HAPPY BIRTHDAY CONNOR!!!

To my sweet little boy.. I can't believe that you are four years old today!! How I wish that I could sing Happy Birthday to you but I promised your Daddy that we would wait until he got home!!! 11 more days to go and you will get to blow out your candles on your Batman cake!!

I love your prayers at night as you thank God for Daddy and for your birthday when he comes home. You have brought so much love and joy into my life!!

I can't believe that you were ever this little....well actually being 9lbs 10 oz... isn't quite that little.. you actually looked like a toddler next to all the other preemies that seemed to be born on the same day!! You were worth every pound that I gained (all 65)!!!

May 21, 2004

2:52 p.m.

Happy 1st Birthday!!

Happy 2nd Birthday!!!!

Happy 3rd Birthday!!

Connor, there are so many things that make my heart melt!!! Here are some of the things that I pray never change...

I LOVE......

1. When you wake up in the morning and call my name and want me to pick you up from your bed for a morning hug!!
2. How when I tuck you in bed at night and you tell me "Sweet Dreams"!
3. How you always ask me if I am happy!! (You know what Connor - you make me happy)
4. How a kiss from me can make every "owie" feel better!
5. When you walk into my room as I am getting ready and you tell me how pretty I am.
6. That your eyes light up when you talk about your Dad!
7. That you ask me about heaven and love Jesus!!
8. How you sing Veggie tales in the car or know the words to the music on Spirit 105.3
9. The stories that you tell - I never knew that you and your Dad saw a talking whale!!
10. That you want to be a Navy pilot like your Daddy!
11. Your zest for life and the "ALL-BOY" mentality you have!
12. How you can make Cooper believe that the toy that you have is better than the toy he has so you can have it!!! (You definitely take after your mama)
13. What a great BIG brother you are! He looks up to you! You keep sticking up for him!!
    

You have brought raising a boy an adventure:

You are the best spidey-pirate ever!!! Keep running around the house with your pirate noises...

I wonder...

1. If when you get older you will still want me to carry you to the car when it is raining so your shoes don't get wet!
2. If you will still yell for me when you go potty because you are amazed at the bubbles you make!
3. If I will always think of you as a little boy at every milestone in your life.....as I watched you receive your certificate for preschool... I wished that I could freeze that moment so you would always stay this young!

Connor, I pray that you will live life to the fullest and not take a single moment for granted. I pray that you will grow up knowing and loving the Lord! I am so proud of you and am blessed to be your Mama!!!

xoxo

When the sun comes out......

When the sun comes out... everyone in Whidbey comes out to play!! Last weekend was amazing..the sun was out and it was great!!! We are only talking about in the high 70's low 80's but to us on our island that is the calling for summer....and that meant people were out in their bathing suits, shorts, and tank tops!!! For us, it meant that we were able to turn off our heat for the first time and it was time for a trip to Wally World (aka Wal-Mart) for some new PJ's - my boyz opted of course for Batman and Cars... here they are sporting their new PJ's - They truly define the word "COOL"!!

Saturday was an amazing day with heat and sunshine!! By 12:00 our car was packed with beach toys, a cooler, and an umbrella and we were ready to hit the beach! We met some of our friends at Bowman Bay right across from Deception Pass for a day in the sun!! I was hoping that these white legs might attract some color before the fly in! Although the beaches here are not quite the sandy beaches that some may be used to....you definitely are in awe of the beauty - I wish they were clear in my pictures but we had a breathtaking view of the Olympic Mountains

Connor and Cooper had a great time playing in the rocks/sand, climbing the rocks, and putting their feet in the cold water!!! Cooper was a little too adventurous and fell into the water. He opted to stay out of the water the remainder of the day with a bag of pretzels!!! You gotta love comfort food after falling in the water!

Connor on the other hand was my adventurous one wanting to climb everywhere!! Every motherly instinct in me wanted to keep calling after him to come down but I was reminded of Nate's early deployment email reminding me to let "our boyz be boyz"!! As the sun was wearing down on him and the tiredness of the day was beginning to set in... Connor retreated to a log by himself telling me that he wished his daddy was home......Don't worry buddy he will be here sooner than you think.. I promise!

Connor and Cooper....you fill my days with laughter and love! Thank you for an incredible weekend as we welcomed the sunshine together!! Here is to many more sunny days ahead at the beach!!! xoxo Mama

WE ARE ALMOST THERE!!!

