Happy Birthday to our Veteran.

Second tour. Feb 09-Jan 10. Isabelle was 12 days old when he left.




Veteran's day is a day to stop and remember why we are free. To stop and thank the families of Soldier's who aren't coming home and to remember the sacrifices our men and women have given serving in foreign countries around us. To remember that there are families that aren't as fortunate as we are because their loved ones lives came at the cost of our freedom. Let's stop and remember why we were are the home of the brave and the land of the free. For all of that I thank you.



(First tour Oct -6-Jan 08)

Only God knew when my husband was born on Veteran's day it would be that much more special to us; we are lucky to have our hero, our daddy, our Vet still here with us. I know Jake's parents are proud as can be of their son, they raised an amazing man. Jake's birthday cards now come addressed to Sgt Gehl, not Jake; appropriately so. It's amazing the impact a Soldier and his family can have on everyone around you. Isabelle and I were so happy (Jake of course too) that he was HOME, for his birthday and not deployed. Jake has spent the last 3 out of 5 birthdays in Iraq. He had 2 birthdays in a row during his first tour in Iraq.
To you Sgt Gehl, my husband and my best friend I want to tell you how proud I am of you and how much I thank you for your sacrifice. You are strong, kind, patient, hardworking, and a great Soldier. I love you; Happy Birthday and Veterans Day.

Sleepy-do

I have always been a morning person, I like to think I still am. Lately though, I find myself needing that second cup of coffee to get the day going. I think I have to accept the fact that I am getting older, am a mommy, and well that I need naps just like Isabelle does! I have to let the cat out of the bag and say that I bought concealer last week. I never wear concealer, foundation, whatever...but I do now! The puffy bags seem to appear if I haven't gotten my 8 hours, and that's just depressing.
Got this cute little tube of Maybelline's mineral concealer, and my face thanks me :)

Our park is finally complete here at our apt complex...so off Isabelle went today. She one, two, three, wee's down all the slides, and it's just a block away, score!

Happy Monday Peeps.

Ft. Bliss Post Ride!

So much thanks is due to Aimee, my girlfriend/neighbor. I told her how Jake was going on this big post ride, all Soldier's with bikes were police escorted through post and to White Sands, NM. Soooo, she watched Isabelle so I could go too! There were some UFC fighters there, Alissa Milano (sp?), and Pauly D from Jersey Shore. Ft. Bliss' grand opening is this weekend for all their new stores and restaurants, it's really nice. The post ride was to kick the big weekend off.

So I put my skinny jeans on and my black boots; Jake was excited to have me finally be apart of something that had to do with motorcycles. The ride started and with out fail, my butt was numb! The 3 and a half hour bike ride there and back broke me in. I feel like someone spanked me with a wooden paddle today.
There were about 600 riders, it was cool to see. Everyone we passed had their phones out recording us ride past, and I got to be apart of it! It was fun to be on the back of my man's bike.


FYI, this mama's going out tonight! Can't wait for my high heels, girl talk, and cocktails.

Today's goods

So here is a soft little rug to rest our toes on come winter...
I am suddenly in love with snow men, like my mommy. Maybe I am becoming a little obsessed with them cause of missing my mommy. (Shout out to you mom, MISS YOU!)I am so glad our in-laws will be here for Christmas, and sister n law to help fill that empty void (sob, sob, and sob.)


So here is the cute out fit I found for Isabelle, still deciding on whether I should wrap it or have wear it...it's screaming 'wear me!.'

And although Isabelle was a bully at the indoor play yard, she was still fun to watch.
She insists the minute another kid gets close that they are touching her or pushing her. Is it being she's an only child and has my attitude that has caused this? Then again, I am told she's normal. Oh Lordy, she yells to me 'she push, she touching' when in reality the other child is just walking towards her. I tell ya...

Long Days, but a short week that's for sure.

I just love you Isabelle!







