This morning we had William and Della come over and play. If your kids are like mine, they love to have other kids around to play with because they get tired of me. We put on costumes, played with playdough, jumped on the trampoline, colored, rode on the swings, played with the bikes, squirted water with new water toys, ate lunch, played legos, etc. I think you get the idea. And surprisingly, the house was not a disaster like you might be picturing. Yes, it was messy, but it was made because fun had been had by all. And I got a Lenny's sub out of it and got to eat it with two friends. So, it was totally worth it! (Just a note, the sandwich and friends were a surprise, not part of the deal.) I'm just glad I can help. Everyone's gone now and my kids are starting to fight so I best be going now. Hope you are having a good day wherever you are!

Last week the kids and I watched Keenan and Moriah while their mom had to go somewhere and to thank us she treated us to Mcdonald's and the Gulfarium. We hadn't been there since we moved here so the kids were really excited about seeing the animals. I only got a few photos and most of them didn't turn out. Here are the kids watching the sea lions do their stuff:

Saturday we went to a birthday party at the bowling alley. It was the first time our kids had ever been bowling. They weren't real sure at first, but the got into it. We had a lot of fun and will have to do it again another time.


Even Sophie got in on the action. The kids loved their bowling shoes too, which I thought they'd hate. Only problem was they think kids have skinny feet and the velcro wouldn't stay.


That afternoon we walked over to the Ramages house to help them put together their new swing set, or "playground" as the kids were calling it. We ordered Chinese and hung out for hours. It was lots of fun, no surprise though, we love these guys. (Fingers crossed and hands together praying they find out where they are going soon, hint: Tiff and kids might be staying here!) We went home around 7:30 to get ready for bed and Sophie had been very congested for a couple days, causing her to throw up on occasion. She started again around 10:30 that night and did about every 30-45 minutes, so I slept with her on the couch. Sort of. Then it hit me. Later it hit Christopher. He had climbed in the bed with Brandon who didn't know he had company, until Christopher threw up all over him. I felt horrible! He had taken a Lunesta to help him sleep (coming off two weeks of nights and totally thrown off) and we were all keep him up and needing his help. Thankfully he never got sick and everyone was "better" on Sunday. I'm keeping the kids home from school today b/c they both still have runny noses and every now and then say they don't feel good. They typically say this for about a week after getting better, but I didn't want to take any chances.

This morning I have tons of laundry to do and the windows needed washing and the kids LOVE to wash windows. We got the inside finished and then headed outside. We played out there for a while (Brandon is home sick today) and we are trying to stay out of his way, but not being very successful. Here are my new favorite shoes for outside. I got them at Target in the gardening section for $10 -- full price -- and LOVE them!!! Been trying to find some I liked and for a decent price. They were definitely worth the wait.


Sophie kept trying to take her stroller (holding her cup) in and out of the back door. She wants it to stay open like a regular door. Doesn't happen. Tried to help. Got yelled at. On her own.


And finally, Christopher doing what he loves most, making mud puddles. He told me that about 40 times while he was making them. Thankfully the ground soaked it up pretty quickly.

Hope you all had a great weekend. We loved the weather and hated the throwing up. But it's done and over with and now everyone has clean sheets. My book for the book club just came in today and I can't wait to get started on it! Now I just need some clean clothes. Better get on that. Later chicas!!

This is Sophie on Monday ready for school. Grammie made this adorable outfit for her last year, but it was too big. (Pillow case top and capri pants.) LOVE it on her!!! She wanted to wear her flip flops and sunglasses. She kept them on until she got in her classroom. Her teachers loved it!


The kids and I had an Easter egg hunt the other night (not just for once a year guys!) and when we were done Christopher decided to add a bunch more to the tree. When he finished he told me to come look and shouted, "Happy Christmas, Mommy!!!" He was SO proud of himself and it was pretty cute, I must say.

