Check it out...

I went to the store.
Bought some bread.
Drove to CVS.
Bought some stuff.
Drove home.



ALL BY MYSELF

Kid comparison (vids)

Here's what they looked like when Michel left,


and what they look like now that she's back.

Balen grew 3 inches, and we haven't measured Abigail yet. Balen is also walking, talking, responding to words, climbing, has twice as many teeth. Abigail is... Abigail. She has gotten much better about many of the things we do in the house, such as showers and keeping her room clean. But when it comes to eating... it's still an epic saga at each sitting. She has matured a bit in her outlook (when she's on this planet, but it's still difficult to keep her focused on our reality.

Here's a set of pictures from last night. She actually showed up just before we got there, and it was dark, and I was trying to snap on the fly, so they're not the greatest. Michel had a bit of sunburn from laying out at the pool in Qatar.

We're working on the re-integration of our family. It's a little uncomfortable, especially learning to share what has become my domain with her once again.

More later.

Welcome Home, Mommy!

Tonight she returns. It should be 2130-2200 EST tonight, Friday, 20 July 07. She was supposed to be here earlier, but her flight from Germany was delayed, so they're missing the flight from Baltimore to Philly, and taking a bus from Baltimore to the base here. We are all quite excited. We just tried to take a nap, but got three phone calls in the first 15 minutes... not to mention that Balen wouldn't go to sleep, he thought all this laying down together was a game or something. Abigail was tossing and turning... correction: throwing herself at the bed and twisting with the force of a tornado. I, on the other hand, was ready for a nice refreshing nap... Ha!

In other news, we are moving to State College, Pennsylvania. We have a place to live already picked with deposit paid. It's very close to the campus and Michel will likely ride her bike to school. We're planning on home schooling Abigail for the 18 months before we move to Dayton, Ohio. Here's a shot of the house:



So rejoice with us, for we are glad. We have not yet had an offer on the house, and that is worrying me, but I'm trying hard to remain faithful. The Lord has taken care of us so well that I shouldn't be worried, yet I am. So human of me.

Well, I'll post pics of Michel and her homecoming when I get a chance. For now, I have her Costco-bought 18 oz New York Strip steak marinating in the fridge with 3 lbs of jumbo shrimp, corn on the cob, her favorite beer, wine, and some tequila for margaritas (if she wants one tonight). I think we have enough food, but we'll see.

Love you guys. Sorry for the lack of pics, I have plenty to upload, just not much time to do it.