Excitement is seriously consuming me... the end is in sight.....my hubby is coming home! Let me tell you the preparations are in full swing. You know...basically making the house/yard look amazing - like that is how it has looked the whole entire time he has been gone!

Let's start with our back yard... it pretty much looked like Jumangi!! As I am mowing the jungle, Connor is like, "Wow, we have a lot of work to do!" I honestly don't know where he got this "WE" business because I am pretty sure that it was me who had to do dump the grass every two rows and it took me almost three hours! But of course my little man made me smile when I was done, he ran up to me and said, "High five mama you did a great job!!" That was all the thanks I needed!! On to the front....I didn't realize there could be so many weeds in one flower bed! Two days later it was ready for some added flowers and mulch! Yes, mission accomplished!

For those who are not in the military there are many more things to add to the HOMECOMING LIST besides the house and yard: (to name a few)

1. Hair appointment 2. Manicure/pedicure appointment 3. Washing/vacuuming the cars

4. Outfits (yes, even the boys get new ones) 5. Signs in the yard 6. Bleaching the teeth

7. Can I just sleep at the gym???? 8. Start making a grocery list (I don't think Nate wants cereal three times a day)

I know I know I get exhausted just looking at the list but it is all worth it the day they finally fly in!! It is the most amazing feeling - so since the majority of you have never been to a fly in I put together a fly in video from last September (make sure your sound is on for the music). I hope that you enjoy it! The count down is on and my family will be back together!!

Nate's Homecoming September 2007

Where does the time go????

I can't believe it is already May!! ONE MORE MONTH TO GO!!! I just hope that this month goes by as quickly as last month. I know you have been just on the edge of your seats just waiting with anticipation for that next blog...well here it is - A recap of April with lots of pictures!!
April 13th - the long anticipated 1/2 marathon that Amy and I had decided that we were going to run together back in the Caymans as we sat lazily by the pool drinking our Rum tasties!!( I would love to tell you the ingredients but I don't think Amy has put a patent on it yet) Well long story short her mom and I and a couple of my friends cheered her on that cold, rainy day as she ran it and I was sidelined with an inflamed Achilles tendon (I am still bitter about it) But you should have seen that Cali girl tackling those Whidbey Hills - She kicked Butt!!! We had a great weekend and Nano and I stayed up and watched movies each night while Amy was sound asleep! Thanks Nano and Amy for coming to see us - you brightened the weekend!!! We love you!
The following weekend Grandpa came to visit!! And wouldn't you know it - IT SNOWED!!! I think that spring did skip us after all. He finally got here Saturday morning after I couldn't make it to the airport the night before because of the weather! What a weekend.... the boys definitely had their fun with all the rough housing, playing outside, bowling, and going out to breakfast at our favorite restaurant!! They sure do love their Grandpa!!!
I had eye surgery the following week which went well...I apparently was telling the doctor and the nurses how hot my husband is!!! I was also telling the doctor he needed to support the military and do some probono work on my face and remove my sun spots(I will let you know the outcome - doesn't look promising!!)
The boys continue to keep me on my toes!!! Some days their words and actions just warm my hearts and others I am ready to go and replace Nate on the ship!! God is good though and is always there beside me each step of the way!! We are counting the days to see Nate and the all will be well at the house again!! I definitely have a Honey to do List waiting for him - Top on the list - POTTY TRAIN COOPER!!! I will let you know how that goes!!!
Enjoy the pictures!!!

Grandpa and Coop drawing sharks

Hanging out with the boyz

The boyz and I at the Holland Happenings Parade!

My girlfriends Brandi, Erin, and I at a Time and Talent Event

to raise money for the wives club! The theme was

movies and we did CHICAGO!!!

We won BEST DRESSED!!!

What a challenge for Coop.. trying to hold his snack with

a cast on - but he is a champ!!! No cast was going to

hold him back from eating his Cheerios!

The kids love going down to City Beach to throw

rocks in the water!! What a great place to explore!

Connor plays a mean game of bowling!!

Coop was all about just dropping the ball!!

Look at that form!!! Definitely takes after

his mama!!

Nano and Coop out for a drive!

YOU ROCK AMY!!!!

Just around the corner....

Some said that it was impossible, that it would never happen.. oh but it did! I saw a glimpse of the sun last week! Yes folks I think spring is finally right around the corner. I think that as it was settling across the country it forgot about our tiny island - never fail though the beauty of the island is back!!
SO we took advantage of the weather and outside we went! Our moods, our spirits have been lifted!

" I know can you believe it??? We saw the SUN!!!"

