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Monday, December 07, 2009

Long Time, No Blog

It has been so long since I have posted any thing new. Sorry. I will try and do better in 2010. Where to begin? The last half of 2009 has brought many waves of emotions. In late June of 2009 we moved from Kentucky to North Carolina. I have kept the baby and I busy with endless activities. 1st to say she is no longer a baby, but now a fully grown toddler (haha).

We started the Summer with Madison's 2nd Birthday. Nothing big, but a special visit from her Grandparents made it a wonderful day! They departed on July 4th and we celebrated the Nations birth viewing fireworks from the base. A week later her other set of Grandparents came to see her too. We spent many hours at Onslow Beach, and it quickly became a family favorite hot spot. After deciding that Madison liked the water, we tried our hand at Swim Lesson's and of course, we hung out by the pool with our friends, The Smith Girls. Tony was promoted to Company Commander of Alpha Company on July 10, 2009. It was a very proud day for Madison and I; proud of our Marine. He also tried his hand at surfing, but I think better luck next year! Madison and I missed him dearly in August while he was away for Mojave Viper in 29 Palms. So we traveled to GA for a wedding (congratulations Jenni and Coe), a surgery (for my big bro) and a visit with family (Lewis's, Davis's and Gravitt's) and friends (Thanks Felicia for meeting me around our schedule!). The surgery was canceled (for my brother) during our trip and rescheduled for 2 weeks later. We ended up not being able to stay that long :( My brother, has recovered and returned to work, PTL! I know he and his wife are as relieved as can be knowing his ordeal is over. I ask you all to keep them in your prayers and hopefully they can begin a new with good health in 2010, as do we all!

After August came weekly activities like gymnastics, Parents Morning Out, and story time at the library. In September we enjoyed Family Day for 2nd Tank BN, which included Madi's favorite activity: BOUNCY HOUSES! If there is a bouncy house at an event she has to get in it! October was great, we visited Mike's Farm for Pumpkins, enjoyed a spooky obstacle course at gymnastics, went to an Oktoberfest (and it rained off and on all day), trick or treated at the BN, dressed up for story time, went to a Fall Fest at the elementary school in our neighborhood (with baby Katie and Miss Ashleigh, and of course Trick-or-Treated in our neighborhood (with our neighbor's grandson Kyan and his siblings! Talk about a full calendar. Madison is quite the social butterfly.

November the month of balls, turkey's and giving thanks, a Chuck E. Cheese birthday party, Madi's school Fall Festival, Jacksonville parade, and the arrival of Santa at the Jacksonville Mall. We ended up staying put in Jacksonville for Thanksgiving and it turned out okay. I still wish we could have made it home for a Gravitt Thanksgiving Gathering. It would have been the first one I have been to since getting married :( Oh well, there's always next year :D So, after we stuffed our faces with a meal that took me two days to cook we had dessert with our friends the Rosedale's. We met some new people and a game of Scene-It was played. Tony and I were on the same team (3 on a team) and our team ended up winning! Thanks to Mr. Gillespie for carrying us LOL! The month started off chaotic with the Ball coming up fast and a dress search that ended with a classy touch. I was searching for a gown up until about a week before; it was too close for comfort for me. We took Madison to her Fall Festival and were so grateful that Tony's parents could come and baby/pet/house sit for us. The ball was fabulous in Myrtle Beach; and that was our first time going to the area. We ended up making it just in time for the ceremony and the Ball pics. We will definitely be going back to Myrtle Beach with the baby; it looked like so much fun. I also got to see New Moon, with Kimberly L. So glad she moved to the area and can't wait to start making some more J-ville memories with her and the family! We met up with some friends and saw Santa arrive at the Mall complete with a show and snow! It snows every 5 minutes that Santa is on duty at the mall here. The next day we watched the parade on Western Blvd. So glad we got to see our dear friend Jeff Smith while he was home for his 2 week R&R. Keep praying for him to stay safe and get home in April to his girls! Keeping with my tradition's; I decked my hall's on Black Friday and opted not to go out shopping. Incidentally, I still have not really begun my holiday shopping yet. . . .Madison wants a doll highchair and doll clothes this year.

December brings this blog up to speed and has proven to already be the busiest month so far. I don't mind though, we are having lots of fun. Currently, Tony is in the field and is slated to switch units at some point this month. We don't know what the new unit will have for leave yet, so it's pretty difficult to plan a family trip at this point. We WILL be coming to GA this month we just don't know what day's yet. I hope we can see everyone on our list at some point. We are missing Tony as he is sleeping in the cold and feeling badly that he is out in some pretty nasty weather. We think of him every time our house shakes here, from the Tanks Firing at the range. We can hear them all night long and it reminds me of little earthquakes. Thanks Honey! To keep Madison distracted there has been many fun things to do. We started off the season with a cookie swap/decorating playdate with her playgroup, got her hair cut for the first time, saw a children's concert (she was bad) and sat on Santa's lap for the first time this season, a family fun fest, and most recently a Christmas hayride at Mike's Farm. I myself enjoyed the FREE Family Fun Fest and Mike's Farm the most. I think Madison would say they were her favorites as well! She was excellent at the FFF, and Mike's Farm was a huge hit for her. Music + Lights + Hayride = Madison smiles!! We have enjoyed so many wonderful activities here in North Carolina. And December's calendar keeps getting filled.

Some of you know this already, but many do not. Tony is going to deploy again some time early Spring of 2010. Please pray for him that God will keep him safe and guide his steps. Keep Madison in your prayers as well. She is young and doesn't understand why he leaves. Pray for angels to comfort her. Pray for my Grace and Strength to be her mom and dad while he is away. For all this I thank you.

I hope that throughout the Season you find peace in your hearts, love in your souls, and happiness brimming over from your spirit. I know this is what I am feeling this year. I have so many wonderful blessings to be thankful for and I wish you the same.

Enjoy the pictures and I hope to do a much better job of keeping this blog up to date ;-D don't be mad if I fail.
Love
Erin Davis

PS the Slide show is over 300 pics. So click on the actual picture and it will take you to the website so you can click through them rather than wait the 30 minutes for them all the scroll through the show :D