all went to bed. Aaron was getting ready for the "change of command" ceremony. This marks Aaron's unit handing things over to the new unit. Yay!!!!! Our boys can officially come home now! As I'm writing this Aaron should be on the move to his next stop. I do have a pretty good idea of when he will arrive and for operational security (OPSEC) reasons I can't post it. Most likely it's probably longer than you think. Most people hear me say he's "on the move" but what everyone doesn't realize is the Army moves really slow! But I will say, this should be our last week without Daddy! We can not wait to have him back!!!!!

Roll Tide

Lane learned two new words today....Roll Tide! His PaPaw is proud! That is what they are yelling in both of these pictures as we watched Alabama win it's first game of this season! There is just nothing like sitting around and watching a good football game!

I just love this picture of Lane. He was really getting into it!

Today was a LONG day. The boys certainly know how to push my buttons. Logan has had a runny nose all day and before going to bed he coughed a few times. The flu is going around really bad up here and two of Logan's friends have it so I'm hoping he doesn't get any worse. It certainly didn't slow him down any today though. Other than watching the game today we really didn't do much. Mostly just a lazy day. I did talk to Aaron tonight. He has made one of his many moves. He still a little while before arriving home...but one move is down!!!! We are getting there.

Well I'm off to bed. Night night!

More House Pictures

This morning I woke up to find new pictures of our house in my email! These were taken yesterday, 2Sept09. I love it! There are two that I just can't figure out what room the picture is of. I just can't believe how much they have gotten done in just a week. There is a whole second floor now!!!! Well I hope you enjoy the pictures as much as I did...not sure that's possible though!!!! Hahaha!

This the tray ceiling in the master bedroom

Our new, larger master bathroom shower!

And this is looking towards the back of the house in the living room. Between those windows will be our fireplace. To the right is the breakfast area and the door that leads out back.