December 28, 2007

Our Tree - Rhiannon made the angel on top.

Happy Christmas everyone! We had a wonderful day with our friends and the kids got some great gifts. We didn't get too many pictures but there are a few videos I wanted to post. The first one is Rhiannon telling us she wants to open gifts after breakfast and the second one is Brad dancing to Phil Collins. Hope you all had a great holiday. We'll be here for New Years too. Got some old friends rolling in tonight so I gotta get going. Enjoy the videos.
P.S. Brad had four new teeth break through this morning. Now he has all but the 2 year molars.



Let's Open Presents After Breakfast


Brad Dancing


Brad's Favorite Gift - Daddy's Deodorent


Rhiannon Playing With Brad's Toys


Kids With Santa

December 22, 2007

Oh what the hell. Here is Rhiannon and her class screaming their Christmas songs. To her left in the pink and gray striped shirt is her friend Stevie, and to her left in the black shirt is her other friend Brooklyn. Enjoy!

December 21, 2007

So when last we left you Jim was getting his family crest tattoo and it came out great! It's a little hard to see the whole thing in one picture but it is amazing. He goes back for color in a few weeks. We attended the ugly Christmas outfit party which I think was a success. Mostly everyone wore something horrid. It's definitely a new tradition we are going to try to keep going every Christmas. Rhiannon had her Christmas Program at school and her class got to sing (scream) two songs. It was really entertaining. The pictures and the video from that are really hard to see because we were far away so I didn't include them in this post. There will definitely be Christmas morning videos though! We are excited for Christmas and Rhi has been counting down on her calendar every day. Just going to be hanging out with a few friends and looking forward to the new year with January chock full of visitors, friends and family filling up our guest suite downstairs! Hope everyone has a great holiday and we'll be posting again after the "BIG DAY"!


Christy


Rhiannon and Stevie


Sharon and Steve


Josh and Erica


The Whole Class (except Rhi who refused to be in it)


Rhi enjoying some egg nog!




The Tattoo!

December 15, 2007

Well it has been a bit longer than I would have liked to update the blog but we had some camera issues last week and lost a bunch of pictures from the Mexico Beach tree lighting and of the kids with Santa. We also lost the pictures of Nikki's graduation from ABM School but were lucky enough to get some of the whole family later in the day. Rhiannon had her recital last night and did a beautiful job. Hopefully the video will work. Jim's aunt and uncle were here visiting for Nikki's graduation and we had a great visit with them. The kids made out like bandits, Rhi with a fabulous Princess suitcase and Brad with a cute little flight jacket. Tonight we have Jim's class holiday party and the theme is to wear your ugliest Christmas sweater. I wish we could say the idea was original but these parties seem to be popping up all over the place. It should be an interesting night. Oh and later today Jim is getting his much awaited family crest tattoo. I can't wait to see it!


Me and Jim at the Squadron Christmas Party


Rhiannon Opening the Princess Suitcase


Jim, Nikki and Rhi at the Graduation Dinner


Me and Nikki at the Graduation Dinner (Notice the Little Screamer in the Corner)


Bed Buddies


Nikki, John and Geri



All of Us


Brad at the Dance Recital Living it up with the Girls


Rhiannon at her Recital


Angel Rhiannon




Rhiannon and her Dance Class

December 1, 2007

The kids are getting ready for Christmas with their Santa Claus jammies. The decorations are coming up slowly but surely and we'll be getting our tree this
weekend. We've been toying with the idea of putting it outside because it's still such nice weather here. That would make for an interesting Christmas morning. Thanksgiving was full of great food and great friends at our house this year. We have always been really lucky to spend our holidays with wonderful friends and family no matter where we are and are always creating new traditions to throw into the mix. I am definitely looking forward to my first snow free winter and Christmas no matter how crazy you all think I am. We have two tree lightings to attend this week and the squadron Christmas party next weekend. Mexico Beach is all decorated for the holiday but lately seeming very deserted too. Jim got to fly on one of the planes he's learning to control and did a team building exercise with his class. Most of the pictures are from that. Looking forward to Jim's aunt and uncle coming next weekend for Nikki's graduation. Hope to have more pictures after their visit. Happy December!


Rhiannon made a Pilgrim outfit at school.


"Santa Claus Bradley"


Dupont Bridge connecting Panama City with the base.


Mexico Beach


Our House


Our house is third from the left in the row of 6 houses which are left of the big condo building.


Jim's Future Plane

November 18, 2007

We've been busy these past few weeks. We had Brad's surgery and Jim's birthday and a friend visit from home. But there was still time to take a few photos. Brad's surgery
went really well and his eyes are very straight now. His overall mood seems to have improved along with his motor skills. Now he will be monitored monthly to make sure his eyes are working together and hopefully he won't need any more surgeries.

We rented a boat for Jim's birthday and rode around the bay between the base and Shell Island. We spent the day on the beach barbecuing and collecting sea urchins and hermit crab shells. It was beautiful weather. Rhiannon had a blast "driving" the boat. Brad was really good too even though he had to stay in the pack n' play so he didn't get sand in his eyes. We saw a bunch of dolphins but it's kind of hard to tell in the picture. In another photo you can see the stinky paper mill that plagues our otherwise idyllic existence (when the wind is right) with the most putrid of odors.

This weekend we took Jarrod to Baytown in Destin and then had dinner at McGuires Irish Pub. They are famous for their Irish Wake drinks that come in a mason jar and are made with a delicious combination of rums and orange juice. Next up, Thanksgiving this week so we will be busy getting ready for that. Enjoy the pictures. Hope everyone is doing well.

November 1, 2007

The kids had a great Halloween with several opportunities to wear their costumes. Brad got Rhiannon (actually us) a whole bag of extra candy. He'll get to eat some next year! We went to Jim's squadron party last week and trick or treated in the classrooms and got to eat and drink scary snacks. Rhi was very excited to see daddy's work. Last night we drove to Port. St. Joe, about ten miles into Eastern time to trick or treat in the downtown area. All the local shop owners stand in front of their stores with candy, among other items to promote their businesses. It was a nice safe time but Halloween is definitely not like I remember it with all the door to door trick or treating, flashlights and freezing your butts off. We were actually hot last night and we were home before dark. Scary how times have changed. Well anyway, here are a few pictures from the squadron party and from last night.

























I know that you are probably getting tired of the sunset pictures but they really are amazing here, especially in the fall. Here are a few from last week. We'll be talking to you all soon. Jim's birthday is coming up soon. He's going to be 29 so let's give him some hell!