J headed to Ft. Benning this morning, the chickies were SO cute.
They stood in the front yard in their pajamas waving to him and yelling BYE DADDDDYYY!!! and blowing kisses until he was long gone.
This one was much easier than the goodbyes we said a little over a year ago. Here is what I was thinking to myself as he drove off.
Do NOT cry. A year ago, you would have given ANYTHING for your husband to be safe in Georgia for three weeks. Pull it together woman!!
And I did. We kissed and waved and danced in the rain and said "IT'S THE THREE HOWELL GIRLS AGAIN!!! IT'S AN ADVENTURE!!!".
Because it always is. And we are so lucky that we have each other.
So no whining. No crying. No woe is me. As I tell the girls...Daddy is surrounded by girls. We are NOT allowed to be whiney girls. Three weeks is time for lots of "howell gull dates" as Harper calls them. Lots of art, dress up, painting, singing, and acting verrry girly.
Also, breakfast for dinner if we want. Daddy does not like that. but we do. hehe!
It's been raining for days. We needed it badly, but I still have not had the back tin roof replaced, so once again our playroom/scraproom is covered in tarps and buckets. Loverly.
Regardless, I plan to scrap my little heart out at my desk, surrounded by buckets. I'll think of it as ambiance. Uhh, yeah. Sounds like a plan!
I'm in a blog slump. I feel like I've said it all, KWIM?
This week I think I'll share the story of how J and I got engaged...it's sort of funny.
Happy Saturday, sweet friends!
xoxo
Love the photo of your 2 little girls, so very precious.
Am trusting that the next 3 weeks will fly by for you.
Posted by: Stefanie | 09/12/2009 at 02:04 PM
such an awesome attitude you have. wishing again we lived closer as our two clans of girls could rock the group date. :)
Posted by: melanie | 09/12/2009 at 02:39 PM
looking forward to hearing the story :)
and we love breakfast for dinner too. LOVE it.
Posted by: Kimber-Leigh | 09/12/2009 at 02:40 PM
I love it - perhaps breakfast for dinner is a girl thing? We 3 Flaum girls (wish we lived closer!!) do similar stuff when daddy is at work. PJ days, crazy hair salon games, food daddy doesn't like, art supplies all over - We definitely turn it into something special instead of dwelling on him being gone for days on end.
Big HUGS - he'll be back before you know it!
Posted by: may | 09/12/2009 at 02:42 PM
Rainy Saturday here too! Can't wait to finish the laundry and start scrappin'. The men here are all at the camp for opening day of some kind of duck season!???! SO, I am so grateful for the quiet time! Have fun on your three week Howell girl adventure:0)
Posted by: susan bourgeois | 09/12/2009 at 02:46 PM
happy saturday, steph!
love your attitude about all the girl time you'll have together:)
Posted by: erin | 09/12/2009 at 03:05 PM
3 weeks will be a piece of cake! You have the right attitude! Plus, you get to control the TV. I'm waiting for my husband to leave next weekend so I can catch up on Glee. We love breakfast for dinner nights too!
Hope the scrap mojo is flowing. Happy weekend!! xoxo
Posted by: Carrie | 09/12/2009 at 03:38 PM
Your girls are so cute!
Excited to hear the story :)
Posted by: AesaLina | 09/12/2009 at 03:58 PM
I am sure J will do just fine in Ft. Benning. We were stationed there before going to Okinawa during the Vietnam War. That city has really changed a great deal since then. The southern charm and innocence is gone for sure.
Thinking of you and yours...have fun with those "gulls of yours!"
Posted by: Kimberly | 09/12/2009 at 04:13 PM
When my kids were little, I used to do breakfast for dinner when DH was away too. We called it an Upside Down Day! Hope the next three weeks pass quickly.
Posted by: Linda E | 09/12/2009 at 05:26 PM
your girls are beautiful! love that photo!! here's to "girl power!" have fun!!! btw...we love breakfast for dinner too!!!
Posted by: Michele H. | 09/12/2009 at 06:08 PM
Good job keeping your chins up. Have a good time and I'm praying for his safe return. Becca :) ps We love breakfast for dinner.