One of the first ideas that popped into my head when I started thinking about getting a sewing machine was a cape for the kids. I've seen photos of other kids wearing them and figured it looked easy enough that I could do the same. I googled patterns just to see what was out there and decided the one in my head was the best way to go. (Some of you--in the www, not anyone I know--make it way too hard on yourselves! Curves, reversible, seriously?)

My nephews were in the process of giving up their pacifiers and it's been hard on them. And their mommy. I remember going through this awful time with my son and thought I'd try to help them maybe forget about it for a little while and congratulate them on being such big boys. The first one took a lot longer than I thought it would, but I didn't have a pattern and if I did it probably would have taken 3 times as long. I think I'm going to have to be a no-pattern sewer. They seem too complicated. I'm much better at copying or following my head than oddly worded directions. Enough blabbering, here's the end result:

A friend of mine (I like to call her that, even though we've never met, but I really wish we could) has decided to start a book club with her bogging friends and I just had to get on board. Our first book is Eat Pray Love and I'd never heard of it before, but everyone else seems to have. It's coming out as a movie this summer, starring, none other than, Julia Roberts. That fact alone let me know it must be really good. If you are looking for a book club that will have deep, intellectual discussions about blah, blah, blah, blah.........zzzzzzzzzzzzz............................... Whoa sorry! Lost me there for a second. If you are looking for a book club that will think/discuss/analyze about the books, this isn't it. We are just going read and have fun and I'm pumped! I've never been in a book club before because in case you haven't noticed I'm not a deep thinker. I think the deepest I will get into anything is a discussion about how the word "poop/poo/poo-poo" has become such a popular word for 2-4 year olds to use and why.

See, I'm kind of picky about books too. Well, maybe not as much as I used to be. I don't like time period ones or things about war or books about vampires (I know, I know, I hear they are good, but I'm still going to pass) or just plain boring books. I used to love a good mystery and John Grishom was my fav for a long time, but then I got bored. Quit reading for a while and then started back up again when Brandon started med school. I had too much free time and nobody to hang with. I started reading funny chick books. Not that silly romance/beach stuff that had Fabio on the cover, but the ones about women who would get into hilarious situations. But my favorite authors weren't writing them fast enough. Then I met Karen and well, you all know how I feel about her. But after reading 15 (I'm on #16 right now) of her books over the last 4 months I'm ready for a change. This book club could not have come at a better time too! I still have to finish the book I'm reading, but I just "purchased" our first book on paperbackswap.com and can't wait to get it! I'm sure you'll be hearing more about it later on. (Not that anyone really cares, but I want proof later in life that I did this.)

If you want to ride along then click here to follow her site. You won't be disappointed! She's hilarious and so are her 3 kids!

Yesterday afternoon we finally made it to the air show. We let Brandon nap for a few hours, I showered, Sophie napped, we got our drinks together (can't take coolers), put the jogging stroller in the car, found Brick, woke up Brandon, loaded in the van and drove up the street to the airshow. We wanted to get as close as we could b/c Christopher insisted on wearing his rain boots and we didn't want to have to walk 4 miles anyway. So we found a perfect spot, walked our short distance and got inside the gate. We walked around and saw different airplanes and helicopters, not after stopping to see the forklifts and cranes that were parked and NOT part of the show.

We found a great place to sit and watched an F-22 do it's thang. We walked around some more, got some food and then parked ourselves to watch the Thunderbirds. They loaded up and drove off, then we waited, we waited, we waited some more and then they FINALLY took off. It was a great show and we stayed until the end and then walked back to our car with the rest of the crowd. This is where everything went downhill.

We decided to not ride the buses that were shuttling everyone b/c the guard we saw said the lines were extremely long. We get in our car and realized that we were going to be stuck. There are thousands of people in three lanes of traffic that are trying to squeeze into ONE lane of traffic so that that shuttle buses can use the other two. It was stupid planning. We put the van in park and waited until anyone moved. Nothing happened. We finally got going and let me give you a visual: we have three lanes of road, one breaks off and goes to the left (remember, EVERYONE has to go this way) while the other two go straight, the one lane road then crosses another road and everyone HAS to turn left, our house is straight, but we can't go there. We have to follow EVERYONE else out the other gate and we are in the middle of the base. Did I mention this is the largest area of air force bases? Yup.

