Her Next BIG Thing: Pre-deployment nesting

    Busy busy busy, we Walton's have been. That is the name of the game when it comes to getting prepared for a deployment. While all of my ARMY wives know this process quite well, I thought I may share a bit with my civilian readers (I am positive there are just TONS of you).
     Getting ready for a nine month departure of your bff/love/partner/furniture mover/dishwasher is a daunting task. In my case I like to have everything as streamlined and organized as possible. This means compiling all the financial stuff and organizing a long-term calendar, settling up kids school, vaccination records, all that stuff...serious business. But more importantly;), I want to have my house and the stuff it in as organized as humanly possible. So, we were super busy at a yard sale, where we unloaded tons of stuff. After the yard sale we took two truckloads of good stuff that we never used to Goodwill (it just feels so awesome to de-clutter, my favorite pastime)!
     What now, you ask?
Well now Jamie goes on what we refer to as "block leave", he gets two weeks off before heading out. Some folks go on vacay, visit family etc.. We decided that we would take some day trips, visit the ATL, but mostly just stay at home and enjoy each other as only a family can (we are intolerable to others!!). That, and I have several furniture re-do's that may require some hubby muscle.
      Pre-deployment in a nutshell. No, it is not easy, but it is part of ARMY life, and this is a life that we love. I think of our life as a type of year-round school. Just because my husband is here, doesn't mean that he is actually "here" per say. There is lots of field time and late, late nights, combined with training exercises and trips out West. But, amidst all of that there may be a whole week off, and several four day weekends, so it evens out...a little. Right now I am most concerned with my sweet Shelby, who is at an age where she knows and understands her Daddy is leaving for a long time and she is none too thrilled. We plan to stay busy and have great and exciting things coming our way, so I think my girl will do just fine.
Ok, so here are a few pics from over the last couple of weeks! A lot of my garden, which for a teeny little thing is just so great.