I'm totally cheating on this post and stealing it from my sister. We have been so incredibly busy the last several weeks and have no photos to show for it. I wanted to put something on here for you to look at and since my sister was too pregnant to do anything other than take photos I'm going to link up to her blog so you can see it yourself. I won't bore you with all that we've been doing, it hasn't all been boring, but one of the many fun things we have done is come to visit my aunt and 2 of my cousins, who came down from Kansas, at the lake for a couple days. I haven't seen them in at least 4 years so it was great to catch up with them! Christopher and Sophie have fallen in love with Haley and Drew and have been attached to their hips since about 5 minutes after meeting them. I thought they would be shy, but they actually saw this as an opportunity to show off. They have been having so much fun that I actually can't get them to leave so we can go home. But I don't know when we will get to see them again, so I can't complain too much. Ok, enough chit chat, here are the photos:

http://thehowellslife.blogspot.com/2011/07/lake-with-cousins.html

Hope your summer is going well too! Ours is going way too fast!

I'm totally cheating on this post and stealing it from my sister. We have been so incredibly busy the last several weeks and have no photos to show for it. I wanted to put something on here for you to look at and since my sister was too pregnant to do anything other than take photos I'm going to link up to her blog so you can see it yourself. I won't bore you with all that we've been doing, it hasn't all been boring, but the most fun thing we have done is come to visit my aunt and 2 of my cousins, who came down from Kansas, at the lake for a couple days. I haven't seen them in at least 4 years so it was great to catch up with them! Christopher and Sophie have fallen in love with Haley and Drew and have been attached to their hips since about 5 minutes after meeting them. And Sophie has never met them! They have been having so much fun that I actually can't get them away from them so we can go home. But I don't know when we will get to see them again, so I can't complain too much. Ok, enough chit chat, here are the photos:

http://thehowellslife.blogspot.com/2011/07/lake-with-cousins.html

Hope your summer is going well too! Ours is going way too fast!

Well, we are finally settled into our new house. Mostly. There are still boxes that need some unpacking, but the rest of them will just be closed up and line a wall or sit in an empty room for the year. It was such a pain to pack up the last of our stuff that I don't want to unpack it unless we absolutely need it. And if you are like us you don't need about 85% of the stuff you have. You either have it passed down, refuse to throw it away, was a wedding gift that will never be used but can't get rid of, or not really sure how you ended up with it. I think I would live just fine on a desert island if I could have cable and internet with me. And a phone to call someone every now and then. I'd rather email then talk on the phone, but every now and then I like the phone.

We filled up our first week quickly with time spent with our friends, the Khans, and time with both sets of grandparents, with some cousins thrown in along with a birthday party. We made a day trip up to the lake last week and it turned into an overnight. The kids crashed within 8 minutes of the ride back home. Christopher was moved to the couch and Sophie to Christopher's bed. I showered and got ready to go to my in-laws for dinner and we were able to wake Christopher, but not Sophie. She slept in two cars and one bed all in one nap. Poor kid woke up and wondered where Daddy's truck was. We laughed and told her that was an hour and a half ago! Needless to say, the kids have been exhausted and someone has wet the bed every night due to all the fun and exhaustion, but since our life isn't very normal right now I can't seem to get mad at them. Sophie fell asleep last night in the car headed to the BX with Brandon at 6:30, slept in the store, on the couch and I was able to wake her up enough to go potty, change her clothes and put clean sheets back on her bed. This weekend we have another out of town birthday party to attend and more family time. The summer is flying by too fast!

I'll post photos once I download them from my phone. I know, I have a camera, but the phone is much faster and easier! Off to start on the next project! Don't be jealous, it's either laundry or organizing the boxes I still haven't unpacked.

It's been 7 years in the making, but we are finally and officially finished with all medical training. (Insert crowd cheering.) Brandon graduated from residency this week and I am so proud of him! We had the residency banquet Tuesday night and it was filled with loads of laughter, hilarious awards, hysterical videos and a little bit of serious thrown in. I am very proud that Brandon won the "Resident Teacher Award" and have to say, I'm not surprised. He is an incredible teacher and really feels like that is where he is supposed to be at some point in his career. This past year just reaffirmed that.

We had graduation at the Air Force Armament Museum this year and it was really awesome. Who wouldn't want to graduated with lots of history and jets and guns and more surrounding them? Both of our parents were able to come down and support Brandon. After graduation we all went to lunch together to celebrate. My parents headed back home and Brandon's parents took the rest of the week off to spend with us here in Florida.

We have been to the beach, gone shopping, LOTS of eating out, a concert, played, slept, fished, and watched Cars 2. They left this morning and we are going to spend today with more relaxing, maybe go swimming and if we are up for it, end the day with some fireworks. It was a great way to finish out our time here in Florida. We have really, really enjoyed living here and hoping that we will be able to come back very soon.

Here are a few photos from graduation. Brandon's mom has more, but I didn't download them before she left. I will have to get them soon.

