Just a quick note, Caden has become addicted to playing Castleville. While Carl was here he spent time helping Caden read the posts and we just noticed that Carl is help Caden with his castle from Afghanistan.  Pretty cool that father and son can interact from so far away.

Caden was excited to help his father as well.

Hello and Goodbye

This video is a little bit older - from June. But it is still important!

Sometimes it is important to know what it is like after you leave. Moments after Carl drove away last Sunday - this was Caden in Susan's arms and Chloe waiting at the window for her Daddy, her "bestest" friend to return.

Back to blogging

Carl made his first stop here in nearly eight months. I feel guilty for dropping the blog but I will promise him to finish the blog strong - lots of things for him to read about his children.

The visit was exceptional - except for Carl catching a stomach bug. Chloe could not stay off her father. She climbed, jumped, stood on, hugged and attacked him nearly every minute of every day. It was nice to see how happy he made her. Caden did what Caden always does, he snuggled in close and kept looking for his Dad when Carl would leave the room or go outside.

One of the sadder moments was when he left this morning Caden cried. Caden will miss his Dad greatly over the next few months.

More to come, stay tuned!

Dreamcatcher

I have several videos that I made while Chloe was making the dream catcher for her Dad. It went into the care package for him with the hopes that it will keep the bad dreams away and keep him safe. Here is the first video. I will post the rest shortly.

Care packages & letters

We are sending out a few cards that the kids wrote today and we have a care package ready to go. This will be our first to Carl - I think he will like what we are sending. We spent some time with the kids to make sure that we have plenty of things they made for their dad in the box.

SGT Wiger, Carl

TF-Catamount 3PLT, VCO Bravo Co

2-87IN

PB Yates

APO AE 09370

6666 miles from their Dad. (Give or take a few miles)

Very different when Carl calls than when Ryanne calls. Tonight, just minutes into the skype call a couple people with weapons ran out of the room and Carl told us he'd be right back. Carl stands up, grabs that big honking gun and runs out the door. It turns out he just needed to talk with someone but still it was nerve racking for a few minutes.

It is also nice to see the kids talk to Carl. They really miss him and they have warmed up to talking over the computer. This is from the two kids who wouldn't say boo when people called and talked to them on the phone just a few months back.

We will be sending Carl a small package this weekend.

Daddy called again

Carl had a few minutes to talk and called. He spoke to the kids for quite awhile, showing them his rifle and getting to tease them a bit. The kids really get wound up when he calls.

He had a note for the blog as well. He told me that he got to yell at some kids trying to steal concertina wire. (Barbed wire made with razor sharp blades) It was 10 PM Afghanistan time when he called...

Chloe's great idea

Chloe got up this morning and told me she wants to make something to send to her Dad, a Native American dreamcatcher. We had made one for Caden and one for Chloe last summer and they had decorated their own dreamcatchers with beads and feathers. I told her that sound like a great idea and she didn't believe me - in a very serious voice she told me "Gramps, if we make Daddy a dreamcatcher then it will catch all his bad dreams and keep him from being scared. It will catch all his good dreams so they won't get away."

She is a smart girl.

1st Post take two.

We heard from Carl for the first time since he has left last night. He made it to Afghanistan without incidence. The kids got to speak to him for over a 1/2 hour on skype.

I will post similar pictures, videos and such so Carl will get to see as much of his kids while he is away. It will be a bit harder for me to put as much content up because Ryanne will be home soon to take back her life but I will do my best.