Hello everyone! I was just going through my blog list to see who had updated their blog and well, we all know how lost you can get in "blog-land" by doing that! Well, Tatertots and Jello had a guest blogger on their site, thought her idea was cute and so I went to her site. (It was a sewing craft and I'm ready to drive to the store to buy fabric so I can make it..... right now!)

Anyway, I clicked on her site to see what other ideas she had and she is started a fun new idea for each month. It's a new craft that she will post on the beginning of each month, you have a month to make it and can use any color, fabric, flower, whatever you want to make it! No commitment, just a new idea if you feel like going along with it. Of course that got me all excited and so I had to share it with those of you who I thought might find this fun too! I'm sure I won't get around to doing all of them, but knowing I have a month for an entire project helps! (Unlike the online sewing class I signed up for last year. It was 24 projects in 24 weeks. BUT you have full access for an entire year. The class was over and I'd only made the first project.... napkins. But I'm planning on printing out the sewing lessons I like so that I can still get around to them.) Click HERE for the link.

Moving on...

We had a fun weekend here at our house. The kids and I returned from spring break on Friday afternoon and it was so great to see Brandon again. We may be a strange couple in that we enjoy our time apart (do your own thing without feeling guilty), but never like for it to be longer than 2-3 days. I think that 6 was more than enough! Unfortunately he had to work on Saturday, so the kids and I make plans with a great friend of mine and her kids. Then, we found out that morning that Construction Junction was going on that day and we were freaking out! I know, moms of boys. If you don't have one, you won't ever understand. We met there and the other friends we told about the event came too, had a bit of fun then headed to a nearby park (that is the most awesome park in our area) with lunch and let them play even longer. We stopped to see Brandon on our way home and then went back to the house to play some more.

By this time, Sophie's runny nose and bit of a cough were really starting to bother her and she just had "that look" a child gets when they don't feel good. I was supposed to work at our church that night in the children's building during the Saturday night service, but had to cancel. (I'm hoping that it being the end of our spring break meant it was a small crowd only because I had to back out so late!) We made homemade pizzas and celebrated Brandon finishing his last inpatient rotation AND his last weekend for being on call. THIS IS HUGE PEOPLE!!!!!!

Today, Sophie and I stayed home from church and went to the BX and the Commissary instead. (She's sick, but not so sick she can't leave the house.) It felt good to finally get out to buy groceries. Never thought I'd say that! Then after lunch the van/truck got baths, the kids played in the water in their clothes, we had rest time (which still involves me dealing with the kids every 15-20 minutes, but I'm hoping that improves over time), then went on a family bike ride. Then more playing in the back yard, sweeping the back patio and dinner outside. Plus, Brandon and I got to finish a movie we started during rest time! Overall, a great weekend! Hope yours was too!!

I think that everyone in the entire state of Alabama and Tennessee was on spring break last week. Thankfully we were not! And thankfully someone posted on FB that the traffic towards the beach was bad, so I avoided it completely. Actually, I think I avoid it most of the time because I feel like I spend too much money the closer to the beach I get. Must be the salty air.

Well, this week is our turn for a break and the kids and I decided to get away and head to AL for vacation. I forgot my camera (brilliant move) and so I will have to keep using my parents and then remember to download the pics on my computer before I leave.

I got everything packed up Saturday afternoon/evening and Sunday loaded the van, the kids and the dog and actually was on the road 25 minutes sooner than I was hoping to be! Turned out to be a great thing because I needed fuel for me and the van.

We met my parents at my Grandmother's house for lunch and timed it perfectly to their getting out of church. Bless her heart, she's got so much Southern in her that she wanted to pull out a tablecloth and china and all sorts of stuff for our Arby's. My mom finally convinced her that small children and tablecloths do not mix well, so she settled for white cloth placemats. Thank the good Lord that no ketchup ended up on them! She is so sweet and loves to see the great-grandkids any chance she gets.

My mom and I sent the kids back to their house with my dad so we could run a few errands. There is nothing like running errands with someone else who loves to accomplish as much at one time as possible. She would drop me off and go to another store, pick me up and we'd head somewhere else and do the same thing. Loved it! We finally made it to the lake and the kids had wasted no time getting out toys and making a mess. (You can tell when a man is left in charge because toys are all over the house, all the lights are on and all the doors are open with the tv blaring and nobody is inside.) They were having fun and mom and I joined right in.

Today we have played around the house, rode the plasma cars, went and checked out the new dock being built next door, dug a moat for the lake, swung, had lunch and the kids are now having rest time back in their rooms. I've decided that we are going to have to enforce that on our vacation to keep me from going insane. My sweet mom would never say the house is too loud or the kids are unruly, but they can still send me over the edge and I want to stay sane on this va-ca!

