Settling in

Well, it's been just over 3 months since Mark has been back. I think we're finally getting the sense of normalcy that most people have.

Mark's been to two of his 30-60-90 day re-integration sessions. This weekend he has one up in Chisholm. It's a celebration type weekend, where families come...they have parades and bbq's. Mark says he wouldn't make me go, because it's so boring...just a lot of talking I guess. So instead I have a date weekend with the little boy - Trooper that is.

We've done some landscaping/fixing up in the yard this summer. Had to re-do some pipe (PVC type) for water drainage, since we've been having some problems with water in our basement. We also got new windows, so that's helped a lot! Half of our yard is trying really hard to grow grass, but I think it's been over watered by this rain the past couple of days, we'll see if we get any little sprouts soon. It's funny the things you get excited over when you own a house :) It's nice that our house is finally starting to become our home.

Mark and I were talking about how much people helped out while Mark was gone. Between the care packages, taking care of the runt (t-dog), and keeping me company. It's kind of neat to see people drop their normal schedule to pitch in a little somewhere else....we both really appreciated it...and still do.

Mark is back in school. He has a year left after this semester is over. I signed him up for the most classes he could take, to try to get done earlier (without telling him of course :). It'll be nice to have the school thing behind him, that's for sure.

I've been thinking of grad school. I have to take some tests before I will even apply, so there is some time, but it's in the works hopefully.

Our little fluff. Don't let his cuteness fool you, he's still a tiny terror.

H, M + T-dog

Good times

Thanks to everyone who could make it out this past weekend. Good food and great company...we are lucky to have all of you in our lives.

Thank you also for the gifts that some of you brought over...it was a great surprise, and your generocity is appreciated! We got some great gifts, like personalized coasters withour pictures in them (and Troop has one too!), a scrapbook kit, delish bbq sauce/salsa, some glass bowls, lots of wine :) a neat wine stopper, and some sweet cards.

If partys weren't so much planning, we'd have you all over every month! Feel free to swing by and say hi anytime your in the area, now that you all know where the pad is.

Trooper told me too, that he loved all the attention. He's such a flirt.

Thanks again!
Mark and Heather

Ps....someone left a red Tupperware bowl (that had chex mix in it), and a plastic container that had potato salad. We ate the food, but still have the bowl :)...so feel free to claim it, and we'll get it back to you!

Mark's Welcome Home/Housewarming Partay

The time has come folks, 

This Saturday, we are having you over for a shin-dig to celebrate. We've got lots to celebrate...Marks homecoming, our new house, and of course Mr. T (the dog, who is shown above licking the dickens out of a yogurt container...as Mark says, "getting his active cultures..." smart guy). 

Where: Our digs- for an address, e-mail me at hj.pound@yahoo.com  I don't really want Joe shmo from the Internet stopping by on Sat, so i'm not going to put by address on here.

When: July 10th . 3pm -9ish 

What: Party, Pound style...whatever that might be.

It's open house style. Feel free to bring some food/appetizer or snacks to share, but do not feel like you need to...We will provide some Sloppy and Turkey Joes, chips/dip, fruit, desserts and some beverages....anything you think would accompany that, your welcome to bring. Again, if you can't/don't want to bring anything...don't feel obligated!
 
See everyone Saturday!

Catching up on life

These past couple weeks have flown by.

Mark and I have been so busy, but it's been good busy. My sister just got married this weekend, which turned out perfectly, as expected. Mark and I were talking about the upcoming week, and realized that we have everyday booked.
We're both kind of home-bodies, so that is not a good thing. Between work and plans every night, this girl is pooped! Is it wrong that we already can't wait for next weekend, and this one is barely finished?

We don't have much planned for the 4th, excpet the whole celebration of independence thing...you know how that goes. We're planning on going to the lake, taking it easy and maybe...only maybe, cleaning the house. The poor house hasn't cleaned itself yet, but we thought maybe if we leave it long enough, it might. Doesn't work that way I guess.

We still have to post Mark's pictures from Afghanistan, which will happen soon. As soon as we can make it happen. My laptop has taken a turn for the worse...and I'm clearly the keeper of the blog (hehe)..so i've got to figure out how to make the uploading happen without a laptop. I'm too impatient to sit at a desktop computer. I have to be doing 5 things at once to be functioning, so only when I have the laptop, can I make that happen.

So the entire point of this post is to tell you that we didn't forget about everyone, and are just coming to confess our business/laziness.

Later Gators.

H & M & T-dog

Honey, i'm home!

Well...it's good to be home. The whole homecoming took a long time, but went really fast once we got back . We flew from Camp Leatherneck- left two days late, to Kyrgyzstan- spent two days, to Romania- spent a day, to Maine, then Wisconsin, and finally to Minnesota.

Just as we passed the Minnesota/Wisconsin border, we were met by some Freedom riders and police escorts. I expected my family to meet me at the armory, but was really surprised to see my neighbors out to welcome me, and see our house all decorated. It was a nice surprise. Sounds like we have really good neighbors. They also welcomed us with a gift basket. It's nice to finally see my family again, see the house as "ours" (I saw it once before we bought it), and meet Trooper the terror (ok, he's not that bad). He only acts up when Heather gets home. It's nice for her though, because when she gets home, he's already kind of warn out. The first two nights home were tough for him, he didn't get much attention, therefore we didn't get much sleep.

Just want to say thank you to everyone who supported Heather and I and my unit with prayers, care packages, letters, cards.
Pictures below are of the homecoming...we will put up more pictures from the second half of my deployment next time. It's finally good to be home!

Neighbors decorating our house

This was the night before I was home, in addition to this, there was a "red" carpet, that the neighborhood kids decorated.

Heather and I

Flag hanging over the street from where our bus turned to the armory

What can I say, we're kind of popular

Here we come!

More veterans

neighbors gift basket

A warm welcome to the neighborhood

Ok, so Heathers making me post this. I don't like broccoli, and she made me eat it.

Cindy and I, Heather's mom.

The Pound clan

Heather's boss got us tickets to the Twins game the night after I got back.

Thanks again for everything!

Mark

It's official

Ok, so it's still Heather...no Mark yet, but...

Mr. Pound will be home this Wednesday! Woo Hoo!

Just thought everyone might want an update :)

H

Remember being 5-10 years old and going to Disney World?

The night before your going to get on a plane to Disney World, you can't sleep, sleep in your clothes because you already want it to be tomorrow....that's the degree of excitement over here.

Mark should be back in the states tomorrow. He will be in Wisconsin for a couple of days and hopefully getting lots of hugs around June 10th. He has spent the last couple of days in Kyrgyzstan.

Hopefully the next time you read the blog, it will be Mark writing it :)

Heather