check him out!
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
So, my mom went by the dollar store and picked up some festive cups for the boys to use...little did she know she was buying Gabe what are possibly his favorite toys of all time!! It started out with him wanting to play with them before they were washed. That was fine, he wasn't going to break them or anything. Well, Kaleb joined in when he got home from school, and he thought they were great,too. They are just about the best thing ever! We have now been back and bought more, we are this close to buying them out of their stock of plastic Christmas cups!! We love anything that encourages creativity!!
more family! WOW!
Sunday, November 25, 2007
So....more company!! I took Iyana home yesterday, just in time for my oldest sister-in-law, Tiny, and her 3 kids to come spend a night with us! We had alot of fun, it was great to watch all the cousins be together and we had alot less chaos then you might have expected with 6 children and two adults in my house!
Some of the highlights included....Kaleb and Christian bonding over being the oldest 2, although Christian has Kaleb by 5 years. Our discovery that Gabriel and Kaila actually are very good friends. It's easy to forget that there's only 7 month between them, because Kaila is very small and quiet and Gabriel is, well, not! And, of course, mommy time after we succeeded in getting all 6 kids asleep at a pretty decent hour, considering the circumstances! We drank cappuccino, listened to music, and "window shopped" online.
Also, Tyrone called last night and had a good bit of time to chat, so Tiny got the chance to talk with her little brother for a while. All in all, good times!! Here's a few pics....
Oh, on an explanatory note, Tiny's youngest boy is also named Kaleb....it's a long story, and a bit confusing, but it's all good :)
(starting on the left and going clockwise around the table)...Christian (11), Kaila (2), Gabriel (3, of course), my Kaleb (about to be 6!!), and her Kaleb (4)
Some of the highlights included....Kaleb and Christian bonding over being the oldest 2, although Christian has Kaleb by 5 years. Our discovery that Gabriel and Kaila actually are very good friends. It's easy to forget that there's only 7 month between them, because Kaila is very small and quiet and Gabriel is, well, not! And, of course, mommy time after we succeeded in getting all 6 kids asleep at a pretty decent hour, considering the circumstances! We drank cappuccino, listened to music, and "window shopped" online.
Also, Tyrone called last night and had a good bit of time to chat, so Tiny got the chance to talk with her little brother for a while. All in all, good times!! Here's a few pics....
Oh, on an explanatory note, Tiny's youngest boy is also named Kaleb....it's a long story, and a bit confusing, but it's all good :)
(starting on the left and going clockwise around the table)...Christian (11), Kaila (2), Gabriel (3, of course), my Kaleb (about to be 6!!), and her Kaleb (4)
Auntie Tiny loves on Shiloh
Our little girls
Christian, not to be outdone by Kaila, had to hold the baby, too!
Iyana comes to visit
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
My niece, Iyana, (Jekal's sister) is spending the week with us for Thanksgiving. We are so happy that she is here! As a matter of fact, she is beside me right now helping to put up this post. We are having alot of fun, and she is such a sweet girl, and so mature at 9 years old! She loves helping with her cousins, especially Shiloh, and she is so patient with the boys, whe are much younger than her, of course. So....here are a few pics from her visit so far!
Swinging!
Iyana
Swinging!
Shiloh's 2 month check up!
So, today was Shiloh's 2 month check up (although we actually hit that milestone a week and a half ago...well, doctor's schedules, what are ya gonna do?!) She is doing great, of course. Ms. Shiloh weighs in at 12 lb, 14 oz., and is 24 1/2 inches long. Big girl! She is in the 97th percentile for both height and weight. Her head measurement was in the 90th percentile, so she is doing great! She took her vaccinations like a champ, and was literally smiling again by the time that I was getting her clothes back on her. God truly knew what he was doing when he gave me my happiest, calmest baby last.....what a blessing!
So, I couldn't decide which of these pics to put up with her update....so I did both! The first one is her calm little self, just going with the flow. And, the second completely captures a typical happy Shiloh.
