Chritmas Blessings!

Christmas 2010 brought my sister M and her husband T down for a few days visit. We had an early Christmas while they were here. On Christmas morning we had our own little family gift opening where J got a new bike and O got an art easel as well as way too many other toys. The best part is that we are still waiting on a couple of other packages with yet more stuff to open. It's fun to drag out the presents through the week! We hope you all had a wonderful and bless Christmas with family and friends. May we also remember the "reason for the season".

Our housing department held a pumpkin pick today. They had crafts (too long of a line) and a jump house (J went in and came right back out) and pumpkins galore to pick. We aren't a Halloween type family but it made for a nice outing and family time.

Base Fire Station Tour

Not really too much to say about it, the pictures do the talking. After a bit of a fire safety talk we were given a tour of the trucks and a smoke house (they didn't fill it with smoke because of the young kids). J didn't want to get out of the truck, he loves "fire engines". O did great too, although she got very heavy near the end. She even wanted to TOUCH the water from the hose! Silly girl. It was really great to be able to bring them out to the station and let them see some of the world around them.

A Poem or Two

I just realized that I can put anything on this not just pictures LOL While we were unpacking I found some old poems (from elementary school) that I had written and still think are not too bad so I thought I'd share them. The last is a short short story that I got at a writing class.

The Battle

The fruit was taken, a choice was made.

The hungry became hungrier, the poor became poorer.

The men worked hard and died, the women had pain and anguish.

The shadow of death covers their faces, but there are some it passes by.

A blinding light covers the land, evil is banished, the serpents head is crushed by the heal of a man, and the heal of the man is struck by the snake, yet he stands at the end.

Lurking Shadows (written for the World War veterans)

The shadows are slowly dying as he walks on the path. The birds have not sang for days.

The constant gun fire haunts his ears, reminding him of the on coming war.

The cries and yells echo through the trees.

His watchful eyes slowly strain through the them, trying to see beyond.

The path is still and quiet, with his partner, they walk back and forth.

His hands are shacking and his eyes ache.

Snow is slowly falling around them, he looks toward the sky.

Suddenly he looks back, nothing moves, he takes a step forward.

He becomes uneasy and restless, it is too dark, he steps slowly, slowly disappearing into the darkness.

His partner watches from a distance but never sees him again.

He run to the radio, sends a message, a single gun shot rings in the radio of the dispatcher.

This solider too has disappeared into the shadows, never to be seen again.

And peace is so, so far from them.

I was given the beginning and had to finish it.

Tom: I'm not sure I want to eat these.

Aunt Ethel: Hush. This is a nice restaurant.

Tom: Well, what are escargot anyway?

Aunt Ethel: Snails. Please eat them as they were very expensive.

Tom: Snails! Who in their right mind would eat snail?

AE: Many people, they are very good. Now eat.

T: Why are they expensive, they crawl all over the lake floor.

AE: They are special snail, bred specially for this purpose.

T: Poor things.

AE: Stop playing with your food and eat!

T: No! Look, I think that one is walking away!

AE: Don't be silly, they've been cooked and properly prepared. They are not walking away. Now eat!

T: No, I can't.

AE: Why not?

T: Because...um...I can't get them to stay on my fork.

AE: Then use a spoon boy!

T: But they still squish all over the plate.

AE: Tom, if you don't eat them we're leaving.

T: Great, let's go!

AE: Tom, sit down.

T: Why? You said we were leaving.

I really have a bunch more but they are much longer, maybe next time! Hope you enjoyed these.

We Took A Trip

We finally had some time off! For the first time in nearly two years E was able to get real time off. We headed to GA for about 10 days to visit the H family. Many hadn't met O at all and we were able to catch up with some family we haven't seen in a long time too. E's brother, A and his family including the newest little man, we able to beat the hurricane and make it down for the long weekend too. It was the first time the family had been together... in about four years I think. So I picked a couple of pictures to share from the over 200 that I took, gotta love digital!

We've Moved

Fist I just want to complain that I don't understand how to use this thing very well. I can't get my pictures on the way I want them and it won't let me write where I want to. If you can help please feel free to comment on email me, thanks :D

Okay, so the move is over. They came one morning packed everything in three hours and decided just to move us that same day. So nice not to have to sleep on mats for more than one night! The house is great but we are finding that there isn't as much space as we thought there was. We are having issues finding places for everything and cupboards and closets are much shallower than we had before...making it interesting.

On one other note, E graduated today! The ceremony was short, military, and straight to the point. Nice since the kids were both tired and hot. The daily temperature for the last month has been in the 100's.

