Day before Deployment

Us On Family Day Before

Mike Deploys

As an army couple, we look pretty darn cute! Both Me and Mike drove down to Ogden, Utah so we could be with each other the last couple of days before he starts deployment. The unit held a family day so everyone can be together, have a barbecue, and get to know the other families at the unit before their loved ones leave.

He always makes me smile no matter what he does! :) I sure got lucky finding Mike and even luckier to be his eternal companion! It was hard to say good-bye to him but I know we'll both be strong and that we'll grow significantly as individuals as well as a couple. Our love will just continue to grow eventhough we're apart and become even stronger.

This will definitely be one the of things I'll crazily miss- seeing Mike smile! :) Smiles are definitely contagious especially Mike's; when he smiles, I'm doomed to smile back lol. Just kidding I love how this works :) He'll always be within my prayers that he'll be happy even when times are hard and that he'll return home safely. I'm very proud of my army soldier for the sacrifices he's making and for deciding to perform this honorary deed. I love you Mike! I'll see you soon arms wide open :)

Our Halloween together

Me and Mike Carving Pumpkins

Together :)

AWWW!! Look at that cute couple! :) Because Mike's deployment starts on October 7, we thought because we couldn't celebrate our first Halloween together as a married couple that we would celebrate it before he leaves. So we HAD to carve pumpkins together because it's one of my favorite things about Halloween! :)

Hey look! There's three pumpkins! :) Just kidding. I thought this picture was absolutely adorable with me holding my big baby belly next to them :). Jase is definitely getting bigger by the day; It's crazy thinking he'll be in my arms soon!

This is Mike's pumpkin-carving-concentration face :) I was too scared to cut the opening out of the top of my pumpkin so Mike cut mine for me. He's just way too nice to me for all the little (especially the BIG!) things he does for me. Thanks my love! I'll sure miss how much you care for me while your playing army!

Here's me and my pumpkin once it's done! :) I looked absolutely stunning don't I? lol. So I decided to make a dragon- I thought I'd tell you so I wouldn't get embarrassed with your guesses because you couldn't tell what it is, lol. No, I had lots of fun and I think it turned out pretty cute :)

Here's my husband, that I love like crazy :), and his pumpkin! He decided to make a ghost that turned out absolutely amazing but the coolest part was the back. You'll see why in the next picture (hopefully it's not too hard to see; I tried my best taking the picture with it being in the dark).

If you look really closely you can see the word "BOO" glowing behind Mike's pumpkin. Isn't that the coolest thing you have ever seen?!!! :) I thought it was extrememly awesome and I enjoyed seeing our pumpkins in the dark! I'll definitely remember this Halloween and all the good memories we spent together throughout the next year. I love you Mike!

Mike's Pre-deployment Pics

Our Pre-Deployment

Photo Shoot

Holly wanted to get pictures of Mike in his ACU uniform and Class A's so she could send pictures to family during his deployment. So I asked if she could take pictures of us as well so I can hang them around the house and post pictures of Mike everywhere so Jase can see what his daddy looks like while Mike's gone for a year.

Here's another picture of Mike in his ACU's at a bridge located next to Three Forks. This is probably my favorite in this uniform- I say probably because I like them all and I can't pick a favorite :)

Aww... look at that cute military couple ("family"-you can even see Jase) :) I personally love seeing Mike in his ACU's. One of the many benefits of being an army wife! I have to be positive somehow :)

This would've been a perfect picture if Mike hadn't closed his eyes! lol Just kidding it's still cute :) I just have to give him a hard time because he has the most difficulties taking pictures looking into the sun. So cute!!!

I definitely love this one as well; it's just too dang difficult to pick out a favorite! :) All these pictures are so darn cute! Thank you Holly for all the gorgous pictures- I'll definitely have fun hanging ALL of them around the house especially if I can't decide which ones to chose :)

This picture is so cool- He just looks soooo handsome! I love how the flag looks behind him- it was quite fun trying to hold it up just myself. It was a circus trying to put the poll of the flag between the recliner cushion and me on the other side holding the flag straight while at the same time not getting in the picture. Fun times! :)

Another cute picture of us! I'm so glad to have these pictures to look at while Mike is deployed to Afghanistan so I can remember why I'm proud of him and the reason why I must be strong while he is gone. I love him more than anything and I'll pray every morning and night that he'll be safe and return home unharmed.

1st year anniversary celebration

Our 1st Year Anniversary Celebration-

September 29, 2010 :)

Me and Mike decided that because Mike deploys on October 7, 2010 and we can't be together for our first year anniversary that we would celebrate our anniversary together on a different date before he deploys- Sept. 29. For our anniversary we decided to have a nice dinner at our favorite restaurant- Outback Steakhouse. Later we went to our apartment where we could eat a piece, maybe a couple pieces :), of our wedding cake together.

I had to add this picture because everytime I look at it I can't help to smile. I have a dork of a husband, just kidding :), but that's what makes my life fun and entertaining! This was taken just before we cut our cake and ate it together. German Chocolate cake- YUM!!!

