This says it all...

November 5th

I'm sure everyone has watched the news and heard about what happened here on Fort Hood today. It was a senseless act of violence. It is sad. It is indescribable.

I am so thankful to God that Dustin was working nights this week because it meant that he was safe at home, sleeping in the bedroom when it happened.

I heard gunshots this afternoon but I didn't pay any attention to them because that sound isn't uncommon when you live on post. I'm not sure how it happened but I was in the bedroom and Dustin told me his Sgt. called and asked if he was okay and if he lived on post. He told him that something happened and the post was going to lockdown and to make sure to stay by the phone because they needed to ensure 100% accountability for the unit.

Within minutes, the sirens on post were going off. Imagine the old school sirens they used to sound during the cold war. The Announcement said "Attention Fort Hood. Take Shelter Immediately. Close all doors and windows. Turn off all heating, ventilation and AC units. Take Shelter Immediately." I was concerned but thought maybe gas had been released and they didn't want to risk us inhaling it. I told Dustin what was said. I was a little disappointed because I had a chicken in the oven so I knew the house was going to be hot. I was right.

Dustin looked on the internet and found out what happened and then we all sat together stayed glued to the TV, watching CNN.

When I realized that the gunshots I heard were the ones of the shooter, I felt sick. I still feel sick. I can't understand why this person would do this. He shot up the Soldier Readiness Center. This the center where soldiers go to finalize things before their deployment. These families were mentally preparing themselves to not see their family member for at least a year with the possibibility that they might not come home. They never got to say goodbye. Before your spouse leaves it is a high stress time and there is alot of fighting usually. My heart goes out to their families. I don't even want to imagine the heartache and regret they are experiencing.

Please pray for these brave men and women and their families. Pray for the victims and for everyone else who is serving our country. They lay their lives on the line for you everyday and their families sacrifice too so that you can live free with your families everyday. There is a saying that being an Army Wife is the hardest job in the Army and sometimes I really agree.

Brave Rifles 3D ACR 4/3 Longknives

Yum...

I made delicious French Breakfast Puffs this morning. I was inspired because my friend made them yesterday. I found the recipe on Pioneer Woman Cooks.

They are sweet and yummy and moist and filling and dangerous... :-)

On a side note, I went into Kellen's room and this is how I found him. He was quietly watching TV.

Whippy Cake

I just became a fan of Bret Crosby's wife Becki's business Whippy Cake. She has great things. They are girly and cute and sophisticated. She has a contest where she is giving away one of her stylish rosy headbands and beautiful choker. Check it out. Whippy Cake

Kellen's Room

Just a little preface: My hubby is a BIG TIME Gamer. He grew up playing video games, has a big mario tattoo on his back and his Bachelors degree is even in game design. He is already trying to make sure that it is something that Kellen appreciates. :-)

This is what Kellen's room looks like. We bought these for his room either before he was born or soon after and we finally put them up. His room looks awesome now. Its so fun. Sorry that pics aren't the best but you still get the idea. :-)

Here Kitty Kitty

Growing up, did you ever drag a string behind you as you walked so the cat would chase you? That is how I felt this morning but the string was my cool socks and the cat was my son.

I am a big fan of the Toe Socks. I have quite a few pairs and I love that I get to pull them out once the weather starts getting colder.

Here is the stylish pair I'm sporting this morning. Yes I know you are jealous of my pink toe socks with brown monkeys and yellow bananas. And yes that is a bunch of bananas on my big toe.

If you take notice, the top pf the socks have 2 yellow puff balls tied on. These are the object of my son's affection.

I was walking down the hall, looking for Kellen's sippy cup and I hear giggles coming up on me pretty quickly. I thought "Aww, Kellen wants to play chase with me." Nope, nope, nope! He was a man on a mission. I did a couple laps around the house with him in hot pursuit till I sit down and let him have his fill.

He soon lost interest started doing something bad right instead. :-)

Halloween

Our Halloween was so unremarkable that it probably doesn't even deserve a post but everyone else is posting and I guess I'm just a copy cat.


For the record, I'm a forgetful person and thought I put the camera in the diaper bad and I didn't. So all I have is 2 pics I took with my cell phone because then it was too dark to take anymore.


I don't have a picture but all day I sported a Halloween shirt, a black skirt covered in safety pins, exaggerated eye makeup and bright pink tights. What was I? NO CLUE! I just gathered together a few elements of costumes I wore in the past but I was comfortable. I don't know why but I enjoy wearing tights. Pantyhose can all curl up in a little ball together and burn for all I care but me and tights are BFFs. I think that I might go buy some more even though I will have to wear more skirts, that is a cost I am willing to pay. :-)


Kellen's costume turned out basically the same as when I did the run thru. In my head, I had imagined Dustin stepping in to help me and Kellen would turn out perfectly groomed. The reality was there was crying from Kellen and Mama, yelling, reapplying make-up, cursing and finally begrudgingly loading ourselves into the car. Once we got going, we were good and a happy little family again.




Fort Hood implemented a rule that only allowed trick-or-treating on post between 6-8. On paper this sounded like a good idea because I knew that my 15mo wouldn't be able to handle much more. We decided to go to the community next to mine (the Officers' houses). It seems everyone had this same idea. Everyone sits in their lawns or driveway in chairs handing out candy. It totally takes away from the experience of knocking and waiting anxiously to say "trick or treat?" as fast as you could so that you could get the chocolate treasure and hit the next house. It was also slim pickings of houses to go to. Growing up, my Dad would occasionally sacrifice the experience so that he could stay home and pass out candy. They don't do that. The reason I'm thinking is that with the Army, you are here a year and gone the next. The Dads want to be involved in as much as they can.


It just wasn't the Trick-or-Treating that I remember as a kid is all... I feel kinda bad being disappointed because Kellen had fun, we had fun and we got candy that we really didn't need.


Once we were done pillaging and looting, we hit up Subway. (Figured we should Eat Fresh) Kellen fell asleep to and from Subway. BTW I had to put a towel on his car seat and high chair so he didn't cover them with his black hair spray. He woke up when we got home and shared some of Dustin's meatball sub and then I bathed him for 15 minutes. That was 15 minutes of lathering him up, scrubbing him, changing the bathwater and Repeat.


He was in bed between 9 and 10. I was hoping that with the excitement, he would sleep in the next morning. Yeah... That didn't happen. And to add insult to injury, Daylight savings ended so he woke up like normal except now the clock reads 6am...