He did it again

Brick was out with us watching the kids ride their "tractors" around in the driveway when he took off between two houses. By the time Brandon got to him he'd caught another squirrel. Two pounces and it was over.

Brick: 2
Squirrels: 0

Brandon took photos, but I will spare you them. He's quite proud.

Girls day

Today Christopher has mother's day out and so Sophie and I get to hang out together. We haven't had one of these in a while and they can be nice. She has quite the little personality and knows exactly what she wants and how she wants it. I don't really have any big plans for us, other than going to the commissary. We are flat out of milk and juice and the kids are thirsty. Maybe if someone would stop giving the little man so much to drink at night we'd have some left over this morning and I wouldn't have two sets of sheets to wash today. (I love you dearly, honey!) Yup, two days in a row he wet the bed. Thankfully it was just enough to wake him up and make it to the bathroom, but still.

Oh, and our cable is officially gone now. I still have some show for the kids saved on Tivo. I recorded a whole bunch knowing this day would come. And I fully welcome it. I miss being able to turn on the weather. And now that Diane Sawyer is gone it's easier to not turn on GMA. But I still miss Robin Roberts' face too. They just seemed so sweet! I'm almost done with my third book in the series I'm reading and hope to finish it today during naps. I think I'm starting to ramble now. Maybe it's b/c Sophie climbed up here and is getting into everything she can get her hands on, most of which she wants to eat. So, happy day to you all and happy weekend! I have a baby shower (kid-free too!) to go to tomorrow and I can't wait. : )

Last night Brandon told me that they had to shut down the operating rooms at Eglin due to the cold weather. It's so cold there is no humidity. (Can you imagine, a South without humidity?) But this is actually bad. Or maybe inconvenient. The humidifiers for the OR won't work due to the lack of humidity from the cold so there's a chance of sparks literally flying. Labor and delivery can't deliver any babies now because if they have to go to c-section, it's too dangerous. Those poor women have to pick a different hospital and be delivered by Dr. Stranger because it is too cold in Florida.

On a totally and completely different note, I decided to try a little experiment this morning. When Christopher crawled into bed with me this morning we turned on the weather to see what today was going to be like. It's 23 with a wind chill of 15. Brrrrrrrr....!!!!!!!! I told him that tonight we should set out a cup of water to see if it freezes from the cold. He didn't want to do that. He wanted to set out Brick's water bowl. (We'll have to have a talk about that later.) Then when I went into the kitchen I realized. It's probably cold enough for it to freeze now. So we set a cup outside the door and we are going to check on it every 30 minutes to see how long it takes, if it takes, for it to freeze.

Finally, we are saying goodbye to a "friend" today. Cable. I know, I know, you think we are crazy, but it only seems to my our lives more frustrating and we fight more because we can't hear or see what is on. The last few weeks I've been watching less of it and reading more and I feel much happier. The kids only watch it because we turn it on and are content playing anyway. We got a new tv for Christmas, but we are playing Wii a lot more now and it's fun because the kids are finally old enough to play with us... sort of! We are also going to start having game night on Wednesdays and pizza/movie night on Fridays. Don't worry, we joined Netflix, but I see Brandon using it more than me. Did I mention I've been reading? Karen Kingsbury is my new BFF. I read my first book in a week and last night finished my second book in only four days. It's not a race, it's just that good!!!! If you are looking for a great Christian author, I highly suggest picking up one of her books. You won't be able to stop!

(I know I change my background constantly, but when I saw this warm brown it made me feel like I was by a fire with a warm brown blanket over me and my next Karen K. book in my hand.)

Our new year's eve





(I had to put this photo of dave in here. He, as you can see, is the goofiest one of the bunch!)


This year we went to Pensacola with some fellow residents to see the replicas of the Nina and the Pinta. It was so crazy how small they actually were! They said it was a crew of about 27, but it really only needs 5 to sail it. The people aboard the ship actually sail it from place to place, no motor. Just a long board in the back that you move from side to side and some sails. Can you imagine? If you are wondering where people slept back then, they'd just plop down on the floor and sleep. I think I'd probably kill someone or jump overboard if I was on it back then. (This girl needs her sleep and a wood floor in a boat isn't going to work!)

After we looked at the boats we all went to Chuck-E-Cheese for some games and pizza. Now, this is a place I go purely for my husband and kids. If it were up to me I'd drop a bomb full of Clorox on the place and not let anyone enter until it was dried by the sun and then only my kids and our friends could play. Sound mean? I know it does, but just the thought of all the germy, dirty, snotty, slimy hands that have been in there grosses me out. My kids included. And can you believe that children (and one adult I saw) run around there... (gulp!) barefoot?

Ok, we left there and went to the mall, where Sophie napped in the stroller long enough to stay awake the whole way home. Christopher never napped, but he's come and go with those these days. That night, as we were getting ready to eat supper, Christopher informs us he doesn't feel well. We just assume he's really tired and had a full day. Brandon picks him up, Christopher puts his hand to his mouth and then throws up. A lot. I take off for a towel and start wiping up the floor. Brandon asks why I'm not cleaning them up and I quickly tell him it's b/c I can't get to them without cleaning the floor first. I love my family, but will not walk through throw up for them, unless they are dying. He got sick one more time that night and then we all just went to bed. Our goal on new year's is to get into bed as soon as we can and start the year off with as much sleep as possible. Gives us a better first day to a new year.

Everyone felt wonderful on new year's day and we had a lot of fun together. Brandon and I sat down the other day and talked about things we wanted for ourselves and each other for the new year. I have a really hard time doing this b/c I know I'm not going to follow through, so I just don't bother listing anything. But he's better about this than I am. I listed realistic things and hopefully we'll stick to it. Here's to a new year!

