Happy Halloween

It will be a miracle if my kids actually fall asleep tonight. Well - I guess they will eventually...when all the sugar wears off and they crash. Just don't know how long that is going to take. I figured I'd blog while waiting for that to happen. Here are my two oldest ready to go get their trick-or-treating on.

Happy Halloween folks!

We have had such a busy weekend, but it's been wonderful - and very "post worthy" so I'll have lots of posts coming at you.

But because I mentioned it in my last post, I'll go ahead and show off my latest project. This is our family command center. I'm pretty happy with the way it turned out.

The calendar portion, is actually a print out that I made and then framed in a big picture frame and I use dry erase markers on it to update it as needed. Then on the bottom left those are little file boxes, but I covered up the kids names for posting reasons. Thats where I put all their school stuff that needs to go back to school, or homework assignments, book orders, etc. Above that is our meal center - I put our meals for the week and shopping list there. Then below the calendar are two magnet boards to show-off artwork and classwork. Our fridge is stainless so magnets don't stick to it, so we needed to come up with another place to have the kids "brag boards".

So there you have it. It was pretty easy to do, and also pretty inexpensive which is a big plus in my book!

Hope you all had a fun Halloween and that there was lots of candy involved!! :)

rained out

Well, I started this post on Friday - so if part of it sounds off, that would be why. I am sorry to report that there are no soccer pictures, not a one. This would be do to the fact that there was no soccer - so (this time) it wasn't me slacking on the job! It rained.all.weekend. No joke. I don't think it ever stopped on Saturday. And, this weekend has been just the same so far. I feel like we might need to locate an ark!

The kids and I still managed to have a good weekend, even with the downpour going on outside. Here are a few shots, just hanging around the house. Ignore the mess, but they were just so cute all playing - little sister was LOVING being included with big brothers.

I tell you what, this week - last week - seemed to drag on. It hasn't been bad, just long. Monday was an absolutely perfect day - which works out well because it happened to be my birthday. The weather was AMAZING - just imagine the perfect fall day and you would be there. I went to lunch with my beautiful daughter and not only was my sandwich free (rewards points put to good use) BUT it was free brownie day to boot for rewards members...talk about a great birthday lunch. Free always makes it taste better I think! Then we went shopping until it was time to pick up the boys. They were super sweet to mama as well and gave me dozens of birthday hugs and kisses. The only thing that would have made it better was if the hubs was here to celebrate with me. But he did have these delivered - such a thoughtful guy.

The rest of the week was been pretty low key. Sadly the fall weather was just a one day deal, the next day was hot and humid again, and the rain is back. But I sure am thankful for that one day.

Last night I got a sitter for the boys and baby G and I went to have a girls night in with some of the wives from the boat. It was my first time really hanging out with them, so it was nice to get to know them a little better. The ones that were there were real sweet gals. I'm glad I went. Oh, and I took these bad boys...WARNING they are dangerous!! Like you can't eat just one (or five) dangerous. If you check them out, get ready to drool...I'm just saying.

With that I'm off to bed...or at least get myself headed in that direction. Catch ya later.

toot toot

Hey folks!! I hope you are all enjoying your Labor Day weekend.

Yesterday was a big day for me. I ran my first post-baby race, a 1/2 marathon no less, and it was fabulous. I ran the VA Beach Rock 'N' Roll Half. I've never ran any of the RNR series before and really enjoyed it. There are bands all along the course, which is thankfully very flat, and a lot of other entertainment from the spectators. We finished up along the boardwalk at the beach. If you ask me, there isn't a better place to run than along the water.

I ran, I finished, I am ecstatic!! I didn't break any PR's, or even come close, but I had such a great time, and finished feeling so blessed! Blessed that I have the ability TO run and blessed that I had my family there to cheer me on.

Family pic after the race. There is one missing...you will see why below. And yes, those are porta-pottys behind us. Scenic photo spot it's not, but a good picture all the same!

Me and one of my biggest fans

I'm proud that I was able to finish 13.1 miles just 5 months after having a baby via c-section with minimal training, the hubs gone for most of it, and only one double digit run. And I'm happy that this morning I'm still able to walk. If this all sounds like I'm tooting my own horn a bit, well you're probably right...TOOT TOOT!!

