Well Hello There Again Stranger....

I was sitting here and I realized that I haven't written in my poor neglected blog since July! There has been so much that has happened! August brought school back to the Harmer House! Katie Beth started her second year of Pre-K at a new school! The elementary school on base has a Pre-K program and she got in! That was a HUGE blessing, because she would have gotten sick of having to hang out with me all year! I also decided that I would go back to school this year! I've just finished my first semester and it's been surprisingly great! Chris also got to go to Guyana in South America for a humanitarian aid trip! He had a wonderful time and got to help a ton of people! YAY for healthy teeth! :o) The best part was everyday when they would take the bus to the clinic for work, he would pass a church meetinghouse and would see missionaries tracting! He said I sent them. LOL!

September was interesting....Chris put in his application for the Medical Service Corps commissioning program. Four years of school and a whole bunch of preparation for the application (there was an application for the application) all came down to this! So we got to sit and wait....

October was no fun here at our house. Well the beginning of the month was, Chris's cousins Brian and Erin came for a short visit from Kentucky! Chris and Katie Beth took them all around St. Louis and had a great time! Now I said Chris and Katie Beth, because I was in bed with a fever! The girls and I all got the flu! The clinic here wasn't testing for H1N1, so we never found out for sure what it was, but we had all of the fun symptoms. It pretty much overtook our house for the rest of the month! I was sick for 3 whole weeks! Luckily the girls were each only sick for a week, and somehow it completely bypassed Chris! (No Fair!)

November brought my favorite holiday! I LOVE Thanksgiving, but I REALLY LOVE Thanksgiving when we can make it to Chris's Aunt Karen's house! We always have so much fun spending the night before and the whole day of cooking and then just sitting around talking and eating! The girls have a great time just spending time with the family too!

Now that brings us to December and the CRAZINESS that comes with it! Well it is a little crazier for us this year because we found out that Chris got his commission!!!! It's been what he has worked the past 6 years of his career to get to! We are so proud of him, I don't even think I can put it into words!!! The crazy part of it is that he has to be at school by January 9th! That means outprocessing and getting everything taken care of that comes with moving before he leaves! It's been stressful, but I wouldn't have it any other way! The bummer is that we have to leave Illinois. We will be going to Davis-Monthan AFB in Tucson, Arizona in February after he is done with Commissioned Officers Training. It's a whirlwind, but such a blessing!

Hopefully I can post more and keep everyone that reads this updated, but I do a better job of doing that on my obsession with Facebook! LOL! I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas! I'll be sending out cards WAY late, but I figured then I can give everyone our new address at the same time!

I thought vacation was supposed to mean time to Relax?

I figured I would update before things got crazy...again. HA! July going into August is going to be pretty busy for us! Katie's last day of school was June 30th. We're really going to miss the group we had this year! They are all pretty much scattering since their school closed, but we're going to try and keep in touch. They had a HUGE end of the year picnic. One of the moms from her class decided that we needed to have some fun, so we got them a bouncy castle, a blow up water slide, pools, and 2 slip and slides. Top that off with tons of food, water balloons and guns, sand art and an ice cream bar and you have one heck of a mess! The kids had a blast though so all of the work was worth it in the end.

Chris takes the dreaded GMAT next Friday. I want to have a party just for that to be over! I know he's looking forward to not studying for the next few months! The next day, the 11th, we leave on our 2 week vacation to Arizona!!! We are so excited, because this is the first year we won't have to worry about homework and studying on vacation! YAY! I think my parents might be a little happy to see the girls too! They are so excited for the plane ride! Abby keeps walking around saying "airplane" everytime she sees one on TV! I'm just glad to have Chris there with me this time!

Then, when we get back we have 4 days and Chris leaves on his "deployment." Now I say deployment with the quotations around it, because it's only for 2 weeks, and wait for it.....to South America! They are making him outprocess and stuff like a deployment, but it's only for 2 weeks! Go figure! He's going to be doing Humanitarian Aid, doing dental work for the people in Guyana. He's so excited, because he has been wanting to do something like this for a while! They are not going to be slumming it though, I saw their hotel and the city they are going to be staying in! Gorgeous!!! They have a 9 hour layover on the way home in Trinidad, so he gets to lie out on a beach and go hiking! They are already planning a fishing trip! Lucky huh?

Well things here are going well as you can see, school will start for Katie, Chris, and myself hopefully at the end of August and playdates for Abby! Church and work are keeping both of us busy, and this next two months will be a welcome treat for all of us! I'm hoping to update while we are gone, but if not I'll post pictures and details when we get back! Happy Summer everyone!

