The Man is Home!

 After living apart from us for 5.5 months, Matt is branch [job] qualified and home.  Home, I tell you--HOME!  

See the silver pin above his name and red bar?
That represents his completion of BOLC (Basic Officer Leadership Course),
and is pinned on at the end of graduation ceremony.

Yeah, so yesterday evening me and the boys went up to South Carolina so we could attend today's graduation ceremony.  (Sorry, Dana, it was a spur of the moment thing.  I tried to call you this morning!!)  

I'm a little road weary, but I'm glad we went.   It was great to meet the people that Matt has been working/learning with for the past 4 months, and to see how much people respect him.  He's a good leader, works really hard, and cares for people.  I think the Human Resources side of the ARMY is a great fit for him... 

... and the ARMY thinks so too!   Matt graduated top of his class (on the Commandant's List), and was recognized for having "physical fitness excellence" with his 288 PT score.  100-ish people graduated today--the top 20% were on the Commandant's List, and only 1/3 of the class had "physical fitness excellence."  Yup, I'm bragging.  

The graduation ceremony lasted about 40 minutes, the main speaker was short and sweet, and the boys did really well!  Eli had an emergency poop before the handing out of diplomas, but he went quickly and we were back in time.  (Eli about had a nervous break down when I asked him if he could hold it in, poor guy.  He got all red and sweaty, and those blue eyes pleaded with me to leave and find some indoor plumbing!)  

Matt, and other graduates, stood to be recognized for having "physical fitness excellence."

Lest I forget to mention: I forgot the camera.  BLAM IT!  I got the boys all ready, marched them up the hill (which Eli cried, cause he was cold), got us all seated, and realized that I left both cameras back at the lodging.  Yeah... The BlackBerry was just gonna have to do.

Matt walking across the stage after receiving his Branch Qualification.

One of Matt's good buddies.  Matt's head looks extra large in this shot!
It's the edge of the lens... whatca gonna do?

Two attempts at a family photo.
(Eli refused to be in one, which turned out to be blurry anyway... maybe he knew...)

                                        

This afternoon we got home around 2pm.  Matt drove the '07 4runner home with the 3 boys, and I got drive BY MYSELF in the '93 Carola (Matt's military gear to kept me company).

   

Highlights of our evening:

The boys loved wrestling with Daddy. 

Matt loved the homemade dinner--with vegetables! 

And I'm hoping that I can get enough rest to catch up on blogging and commenting on other people's blogs. 

Thanks for all the love and support, guys.  Much appreciated!  

[video] :: Behold, The "Angry Bird"

Remember this post?

Here's Eli in all his Angry Bird glory!  

I'm a bad mommy.  I know I shouldn't post this, but goodness gracious it makes me laugh!
Eli, I hope you will laugh at this too one day.

The Boys as Birds, We Imagine

Happy Turkey Day, everyone!   

And since we're are speaking about birds, let's talk about the Studly Boys and what me and Matt consider them to be in very general terms of the Aves Class.

It started with Eli, when he just couldn't get out of a bad mood. 
"Son," I laughed, "you are one Angry Bird!" 
"I NOT!  I ELI!  I NOT ANGRY BIRD!" screamed Eli.
"Yes, Dude, you sure enough are," I reply.

Then I started to think about Titus and his little self.  That child is lovable, but always needing something--especially food.  Hmmm... I think I shall pass my nick-name from my parents to him.  Baby Bird!

I was telling Matt about Angry Bird and Baby Bird (with Angry Bird yelling at me: "I not Angry Bird!  I Eli!"), and asked Matt what he thought about Isaac.  With hardly any hesitation Matt said, "Giant Bald Bird!"  Oh yes, the bird from one from Matt's favorite YouTube videos. 
I think it works really well.  Isaac is great at grabbing onto his brothers and scaring them to death!  And he loves Bald Eagles.

Yup, this is what we do for fun: give our children nicknames and compare them to birds.  Please tell me we're not the only ones!

Edible Eggs

"I'm hungry, Mom!" whines Isaac.
"Okay, Dude, dinner isn't going to be for another hour.  Wanna try a fried egg?" I ask, hoping agains hope.
"Yeah, sure." Isaac replies.

I make him some "egg squares" and pray that he'll at least try them.  And try them he does!  And he loves them.  *insert angels signing here*

"Mom, we're hungry," says Isaac.

"I'm on top of it!" I say, "and lay out some hard boiled eggs."

Isaac enjoys the egg white, Eli is willing to try the yoke.  Success in my book! 

Slowly but surly my boys are starting to try and like other things.  Like asparagus, peas, broccoli, and green beans!  

Hardly any complaints now come during dinner.  It seemed like (for years!) every evening it was a fist fight of wills.  

I'm glad we're all chilling out!  

What should the boys try next?

Weekends Updated

Weird title, right?  Let's move on, shall we?

Though soccer ruled over our lives for many Saturdays this fall, other things actually did happen off the pitch.  (I like saying "pitch" when referring to a soccer field.  I'm refined, says I.)