Here are some photos I downloaded from my phone. It's the only way I've been taking photos lately and FB is the only way I've been staying up to date. Sorry about that!

Christopher was able to go to a karate class with his best friend William when we were visiting them in TX. It was so cute!!


 Sophie, Brandon and Reagan cuddling together after some fun on the slip n' slide all afternoon.


We bought some guns. William had a couple of these and I felt like we needed some of our own.I recommend getting some for yourself if you want some hilarious entertainment.


Sophie dresses up in at least one costume (or random clothes) a day. This day we went to Walmart and then she asked me why everyone was calling her a princess. The next person that walked by didn't call her one and she asked me why he didn't say she was a princess. I'm not sure will we be lacking in confidence when we get older.


 We bought Brick a new bed in hopes he will not sneak onto the couch anymore. He loves it!


We took swimming lessons. I loved these when I was a kid. I did not love the ones my kids took. But I don't want to get started on that. They are over, Brandon and I taught the kids how to swim and that's all that matters.


 More costumes and some brotherly love. (And a random moment when Christopher will actually let me take his picture.)


 Proud of the boat he built. The driver is headless and he said he wanted it that way. Maybe he was making this for a drinking while boating ad. Not sure, but it would work for me!


 Since we are moving we eat random things throughout the day. Like jelly out of a jar for lunch.


 Sophie is now convinced she needs an i.d. to get on base. This is it. The guards have been very sweet and humor her. Some don't find it as funny as others. They must be over heated because she is very serious about using it.


 Crazy kids at the mall. They love this thing. One time we actually turned it on when we had about 5 kids in there. I'm thinking they should let you rent them to hold your kids while you shop.


 Another day, another costume. The kids wanted to take Brick for a walk. Halfway around the block she decided to walk and I had to drag the bike home.



 Christopher walking Brick. It felt like 110 degrees out, but we had to wear our rain boots.


 Another dress up day. By the time we made it to taekwondo we'd lost the necklaces and bracelet.


And in sad news, we decided to sell the truck. It won't be driven while Brandon is gone, well, not enough to justify keeping it. I feel like I'm driving an 18-wheeler when I have to drive it. It is beautiful and we love it. It is in fabulous condition and if you are interested, let me know. I will send you info.

That's about it for now. Saturday is moving day and I don't feel anywhere near ready. My amazing in-laws came down last weekend and helped more than I could have ever hoped for. All that's left now is the little annoying things that are lying around the house that you know you will just throw in a box and will never open it again because nobody in their right mind wants to sort through 12 junk boxes. So I'm stalling. Please pray that it all goes smoothly and it doesn't pour when it's time to actually load/unload the truck. We have mixed emotions about this move. The kids and I are excited about being around family and friends, but not excited about being away from Brandon. I know we will be fine, but I also have no real idea what it will be like to be apart from him for this length of time with kids at home. Last time we apart this long we were engaged.

I better run. I just spent the last 45 minutes cutting the grass and I smell so bad I'm sure the neighbors will come knocking to make sure something didn't die. Not sure when I will be back on here again, so hope you all are having a great summer!!

We just got back from our big trip for the year.  (Not a single photo was taken, not sure why.) Brandon wanted to take a review course for the final board exam next month and it was in Dallas. Fortunately our best friends, the Ramages, moved about 2 1/2 hours from Dallas last summer and we haven't seen them since then. The kids (especially Christopher) were very excited about getting to see their friends William and Reagan and I couldn't wait to see Tiffany again. After a couple days at the lake, we loaded up the morning after Memorial Day and headed west. We didn't have a destination set, but on the drive we realized that our friends who also moved recently, the Newells were in Shreveport and we could stop and see them and maybe have dinner together. We gave them a call and they told us to just come over for dinner and spend the night. The kids were so happy to see each other they ran all around the house and the backyard playing and chasing each other. After dinner and baths we put the kids to bed and it was so nice to be able to catch up with Adam and Melissa without any interruptions. The next morning we went swimming and then hit the road after lunch. We got to Dallas that afternoon and swam some more. (The kids have been working really hard at swimming without any floats and this was the day that it clicked for both kids.) After dinner out we all headed to bed.

Thursday morning Brandon was gone early to start his review course and the kids and I went back to the pool for a little while. Tiffany and the kids were going to be driving through around lunch so we were trying to kill time until they arrive. I wish so bad that I had a video camera for when they did arrive and the kids saw each other, it was priceless!! These are kids who spend almost every single day together for two years and haven't seen each other in 11 months. It was awesome!! Reagan was just a baby the last time we saw her and now she is running around chasing the big kids around. We loaded up the van and hit the road. The kids talked and laughed and screamed the entire car ride and then ran around doing the same, just louder. Tiffany and I just looked at each other and wondered how in the world we were going to survive the next 4 days with these crazy kids.