We finally get out the other gate, after much stopping and putting the car in park and have to drive all the way around the outside of the base and go back in on the other side. Brandon had left his id on accident so we had to stop and get a pass. We finally got home 1 1/2 hours after getting to our car. Christopher napped the entire time. Sophie was yelling everything she said, but she was excited. She never woke the boy up. Not sure how that happened, but glad it did b/c he would have complained. He wants to be everywhere yesterday. Not sure who did the planning for all of this, but that was the last air show we will be going to on base. You know what hurts more? We can pretty much see it from our driveway. It's not the same, but we can still see it. Yes, we could have parked just outside the entrance to our neighborhood, but we would have had to wait in line for the shuttle. Not any faster. We should have just parked there and walked. Now, if you want to go to the show, and don't live on base, go! It's great and lots of fun. We just never thought we wouldn't be able to get back to our house.

You live. You learn. You never do it again.

We are halfway through Brandon's nights schedule and I'm so excited! He won't have this schedule again for a while, thank goodness! It's a tough one for all of us. But this weekend we plan on having lots of fun. The air show has come to town again and it's here on base. The kids have been asking every day if it's the air show and every time a plane (whether military or commercial) flies overhead if it's from the air show. I was so glad when I picked Christopher up from school to come home and find them practicing. The kids sat on their bikes in the driveway yelling, cheering and clapping every time the Thunderbirds did anything. Christopher was giving me play by play updates on the designs that the smoke made. Brandon and I bought them earplugs and huge headphones so they can enjoy it even more.

We went to the show in Pensacola back in October and it scared them half to death. It didn't help that the first jet that flew over us when we got there was the one that screams up behind you. It took an hour to calm them down and Christopher never took his hands off his ears the rest of the day. They panicked ever time an airplane flew by when we were outside... for months. So, we are prepared today. The weather looks to be perfect and we are pumped! Hopefully Brandon can get a little sleep in before we head out. Hope you have a great weekend too!!

I finally have a chance to put photos on here and only b/c I'm ignoring the piles of laundry that need to be folded right now. (2 on the couch and 1 in a basket to prop my feet up-- actually feels pretty good!) Unfortunately we did not have a single family photo turn out. And I'm not being modest or vain, every single one of them were blurry. Not exactly sure what happened, but oh well. There isn't a nice place (meaning cleaned off enough AND pretty enough) for us to stand in front of anyway. But enough of that, here are the photos:

The kids going down the slide inside the bouncy house at the awesome Easter party we went to with friends from church. It was steep and just as fast as she looks like she's going.


Is he not the cutest little boy you have ever seen??? I want to squish this kid every time I see him! And what a ham too! He just started posing for Brandon and stopped jumping to do so. I wish you could see the rest of the photos too. Hilarious! His parents are just as funny too, so no surprise where he gets it from!


Sophie on the playground. Yes, it looks nasty and moldy, but I think this is one of my favorite photos!



Sophie getting ready for a swing at the pinata. I love how serious she is here. She did well. And then comes Christopher's turn. And no, he didn't crack it open, even though it looks like he would have.


Someone had confetti stuffed eggs that you crack smash on someone's head. She had 4 dozen and they were gone in no time. So fun!!! Just empty out a real egg, fill with confetti, tape it up then smash away.


Waiting to go on an egg hunt. Sweaty and tired from jumping. This kid had so much fun and has no problem keeping up with kids older and bigger than her.

