Follow up to Florida

Here are a bunch of pics from Florida. Sorry we couldn't post on location...only a mediocre internet connection.

here are a few pics from Anthony's birthday. I think Gabe liked the cake :-). there is a picture of Anthony andGabe with Rob's mom (Grandma Harriette) and of Anthony playing with Uncle Lonnie.

We took the kids to the zoo one day. It was hotter than Hades. They fed the goats...I think Gabe was actually shoving his hand in the goat's mouth. Gabe didn't want to ride in the stroller, but he didn't want to walk either. Guess Grandpa Keith needed a workout anyways.

We also went to the Naval Air Museum at Pensacola Naval Air Station. This is probably the best air museum I have seen outside the Smithsonian. We did not get to see the Blue Angels practice due to weather and our schedule, but you can watch them. The museum has a bunch of cockpits for the kids (and grownups) to climb in. The boys loved this. Below are pics of them crawling around and practicing flying.

After we made Gabe get out, he threw a tantrum. This is what he looks like in his not happy mode.

And here are the last pics of the kids at the beach with me one day. Wewould go to the sound side of the island cuz the boys didn't like the waves.

Just go away Fay

We lucked out and most of the storm missed us. In fact, the storm literally went up and over us. We received only light rain fall and winds that we would only call a summer breeze in Oklahoma. Today is windy but sunny, so hopefully we will be able to get one last hoorah at the pool...but probably not at the beach.

We fly out tomorrow afternoon.

Tropical Storm Fay

So the initial report when we arrived was that Fay would hit Pensacola area on Tues after travelling up the Gulf. The storm actually made landfal in southern FL and instead headed across the peninsula. Yeah! We ended up getting a couple spectacular days and were thinking we were out of the woods. But no, God has a cruel sense of humor. The Tropical Storm is headed now across northern FL basically following I-10. Basically it will hit Pensacola on Fri/Sat and probably linger just long enough to screw up the travel plans to return on Mon.

Birthday #2

Because we have so many family and friends in FL, we decided to do another party for Anthony. I am glad we did no presents with our friends, because Rob's family did not adhere to the 1-2 gifts policy. Not that Anthony doesn't love all the gifts...but still.

He had a great time...what kid wouldn't with presents and cake?

Gabe even got a couple of gifts. But I think he liked the cake the best :-)

Overrun

We are overrun with family and friends. Harriette (Rob's mom) arrived along with Carol and Lonnie (Rob's aunt and uncle) arrived at the same time we did on Sat. Additionally, we met our friends from Alaska (the Robinson's) while we were out running errands. Ok, so I was shopping at wal-mart for clothes because we still had no luggage.

It was a crazy Sat, but we all finally got settled.

A 3 Hour Tour...

We left our house for Seattle at 415a on 15 Aug. The flight plan put us in Pensacola at 635p which seemed perfect. Even better my parents were on the same flight as our connection in Dallas. Just think 2 more adults to help fly.

The plan started all well and good. The boys woke up in the best moods...especially for 4 in the morning. Gabe slept on the plane. Anthony colored and played with cars. I even got to read a book without resorting to the DVD player.

We arrived in Ontario, California on time, and were just going to make our connection. Then we found out that the two terminals are not connected inside security. So, we have to race through security with 2 kids, milk, blankets, kitty kat, snack, and 6 SCUBA regulators. Surprisingly, we made it...and then we found out that our connection to DFW was delayed 3 hours...yep...3 hours. The kids found some unique ways to entertain themselves (and everyone else) in the airport. We watched for the airplane...for a really long time.

Yes, Gabe is riding Anthony like a horse :-)

With the delay, we were definitely going to miss the flight from Dallas to Pensacola. So I go down to the desk and wait...and wait...and wait. Finally, I get to talk to a person. They assure me I will get a hotel voucher in Dallas.
We finally get to Dallas, 5 hours late only to find out that my parent's flight (our original flight) was actually cancelled. Additionally, they do not give you a voucher for weather delayed flights...not their problem apparently.

We get a hotel, have no luggage or clean clothes for anyone. Everyone is grumpy, tired and upset "that we not in florida." Anthony was very insistent that we go to florida with grandma kerry and grandpa keith now.
So we rise again at O-Dark-30 and start again. We were booked on the 715a flight, but my parents were standby. Turns out my dad got on, but not my mom.

When we arrived, fortunately our rental cars were still available. My dad's luggage arrived as did the car seats and stroller. Yeah! But wait...where are the other 6 suitcases we have...like the ones with clothes.

My mom and our luggage did not arrive until 5p that on Sunday, 16 Aug.

Finally, the boys got to go swimming after talking about it for 2 days.

Birthday Party w/Friends

While Anthony's Birthday is not until Firday, we had his friend party today. We leave for Florida on Friday and thought no one would want to have cake and ice cream with us at 4 in the morning when we leave :-)

There were 5 kids plus Gabe and Anthony. They all had a fabulous time...but I must start from the beginning of the day.