We also decided to drink sparkling cider with our toasting glasses from our wedding. Aren't they absolutely adorable that together they form a heart :)

Both of us making a toast that the next year we will be strong, happy and safe as we're separated from each other. I know this deployment will be hard on both of us, but I know that we are strong as well as our love for each other. Times may be tough, but I feel comforted knowing that no matter what happens, me and Mike have each other for eternity :) I love you Michael Edwin Alexander Newsome! Forever and ever no matter what! Thank you for chosing me to be your eternal companion and for starting an eternal family with me :)

Our Baby Bar-B-Que

Me and Mike's BABY Bar-B-Que

For Jase!

For our baby shower I wanted Mike to be involved as well with him missing Jase's first year because of deployment so we had a barbecue so both genders could come. We decided to have it at the park located on our apartment grounds on September 25. It was an absolutely gorgous day, with NO RAIN, and both me and Mike's family came into town!

Even Mike's best friend, Leandra, could make it from Utah! Everything went great: we had plenty of yummy food, lots of activities to do including playing volleyball, and we had a lot of people come support us. This is Zach, me, Mike and Leandra playing the ring toss game. Do you like my victory dance? :) Can you tell who is winning? Ya right, Mike and Zach whooped me and Leandra's butts- we were just doing good at the time lol.

Me and Mike holding the cake that my Grandma and Grandma McCown bought for us. It was so so delicious; it was vanilla cake with raspberry creme along the inside. I definitely ate way too much of it!- I couldn't help myself :)

Both of us opening up Jase's gifts together towards the end of the barbecue. Look at that teamwork- so so s0 cute! We are extremely grateful for all the gifts we received and for all the help and support we received to make this barbecue happy. Thank you everyone for helping! We definitely wouldn't be able to get ready for Jase to come without everyone's help :)

Trip to the Billings Temple

Our Trip to the Billings LDS Temple

Both me and Mike missed going to the temple and felt bad that we couldn't make it as much as we used to in Utah with it being two hours away. Finally we decided we needed to at least go one more time together before Mike deploys so we invited Rick and Holly to come down with us.
I'm so thankful we went to the temple; I felt so happy, relaxed and filled with joy especially being able to do it holding hand and hand with Mike. We even got to be the witness couple again which was definitely rewarding. I'm truely blessed to have Mike in my life especially with him being the one to bring me into the LDS church.

This is another one of my favorite pictures- we just look so cute together :) You can tell my belly is even bigger here; it's crazy to think I only have like 2 months till I get to hold Jase in my arms. I have a beautiful eternal family- the best I could ever have!

Our Hike to the Waterfalls

Our Hike to the Waterfalls

A couple days after we returned from Las Vegas, we decided we wanted to do as many fun activites, that doesn't cost $, as possible. So one day we decided to take about a one to two mile hike to a waterfall. Aren't we cute hikers! :)

Look at that stud! He definitely didn't have as much troubles as I did trying to hike. I definitely love him for staying at my pace eventhough a turtle could probably go faster than me :)

There's me and my cute belly :) Jase is definitely getting bigger and more fun to pack around. I'm pretty proud of myself for hiking at how far along I am- 30 weeks only 10 to go!

The waterfall was absolutely beautiful and the hike to get there was definitely worth it! It was fun to feel the mist on my face and climb up the rocks with my hiking boots :) I'm so thankful to have Mike with me to spend these moments before he goes.

I just had to add this picture- It's definitely one of my favorites and it is so dang cute! I got way too lucky to find Mike and be able to keep him throughout eternity! :)

Our trip to Las Vegas, Yellow Ribbon Ceremony

Trip to Las Vegas after

Mike's Homecoming (of 3 weeks)

After Mike came home on Sept. 13 from his 2 month predeployment training, both me and him went to Las Vegas for the Yellow Ribbon Ceremony. This is where the soldiers' families come and learn about the deployment to Afghanistan. This is a picture of the hotel we stayed at which is called the Alexis Park hotel just located next to the strip.


This is the first night in Vegas on our way back to the hotel from eating dinner at the buffet located at the Monte Carlo. Mike had to pose with the clone trooper, I think :)- don't judge me, I haven't really watched Star Wars as you can tell lol.

This is us eating at the Jimmy Buffet Margaritaville the second night. It was absolutely amazing and my dinner was yummy!!!- I had coconut shrimp :) We also got to eat right off the balcony above the strip!

After dinner, me and Mike walked down the strip to see the Mirage's volcano explode, the pirate show at Treasure Island, the water show and just looked at all the different hotels. I had a blast but I definitely got my work out from all the walking! :)

My hubby posing along the strip. It was extrememly nice to go on a little vacation with him especially with him being gone for 2 months and leaving again for deployment in 3 weeks. I'll definitely miss my best friend!

This is us waiting for our shuttle bus to pick us up and take us to the airport so we could go home. We had a short amount of time to be here but we both had the time of our lives and I'll definitely remember our moments together and happy. It couldn't have got any better and I couldn't be any happier to share it with Mike :)