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.