These week has really flown by, which is strange cause it's just been Isabelle and I ALL day All week...Jake is at the range which means gone by 6:30 am and not home till after 7 pm. FYI, for those of you crazy workers out there, HOW DO YOU DO IT? This is not for me, I mean working 2nd or 3rd shift that's one thing. Not to see my husband for an hour or so, NOOO BUENO. Isabelle hasn't seen Jake since Monday night either. She has been in bed the last 2 nights by 7 p.m. She's teething again and when that happens she's done by 6 pm. Teething, a 21 month old? Yep, the little munchkin didn't cut her first 2 teeth till 11 months...so here come the chompers. :)
Any who, Isabelle is up at 7 and we are rock n rolling by 9 am. Trips to the park, multiple mail box visits (she likes to pretend she's opening the mailbox's), and today was SHOPPING! Yes, it happened!!! Isabelle and I finally enjoyed a day of shopping with my girlfriend and her 3 year old Sienna. The girls played at the indoor play thingy at the mall, Chinese for lunch, and a CUTE outfit for Isabelle on sale at Gymboree! Have you noticed my exclamation points? It was just fun NOT being alone, well just Isabelle and I.

And I am excited that I bought my new set of dishes! Yipeee, they are the cutest. I only got a set of 6 but am going back this week to Ross (can I get a fist pump for Ross please?) 2 get 2 more of everything...just to have my 'adult' set of 8. We have only been using our set of 4 that we got when we first married.
I am saving them for...nope still can't say. Tune in for next week, not. Just kidding. Seriously though I am saving them for a special occasion that is just around the corner...Thanksgiving maybe? Maybe not...

Halloween 2010

Let's go Little Red!
























Halloween was fun fun fun! Gosh life is grand when your husband is home and NOT in Iraq. Yipeee :) Isabelle was Little Red Riding Hood, and the only one we saw so that made her even more cute, for sure.
At first she just wanted to be held; 'hold you hold you.' So out came superman, aka the stroller...and we strolled around the apartment complex trick or treating. Surprisingly enough there were a lot of trick or treater's and lots of candy to go around. Jake had our route down with our zigzagging through the complex; it was too funny. Isabelle only said 'trick or treat' 2 times, stubborn thing. But she did tell everyone either 'tank you' or 'welcome' when handed her candy.

As we speak I can hear her on her step stool in the kitchen digging in the candy bowl! heheee

Our day needless to say included more dips to eat, football, candy, Jake and his High Life, and lounging till trick or treat time.

It's going to be fun to see what next year brings around this time!

So here are a few pics...


(Jake and the fridge, next to his High Life it's his best friend :)

A fun fall week

This week has been a fun one. Hunny girl and I stayed busy with walks, trips to the park, baking, and just playing. It's hard trying to stay busy with just Isabelle and I. But we do, I always figure something out...

When I really think about it I get sad, and sometimes want to cry. Our life being closer to family would be so different. For instance, I talk to my mom almost every single day, on top of my 2 besties that I talk to at least 2-3 times a week. Lord, if we were closer to home...there'd be trips to my parents house probably every other day! Play dates every weekend with my girlfriends. Birthday parties, girls night out, craft days, (clearly my craft schedule with girlfriends is out the window, tear.)The list is endless...so I breath, say a little prayer, and have to remember how lucky I am to have a husband who adores Isabelle and I. Who works so I don't have to, so I can be the homemaker. It's the Army life...I miss our other duty station in the sense that I don't have my other Army wife. I was lucky enough to have a few mommy friends and 1 girlfriend that Izzy n I did everything with. Our girls stayed busy; we were able to laugh and just vent about life...shop, work out. I have a few girl friends here which I thank God for. However, I find myself at the gym alone,no work out buddy :(. Scrolling through my address book almost every day knowing that I will see the same numbers and HOPING that at least one of the mommy's will be free to hang out. Grrrrrrrrrrr, okay, okay...think of the positive. We are all healthy, things are always changing for the better, and God is here for me (us) whenever you need him!

Back to today's topic, our fun fall week.
Isabelle helped with baking some peanut butter banana bread, potato pancakes, cake, and 'ca ca' coloring our fall/Halloween cards to her girlfriends!
Isabelle is doing better and better everyday with not crawling out of her day bed at 5 am! Yesterday she slept in her bed till 6 before crawling in by mama, and 7ish this a.m. Thank you Lord...I wonder how #2 will be?