From Peru with Love!!!

While hubby was deployed to Peru... yeah, don't ask what he did there... and before you can say "oh that sounds like a vacation" or "oh, that's an easy one"... let me tell you right off... it wasn't.
It was very remote and I honestly believe the guys in the sandbox have more support on their missions than my hubby did lol! Aside from playing commando in the amazon, he did bring me back some awesome trinkets that I wanted to share with you guys! I was just happy to have him home again, but I was elated that he thought of me and actually had time to shop. Although, I'm not sure if a bunch of mud huts and woven amazon leaves constitutes as a "mall" (lol) but these are still neat, and from a part of the world my heart has grown fond of.


Silver is pretty popular there, and mined a lot. Hubby had this made for me by one of the silversmiths, Te Amo means Love You in Spanish, just in case you didn't know. I love it and wear it all the time now.

A beautiful painting done by a local artist of the area he got to "visit" while not in his remote location. So beautiful! And one of my favorite art pieces in my collection. It now hangs in our bedroom after I bought a frame for it last week.

A beautiful pendent he brought back from a Moche temple/tomb he went to visit. The blue stones in layed in the crest are made from Chrysocolla and were the sacred stone of the Moche people, its also made of solid gold and was a crest to the tomb of El Señor de Sipán. It is also one of the most important archeological digs in the last 30 years, and well known since it was one of the few that were still intact when discovered! Going here was a something special he got to do while being in the country.

To say the least, I have learned that Peru is very interesting and the people of Peru are good hearted and sincere. Hubby tells me his time in Peru has made him greatful for all we have, humbled him in what we take for granted and made his heart that much bigger.

He's home!!!

He's back!!! He's back!!! He's finally back!!! Oh I can't tell you how good it is to have my hubby home... these last few weeks have been killer for me and the kiddo, not knowing and not being able to share with anyone what's been going on. Not only that but the every day stresser's of her starting 1st grade and going back to school with a new teacher and everything else. But he's home now and I know we can accomplish anything now that he's home. You never really realize how important that person is till you don't have them around anymore... and trust me... my appreciation has been shown ever since he stepped off that plane! I wish I could tell you I had a pictures to share but I don't... I know... how could I forget that right?! But I did get all caught up in the moment, so I apologize... :)

Daddy Came In The Mail Yesterday

Ha! Don't I wish... If that title were true to the exact words I would be ecstatic! If only it were really that easy LOL! What I really meant was... our daddy doll came in the mail yesterday. When hubby had gone in to have his deployment breifing sometime before he left, I also had a briefing with the Airman & Family Readiness Center on base, they gave me LOTS of good tips, signed me up with their monthly newsletter of free stuff for us deployed spouses and families to do on and off base, they even gave us "Play Passes" which are a new and GREAT concept! --I'll get to that part in a little bit. Among all the great info was a pamphlet about "Daddy Dolls" and the "Operation Hug a Hero" project. These dolls are AMAZING! I went online the week that hubby left and ordered one for munchkin straight away... all I had to do was upload a full length picture of hubby and they take care of the rest! It takes a while for them to make it and then it take a bit to make it through the mail system but after that, its instant smiles! We got ours in the mail last night and she hasn't left "daddy" out of her sight since! I'd let her take it to school with her today but sadly I don't think school would let her keep it with her. She doesn't go to a DoD school which is a shame... because this public school doesn't understand what its like to be a military child, despite being in a big enough military town. Alas, I told her "daddy" will be right here waiting for her when she gets home from school and ready for lots of love and hugs. I can tell already just within the last 12 hours that having this little piece of her dad has raised her morale 100% and made deployment that much easier to get through. So, if you have a little one and your hubby is or will be deploying soon... I HIGHLY recommend getting one of these dolls. Check our your A&FRC or FRG and see if they offer a voucher coupon to get one for free first, but if they don't have no fear... they are really easy to order and not all that expensive. So far, it's been worth every penny to have a little bit of "homeland security" for her.

She started to tear up just a little when I took him out of the box.

But then started to cheer up a little when she thought of all the cool places we can take "daddy", woohoo! Can you say road trip?! lol! :)

It's Care Package Season

I honestly get it now... I have figured out why spouses (and their children) go so crazy trying make the perfect care package... think about it... you sit, you wait, you listen when they call, you give words of encouragement and remain calm and strong but aside from that we are helpless to do anything for them... EXCEPT send them a little bit of home.

We are currently preparing our own little piece of home package to be send out soon. The munchkin and I are going shopping for "Daddy supplies" and she is totally psyched! She can't wait to buy him things and send it all in the mail. She has prepared her coloring pages and art work to be send as well and it just warms my heart to known she is gonna make all the difference to her dad. It's the little things ya know?

I never really fell into that whole "military wife" thing. I've always fit into that slot like a square peg in a round hole... you would think I would have been a better fit, growing up an Army Brat but to tell you the truth... I was glad when my dad was done, I just wanted a normal life; where he was home all the time. So this actually makes me feel good, this actually makes me feel a little less awkward and a little more honored to be a military wife. It also feels good to send my hubby some love, just little things to let him know we miss him and are thinking about him.

I can't wait to go out this weekend and get some stuff to fill up the box! I can't wait to decorate the box! The only trouble I'm having is deciding on how to decorate it... Easter theme or our Anniversary theme? They are very close together... or... should I just send separate boxes? LOL! I could really get into this! I have a feeling hubby is gonna need a separate foot locker to get all this crap home again LOL!

What do you send in your care packages? How do you decorate them? Remember... I'm new at this so any advice or suggestions would be awesome!!!