Hi Friends!
I just wanted to post an apology for not keeping up on everyone's blogs. (or mine either!)
My computer has stopped working all together and i can only get online when nice people offer to let me use theirs.
We are doing ok though, getting ready for Christmas and the New Year.
My mom will be here Saturday morning and i cant wait.
the weather here has been awful but we are hoping it will warm up and we can shop till we drop when she gets here.
I don't know when I'll be online again so i want to wish everyone a holly jolly Christmas and a happy New Year.
Love you All!

Happy Anniversary part II

I know that Tausha has let everyone know all ready, but since i have NEVER written anything on here, I though today would be the day.
As you all know its our anniversary today and I just wanted to let my wife know, and I guess who ever else is reading this, that I love you and that these last three years have been the best of my life. I could have never asked for a better wife, mother of my childeren, or best friend. You are my world. This deployment has probably been the worst TDY/deployment that I have ever had the missfortune to be on, but no matter how bad it gets, hearing your voice on the phone all ways makes me instantly better. These last three years have had their good times and their bad times, and though the good times were, well, more fun, i am happy for the bad ones too, because for starters, now I know what not to do to piss you off ;) and because now i know that no matter how stupid or how bad our fights are, we forgive each other with a simple "I love you"... and then I say "im sorry" (even when its your fault, i dont know how you do it) I know that three years doesnt seem like a very long time in comparison to the many more that I am going to torment you with :) but I am looking forward to the many many more we have together. I love you to death Tausha.

Your husband
Ian

Its Our Third Anniversary Today.

Today is Ians and my Third Anniversary!
It stinks to be celebrating it apart, but we can always make up for it later.
Besides we have plenty of anniversary's ahead of us :o)
I love that man to death and three years ago today was the very best day of my life.
Happy Anniversary Ian!

Turkey Day Love.

I haven't had the patience to post anything lately...My computer is acting up big-time and it takes me 20 mins to open a page. boooo.
But I thought I should at least brave it to wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving!
Hopefully we'll be having one. The kids and I have been sick with the flu the last few days. Trevan is going through it right now and its not so fun.
poor guy.
we're hoping for the best though, I guess we'll see in the morning.
Hope you all have a good meal and get ready for Black Friday :o)
Love you all!!

Was SOOO Good!
It definitely intensified my crush on Edward.
I recommend you all see as soon as possible!
(and take me with you cause i wanna see it about a million more times)
:o)

Just Whats Up...

Today was Brodi's Thanksgiving lunch at school.
Her class made little Indian headbands with feathers to wear to the lunch, and some of the lunch ladies dressed up as Pilgrims. It was really cute!
We had lunch and then went down to the Book Fair and bought some Christmas books.
It was a pretty fun day.



And tonight I got a babysitter so I can go see Twilight :o)



And tomorrow is my 23rd birthday. (hence, the cupcakes in the background.ha)
Thanks so much to everyone who thought of me and sent me presents and cards. You made my day!!
I've been dreading it just because I dont have alot of people celebrate with, but an old friend of mine called me out of the blue and wanted me to highlight her hair, while she was here she noticed my birthday cards and boxes on the counter and asked me when my birthday was. When i told her it was on Sat. she told me she was going to do dinner for me and the kids and get a cake.
I thought that was sweet!
So I guess I do have some plans for tomorrow after all :o)
Have a great weekend everyone!

Happy Veterans Day!
For Veterans Day,I thought I would post something about my own Veteran.

My Hubs!



Hes been gone for just about a month now, and the house has felt so empty without him!
Dont get me wrong, my house has never been so clean and the laundry and cooking has gotten easier. Not to mention the lack of video games being played all day Saturdays.
But I would gladly put up with all of it to have my hunny home.
I married such an amazing, loving and funny man!
He lightens the tension in almost any situation with his dumb jokes and he randomly breaks into oldies rock hits at the most inappropriate times.
Nobody I know can calm me down or make me feel better just by hugging me like he does.



Ive needed those hugs more than ever when he's not here to give them, but I know what he is doing over there is so important to him and I will ALWAYS support him 110% because I'm so proud of him. I know its hard for him to be away from family and friends especially during the holiday's.



