I apologize for not posting here lately. It has been the busiest summer I have ever had, and I'm pretty sure that means EVER. Like, I wasn't even this busy when I was a kid. But I don't mind. I like being busy. Between moving (three separate trips) from there to here, Brandon graduating, hanging with friends, going to the lake, trip to Nashville and a new baby, we now have less than two weeks before school starts and I'm wondering what I was thinking back in the spring when I wondered what in the world we were going to do from May to August!

Moving on. I called my sis-in-law several months ago to see if the kids and I could come and visit for a week this summer and she jumped at the chance. We have not been to visit them in Nashville in at least 3 years, so we were very excited to go see our cousins. Again, I didn't have my camera, because I couldn't find it after the move, and so all I have are photos from my phone. We had a fabulous time and I think it was the fastest 5 days any of us have ever experienced. (And considering how fast the last couple months have gone, they flew by!) We arrived on Monday afternoon and the kids couldn't decide if they wanted to swim or play with their cousins' toys first. We did both. My brother was so sweet and made an effort to come home from work earlier so we could see him too. (His hours are as ridiculous as Brandon's, which is probably why Caroline loved the idea of company... another adult to talk to and kids to entertain your own. That's why I like it!)

On Tuesday we decided to go to see a train display and Christopher was in little boy heaven! Poor Sophie on the other hand was in toddler hell. It was as hot as that outside and with only about 7 hours of sleep the night before she lost it about 8 minutes after we arrived and didn't stop for about 30 or 40 minutes. We were all sweating, but had taken the time to pack lunches and it was beautiful outside and hated to leave 10 minutes after we got there. (too many numbers thrown at you?) We found a creek, took our shoes off and stuck our feet in to cool off. It seemed to do the trick. Along with a snack. Then we walked around to find the "lions" and the "castle' that were there. We walked back down to where the trains were, found a shady spot by a huge sprinkler (that I made Sophie run through) and had lunch. Of course she had to wet her pants and may or may not have finished up in the flower bed under a tree and then may or may not have walked back to the car with only a t-shirt, flip flops and a bare bottom. We spent the rest of the day playing inside or in the pool. 

On Wednesday, we got a sitter and Caroline and I took Sophie with us to get pedicures. She was adorable and sat perfectly still. And if perfect Sophie fashion she told the woman working on her hands and feet exactly what she needed to do. Let's just say I got a few looks from the woman. After a trip to Target for more pool floats we picked up lunch and went home to check on the boys. Rest of the afternoon was spent in the pool. Two of Caroline's friends came over with their kids to swim and it was so nice to meet them. Sophie and Drake were passed out by 5:00 and I had to wake her up at 6:30 to eat, go potty and then put her to bed at 7:30.


On Thursday we stayed home and swam and played some more. Sophie learned how to do front and back flips under the water and even I got dizzy just watching her. When Kyle got home we went out for some of the most delicious pizza! Back at the house we played in the driveway, the kids rode bikes and they all played hockey. Christopher and Sophie had never seen hockey before and kept getting it confused with baseball and golf. I was just glad that nothing and no one was broken. It was so hot that instead of trying to wrestle the kids with showers or deal with putting suits on sweaty bodies we'd let them go skinny dipping in the pool. It was hilarious! My kids had never done that before and were totally confused and then found a new kind of freedom. I just hope they don't try this every time we go swimming! The funniest part was when my brother walked out to the pool with his suit on, Sophie yelled at him, "Hey! You can't get in until you take your shorts off!" He just looked at her and said, "Not. Gonna. Happen." I about wet my pants because she could not figure out why he wanted to keep his clothes on.




We loaded up Friday morning and hit the road around 10:30. Sophie was asleep before 11:00 and Christopher was out by 11:20. He woke up after an hour and Sophie slept for 3 hours! They were exhausted, but it was totally worth it! We have had the most fun summer and I'm a little sad to see it coming to an end.

My little sister had her second baby yesterday morning. I am over the moon excited about being near family for once and not having to travel hours and plan weekends to visit with family for once. We have never been too far, but to be in the same town, or close enough for day visits, is awesome!

The kids and I went to go meet Jason in the afternoon and he was so cute and so tiny! Sophie kept wanting to pet his head and Christopher just liked looking at him. I took photos with my phone, but haven't taken the time to download any of them yet, so I copied this one from my sister's blog.



I am looking forward to spending the first year of his life with him and getting to know him and watch him grow. And knowing there won't be any of the "stranger" stuff happening with the little nieces and nephews is great too!

I'll be back later with more updates on our summer and hopefully some photos too. We have been on the go for the last 2 months and I still haven't unpacked because even when we have been in town we have been too busy. School starts in less than two weeks and I can't believe it!

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!