I don't have any photos to post today b/c I don't have the laptop and my desktop is over 10 years old and can't handle it. I could plug the card in, drive to the beach for the day, come home and it might have all of them downloaded. IF it didn't just lock up from nerves at the thought of having to download anything. It pretty must only works to do emails and the blog. I can't watch videos people post, hulu, youtube, netflix, any of it. Needless to say I've missed the laptop this week.

And more importantly, I've missed Brandon. It's never fun when your spouse has to go away and away he had to go. He's taking a tropical medicine course in D.C. and is really enjoying it. The residents get to pick a course to take during their time here to learn more about an area that they are particularly interested in. He has a passion for mission trips, especially medical mission trips. This course was a no brainer. I'm very glad that he has had this opportunity, even if it means going away to take it.

We've had a pretty good week here at the house. Monday we went to the Storeys' house and had breakfast and let the kids play outside. We've decided to make this a weekly event. Tuesday the kids both had mother's day out and I made myself stay out of the house the whole time. I know to most people this may sound simple, but I keep wanting to go home to sew, get distracted with things that need to be done and end up not finishing anything. I went to Target and just walked around as slow as I wanted. It was fabulous! Then I went to get lunch at Panera Bread and read my book. The mall is right behind there and I decided to go there alone too. It was great! Then it was time to pick up the kids. That night, the kids and I rode our bikes up to the big playground on base. I was so proud of Christopher b/c I wasn't sure if he would be able to do it without complaining, but every time he went over a curb without falling he'd shout as loud as he could, "I just went over that massive bump Mommy!!!" It was precious! We will definitely be doing this again.

Wedneday I had just Sophie and we went back to Target to return something that wasn't working from the day before and ended up buying more stuff. How's that? We stopped by a little water park and she played for a while, still in her clothes. Went home for lunch and I ordered iphones for Brandon and I (not the new ones) then went to pick up Christopher. We had Keenan and Moriah come over to play while their parents went to dinner with their aunt and uncle that were in town. We also had Chico come over and play for a little while with Brick. He's the adorable retriever puppy that lives behind us.

Thursday the kids had their last day of mom's day out for the summer. And I ran a few errands before going home to fold clothes. It would have been better if I actually put them away, but I didn't feel like it. We went to the big playground (drove) and let the kids play around for a while. It was perfect b/c it was overcast and they actually got a little cold. We took Christopher to get his haircut and Sophie somehow was cute enough to not get us in trouble b/c she was into EVERYTHING! I was just praying that she wouldn't break the chair as she tried to pump it up and down. I never know what to say when she's misbehaving and people tell me how cute she is. I usually just say she a real handful or has a mind of her own or something like that so they know that I'm aware of how bad she's ignoring every command I give her and not just a mom that doesn't care. What do you do? My children flat out ignore me and she's always done whatever she wanted to in places she knows that you can't spank her. That's why I like walmart b/c nobody there will look funny at you.

Today we were going to go to the beach with some friends but Sophie has a little bit of a funny poop and the beach is not a place you want to go with that. Sand only makes changing diapers more difficult and the potty is always too far away when you have to walk across sand to get there. I will say that she has made HUGE progress with potty training. If it wasn't for this funny poop thing we wouldn't have had accidents this week. She doesn't want anything to do with a diaper, even at night. I'm so proud of her! Whoever said that girls were easy to potty train never had a daughter like mine. She was a little faster than Christopher, but it was definitely more than the "day" or "week" that I'd been told. Now, if I'd only not bought that pack of pullups last week I was afraid I'd need. Oh well! I have people I can pass them on to. (Correction, since writing this post we have used almost the whole bag of pullups b/c she keeps having little accidents and I wasn't about to go through that many panties. It took some SERIOUS convincing, but she caved.)

Hope you had a great week at your house and have an even better weekend!

A year ago today was when we brought Brick home from the pound. He has been a wonderful addition to our family. Here is a photo from the day we brought him home.

He's wearing a cone b/c he just had his manhood taken away. Overall he's been a very good dog. We've had our moments of serious clean ups around the house, chasing him down the street b/c he ran away and finally got him to quit jumping on the sliding door. But just like children, those moments have been overshadowed by so many good ones that eventually the bad ones just slide away.

Today is also my niece, Anne Morgan's first birthday. She is so precious and we love her so much!! Just look at the posts below for photos of her. (I'm without a laptop right now and that's where all the photos are. I had to copy and paste the one above.)

Happy 1st birthday guys!!!

