What's Cookin?: Battle...and Change.

My father-in-law asked me to start my blogging back up when I was there this Summer. It was a battle I had been fighting with myself for months. He passed a few short weeks later, but I would like to keep the promise I made him. Here's my next try guys! Keep holding me accountable!

The girls with Pop back in April

The Summer was filled with lots of traveling as always, and a bit of sorrow along the way. David's father lost his battle to Pancreatic Cancer in July. We spent a good deal of time in Texas with his parents before he passed and made some great memories to last us. We came back to NC just in time for my busiest season with work, and for us girls to have 1 last week with the DeCicco's. The DeCicco family had become like another arm to us. The girls were best friends, Laura and I were best friends, and we did everything together. Alas, the Army bubble popped and they moved the second week of August to Fort Campbell Kentucky. No worries though, for I definitely see ROADTRIP in the future! (You know the Cook's are always up for it!) Fall has definitely greeted us with a number of changes. The Zielenski's moved as well to Alaska at the beginning of September, and the Whaley's will be leaving us for Georgia in October. Thus the Army life! Oh and did I mention the Jorgensen's (Diantha is Gracie's friend and Layla is Anastyn's friend.) will be moving off post next month too. BOO to you Tianna and John!!

Back from Texas, having a lemonade stand with Mick

School started for the girls. Gracie was very apprehnsive at first, as she switched schools this year, but she is settling in and is being monitored for the Gifted program. This excites and frightens us all at the same time! (MORE WORK!)

Gracie's First Day

Anastyn of course still loves school. She had quite an adjustment at first with Caroline (the one who moved to Alaska) being gone. They have been in the same class for the last 2 years, and she said "It just doesn't feel right without Caroline being there with me!"

Anastyn's First Day

My girls are learning the ways of the Army life. People move in and out in the blink of an eye. Friends come and go, but family remains. We have made so many wonderful friends in the last two years. Our neighborhood is amazing! We have a group of families that we all hang out together all of the time. Cliff jumping, JEEP mudding, four-wheeler riding, trail hiking, picnicking, you name we will do it together. Blessed. We are just so very blessed.

I love these girls!!!

Our latest project has been to replant all of our grass, get rid of the MOLE that destroyed the first round of grass, (so far we have been unsuccessful) and to extend the patio so that all of our friends can fit. We are also busy decorating for Fall, and enjoying the cooler evenings outside on said patio! That's it for now guys... I will keep you posted on the War of the Mole! David and Jake have declared war, you should see them out there at night with their head lamps!! Who's gonna win???