May 19, 2008

A Weekend of Good-Byes...

This weekend we said good-bye to Nikki and Lee and their (not so) puppy after what seems like six lightning fast weeks. Rhiannon took it pretty hard so we took some pictures of them together. I think she misses the puppy the most! We also continue to say good-bye to Jim's friend Adam who leaves for a new life in Arizona this week. We went to Ruby Rumrunners in town and took a bunch of pictures. We also got a limo last week and went to Club LaVela.

Adam and Jim

Lisa, Melissa, Danielle

Other than that, we have been spending a lot of time at the beach and pool. The weather is getting hot already. We have scheduled our pack up dates and will be getting our plane tix for Germany this month too. Jim finished his training and is graduating in 3 weeks, and Alyssa is coming to visit in 2 weeks. Rhiannon is finishing up school this month and had a spring concert today. If it's even possible, time is flying faster than it has all year. We can't wait to start our exciting journey in Europe but we are feeling a little sad about leaving here already. So many friends are leaving now and in the coming weeks. We will be the last to go and it's definitely hard. There is some comfort knowing that we'll see our new friends again as we have already met up with some old friends here. All that being said, we love our life and wouldn't change it for anything. There is so much to see and do and once again it is time to move on....
P.S. Check out the camping blog for updated photos.

Rhi and Remy

Nikki and Lee and Rhi

Mom and Brad

Dad and Brad

Jim and Adam

Covered in Brownie

Rhi Dancing with Dad

May 11, 2008

Reflections on Mother's Day

I know I have only been a mom for 4 years but I'm starting to feel like I understand the idea behind Mother's Day. When I was little it was a day to buy mom cards and flowers or something nice that she wanted and not to fight with my sister. I never appreciated what a mom is. I used to think it meant a day off for me, a day where I don't have to cook and clean and change diapers and clothes. It meant a day where I didn't have to play or entertain anybody, a day where I didn't have to kiss away tears and end disagreements. I didn't have to watch every move and step in and rescue my child from danger. I would turn myself off; it was dad's turn to step in and do the dirty work so to speak. How wrong I was...

I've realized that I can't turn myself off for a day, nor do I want to. Being a mother is a big part of who I am. I have learned so much about myself from my kids and I like to think that I am a better person, wife, mom, artist and all the things that I am because I have been privileged with having them to take care of and hopefully raise into good, honest, loving people. I think they have taught me patience and tolerance, although both are pushed to the limit almost on a daily basis. They have taught me to slow down and literally smell the roses, to enjoy all things about the world. Watching them learn is like getting to rediscover so many things that I take for granted. Sometimes I find myself just watching them play, terrorize each other, eat, sleep, laugh and cry and my heart gets so full of emotion at how beautiful and pure they are. I try to preserve everything they say and do that represents their innocence. I also think that I am selfish for needing them so much, for needing them to validate who I am in some ways, and for never wanting to go out and do my own thing. I know that is not fair to them or me. I know too that I expect too much of them sometimes and I get caught up in the adult world far too much. It is so true that they grow so fast.

Mother's Day for me is not about a day off anymore, because I know now that will never happen. It is a day to enjoy each aspect of childcare to the fullest, to really appreciate what I have right under my nose. I can take care of myself in little ways every other day. Just this morning actually, on my day to sleep in, my 6 am riser Bradley slept until after 8:30. Do you think I got one wink of sleep past 6? Nope. I was too busy worrying why he was still sleeping. Was he ok, is he sick, did he bang his head in his sleep and get a concussion? I know it's ridiculous. I wanted to wake him up and Jim just slept away saying how great it was that Brad was still sleeping. Oh, if I could only be more like him!! Dads are the perfect balance to moms. They are the remedies for a mom's insanity. Jim is my balance. He helps me to be a better mother when I am not doing so great, and it is a constant learning experience. He is eternally patient and supportive of most of my weird little rules.

