Our 10th

We had a wonderful 10th anniversary. The boys stayed at Grandma and Grandpa's and we stayed at a bed and breakfast in Mentone, the Mountain Laurel Inn. We stayed there on our honeymoon-the first night. A long day of wedding bliss, long drive from Jackson and well we didn't remember much about the stay-except "the Baskerville" fog that had settled over Lookout Mountain. We only stayed there one night and the next day we drove to Brevard... So long story short, we weren't there long.

This time, ten years later, we stayed two nights and had time to enjoy the area. We drove along the "scenic highway" (it was a little disappointing, considering we thought it would have lookouts, etc.) to Chattanooga and went to the battlefield park and walked around. That night we had dinner in an old farmhouse that had been converted to a restaurant, we had a little room all to ourselves---Incredibly good food! The next day we drove the Little River Canyon. It was what we expected from the "scenic Highway".

It was a wonderful, refreshing time. We hadn't gotten away without the kids so this was our first time without having to deal with all the kid things for a few days. They survived (kids and grandparents) and Zack got to go to his first movie, Charlotte's Web.
Sammy had a little harder time, he was looking for us a good bit.

Advent Calendar

Yes, I am sending you a personal blog message!
I did do an advent calendar--I'm sorry I am just finally getting it posted!
Thanks so much for all your creative sparks! You are amazing.

Hope you had a Merry Christmas!

Sleeping

Zack's thoughts on talking and sleeping:
"My voice is inside me. When I go to bed, I stop talking and my voice goes to sleep. Then I can go to sleep."

Jesus and the cookie monster

Never thought you'd hear those two together, huh?
Leave it to Zack and his storytelling!
This was taken out of LONG story (never ending) that we recorded.
Enjoy!

No, Mama!

Lately that is all or comprises most of what Sammy says these days. He knows what he wants and is not happy with anything other than that. Sometimes he just says no, but doesn't realize what it means. Like if he wants a drink and I hand him a cup he will say "no, Mama" but as soon as I put the cup up, he is just beside himself.

I guess it's the same with adults sometimes, too! We know what we want but have a hard time or don't want to communicate with those around us. It's sometimes easier to be negative than deal with the situation.

It's amazing that our children make us realize much more about ourselves and our sinul nature.

Flu shots

We all got our flu shots today. Zack was still crying as we were getting in the car to go home. Sammy was not crying anymore after he and Daddy walked out of the room where he got the shot. Sammy also freed his arm and grabbed the shot after the guy finished giving him the shot. Thankfully he did not stick himself!

They are both napping and getting a good rest.

camoflage

We met Brent tonight, Aunt Carol's son, Pop and Ama brought him to our house and then we all went to dinner. The boys did not seem shy at all around him- he seems at ease with kids. We enjoyed it.
Once we got home from dinner, I got some picts of the boys, they wanted to wear their camofage to bed!

camo boys

Thanksgiving

We went to Atlanta and enjoy spending some time with Grandmother. On Friday, the boys enjoyed all the fun they had with Ama and Pop and Grandmother while Mom and Dad enjoyed shopping in Atlanta for some items at Ikea, etc. The boys new table was on the agenda and we were happy to locate it!

Thanksgiving

catching opossum

T heard this guy grubbing around the yard. A battle ensued after T located it. T won and the opossum was probably sore today. No opossum stew!

fall

We are enjoying the leaves. Please note our new patches that Daddy brought us!

Fall is here

Sammy's 18 month appt

at about 19 1/2 months! went great. He seems to be right on track he weighed 24 lbs and he was 31 1/2 inches tall. So he's growing! He has all four molars now and is talking alot!
We had such a nice time together. I took some puzzles and a couple of books and activites to help to pass the time. All was fine, until the doctor came in. He wanted nothing to do with her. She wasn't the greatest with him, and she examined him as best she could.
He was not happy with them checking his wieght or height--it was a fight to get him to do anything they wanted. He did not want his clothing taken off, starting with his jacket!
His next appt will be with Zack and hopefully Zack will cooperate, I think two parents will be required at that apt.

Picking up planes

T got to go to pick up a plane at the factory in Kansas. T was handed the "token keys" and the other IP flew it here! Zack thought Dad was picking up an airplane and brining it home to him! T did get a tour of the factory and brought some goodies for us. The boys got patches and a foam airplane! So he brought them something just not a T-6!

I know it's been awhile..

The first weekend of November we went back to Clinton/ Jackson for Homecomning at Belhaven. http://www.belhaven.edu/
We did enjoy seeing and catching up with our friends that are in and around the Jackson area. We stayed with Mumsy in Clinton and I was astonished to find out that some of our friends live on the same street I grew up (about 6 houses up) and I know the family that moved into our old house. Small world!

Anyway, Mumsy had a miniture donkey and Tim offered $100 if I would ride the thing...so you guessed it, I did "ride" it, Zack had to move the feed bucket for it to move.... I then I got bucked off!!!
So you'll see some pictures that will amuse.

Mumsy's

blowing kisses

They were calling the wagon a school bus!
Sammy calls it the "cool ga"
Zack finally has upgraded to School bus, however it used to be the "cool bus."

