Disney World!

On Sunday March 18th we left Virginia to begin our trek back down to sunny Florida.

But we weren't going home.

We were going to Disney World to spend a week celebrating our wedding anniversary (early because I had the time off work) and Chris coming home safely to me.

If you know me, you know that when I go on vacations, I plan out every SINGLE minute.

Especially in Disney World, there's so much to do, you can't go without a plan.

I had been planning this vacation since December.

We drove most of the day Sunday and then stopped about an hour outside of Disney Sunday night to get some rest.

Monday morning we woke up bright and early and drove to Disney.

We checked into our hotel and then Chris and I spent the day in Magic Kingdom.

We did a whole bunch of rides and pretty much just enjoyed our first full day alone together since he had been back.

And he slowly put on his "picture face" to get ready for a weeks worth of picture snapping.

Tuesday morning we woke up bright and early to pick up my brother and Sam from the airport as they would be joining us for the rest of the week.

Let me just say how excited I was to be able to spend four whole days with them on vacation! 

We spent the day in Universal Studios since Chris loves that theme park and it's one of my favorites.

It was an absolutely gorgeous day and we had such a great time together!

Wednesday we spent the day in Animal Kingdom, one of my favorite parks since I'm in love with animals. 

I love them all and I never get sick of seeing them.

I could go to the zoo every weekend and thoroughly enjoy myself.

We also got Joey to go on a roller coaster and he LOVED it.

We couldn't get him off them the rest of the time!

Mission accomplished.

We finished out the day with dinner in the Magic Kingdom followed by their amazing firework show.

Thursday we spent all day in Hollywood Studios.

 We had another great day, it was beautiful and we rode on all the rides. 

I also met up with one of my high school friends, Lauren who also happened to be in Disney World for the week.

It was nice to see her since her hubby is getting stationed in Japan in a couple months and I won't be able to see her for a couple years. 

Friday morning we met up with my mom and Fred (they came down for the day) early to go to Animal Kingdom to do the Safari ride once with them.

Afterwards, we headed over to Epcot and spent the day there.

While We Were Home

After Chris got home we were lucky enough to be able to spend 5 days in Northern Virginia with our family.

It was so nice for the both of us, seeing as that is one of the bad things about living in Florida.

It's not like we can take a weekend trip up to VA to visit friends and family, so when we have the opportunity we relish it.

The day after Chris came home was my brother 21st birthday.

Let me just say, it was an odd feeling seeing my little brother be able to legally order a drink. 

It made me feel old, I always think of him as the little boy tinkering around which tools and taking things apart.

Although, he's far from a little boy, he's grown into quite the handsome man and he makes me so proud to call him my little brother.

For any of you who know my brother and Chris, you know that when they are together they are in their own world.

They have a ball together.

So it was great to see them back together again.

I organized a birthday/coming home surprise dinner for Chris and Joey.

My mom and Fred flew in from Florida.

My aunt and uncle drove up from North Carolina.

My dad and Cindy also joined us.

The only sad part of the evening was that my sister and her boyfriend couldn't be there.

But the look on Chris' face when we walked into the restaurant and he saw everyone there was priceless.

I also threw a little welcome home party for Chris.

It was small and lovely.

I can't thank my dad and Cindy enough for letting us have it at their house and all they did to prepare for the party.

My stepsister and her husband came up from New Jersey to celebrate with us, so that was so much fun.

Also, my sister and her boyfriend flew in from New York to surprise Chris. 

It was so great to see them both.

Words can't explain how much I miss my siblings so any amount of time we get to spend together, I cherish.

The following day was a beautiful spring day in Virginia so we all went to my brothers and his girlfriends house for brunch and just to hang out.

It was a gorgeous day and they live on 100 acres of land so we had some fun hanging out soaking up the sunshine.

They brought out their four wheelers and guns.

I took a ride on the four wheeler with Sammie and shot a gun for the first time.

The boys shot skeet, drank some beers and raced around like madmen on the four wheelers.

I'm Backkkk

I'm back. 

Chris came home on March 13, 2012 around 1030 that evening.

Life has been crazy since then.

But it was one of the best days.

I can't even begin to describe the feeling of seeing your loved one walking off the bus.

The feeling of hugging your new husband who has been fighting for our country for the past 7 months.

The sparks that fly during that first kiss.

How you don't want to leave his side for awhile after he gets home.

I literally slept glued next to him. 

I can't possibly describe the feeling of seeing my husband walk off that bus and running into his arms.

But i will say this,

All those lonely nights and the pain of missing him;

it disappeared and was forgotten the second I saw him.

It made everything worthwhile.

Just to be back in his arms again.