June 30

my kids love snacks. and they dress themselves (hence the all red clothes E is sporting)

cute Independence Day pics to come soon! Clay's work has a 4 day weekend- but he is on duty, which means he works 3 out of the 4 days. we have friends coming to visit tomorrow- YEAH!

june 28

Some people greet their spouse with a drink when they get home from work, I greet the Mr with an ice pop! That is how we started the late afternoon, followed by a little cool down courtesy of the kids! Tonight I left after dinner and met up with my pregnant British friend to skinny dip. Hehe, it's our local self serve frozen yogurt place. So good, and they change flavors daily, and their are a million toppings you can add. We worked on planning her baby shower, that I am throwing her- however I don't know any of the other Brits! They don't have them back home, and don't register for gifts so this is something new for her to get to do while here. Clay put the kids to bed and I got to spend some time out, it was such a nice evening. On Sunday I got the chance to be out for some adult lady time too! Anna, Gina and I all met up and shopped for a dress that Gina can wear to her husband's ship homecoming... soon! Hurray, 6 months is such a long time to be gone. it is the single most thing I am dreading about moving, having Clay leave on deployment. After shopping we finished the date off with wings and beer (well I don't like beer who are we kidding- my drink of choice is diet coke!)

June 25

Yesterday was a bit of a haze. Clay talked with the detailer in the morning and we have orders... not hard copy yet so I won't spill it out (well heck most of you that read this already know.) The timing is never easy, but when would be good? We move in December, who knows what we will do for Christmas (hotel?) and then G's birthday. We move right around her birthday every time, which means we have just left all her friends and don't know new ones yet. Our new duty station is not where we wanted, but then again we have never gotten where we wanted- yet always seem to end up loving where ever we are, which makes it so hard to leave. For the 2nd time I have 2 really amazing girlfriends, that will be hard to not be near. When we left Japan, my 2 closest friends had moved away a year and a half before us so it was a bit easier, even though I had new friends. I know that I will be able to keep in touch with all these women, but it stinks. Finding friends who you fit with is not easy, and once you fit it feels so good to know you have them there for whatever you need whenever. So, new duty station is somewhere we have never been before (prior duty stations include: Everett, WA. San Diego, CA. Yokosuka, Japan. Virginia Beach, VA.) and is even farther away from family. Bright side, still on the water!!! imagine that, the Navy sends you near the Ocean.

So the road to a new adventure starts now. On the to do list: start cleaning and de cluttering the house, organize craft crap, get rid of old toys clothes and stuff, figure out where to live (rent, base housing, buy???) and so many more things.

June 23

another picture from yesterday's beach adventure. notice the 2 dragonfly above the kids? there were hundreds of them on the sand dunes this bridge goes over.

errrr, so irritated with myself. On the way home from a little climbing time at the fieldhouse (where it was summer camp week, aka there were 14 other kids that came into the play area) we stopped off to get gas (Thursdays at our Shell station it is 5 cents off.. so today it was a LOW of $3.44 a gallon) and then to Target for diapers (I may try to make this our last pack, doubtful but I can try to talk E and I into it!) We did our long walk thru, and stumbled upon the patio furniture section. Big sale signs, and upon further inspection I found wicker (but more like plastic wicker?) chairs. They normally are $125 but for some reason were slashed to $32. I even called Clay at work to see if I should buy them. He said yes go ahead. I was unsure if they were what we wanted, since we don't have a table to go with them and would they be too bulky when we find a table? Well it was also lunch time, even tho the kids had just had snacks, and then E had a stinky diaper (he did tell me as it was happening, so he does know) and both kids were not wanting to stay in the cart.... so I just said we would go back when Clay got off work and decide. Well we went back, 4 hours later. All were gone, including a few other things that I had eyed, well except one chair. We got the one chair. What do you do with just one chair??? We drove to 2 other Targets, neither had the chair- or nearly as good clearance prices (I even asked why the prices differ so much between stores in the same city!) I guess that will teach me to second guess myself... BUY BUY BUY!

On another note, E has started talking so much. He is hilarious, and it is never quiet in the car. Tonight this is what came out of his mouth "Sissy NO talk. ME talk!"

I have taken over mowing the lawn, it just makes sense since I am home so much more. I mowed today, in the 94 * heat and then finished weeding the front garden that I started last week. The only thing I haven't learned and really don't want to take over is using the weed eater, that can still be Clay's job- especially since he got himself new earplugs!

June 22

Happy Birthday Dad, wish you could be here with us! We made you sand cakes at the beach today, and toasted you with salt water!

