Sunday, May 2, 2010

Airshow - and maybe an update

So my laptop has been down. I’ve been trying to share with Matt. But it also means that my pictures are tied up until I get it back.

Today, we took the boys to the Sound of Speed 2010 Airshow in St Joe, MO. We had a GREAT time. The boys were very interactive and cracking up the crew members for the planes and helicopters we were lucky enough to visit. There’s a great shot of them in a mock-up of a Blue Angel Fuselage. I’ll have to scan that one tomorrow.

Matt & I enjoy showing the boys stuff like this and seeing their reaction is sometimes more exciting for us, than the event itself.

The last pic is Nick – he had to have his sunglasses on as we left – and fell asleep just like that!



So my laptop has been down. I’ve been trying to share with Matt. But it also means that my pictures are tied up until I get it back.

Today, we took the boys to the Sound of Speed 2010 Airshow in St Joe, MO. We had a GREAT time. The boys were very interactive and cracking up the crew members for the planes and helicopters we were lucky enough to visit. There’s a great shot of them in a mock-up of a Blue Angel Fuselage. I’ll have to scan that one tomorrow.

Matt & I enjoy showing the boys stuff like this and seeing their reaction is sometimes more exciting for us, than the event itself.

The last pic is Nick – he had to have his sunglasses on as we left – and fell asleep just like that!

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Sad Time

Last Friday, April 2, my Gran finally rejoined Grandpa in heaven after over 30 years. They will be celebrating their 70th wedding anniversary on the 13th of April.

Gran suffered from Alzheimer’s at the end of her 88 years, so in some ways it was like she was already gone. Even so, the boys and I flew out on Wednesday to Ohio to attend the funeral. I’d been so focused on getting two little people, car seats, their ‘vacation’ beds and all the other clothes and apparatus, the full reality of her passing didn’t really hit until we began the viewing and funeral activities.

It was great to see all the aunts, uncles and cousins. We shared many memories of our time growing up and made many new memories this week. Whatever the reason family gathers, when we do, we have a great time. It was great to see the next generation playing together so well (for the most part) and working out their problems (under our guidance).

At the viewing on Thursday, the boys were with me for a short time and they were pretty good. You might guess that an almost 4 year old and a 2 ½ year old don’t quite grasp the whole “quiet” concept. I took them out to mingle with just family, but for the most part we were in a back room watching a movie until it was time to go to Kenny & Anna’s to play. We are so blessed to have friends as close as family in Ohio – who will take my kids in a heartbeat whenever needed while we’re visiting – we love to visit with them as a family, too.

On Friday, we all gathered at the Funeral Home to prepare for the funeral services. Uncle Bill gave an awesome eulogy that summed up the Gran I remembered. As we filed through by family (remember Gran had 9 kids and though Uncle Tom has already passed, Aunt Ruth and Jeff were there). Pawpaw carried Jake up to say good bye one last time with Jake making Indian noises and then he looked down at Gran and said “wow, Look at that!” They provided such levity.

We had a cheese cracker mishap during the funeral that really upset Nick and sent 3 pews into hysterical laughter, other than that, the boys were AMAZING during the service. More friends of the family took them to the Elk’s so we could go to the graveside without worry.

While we missed lots of sleep, we had a great time and were reminded how wonderful it is when the whole family gets together. I still have memories of visits with Gran popping through my head. I’m glad to have them as comfort. We were so blessed to be one of their Splinters. In the words of Toby Keith:

Got the news on Friday mornin'
But a tear I couldn't find
You showed me how I'm supposed to live
And now you showed me how to die…

…So play it sweet in heaven
'Cause that's right where you want to be
I'm not cryin' cause I feel so sorry for you
I'm cryin' for me

Friday, March 12, 2010

AGH! Where DOES the time go?

I've really been lax at taking pictures - I apologize. I swear time is just flying by! Here, we're half way through March already and I'm not sure how!

Let's see, we've been busy but nothing really earth shattering. We've been calling the poor folks at housing in Ft. Bliss trying to get a true picture of what's what there. We're now checking our options off post. We're not convinced that's the way to go, but figure we'd better at least check into it. There is something to be said for having the commissary and PX close by...

Jake is doing really well in school! We're looking into a 5 day program for him at Fort Bliss. How is it possible that he'll be in Pre-K already? He'll be 4 in a few short weeks and reminds me daily of that fact. We booked his party at the bowling alley. I chuckle to myself everytime I say that - he's never been bowling and yet he's thrilled to death to have a party there. I know, I need to take him. As it turns out, I got a gift certificate to go for family night - perhaps over spring break...

Nick is smart as a whip and doesn't miss anything either. He's a master at climbing out of his crib. He only does it at nap time, so I haven't felt compelled to convert his bed to a toddler bed yet. I like to think being in a crib is a mild deterrent when he's still waking up. He's getting switched to the big boy car seat today!

They both have GREAT imaginations and enter each others' fantasies pretty regularly. Jake recently told me that he was too big for Elmo and his Elmo stuff should go to Nick. When you get the both of them together...ya gotta watch them. They'll either play really well together and get into some innocent trouble...or they tackle each other and the take-down can be pretty hard.

This morning, I was in the kitchen talking to our good friend Kari (who took our pictures last fall...). I knew I had the chain on the door. I heard the front door close. So I told Kari to hold on and I went to investigate. No boys and the chain on the door was swinging. A quick cursory glance as I was dodging toys and hurrying to the door told me they had emptied one of our toy bins, turned it upside down, removed the chain themselves and had gone out front - all because there were fire trucks parked out front. No fire men, so sirens...just the trucks. They didn't get all the way out front - just the shared entry for our side of the building. AGH! Kari, always ready to offer encouragement: "you don't have to worry about their intelligence OR their creativity" I used to find Logan outside quite often when we lived across the street in Killeen.

Jake then went in the back to go potty (we're ALMOST there...hopefully by the time we move...). Well, then I heard the dryer door close. I had towels in the dryer, but I could only imagine what he was up to. He came out completely dressed - in a pair of jeans from the clean clothes (waiting to be folded pile) and a shirt (new - short-sleeved) out of the hamper. I got a kick out the fact that the t-shirt said "Here comes Trouble"

Tomorrow we head East for a couple of days. Matt has a presentation in the 6th Grade Class at Holy Angels. We'll stay with Pawpaw in Indy on Saturday and Monday, we'll be in Sidney on Sunday and then back home on Tuesday. Quick trip, but we're hoping to get some clearing out and organizing done for the yard sale and moving when we get back.

I'll try to remember to charge the camera battery...

Hope you are all well. I'll try to do better about updating! :)


Love
Chris