We did and we had so much fun! It was great seeing them again and watching the kids play and laugh together. We took trips to Target, played on the slip and slide (Tiff and I joined in too!), went to church, watched movies, had Nerf gun fights, played Wii, and ate lots of food. Next thing we know, Brandon shows up and the next morning we have to head home. Christopher even told Brandon, "Daddy, you got here too late and missed all the fun!" It was so cute! (And true!) We loaded up and hit the road Monday morning and drove 550 miles before stopping for the night. We did more swimming and then everyone crashed hard for the night. The next day we swam some more and then headed to Montgomery and stayed with Mimi and Papa John for the night. The kids were so happy to see them and to be closer to home. My mom brought Brick into town Wednesday morning and we were home by lunch time.

We traveled about 2000 miles and had a wonderful time and the kids were absolutely amazing travelers!!! Brandon and I were talking about it last night and laughed because we realized either the kids were better at riding in the car OR our expectations were so low that anything was better than we thought it was going to be! Regardless, it was a great trip and I am so glad that we did it!

Hello all! I hope you are having a good weekend. Ours started out with a leaky toilet leading to a hole in the bathroom wall and a toilet now sitting in the shower and has ended up with us hanging out at the lake. We are having a great time too! So much that we haven't even had time to pull out the camera to take any pics. When we arrived Saturday afternoon we immediately put suits on and jumped in the water. Then we headed to my parent's SS party around the corner. It was great to see their friends and their friends kids who have their own kids now too.

Sunday we went to Church in the Pines and then walked over to an art show for Children's Harbor. When we came home suits were back on and everyone jumped in the water. The kids have been dying to practice their swimming so if water is around, they are in it! After a while we headed across the lake to a friends' house that has a slide and a diving board about 10' up and after about an hour of sliding and watching the bigger kids jumping off the board Christopher decided he wanted to try it. Two jumps with Daddy and then he was doing it on his own! I was so very proud of him! Sophie wanted to stick with the slide and jumping off the dock and I don't blame her. When we made it back home the kids wanted to give the double tube a go. Sophie went first with Daddy, but it was too rough due to all the other boats out there, and for once she doesn't weigh enough, so she was out faster than she was in. Christopher loved it though. (Thanks to an exhausted Daddy who was using every ounce of strength he had to keep the tube inside the wake and from bouncing too much!) We had dinner, rode plasma cars in the driveway and then played on the fort. Finished with a movie and then finally off to bed. And that was day one!

Today we took it a little easier and just swam at home and even practiced without any floats. Had lunch on the patio and as I'm typing Sophie and Brandon are passed out on the couch and Christopher isn't too far behind.

I'm about to read on my Kindle while everyone else is resting. I am LOVING The Help right now and can't seem to put it down. If you read The Hunger Games and loved it, we need to talk because I can't seem to get past the first few chapters because it is so depressing and sad. I don't understand why anyone would want to make a movie about this or why everyone loved the book, so if you did you need to tell me that it gets better!

I just finished catching up on some blogs I haven't read in a while and realized that apparently I'm the only person out there who is not pregnant (specifically with child #3) at the moment. Does anyone else feel this way?

Well, I guess that's enough for now. I hope you are all enjoying your weekend and the weather is beautiful wherever you are. We are getting even closer to the end of our time in residency and soon it's going to be crazy with moving, painting, graduation, vacation and then sending Brandon off. So, if I'm not on here very much this summer, you know why. But keep your posts coming because I'm having fun reading them!! Later!

... when your daughter yells, "Mommy! You gotta come see! It's the BIGGEST poop ever!!!"

... when your 3 year old walks by you and says, "Mommy? Can you get me some coffee?"

... when your son runs up to tell you, "I just felt like I was flying!" and then remembers that means he was doing something he's not supposed to do.

... when your daughter tells you she has to put in her contacts when she gets out of the shower, pulls a contacts case out of the drawer, fills it with water, uses one finger to dip into the filled cups, puts her contacts in (exactly like you do) and then tells you, "Now I can see better!"

... when your son says, "Look at me Mommy!" and he is now wearing his sister's earrings.

... when you set up the sprinkler in the yard and your son immediately takes it over to the driveway so it will make a big puddle for them to stomp and ride their bikes in.

... when you are trying to teach your kids a lesson about wasting money and they go and get excited about having to use their allowance to replace the brand new shampoo they dumped out in the bathtub.

... when you ask your kids to help carry their stuff in from the car only to have them say, "My hands are full because I have to carry my cup and a piece of gum."

...when you tell your child that if they don't pick up their toys you are going to throw/give them away and they look at you and say, "Ok, that's fine."

... when you are at Chick-fil-a and your youngest child tells you that she is pretending her big brother is a mean monster in the play area only to have a child more than twice her age run out and tell her mom she heard there was a monster on the playground!

... when your daughter is more into sword fights and guns than your son.

...when you are at a playground and your child tells you they have to go potty, you are nowhere near home, there is nobody around and you help her pee on the ground off to the side only to find out she really had to poop.