Let me start at the end of September. We went to an Air Show at Ft. Carson with our wonderful, wonderful friends. We had such a good time and the weather was perfect to work on my tan. When we first walked in the kids were given a scavenger hunt card, they had to walk around and look for certain booths and get stamps. They had a lot of fun running around getting all of their stamps and they looked so cute while doing it too. It was lots of fun watching all the airplanes do tricks in the air and having to cover our ears when the F16 flew by. Layla and Payton didn't watch much of the show. They were too busy putting a whole bottle of sunscreen on themselves and even their toes and bottom of their feet. You never know when the bottom of your feet are going to get burned. By the time we left the girls were covered and so greasy. I don't think that much sunscreen is even healthy! It was hilarious watching them though, they are so funny. Layla also took the time to teach her cheers to the girls. In fact, we ended up watching them most of the time, they were very entertaining. We made it a day at the air field, it was so much fun!
On October 9th we went to the WWE RAW World Tour at the World Arena. Oh my gosh, we had the BEST time ever. Ed is the only thing that could have made it even better. Actually, he was emailing me the whole time saying how jealous he was that Layla and I were there and he wasn't. Ever since Layla was a baby, Ed and her would watch WWE. Layla's "favorite guy" is John Cena and she was determined to meet him while we were there. The day, the minute the tickets went on sale I had called and got the best seats I could. Ringside, almost front row seats. They were awesome! When the wrestlers would come out we would run to the very front to see them as close as possible. Thanks to my awesome friend Nicholle for making Layla a super cute tutu, she totally stood out. No one looked like her, everyone was commenting on her outfit and how cute she looked. We watched some awesome fights but we were just sitting and waiting for the main event. John Cena vs. Alberto Del Rio. Alberto Del Rio and Ricardo came out first and as soon as they saw Layla standing in the front row, they started making fun of her (and in case you don't watch wrestling, they are the bad guys). Ricardo pointed at Layla and kicked his leg like he was going to kick my Princess. They both started laughing at her and pointing and then left. We were most definitely hoping they lost! The fight lasted quite awhile but the very end is what made the entire show. John Cena came up and shook Layla's hand and Evan Bourne gave her a high five! Layla's face just lit up when John Cena came up to her, such a dream come true for the little Princess. What an amazing day we had, it was so, so much fun! When they come back to Colorado, we'll be at the show rooting on John Cena for sure! 
While Layla and I were enjoying ourselves at the World Arena, Ed was climbing to the top of a mountain to see Alexander the Great's castle. Did you know he had a castle in Afghanistan? Because I didn't, I had to Google it. "According to local officials here, the fortress was built more than 2,000 years ago by legendary conqueror and Greek military leader, Alexander the Great during his push to India. Since then, nearly every military force has used it, including the British, the Russians, the Taliban, and now American and Afghan National Army soldiers." Crazy, right? Anyway, Ed climbing a mountain was good for me, it meant I finally got some pictures of him! 
Last weekend Layla and I headed to Happy Apple farm to pick some pumpkins. I had to take the day off because it was Columbus Day and Layla didn't have school so we made the best of our extra day off. Pumpkins! It was a perfect day to go, there was no one there and we had our pick of the patch! Of course my little girl doesn't care about finding the perfect, large, round pumpkin. No. Instead we ended up with about 20 "baby" pumpkins. It was a fun day though and definitely worth the trip. 
And lastly, on Wednesday Layla had "dress like a book character" day at school. At first I couldn't think of what she could be, most of the books we read have to do with animals. Then it hit me, two perfect characters that Layla acts like on a daily basis. Pinkalicious and Fancy Nancy. I asked her to pick one of those two and Pinkalicious it was. We threw together a pretty, pink outfit, put her hair in pigtails with a crown, and found a wand. Taa Daa! Pinkalicious! 
Oh and I saved the BEST news for last. Thursday I got an email from the FRG with a letter from CPT Johnson in it, here's the best part: "As some of you heard from LTC Stevenson at the Battalion Video Teleconference last night, we will be part of the overall draw down slated for Afghanistan. The President of the United States has ordered 10,000 Soldier, Sailors, Marines and Airmen out of Afghanistan before the New Year. Havoc Company is looking to have about 70% of the company return home to Fort Carson. We are looking to leave Afghanistan at the end of December." That slashes our deployment in HALF! This kind of stuff never, ever happens to us. I am amazed and still cannot believe it. This may be the best Christmas we've ever had! 