Made With Love!!!

And the special Memorial Day project for Uncle Rich begins.Isabelle working!
Madee is starting her's too!

Ta-Da! We Love you Uncle Rich!

Stay Safe!

Isabelle turned 5 this summer so Uncle Rich said she could go to Build-a-Bear. She was so excited that she chose a pony with gold feet that she named it Goldie. Madee came too and built a brown boy bear that she named Prince Eric. They had to make a bear for Uncle Rich too that we sent him in his Memorial Day We Miss You Box!

We miss Uncle Rich very much we are trying to stay busy by making him crafts and sending him cards to let him know we are thinking about him everyday. The girls aren't quite sure why Uncle Rich is gone but they do understand he is protecting us from the bad guys. If you ask Madee where Uncle Rich is she'll say "Afghanistan" Then you ask her "Madee why is Uncle Rich there?" She'll tell you "Is is killing the bad guys." For 3 years old she sure is smart!

I sleep alone so you dont have too!!!

Rich's DeploymentThe tents in Manas, ,Kyrgyzstan
The guys in their desert flight suits having their last beers for a long time. Afghanistan is a completely dry country. The guys will be in detox,
The movie theater... Hope they're not playing the "Notebook" that one's a tear jerker!
The sleeping quarters.
5 star Hilton in Kyrgyzstan. I wonder if they have turn down service.

For those of you who haven't heard yet, Rich has been deployed for "4" months to Afghanistan. I use the air quotes because I'm pretty sure it will be a full 5 months or even 6months before he comes home. The guys had to spend a few days in Manas on their way to Bagram. Above are the pictures he sent me. I am so thankful for all the luxuries I have in my life just looking at their living quarters. Once he is in Afghanistan he will still be in a tent but will have his own 8x8 room. I know my hubby is one of the lucky ones because his job is up in the air and not on the ground but this is still a huge adjustment for both of us.

I came back to the States for the whole deployment.. I have been able to speak to him almost every single day. At first we heard we could only talk twice a week for 15mins, but thanks to Skype that is not the case. Rich seems to be in good spirits and is getting to fly almost every single day. As everyone says "Well he is doing what he wants to do." I agree I just wish it wasn't in a combat zone. I already worry as it is. He has a very dangerous job! But I am so proud of him and that is is serving his country. He is my American Hero and I am thankful to be by his side going through this together. I'll keep you posted if I hear anything amazing.

Everyone just pray for safety for him and his squadron!!!!

Lean On Me...

PISA 2010I'm doing my part to make sure history is still standing for a little bit longer.
I love how the tower just leans in to make sure it gets in our picture.

People are crazy for climbing up there. You never know when it's going to decide not to lean anymore but fall.

Peek-a-boo!!! I love this picture.

We went to Pisa the weekend after Easter. We once tried to travel during the Easter festivities (Rome 2009) and we definitely learned our lesson that Easter is pretty big for Italians... We didn't walk up to the top of the tower because the only way up is stairs and lots of them. Plus they wanted us to pay to walk up stairs... I don't think so!

We spent the weekend in Florence at a Hilton outside of the city. It was the best European Hotel we've ever stayed in. Plus it had free shuttle service to the train station that was right in the center of Florence. We are really enjoying our weekends together before we are separated for a while.

Balloon Time!!!!

Uncle Rich and I were able to come home to Phoenix for Madee's 3rd birthday. Uncle Rich is by far the coolest person to Madee and Isabelle. Isabelle can even tell you that Uncle Rich flies a F-16 and Madee will tell you Uncle Rich flies over their house everyday. They really do love him. When I come home with Uncle Rich I feel like Auntie Barbara who's that!!!!

Madee loved her time with Uncle Rich before her big Little Mermaid Party!!!

The Birthday Girl, who made us call her Ariel the whole day!

Madee got Vanilla cake with Vanilla frosting so that Auntie Barbara could eat it too!

This is Madee and Isabelle wanting Uncle Rich to blow up a balloon over and over and over.

This is Uncle Rich blowing up a balloon and letting it go. This is by far the funniest thing in the whole world to the girls. This video is after them doing like 50times before this one. As much as the girls love their Uncle Rich. I know Uncle Rich loves these girls too!!! They are so not going to understand why I am home this summer and Uncle Rich isn't..

One day they'll understand he was away for them and their future!

Shotgun shooting is so much better than a shotgun wedding!!!!!

We were able to go to Maryland for a couple of days after Rich finished his training in Las Vegas. We did a lot in the few days we were there.

Rich went on a flight with Big Rich's friend Jamie. Jamie and his friend Matt actually built this plane from scratch. I was too scared to go for a ride, but not my hubby he loved every moment of it. We also got to shoot 3 different types of guns. A riffle, revolver and a shotgun. I have never in my life shot a gun, so Big Rich wanted to make sure I could at least handle a gun before we moved on the the big one, so we did some target shooting in his backyard. I actually did a decent job for never shooting a gun before. We went to a gun club to shoot the shotguns where we shot clay targets and had an instructor. We had such a great time and we were able to see lots of family that we haven't seen in awhile. Hopefully we will get to go back soon.

Christmas Time in Italy,,,

Before Christmas we had a Winter White Out...

This is the view from our balcony.

Our very 1st Christmas Tree together.
The Buzzard's Christmas Ski Trip

Us at dinner

I look the part... but I could not ski for the life of me

Christmas Time in Italy is so beautiful...

The weather here has been warm one day and cold the next. We have started the rainy season too. For the squadron Christmas tree we went north into the mountains for about 3 hrs. We rented skis and Rich had every intention of trying to teach me how to ski...Hmmm I couldn't do it!

Maybe Next Time....

We definitely got spoiled this Christmas Season. Maybe we should be away more often. J/K

We missed home to much!!!!

Happy New Year Everyone!!!!