So, I couldn't decide which of these pics to put up with her update....so I did both! The first one is her calm little self, just going with the flow. And, the second completely captures a typical happy Shiloh.
my husband, my hero
Friday, November 16, 2007
I just got this! I am so excited to have a look at my husband, and the boys were thrilled to see their Daddy in his "Boony" cap....and, you can't see it in this pic (it is on his right arm), but he got his combat patch a couple of days ago. He is very proud of this, and I am so proud of him!
Proud Army Brat!
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
My Father-in-law sent this for Shiloh, isn't it awesome?! Thanks, Dad!
Our Soldiers
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
I wrote this a week or so ago, mostly just to get my thoughts on paper. I shared it with Tyrone, who has asked me to put it up here. I went back and forth over the idea, because generally I keep what I write private, but, with my husband's encouragement, I am posting it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I never knew before this past year how much the military gives us. Yes, in some abstract way, I understood that they guarantee our rights, and that they're heros, and I believed it, too. I have military on both sides of my family, both my parents' fathers were in the service, as was my Father-in-law, and I've always been proud of that. But it never hit home before. And, I guess that it doesn't for many people.
Our soldiers give so much. So, so very much. Sure, they go over, and they serve in Iraq, or Afghanistan, but they are giving so much more than 15 months at a time. They are giving anniveraries, birth days, actual births, first smiles, first steps, and so much more. They are giving them for their country. They are giving them for us. They give them because they are duty and honor bound, no matter where their heart lies and where they desperately wish they could be.
Our soldier's families give. I am not a model army wife, so I'm not singing my own praises here. But I admire so much these women who watch their men go, time and again, and stand tall. Women like my Grandma, who has already given me words of wisdom. Their strength and tenacity has been tried and proven true in more ways and more times then most Americans could ever imagine. I hope, one day, to be like these women. Right now, however, I am just a young wife and mother counting each day while missing my husband with a ferocity that is astounding and at times, almost paralyzing.
Our soldier's children give. My sons are giving now, as we speak. My 3 year old asked for his Daddy tonight at bath time. When I reminded him that Daddy was in Iraq being a soldier, he said "oh, yeah", but what can those words mean to a 3 year old, really? How do you impart the importance of what Daddy's doing? And my 5 year old, well, he understands about long flights on the air plane that take people far away, so his questions are a little different. "Is Daddy on the plane back, yet?" and "Is Iraq further away than New York? Could we drive there?" And my daughter is giving....even though she doesn't know it. I know it. She is giving up having the Daddy who was wrapped around her finger from day one come running when she makes the smallest sound. She is giving up the cuddles, the late night Daddy time, and the sight of his pride as he shows her off. Because the only way he shows her off right now is to his battle buddies in the pictures I send with every letter.
And you know what? I didn't know....but I do now. I have an understanding that I could never have acquired except through this trial by fire. We've gotten through one month.....so many more to go. But make it, we will. My children and I will be there when our hero comes home, and our family will be stronger than ever. The deployments will not break this family. Our love is too strong, our commitment is too deep.
And, chances are, that he'll go again. He'll come home for a year, and then, he'll go again. And, still, we will wait, and hope, and love. And years from now, when this is so far behind us, and we have gray hair and grandchildren, I will still remember, and, so help me, I will pray for and thank every man and woman in uniform that I see. Because they give. And, for each soldier you see, there are countless wives, children, mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers whose hearts are quietly breaking when those orders come down.
I am so incredibly proud. As a wife, I am proud of my husband for what he is doing. As an American, I am proud of each soldier for their sacrifice and devotion. Where else in the world would you find as many heros as you do in our country?
God bless our soldiers
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I never knew before this past year how much the military gives us. Yes, in some abstract way, I understood that they guarantee our rights, and that they're heros, and I believed it, too. I have military on both sides of my family, both my parents' fathers were in the service, as was my Father-in-law, and I've always been proud of that. But it never hit home before. And, I guess that it doesn't for many people.