Today I found out that a couple in our S.S. class got some really hard news over the weekend. The husband has Stage 4 cancer. They moved to Michigan several weeks ago to be closer to family and right around moving time he wasn't feeling great and had to go to the hospital. The doctors thought it was one thing, but by the time he settled in at their new home he still wasn't feeling well. Then Friday they got the news. This is a young couple, I think he's only about 30 years old, and they had their first baby several months ago. I do not know them personally, but knew who they were. I do not know too many details so I'm trying to keep it simple so I don't say something that isn't true. But what I do know is that they could use lots of prayer right now. I can't imagine going through this with Brandon, especially at this point in our lives and I'm sure you feel the same way. So I ask you to please lift this family up in your prayers today and whenever you remember them.

The Ramages left for Texas last night. Or early, early this morning depending on how you want to look at it. It was a great two years and we talk about how fun it would be if we ended up at the same base again in the future. They have been hanging out at our house a lot over the last two weeks trying to stay out of the way of movers, cleaning ladies and the tiny little TLF they were staying in on base. Tiffany and I laughed b/c she said you know you are really good friends when you let them bring their dirty laundry to your house and watch you fold your husband's underwear. We fixed a big going away meal Wednesday night and then had them over for leftovers Thursday night when they realized they couldn't get everything done that day. We didn't mind having them back.

I learned that if it's hard to tell someone goodbye, just have them spend a majority of the day/night at your house for a week and then you won't watch them leave and wish you'd had more time to hang out. (and I don't mean that in a bad way) It just makes it easier to say "see you later" b/c you couldn't have spent more time together than you just did. It's the perfect way to see friends go.

The kids were very dirty and sweaty from playing outside on the trucks and u-hauls so we gave them baths. And let me just say, I have never seen water this dirty before. We almost showered them off just to rinse off the dirty water, but we really didn't care. We had to snap a few pics of the gang before they parted ways and of course they did it their way.... silly!!









On a completely different note, I found this video on the Slagley's blog and just had to put a link to it on ours in case you didn't read theirs. It is A-W-E-S-O-M-E!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (please say that in a high pitched voice while throwing your hands in the air, it sounds way better that way!)

Click here to watch it.

And then show it to your husband when he gets home and see if he laughs as hard as you did!

We just got home from our weekend away at the lake for the 4th of July. We had a great time with my family and also got to visit some friends while we were there. I'll post the photos later this week when I get a chance, so please check back later. They are downloaded, but just need to wait until everyone is out of the house so I can go through them all without potty, snack or drink breaks. Until then, check out my sister's blog here for the photos she posted.

I don't like to promote myself (not that I have anything to promote), but a blogging friend asked me to write a post for a blog that she and her friend started for moms. In case anyone feels like reading it, click here. It's more so I can have a record of the fact that someone outside of my friends and family found me just slightly interesting.

I hope everyone had a great and safe weekend and I look forward to seeing what all of you were up to as well!! : )

Sophie has decided that this week she doesn't want to wear diapers anymore. Sunday night I was just complaining about how much I dislike potty training. She did great on Monday, no accidents, and even napped in her big girl underwear. Tuesday she had Mom's day out and didn't want a diaper. Had one accident while there. Wednesday she was with me and I think was getting more comfortable with it and had a couple accidents, including one in her carseat. No fun for me, but am still proud of her. I think we might be done with diapers very soon!

Now, on the other hand, I went to pick her up from mom's day out and got some very bad news. She was not good today. She was very, very bad today. So bad that her teacher told her that she was going to have to tell her mommy. The teacher still didn't look happy when she was talking about it. I have been waiting for a day like this. I knew it would happen. Today was the day. Even Brandon wasn't surprised. Our little girl has attitude. Lots of it.

So, it's been a great and a bad week/day for us/her. She went straight to bed when she got home. What do you do? She was up very early yesterday and barely napped, so I'm not surprised she wasn't her fun little self.

But I had a great day. I got to spend the day with Tiffany in Destin. We went to Destin Commons to get me some new flip flops (need some with some actual support and no longer for cuteness). It started pouring while we were there. We went to Target to grab a few things. Went to have lunch at McAlister's Deli. It was P O U R I N G outside the whole time. But it was a great way for me to spend my time without the kids. We have done this numerous times together over the last two years and it was a great way to end our time together. Our families had dinner together last night and will tonight (love friends close enough to make these plans at 6:00 at night) and will have a big meal together the night before they leave. Gotta go out right, huh?

Hope you are having a good week wherever you are and have a great and safe Fourth of July too!

This morning Wendi called to see if she could drop Scrubs (their dalmatian) off at our house while she waited for housing to come inspect their house. They had a cleaning lady come yesterday and clean the entire house, an empty house, from top to bottom and she didn't want him to make a smudge anywhere (who could blame her?). And I was more than happy to have him come over to play with Brick.

Christopher asked me, after Wendi left, why Scrubs was at our house and I told him so he wouldn't get their house dirty. He said, "Oh, and our house is already dirty, so it's ok if he plays here."

Thanks buddy.

I was planning to use today to tackle the messes that we do have in the house. He just doesn't know that he's going to be helping me.

So there!!