Start of Summer

Pictured above:

--  The boys battling out the "bad guys" on the documentary "The World Wars."

-- Watching early morning shows

-- Wrestling to Daddy's music

-- My HOMEMADE key lime pie

-- Me and Eli taking a selfie 

-- Me and the boys enjoying a day trip to Savannah, then a stop at the dentist office (each boy needing to watch the screen on the ceiling. 

Summer has begun, and it's awesome.

This is the first summer which I have stayed at our own home for the majority of the season.  Typically I go to Bama for a month or two, or like last year when we went to Idaho for 6 weeks.  But Matt is home with us for the first time in 4 years, so we must stay!  And, to tell the truth, it's nice to stay in our own place, and go at our own pace.

Our time has been filled with playing, and swimming, and reading, and playing, and swimming… and swimming, and swimming, and swimming.  Sometimes a bike ride or two if it's not too hot, so those must be done before 9am.  

I like the what we're doing so far.  Lots of family time, with some school refresher workbooks in-between.

Overall: so far, so good!


And now to a bunch of photos from the boys' swim lessons.  Wow, those were worth it!  So much confidence and knowledge learned in just a week.  They are all "deep end" swimmers now!  Holy. Crap.

Happy Father's Day! (We Like Our Family)

Today was a very good Father's Day.  This is our first "normal" Father's Day since 2010.  You know, one which actually has Matt present, and we're in our own home, and me and the boys are able to make a breakfast in bed for the Main Man of the House. 

The boys have been with my parents this last week.  Matt and I have been to ourselves for half the time, then for 4 days I volunteered to go to our church's Girls Camp.  So therefore Matt was to himself.  

As we've spent time together today I've noticed how much Matt has been enjoying playing with the boys.  I've asked him, "Did you miss us?" 

"Um, yeah!  I thought being by myself might be cool, but I really like having you all here," he said. 

It's been a really good day.  I got up at 7, started on breakfast, and by the time 8am came around all the boys were up.  We took Matt breakfast, but quickly realized we needed to go back to the table.  (Note to self: buy a food tray!)  

Matt's gift was a large tool box.  It was a bit of a weird shape to wrap, so the boys stood to cover it.  And the "little humans wall" was so stinkin' cute!  The boys LOVE giving gifts, and were so happy to give it to Matt.  

Church is from 11 to 2.  I taught the womens' group, the Relief Society, and the lesson went well.  Matt got to know more members of the church--which helps so much for his calling as Sunday School President.  The boys had an amazing time at Primary.  The drew pictures and cards for Matt.  

Once home we basically had quesadillas and peanut butter sandwiches for lunch.  (Must grocery shop tomorrow!) 

Matt sent me up stairs for a nap.  I have been so EXHAUSTED from the Girls Camp.  

This afternoon/evening has been a lot of wrestling, playing, eating popcorn, and eating homemade chocolate cake.  And now we're reading books.  

I like our family a lot. 

Matt likes our family a lot, too.  

(Also, it seems as though the boys will always opt to wear undies only.  Only a child once, I guess!)

Titus' "Father/Son Picture: Matt and Army Hat"

It started when Matt and Isaac took a picture together while Isaac was wearing an Army/camo hat and Matt was in his ACUs.  

And then we couldn't stop.  Father/son picture of "Matt and Army Hat" is born.  TRADITION!!!  

Each kid has taken a picture with Matt in ACUs while wearing an Army/camo hat themselves.  It also happened that each photo also has Matt as a different rank, etc.  So not only are we able to see how the kids all look around ages 2 to 3, but Matt's career in the US Army as well.  

Titus: Age 3--but practically 4 (two weeks after the photo)

Matt: Age 30; rank 1st Lieutenant--two years into active duty 

(location in Georgia, US)

After the Army hat he demand that his Atlanta Braves hat be worn and photographed as well.  ("As you wish, my liege.")