He loves America more than most people Ive met and hes so proud to be able to serve.
Hes an amazing father, an amazing husband and also an amazing Veteran.
And I'm so proud I get to call him Mine.

Hi Friends and Family!
I need to drop a little note to let you all know Ians email address.
I guess I haven't really let you all know that his Internet access is pretty limited when your over there, and he cant check any ones blog. the websites are restricted.
I'm sorry i didn't let everyone know sooner :o(
I forget that we're not all military and i need to share what I know.
Sorry Guys!
So if you've been hoping he was checking and waiting for comments, he cant, But I do check them and try to report back to him when i do get to talk to him.
BUT! If you want to email him directly, I know that he loves getting messages and seeing everyones fun pictures.
his email address is:

imarietti@hotmail.com

Also, to follow up on my last post a little...I forgot to include that you can get flat-rate boxes at the post office. They are for APO addresses (like Iraq) and they can usually save you some money if you use them.
Also, when you ship packages to Iraq (for those who havent done it before) you have to fill out a customs form and list all the contents in the package.
Its sort of time consuming so plan to spend a little bit of time doing that when you take your box. I usually will go into the post office and get the box and the customs form and take them home and put it all together there before i take it to be shipped.
Anyway, I hope this helps a little. if you have any questions you can leave a comment cause i check them.
Love you guys!!

Package Information

Hi Everyone!
I just wanted to let everyone that if you plan on sending something to Ian for Christmas, the last day you can send it so it will make it by Christmas is Dec. 4th.
I talked to him and asked what he would like to have sent, but he said he didnt need anything.
(of course)
you can look up gift ideas for soldiers and there are some fun ideas, i even found one about sending them a "Christmas in a box" with a little Christmas tree and decorations.
Pictures and letters are always a favorite for them though.
Anyway, you can get as creative as you'd like with just a few restrictions.
I found this list of banned items to kind of help out.
I'll also post his address info on my blog so everyone has it.
Love you all!



Marietti,Ian SrA.
USAF/332 EMXS/Metals Tech
APO AE 09315-9997



What NOT To Send a Soldier in Iraq

Prohibited items that will be confiscatedPlease do NOT send the following items to a soldier in Iraq. Packages are scanned and these items WILL be confiscated:

Alcohol and alcohol-production products and ingredients (R, R1)
Fruits, live plants and animals (M)
Pork and pork by-products (H1)
Pornographic and sexual materials (including nudes and semi-nudes) (E2)
Obscene materials and horror comics (C1)
Non-authorized political materials (E2)
Religious materials contrary to Islam in bulk quantities (E2)
Firearms and ammunition (F)
Cash, coins, securities or precious metals in their raw state (A)

Hazardous, flammable, toxic and radioactive substances
Tip: Don't use packing boxes that are labelled with a prohibited substance.

Items that may melt, leak, explode or turn onUse common sense and realize that packages can be subjected to high heat and bouncing around. Use Ziploc bags and lots of padding where applicable:

Batteries in summer
Aerosols and other pressurized products
Liquids in glass containers
Perishable food products that can spoil
Electronic devices with batteries installed

Tip: Don't send food and scented products together. Several weeks in transit at 120°F+ temperatures will result in deodorant-flavored cookies.

Halloween Pictures

OK, Enough of my laziness!
I need to get on the ball and post our pics from Halloween :o)
We had a pretty good one, although it did rain for just a little bit when we started out around the neighborhood. We also went to the Harvest Festival at the community center to play some games and win a few prizes.
The kids had fun so it was well worth it.
Friday morning we took Brodi to school for an award ceremony where she got an award for recognizing her name. I'm posting a few pictures from that as well.
Other than that, we are just living our pretty boring lives and hanging out together.
We miss everyone and love you all even more!
XOXO

Hi Friends,
Ive been awful at keeping up on this blog but its been a little chaotic here and its hard to find the time or the guts to sit down at the computer and leave the kids unattended. haha.
We've also been having computer trouble, so...
Anyhow, we are all just getting ready for Halloween, Yay!
Hopefully I'll have lots of pictures to post and more to say (and time to say it)
But for now I'll let you all know that we are loving and missing everyone and we hope you have a fun and safe Halloween.
Love You All!

Tagged

Tagged!!

