Boogie Boards Up!!

Our boyz can't get enough of the water....our schedule these days tend to be - pool in the late morning and then the beach after naps or vice versa.  There usually isn't a day where you won't find us at either one.  I know life is rough!  Last weekend Grandma and Grandpa came to check out the vacation home and to get a taste of our rough life... so we hit the beach first thing in the morning!

Cooper, having watched his brother make strides on the boogie board wanted to make a go at it as well....unfortunately his tactic was let the water come to him......

After that didn't work to well he went back to his usual....jumping the waves! If there were such a sport my little boy would be the CHAMP!!

The weekend went by way too quick but in the short amount of time that they were here, we took them to our favorite restaurant and then braved the thunderstorm and went for frozen yogurt!

Life is good...beach, thunderstorms, smiling boyz, and best of all FAMILY!

LSO of the YEAR!!

Saturday night at Prowler Ball (which obviously we were not at since it is in Whidbey) Nate was named LSO (Landing Signal Officer) of the Year for the Prowler community!!

Now all I really know about being LSO is that Nate comes home incredibly tan from being on the deck....but I know there is MUCH more to it than that!! WAY TO GO HUBBY!!! You make the boyz and I proud!!!

Life's A....

Beach...or Pool depending which of the boyz you ask! We definitely have been spending our time equally with both. It's either a quick elevator ride down to the pool or a skip, hop, and a jump across the street to the beach...I know life is rough!
Last Saturday night my parents, along with my niece Jordyn, came to visit us at our vacation home (that is what I am calling it). We spent our days at the pool and evenings at the beach!
When it came to the beach...the kids went running...

They would wait patiently for that perfect wave.....

TO JUMP!!

And then run away...

But sometimes the waves were just a little bit faster!

The kids couldn't get to the pool fast enough...I would be on my second cup of coffee and they would be ready to be lathered up with their sunscreen....9:00 in the morning is way too early for this mom to be putting on a bathing suit! Most mornings/afternoon it was a leisure swim...

But then it would turn into...who could jump the furthest and get Nana the most wet!

As for my hubby...he would probably say life is a Beach!!! He loves everything about the ocean...which includes the idea of being able to surf! My dad however opted for body surfing...

Practice makes perfect....and if I know my hubby he will have it mastered by the time we leave!!

In Memory of Capt. Matthew Freeman

Last night, we returned from saying goodbye to our dear friend Matt who was killed in Afghanistan over a week ago. The memories of the two years we spent together in Mississippi came pouring over my hubby and I as we made the trip to Richmond Hill on Friday. As we turned on to the street of the church we were in awe of the support and patriotism that was shown from the flags that lined the street, the Patriot Riders that lined the entrance of the church holding flags, and the thousand people that came to pay their respects to his family and his wife. His funeral was fitting for a hero - because that is what he was and is.
Matt meant more to us than words can express.. he was my hubby's best friend in flight school and in the two years that we spent there we have wonderful memories of our time together. My favorite memory of Matt is how he would just so happen to "stop in" around dinner time right after a flight or working out....it got to the point where there would be an automatic place for him or I would call to see what time he could eat! He was more than a friend...he was family.

(Nate and Matt's last flight in the T-45)

(Winging party that I threw for Matt and Nate)

(Connor's Uncle Freeman)

Matt, your strength and determination was an inspiration to us all. You have touched our lives and we will never be the same..We will never forget you and look forward to the day when we will see your smile again!

East Coast = Family

Seven years ago when we first married, we began the adventure of living the lifestyle of a military family. A lifestyle that involves many moves and in our case moving further and further away from home. But almost seven years to the date we are back on the East Coast and that means near our families...the biggest perk of it all!

Last week we spent the week in NC with my hubby's family! I have to admit it was kind of ironic - leaving a beach to go to a beach....but when you are surrounded by family....any trip is worth it! Our week was filled with a princess party for my 25 year old sister-in law (the boyz picked the theme - of course they were trying to convince me that she wanted a pirate party!), spending time with family, and our dear friends (Shawn, Elaine, and Caleb) who moved away from Whidbey (We are still trying to convince him to switch to Navy from the Marines)!

We spent our days playing at the beach.......

Swimming in the pool...

No wonder the boyz looked like this each night....

For Connor it was a week of tremendous achievement - he went from this....

to this.....

The look and the huge smile that would spread across his face each time he would come up from the water was priceless....one of those moments you will never forget... it is one of those moments when you realize your little boy is growing up!
Cooper on the hand, was more into showing off his dance moves......I think he got them from his Grandpa...well you can be the judge of that one!

A military guarantee....

After you get through your first duty station and you start moving around, you begin to know people everywhere you go... and that my friend is one thing you can count on in the military! VA Beach is no different...Our good friends Adam and Sarah moved here a couple of years ago and now they have two beautiful little girls! The boyz and I ventured over to their house yesterday for a day in the sun at the pool! That isn't exactly how it began due to a thunderstorm but we were eventually able to go.
To pass the time, Sarah made me an amazing latte, a skill that has been passed down by her hubby, and to top it off.......it was served in a Whidbey Coffee cup!!!

After the last thunder was heard, we headed to the pool...which proved to be great timing on our part as the pool had cleared out!

On a side note... Nate and I had an unwelcome visitor climbing on our bedroom wall last night...seconds later it said hello to our boyz bat..... I don't think we are in Whidbey anymore!!