Day 3 (10/13/10)

Wow another successful day! I have a few pics to share later this evening that might help represent my struggles on Day 3. We all had a red meat free day yesterday well except James he decided to tease me over lunch with a double cheeseburger. Boy did that thing look good. Dinner was awesome yesterday. I added egg plant ( i have never cooked before, mushrooms, and zucchini to our pasta. Oh I forgot to tell you that he figured out that i wasn't cooking red meat or chicken this week. Today we will be having Taco's with the fake meat aka crumbles. I will let you know, but for some odd reason i just cringe at the thought of the crumbles. I don't know why.

Success!

Yesterday was successful...well for the kids and I anyways. Breakfast went very smoothly even James enjoyed a meat free breakfast, but lunch was a different story! James decided that he wanted to add the left over steak to his taco grrrr...but i just looked at him and smiled. For dinner we all enjoyed shrimp kabobs, baked taters, and mac and cheese.I told you we could do it. For dinner we will be having some type of shrimp and pasta;-) I must say after 1 and a half days of no meat I sure do miss it especially as I watched James eat a double cheeseburger for lunch. Temptation almost got the best of me, but I won.

Day 1 (10/11/10)

I FAILED! We slipped. Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day. James decided that he would be cooking dinner tonight before I woke up he laid out steaks and I just can't stand to be wasteful especially with food. TOMORROW WILL BE BETTER! I can do this! The plan for the AM. Oatmeal and fresh fruit. Lunch: Rice and cheese tacos Dinner: Shrimp scampi and fresh veggies! I have a plan, James has got cooking out of his system for the next few months, and we have the food. What can go wrong? NOTHING! Stay tuned in to hear about tomorrow's success!

MIA, but BACK now with a new plan!

Yes, I know I haven't blogged in a while and really a lot has happened. Keygan turned 6, were buying our first house, I was diagnosed with Kidney stones, Delylah started school and MORE...hopefully soon I will have time to share some pics of most (of course none from the kidney stone incident), but pics from all the happy times and hopefully a picture of us standing next to a sold sign beside a beautiful 2 story, yellow, and cozy home. For now I want to share with you my plan. HERE GOES...My goal to feed my family healthier food items. NO MEAT ALLOWED! Time span: ONE WEEK. Start date: Monday 10/11/10! I hope to blog about this experience. If your reading this blog please do not mention this to the family they have no clue. I wonder how long it will take them to figure out? I will be eating sea food items by the way so i'm not going completely vegan on you all!

Sadie's Army

On April 24, 2010 my family walked in our first march for babies for March of Dimes in Honor of our angle baby, Sadie. It was a very emotional day for me. I had alot of good and bad emotions that day, but with God walking beside us we was unstoppable that day!

Weekend Getaway!

Family picture March 23rd, 2010

We decided the Abney Family was long overdue for a weekend getaway so we took off to Mason, OH to stay at greatwolf lodge. The kids loved it and had a blast. We arrived March 22nd and left late the following night. We didnt' want to leave. Lylah would say wiiiiiiiii gong down the water slides and cry at the end cause she didn't want it to be over.

Picture above James and Lylah riding one of the many waterslides lylah rode that weekend.

Pictured in tube Keygan sliding his first time by himself!

Top 3 things to do a great wolf lodge....

1. Water park

2. Club Cub

3. Story Time/ clock tower show

Worst 3 things about great wolf lodge..

1. Suites are very standard

2. Walls are super thin

3. Water inside water park very cold

Welcome to the World Babby Boy!

On Sat. March 22nd, 2010 we welcome our first nephew into the world. Richard Eugene AbneyIII! He is just a doll baby. Don't let the picture fool you he is Auntie's boy. He was crying the whole time uncle James was holding him!! SMART BOY.

Beauty Queen

Lylah participated in her first pageant in Oct. 2009. She had a blast. She really shined that day. She took 1st place in Best costume, Prettiest eyes, and First runner up as Queen. I am so proud of her.




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Wish i had time to blog...

For now all i have time for is to leave you with this quick blurry video. Sorry It's football season here and we have been on the go since it started.

Update Sept. 09

Wow! So much has changed for us in the past month. Maybe one of these days I will have enough time and patients to write it all down, but I doubt it. Hopefully everyone is doing well. I just wanted to send you all a quick update.