So on this Mother's Day, I don't need any gifts, jewelry or flowers (it's in writing Jim). I just want to enjoy and appreciate my family. I also want to say thank you to my mom. I didn't always appreciate or understand your ways in raising us. Today, I have a greater understanding of what you sacrificed and went through for us to grow into "normal" productive members of society. I'm glad you were so "mean"! I couldn't be a good mother today without all of your help and guidance growing up.

Here are some pictures of my Mother's Day gifts, one from Rhi and one from myself. Bought a bike and trailer last week to assist in my quest to get in shape. I think I look pretty ridiculous towing the kids and the dog, but it seems to be working...

May 2, 2008

Camping With Kids!

Last weekend we went camping in Grayton Beach State Park. We bought a two room tent and it had a ton of space for Brad's pack and play, our queen size air mattress, and a spot for Rhiannon's sleeping bag. It was an interesting and fun adventure; we are definitely novice campers because we were unprepared for some things, and over prepared for others, (like bringing too many blankets in April in Florida). I was also not prepared for how dirty camping is and for the most part that is fine with me because I don't roll around in the dirt, fire pit or the woods. Brad was covered from head to toe from the time we arrived until the time we left. It was useless to try and wipe him clean. He is 100% boy! He also managed to get a mosquito bite and ding his head on the same spot causing it to swell up so big he looked like a Star Trek character. Every chance he got he took off into the street. We had to angle the cars so he couldn't get out. He still got out; it was the adults who had to finagle a way out to get him! Both nights he went to bed without a fuss and on time which amazed me. He exhausted himself.

Rhiannon was also eager to sleep in her sleeping bag and tent and read her books by flashlight. She was a great help with Brad too. On our last day while we were all busy packing up, all of a sudden we couldn't find her. We all called her name, ran into the woods, looked in the street and no Rhi. I went back to the car and wouldn't you know she was sitting in the back seat with a sly grin on her face. We were so angry with her for scaring us like that, and she thought she was just playing hide and seek. We told her that she has to let us know in the future if she wants to play that game.

We ended our trip with a great brunch at a place called Another Broken Egg Cafe. They had a monstrous breakfast and cafe sandwich menu complete with mimosas to finish out the weekend. There are lots of little shops and restaurants in that area and I definitely want to go back sometime to check out the outdoor wine and cheese bar. What could be better than wine and cheese?

Jim and Brad Setting Up

Melissa, Lisa, Jim, Danielle

Adam, Melissa, Lisa, Jim

Dinner

Adam and Jim Feeding the Fire

Around the Fire

Little Musician

Dirty Brad

Silly Rhi

Lee and Nikki

Fire of Course

April 22, 2008

Jokulsarlon (Glacier Bay) Iceland, May 2005

Happy Earth Day!

In celebration of Earth Day, I am happy to report our family's efforts to go a little bit greener every day. I do on occasion dry our clothes, diapers, etc. outside even though it is not the prettiest setup. We recycle what Florida will let us, and unfortunately that excludes glass, but we are steadily trucking our cardboards, aluminum cans, and plastics up to base recycling bins. I have been looking into alternative uses for everyday household items to make them multifunctional and go farther. I have even started making my own baby wipes out of paper towels, baby wash and lotion. They smell way better than the store bought kind and are way cheaper too! We have gotten very energy efficient since having to pay our own utilities and are saving a bundle on electricity and water. It's amazing when you actually watch the water sliding down the drain, what goes through your mind as far as how much it's costing you and what else you could be doing with it. It has really made me think and try to conserve and reuse what I can. On my list to get once we move to Germany is a rain barrel and a compost bin. Yummy!

Our not so (Earth) friendly cat made her first kill this week. She has been spending a lot of time on the porch and I spotted her carrying a lizard into the house. She dropped it and it ran behind the TV and I had to flush it out with a broom and herd it into a jar. The poor thing had a puncture wound in its stomach and its tongue was hanging all the way out. I flung it over the side of the porch and took a picture of it. Why can't she kill the roaches and spiders I ask?