Boojiboo Flirty Apron GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

Boojiboo Flirty Apron GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

Summertime and the living's easy.....

HA! Yeah right!!! Things around here as always have been crazy! (Sense a theme?) we have had SO MUCH going on the past few months, now when things are slowing down I don't really know what to do with myself!

I guess we can start with Mother's Day! I got something I have wanted for a while....you know one of those things you would never buy yourself....I finally got my Coach purse! YAY!!!! I love it like it was one of my kids....sad. After that was Katie's first recital!!! She was such a ham on stage and loved every second of it! Then came Katie Beth's birthday! My baby is 4 now! I can't believe it! She got a bike and into pre-K at the school on base! (Okay, so the Pre-K thing was more for me....) My parents came to town for Chris' promotion ceremony. He FINALLY put on Staff! WOO HOO for that! I was excited to see them, but I think Chris was way more excited! He hadn't seen my parents since last July, because of the deployment and all of that! Then was my birthday! I hit the big 25! Chris likes to remind me that I'm halfway to 50....he's mean. We went out on the town the next night with his friends and my parents! Dancing and food! Two of my favorite things!

So now it brings us to these past few weeks! Field trips and not much else. LOL! Katie Beth's school ends June 30th and then we have to find something to keep these kids busy so I don't go crazy! Abby is growing like a weed....the kid is wearing stuff Katie wore last summer!!! It's weird to me. She has more hair than Katie! I don't know what to do with a kid that has hair! I'm still hoping to get started in school if I can find a program I want! Chris graduates June 21st with his bachelors and then September is the month he puts in his package for the commission YAY!!! I'll try and get a few pictures up of the girls later today! Here's one of Ballerina Katie Beth!

The Nut House

Things here are CRAZY, but we are good!

Katie is just learning so much at her school!!! She can write all of her letters, her first and last name, everyone in the family's name and tons more! The kid read me a book yesterday!!! I couldn't believe it! I'm so bummed the base isn't continuing with the preschool program next year, cause she loves her teachers! Hopefully we'll get her in with the school district or somewhere else. She needs it and I do too! I'm used to my running errands with one kid time! It's nice!

Abby is changing so much. She's looking more like a big girl than a baby now....sort of depressing! Running, jumping, talking up a storm! When she wants to get picked up she says "Up Please?" Very polite at least! She's having some health issues lately, but she's dealing with it all with flying colors!

Chris is just insane. The only way to describe it! He's in ALS right now (Airman Leadership School) and taking some of the last classes needed for his Bachelor's degree! (YAY June 21st) He's going to be starting some new stuff when he goes back to the clinic that he is very excited to get into, and he's starting to get his commissioning package together! So hopefully we'll know by December if we're moving!

I'm just same old same old! Busy with my calling at church and starting to work with the Phoenix Spouse program here at the base! It's pretty exciting work and I hope we can start helping military families who are being discriminated and pushed around! In doing all of this work with the base, I'm starting to change my mind on my major AGAIN! So who knows what I'll decide to be when I grow up! I'm just having fun being the girls' mama right now!

So that's what's been up with the family! Hopefully it won't be this long before I can update you all again! And yes Shelly I will put some new pictures up soon! LOL!

We need a bubble!!!

So my family seems to catch everything this past month. Seriously there hasn't been a day since Chris got home that everyone has been healthy!!! I had the dreaded Iraqi cold ( that's what we call it) for going on 3 weeks now! I got sick like 3 days after he came home and that was it! Now Katie is sick with an ear infection and goodness knows what else and Abby is on her way too. Even poor Chris who I thought was the sole survivor has sadly been struck down today. The Harmer home just needs to be quarantined!

On the other hand I have decided to rededicate myself to all things churchy. I haven't been fulfilling my callings like I should, so now that Chris is home I have no excuse! I got to meet and plan out a bunch of activities today so I'm pumped for the next few months! I took some pictures of us since Chris has been home! I promise! I just need to upload some! Anyway I better go take care of my sick babies!

Some before the Deployment pictures!

Here are a few pictures of Katie's first day of school and her first dance class back in September! Hopefully I'll have some more updated ones soon!

Abby's First Birthday!!!

I can't believe what a year this has been. I mean I never would have dreamed so much could have happened in such a short span. When I think about it, it blows my mind that all of this has happened in Abby's lifespan! Her whole life has been as crazy as my one year!

The first half of the deployment!

Well, we're over halfway now! It's all downhill from here! With the holidays coming up and us going to Arizona for 3 weeks, I'm hoping it just flies by! Here are some pictures of randomness throughout the first 2 months!