James is loving school, last night we had our first tailgating experience with kids lol. They had a ball. Also, last night was his swearing in ceremony. We are all so proud of him. At school he is really excelling. He was the only freshmen picked to sit on the ROTC discipline board. The rest being seniors. He is taking 16 credit hours this semester and handing them really well. Most of his classes are History and ROTC and those are subjects that he enjoys even when not at school. Hopefully next semester he will have a better schedule but for now most of his days are spent
at school, but at least he is home at night to eat dinner with us...well except Monday's;(

Keygan and Delylah are doing well. Ly is walking all over the place and stubborn as ever. She hasn't figured out when she's crossed the line yet as does it numerous times a day. I'm just not sure what to do with her. She is to much like me and it drive me nuts sometimes. Keygan will be 5 on the 24th of September. CRAZY huh? He is still loving school and blows me away with everything he is learning. He will be having a Army boot camp party for his birthday. Where I will be breaking out my ACU's. He's going to get a kick of of that. I guess you can take the family out of the army, but not the army out of the family.

And last but not least...how am I doing? Honestly, this is a very hard adjustment. I've been an army wife so long its going to take some time to learn to be a "civilian" again. Hope is not lost yet even though I did try to show my drivers license to the cashier at Walmart. I am determined to figure it all out. One thing this past month has taught me is it will all work out. Don't stress it cause that will not change anything. It has to work out right?

Thank you all for everything. Army family thank you for being our family over these past years you always have a special place in our hearts. You loved us not because you was blood and had to, but because you WANTED to. WE LOVE YOU GUYS.

Above is James, Delylah and Great Granny Marie


Above James is leading the formation. Remember he is only considered a freshmen;-0)

Above Lylah with her aunt Pat. She loves playing w/ aunt pat

Above Keygan telling daddy he isn't doing it right lol


James is in the back right corner

LOTS OF LOVE,

THE ABNEY'S

James, Krissy, Keygan, and Delylah

KEYGAN NEED YOUR HELP

Hi everyone! Keygan Just finished up his first week Kindergarden.
He is doing great. The only problem is this school district only has half day Kindergarden. The reason for this is lack of funding. The school is having their fist fundraiser and we are hoping to help make this a success due to budget cut backs on everyone. If you can help out we would greatly appreciate it. Keygan has to sale 15 items to be able to get a ticket into the bike stunt show. NOW GO SHOP;-) here is the site:
http://www.4jaxco.com/store/cart.php?m=product_list&c=7
when you check out it is important to enter KEYGAN's code so the school and key will get credit. Here is the code: 290639
I wish you all could see how grown up Keygan is. I really believe you all would be proud of the BIG BOY he is becoming. I know I am;-)

Happy Fourth of July

I am choosing to take the high road today and be grateful for the present! We have beautiful weather here in TN, a great view, and wonderful family (well most of them) to spend the holiday weekend with. Oh, did I forget AMAZING food. Thanks (Dad, uncle Vern, and sally) I think I have gained 5 lbs this weekend. I still can't help but be sad today;( sad for all the families that can't be together today and that will possible not be together for next years celebrations as well. Holidays really are not the same if you can't be with your family and even friends. I'm really missing our normal BBQ crew today 2 as well.

Lylah and Key took their first ride on the inter tube today with uncle Vern. Pictures to follow.

I hope everyone has a HAPPY and SAFE FOURTH OF JULY!!!!

Here are some pictures from today....

Looking through these pictures I realize that no matter what the future may hold for our small family one thing is certain. We will never do without what we need, because we have the love of a family behind us supporting us in ALL of the choice we make.

1st FRG meeting since receciving deployment orders

WoW! that is my first thought. We are so blessed to have a very supportive chain of command when it comes to the FRG! Does anyone have any fundraising suggestions? Our funding is seriously lacking and I feel responsible. Please, suggestions needed! As for the meeting, I feel that it went very well. The agenda got a little messed up, but as for the purpose of the meeting I feel like everyone left knowing that while our husbands are away they have a wonderful organzation here to help (http://www.homefrontonline.com/ ). and they should know I'm here anytime they need me. If you haven't checked out operation homefront and your loved one is deployed. Check it out and find your local chapter.

