Welcome!

Well here we are!  After a long 17 months of seperation and deployment, we are finally a family again!

Mike came home on October 9th after his third yearlong deployment to Iraq.  While he was gone, I had moved to Colorado to be closer to family and friends while he was away.  On August 29th, the kids and I left Colorado for a brief visit in St. Louis with my dad and my brother, before continuing on to Hawaii on September 2nd. 

We are stationed at Schofield Barracks, which is located centrally on the island of Oahu.  From the moment I saw the dark blue ocean and boats from the tiny plane window, I knew I would love it here.  And I was right.  It's simply gorgeous and full of culture here.  A different way of life, much more laid back and enjoyable.  The weather is beautiful, the ocean is spectacular.  Every day I step outside and am reminded of the paradise we live in.  We are surrounded by swaying palm trees, warm trade winds, tropical flowers, and exotic birds.  Even the rain is beautiful here, just a warm, wet kiss from the sky. 


The first week we were here, we went to the beach.  The beaches here are postcard perfect;  miles of white sand and turquoise waves.  Tiny sand crabs dart in and out of their little holes, brightly colored reef fish swim in and out of the coral.  I saw my first honu, sea turtle, swimming near the North Shore.  Just beautiful.


With this blog I hope to be able to share pictures, stories, and some of our daily life with family and friends home on the mainland.