Nothing to add...

I don't have any more photos to share with you. I'm sorry, this one is just going to be a rant.
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So, Vanessa and Aurora went back to the USA to look at houses for when we leave the military lifestyle. I was the one who pushed for them to go, as I was healing from surgery and not much good to anyone. I also thought it might only be a temporary trip, and once the houses were looked at, they might come back. However, we not only found a house, but we bid on it and it will soon be ours. So...Vanessa (and Aurora) will stay with my parents in Indiana until she can sign for the house. That will make their stay longer than I was expecting.
The lonliness has set in, and I'm really unmotivated to do anything. I should be packing up my stuff, and selling anything we aren't going to keep, but I just can't find the drive to put one foot in front of the other. At work, I'm either bored, or trying to stay far below the radar. I did my job for the week today in about ten minutes, so I'll be hiding for the next three days. Then I come home to the house that holds so many fond memories, but is completely empty - save for me and our pet fish (that will be staying in Germany after we leave). So I come home, jump on the computer to see if anyone is online to talk to, then realize that it's naptime in Indy, and sadly return to the empty house.
I'm not trying to make anyone feel bad or sorry for me, afterall, I pushed for this "separation," but it sucks to not have my family with me. I miss my little girl playing with me, and my wife holding my hand while we watch our little one learn and grow. We try to talk most nights, but doing it online reminds me of being deployed...this feels like a half deployment. And I'm sad.
I know, I know, soon enough I'll be done here, and back with them. Then this will all be just a bad memory and I can start a new chapter in my life...in a new home...
It's just depressing to be me right now.

I guess I'll just have to get over it and move forward...limping all the way.

Happy I-know-it's-an-important-milestone-in-your-life-but-I'm-broken-and-can't -do-much-for-your Birthday to Vanessa

Today is Vanessa's 30th birthday, and how did we celebrate:

Breakfast in Paris?

Lunch in Berlin?

Dinner in Sweden?

NOPE!

Because I am broken (my leg is still recovering from a surgery last Monday) we weren't able to make many plans for the day, so we just hung out at the house most of the day. It allowed us to play with Aurora and I got this awesome photo of her laughing. It makes my heart melt seeing it everyday.

We did go out for a little while, and Vanessa took Aurora swimming. Here are some highlights:

1) Getting excited in the kiddy pool

2) Drinking the water then laughing about it

3) Discovering that what water goes up, must come down

4) Realizing the water is too deep, but walking on anyway (FEARLESS!)

5) Then mommy helps her float in the deeper end

It was a good time!

Happy Birthday, Mommy!

This is why I get out of bed each day, these two lovely ladies!!!

ULI

MADLY

CASH