Our soldiers give so much. So, so very much. Sure, they go over, and they serve in Iraq, or Afghanistan, but they are giving so much more than 15 months at a time. They are giving anniveraries, birth days, actual births, first smiles, first steps, and so much more. They are giving them for their country. They are giving them for us. They give them because they are duty and honor bound, no matter where their heart lies and where they desperately wish they could be.
Our soldier's families give. I am not a model army wife, so I'm not singing my own praises here. But I admire so much these women who watch their men go, time and again, and stand tall. Women like my Grandma, who has already given me words of wisdom. Their strength and tenacity has been tried and proven true in more ways and more times then most Americans could ever imagine. I hope, one day, to be like these women. Right now, however, I am just a young wife and mother counting each day while missing my husband with a ferocity that is astounding and at times, almost paralyzing.
Our soldier's children give. My sons are giving now, as we speak. My 3 year old asked for his Daddy tonight at bath time. When I reminded him that Daddy was in Iraq being a soldier, he said "oh, yeah", but what can those words mean to a 3 year old, really? How do you impart the importance of what Daddy's doing? And my 5 year old, well, he understands about long flights on the air plane that take people far away, so his questions are a little different. "Is Daddy on the plane back, yet?" and "Is Iraq further away than New York? Could we drive there?" And my daughter is giving....even though she doesn't know it. I know it. She is giving up having the Daddy who was wrapped around her finger from day one come running when she makes the smallest sound. She is giving up the cuddles, the late night Daddy time, and the sight of his pride as he shows her off. Because the only way he shows her off right now is to his battle buddies in the pictures I send with every letter.
And you know what? I didn't know....but I do now. I have an understanding that I could never have acquired except through this trial by fire. We've gotten through one month.....so many more to go. But make it, we will. My children and I will be there when our hero comes home, and our family will be stronger than ever. The deployments will not break this family. Our love is too strong, our commitment is too deep.
And, chances are, that he'll go again. He'll come home for a year, and then, he'll go again. And, still, we will wait, and hope, and love. And years from now, when this is so far behind us, and we have gray hair and grandchildren, I will still remember, and, so help me, I will pray for and thank every man and woman in uniform that I see. Because they give. And, for each soldier you see, there are countless wives, children, mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers whose hearts are quietly breaking when those orders come down.
I am so incredibly proud. As a wife, I am proud of my husband for what he is doing. As an American, I am proud of each soldier for their sacrifice and devotion. Where else in the world would you find as many heros as you do in our country?
God bless our soldiers
The Reinstatement of "Funny Things My Boys Say"
So, it's been awhile, but this feature is back....my boys say to many great things to not share. This particular post will even include my nephew Tyler, who is, of course, one of my boys.
1.) Last week, it took Tyler a good little bit to get the gist of how trick or treating works, which is understandable, because he is 2. Well, by the end of Halloween night, he had it all figured out, and I guess he wasn't ready for it to be over, seeing as how he had just got the hang of it, so he convinced his unsuspecting Daddy to put new batteries in the flashlight we used Halloween night, went to the door and announced "Trick or Treat!"....I wasn't there for this, but my guess would be he was not impressed that no one opened the door, told him how cute he was, and filled his bag with candy.
2.) This is funny, but also a sad commentary on my complete lack of interest in wearing dresses......When Miranda spent the night with us on Fri., she was sitting on my bed talking to the boys while I was making Gabe's bed and running bathwater. Miranda was wearing a very cute little dress, and Kaleb asked her "Auntie M, where did you pants go?", and my dear friend, with her sense of humor, answers him with a poker face "Kaleb....I lost them. Can I have some of yours?" From the next room, I heard Kaleb say "uhhhh.....", and then he appeared at my side, whispering "Mommy, mommy! Can you give Auntie M some of your pants? She LOST hers!"
3.) This morning, Gabe had a small sneezing fit. Every time he sneezed, I said "bless you." When he was done, I had said bless you 5 times....he stopped, and I saw him counting something on his fingers. In a minute or two, he told me "Mommy, I had FIVE blessings!"