Now, on to the very few lake photos I have:

Sweet Anne Morgan playing one morning. I totally forgot to get a copy of all the pics on my parents camera and am kicking myself for it. She is the sweetest and quietest baby ever! I just wanted to kiss all over her sweet face! She's so happy that she actually got me thinking about having another one! Sophie wouldn't allow it though. Nobody sits in my lap but her. Don't be checking often for any "news" though, I do not want to add anyone to this family before we move again. Pet or person. We are maxed out right now and I'm good with it.

Pop reading the kids a book one afternoon. Sophie kept asking him, "Where'd John go?" He's the truck driver in the story. She asks why more than I ever thought possible. You get to the point where you don't have anymore answers and she keeps asking.

Here are two of the things I made with my sewing machine. My sister has an embroidery machine and she did some stuff for me. I made another one for a friend who has a little boy that's cute too. I have a new project for this week and I'm praying I can get it done.


The kids playing on the screened porch at Grammie and Pop's. They love sitting out here. Especially playing on the swinging bed. Well, we all love sitting that thing! Many a naps have happened here by people of all ages. Dogs too.

Ladybugs come out on the porch this time every year and the kids found one on the swing. I thought it was really funny that Christopher grabbed the magnifying glass to look at it.


I promised Christopher he could go swimming one afternoon, so he suited up. Looks like a shorter version of his Halloween costume. He's had this for two years and it fits him better now than ever. I love this kid! He's so funny!

That's all I got. Hope it was enough to keep you full for a while. I'm off to start supper before Brandon heads off to work for the night. Later fools!

Last weekend we had Christopher's birthday party. It was a few weeks late, but only b/c we were out of town the weekend of his birthday, then Brandon was on call the next. It was perfect timing though b/c the weather was absolutely gorgeous!!! It was sunny and just cool/warm enough to want to spend the entire day outside. We had it at the big park on base like last year, but this time no rain or humidity in site. We had a lot of fun with all of our friends and the kids played hard. It was the first "friend" party we've had. Usually it's just family and 1 or 2 friends. I figured since we were leaving town the next day I save everyone from traveling to our house and invite all our friends that are moving this summer. It was great!

Sunday, the kids, dog and I loaded up into the van and headed off to the lake. We made one stop along the way at this beautiful farm and we played for a little while. I picked it b/c it was down off the side of the road and I just pulled over on the driveway. I didn't really realize where we were until we got out and looked at the lush green all around us. I wanted to stay on the dirt road and find out where it took us and imagined cowboy boots and horses and loads of fun, but we had some grandparents to get to, so I decided against trespassing.

We got to Grammie and Pop's house a little after they got home from church and thankfully the kids napped a little on the way there. We played hard. Brick swam and chased everything along with the other dogs. It was perfect. Monday it was pretty cool out and we were planning to run into Montgomery to visit with Great, but Christopher wasn't feeling well, so we stayed home. We were going to start sewing, but this was the day I slipped and slid halfway down the stairs, so we just went for a walk instead to make sure nothing got too tight. I think it worked b/c I never really hurt the rest of the week.

The rest of the week continued to warm up and the skies were beautiful. We played inside and out. I sewed a few things like burp cloths, started a bag and made a cover for the back seat of the van where Brick sits. It was getting really dirty, but I cleaned it. Aunt Jennifer and Anne Morgan came on Wednesday and it was so fun to watch little AM crawl around everywhere. She is seriously the quietest baby I have ever seen! You honestly forget she's there except she's so darn cute you don't want to take your eyes off of her. She makes everyone want another baby, including me. (But don't get your hopes up, Sophie's WAY too clingy to add to this bunch.) Both kids want another baby, but when Sophie learned that meant Mommy's lap would no longer be free for her to sit in she changed her mind. It was a funny conversation!

I have some photos, but haven't downloaded them and forgot to get the ones I took with Pop's camera. I'll put them on here later. It's great to be home and I'm glad we were gone b/c Brandon was even busier than the week before. He starts nights on Monday. Boo. We miss him when he works this much. But that's our life! (I still love it!)

Have a great weekend!