The theme of course was CARS! So as not to be out done by my friend's tea cup cupcakes (yep, that's you Jennifer), I decided to make a Lightening McQueen Cake. Since the mold requires a pound cake, I made the cake from scratch. While I am an excellent cook, my pastry skills leave much to be desired. However, the look on Anthony's face when he saw the cake made it mostly worth it.





I also had the brilliant idea to make bean bags and a bean bag toss game. They had a lot of fun, but thank goodness I do not have to make money as an artist. The consept of the game was a bit lost on the 3 year old.






We served hot dogs and hamburgers and other kid friendly foods. It is amazing how peer pressure will get them all to sit down and eat together.





Anthony actually blew out his candles all by himself. I think he has been practicing with his pretend sand cakes. And then the eating commenced. I think Gabe liked the cake.






Then came the presents. We did ask that friends not bring presents so there were only three from Mommy and Daddy. However, I think his favorite was a card from his friend Katherine that sang the CARS theme song.

The first gift...





a shake up Lightening McQueen.

The second gift...




a Lightening McQueen backpack for school (and the airplane)


The third gift...




tools for playdough

The car was a huge winner. He thinks that is just the coolest. He even took it to bed with him...a high place of honor. At the end of the evening, he and his friend Alex and baby sitter Stephanie sat and played with the playdough for a good hour. It's fun to get to be a kid again with him. It is hard to be sad when you are squishing playdough.




We ended the night watching girls diving and gymnastics. Anthony announced he like the girl gymnastics better than the boy gymnastics. Rob's comment...That's my boy!

Very Funny Link

Ok, this made me laugh a lot! Enjoy...

Too Many Pills, Too Little Time

http://www.toilette-humor.com/medical/too_many_pills.shtml

Just a good day

Today the kids and I were busy, but it was good. I am preparing for Anthony's B-Day party on sun. I decided to have a bean bag toss so tomorrow I must sew the bean bags. The car that they will toss the bean bags into is pitifully drawn...it is a good thing they are all under 5.

We went to a friend's house and played. We made red Icee's for toddlers...I think we will skip this event the next time :-)

Then we went to the pool in the afternoon. But the best laugh of all came from this morning in the back yard. Anthony was playing "Aquarium." He put some rocks in the ice chest in the back and called them his sea animals. Gabe and I were allowed to pet them, but only with one finger and very gently.

Poor Gabe

He is upstairs crying his little heart out. Apparently he has grown very attached to Rob. I went to put Gabe to sleep and he kept asking for daddy. He is crying upstairs saying, "daddy, daddy, home, mustang." ok, so home is more like ooom, and mustang is more like mmmm-ta. But stll, it is very sad to watch.

This will be a rough week since Rob won't be home till long after they go to bed on Fri.

The grass is always greener...

here are the first shoots of my newly planted lawn.

Take Me Out to the Ball Game

Today we took the boys to their first live baseball game. They have watched a number of Yankee games with Dad on TV, but we have never taken them to a live game.


The Tacoma Rainiers (the Mariner's AAA team) had military appreciation night. For $5 a person we got a ticket in, a hot dog, a coke, and chips. We thought this was a darn good deal. All three boys had a great time. Anthony had his first real soda from a can. It was Sierra Mist, and he really liked it. I tried to put it down on the way out of the ballpark, and he picked it up right behind me without missing a beat. The litte old ladies watching him leave thought it was hysterical!


It is hard to believe that summer is coming to an end...I feel like we have not done nearly the number of things we set out to do.






This is the mascot...a moose!


Best of all, we have a picture of the whole family :-)




And here is a random picture of the boys riding the rocking horse together.





Last of all, we think Rob broke his toe. He wasn't watching where he was walking and tripped on a toy. No X-ray, but the coloration and pain indicates that it is broken. The best was that he is always telling Anthony to "watch where you are going." Do as I say not as I do!

Safety First

We bought a bike trailer a week ago, so we also got the boys helmets. Of course, they are Lightening McQueen helmets. Gabe's is way too big, and Anthony's barely fits. They came with knee pads too.

Needless to say, I don't think I will be able to get Anthony to take his off.

Gabe made the paper

Ok, so he made the online photo gallery. Here is the link.

http://www.theolympian.com/localgallery/gallery/526490.html

Just play theslide show for opening day at the Thurston County Fair.

The County Fair

Today I took the kids to the fair. They had a great time. We looked at tall the animals. There was a Zonkey (a Zebra Donkey mix), snakes, alpacas, goats, sheep, rabbits, cows, pigs, horses. The boys were in heaven. They had a pony ride, so I took Gabe...Anthony freaked and didn't want to go. I don't have pictures of Gabe on the horse, but a photographer from the local paper was there, so I am going to see if I can get one of his. Also, since it was the first day, it was dollar days. I got a root beer float, a mocha, and 3 donuts each for only a dollar.



Here is Gabe petting the Zonkey...Anthony said no thank you to petting it




He was however willing to pet the baby goat

The kids also got to play on a fire truck and have a yummy fair lunch.





Gabe and Anthony on a fire truck with friend Mason

The nice thing about the county fair is that it is less than a mile from the house so we can walk. They love the stroller, so that works great for us. The boys even fell asleep on the stroller walk home.



Best of all was the sprinkle donut for on the way home