4.) Kaleb, who is, by the way, VERY good and gentle with his sister, listens to everything I say, and it's a good thing that bad stuff doesn't come out of my mouth, because you just never know when he's listening or what's going to be repeated. Well, every morning, Kaleb comes into my room while I'm dressing Shiloh and says hi to her. The other morning, though, I guess he had been listening to me, because what he said was "Hi cutie!" and, this morning, (while I was putting on her fleece duck outfit--it's cold!) it was "And how's my warm little ducky this morning?" in a high pitched sing song tone. They both looked a little confused when I laughed...
5.) Gabe has been having a little trouble (much to everyone's amusement) with the proper use of the phrase "me either", as demonstrated by this story.... We were on our way over to Mom's house, which is, or course, a popular destination with my crowd. The boys were getting excited, and Kaleb said "I'm going to knock on Grandma's door!" I said "You are?!" and Gabe jumped in and, although he meant that he was going to, also, what he said was "Me either!" I answered with "You mean, me too, Gabe." And he smiled amiably and said "Ok, you too, Mommy!"
1.) Last week, it took Tyler a good little bit to get the gist of how trick or treating works, which is understandable, because he is 2. Well, by the end of Halloween night, he had it all figured out, and I guess he wasn't ready for it to be over, seeing as how he had just got the hang of it, so he convinced his unsuspecting Daddy to put new batteries in the flashlight we used Halloween night, went to the door and announced "Trick or Treat!"....I wasn't there for this, but my guess would be he was not impressed that no one opened the door, told him how cute he was, and filled his bag with candy.
2.) This is funny, but also a sad commentary on my complete lack of interest in wearing dresses......When Miranda spent the night with us on Fri., she was sitting on my bed talking to the boys while I was making Gabe's bed and running bathwater. Miranda was wearing a very cute little dress, and Kaleb asked her "Auntie M, where did you pants go?", and my dear friend, with her sense of humor, answers him with a poker face "Kaleb....I lost them. Can I have some of yours?" From the next room, I heard Kaleb say "uhhhh.....", and then he appeared at my side, whispering "Mommy, mommy! Can you give Auntie M some of your pants? She LOST hers!"
3.) This morning, Gabe had a small sneezing fit. Every time he sneezed, I said "bless you." When he was done, I had said bless you 5 times....he stopped, and I saw him counting something on his fingers. In a minute or two, he told me "Mommy, I had FIVE blessings!"
4.) Kaleb, who is, by the way, VERY good and gentle with his sister, listens to everything I say, and it's a good thing that bad stuff doesn't come out of my mouth, because you just never know when he's listening or what's going to be repeated. Well, every morning, Kaleb comes into my room while I'm dressing Shiloh and says hi to her. The other morning, though, I guess he had been listening to me, because what he said was "Hi cutie!" and, this morning, (while I was putting on her fleece duck outfit--it's cold!) it was "And how's my warm little ducky this morning?" in a high pitched sing song tone. They both looked a little confused when I laughed...
5.) Gabe has been having a little trouble (much to everyone's amusement) with the proper use of the phrase "me either", as demonstrated by this story.... We were on our way over to Mom's house, which is, or course, a popular destination with my crowd. The boys were getting excited, and Kaleb said "I'm going to knock on Grandma's door!" I said "You are?!" and Gabe jumped in and, although he meant that he was going to, also, what he said was "Me either!" I answered with "You mean, me too, Gabe." And he smiled amiably and said "Ok, you too, Mommy!"
Auntie M!!!
Saturday, November 3, 2007
My friend, Miranda, whom I love dearly, came to visit us yesterday. We have been friends since we were 12 years old, but had not seen each other in a couple of years because of lots of moving around. Well, she moved back to Savannah this week! I am so very happy that she is here! We had so much fun with her. My kids call her Auntie M, and she played and played with them, they love her to pieces! We look forward to getting to see her often now that we are both in the same town again!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
