Home! Finally.

I can finally say, this deployment is over. :)
Sarge landed Wednesday afternoon. It was cold, and rainy, and Mini Sarge flipped out when all the cheering started, but it was a good day.

I totally feel like Jessica Rabbit, only blonde and with a purple dress, in this picture, lol.

We started out by leaving immediately after Mini Sarge woke up from his nap. I put his shirt and shoes on and threw him in the car, which was nice and toasty. We drove down to the designated location and got onto the bus that would taxi us to the airfield. I thought he would be more difficult to deal with on the bus, but he did very well. We got inside and he ran around the hangar. 
At first, time was going sooo slow, and I was cursing wearing heels and this dress. But, the next thing I knew, the plane was landing and we were asked to take our seats so we could start.
For those who have never been, the welcome home ceremonies go as follows.


--Families arrive 2 hours before scheduled flight lands. This is to make sure that everyone is there, in case the plane is early. 
--15 minutes or so before the plane lands, families are allowed to go outside and watch the soldiers exit the plane.
--Soldiers go into a separate building, drop off their stuff, and get into formation. Families return inside.
--Hangar doors open, soldiers march in. They are not allowed to look at you. You must restrain your children from running out and pouncing on them.
--A person or two gives a speech. Everyone curses them in their heads for not talking faster.
--Soldiers are released for 15 minutes or so.
--Soldiers get back in formation, families return to seats. 
--Soldiers exit and get on buses.
--After they have left the airfield, families are allowed to get back on buses.
--Get in your car, drive down to x-location and chat and wait for soldiers to be released. Generally, this takes about 1.5-2 hours.
--Finally get your loved one, and go the eff home.


Luckily, we live about a mile or so from Sarge's work, so we came home and got something to eat and got Mini Sarge bathed. Unfortunately, he was a bit worked up, so bedtime was a bit later than usual, but it wasn't bad. 
Sarge and I ate and he passed out early. He ended up waking up at 3:30 the next morning, ready to go... and I got up with him, even though I didn't fall asleep until almost midnight, ha. I was such a zombie yesterday. 
He's on day 2 of his mandatory 7 day reintegration stuff. After that, it's back to work until block leave. But, hey, I'm not complaining. He's home, right? :)

:/

I think this is the most sad I've been the entire deployment, which makes no sense considering how close we are to done.
I guess the first few weeks, and the last few weeks are always the hardest.


My biggest frustration lately has been planning an outfit to pick him up in. I know that sounds incredibly ridiculous. How hard could it be? It's just clothes.
It is just clothes. However, if there is one thing I generally dress up for (because I am definitely a t-shirt and jeans girl), it's homecoming. There's something to be said about a little extra effort in my appearance after he's been gone a year. I don't want to be that girl in the hanger that looks like she rolled out of bed and came down (which, happens more than you might think).
The problem, this go around, is that I have a toddler. I have absolutely no problem dressing sexy, but sexy often means low neck lines and high heels--both things that could be disastrous with the right set of circumstances (um, bus ride and chasing a toddler around a plane hanger? Blah!). So, I've been trying to balance something sexy with something practical... which leaves me feeling like a soccer mom.
I wanted to do a wrap dress, but Mini Sarge is not one to let momma try on clothes in the store--he just doesn't have the patience. And either having to ship something back or drive back to the mall to return it, just isn't appealing (although, I may end up at Kohls later this week if I can't come to terms with that I've picked out).
Then, when I do find something cute, I think "am I ever going to wear this again?" Frivolous spending when I still worked and we had tons of play-cash every month was not a big deal, but we are on a budget now. And $40+ on a top I might wear again sometime in the future isn't a wise purchase in my book.
Right now, I'm set on a pair of jeans, boots with a nice heel on them, and a lace trimmed tank top in a color he loves on me, with a cute sweater in case it's cold. 
I'm still very meh about it. :/


Another thing that has me down, is I haven't been able to work out in over a month! So, I feel lazy. And lazy makes me feel whaleish (even though I haven't gained a pound). 
I hurt my wrist (those who know me, know that this is a reoccurring injury that I've been dealing with for about 6 years now) and haven't been able to get it healed up before something happens again. Right now, the culprit is Mini Sarge. He keeps jumping off the couch, or running into me, or sitting (yes) on my wrist. I get okay, and he brings back the pain. x.x He's out to get me. I can't even push the stroller some days. -_-


I need a distraction for the next x amount of days (nope, can't and won't tell you. OPSEC nazi's would be beating down my door). I've got some errands that I've been putting off. Perhaps, I'll knock that list out.
Pray for my sanity!!! :)


<3