Circus Circus and Trick or Treat

Gracie has a mind of her own. Since July we had been planning on her being a butterfly for Halloween. We got the wings in OKC at the botanical gardens and she loves them-- and is darn cute in them. However, a week before the big day she announces, "I don't want to be a butterfly, I want to be a mermaid!"

You see Little Mermaid fever has infected the Wahab house. She watched the movie with Grandma and got the toys from McDonald's and now it is all mermaid all the time. Off to Target we went where we managed to snag a costume. The toddler sizes were so skimpy and expensive. They weren't going to fit over a sweat suit and in Kansas you must count on sweats being a part of your costume for Halloween. So in the girl's dept. we found one that was sized to fit 8-10 years - YIKES but it was cheap and with two safety pins fit lovely. And happiness once again reigned in the house.

Friday night we went to school for "Trunk or Treat". For those of you unfamiliar with the concept, I'll explain. Everyone comes and parks their cars in the parking lot, decorates their trunks and the kids go trick or treating from car to car. It is safe and fun and we had a blast. As you can see from the pictures Gracie is the little mermaid and that is Daddy's car all decked out for Halloween. There is also a shot of her in action and a couple of her eating hotdogs with her friends Ariana and Andrew. She made out like a bandit and the 10 count them 10 bags of candy and 250 spider rings we brought were gone in 30 minutes- I kid you not.

At trunk or treat Ariana's mom offered us circus tickets for Saturday morning. We went and Grace thought the animals were great. She wasn't too keen on the lights going off between acts but I enjoyed it. We ended up leaving at intermission and the last picture I posted should let you know why--- such a busy social life for a girl leads to a tired chica.

I have to wrap this up as I am at school posting with the high speed internet. We are off to dinner and pumpkin carving party. Look for pictures from that soon.

Blessings and Boos!
Heather

Help a Girl Out!

I'll admit I've feigned understanding what a "pig pickin' " is one too many times. Could someone kindly explain what goes on a this BBQ type event? (I'm presuming it's a BBQ type event.)

Thank you for your continued southern education of this born and bred mid-westerner. :)

heather

Gobble Gobble!

I got our tickets yesterday for Thanksgiving weekend. Grace and I are heading east via Minnesota to visit Belhaven and all the Wahabs for the weekend. I sent flight particulars to Neilson, Karen and mom but in general we are leaving Wednesday and coming back on Monday.
Can't wait to go! :)

Gracie's Day

Here are some pictures from Gracie at school. The first is of her love interest Jesse. The second is her eating lunch in the cafeteria. Third is Gracie and her afterschool friend Charlie and then the last two are of her at workshop. As you can see she is a big girl! Oh, she is also wearing the dress that Grandma Jo made for her.

Check Your Email--Again

The frg website has an address again for our favorite soldier. It's the same one I sent out earlier but I'll assume most everyone deleted it so I'll send it again. If for some reason you don't get the email, post a comment and I'll try again.

:)

heather

The Great Pumpkin

Saturday Gracie and I headed east to Liberty, Mo to Carolyn's Country Cousins Pumpkin Patch. As you can tell from the pictures we had a great time. We rode the tractor and wagon into the fields to find our pumpkin. Gracie ran around the pumpkin patch like a mad-woman looking for the best one. Actually I think she just liked running around.

This pumpkin patch is awesome. I've taken several classes out there. Grace and I went last year. Of course last year she cried when she touched the pumkins and wouldn't even look at them.

They also have a farm playground and a petting zoo. Grace loved it all. When we left she was covered in dust, hay, oggie boogies and sticky--- so you know it was a great day.

Happy Saturday!!

This morning I heard from Neilson. He is doing well. I should pass along that he can really only check his army email and he can't access the blog from his computer at work. Unfortunately the lines for the other computers are very long so I'll just pass along what he said to me.

He said it's very dusty but they are in a river valley so there are trees and bushes-- just no grass. And all that dust equals sand oogie boogies. Yuck! He will be switching rooms as soon the rest of his unit gets there. They are busy working every day. He goes in around 0800 and gets off about 12 hours later. No complaints about the dining facility. It's set up like a food court so if you don't like what they're serving you can get a salad, or sandwhich or something else. They also have every drink known to man available. Still no word on when he'll have a valid address. :P But don't worry I'll pass it out when I get one.

On a very positive note a 300 minute phone card was a 50 minute call home! So Grace and I are off to Target to snap up some more of those 600 minute cards that are on sale through today.

I got a lovely card from Uncle Herb yesterday. He had flowers at his church for Vera, Neilson and I. He even sent the church bulletin so I could see it noted. Thank you so much Herb for your kindness and prayers.

Well we are off to Target and maybe even the Pumpkin Patch today! Take care!

Blessings,

Heather

Check your Email--- Again!
The address I have is going to change and the zip code isn't right. poo

Check Your Email

I have an address!!! I sent it out to my address book this afternoon (10/12). Let me know if you need it!

A Humble Request

I just received an email from my darling husband--- really he is darling. He is still waiting for his other two bags to catch up with him. In the meantime he has made a few requests. First, he is in need of AAA batteries. I don't know what for--- probably some army toy of his :) Additionally, the previous residents of his room were aromatically challenged and some non plug in type room fresheners would be nice. I don't know what scent-- so make sure it's really fruity and feminine --- hee hee hee just kidding, I'd stick with something plain like rain or seabreeze.

Now I realize that these requests are nice and helpful and we're all chomping at the bit to send a care package however, I still don't have an address. I'm off to check with Cpt. Ontko.