And here's a fun little refresher on the other boys' photos with Matt and Army Hat, as well. 

Eli:  Age 3

Matt: Age 28; rank 2nd Lieutenant--freshly commissioned into active duty, before PCSing to duty station

(location in Boise, Idaho, US) 

Isaac: Age 2

Matt: Age 25; rank Sergeant--about 8 years in National Guard

(location in Rexburg, Idaho, US)

And only one photo… WHAT?! 

I Need this Said at 3:24 in the Morning:

I haven't had any headaches for the last three days.  And it's been magical!  

For a while now, every afternoon I'm hit with a headache that I just can't shake.  No matter how much water I drink, no matter what kind of pain medicine.  

I attribute this pain free days to the following:  

- Maybe I've been dealing with allergies, and I just didn't realize?  So maybe the crazy pollen that's been bothering me has subsided?

- The boys have been taking naps in the afternoon, which allows me to rest my head for 30 min or so.  Awesomeness!

- I found me reading glasses, and have been wearing them for a bit every morning.  Helps A LOT!

Just wanted to the world to know!  I've been feeling like a new, happy mom/wife/person.  

Memorail Weekend

Once again, we spent our 4 day weekend in Bama.  I mean, not that I'm complaining.  Actually going to Bama is pretty awesome!  And we've never lived this close to my side of the family--so going to see them once very other month doesn't seem too often enough.  And heck, when will we live this close again?  I'm not sure what that military's plans for us are... So... To Bama!

This had been a pre planned trip for a while.  It was also nice to get over and visit with Dad.  This was the first time he has seen me, Matt, and the boys since his stroke.  Family time = good medicine.  (Also, Dad continues to improve with amazing strides!  Not using the cane very much!)

One of my best friends in high school was married that weekend, and Matt and I attended.  It was like the most amazing and beautiful Southern wedding one can imagine.  Ceremony was in an old historic chapel, with an amazing string quartet, and georgeous flower arrangements.  Both sides of the families were impeccably dressed, and the groom's father (the groom being my bf) was his best man.  So sweet!  

The reception was at one of the fanciest old historic clubs in Birmingham, named The Club.  There I was able to meet up with other lost friends whom I haven't seen in years, and introduce Matt to practically half my home town!  

On Sunday we drove to the Hunstville area to visit Dad's mother's grave.  It had been a decade since I had last been, and we figured it was a good family trip to make on Memorial Weekend.  (Dad is still not up for going to church--totally understandable!!)

It was nice to replace her flowers, dust off the head stone, and talk about her.  She had dies when I was nine, and my dad was only 35.  A lot has happened in 19 years since her death, but she continues to hold a special place in all of our hearts.(Breast cancer... It's awful.)

Sunday evening, after returning back to my parents' new home, we spent our time playing in the gravel piles.  Oh man, the treasures that come with living in a developing neighborhood!  

The popcorn and M&Ms with the movie Tangled.  

Monday we headed out the door early. We wanted to get over to Atlanta early enough to catch some of the Braves vs Red Sox game. And we actually managed to do that--even scoring some free tickets from a guy at the gate who had extra!  We had gotten some fan gear at a Target earlier in the day, and we were set and ready to enjoy the game... Until the hear made it miserable for like the first 4 innings.  But we stuck it out till the 5th, and that's when the thunderstorms came and we had to high tail it out of there!  We would have loved to have stayed thru the rain delay, but we really did have to get home--and ATL is a 3.5 hour drive to Savannah.  

I guess that good that about that game is that we happened to see "the play of the game," when Big Papa Ortiz hit a home run with the bases loaded, tying the game!  Which allowed the Red Sox to win.  (Wait, which team am I routing for?! I'm a Sox fan, who dressed as a Braves fan to ease my boys' hearts.)

         (Pit stop at our fav rest area)

We made it home around 9 that night.  And we've been enjoying our Summer Break these last two days.  

SUMMER BREAK!!