Letting the pics do the talking...

Finally I get to marry my prince.

WoW! The last few weeks has been full of ups and downs, but today made the roller coaster ride worth it. I LOVE MY LIFE as an army wife and mom!



A while back I received an email from my favorite FRSA asking if we knew anyone that was planning to marry or renew their vows in our company? I responded with James and my name on the list along with a few people in crusader company and my fellow army sister. I never thought in a million year that this email would make one of my dreams come true. As most of you know James and I had a very rushed wedding and got married in complete darkness. I had always dreamed of having a wedding with my family and friends there and I am happy to say my dream came true today. Right now I'm sad that today is over, Sad that the amazing women that i have met on this journey I may never see again. At the same time I'm so Happy that we was blessed with this amazing opportunity! Thank you to everyone that gave me my fairytale wedding. Thank you Thank you to operation homefront!You all really did a great job organizing such a wonderful and stress free day for us brides, THANKS 2 Jennie's for donating a wonderful tux for Keygan to wear. Thank you to Alfred Angelo for giving me my dream gown and an amazing hair piece. Thanks to Heather Clark that helped me dress and took pictures for my family. Thanks to my army family that spent the day with us. Thanks to Erin and Chasity Hobbs at the Rivertown beauty school that gave me an amazing hair do and manicure and pedicure. Thanks to my husband that went above and beyond today by writing his own vows & making me a one of a kind garter. Pics 2 come REAL SOON I PROMISE.



Didn't he do a good job? ------------->



During my time at the beauty school and the rehearsal the day before I got to know a lot of the brides and hear some of their stories and it was really amazing to see those girls that i have spent a lot of time with these last few days walk down the isle and renew their vows with their solider *aka sponsor* We had a house full of princesses today and amazingly everything went smoothly. We was blessed with wonderful brides to share this day with and wonderful weather in the end.

I'm a mom 2 a one year old ...AGAIN

Yes! Can you believe it? Delylah turned ONE on May 5th. Wow! Her personality has just started shinning so bright here lately. Her eyes and her smile can just light up the room. We spent lylah's birthday just having a day about her. We had her favorite breakfast, opened presents early, went to her favorite cousin's, Burt, for some of her favorite corn, and then came home for cake. with close friends and family

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1st day of my challange

I'm greatful for:
My wonderful family without them my days would be so lonely and boring
Operation Homefront and botenical gardens for the spa day
The TV i won
My neighbors for always being there.
My phone not completly dying when i dropped it;-)

**WOW DAY ONE WAS SO EASY.

SPA DAY refelections.

Today I got to visit the Columbus botanical gardens for their second annal wives luncheon. The food was amazing, the scenery was amazing, and the people was just so full of southern hospitality. Today was defiantly my lucky day. not only did i have some time to reflect my current situations and meet some wonderful ladies. I also WON a TV for Ly's room. How great is that. I want to have more days like 2day and here is my new challenge. Every night for the rest of the year i am going to challenge myself to journal at least five things that i am grateful for.

**ReFlEcTiOn**
I was sitting inside an old barn when i had a few minutes to jot down some sentences that was on my mind. Here's a sneak peak

I'm so grateful for today. I'm so full of wonder and excitement. Wonder for all the possibilities ahead of us. Excitement for more money, more time to spend with the family, and more romance. I'm pushing the bad, dreadful, and lonely thoughts away and taking in more of the beauty of things. I desire to become a better, happier, and grateful person. I want to be the woman i see in my daughter eyes. The woman I picture her growing up to be. I want to show her by example how to be a good woman and amazing mother.

Update on DELYLAH GRACELYN GOLDA

Today Lylah had her first sippy filled with milk. I don't really think she is a fan of the coldness. I guess we will see within the next few days how she reacts to it.

As of right now she still only has two teeth. She is standing only for a few seconds before lowering herself to the floor to SPEED crawl. She is 11 months going on 16. She is going to be our challenge. You can't have to princesses in one house and she thinks she is a princess just like her mommy. She is now eating everything she can get a hold of. I feel like we named her right because she has an appetite just like her Mamaw Goldie. See pic below.

Lylah eating at gatti land @ 11 mo old.