Posted by: Becca | 09/12/2009 at 06:14 PM
I'd love to hear how you got engaged :) have fun with the girls (gulls) ;)
Posted by: Rachel Anderson | 09/12/2009 at 06:54 PM
These three weeks will fly by, you'll see. And we'll all be here to help you through it should you need it. I Can't wait to hear your engagement story. If you need some ideas for posts what about a tutorial of some sort. Or a specific challange on your blog, with supplies everyone would have. just for fun... Just thinking. ;) Enjoy the rest of your weekend. I have to say, love the rain, not every day, but a day here and there is nice.
Posted by: samantha | 09/12/2009 at 07:31 PM
((hugs)) sweet girl. enjoy the girl time. spoil them rotten. drink wine, and scrap between the buckets. 1 day down...
Posted by: lisa truesdell | 09/12/2009 at 08:26 PM
All I can say is that you are an amazing woman, Stephanie. I wish I had more friends like you. Strong, talented, loving, and a good mother. Keep your chin up. You can do this!
xoxo, Christine
Posted by: Christine Ousley | 09/12/2009 at 09:08 PM
enjoy your 'gull' time! ;)
i love sadies top/dress. cuuuute!!!
Posted by: Sophia | 09/12/2009 at 09:36 PM
Howell girl adventure! How cute! I can just picture you three dancing and singing! Too cute. :) Love your attitude too. I get all sad and lonely when my husband is gone for a weekend at a water polo tournament. A single weekend for crying out loud! Jeesh. Get it together, Emily. :)
Posted by: Emily | 09/12/2009 at 11:59 PM
You really inspire me with your wonderful attitude. Thank you.
Posted by: Laurie Ann | 09/13/2009 at 12:09 AM
i want to know more about you and j and how he never went to austin again after the girl from waco smooched him! ;) teehee! romantic!
Posted by: Kristen Cox | 09/13/2009 at 01:04 AM
Can't wait to hear your story!
Posted by: Jill Sprott | 09/13/2009 at 02:49 AM
I love stories about how people meet/fall in love/get engaged. Can't wait.
Posted by: Shereen | 09/13/2009 at 03:05 AM
Your girls are so cute !!
Posted by: Linda G. | 09/13/2009 at 04:00 AM
I love reading!
Posted by: Anna | 09/13/2009 at 09:06 AM
My Dad was Army and Army Reserve for 30 years and as a child, breakfast for dinner was a big hit and I have the best memories of it. I love your thing about no whiney girls - what a great things to emulate and teach them. Way cool.
Posted by: Peggy | 09/13/2009 at 10:02 AM
Hey - I can't even remember how I found your blog, but I really enjoy it. I
enjoy your positive enthusiam for life yet your honesty. I can't wait to
hear how you got engaged or what fun things fill these next 3 weeks!
Posted by: Nancy N. | 09/13/2009 at 11:34 AM
what a wonderful post and darling pics
Posted by: Joan B | 09/13/2009 at 02:05 PM
Love this photo of the girls,just totally adorable, I could kiss the screen where their cheeks are forever
Posted by: Bridget Larsen | 09/13/2009 at 03:49 PM
Enjoy your gull time!
My Gracie has the same dress Sadie has on in the pic!! Love it!
Posted by: Mary Ann | 09/13/2009 at 07:22 PM
We LOVE breakfast for dinner! Enjoy your time together!! Those 3 weeks will go fast!! When do you have to move??
Posted by: Michelle Unruh | 09/14/2009 at 08:21 AM
hey michelle! i believe our report date will be somewhere around nov. 15. xo
Posted by: Stephanie Howell | 09/14/2009 at 08:24 AM
Ack, sorry about the tarp and buckets. We *do* need the rain though. :-) And I totally giggled at your ambiance comment! HA! Too cute. :-p Hooray for "gull time"! Can't wait for the flea market! I hope it doesn't rain... LOL.
Posted by: reyanna | 09/14/2009 at 10:15 AM