We're In

We are in our new base house and it's amazing! Two story, four bed room, two and a half baths! I love it, I nearly never have to leave the base for anything! And we have neighbors with kids all around us and and and GRASS! I'll post some new pictures soon...still need to find a few things first. LOL

Moving

Yes, we are moving. Just shy of one year in our rental. We have been notified that there is a four bed room house available in the middle of July for us on base. So we will be moving on to the base sometime in the later part of July. We were given a four bed room since we are expecting baby #3 at the end of January!

May, Oh What a Day Part 3

Part three is right, the last weekend of our stay was J's 3rd birthday. He got a few presents, which he learned very quickly how to open, he even got some snow! There was a couple of presents waiting for him back home too.
On a personal note, I called home to let my family know we were home safe, I was told that my Grandpa had past away while I was flying home. The funeral is Fri. It was not unexpected and because of recent health issues, it comes as a blessing that he is no longer in pain and is now in glory with our Lord and Father.

May, Oh What a Day Part 2

The second part of our visit was spent doing other fun stuff. Playing in Auntie M's car, swimming with Grandma going to the zoo and practicing on the organ.

May, Oh What a Day!

The second half of May was spent seperated from my hubby. I took the kids up to my sister's wedding in Canada. The first week was spent on the last minute stuff and having fun with the Grandparents and Aunts. The wedding was beautiful with a golf theme that ran from the invitations right to the thank you notes. Here is a sampleing of the day.

The End

J had his last day of Tiny Tots yesterday. Here are some pictures of the day.

He surprised his teacher and I with how well he behaved and did his work. He really liked the matching game.One last hug for his teacher.

The Kids Birthday Portraits

Where We Are Now

I just thought I'd give you a quick update on life in California.

The kids a doing great. O is into everything that she can be. She loves to copy and follow and play with J. Most of the time he is okay with it but when it comes to his trains all bets are off! J is doing good too. His ASYMCA class is going well besides a strange aversion to crayons which I hope to have figured out with colored pencils.

E is doing well in school and will be finishing up in July. He has received his new orders here of all places. He checks out at the end of July and in the day after. We have been renting a house in town for this year but now it is for sale. We had thought about buying it and almost decided to, we even had the mortgage papers drawn up. We had second thoughts and changed our minds. As of yesterday we are 116th on the waiting list for base housing (3-6 months). Since our lease isn't up until August this is okay, for now. Lord willing we'll get in before we find our selves homeless, or we can arrange something with the new owners (if there is any by then). One good thing is that TMO will move us on base because of the orders.

We did decided not to take the dog. Another student in E's class is headed to Hawaii and doesn't want to take his dog. It's an Australian Shepherd. I would have loved to take it but there is so many reasons we shouldn't. So after a few days of debating it we thought better of it, for now. E really wants a dog!

In just a few weeks I'll be headed to my sisters wedding with the kids. E has to stay home because he can't miss class. I'm looking forward to going home again but I'm nervous about flying with two little kids by myself. I know from experience that most people are thoughtful and helpful to mother's on their own but I'm still not really looking forward to that challenge. Especially the trip back since our layover is very short. Resting in the Lord that it all goes well and I don't lose anything or anyone!

We do ask for prayer in both of these big things coming up. Mostly because there isn't much we can do but wait for it and then push through. Also for us to endure going to church every Sunday. I know this may sound strange but the church we have been attending is an hour away on the other side of Palm Springs. This is a horribly long drive and we are finding it difficult to feel motivated some Lord's Days to get up and go. They are wonderful people and we feel very welcome and loved but being so far away we are also feeling a little disconnected from the congregation life.

That's it for now! Thanks for checking on us, I'll try to keep you all updated through the next few months of any new developments or changes.

Family

At the beginning of the month a student came to the ASYMCA offering free pictures, who can pass that up? So here it is, our newest most up to date family portrait.
The only other news right now is that we are NOT moving! Don't ask how I feel about that if you don't want an ear full. When we figure out our housing situation and what ever else comes up in the next couple of months due to this I'll be sure to let you all know. Please pray I don't go mad. :D

The Living Desert

So I get this permission slip from J's ASYMCA teacher to go to The Living Desert. I'll be going to of course and think this would sort of neat to go to. Keep in mind I have no idea what The Living Desert is! So the day before I figure I should find the address and directions in case I lose the people I plan on following and that's when I finally figured out that it's a zoo. The following pictures are of our trip down to Palm Springs and the zoo. J had a blast (especially when he saw the huge train set up) and O did too, as much as she could from the stroller.