Just killing time!

1. Where did you meet your husband? His sophomore year and my junior year of high school. We had actually been in the same Arts and Humanities class most of the semester and had never noticed each other (He says he noticed me) until the last 3 weeks! Our dance teacher paired us as partners, and we've been together ever since!



2. How long did you date before you got married? About 3 years!


3. How long have you been married? 5 years :)


4. What does he do that surprises you? He can't keep a secret from me very well, so not much! LOL! He did get me tickets to see my mom last Christmas, because he knew how homesick I was!


5. What is your favorite feature of his? His eyes

6. What is his best quality? He's just hilarious! I love his sense of humor!


7. Does he have a nickname for you? Not really actually?

8. What is his favorite food? Steak!

9. What is his favorite sport? Football 110%!

10. When and where did you first kiss? On our first real date on the way home! In the back of his friend's car!

11. What is your favorite thing to do as a couple? Watching movies or going on road trips!


12. Do you have any children? 2 wonderfully crazy girls! Katie Beth and Abby


13. Does he have any hidden talents? He's a business genius!!! I really think he knows more than he puts out!

14. How old is he? 23 :o)


15. Who said 'I love you' first? He did! I was too shy to make the first move!

16. What is his favorite music? It depends on his moods....just like me!

17. What do you admire most about him? He's always trying to help people and will do whatever it takes to get what needs to be done, done. Even if it means working all night! He loves his family and friends and will give you the shirt off his back.


18. What is his favorite color? Blue


19. Will he read this? Nope probably not unless he gets bored!


20. Who do you tag? Whoever reads this that wants to do it! Maybe Shelly?

Updates and such!

This has been seriously the most exciting and fast paced year I think we have ever had! With the move, Abby Grace coming, Honor Guard and the deployment it's just been nuts....not to mention potty training which is a whooooole other craziness in itself. I'm so grateful that we are where we are and I know there was a reason behind it all. This time last year I was so miserable and couldn't figure out why we would be sent here. It's pretty safe to say I hated it here. I cried everyday for "home" (being San Angelo) and the people that I left behind. Shoot and the people that left me behind! LOL!!!

I think we are finally getting into a routine here with our ward and meeting some friends. It took almost a year and a half, but we're there. The whole situation that happened when Abby was born really changed my outlook on a lot of things. I realized that you need to be happy in the moment, because you never know when someone you love might be taken from you or when you might be taken from them! Chris being gone has really shown me that I can handle much more than I thought I could. Sicknesses from all sides, Abby learning new things, and new schedules with Katie Beth being in school and Dance are just some of the things that have kept me busy. I'm so grateful (and I don't normally get all churchy, so yeah) that I have a Heavenly Father who loves me so much, that I know he will take care of me no matter what. Everything that happens is for a reason and knowing this has given me the peace I need throughout all of the craziness. If I'm feeling stressed, I know I can just stop and have a little chat with my Heavenly Father and it sort of clears the way for me. I feel better and in turn I guess I'm nicer to my kids....goodness knows I need to be! So yeah I really don't know what the point of the post was, but there you go! Hopefully I can get pictures up soon enough!

I just can't believe my little baby girl is one. I'll have to make a separate post on the MANY changes we have going on with her!

5 years!!

So today is our 5th wedding anniversary! I can't believe it's been that long! It's wonderful though! He sent me these GORGEOUS purple orchids (when I get the memory card reader I will post them!) When he called last night to tell me goodnight on his way to work, it was already Saturday there! So now he says he can actually say he loves me more, because he's loved me 8 hours longer. Yeah he's a nerd! So our anniversary will be spend admiring my perty flowers and chowing down on leftover fried rice with my bebes! Chris'll be spending it working :o(

18 days down; 104 to go!

And we're back....

The girls and I went to Bowling Green this weekend for my cousin's wedding! It was GORGEOUS! I'm serious!!! It was just...yeah. Erin was so beautiful!!! Her dress was awesome! I was a wreck the whole night cause I was wishing Chris was there, and I know how badly he wanted to be there! Katie Beth had such a good time and I think she might have gotten a little bit of a crush on the ring bearer! LOL! He was an older guy....about 4. They danced together all night! He spun her around that dance floor like a pro! Hopefully I'll be able to post some pictures here in the next week or so when I finally figure out a way to upload my pictures without the stupid cord!!! UGH! But anyway Congrats to Brian and Erin!

The drive back was nuts though! The wind was horrible (thanks Ike.) and it was throwing the Blazer all over the road! I kept my cool though and got us home safely! Go me! So yeah! We're home now! YAY! I'll have Chris' address tonight if anyone wants it, let me know!