I also got to spend some time with some of our good friends from GA that were also running the race, and even spent the first 8 miles running with one of them. It's nice to have some company when you're spending 2 hours out of the road.

Me with Johnathan and Marc

And a HUGE THANK YOU and I LOVE YOU to my hubs, parents and kiddos. They are always there for me to support me and I am so thankful. It was an EARLY morning (everyone up before 5am) and they were all troopers and didn't complain one bit. Although there was one that didn't make it to see me cross the finish...

Poor kid...he was just plum worn out. And finally, just because this picture makes me giggle. The little one taking her bottle from Daddy...on the back of a beer truck no less - classy I tell ya!

Sometimes that's just how we roll around here. With that I am off.

taking a walk

My oh my how time sure does fly. I'm taking a little walk down memory lane today and pulling out some oldies (as far as pictures go). Yesterday (it seems) my boys looked like this.

Just two little boys.

Then I blinked, and now this is what they looked like this morning before going off to school.

My oldest just started first grade, and the middle baby is now in full day pre-k 3 days a week. Every time I look at the picture above, I almost get a tear. How is it he looks so big standing there with his lunch, all ready to go?? They both had a wonderful first day and had lots to talk about on the way home. I just can't believe how fast they are growing up. It seems I can hardly catch my breath before we're at another big milestone.

I had a wonderful day chatting it up with this little one here. Here she is in one of her new favorite places to play.
We had quite the chat this morning, the way she was babblin' on was so sweet. I think she told me everything shes done in her past 4 months - and then some! It's a blessing to get some time to savor with just her while the big kids are in school.

During nap time I even cleaned house. Grams and Papas are coming this weekend (hi mom and dad if you're reading) and so I'm getting things ready for their visit. Of course I can't wait to see them and the kids are super excited as well. I don't much like doing it, but I LOVE the way my house smells after I mop all the floors.

And to keep with the whole "time flying" bit...10 years ago yesterday the hubs and I took a chance and started dating. Some thought we were crazy, but I'm glad we made that call because it seems to be working out pretty well for us so far! So here's to another great 10 years - and many more after that!

10-ish years ago (I think it may be over that but it's hard to find older pictures on this computer so I'm using what I've got.)

And a somewhat more recent one (last year)

Wow is all I can say about that first picture. It just makes the second one look that much better. With that trip down memory lane I'm off to bed. Night all.

Monkey'n around

Hello all! It's late, and I should be in bed. But I'm waiting for laundry to finish up, so to kill time I'm watching "Fried Green Tomatoes" and decided to do some bloggin'.

The other day we finally made it over to our zoo to check it out. The boys had a grand old time and baby G decided it would be a good time for her morning nap. All in all it was the perfect trip.

We all agreed the new tiger exhibit was the coolest. We visited them no less than 5 times.

They had lots of fun cheesing it up for the camera

And of course we ran into some TOTALLY WILD animals that were a kind all of their own.

We're doing all we can to fill up our last few days of summer with FUN! I even packed up the 4 of us and we spent a day at the beach. It was fabulous. The kids ran, splashed, and I think we took home 1/2 of the sand with us. But it was worth it. Sadly, I have no pictures of that. I actually remembered to pack the camera but didn't check to make sure the battery was charged. Oh well. We had such a good time we will be going back again.

School is just around the corner, so close I can taste it. Of course I'll miss the company of the kids during the day, but some things are just so much easier to do with just one in tow - like shopping!! :)

Alright, well I'm off to fold towels. Hope your weeks are off to a great start!!

Angels a-singin'

There are very few things I miss about Connecticut. Basically I can count them on one hand and most of those are just naming friends. But on the top of that list (maybe even above the friends) is the grocery delivery service from stop and shop. BEST.SERVICE.EVER. I kid you not, it was nothing short of fantabulous. Shopping at my computer in my jammies with the kids sleeping. I would schedule early AM deliveries, and my shopping would be done, before 8 without even leaving the house. I was oh so sad to have left that wonderful store behind.