More photos

Photos I forgot to add from round 2 of Christmas. Brandon didn't get as many as I thought, but I wanted to have all the kids on here. We had a great time at Mimi and Papa John's spending the night with all the cousins.

Jingle, our elf, in one of his many hiding spots.


Christopher finding his new firetruck Santa brought him.

Sophie playing with her new dollhouse.

The kids opening a new present they got.

Christopher hugging Papa John.

Campbell, the baby of the family. She's so sweet and good!

Camille, the middle one. She is four days older than Sophie.

Sophie giving a high five b/c she's excited about a new present she got.

Precious Cameron, the oldest. We love getting to see her. She's like a big sister to my kids and I love playing with her too! She's the best little shopping buddy you could have!

It is so cold here! I think they were saying that it's the coldest the entire country has been in years and I believe it. Our highs this week are 40 degrees. At night, we are at 20. To some of you up north that may sound great compared to the negative temperatures that you are experiencing right now. They even said the "s" and "f" words this morning. "Sleet" and "flurries" on Friday afternoon are a possibility. (Maybe that crazy real estate agent we had here wasn't so crazy after all in talking about the kids sledding down the driveway.) But I wouldn't mind those temps if I had this to look at:

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But I don't. I have water to look at. With sand. And ugly, scary trees with no leaves. It looks beautiful and warm out, but it's not. And I can figure that out without even opening a door or a window b/c our house is freezing!

Have you ever been so cold in your own house that you wear thick socks and slippers to try to warm up your feet just a little? Have you ever wished that you hung on to all those granny panties you got rid of years ago? Or better yet, that you were a guy and had boxer briefs b/c then your bottom might not be cold? Do you look like a homeless person in your own home b/c you only wear your sweatpants and your husband's sweatshirts b/c they are bigger and cover more? Do you have to buy several gallons of milk at a time to keep up with your new hot cocoa habit? I do.

I try to stay in the middle of our house b/c it's the warmest part. If you go within a few feet of a window or door you will feel the coldness hitting you. I don't even open the door to the laundry room b/c the vent in there doesn't work. I've actually turned on the dryer to try to help warm up the room. And our bathroom.... doesn't even have a vent. Yup, you got it. You have to pee in the middle of the night and you will wish you just had on a diaper or a whole in your pants just so you don't have to pull your pants down. (Yes, I said that.) Our bathroom in our house in Huntsville was great! They placed the bathroom vent right over the toilet which made it nice and warm in the winter.

I'm off to play games with the kids. And maybe vacuum too. Maybe that will generate some extra heat in the house. Hope you all are staying warm!

He finally did it.

Yesterday we were out for a family walk and decided to let Brick go without a leash just to see how he'd handle it. I had the leash and knew we'd only make it to the end of the street, but something caught his eye and he was off in a flash. You can only guess what it was... a squirrel. These little "rats" are everywhere here. The outside of base housing is concrete that is textured. It's ugly and a fabulous surface for squirrels to hold on to and run around your house.


When Brick took off across the street after this one squirrel, I followed with leash in hand. I left Brandon with the kids and they slowly went on their way, waiting for Brick and I to come out from around the house. We never did. See, I was too scared to go up to Brick and put the leash on him. I was afraid the squirrel would think my head was the perfect jumping pad for him to escape. They have no fear. We went back and forth along the back of the house, that thankfully is not occupied at the time.

Finally the squirrel found the only bush next to the house that he could jump into. Problem was, it was shorter than me. He goes for it and Brick flips out! He circles the bush and I'm backing up b/c I'm too afraid of what direction that "rat" will jump out and go in. Suddenly, it happens. The squirrel jumps out and runs towards the next house for escape, but Brick is too quick. It takes two leaps and he's won. I hear a horrible sound and take off after Brandon not sure whether to laugh, cry or be totally grossed out. I think screaming and grossed out won. He takes off to where I told him Brick was and I swear I see a grin across his fac. I just take the kids on the rest of their walk and pray the people aren't home who's backyard Brick is now in, with his reward, doing who knows what.

The kids and I get home and see no signs of Brandon or Brick. I look over and find Brandon and Rob (one of his residency buddies and our neighbor) near his trash can. The kids and I walk over to find out that Rob helped get rid of the evidence and then we spend the next 20 minutes watching Brick chase their dog Scuffy, who isn't much bigger than a squirrel, all over her backyard. It was the funniest thing I've ever seen. Christopher, Sophie and Della were all standing on top of their picnic table with us surrounding them laughing at the two dogs of completely different sizes chasing each other.

I think it was the most proud that Brandon has ever been of Brick. He's been trying to get him to catch a squirrel since we brought him home this summer. I had no feelings on the subject, partly b/c I hate squirrels, but I really didn't want to have to deal with what could potentially happen if he did catch one. I'm just glad they avoid are backyard and have enough trees in the front yard to get away.

Brick: 1
Squirrel: 0

What if...

we had three kids???

This is what we'd look like. This photo was totally unplanned. We were all sitting around and I was holding my niece while I had the chance. Brandon's mom was snapping photos and I told her, "Get a picture of this!" I died when I saw the face that Brandon was making. Every time I looked at this later I kind of panicked a little. I don't plan to be pregnant again, but every now and then, entertain the idea of adding more to our family. At least I know my kids would welcome with open arms any child that we brought into our home. Christopher tells me all the time that he wants me to have a baby and Sophie fights you for a turn to hold the new babies that were born into our families over the summer. Well, whatever happens it'll be a few years from now. But enjoy the photo!

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