Later this week we will head into town to visit with my in-laws, take Christopher to check out where he will hopefully go to kindergarten next year and visit with the Khans. My sister and niece are also coming over to spend the night on Wednesday and stay all day on Thursday. I can't wait to see them!!!

I hope you are all having a great week and I really hope to add photos on here throughout the week, but we'll see.

Later!!!

My dad bought me a mac desktop when I was in college, but after 10+ years (do the math and add a few more years because I wasn't a freshman - or a sophamore - when I got it) and it died last year. Like really died. Won't even turn on anymore died. So, if Brandon ever has to leave town, which isn't that often, but when he does it's for long periods of time. Which means I have to deal with emails on my phone. Which is extremely convenient, but anything more than a quick response gets old after 3 weeks.

AND since we don't have cable we use our computer to watch tv. Unless it's Netflix, then we use the Wii. (Are you totally bored yet?) But I convinced my sweet husband that if he was going to be leaving us for a year then I needed something more than an ipad. He went to pick up meat for burgers for supper and brought this home. He hinted that he might pick this up and when he unloaded all the groceries I had two minutes to find it in the truck. He hid it VERY well because I finally found it with about 20 seconds to spare. I want to sleep with it and I'm afraid of what I will do to the children if they touch it. Christopher did and thankfully my parents were in the room because he may have lost that finger if they weren't. I want to sleep with it, but something about things that electronics supposedly do to our bodies over periods of time is the only things keeping me from actually going through with that. And I'm afraid I'll knock it on the floor. Or crush it.

Anyway, we've already used it to video chat and I've looked up lots of useless things on it and I just had to share my exciting news with all of you. I would definitely say this is waaaaaay more exciting than buying a house! And since we don't have to buy one any time soon, I'm thrilled!

Yesterday was Christopher's 5th birthday. F-I-V-E. I still can't believe he's that old and he just keeps getting taller and that's hard for a mommy to deal with. Even worse, he's starting kindergarten in the fall. I always thought I'd be happy to drop him off, but I think I'm going to be a basket case and it's only March. We are having his birthday party tomorrow, but I couldn't go without wishing him a happy birthday on here for all to see. We made him a pancake in the shape of a 5, stuck a candle in it, sang to him and let him open a present. We wanted to spread them out so they could have time to enjoy each one. He got a new Wii game from Brandon's parents and I think we are going to be playing it a LOT in the future!!! It is lots of fun and the kids can play the games without any problem.

Then we got dressed and headed to school. I dropped Christopher off (with his big "I'm 5 today" sticker in the middle of his shirt) and Sophie and I ran to Walmart to get popsicles for the birthday boy's class and I let her pick out something for her brother. (I'm last minute people!) Then took her to school. I ran home and finished making a cape for our friend Jake's party today. I've finally figured out how to make this and not look cheap. I'm kind of proud of it. Because everything I've made so far looks very beginner and I feel like this looks a little bit like I know what I'm doing. (If you are a great sewer then you will never see my stuff because you will notice the flaws.) Did some more "mom stuff" around the house and then headed back to get the kids.

Christopher couldn't wait to get home and open Sophie's present. He asked me on the way home, "Is it wrapped in that pretend wood stuff that you cut open?" Huh?? I thought about that for a minute and asked, "You mean a cardboard box?" Yup. That's pretend wood people. Cuteness!!! Sophie had forgotten what she picked out, so we didn't have any spoilers and he was very excited about his new lincoln logs. We played for a minute then got a phone call from our best friends, Tiffany and William. We miss them terribly and can't wait for them to visit this June when they come for Brandon's graduation. Then it was time to go to taekwondo. When we got home, Daddy was outside raking pine straw and Christopher couldn't wait to open his present from us. We made him wait until the end of the day because I knew that we would never get him out of the house all day if he got it in the morning. He has been asking for a "construction" train sense Christmas, but this was after he mentioned he wanted the garbage truck we bought him. So, he got it for his birthday. We still love trucks, but we are obsessed with trains right now. He was so excited!!!

I'd been asking him all week what he wanted for supper on his birthday and he kept changing his mind. I was running out of time and getting worried about what he'd ask for, especially since it was 4:30 and I still had no answer. He decided on chicken nuggets and mac and cheese. DONE! We didn't have a cake because his party is tomorrow and we don't need two in the house, along with the cookies I made this week. We love you so much Christopher and are so proud of the little boy you have become!!!!


Now, onto the shocking news. Brandon got a phone call on Monday from the Air Force and it wasn't a good one. We found out that we are not staying in Florida after all. And the list we made back in November was thrown out the window too. He will be going on a remote tour to Korea for a year. Alone. This came totally and completely out of left field. From several fields over. We. Never. Saw. It. Coming. EVER. We'd been told, "Chief residents always get something on the top of their list." And "You are 95% guaranteed to be staying here in FL as faculty." And "If anyone gets pulled for a non-voluntary slot, it will be people underneath you." Left field people. Left field.

