Shillig 4 Family

Malachi even learned to loudly whistle (he made a loud quick squeal sound but we'll count it). We love us some Whataburger.

Minute to win it Costume parade (where our kids won 4th and fought over the trophy) Tickets for prizes (like witch fingernails) from playing minute to win it games Trunk or Treat Bed for me and the kids Movie night for Jake and the Jarrells (check out their scary "trunk") Awesome Halloween in Vidor as we passed through

"Five, five, zero, six" (What the kids said as they read off room numbers to find ours every single time) Farewell San Antonio, Texas. We'll see you in a few years for the captain's career course. Thanks to Rosalba our amazingly kind and attentive room cleaner. Thanks to the Neville family for bringing the family element to this training station. Thanks to the guards at the gate for always saying "HI" to an enthusiastic Malachi. Sadly we leave here with a line of duty and need for surgery on Jake's ankle,  but thank you ahead of time to tricare for covering that in full. Now I sing, "on the road again..."

A few weeks back we were leaving Aunt Carol's house.  I got the kids all buckled in and began to drive away.  I turned my head around to do a quick glance over to make sure everyone was buckled in and A-OK when to my surprise Solomon was not A-OK.  He was silent, obviously choking, pale face, red watery eyes.  It was the scariest moment.  I put the van in park, in the middle of her street, jumped out, ran around the car, stuck my finger into his mouth/throat and pulled out a LONG straw paper wrapper.  He then started to cough/cry.  I felt so much relief.  He must have had it clenched in his little tiny fist when I buckled him in and then put it in his mouth when I was done.  Now, here's some background.  When we moved out here Jake faced Solomon forward to be able to situate the seats just so to fit all our belongings.  Solomon is just about 25lbs so I figured it'd be fine and I'd just switch him back when we got here.  Wel...

(above is a picture I took while waiting for Jake at BAMC, Brooke Army Medical Center) I always thought I understood what being patriotic meant, I mean, I am after all the wife of an American Soldier. Sure, Jake's never been deployed, but I still felt like I got it, like I could relate and sympathize. I was wrong. Being here has opened my eyes to an entire world I was basically oblivious to.  The whole country is oblivious to.  If not oblivious, it's not on the forefront of their minds.   We are at war. A war that is sending home so many wounded.  Wounded not only physically, but mentally and emotionally as well.  I guess I just wish the entire country could experience what I'm experiencing here, a true eye-opening experience.  I'm seeing burn victims and amputees daily, some that are so so young is mind boggling.  I am so proud to be an American, proud of those who serve, and hope that we can all not forget that we are still ...

I'm starting to think my son has an angel companion. When we won't let him do something he says, "My grandma say yeah" When we tell him he needs to do something he says, "My grandma say no" Cries after getting in trouble, walks around wanting his "grandma." Today Jake and I just had to hide our chuckles as he told us, "My grandma say yeah" I texted Jake the other day "if I hear "my grandma say yeah" one more time..." I don't know what Grandma he speaks of, but she's got to be one awesome lady to be the answer to all his life problems.  I hope to meet her, this "grandma" he speaks of.  She's obviously a saint.

A conversation, late at night, after all the kids are asleep, could calm all my fears. I love my husband.  I love our relationship and friendship. I still wish things were more definite with our future, but I know we'll be A-OK. I fasted and prayed yesterday, fasted for our future, and I haven't done that (fasted) in quite a long time, but I needed it.   I felt so much peace.   I felt my faith strengthened.   I know that the Lord is aware of our needs.  I am grateful for that knowledge. So bring on packing and driving back across the country, bring it.    (random recent pictures of the kids, just because)

Poor Solomon Roy is always getting pummeled by his siblings.  They don't mean to knock him over, step on him, kick him as they try and step over him.  Man, this poor boy takes a lickin' and keeps on SMILIN'! I finished my "feel great in eight" challenge on Monday.  I lost 20lbs in 8 weeks.  20lbs was my goal but I admit I was disappointed and wanted to lose more.  I seriously need to just be more grateful.  I'm working on it.  10lbs to pre-baby #4 weight.  Here's to drinking more water and counting those calories. We leave for FL this Saturday, THIS Saturday.  We've decided to go and stay with my Mom and Brody so that Jake's closer to interviews and we can be all set-up for when it's time for him to start law school again.  It'll be cramped, but we're accustomed to that by now, right? Thinking about packing up our hotel room is SCARY.  It's like moving all over again but only having the back of a mini-van to fit it all ...

Beau leaves for the Navy on November 8th.  He should get his license in the next couple weeks.  In the meantime he is enjoying fun in SW Louisiana doing all kinds of country boy/Cajun stuff.  Deer hunting and hog hunting, shoe-less, but that's just how he rolls. Brody is playing football, taking algebra 1, and being a handsome 8th grader.  He loves going to school where our Mom teaches.   Keep up the good work, boys, we love you!

 Last week I took the girls with me to get my hair done.  We went to a local beauty school for some cheap pampering.  It took about 5 hours, but we had fun.  I love outings like this with my girls.

 We had an AMAZING date night. We saw Ronnie Dunn (of Brooks and Dunn) in concert at a small San Antonio (non-smoking) venue. We 2-stepped the night away and enjoyed a much needed date night.  Seriously, best date in a LONG (long) time.  I loved dancing with Jake, it reminded me of when we were dating and would practice swing dancing in the park by my liberty square apartment. Thanks Amylyn and Michael for babysitting on such short notice!  Y'all are amazing!

 Baby horses and Daddy horses were rode MULTIPLE times.   This little school bus car acted as their own roller coaster, hands up and squeals all around. This weekend Jake found a carnival park full of refurbished antique carnival rides.  The kids loved it.  I loved how small it was and how they were able to just run from ride to ride with their little wrist bands.  Malachi sweetly asked me to ride the carousel over and over with him.  He always chose the same horses for us.  Thanks Jake for planning our fun family outing!

 Tonight I texted my friend and told her I had a "long good day" and I DID and LOVED it. We went to a local nursery with Aunt Carol and visited their pumpkin patch, hay maze, and jump house.  The kids LOVED it.  Mali Su LOVED the hay maze and was not scared by the decorations at all.  Aunt Carol told me she put her face right up to a plastic skeleton and asked it, "are you real?"  Malachi thought jumping and falling dramatically was AWESOME.  He LOVES his soldier hat and at Wal-Mart tonight asked a "soldier girl" if she had a soldier hat like him.   Aimi Lark LOVED putting her head in all these cut-outs.  She was "boo-ing" like a ghost in this one, ADORABLE.  I love my happy children.  I love "long happy days" and lunch at Chick-Fil-A, Thanks Aunt Carol! Today we were in the van often.  I found myself rolling down the windows and turning up the radio and rocking out with the kids.  I looked in th...