Happy 4th Birthday Sam!!!

Sam turned four yesterday. Everyone talks about how quickly your children grow up...how true it is! He has become such a wonderful little boy...sweet, caring, helpful, full of energy and laughter. I really wanted to make his birthday special.
We rented a bounce house for the day. It arrived at 9:30am and stayed until 8pm...you can only imagine how exhausted the boys were last night!


The boys got lots of time bouncing and sliding before our friends arrived...

Once everyone came, Sam was having a blast...

It didn't take long before he was hot and sweaty!

I tried to do a circus theme, so we had a funny clown cake stand, face painting, balloon animals and hats, a popcorn machine and snow cones...

The boys love being able to make a mess with cake...it's just about the best part of birthdays!

Some of the girls from VAW 113...posing for a picture to send our husbands...

This adorable train conductor costume was a present from one of Sam's dear friends...it was a HUGE hit.

It was a great day with great friends!

Scuba Micah

Super Sam

Then...

And now...

My Boys...

Silly Sambo....

Meathead Micah....

and their hero, Daddy...

Cory left this morning on yet another long deployment (our 3rd in the short 2 1/2 years stationed here in CA; 4th in the last 8 years). With each one we learn how to be better prepared to deal with the separation, with emergencies that may arise, and with the adjustments of both leaving and coming home. However, even with all the "preparations" it never gets any easier to say goodbye. Please pray for Cory and those serving with him. Please also pray for their families left here supporting them, loving them and waiting for their safe return home.

Just like daddy...

Sam has been dressing up like daddy quite a bit lately. He wants to be a pilot just like him...

Family Time

This weekend we headed up to Santa Ynez, CA to one of our favorite places...the Bridlewood Winery. In addition to wonderful wine, it is such a BEAUTIFUL place to visit. They keep horses there and a have a lake in the back of it which is surrounded by their vineyard. We had a picnic down by the lake and the boys got to run around and get lots of energy out...it was a perfect day.

Pool Time Fun

Micah's big birthday present was a pool for our backyard. It's still not really warm enough here for it, but the boys just couldn't wait...

Sam jumped right in, but Micah is still not sure about it...