UNTIL...a friend posted the other day that one of our local stores has curbside pick-up, you just have to go pick it up and they bring it out to your car. I was thinking that would be pretty good, then I checked and not only can I do that...BUT some stores DELIVER as well!!! I tell you the heavens opened and a little halleluiah chorus started playing. Okay...maybe not. But it was close - really close. Between that and Trader Joes, I may actually get my kids fed some home cooked (or close enough) meals yet. At least we know the baby is covered...

Yesterday it took not one, but two attempts to get us to the grocery store. The first was a fail and resulted in turning around 1/2 way there to try again later. That sort of sums up how yesterday went...that and this face.

I told him to make his best "angry" face...that's it I guess.

But today was better. The angels from above were still smiling on me. We made it to church, grabbed lunch, and made it to Target AND Home Depot. I got dinner made and all kids were in bed by 8pm. They were even bathed. Oh, and I finally got a picture of all three of my kiddos together, looking at the camera, and smiling - nothing short of a miracle and it only took 4 months...

My heart sings.

I love the way our girl crosses her ankles...she sleeps like that too. LOVE IT. With that I'm off to bed. Oh, and I think we have bats on our front porch?? Not even kidding. Night everyone.

why the blog??

Let me just say there are so many other things I should be doing right now...but I am taking FULL advantage of the fact that the boys are playing (nicely I might add) and the baby girl is fast asleep and one happy napper. My friend Ali posted a post the other day and it inspired me to do the same. So I'm stepping WAY out of my little bloggy box and linking up with Kelly's Korner - (not me - another cool Kelly) and getting into why I do this little thing called "bloggin" and tips for others who may be thinking about starting one of there own.

First a bit about why I choose to blog. Some of you out there may wonder "why does this gal blog??" to begin with. Well that's a good question. It's certainly not because I have expert parenting expertise, or mad awesome skills that I feel the world just wouldn't be complete without me sharing, or that we are just SOOO interesting. No...that would not be it. I started blogging years ago because my best friend Nataleigh told me to. Yes folks, I broke under peer pressure...at the age of 25! In my defense she's very convincing...HA! She had started one, and wanted me to do one so we could read about what was going on in our respective lives.

That first blog is long gone - much like my family life, my blog life has had it's fair share of moves and changes - but I've got "the one" now (I think) and I'm sticking to it. So, why do I do it? Well mostly to keep up with family and friends. Most of you reading know that we're a military family, so we are on the move every 2 to 3 years which means that A #1 we're not close to family, and B #2 we're always meeting new people and adding them to our real life "friends" list. So this is an easy way to keep in touch for those who are interested in what we are up to.

I also blog about my family, so that maybe one day when we look back on this thing, we can remember some of these happy times. I try to keep a scrapbook, but with three kiddos it's hard to find the time. However, the computer gives me a way to journal and include pictures to capture some of those precious moments.

And finally I blog because it's more fun than what I should be doing right now - laundry, cleaning bathrooms and running the sweeper. Yes ya'll - I blog to procrastinate doing my chores. Shameless.

So what makes a "good" blog. Really, I have no wonderful tips. All I can do is share what attracts me to read other blogs, and that is pretty simple.

• Be true - to yourself and let the real you shine through. I know lots of others have said this as well...but I really think this has to be the most important one. Don't try to make it into something that you're not. Be happy with what it is and go from there. It's all about you, so as long as what you have makes you happy - you're all set.
• Have FUN with it. Add pictures, tell funny stories when you have one, I've even posted jokes before that made me laugh. Of course life isn't always about the fun times, but I think it's good to have a mix.

Okay, those are my two main tips. I know...like I said I'm not full of worldly wisdom. But I think those are really important. So there you have it folks - the why's and what's behind our little bloggy here. Hope to see you around! :)

New Look!

I have SO many posts that need to go up, but have been away enjoying lots of family time, so just hang tight for a bit longer...I'll get there. Eventually. But for now, I just wanted to say how excited I am about my new look for the blog - love it!! Okay more to come. Hope everyone had a happy and safe Fourth of July!!