This week my friends and I took our kids to the strawberry patch to pick some strawberries. It was a beautiful day. Rhiannon picked about three strawberries and ran off with her friends. Brad was my taste tester. He had a blast trailing behind me saying "more" about 1000 times! Eleven pounds of strawberries later, we have a jar of jam, (haven't tasted it yet) a gallon ziploc of frozen strawberries, and several tupperware containers in the fridge for salads and chocolate dipping. Hey what can I say, they were only $1.59/pound so why not? Brad absolutely loves them as you can see by his red stained face.

Brad Laughing at the Hissing Goose

April 14, 2008

Remington

We have a temporary addition to the family. Nikki and Lee's puppy Remington has vastly expanded our social circle since he's been here. Many have offered to take/buy him and what not. It has gotten so bad that I am keeping a very close watch on him for fear of him getting stolen. He's a Weimeraner and so adorable; my favorite dog breed but also a lot of work! He has only been here one week and has grown immensely. We've got him for 5 more!! The kids were really freaked out by him at first. Brad warmed up really fast but Rhi took over a week to get used to him. She's still a little jumpy when he comes running up to her. Roswell let him know who's boss after only 5 minutes. She scratched his eyelid. Since then she has made herself scarce when he is around and the when the dog sees her, he takes off in the other direction.

This has been an interesting week for Rhiannon stories. On a bike ride the other day we told her to do something to which she replied, "I don't like people to tell me what to do." Jim said basically too bad because we are going to because we are the parents blah blah blah. She said "Well I will run away then." Jim said, "I don't think so." She said, "Then I will bike away." We told her we hoped not because we need her and she needs us, now and always. She then replied, "Well you don't need your mother anymore, she doesn't live with you." That pretty much stopped the conversation there.

The other day we were food shopping and Brad kept pulling things off the shelves and I kept putting them back. Finally he pulled a whole bunch of stuff down and I said, "Oh Brad!" Rhiannon piped in with, "Well Mom you know it's your responsibility to make sure he doesn't do that." The whole aisle full of people burst out laughing and I felt my face turn red. It was definitely a priceless moment.

The girls (Sara, Sharon, Rachel, Lisa) and I went to Destin this weekend. It was part of the birthday celebration & mourning. Lisa and I got massages and other miscellaneous spa treatments, then we all went outlet shopping and out to dinner. It was a perfectly relaxing kidless time that went far too quickly. The pictures are of us at PF Changs. Loved the food, hated the service; shopping and at the dinner cruise last week.

April 4, 2008

Rhiannon Art - Includes a horse, pig, sheep, cow, Rhi, kangaroo, and butterfly, 2 suns & a cloud

Happy 30th Birthday Danielle!

So here I am the big 30. It's crazy, I still feel so young in my mind but some parts of my body are already corroding! It has been a little tough to accept but since I have no choice in the matter, I just need to get over it. We are going on a dinner cruise tonight and next week I am getting a hot stone massage. Can't wait for that. I couldn't ask for a better life right now. I have a wonderful and successful husband and two amazing kids and we are having the best time in Florida, soon to be in Germany and seeing more of this vastly different world. There is nothing I would change...Thank you to everyone who sent birthday wishes my way!

Last weekend we went to the Tyndall Airshow and were lucky enough to have VIP parking and passes to the Thunderbirds tent. Some of the pictures are from the Army Golden Knights Parachute Team, the Thunderbirds of course (who are all exceptionally beautiful), the F22 (which flies here) and some of us with our friends. We had a really enjoyable time. Rhi was a little scared though despite the ear plugs.

Rhiannon and the F22

Mom and Rhi Wearing the Tutu I Made Her

Brad Storming the VIP Tent

Army Golden Knights

Lisa, Jamie, Tracie, Jim, Brad

Trying to Convince Her to Watch the Show

It Didn't Work


Thunderbirds