On the farm...

We are greeted with tractors carrying the greatest Pops. We are "living" without cable! We eat only fresh, whole foods. The kids race outside as soon as they can. We are ALWAYS dirty. We love our goats, donkeys, chickens, dogs, and kittens. I HATE HATE HATE snakes, spiders, and scorpions. We have our own space to be our own little family... Where we wait for daddy to get home too. We eat reallllllly well. We sleep even better! We don't have a dishwasher, which helps with my dispise of unloading the dishwasher. We try to not to forget we don't have a garbage disposal too. We really AREN'T roughing it. Grammy's and Pops' is just over the hill. We have the cutest cottage I've ever seen. There's always something to do. We are thankful. 3 toddlers share a room. There's a huge pond to throw rocks in. We enjoy a nice swing under the biggest, shadiest tree. We never stay together. The kids end every day naked... Don't worry, I said just the kids! We have a lot of dirty, muddy laundry. My car is always dusty. Two puppies are always on my front porch. There are so many bright stars. It's peacefully peaceful.

Dear Hunter

I cannot believe you are already turning three yearS old. This year has been a complete whirl wind, just like every year it seems like since you were born. You amaze me with your uniqueness and adaptability. You are a true blessing to me and your daddy. Thank you for being everything that you are... So completely perfect, funny, handsome, and smart. I love that you do everything different. The "typical" baby milestones mean nothing to me anymore.. You've set a new bar and although it's not the "norm" I wouldn't have it any other way. You are the reason for my smiles... And bruises on my legs because you MUST stand on them and then pretend to balance like a crazy boy. Thank you for making every aspect of our crazy military life a little easier. You've already been to 17 states and moved countless times yet no matter where we are you are still the same Hunter we all adore so much. A quick recap from 2 years to 3 years old: -Daddy got home from "classified" right before your 2nd birthday. -Vacationed in Colorado for a week before heading back home to Noryh Carolina to settle in for our longest timeframe yet. -You survived your first major hurricane(Irene). -You got Kawasaki disease and were in the hospital for 2 weeks where you received two ivig treatments and one blood transfusion. -Mrs. Teresa started coming to the house for weekly speech therapy sessions. -We were told you had Autism... To us it's just a word nothing more. -Your passion for movies grew... And grew! -You were Buzz Lightyear for Halloween. -We drove 24 hours to Texas for Thanksgiving, then to San Antonio, than back to Oklahoma for Christmas. -Your favorite gifts for Christmas were your trampoline, Buzz, and motorcycle! -Potty trained!!!! Super easy, thanks buddy! -Uncle Ryan drove us back to North Carolina to get home to daddy. -Crammed as much fun in with daddy as we could... Hotels, children's museums, swimming, and you finally realized you loved the beach. -You got to stay with just mommy and daddy when daddy left for deployment then we drove back to Oklahoma with Mimi. -Grammy and pops bought a farm with puppies, goats, donkeys and chickens! -You rocked your 3rd birthday party that was Toy Story themed. Your words right now are bye, hi, yeee haaa, heeee haaa for donkey, hot, ball, buzz, momma(sometimes). And you can act out all of your favorite movies which are Toy Story 1,2,&3, Wall-E, Up, Tangeled, megamind(you are hilarious in this movie), and several others but mommy's drawing a Disney blank right now). You are the pickiest eater... I can't honestly say what you eat anymore besides rice krispies. Sometimes you love spaghetti and meatballs, hot dogs, and quesadillas. You wish you could live on chips but sadly mommy will never buy another bag of chips again because of your love for them. If any dessert has icing on it, you'll only eat the icing. If anyone takes a bite of something you don't like or if the dogs eat food out of someone's hand you will literally gag and throw up! You are so indenpendent and "tell" me everything you want with your actions(use your words buddy). Socks annoy you as do most shoes. You usually strip when we go outside, but I guess you just want an even tan. Animals love you and you love them. Your kisses are heart melting and when you put your arm around me and lay your head down I want to hold you forever. Hunter, you truly are the best little boy. There is nothing about you that I would ever change. You have taught me so much and I want to thank you for just baring with me while I figure this whole mommy thing out. Thank ou for being so very patient with your sisters. I'm sorry they take up so much of my time but they adore you, buddy. And one day... Or every now and then I think you'll really enjoy having siblings so close in age. You all three will have each others backs and will never team up on mommy :) I tell you every night before prayers how proud I am of you. This pride will only grow my sweet boy. Happy birthday baby!