What's your husbands name? Ian Scott Marietti

How long have you guys been married? 3 years on Dec. 3rd.

How long did you date? 1 1/2 years

How old is he? 25

Who eats more sweets? We both do but in totally different tastes, he doesnt like chocolate...(I know right? hes crazy.)

Who said I Love You first? He did. but he'll never admit it, but its true.

Who is taller? Ian for sure

Who is the better singer? I dunno he's pretty good, but after 5 years of choir I would hope that I am.

Who is smarter? I think he is

Who does the laundry? Me, always.

Who pays the bills? Its usually me

Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? I do

Who mows the lawn? Ian does, but I do now. boo.

Who cooks dinner? Its always me, but Ian has certain dishes he likes to make so he does sometimes.

Who drives? Ian

Who is the first to say they are wrong? Ian, Im way too proud.

Who kissed who first? I think it was pretty mutual

Who asked who out first? He asked me out, and I said yes even though I was sick, and we went to Red Robin and I couldnt eat, so Ian and the waiter made fun of me all night. haha.

Who wears the pants? I think we both have a leg in there...its pretty even.

I Tag....
Holly, Kara, Kristin and Caroline.

Hi Friends,
Today Me and the Kiddos went to the Air Show here on base, I figured if we were going to have to hear all the noise anyway, we might as well get front row seats for it right? we went at about 11:00 and stayed till 4. It was fun, The kids had a hard time concentrating and didn't like the noise alot but they had fun being there anyway, I think they're favorite was riding the shuttle bus down there :o)
I got pictures of them riding around in little planes that you push with your feet and they had to follow a flight path with them.

I also went this week and bought the kids' costumes for Halloween, Brodi is going to be a witch and Trevan is going as Frankenstein. We're getting excited for the trick'or'treating. And Brodi's Field Trip to the pumpkin patch that Trev and I are going to go with her to. I'll post more pictures soon.
Love You All...

I'll Keep this one short since it's pretty late.
We sent Ian off tonight, I think he had a little bit of a hard time since the kids were there this time (The last deployment was at 3am so the kids couldnt go)
We're all doing ok, although Brodi is having a much harder time than I thought she would. She cried all the way home and continued to cry all the way to her room.
We sat down and talked to a while though and I explained how we needed to help each other not to cry and to be happy when we're missing Ian. It must have helped because she calmed down, and when I was leaving the room she said "Mom, you sure make me happy."
And I thought that was sweet.
Anyway I will keep everyone posted on whats going and here and what we hear from Ian.
He should be in Balad soon, but we dont know when for sure.
Keep us in your thoughts, especially Ian and the kiddos.
We love you all!
XOxO

Not so great October so far...

So this week has been stressful. We said goodbye to our good friends on Monday, they are now in Germany and hopefully getting settled soon. Arkansas is strangely different without them, and definitely more lonely.
Ian is getting ready to leave very soon. Only a few more days left. For me this is the hardest part of the entire deployment, The Waiting. Once he is gone it feels a little better, like I can start counting the days till he gets home. But hes been so busy with training and certifying that we haven't really had any time together yet.
We do have friends that have volunteered to watch the kids for a while on Friday night so we can have a date night. we haven't done that in a long time so we're excited.

I get alot of questions about how school is going..and really it isn't. Since Ive been on leave I only go in on Fridays for class and I feel a little out of the loop. The girls are on the floor all week and I envy them..I miss doing hair :o(
But I know that I'm in a place that I should be right now and I'll just have to play catch up later. Patience has never been my forte really...

One good thing that did happen this week though, is that I got to book the flight for my Mom and little brother, Kyleton, to come out for Christmas. They will be here from the 20th to the 30th of December and I couldn't be more excited. It gives me something to look forward to and that's just what I need right about now.
I have to say "thank you, thank you, thank you" to my Grandma for buying the tickets for them. Its the best Christmas gift ever for our family this year, and is very dearly appreciated.

We took more pics this last couple weeks that I'm posting for everyone. Laura and I took Sophia and Brodi up to the Old Mill for "Best Friend Pictures" before they left.
I also have some from our double "Going Away Party" for Ian and the Kelty's.
Thanks for reading!
Love you all..

The Girls Pictures


















Party Pictures...