Thursday Florida Re-Cap

Whew! We are finally back in VA. Our drive yesterday took a little longer than on the way down, but we got home at about 1 AM and the kids slept in until 8. We had a wonderful time but I have to admit I am happy to be home!

On Thursday morning, the kids did some more playing on the beach.



Then we drove to Palm Bay and got together with some friends from our old church - my Bible study and our small group. Hayden and Katie have missed Bethany, their old babysitter! It was so great to see everyone again!




On Thursday night, we went to Amber and Owen's house so the kids got to play again! It was so nice, and it really felt like old times, just minus Jim.

We LOVE Florida!

After a 13 hour drive with my mom and Magra (my grandmother), we have arrived at our guest quarters at Patrick AFB and are loving life! I forgot how awesome Florida really is, especially when you are on the beach with the wind cooling you off, water lapping at your feet, not having to entertain a 4 year-old and 2 year-old AT ALL. The sand and the water do that for you! It's great. The kids couldn't wait to see the beach. Here they are on arrival night at 8:30 PM...



This morning, we had our dear friends come over. Amber and her now 3 kids (new son Myles was born in March) came for some fun in the sun. The kids picked their friendships right up where they left them a year ago. Hayden and Katie were so happy to play with Emma and Griffin!

Here they are before our friends arrived:



During high tide, an awesome shallow little "river" forms - perfect for little ones!!






Here's Myles!


Here are 4 clean (and tired) kiddos:

Zoo Day!

Jen (my older sister) and I took our kids (well, 2 of her 4) to the National Zoo last week and of course it was a blast! It was hot, as Washington tends to get, but they had the misters on to cool us down and the kids had too much fun to be miserable. Yay for free DC fun!

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day to all the daddies out there! But an especially happy Father's Day is wished to my amazing husband, father of our sweet babies. Jim, you are such an awesome Daddy - your kiddos sure missed you today! Thank you for all the love and affection you give our children, even over Skype some thousands of miles away. You are the best.

Deep Creek Lake

We enjoyed our week at Deep Creek Lake! Our time with Grammy and Grampy was so much fun. The kids loved being at their house, loved seeing so many wild animals, and just enjoyed the quality time.



We were able to see Jim's aunt and uncle at their campsite the day after we arrived. There was a playground and pool nearby (too cool to swim) and we had a great picnic of hot dogs, hamburgers, and s'mores. Thanks for the fun, Aunt Betzi and Uncle John!





We also went to a really cool waterfall and had a picnic in a pavilion nearby. After seeing the falls, we returned to eat our lunches and there was a deer who hung around for a good 10 minutes. The kids loved it!





At the end of our week, Jim's cousin's wife and their daughter came for a quick visit and handoff to Uncle John and Aunt Betzi. It was the first time Liz met Katie and Sydney, Katie, and Hayden played so well together! We had such a fun time and look forward to more visits this summer.

Arrival

Jim is in his deployment location, safe and sound. He is getting settled into his job and is enjoying a six man room with one room mate. This could certainly change soon as the numbers are expected to increase this summer. If anyone would like his address, please email me privately and I will be glad to give it out.

We are thankful for Skype! We were out at Deep Creek Lake this past week enjoying time with Jim's parents, and we were able to Skype every day except one - and that day he called on the phone. He purchased an internet plan so he can have access in his room. We lose our connections many times during our short conversations but we are praising God for even the chance to see eachother and for the kids to see Daddy!

To Daddy from Katie Bug

I can't send this via email b/c it is too big, so here you go Daddy!

The Final Farewell

Do you like our self-portrait? Jim breezed through BWI Airport tonight and I was able to go and see him for the last time en route to his deployment. He was originally scheduled to arrive at around 9 PM and then depart again at around 1 AM, but there was a change due to a missed connection and he arrived at 11 PM. We gathered his bags (and guns) and headed over to the AMC terminal where I was issued a pass to see him to the gate and he checked in/checked his bags in. We sat by the gate for a little while and I gave him some "stuff" which ranged from a craft that Hayden had made (a desert scene complete with a camel, gecko, cactus, and Daddy in green camo with his hat) to baby wipes (random thing that is a Mommy-must-have that might come in handy while en route for miscellaneous things). I also gave him some yummy snacks from Trader Joe's and brownies from my mom. He recorded a sweet message on my computer for the kids (have I ever mentioned how much I LOVE our MacBook?), we prayed, and then he got in line to board. It was a sweet, sweet hour. I am so thankful to have had this time with him. Please join me in praying for his safety while away as well as the continued adjustment for Hayden and Katie.