We were at the beach at 9:30am today, with a cooler full of watermelon, carrots & humus and ham roll ups. We were too busy to eat anything but the watermelon, so the roll ups were lunch in the car. Our friends joined us, and their visiting Grandma. The waves were huge, and strong so we mostly ran out of them. We were deciding if we were ready to leave or not- the kids were all getting tired, and then a few rain drops started to fall. You never know what the rain will bring so we packed up for the day. The rain was just a teaser and the day is still beautiful, but hot!

June 21

This sweet little boy is really into getting his fingers into just the right position to say TWO! He started it last week and does it all the time.

More about 2: we got two stamps at the aquarium today- see the letter O. We watched a puppet show that was about an Octopus.

We have been to the aquarium twice in the past week, trying to use our membership to the fullest before it expires at the end of the month. Last week we went to the shark side, today we were at the bird side.
It has been 4days and counting that this boy has been hustling himself up on the toilet for #2. Such a proud thing, he even called Sissy in to see today! No undies have needed to be thrown out either, wow!

Trying to get to bed early- at 10pm. Feels nice to sleep. I keep ending up with a headache during the day, not sure why. The toy room is a horrible idea- it is always a disaster and rarely played IN (toys come out of it) we got it cleaned up today and it makes me feel so much better.

One last thing, 2 days before we hopefully have word on orders. Where will we be 6 months from now?? Japan? Florida? Hawaii? NORFOLK? San Diego?

June 19

Happy Father's Day to all the wonderful Fathers in my life! Special wishes to MY dad, who is so special and loving!

Dad + Elliot 2009

Great Grandpa Clayton (wearing his pocket talker so he could hear G & E)

Grandpa Stan, on his farm.

The Dad to my babies!

Dad + Gabby, 2009. Look how little G is, and how HAPPY my dad is with her! loved looking back at pictures, especially the ones of my Dad's 2 special trips to VA alone (in addition to last summer's trip with my Mom)- once to help us when E was born (he missed it by a day, early E.) and then again right before Christmas 20009. Thank You Dad for everything you do for us, with us and because of us, and always supporting your 3 girls (and Mom too!) Love you.

june 18

We just had a wedding, it happens quite frequently since we have lived in the South. It's also okay to marry your Brother here, which is usually the case. The bride is pretty particular when it comes to the details... actually I just realized tonight was the rehearsal- the real thing is tomorrow evening (be ready for a melt down if we are busy or forget!) The colors of the wedding are yellow, black and orange. A CHUCK toy truck is going to be the centerpiece. We used this lovely yellow scrap of fabric (I cut it off a table cloth I bought bc it was way too long) as the aisle runner.

The Groom/Astronaut tried to steal the bride's thunder by walking down the aisle... mistake. Yes, the groom is wearing a shining helmet by KitchenAid (which is why I always have to wash dishes before baking and after!!!)
In the words of the father, whom performed the ceremony " I know pronounce you princess and astronaut!"

What else can you do when it is 98* out?

june 17

Today made the 4th day out of the past 7 that we were at the beach. Funny how 82* doesn't feel hot anymore. This week has wore us all out, each time I look over at Clay sitting down on the couch in the past 2 days he has fallen asleep. Hope tonight brings us all some much needed rest, and that it lasts past 6am.

How many Elliot's do you see?

Jets fly by, and are so much closer than the picture portrays.

G's sandy heart.

time to put E to sleep, he keeps trying to bring his little basketball to bed- and use it as a pillow! G is sound asleep and Clay is getting ready for Friday night softball, which means I will watch wedding shows and the like that he would rather not!

June 16

because eating watermelon on its own isn't messy enough, E insists on squeezing the last bit of juice out of the rind. notice the first mosquito bite of the year- smack dab on the forehead.

this is what happens when I ask them to get ready for the sprinkler. they did this all on their own, and said they were playing winter.

E has a new wake up time of 5:45am, and G follows at 6:30am which is way too early for both of them. How do I get them to go back to sleep, E especially??? Finally Friday, I thought the past two nights were Friday!

June 15

This classy princess showed up during nap time. I was the fairy godmother, I may need to work on my hairdressing magic.

june 14

A day late, no pictures. Yesterday was a fantastic day! Instead of going with my plans for the kids and I to head to the zoo and try out the story time there, a friend called and said she would be at "our base" going to the beach. We agreed to be there at 10am, but both got there 15 minutes early. We walked out onto a gorgeous beach, with G yelling "look at the sparkling blue water!" How right she was. Being so early, during the week and only in the mid 70's there were only 3 other people on the beach! G, E and their buddy ran and played, climbed on the lifeguard chair (that said no climbing) and played chicken with the waves. My friend and I stood there in awe of the life our kids (and us) are living right now. Yes, her husband has been gone for 5 months, and Clay worked a 16 hour day yesterday (leaving hours before we were awake and getting home hours after the kids were asleep, and now he has left again before the kids were up- and they got up before 6:30am today) yet still this life we live is grand.