First haircut

Sammy got his first haircut...

Boys and books

Every once and a while we go to the loft and read our special books by National Geographic

a boy's best friend

here we go, let's see if this works...

Fall Festival

Our church had a fun fall festival for the kids and the boys dressed up and played all kinds of games. Zack-n-dad had fun pitching the baseball at a pitching station. Then Dad won the cake walk... Zack picked the cake he wanted...

Sammy was a kitty-cat and Zack a train engineer- Thomas' s driver to be precise.
Zack was not interested in getting his picture taken.

Cake Walk

Apparently 3 year olds don't have the same ideas of beauty that adults do... I must say it did taste good! There was nothing wrong with it's apperance, just a different caliber cake than the others that were tied up with bows, etc. There was one that looked like Ms. Bess or a contemporary put lots of time and attention . But unfortunately Zack's eye was all about this one!
It must have been the sprinkles.

Dress up

Halloween

please click to see a slideshow/ picture album

Boys' life

oct playtime

You can click on this for a slideshow/photo album

Frog

Zack walks into the kitchen while I'm cooking dinner and announces,
"Mama, you know what my frog's name is? "
You would be proud,I did not answer with a "Get that thing outta the house!"
I calmly answered, with a please Lord don't let him drop that frog in the house,
"What's that Zack? "
He looks at me with a big grin"Christa."
Me: "Did Daddy help you with the name?"
Z: yes...

tractor races too

Get ready, get set, GO!

Sammy, I guess that means something.
Look at that big grin! He's half way to the finish line!

See ya later Sam!


They may have won, but I figured out it's easier to carry the tractor instead of pushing it into all those holes!

Mess

Today I left the boys at the table eating lunch to clean up a crayon mess Sammy made -Magic Eraser cleaned that mess...I came back to this mess! It seems that Zack encouraged some of this, but a a pre-nap bath cleaned this mess!
Peanut Butter only is fun to smear in your hair and face at one point in your life.

Pumpkin Patch

We went to the Pumpkin patch only to see their sign read:
"Due to the drought, the pumpkin patch is closed" We were so sad...

Happy boys

Tonight we sleep in our own beds!

Naptime

Finally the boys slept all the way across Lousianna they woke up right before we crossed the MS River! We're getting closer!!!

Le Tourneau College

We stopped in to see my cousin, Isaac. We had a bite to eat in the cafeteria, Isaac had a "pop" quiz that he heard about through the grapevine, so after lunch(the boys discovered how yummy red Jello with whipped cream is and mommy learned how red everything gets with red jello) and a picture, Isaac needed to get a little bit of studying in... we freshened up for our treck on home and Zack wanted to see the airplanes again, and we ended up with a little tour of the aviation dept from one of the students.
It was a short, sweet visit- but we are headed home!

A long trip

This was an encouraging sign along the way.

We haven't forgotten "Low boy"

as Mr Karl called him.

Tractor Lessons

Mr Karl gave Zack "high Boy" some driving lessons

Chicken Feed for Tractor lessons

Capt Karl told Zack he needed a dollar to ride the tractor. So Nancy found something for him to earn a dollar doing...
Feeding the chickens.

Remember Me?

So what do you have to do for a diaper change around here? Throw Diapers?

No Sleep

The boys stayed awake the whole trip from Randolph to Falster Farm.. That makes for a long 7 hours!

Our last drive by the "Castle"

The Taj Mahal or the Castle as our friends call it.
Here is our last entrance to Randolf as Active Duty. It's a beautiful day, note the dark rain clouds, it rained while I got the last of stuff packed and Tim out processed on base. The boys were frustrating me since I have the house cleaned, it's raining, I'm running in and out trying to get the car packed, not trying to track mud and dirt everywhere and the boys want to follow me and do many times before it's all said and done. I gave them windex wipes to wipe all the door knobs, at one point Sammy was washing his face! NICE!

Their Rooms

The boys get a picture in their rooms before we head home. As you can see there wasn't much seperating them... Zack is in his top bunk across the hall. I was taking the picture from our room.
Look at those shining doorknobs! Good work boys!

Music

Sam enjoyed the food, Zack enjoyed the music...

Loves to Eat

What no more Food---wait I think there is a little left on Daddy's plate
Yummy refried beans, rice and tacos!

Downtown

We had a nice time downtown today. We saw the Alamo and T enjoyed a workout pushing the stroller through the riverwalk.

Daddy's new airplane

T finished his check ride and scheduled a sim ride for Zack. He told Zack that he could fly the sim before we went home... So Zack was woken up from his nap to go with Daddy and fly his airplane.

Zack loved it!

kidztown

We had fun with Emma and Maddie at Kidztown picts on
http://picasaweb.google.com/droodlebug/0ct06?authkey=VV3aUycUSEtuahmytqbXHB0_HKs

Home sweet Home

Looks like home is still about a week out! We'll be here through Tues.

Guess where we went today?

here are a few clues

Where else can you pose with a court jester?

Sammy gets tired waiting in line