Before anyone says anything I want you to know we are fine. Yes, we are shocked and yes, I've been spending the better part of the week taking care of getting the kids enrolled in school somewhere besides here, but overall we are fine. And don't say, "Well, you are in the military so it can't surprise you." To that I say, yes it can and don't ever tell me your name because I will find you and it won't be pretty. We know we are in the military, but that doesn't take away the element of surprise. How else do you think they attack people, by sending letters first? We will be asking that you pray for us. There is a slight chance we could swap with someone. There is also a chance that we could be pulled again and end up somewhere else. You don't know where you will end up until you get there and the key is in the door. (A friend told me that and I believe it!)

Now, one of the possible perks is that we can put in a request to follow up somewhere awesome. Like Europe. Again, no guarantees we will get our top pick, but they do pay better attention to you because they are making you go where nobody wants to go for a whole year without your family. So, we shall see. Our families are sad, but excited because the kids and I will be moving back to Montgomery to be with them. I'm looking forward to the kids getting to spend TONS of time with grandparents and cousins and our best friends, the Khans, who are practically family. We have not told the kids what is going on yet and will not tell them until we have orders in hand. I've started talking to wives who have been through this and I'm taking notes and getting advice. I think we will be good and God is watching over us and we can only come out stronger on the other side. We wanted an adventure and that's what we are getting!! So, there's our latest news! It might change, but it might not.

I'll keep you posted. : )

In case any of you were wondering what it is like to live with our little Sophie, I found this video clip that might help a little. I completely forgot to post it when I made it, but well, we all know how life goes with kids. Full of distractions!! Just a little background, she had been doing this for about 5-8 minutes before I even grabbed the camera. We took a break to change our underwear and pants (don't ask why, if you have a little girl, you don't need to ask anyway) and there is a second clip that is just as long as this one. So, just in case you need help with that, she went on like this for about 12-15 minutes. She is a mess is all I have to say! In case you haven't noticed, her hair pretty much describes what she's like and what I feel like. And if it drives you crazy to see that mop on her head, imagine how I feel. Beautiful blonde curls in a crazy tangled mess... painful to look at when you know the potential they have. (I can't get the video to come up on here so you'll have to click the link below until I can figure it out.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pe9EMMiyyXc

Yesterday morning Brandon ran his first half marathon in Seaside, FL. His best friend Burt signed them up for it about 9 weeks ago. Brandon and I don't run. I tried several months ago, but it never stuck. I wish it had. Brandon had to when Burt called him and told him what he'd done. Can you imagine 9 weeks to train to run 13.1 miles? But they did it and I could not be more proud of them. (We wish that Melissa and the boys could have come too, but they weren't able to make it.)

The weather was supposed to be sunny and in the upper 50s to low 60s. Not so much. It started pouring Saturday night and I knew that wasn't going to be good. When we woke up it was in the 30s, overcast and windy. I grabbed extra coats and blankets and loaded myself and the kids up, turned on a movie and hit to road. We found a parking spot, rode the shuttle to Seaside and the first thing I saw when I got off the bus was a bearded man in a hot pink floral bikini running by. Runners are crazy people, ya'll.

(Christopher and Sophie were really good on the drive there and did great getting to and from the shuttle. I was so proud of them!)

We found our spot at the finish line and waited. There were 3000 people running so I had no idea when they were going to finish. The kids were great and stood there looking for Daddy and Uncle Burt and only asked about 6 times when they were going to get there. They finished in just a hair over 2 hours. And they didn't look too bad either! Some people looked like they were going to lose their lunch while one lady looked like she was about to go play tennis and didn't just run a half marathon she was smiling so much. I think I would have been found on the ground about a third of the way into it.

(Brandon finishing on the far left. Burt is behind the guy in the white shirt. I didn't realize until this morning that I know the guy in the white shirt. He goes to our church.)


(Brandon and Burt still trying to catch their breath. I think Brandon is used to doing the #1 thing from playing sports because I don't think he realizes he still does this.)


(Jim N' Nicks was there and Sophie was in love with this pig. We had to see it three times. I wish that she would let me fix her hair, it drives me crazy that it's in her face all the time.)


(Burt still had enough energy to chase the kids around. See that cute bag in the stroller? That's what Melissa and I got for the guys running. Nice, huh? It was sponsored by Vera Bradley.)

Some of our dear friends, and former neighbors, from Huntsville happened to be in town on vacation so they came over to hang out with us. We loaded up and went to get lunch at PF Changs and then came home. I think Brandon and Burt were surprised at how little they hurt, but I'm pretty sure it was because the high hadn't worn off yet. You've got to feel something after doing that to your body, right? Regardless, I am very proud of them!!!!! Way to go guys!!!!