Welcome home...

We truly love this old home we have had the opportunity to live in the last 2+ years.  Military quarters vary GREATLY from installation to installation.  When we found out we were moving to Fort Riley the first thing I did was check out the housing situation.  I was thrilled to learn that our new home would in fact be over 120 years old.

This year our home was on the 30^th Annual Historic Fort Riley Tour of Homes.  It was a treat to share our home with the community.  I created this virtual tour of the first and second floors for family and friends who won’t be able to make it to Kansas for Christmas.   

 

Welcome to our porch.

 

 

 

 

 

 Costco has the best live wreaths. 

 

 

A plaque in our vestibule lists all previous residents of our home and facts about the construction, including the original cost of $4,721. 

 

 

Through the vestibule you enter into the parlor. 

 

 

 

 Who doesn't need a leopard print ottoman?!  I know my mom and bestie do! 

Ballard Designs gets it so right sometimes. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A current Soldier dressed as a Civil War Soldier shared facts about our home with those on the

Tour of Homes.
 



 

 

A few of my favorite things fill the bookcase...family photos, wedding china, books special to our family, an anniversary clock, and Sid Dickens tiles.

Formal Dining Room.

 

 

Sid Dickens tiles. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The postcard in the lantern is a picture of our street, postmarked 1910.  I found it on Ebay before we even signed for our quarters.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Each of the three fireplaces have different mantels and original tile surround. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I always think about redoing our Americana powder room but I like the bright, vintage look of it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Before we moved in, housing (sort of) renovated the kitchen.  Unfortunately the questionable cabinets stayed put. 

 

 

 

Love this happy little snowman.

 

 

 

 This framed nightlight is one of my most treasured items.  It is my favorite photo of the kids etched onto resin so it glows when the light behind it is illuminated.  Such a special gift from my bestie!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

Samantha added a touch of Christmas to her fairy garden.

 

 

 

Family Room--While I love so many of the neutral Christmas decorations I am seeing these days, for me Christmas calls for red, gold, and lots of sparkle.  It's a birthday party!

 

 

 

I love a wrapped gift!  No bags under this tree.

 

 

 

We hang the homemade ornaments on the tree too. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

He's got his eye on you!

 

 

 

Let's head upstairs.

 

 

 

 

An original telephone nook.

 

 

 

Maxwell's Room.

 

 

 

 

I love a big monogram.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The blanket on Max's chair was Tony's bedspread at West Point.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Baseball chandelier handcrafted by Tony.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tony's favorite--Chevrolet.

 

 

 

And my favorites--baseball and gifts from Tiffany! 

In every house we live in we always have a couple of strategically placed little green Army Soldiers.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am crazy about this gallery wall between the kids' rooms.  The wall isn't yellow, there just isn't any natural light in this hallway. 

 

 

 

Words of wisdom.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oh, pink monogram...

 

 

 

The "tablecloth" is a quilt made for Samantha by one of my very best friends, Kelly.

 

 

Bed crown made by Tony.

Love Sarah and Abraham.  



Every girl needs a chandelier.

 



 

My Roots Lie Here.  A fun, pretty way for Samantha to note all of the places she has and will live.  Kind of like those "Home is Where the Army Sends You" plaques but without the cheese.  

 

 Our room.  The only space with carpet in the whole house. 

 

 

 

 I had my eye on this plaque for probably 8 years.  Tony surprised me with it for Mother's Day a couple of years ago. 

 

 

 

The hand statue is made from a mold of our hands.  It was a wedding gift from a family friend.

 

 

 

 Thanks for stopping by!  Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

 

Band of Sisters

Recently, on several different occasions, I have heard different people state that the quality of one's life is in large part determined by the relationships we have with others. Each time I have heard this I have thought back to the times in my life when I have felt the most content and at peace.  The common denominator is always strong relationships with the people who mean the most to me. 

Lately I have thought a lot about those women who I call my Band of Sisters.  The women who at one point in their life agreed to be a part of this Army life.  The ones who fell in love with a man who's business is freedom.

I think of those women I met at our first real duty station as a married couple.  I am reminded of the women who shared in the fear and uncertainty of a nation going to war.  They are the women who made Fort Campbell my home and who helped to make our first deployment a time of growth and not just a time of loneliness and anxiety.  I think of those who showed me that while tough and painful at times, this is a wonderfully rewarding way of life that's full of amazing people and experiences.  I met women who felt the same sense of pride for our unit that I felt and the same obligation to serve that motivates our family today.