"YEAH SUN!!!! No More RAIN!!!!"

THIS IS HOW WE ROLL

"LOOK AT ME MAMA"




Connor and his road rage!

Connor and Cooper, I look forward to all our sunny days together!!! xoxo Mommy

Asthma Attack....Broken Finger... Half Way There!!!

We just celebrated the half way point of deployment and I am not going to lie.. I was feeling confident...a little too confident I suppose. I was pretty much congratulating myself that nothing had happened like last deployment. There had been no hospitalizations, no infestation of bird mites, and no sliced ears that needed a plastic surgeon!!!

Last Tuesday I picked my parents up and the kids and I welcomed them here with a big....LET'S GET SICK!!! The next day Connor, Cooper, and I were at the Naval Hospital... Cooper with an ear infection, Connor and I had viral infections and Connor was also having an asthma attack!

I thought that we were going to have to spend the night like last time but just at the last moment his levels went up to a satisfactory level - THANK YOU GOD!!!

The next couple of days we had to give him breathing treatments..which he just loves!!! On Monday morning he received a clean bill of health from our favorite Dr. Huebner - just in time for my parents to leave - RATS!!!

Connor and his breathing treatments - the dangers of smoking!!!

Wednesday morning since we didn't have bible study, a bunch of us piled in our cars and off to Jungle Playland we went. I figured Connor was healthy so why not go to a place which is filled with kids and LOTS OF GERMS!!! Cooper, who usually spends his time in the ball pit, was feeling adventurous and was living on the slides. He was the big man on the slides - conquering it every time.... well at least until Connor, Levi, and Coop all went down at the same time!! Tears were flowing down his face as he kept telling me that his finger hurt (which was swelling and turning a really pretty purple)!

It didn't look promising....so off to Urgent Care we went! Four and a half hours later we walked out with a huge temporary splint on his broken finger! Poor Connor though...when they asked Cooper what happened he would say, "Connor hit me!". Well at least he was saying that he hit him and not me... Today we are going to get the official cast on - GOOD TIMES!!! I think the biggest issue for Coop with all of this is how does he suck his thumb and play with his hair at the same time!!!

Coop and his broken finger!!

So such is the life of a Navy wife....asthma attacks, broken fingers...whatever is next... BRING IT ON!!!!

What A Weekend!!

He Has Risen!!! Yes, I know it was four days ago but even now, the words still have the same meaning as we joyfully said it to each other on Sunday. The words of our Pastor still echo in my mind as he shouted, "The tomb is empty!!!" during a wonderful and powerful service. What an amazing sacrifice that our Lord made, as he died for us so that we may experience the power of forgiveness and even more so His love for us! Thank you Jesus!!
Easter - I wish those words that we say to each other would have meaning to my boyz but for right now it is all about the Easter Bunny and...CHOCOLATE (I am afraid I have created Chocolate Monsters!!!) That's okay though.. as long as it is Hershey's!
My sister in law, Jackie, came to visit for the weekend and I loved every minute of it - she was a breath of fresh air in this house!!


FRIDAY:


Connor was in rare form as we came home from church that night. I honestly have no words to describe it.... the video says it all!!

Yes, he is definitely following in his Daddy's love for RAP!!


SATURDAY:


It was a cold morning but we braved the weather to see who else but... the EASTER BUNNY! An egg hunt was held on base so we went with our good friends Bryson(his real name is Bryce but for some unknown reason this is what my kids call him) and his mom, who is also my good friend, so that works out perfectly! The boyz had a great time and were truly content with each grabbing five eggs!

The boyz, Mama, Bryson, and Brandi

Cooper was all about the duckies!

One happy boy after the egg hunt!

SUNDAY:



What a day! Our church had a wonderful service...the music, the sermon...everything! The kids also had an egg hunt which was held in doors...yes it is hard to believe that it rained that day!

The Church gang getting ready to hunt for the eggs!

Cooper and Carter ( I am all about an arranged marriage with these two!)

The boyz and Carter!

LOT AND LOTS OF EGGS!!!

We ended our Resurrection Sunday with a great evening with our friends who are also without their husband/Daddy! We had more than enough to eat and we had yet another egg hunt.... I guess you can never have too many - well at least in the boyz's minds!!
Connor and Cooper - Thank you for making this weekend so precious! Not only was it meaningful because of what Jesus did, but also because you brightened the rainy days with your laughter and smiles even though Daddy wasn't here! I love you both - xoxo Mommy