Blessings,

Heather

Jingle Bells (Edited 10/11 pm)

Yep, it's October 11 and time to think about Christmas. I heard on the news today that our friendly post office has reminded us that if we want our soldiers overseas to have packages in time for Christmas they must be sent out no later than a week from Monday---- October 23. Hopefully we'll have an address for Neilson by then!

Also on the mail front I have a few tips given to me at the family readiness briefing.
Packages can't be any larger than 102 inches total dimensions and no more than 70 pounds. Customs forms must be filled out for any package weighing more than 16 oz. The post office has a flat rate box that you can pick up for free. You can put as much weight as you want in it and ship it for $8 regardless. They also ask that you not send any fire arms, combustibles, alcohol, or non-Islamic religious items in bulk or pork products.

Karen has told me that she makes sure to seal every seam on the box so Neilson knows if it's been opened. She also inventories what's in the box and sends an email when she's sends the box so he is expecting it.

Neilson has told me he'd love anything! Chocolate is too melty right now - wait till after November. Pull-top micro meals, beef jerky, anything to read, pictures, pictures, pictures, letters, snacks but please no raisens. Of course phone cards are wonderful so he can call his loved ones. :)

I'll post more when I know.

And I know more! :) My darling hubby gave me a wonderful usps info sheet that directed me to www.usps.com/supportingourtroops It has all the restrictions, guidelines, dates etc. that you need. It also has the phone number to order the "Mili-kit" which is free packing supplies to send care packages.

Blessings,
Heather

Heck ya!

Those bags are too heavy! Glad he doesn't have to lug them around anymore--- now the $100,000 question is did the other two bags catch up with him??

Wahab back in Iraq,

I've arrived back in Iraq, for my second year-long tour. I've reached my final destination, and won't have to drag those d*mn bags around anymore (they're quite heavy aren't they Heather!). I'm currently living in a small trailer with another captain from my unit. I actually have a bed frame and mattress (with sleeping bag of course). Not much else going on. More later.

Love

Neilson

What A Deal!!!

Mom, Mandi and I were at our favorite store Target today and we got a bargain that I had to share. We found 600 minute ATT phone cards on sale for $18 down from $30. They are on sale through this Saturday.

There is an ATT call center where Neilson is landing so this is a great gift idea.... Not to boss you around or anything. I just wanted to let everyone about the great deal.

As far as how long they'll last.... when he called from Kuwait 300 minutes lasted 30 minutes. I'm not sure the ratio will be the same for Iraq but that's at least a guideline. :)

Bradley!

You were at the top of a tree????!!!!

MANY THANKS

I was driving home from Topeka, Kansas last night and I got to thinking about how fortunate I am. Seeing the beautiful full moon rise over the horizon made me pause and thank God for all his blessings that he has bestowed on me. The looooooonnnnngggg drive home from Topeka (about an hour) made me realize that I have many people to thank for helping me this past week.

Thank you Mom, Karen, Bradley, Jennifer, Diane, Joyce, Laura, Audrey and Neilson for talking to me as I drove back from Texas. The drive seemed so short because I had such good company. I realized this as the drive from Topeka seemed so long last night. I couldn't have done it without you keeping me going.

Thank you to Kathy, Joyce, Laura, Diane, Michelle and Angelina for making it possible for me to be gone that week. From what I hear it was a wild ride in preschool but everyone survived without lasting scars (I hope!).

Big thanks to everyone who called, wrote and stopped me to check on how I was doing this week. I feel very loved and blessed to have so much kindess in my life. I'm serious when I say I couldn't have done it without any of you..

God Bless

Hi to all from Kuwait!

I'm in Kuwait same and sound. Lots of changes, all the sand dunes have moved! But, i've navigated my way through the desert to find a single computer with internet access, and a small line for that matter. The fall weather here is nice with sunny skies and a cool 100 degrees or more everyday! I'm now waiting on another long meeting to start here at the Greywolf brigade headquarters. Looks to be another fun one.

All of my love

Neilson

Woo Hoo!!!!

I'm sure most of you know by now (it's evening here) but I got a call from Neilson this morning at 6:15am central time!! He is doing well and is safe in Kuwait. He's very busy of course running around to meetings, filling out paperwork and zeroing his weapon. But he's there and he's safe and he sounded much better.

He said he's not quite caught up on sleep but he is eating well. They fed them too much on the plane and he had a Bratwurst in Germany. (I'm guessing it's a good place to have one!)

Fun fact about the phone call--- He was using a 300 minute phone card and that equated to 30 minutes of talk time from Kuwait. I don't know if it will be the same ratio from Iraq.

I floated into work today and nothing got me crabby! In fact I still have a stupid grin on my face. I just thought I'd pass this little nugget of good news!

No News is Good News Right??

No, I haven't heard anything from Neilson. I'm figuring he is in Kuwait by now and knowing his luck, is looking for his lost baggage. I can't imagine after all the work it took to get him gone that his bags would have followed suit.... but I hope I'm wrong.

Gracie and I had a good day at school. She made some projects to send to daddy and she wore her camo pants "just like daddy" and her t-shirt that says, "I love my Baghdaddy!" Very cute to say the least.

When we got home I had a wonderful note from Marjie Stark in the mail. Thank you so much! I really feel loved.

I will post information as soon as I receive it either from Neilson or the FRG website. Which if I may plug it again. CPT Ontko is on top of accepting registrations multiple times per day. If you want to register with the site and keep tabs on him I can send you instructions as well as the necessary information (ss#, unit, etc.) .

Many blessings to all of you for keeping Neilson in your prayers.