Halfway Picnic

Yesterday was our squadron's halfway picnic. That means we SHOULD be halfway through Cory's deployment!! We had a great time. There was a bouncy house for the kids, tons of food, friends, toys and CAKE!

While the big kids were having lunch, Micah and Abby had a great time crawling around the bounce house!

Sam gave Addison kisses in between bites of cake...

Me with two of my fellow "chicks", Jenn and Amy

Texas

The boys and I just returned from a visit with Cory's family in Texas. Cory's brother, Chase, was married last weekend and Sam was asked to be the ring bearer. So, we packed up and headed down there. Both Sam and Micah did great on the plane...it took alot of entertaining on my part and quite a bit of chocolate, but we made it! We had a very nice visit with Nannie, Pops, Auntie Etta and all of the rest of the family. It was wonderful to be able to see Chase and Kassie get married...it was a beautiful celebration.

Some day Samuel will probably be very upset with me for sharing these pictures, but he was really cute just hanging out in the hotel room...

Chase and Kassie...

Our House

I was asked a while back to send out pictures of our house here in California. I know that most of you back home don't know much about our lives out here...maybe these will help you picture us somewhere! You're only getting the living room, kitchen and front door area right now...

These are some of the beautiful plants our neighbors left in my care when they moved overseas...I haven't killed them yet!!

Our living room...

Fish the fish and the newest addition to our family, Rootbeer the fish....

And finally, our kitchen...

Water Slide Fun

Yesterday our neighbors invited us over to play on their water slide. Sam had SO MUCH FUN!! It took him a while to figure out what you were supposed to do, but once he got it down there was no turning back. He played so hard that we were up half the night last night with sore arms and legs...nothing a little Tylenol couldn't take of though.










Since Micah discovered that he can climb up and sit down in chairs, it has become his favorite thing to do...he enjoyed the water slide, but nothing beats sitting in a chair!

"Seeing" Daddy

So far, today has been pretty exciting. Our day started out with Micah saying his first, real clear word...."shoes". He is definitely mommy's little boy. I am so excited...I am hoping that words will soon replace the screaming!
After that, we were off to "see" daddy. The squadron set up a video teleconference where we could each sign up for a 9 minute slot of time to talk to our husbands/daddies. We were able to see Cory on a big screen tv...there was a bit of a delay (kind of like a bad movie where the person's mouth move and then a couple of seconds later you hear what he actually said) but it was great to see him. Micah didn't do so well sitting still and Sam didn't say much of anything...how do you explain to a 3 year old why he can see and hear daddy on tv, but not actually have him there with us? The 9 minutes went by all too quickly, but I am truly thankful that we had the opportunity to do it. Please continue to pray for Cory and for all of the men and women deployed overseas, and please also pray for those of us left behind, anxiously awaiting their return home.

Summer Days

The boys and I have had a lot of time to just hang out and play. They are so much fun and there is nothing better than being with them, watching them explore and play.

My little couch potato...

Just like his Daddy, Micah has his eyes closed in almost every picture I take.

Pool time...

Micah is not too sure about playing in the pool yet, but he does love the trampoline!

Sam prefers to sit in the back of the truck...and he loves to play "cheese" with mommy.

More of the boys...

These are some pictures that Jodi took of the boys earlier this summer...I think they are beautiful!