I think of the women who without any explanation simply get "it".  They understand that while redeployment is a wonderful, exhilarating time, it can also be a struggle to adjust to having this person who has been gone for a year back into our home and into our routine.  Those who know first-hand the feeling in your heart when you see your husband and the father of your child walk into that hangar after a year-long separation.  Those women who's hearts break a little more when someone tramples on our flag or disrespects our country and her Soldiers.   

I think of the women who get "me".  Those who understand my Type-A ways.  Those women who know that at my core, I'm really a homebody and that they shouldn't take it personally.  The women who understand that my love for entertaining isn't about being a spotlight ranger, it's about making something ordinary special for the people I love.  I think of the women like me who feel that regardless of how frustrating and exhausting it may be at times, they still have a love for this big green machine we call the Army and can't imagine their life any other way.

I am reminded of the women who have led by example, showing me and others what right looks like.  Those women who's grace and humility created a sense of camaraderie that others couldn't help but want to be a part of.  The women who wore no rank upon their collar but simply loved Soldiers and their Families.  (Yes, Families with a capital "F".)

Time has changed things.  Some of my Band of Sisters are no longer married to the men who's job brought us together in the first place.  Others have left the Army.  Time, distance, and the hectic pace of life have changed some friendships.  The most special of these friendships have flourished to the point where these women  are no longer just my friends, they are my family.  The thing that is always constant is that for whatever reason, at one point in time, we were brought together to love and support one another.  To be a Band of Sisters. 

My Band of Sisters is growing at our new home at Fort Riley.   It is growing at a time when I truly feel like I need it more than ever.  Our family is about to embark on a wild ride and I know these women were brought into my life for a reason--to share laughs, tears, victories, screams of frustration, and new beginnings.    I truly believe that there is no such thing as coincidence, only divine intervention. 

I am beyond grateful for the women who have made my life as an Army wife so rich.  Thank you, my Band of Sisters.

Valentine's Day

I love Valentine's Day.  I don't buy into that "It's just a Hallmark holiday" nonsense.  I see it as a special and fun day to celebrate our love for family and friends just a little bit more than we normally do.  Maybe it's the post-Christmas blues I always feel or how the house looks so bare after the holiday decor is packed away.  Whatever it is,  I always feel excited to pull out the pink and red and start crafting little treats for my sweets. 

I love the big fireplace mantles we have in this old home.  They are just asking for a few little holiday items to make the rooms feel special.  I don't think it takes a whole bunch of stuff to make things fun--just a few seasonal things are enough to make me smile.

 

The 14th started with pink waffles and balloons for Samantha. 

 I decided to make these super simple wrapped chocolate nuggets for Samantha's teacher and some of our friends.  It's an easy and fun little craft that you can adjust for any holiday or occasion.  I got the idea from my friend Amy who gave us chocolates wrapped in pink papers when Samantha was born.

 

I made smaller, less girly sets for the high school boys who help in Samantha's classroom. 

For Samantha's classmates and neighbor friends we made rice crispy lollipops.  We used a cookie cutter to cut out the heart shape, dipped them in white chocolate, and sprinkled them with Valentine sprinkles.  Samantha and I had a great time making these together.

We wrapped the lollipops in pink, heart bags and used a printable I found on Pinterest for the little tags.

Samantha was so excited to share her treats and balloons with her classmates.

But these days, trying to get normal pictures of her usually ends up like this...

...or this. 

Little rascal...

Before dinner, the three of us shared gifts and love notes. 

Samantha had heart shaped pizza for dinner.  Once she was down for the night, Tony and I had prime rib and loaded sweet potatoes.  For dessert, I made these pretzel Buckeyes--yet another Pinterest find.  Easy and perfect for the man in my life who doesn't like super sweet sweets.  They were the delicious mix of salty and sweet. 

I had such a great time making this day special for my two sweethearts.  This is one of my favorite parts of being a mom and a wife....making ordinary days just a little fancier for the ones who I love.

Thirty June

11 years--5 states, 7 homes, 2 year long deployments,  new jobs and new beginnings, a dog who showed us the meaning of crazy, a daughter who makes everyday better, and more love than I could have ever imagined.  We've grown--man, we've grown!--and I am so proud to be a part of our team.   

"I can't take the chance that you don't know how much it means to me, you carrying my hopes like precious cargo, and traveling with me to dreams come true...so I will tell you again and again, as if it's the first time, It is an honor, it is a privilege, it is a joy, to share with you the path."