Harmer Family Portraits 2008!

He Did It!!!!!!!

I don't have much time since I have to go back out on the great little backpack search of 2008 for Katie Beth, but I would like to introduce Staff Sergeant Select Harmer!!!! Yes!!!!! He made it his first go round!!! I'm so proud of him!! More to come!

Lots of just Stuff....

So it's been a while since I've posted! Man there's a lot going on here! Tonight we're going to the library. The USO has a program that they will record Chris reading different books and then mail them to the girls on whatever day we ask! I think he's going to do one for Halloween, Thanksgiving, Abbie's birthday, Christmas (something from the Bible and then the Night Before Christmas) and then one for Katie Beth to watch before bed. They gave us a whole hour to do it! So then next week we find out if he made Staff. That's nerve wracking! Thursday is Katie Beth's first day of school!!! Isn't that crazy?! Then I go to the doctor Friday in St. Louis. He leaves at the beginning of September, so now it's just trying to get everything together for him to leave...Yay. Oh! I almost forgot! Abbie stood up for the first time on Sunday! I'll have to take a picture of it to post!

Keeping Busy

So, I decided that while Chris is gone I'm going to try and get the Enrichment program rolling here! I figure between the girls and doing that I'll be plenty busy! At least I hope I will be. Chris comes home late Sunday night and I think we're ready for it! The girls have been on and off with the craziness this past week, but we are finally hitting our stride....right before he comes home to wreck it! LOL It'll be worth a few days of craziness to have him with us for next month! We still don't know for sure when he is leaving. I guess they like to keep that for last minute as always! A guy across the street left a week before the day they had told him he was leaving so I guess it's whenever they need you. We're hoping he'll at least be here for Katie Beth's first day of school on August 21st. I'll make sure and take pictures for everyone! She asks me everyday when school starts. I think she's a little excited! Well we don't have many plans for this week....Dinner with some friends Wednesday night, visiting teaching on Thursday, then cleaning and getting ready for him to come home over the weekend! Shelly said she wanted a picture of me! This was the closest I had! Hahaha sad...

Back to Reality!

Well we're home from our vacation :o( It was a lot of fun, but coming back means it's closer to when he has to leave....Chris left Sunday morning for 2 weeks of training at Ft. Dix in New Jersey. The poor girls miss him so much already! I don't know what they'll do with 4 or more months! Abby just looks for him around the house and calls out for him, and Katie Beth asks for him first thing when she wakes up in the morning. He's gotten to call and talk to them already a bunch so that's been good for all of us! I didn't realize how much I was going to miss him either! I thought it would be cake since he was gone so much with Honor Guard, but this time is different I guess...Ugh! Anyway everyone here is great besides missing the Daddy! I'm going to try and find a sitter for the girls so I can get some errands done and doctor's appointments taken care of. There's a dinner tomorrow with some of the girls from the ward that I really want to go to, but of course I can't find a sitter! Story of my life huh? Who knows maybe something will pop up! I just want to get to know some of these women finally! I feel like I know maybe 2 people from the ward! It's a different feeling from where I came from! Well time for dishes and dinner! I'll try and add a slideshow of the trip later tonight after they are in bed!

Life has been INSANE!!!!!

Just wanted to do a quick update!! We've been in Arizona and California the past two weeks! We didn't get to see everything we wanted to, but there's always next time right? We've just been enjoying the little time we have left to spend together as a family before Chris has to leave. We go back to St. Louis tomorrow and Chris leaves for 2 weeks of training in New Jersey early on Sunday. Just getting myself prepared for the long road ahead! It's amazing all of the junk we have to get done before he leaves! I never thought there would be that much! Oh well I better get back to packing for the long flight home! I'm not ready to go, just because it means we are that much closer to when Chris leaves. :o( I'll be updating a lot more in the next 2 weeks!

I always knew this day would come....

So why am I still nauseous the next day? It hasn't really sunk in for me yet, but yesterday we found out Chris will be going to Iraq for 4-6 months leaving in September....It's a surreal feeling that I can't describe....Oh well I know I'll be okay and all I just worry about him. Katie will be in Preschool (hopefully) so I'll most likely be staying here. It just stinks more for the timing of when he's going! He'll be missing our 5th wedding anniversary, Halloween(Abby's 1st),Abby's 1st birthday,Thanksgiving, Christmas, Our 8th dating anniversary (yes it's dorky), and New Years! Ugh Just cruddy timing! Oh well I'll update as much as I can! We're all doing great here though! The girls are doing great! Abby is getting her two bottom teeth so that has been fun! More to come!