The Deployment Project {Week 3}

I don't have as much to say this edition of The Deployment Project. Overall, this week went a little smoother than the last.  Whew, thank goodness!  Thank you everyone for your comments and emails of support!  I appreciate it so much.

And now on to the pictures.



So over the weekend it snowed.  A lot.  Which was in addition to the snow that fell the week before.  Brennan and I shoveled part of the driveway on two different occasions, and both times someone came behind us and finished the job.  I'm not sure who, but thank you so much!  If I ever find out who you are, you have a scrumptious batch of chocolate chip cookies coming your way. : )



Our front window is covered with these heart doilies.  They make me happy.  A well spent $1 at the Target Dollar Spot.



This week we really didn't have a day that wasn't a Craft Day.  We colored, we cut, we painted, we glued, and we glittered.  I think I need to take a trip to the craft store to get some new goodies.



Drip Drop.  I'm not going to tell you how many pictures I took to get those drips.  They are fast!  But look, my perseverance paid off and I got two.  Bonus!



Toon Time.  I love the stripey pajamas with the shark rain boots. : )



This is one determined rose bush.  I was rummaging in the garage on Friday and came across this little guy.  We moved to this house in November, so it has been out there all that time with no light or water. I brought it in, and now it's on our dining room table.



Brennan has been insisting on doing more and more things "all by himself."  Let's just say toothpaste application has now moved back into the "wait for Mommy to help" category.

xo,

Rewind: Our Trip to Hardware Ranch

While I was going through my picture files this morning I realized I never told you about our trip to Hardware Ranch. We went back in December, right before Christmas. We were busy-busy, so no wonder I slacked off. : )

So first of all, you are probably wondering what Harware Ranch is.  Here is a tidbit from their About Us page:

"Hardware Ranch Wildlife Management Area is a working ranch with the mission of enhancing big game winter range and other critical habitats, thereby maintaining healthy rangelands for all wildlife. The Ranch also provides facilities and support for long-term wildlife and habitat research as well as increasing public awareness and personal stewardship through community outreach and education programs. The Wildlife Management Area promotes year round public access for watchable wildlife, hunting, fishing, and other outdoor recreation."

Fancy.  As far as all that pertained to us, Hardware Ranch has been on our "Places to Visit While We Live Here" list for awhile now.  Way back when we had heard that they host sleigh rides out to the elk herds. Sounded like fun. Then, this year, when we heard they were having their annual Elk Festival, how could we not check out something called an Elk Festival?

So off we went.

The drive alone was worth trekking out in weather that wasn't promising to get above 25 degrees.  It was beautiful!



And once we got up into the mountains, the fog and dreariness that was happening at our house was left behind, and there were beautiful blue skies.




As much as I love fall in the mountains, winter also has it's own special appeal.





When we got to the ranch, parking was pretty scarce.  See those cars way down there?  That's where we parked.  And then throughout the morning we walked up and down that hill a few times.  The walking kind of made all the layers we put on to stay warm kind of unnecessary, but you can't say we weren't prepared.



Some scenes from the ranch.







These guys took us on a wagon ride out in the middle of the elk herd.



All loaded up and ready to go.



The critters we came to see.  Brennan insisted they were reindeer.



The reindeer elk were definitely used to all the attention.  We pulled up right next to them and they didn't seem to mind at all.



Make sure you check out Brennan's hat.  I made that! I also made the one I was wearing, but there weren't any pictures of me from this trip.  Maybe next time. : )





Our tour guide.



This guy was very photogenic.  Thanks for posing Mr. Elk!



Some ditch jumpers.  Though as long as their legs were they were more like ditch steppers.







One of the other wagons.









Of course Brennan didn't get all the stuff our guide was telling us about the elk, but he had fun riding in the wagon.



And he really liked petting the horses after we got back.



Afterwards, there were some fun things for kids in the visitors center.  Brennan's holding a pine cone bird feeder he got to make.



And I have no idea why this elk had two Rudolph noses.  Somebody is so funny.

Though it did reinforce Brennan's reindeer theory. : )

What can I say today...

Today I have a picture to post, but not really much to talk about.  I'm sure as I type something will come up.  I can't guarantee it will be profound, but it will be something.

Here's my picture of the day...well, so far.  I downloaded my camera memory card earlier thinking there weren't very many pictures on there. Not very many = 81.  ...And that's since Sunday evening.  And we've pretty much just been hanging out around the house.  Hello, my name is Heather, and I am a photo-holic. : )



Like my new coffee mug?  I found it at Paper Source.  I ordered Brennan's valentine cards from there and couldn't resist it's cuteness.  I will show you Brennan's valentines when we get them put together.  I'm even contemplating hauling out my sewing machine and making him a shirt to match.  I can still get away with having him wear valentine shirts for a couple more years, right?  I'll take advantage of it while I can.