Father's Day 2011

“The most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother”.--Theodore Hesburgh

Tony is the most honest, kind, caring, hard working, patient, honorable, and handsome man I know.  He is an excellent example for Samantha of what a man, husband, and father should be.  His love for our family is inspiring.  He continually makes me want to do better, be better, love better.  We are so fortunate to call him "ours". 

Tony requested that we didn't do anything elaborate to celebrate Father's Day.  He just wanted to spend time together and enjoy some delicious food.  This is the first Father's Day we have spent together since Tony became a dad.  In the past, the Army has had other plans for Tony on this special day but this year we were finally able to celebrate as a family.

Helping dad prep his truck for his Father's Day gift--a bed topper.

"Squirt it right here, dad!"

Helping dad with the Simple Green.  One parent has a little more patience than the other.  Can you guess who?

Hint: Every night Samantha's prayers include the following: 

"Help me to be a good girl, give mommy patience,

and daddy energy". 

Standing on top of the new topper and high five'ing for a job well done!

Ready to go out to eat for a special Father's Day dinner.

Talkin' it over...

I would LOVE to know what Tony was whispering about at this moment. 

Sharing a brownie sundae.

That girl can eat some chocolate!

Samantha's favorite place to be.

Daddy's girl.

Samantha tends to cover her mouth when she laughs really hard. 

The happiest little lady I've ever met.

I love you, Tony.  I couldn't imagine a more perfect father for Samantha.  I feel so fortunate to be on this ride together.  xox

How?

A few weeks ago I heard the devastating news that 6 soldiers from our former unit, 2-327 Infantry Regiment "NO SLACK", had been killed in an intense fire fight in Afghanistan.  These soldiers were literally weeks away from returning home to their family and friends after an incredibly difficult deployment.  The friend who shared the news closed her message with, "Remind me again why, or really how, we continue through this way of life".  She knows the answer well but it was one of those dark days we all have when it's all just too much to bear.  So, my friend, here is my gentle reminder of "how".

How?  How do you do it?  If I had a quarter for every time I have heard this... 

The simple answer for us is it's a part of who we are as a family. 

We live this way of life knowing we are ultimately helping to bring peace to the world.  I guarantee you that no other family prays for peace more passionately than a military family.  However, I do believe that sometimes war IS the answer and that is okay with me.

We do it with the grace of God and with a belief in putting other American families before our own. 

We do it because we know we are giving our children a better understanding of selfless service, of what it means to respect our nation and our flag, and for the beauty that comes from being a part of something much bigger than oneself. 

We do it because every once in a while we get the opportunity to be a part of an organization like "No Slack", where the Soldiers are family and the unit is home.

We do it with the support of the Soldiers and Families who walk beside us.  We lean in hard when times are unbearable and the load we carry is much too heavy.  The unspoken understanding of what it means to live this life, to bravely send your loved one to war, and to hold it all together while he is gone turns new friends into family almost overnight. 

We do it by looking to leaders who hopefully provide an example, inspiration, integrity, and mentorship. 

We do it because of an heartfelt obligation to those who came before us--to honor their service, their commitment,  and their incredible sacrifice. 

Really, we do it the same way other American families do it.  With hard work, determination, humor, sweat, and tears.  We aren't special but the mission sure is.

More than anything, we live this way of life because we were chosen to.  I know without a doubt that Tony was made for this work.  I am equally certain that I was chosen to be his wife and that this is the life we were meant to live. 

We feel fortunate to be an Army Family.  We don't want sympathy or pats on the back.  We want you to pay it forward.  To find what it is you can do to leave this world better than you found it.  Be aware of what is happening in the world around you.  When you hear of service members who have made the ultimate sacrifice, remember their names .  Pray for their families.  Tell your children about them.  Honor them.   Remember that behind that name and picture may be someone's son, husband, and father.  And they just laid down their life for us.  For you and me.  Can you even imagine? 

U.S. Army Specialist Brit B. Jacobs, a combat medic from Sarasota, FL, Task Force No Slack, 101st Airborne Division, gives a farewell kiss to the helmet of one of his fallen comrades during a memorial service for six fallen U.S. Soldiers at Forward Operating Base Joyce.  (Photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Mark Burrell, Task Force Bastogne Public Affairs)

Rest in peace, SFC Arrechaga, SSG Adamski, SSG Burgess, SPC Feldhaus, SPC Lindskog, and PFC Faulkner.

NFS!