BSU Homecoming Parade (Oct 15)

I took the girls to the BSU Homecoming parade and we had a great time! The weather even held out for us, it didn't rain until we were almost back to the car! :)

Madi Happenings

Madi turned 13 months old on the 17th. She is officially walking around as of the 16th and her hair is long enough for one or two ponytails! She also loves to climb in the toy box, where find her quite frequently ;) silly baby!
The ponytail:

 Selfie:

 Baby in the toy box:

Big Girl Ameilya

Ameilya is just getting so big! She lives to play her violin and requires "her notes" to do so. And she loves to sing along the hymns at church and even gets out her own hymnbook to sing with :)

Ameilya turned three

Ameilya is now three. I can't believe my first born has already been with us for three years. So crazy how fast the time went! Here are some pictures from her birthday celebration :)
The birthday girl herself:

 Her princess cupcake cake:

 The crowd:

 The décor:

 Papa sporting his crown:

 Ameilya's friend Kenleigh:

 Madi at the park afterwards:

 The toy Ameilya picked to spend her birthday cash on:

Just thought I would post a quick update since I've made myself so scarce for the past couple weeks. I have a lot of updating to do, details on what's going on with Tyler and stuff that we have been doing on the home front. I want to be real about this experience so forgive me if what I write sounds dramatic. Being a stay at home mom without your husband is not for the faint of heart. I have days where I feel like I've got this. Then there are those days, like today, where I feel like throwing in the towel even though I know there's no way through this than to simply endure. I'm doing all I know how to do to stay sane so that I can meet the needs of my family. But sometimes, even when you're doing all you can, things are just hard. People offer to help, and yes, that would make that moment easier, but everyone has something hard that they're going through and I have a hard time wanting to ask anyone for help because of this. So we are enduring on, knowing that we will be better off in the end for having had this experience and for enduring well. So for now, as you are saying your prayers, please offer up a little extra one for our little family. It would be much appreciated.
Pictures and updates to come. I promise I'll keep it light ;)

Week four

We have made it through our first four weeks of having Tyler gone. Tyler is doing well, I have a long, detailed update about him that Ill have to post tomorrow but he is doing well in his training and seems to be in decent health. And Hurricane Matthew  missed Rhode Island, sounds like they just got a bunch of rain so that's good. Relieves my worries, that's for sure!
Here are some pictures from our week this week.
Ameilya LOVES the big red balls at Target, we have to give them hugs every time we go ;)

 Playing in the bark at the park by our apartment

 We found a friendly kitty friend at the park

 Ameilya loves to push Madi (gently) in the swing whenever we go to the park

May was so happy and smiley on Thursday we just had to take a selfie

 Ameilya's birthday was this week and she got a fun card from her Grandma and Grandpa McClellan that she could color

A baby in a toy box! Madi climbed in her all by herself.  I guess there was a toy that she couldn't reach ;)

We sported our blue and orange for game day this week, go Broncos!

Madi loves the metal dome at the park, she loves everything about the park!

That's all for this week!

We got to talk to Tyler!!!!

One more update on Tyler for the week. One of his "ship mates" convinced his CO to give him priority on the phone tonight we got to talk to him for fifteen minutes this evening. He's doing well, he sounds good. He got held back in his class because he couldn't recall all the required info during an inspection. He is now in what is called a holding class until the next group of recruits comes in. At that point, he basically starts where he did three weeks ago. He and three other guys got held back. Sounds like the examinations are very subjective and some of the drill sergeants are stricter than others. They have the Marine corps drill sergeants. Because of the holidays, he won't be getting home until the beginning of January. But the upside is that he will have two weeks of leave around Christmas. He's not sure if he can come home or if the girls and I will have to go to him but either way it will make it so we can see him a bit around Christmastime. 

I'm so grateful for the kind man that was looking out for Tyler and helped him be able to talk to us tonight and for the CO that allowed him priority. The Lord knows his children and is mindful of each of us. Definitely counting our blessings tonight!