Friday, November 25, 2011

Homecoming...

I am finally able to post about Eric's homecoming!  (if you are on my facebook, you've probably already seen most of these pictures... but if not, they're are a lot!)

Garet, Colin and I all headed to Blue Skies in Morehead (if you are keeping track, that would be two weekends in a row!  =)  sweet!)  and waited for my parents to arrive.  Blue Skies is about 45 minutes from Camp Lejeune (where my brother is stationed) in Jacksonville.  Once my parents got there, we ate dinner, put Colin to bed, and started working on our banner to welcome Eric home!

It says "Welcome Home LCPL ERIC DAVIS", we painted it green, then did glow in the dark paint around the letters.  Since Eric was coming in around 6 pm we wanted him to see it!

The next day Garet and Dad worked in the yard.... Mom and I played with Colin and got things together for that night.  At about 2:30 we loaded up and headed to Camp Lejeune!  (Colin went down for his afternoon nap, but decided he was way too excited to do any sleeping)  When we got there, we got checked in at the gate then went to hang our banner.  I got pictures, but you really couldn't see it too well.  A little farther down from ours, I found the one Kailey did...

Then we headed to Kailey and Eric's house. 
Kailey was getting herself and Morgan ready (remember this was the first time Eric got to meet Morgan!)  Everyone else was just hanging out.... the race was on, Colin was having a snack, the dogs were running around, kids were playing with toys...

At 5 we headed to where we were going to see Eric!!
When we got there we all unloaded and started heading to the building... and we noticed that Kailey left her door open....

... and was off to see her husband!
haha
We got a kick out of that!  No time to shut the door... she was ready!
Here is the crew heading towards the building.  (Garet, my mom, Colin, Rachel, my dad, Gary, Dana, their three kids (Jordan, Teagen, and Trenton), Kailey and Morgan)

We decided we didn't want to sit in the room that was provided, so we all hung out outside.  Colin ate his dinner and had fun playing in the yard with sticks...

And wanted to get through the gate where Eric was going to be...

We were all so excited!  My mom and I went to the bathroom to change Colin and when we came out we about ran down the hall, just in case Eric was there!  We didn't want to risk missing anything!  We got word that Eric was right on schedule to arrive at 6. 

So... at 6 we were all gathered in the yard looking and listening for any sign of a bus.  At about 6:15 we heard a bus, and then we saw headlights!!

It was so indescribable the feeling!  A mix of nervousness, excitement, happiness, everything just all rolled into one!  Kailey said she felt like it was her wedding day!  So ready to see her husband and introduce him to their beautiful baby girl!

Once the bus got there, you could see the Marines getting off and walking into the gated yard (that Colin was trying to get into!) so they could get their bags, and check their guns, and get some instructions.


And FINALLY they started heading toward the gate door!  Kailey immediately said, "I see him!"

And at last...







It was, by far, the sweetest sight!  After a few minutes (which at the time seemed like a long time!), Eric looked up at the rest of us and we all got our hugs in!


Then, I think everyone breathed a sign of relief.  Eric's here.  Eric's home.  Eric's safe.  Eric got to meet his daughter and see his wife.  Eric looks so good.  HE'S BACK!  Kailey and Eric walked to get their car so they could load his bags.  That's my dad in the front with Eric's bags, and the reunited couple walking away.

Once everything was loaded, we were able to get a few more pictures before we left this sweet little family alone!

Eric couldn't take his eyes off Morgan.  It was so precious!  And she was so good.  She woke up right before he got here, and was just as interested in him as he was her!


Kailey turned Morgan around to look at her Daddy, and she just smiled!  I could have melted!  Love at first sight!


And this is my favorite!  Love these three!!

I am getting emotional just reliving it as I type!  What a HAPPY Thanksgiving!  We are so blessed to have Eric back home!

Sunday, November 20, 2011

HAPPY {early} Thanksgiving...

Guess who is home????????????????

MY BROTHER!!!!!!!!!!!

Surprise! 

He was able to come home early from his deployment to Afghanistan!

Kailey told us (me and my parents) about 2 months ago... but we couldn't say anything.  And like Eric said, nothing is definite until I am on that plane!  So, we have kept our mouths shut.  Last time he was home, Morgan wasn't born yet! 

Don't worry I have plenty of pictures to share!  I am just beside myself with excitement!!!! 
PRAISE GOD! 

(these pictures were taken from before Eric left, at the end of June.  I put this together before we came to welcome Eric home.  I wanted to have something to post =)  I will have the homecoming pictures soon)

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Sunrise at Blue Skies...


Isn't God amazing?!
How gorgeous is this sunrise? 

We all packed up and went to Blue Skies (Garet's mom's house in Morehead, NC) for a few days.  Every morning there was a breathtaking sunrise, every day was beautiful, and every evening the sunset was just as awesome! 
Check out this picture... if I flipped it you wouldn't be able to tell which was sky and which was ocean...

Colin has an awesome internal alarm clock that wakes him up at 6 every morning... so with baby on hip, I set out on the deck to get some amazing shots.

I went back out a couple more times to see the sun peek through

Sweet boy...


Isn't he just the cutest ever?!?!

I was playing around with my pictures and did this the other day.  Colin was 13.5 months old.  Don't you just love his curls?!  What a crazy head of hair!  =)

So in love...

Friday, November 11, 2011

Birthday...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!!!!

Today is my dad's birthday!  I am so glad Colin and I were able to celebrate with him (a couple days early!)  I found these pictures....
September 2010

September 2011 

Very similar =)
I love you Dad!!!  Happy Birthday!  You are the best dad, and the BEST papaw ever!!
Not only is today my dad's birthday, but it is also Veteran's Day!  I am so thankful to all our military - but I'm especially thankful for this guy:

My brother with the United States Marine Corps.  Can't wait to for him to get home!! 

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Charlotte visit...

Colin and I went to Charlotte for a few days this week.  We got there Sunday afternoon and left Wednesday afternoon.  Here we are enjoying snack time, with a new hat on, of course.

My mom went to work Monday night, but before she left Colin had to show her the lights on his truck...

I went out to dinner with one of my best friends, Christy, after I put Colin to bed.  My dad listened to the monitor while I was gone =) 

The next morning my mom was watching Colin... I grabbed my camera and went to see what they were up to.  Colin was playing the piano!  How cute is he?! 

That afternoon we had a visit with this sweet girl!

and her mama!  It is so amazing how fast babies grow!  I totally see Eric when I look at her now!  What an angel!  Colin was very interested!  He was very careful when he approached Morgan... they are going to be such good friends!

Me and Kailey with our babies =)

We spent the afternoon outside... it was beautiful!! 

Colin LOVES to be outside!  My dad was doing some yardwork, so Colin helped

He also got to play in the leaves!  He had a blast!


We had such a great time visiting my family!