Recipe for Fun

1 Grandma
1 Aunt
3 kids
A mom to schlep the gear
2 dozen animals
Sunshine
And a cool breeze

It all adds up to fun.

We went to the Como Park Zoo in St Paul. Free zoo that is awesome!!! Highly recommend it.

At the Lake Place

As kids, my brother and I would go with my mom to spend at least a week at the lake in MN. My grandfather built a house there to enjoy. And we all did. In TX, the summer is brutal in August, but we would escape for a bit to northern MN where is was warm in the day and cool at night.

Now I can take my kids. This year was special since Kraig, Nara and the girls joined us. The kids saw each other last summer, and it was like they were never apart. I love that.

We played in the water

On the boat







With the neighbor's dog

On the cabin floor


We tried to feed some ducks, who were smart enough to swim away quickly from our rowdy herd.


We roasted marshmallows

and painted toes

Sometimes we just spent our time relaxing


Mostly, we just enjoyed each others company.

We played cards and drank (that was not a kid activity). Best of all, it was like we saw each other just the week before and would of course be getting together in another few days.

I love easy friends like that. The friendship where you pick up when you need to and allow it to go dormant when you don't. No one gets their feeling hurt over it, you just understand each other and how life is happening. It was worth the trip for just those few days.

Minnesota

I took the boys to MN. Yep, me and 3 kids under 5 on a plane alone. Let me tell you, this is no vacation for me. I really miss Rob right now. However, it was worth it. I spent 4 days with a friend and her family. Nara and I together somehow keeps us both sane. It is bizarre, but it totally works for us.

So, we started with going to the airport. Getting luggage checked was a hassle and a half. No really, terrible. I brought more than usual because I didn't know if I would have a crib for William and we needed more clothes due to no washer at the lake and we needed toys. So, I had 2 suitcases, 3 carseats, a pack-n-play, a backpack, and a 'rescue pack' for each kid. Yep, we were quite a site. Fortunately in the south, people are nice and just help you. Also, Savannah is a small airport so congestion is not a problem.

Once in Minneapolis, I got to see one of my old (still younger than me) airmen from AK. I love that I still keep up with all the folks from AK...what a great group from both the AF and Army side. Coffee was fabulous but too short. Hopefully we will get to catch-up again with each other later.

Then, the best part of the whole trip...seeing Nara and her family. The kids are all huge, and we are all growing old way too fast. We spent the better part of 4 days at the lake just bumming around. See above post for the pics and details.

Babies Don't Keep

Cleaning and scrubbing will wait ’till tomorrow,
but children grow up, as I’ve learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down cobwebs! Dust go to sleep!
I’m rocking my baby. Babies don’t keep.
– Ruth Hamilton

Why is this so easy to forget? It is hard to believe how fast they grow, from little pudgy bundles to long, spindly-legged boys.

As we got dressed this morning, I realized how big Anthony is, but it seems like just yesterday when he was a small, frail little bundle in the NICU. For him, life is now full of "I can do it myself" and "leave me alone mommy."



Gabriel isn't much different...so strong and confident as he follows after his brother.



William seems to be growing bigger every minute. Just yesterday I caught him rolling over. Before I know it, he will be running after his brothers.

So I will try to treasure the moments and not think of my house that should be declared a disaster zone. I will give my self permission for pizza on paper plates and pancakes for dinner so we all have a few more moments together.

The Angel Gabriel

This is the fixed photo of Gabe on the beach at Jekyll Island

Weekend video

This is William's first dip in the ocean.




In the Wave pool

William Talking

Caught a video of William talking today.

And your big cardboard box

We have a children's book titled 'Little Boy'. I love this book. It is all about a little boy and the imaginary world he creates with his cardboard box. I have always believed that the best part of any gift for a kid is the box. But moving this time has given me a whole new perspective on it.

The boys now have cardboard swords and a cardboard shield to be a knight. They also have rifles just like daddy to protect me from the bad guys when he is gone. The cut up box is the castle, or a lions den, or a nest, or dinosaur cave, or... I love this age of imagination when all things seem possible. You truly believe you can be a policeman, and a fireman, and soldier.




"Little boy your remind me how,
so much depends on days made of now."

Oh, The Places You'll Go

Lately this is the boys favorite non-dinosaur book. I have now come to believe that every high school graduate should get it as a present.

I feel as though we have been traveling through the book for the last few months.

We chose our path and felt good about being out there where it is more opener in the wide open spaces.

We were flying high. Rob looked like he would be in a good unit. Finally, back to the line. We had a bunch of friends headed to the same location. Lots of people to know. We found a great house...needed some love, but who doesn't.

Then we hit a SLUMP. Rob would deploy almost immediately. There are unaccounted for costs. Preschool is a challenge. We felt like we were running in all directions. Rob and I hate that feeling. We are planners. I like to know what is coming and weigh my choices carefully. I hate making decisions just to make a decision, but that is where we were.

It all led to the most useless of places...the waiting place. Waiting on a bus to come or a plane to go. The week before deployment always stinks. There is so much anxiety. No one is on the same page emotionally.

But we are finally off again to the places we'll go. For Rob it is Iraq and a good job (not a battle major as he had feared). For us it is exploring GA, then off to MN, then more exploring before Rob returns. We are lucky to many friends to see and can't wait for the adventure.

Jekyll Island Adventures

We spent the weekend at Jekyll Island just south of Savannah. We had a great relaxing time. With Rob deploying, I wanted us to have a trip that would be a special memory for the boys (all of them). It was a great success.

Rob and the kids spent the mornings hunting for shells and other sea creatures.







I really love some of my beach pictures and can't wait to play with them in photoshop.

We toured the island (about a 15min drive). But also went to the sea turtle center. The boys got to watch real animal rescuers in action. We spent the rest of the time looking for animals in trouble. There is also a Tidelands touch and feel center with a bunch of cool kid learning stuff.






Finally, we ended at Summer Waves. My kids rock at waterparks. It was so much fun!!!



I have some videos that I will put in another post.