Well, here we are. Almost done with our first deployment. Even though we are not done yet, I am excited that the difficulties of the past several months will be over soon. Even more so, I can't wait to see him, and I can't wait for him to see how the boys have grown. I think it's been a good learning experience for both of us in different ways, although I am happy to see it coming to an end. I think one of the big things I have learned over these past months is how, as a parent, you have to try to control your emotions when it comes to kids. Yeah, I still mess up, and I'm sure I will mess up in the future too, but I think I am better able to understand the importance of keeping your cool and better able to do it as well. Under my stress today, I uttered something under my breath that isn't the greatest example of language (alhtough it's probably not what you're thinking), and Jeff said to me, "Mom, don't say that." I was both amused and embarassed, having my 2-year-old son keep me in check. Boy, oh boy.

Here they are with new hats! I love buying them new hats, they are just too cute. Jeffrey originally wanted a "train hat," but like most 2-year-old pretty much forgot about it, especially when we found this dinosaur hat. Jeff's is a little big yet, but he'll grow into it quickly.

Well, I promised my mother-in-law I would post pictures of the boys and keep the blog updated, and I hate to say I haven't kept my word as of yet. I haven't posted recently because not much has happened. But I guess I can't say that, because when you have young kids there is pretty much something new going on every day. Jack hasn't mastered crawling just yet, though he looks like he is about to take off. Both Glenn and I are hoping he won't learn to crawl until Glenn is home. He should be home in just a few weeks from now. When we got to the base to pick him up, I am not going to tell Jeff where we are going. We will just get in the car and go. I can't wait to see what Jeff is going to do when he realizes we are there to get Dad.