** My parents came and visited one weekend! (Isaac's birthday.)

Grammie consoling Titus after his tantrum gave him a black eye. 

** Matt came down almost every weekend, and we great family times!  

Including a cash washing at dusk that resulted in Matt getting 3 ant bites which became infected, in turn instilling fear in his sons towards all insect bites and redness.   

Isaac, I'm sure your insect bite is just fine, but we'll take a photo of it anyway :)

**Since Matt was home most weekends I could get in some running (aka ALONE time).  The result of heat and high humidity on my short hair would get me to imagine if my parents did have a boy, if this is what he'd look like:

I think we also went to the beach that weekend, and ate at 5 Guys.
Because 5 Guys is the best.--OKAY?!

**But one of the most memorable weekends (like the ones above, aren't?!) is when me and the boys went over to Bama for a long holiday weekend.

I was able to run with my dad in his first 5k!
It was an honor, Father, truly.  He's been working really hard to get his old man knees and old man back into "running shape."  It's been a lot of fun talking to him over this past summer about training and jogging/running, and this 5k was the icing on the cake!  (Well, let's say the "hummus on whole wheat bagel" instead... but man, I love cake.)

Dad did great.  And though it was a hilly-er route than what he was mentally prepared for, he pushed through.  And didn't talk, like the whole way.  Don't worry, I kept us both company :)

And my didn't feel well that day.  Poop.

Dad (on the right) and his boss man (on the left) that had really motivated Dad to try and run!

"Be good for Grammie," I say to the crew.

Goofy photo, but my legs look so tan!

He did it!  Ran the whole thing!

Then a week later he and my mom ran in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure.  Super cute, aren't they?  And the tutu was Dad's idea!  He ran in his mother's honor, who died in '95 from breast and brain cancer.  

(And thanks Grandma Judy for making the tutus!)

Good weekends, good weekends.
I now feel all updated!  Don't you?

Things Which Make My Heart Warm

Photo bomb!
Thanks Titus for putting Captain America right in front right at the picture was taken.

Isaac has lost 3 teeth!

Then Eli started to get freaked out about the images, wanted to stop,
and told us that he wants to his room and "go night-night!"

After feeding the boys supper (an excellent baked chicken) Isaac comes over to me, gives me a hug, and tells me, "Thanks."

Writing down our "I'm thankful for today" on our "thankful leaves" for the "thankful tree," and Eli says, "Um... Sunshine."  

Referring to the You Are My Sunshine song that I've been signing to the boys every night. 

Isaac learning to talk with 3 front teeth missing. 

Being outside for an hour in mid November, playing hard with the boys, and not needing heavy warm clothing.  (Also teaching my boys how to play "Red-Rover" and them absolutely LOVING IT!  Though Titus runs at a person's chest, and not the linked arms.) 

Everyone eating their spinach. 

Titus coming into my room at 1am, tripping and somersaulting over a pile of laundry. 

Titus running into my room at 7am, tripping and face planting over the same pile of laundry. 

Pay day.  

Throwing Titus around on my shoulders with ease.  Then letting Eli take a turn; however I can barely lift Eli off the ground!  Sending us all into heavy laughter.  (Love my heavy heart baby.)

Before I leave the boys' room for bedtime Isaac reaching out for a hug. 

Having modern medicine available so I can take care of my family.  See-ya later, Strep Throat.  

Phone Pictures :: Shannon's :: Summer 2009-March2012

We got our "super sweet" phones during the summer of 2009.  Oh yes, people, I'm talking about some sort of BlackBerry.  Jealous much?  Yeah... I didn't think so. 

So we still have these phones.  Though I've had mine replaced 1 or 3 times.  Matt's been pretty consistent with his.  Which number are you on, honey?  Numero 2?  He takes care of his own.  

Been wanting to upload pictures from the phones for a while.  What better night to work on it than this one?  I'm completely hopped up on Diet Dr. Pepper + I had a 2 hour nap today.  

.......

This first installment is from my phone.   What a crazy time.  But also, especially looking back, one which was really uncomplicated.

-Matt goes to school, finishes his undergraduate, applies for graduate school. 

-Isaac is 2, then turns 3. 

-Eli is recovering from his surgeries. 

-Shannon finds out she's pregnant with baby #3.  

See?  Simple. ;)  

I actually do think it was, though.  Lots of time together as a family.  Matt was home a lot, Isaac hadn't started pre-school, and we could all just hang out together and play.  Or eat.  Or watch TV.  

I've also realized, now looking back, that I really liked our small little town-home in Rexburg, ID.  Pretty easy to maintain and decorate.   

After Eli's second surgery.  Bout 5 months old, sometime in August. 

Visiting Matt on BYU-I's campus.

Isaac and friends playing around in the complex.

At Nana's house, playing with Nana's toys.

Hotel stay in SLC.  Going to go to Bama for a few weeks!
Or was it a month?

Eli eating pasta at Grammie's home.