Speaking of Brennan, (like I don't already do that all the time, ha!) I have been gathering goodies for his birthday.  Remember last year his only request was a party hat?  Well, this year, it's a pinata.  I don't know where the idea came from, but I'll go with it.  While I have mad pinata making skills, ( i.e. 25 penguin pinatas, complete with scarves and hat, that I made with my Mom years ago) I think I will just be buying one and skipping all the mess.  Target has a great star shaped one in their party section.   Oh, and I have to share my cleverness with you. Where am I hiding all of Brennan's birthday presents you ask?  (Just pretend you asked.)  I put them all in Jason's empty dresser drawer! How's that for finding a little silver lining. : )

Let's see, what else.  How about what am I reading on my kindle? (Again, let's pretend you asked.)  Right now I am 74% through Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.  With everything going on, I hadn't read any books yet this month.  Gasp!  Last week I was inspired by this post by Lemonade Makin' Mama, and since I had never read Pride and Prejudice before, I thought it would be a good place to start.  I lookied back and also found that it was the #1 book on my 100 books list.  Just maybe this will be the first step to finishing up that list this year.

Well, looky there, how's that for not having much to talk about?  I think it works for me. : )

  

The Deployment Project {Week 2}

Well, we've officially made it two weeks.  I try not to be a downer and go on about it too much, but this week was a little more of a challenge.  I was kind of blindsided by it to tell the truth.  Because it's only been two weeks.  Jason has been on TDY within the last year for a much longer span of time.

But I guess when you're three, ok, almost four, oh what a difference a few months make.  Brennan is taking Daddy being gone a lot harder this time around.  This week he had a crying panic meltdown because he couldn't find me.  I had taken some laundry upstairs and was only gone for a minute.  I lost track of how many days he showed up in my bed at around 2:00 in the morning because he got scared.  One night there was no getting him back in his own bed so I gave in and let him sleep with me...he held my hand or arm in a vice grip for the rest of the night.

Wednesday he got in trouble at school for hitting his friends.  He didn't get a noodle in his "I'm a Good Noodle" jar.  His teacher said she gave him several warnings, but he kept on.  We've had several conversations since then about it, so hopefully next week will be better.

Every day I get asked, "Are we going to pick Daddy up today?"  It breaks my heart to tell him no, that we have a long time to go yet.  To Brennan it already has been a long time.

On the bright side, he can pretty much point out on the globe where Jason is, and he's starting to realize how far away it is.  Up until a couple days ago, Brennan was determined that Daddy is "in the desert in Colorado."  Colorado was where he was Jason was the last time he had to be gone for NCO Academy.

One day at a time.  So, how about some pictures?


Sunday I put together the banner you saw on our new chalkboard the other day.  I plan on whipping up some more.  They are cute and fun to make.


Vanilla wafers, banana slices, peanut butter and sprinkles make a tasty snack.  According to Brennan anyway.  I found the idea to make them into little sandwiches on Pinterest.


The moustachioed man.  The little owls we made when we were playing with the clay?  Yeah, one got dropped and Chloe ate it.  I'm sure that had to have been tasty, though I don't think she even chewed it.  Ewww.


Our new weekly outing to the bookstore.  Brennan picked a Thomas the Train book, and we've read it every day since.


Time for some dress up in some of Daddy's old gear.  You should have seen him try to put on the pants. : )


I started putting out some Valentine decorations this week, and Brennan decided to add his own special touch.  I had to laugh because that is exactly how some people feel about Valentine's Day, ha!


Hmmm..I see a theme forming.  Another bit of our Valentine decor, our hearts connected a half a world apart.    Ok, you can say it. Awww. : )



Linking Up Here:

Ch-Ch-Changes...

If you've been by to hang out at the blog during the last couple of days, you may have noticed it was looking a little crazy.  I think I have that all worked out and taken care of now.

I've been contemplating making some changes, and this week I decided to go ahead and just do it.  The changes aren't just for a random something to do; I do have a plan.  One day all will be revealed. Muhahaha....

So....drum roll please...

The Bal Family blog...


is now, and will forevermore be known as...

 the little things.

Ok, that's all.  As far as it all goes, the only thing that has changed is the name.  Email subscribers will still get their emails just the same as always, the web address is the same as it always was, and I'll still be posting all the fun stuff I did before.  Whew, that wasn't too bad, now was it?

I hope everyone has a great weekend.  Looks like we're in for a weekend full of snow.