We played WITH our kids yesterday, and strangers kids who came over to us because we were having so much fun (while their parents sat in lawn chairs soaking in sun). We dug wading pools and used bucket after bucket of water to fill them up since the tide was going out! We built sand castles, stomped sand castles, did bubbles, played swords, ate sandy apples and carrots, talked, jumped and punched waves!

Our car seats are full of dry sand, as are bathtubs and toilets. I have a sunburn on my shoulders (I guess I get more concerned with the harder to reach parts of my back) with a few little kid finger marks from G and E helping to rub in my sunscreen. The house was a mess with dishes and clean laundry (laundry is still waiting to be folded 24 hrs later). I did mow the front and back lawns tho!

Being present and choosing to be active in what life hands you is so amazing. On to today!

June 13

cowpokes at the park

we had a really lazy Monday, not sure if we all just had a case of the Mondays- or run down from the heat last week and 2 days in a row at the beach. Whatever it was we just hung out, played in the toy room, read books (I just finished the newest Emily Griffin) lounged in the yard, finally went to the park (dressed as cowboy/girl complete with stick ponies), made carne asada and awaited Clay's return from a 12hr + workday. hope tomorrow we find our spunk.

June 12

Another beach day.....

the kids caught a ride down to the beach courtesy of STRONG Dad.

reeled in two fish on one pole, all by herself!

fishin' girl

throwing 'em back into the Ocean

like father like son

biggest shark caught as of yet, eek!

"more shark dadda!" from little shark boy

June 11

we spent a great afternoon at the beach today with friends. perfect 90* and small waves! plus we saw parachuters jumping out of planes!

June 8

playing an elephant spraying water.

95* today so the sprinkler, popsicles, and a crown were all a MUST have.

hoping tomorrow I am not such a grump. and that E goes to bed at bedtime- AND stays asleep for the entire night. last night he and I were up from 9:30p- 1am. tonight he went to bed for Clay, then woke up when I got home from the store, and proceeded to switch between pretending to sleep and throwing a fit for a few hours. goodnight.

June 7

I now notice and appreciate all the gorgeous mountain views WA has to offer, they were breathtaking and all around me!

so I missed a few days, I knew it would happen- bound to happen while traveling cross country with a 2 and 4 year old as my company! Last night we got in at 7pm, both kids were asleep from 9pm-9am. I loved sleeping in and even got like 10 hrs of sleep- that rarely happens due to my late night staying up. today was a no nap day for E, and I am hoping that he is tired enough to sleep thru the night and not just think going to bed at normal 7pm bedtime is a nap (who am I kidding, he doesn't usually go to sleep till closer to 8:30pm, but he was super tired he should sleep all night!). He was so tired he laid down on the bathroom floor, and it was almost 7pm so I put him to bed, he made it late enough! Gabby just whistled to get my attention, and get me into her bedroom. Prayer time after dad did stories. Being tired and 4 seem to be a pretty emotional combination for her. that and being even more boy crazy... our waiter in Seattle (at our hotel) and the pilots of our plane both got the compliment from her that they were such nice gentlemen!

a few things I noticed upon coming home, the Mr of the house doesn't know how to work the a/c. he had it set 7 degrees color than we normally do, it was CHILLY in the house (and bound to be expensive) and he didn't think to check the mail! He did however make sure we were stocked with milk, lemonade, lots of fruit and a box of popsicles! I made a big grocery shopping trip after he got home from work.

Today was a welcome back to VB day, high of 91*, we played in the sprinkler off and on all day, had grilled chicken for dinner, I mowed the lawn, almost unpacked the suitcases (well 2 out of 3 are done, just mine left!) and let E wear underwear all day! he had 2.5 accidents (that I know of) the half is to account for him starting to pee but stopping and me getting him on the potty in time to finish. you don't want to know about the others, lets just say we don't have a dog for him to blame!

June 3

this truck framed the perfect Mountain views for me on my drive home from a wonderful visit with a good friend! This is part of what makes the PNW so amazing.

June 2

practiced with different settings on the camera, while out in the perpetual sprinkles that are WA.

ps- my blogger is set to east coast time, really I have 42 minutes left until it is tomorrow!

June 1

my little loves! ring bearer and flower girl

I am jumping on the band wagon, going to try to post something every day for the entire month of June! It may just be a single picture- maybe I will really learn how to use my camera, or it might be a funny saying that my little talkers have said.

Tonight is night 5 out of 1611 nights that Gabby has not been with me! Since she was born, the only times she has not been home (where ever that may be at times, like now) sleeping the same place as me are; the two nights I was in the hospital after having Elliot, Christmas night of this past year when she had a sleep over with her Grandma Rose, and then earlier this week one night, and again tonight she insisted on staying for sleep overs with Grandma!

Elliot has spent one night away from me- out of 790 nights!