"Funny" Sam

Sam has gotten funny. Not sure if he means to be but he says the funniest things. A favorite lately has been to say others are funny. "Gaga funny." "Mommy funny." "Jordan funny." Well a couple of days ago Gabby went next door to play and I had just folded a load of laundry that was sitting in the basket. I came in the den and he had dumped the clothes out onto the floor. When I started fussing at him, he said, "Gaga funny." Yeah, Gabby wasn't even here.

He has learned how to tattle on his sisters, too. I never know exactly what he is saying but he comes a-runnin' after the squeal from whatever torture is happening and says, "Gaga" followed by lots of serious words. Once he even told on Jordan.

The funniest was today. He has started saying "Mommy help me!" when he can't quite get something or gets stuck somewhere or just wants me to come do. So at naptime today I gathered him up to take him upstairs. On the third or fourth stair he leans away from me and says, "Gaga, help me!" Silly boy!

Miss California

I can't let it go. I love how all the stories take the slant that her answer cost her the title. I have to admit I didn't see the show but it seems from the stories she was the only one asked this. Could that have been because she goes to a Christian college and not because she is from California? She feels the way a majority of Californians feel according to the last election. Other states have voted on this matter with the same result as well. So why is that so scandalous? Would she really have won if she said she agreed with same sex marriage? So much for the pageant trying to keep it's image above the shallow. Seems pretty shallow to me.

Story

First T-ball Game

Gabby had her first T-ball game on Saturday. It was a beautiful day and she had a great time in case you can't see all the smiles.

Robert's Birthday and Cake

Robert's birthday was April 9. Since Gabby was so worried about having a party, I told her we could get a cake. We mailed him some cookies and other goodies. I was kind of tired that day and we were in Costco so I just let her pick out a cake there instead of making another stop at Wal-Mart. This is the cake she picked out. Of course it was huge since it came from Costco. Really too much for the three of us, but sometimes you just do what you have to do.
This is the first cake I have ever bought from Costco and I have to say it was good. This was a white cake with a whipped chocolate layer in the middle. Yummy. My big complaint is the box they sell it in has no reusable option. No top that opens and then closes back over it. Just wrapped in plastic, which you have to pull off. Then you are stuck with no way to store the cake. This was complicated by my irritating side-by-side fridge. I had to cut the cake in half and put one half in my Tupperware cake taker. The other half I wrapped the box around and enclosed in foil. So now this cake took up two whole shelves of my fridge. Every time I opened the door, something fell out on me. We worked on that cake lunch and dinner for a long time! Now we get another cake for Sam's birthday on the 1st! We'll be caked out.

Easter Bunny

Last Friday we went to the Tacoma Mall to see the Easter Bunny. Pretty had to go back to Build-A-Bear for a bath before we saw the Easter Bunny. She also got a new Tinkerbell outfit.
My kids and the Easter Bunny. Sam did way better than with Santa last year. He wasn't sure at first but then was ok.
After shopping and eating, the kids played in the play area for a while. Sam figured out how to stand on the piggy.

Praisin' Sam

There was no Sunday School this week but we had an hour between the Sunrise Service/breakfast/Egg Hunt goings on. So we were hanging out in the sanctuary (which is also the fellowship hall in this small chapel). The praise team started practicing and Sam just couldn't stand it! He had to get up and move! Yes, I had to go after him once he stepped up on the stage.

Easter

No, I did not manage to get cute pictures of my angelic children on Easter like everyone else. It just never worked out. These were the best I could do. Maybe they'll do better another Sunday when there is not so much excitement.


The pictures of hunting eggs were better. Sam was way more into it than I thought he would be. Gabby was really sweet and they worked together well, finding all the eggs the Easter Bunny hid pretty quickly. Sam had to see what was inside.

Pictures of the Day, April 6

We had two beautiful days at the beginning of last week's Spring Break. We tried to stay outside as much as possible! The kids ate their picnic under the swingset. Jordan somehow managed to get herself shut in the playhouse. Not sure how she got the door shut without thumbs but she did it. It didn't seem to bother her too much. She likes it shady and cool.

Pictures of the Day - April 4

Yeah, I'm behind. Constant state. Been trying to take at least one picture a day of the kids to send to Robert. They do so many things - special and ordinary. So here's Sam brushing his teeth. He's finally getting into it. He won't come upstairs to get dressed but he will to brush his teeth. I'll take it as long as it lasts!
Gabby loves to go to Home Depot for their Kids' Workshop. She made a birdhouse this month. She does a great job hammering and all. Just has to watch Mommy - I tend to put things in backwards. So many things to distract, especially when I have to take them both. But it came out cute and she loves it. So we'll keep going when we can. If you've never been, it's the first Saturday of each month in the morning. They get an apron to keep and get a pin to add for each project they complete. They get a certificate for each project too. And it's free. We like free. In Kansas, you just showed up and did the project when you wanted to. Here you have to sign up in advance and it is limited. So check your store. But it is a fun way to teach them to use tools without having to prepare all the stuff yourself.
I'll get some Easter pics up soon. But I warn you, I never got a good one of the kids all dressed up today. They were not cooperative on that! Maybe next Sunday they'll do better!

Walk Now for Autism!

Robert's cousin's precious daughter Annalee has been diagnosed with autism. Not only are families having to deal with a difficult diagnosis, but also the fact that the disorder is not recognized by most agencies and insurance companies. But there is some great research going on out there and new therapies are being developed to help people with this disorder. Hopefully one day it will be accepted and treated as it should!

Miles is participating in the Georgia Walk Now for Autism. If you feel led to support him in this, please follow the link. The information is there. Even if you can't support with money, please send up your prayers for this sweet girl and others like her. Thanks!

https://www.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=288446&lis=1&kntae288446=FC88E301E24045F6969626F760C23F17&supId=249452903

Sam at T-ball

Here's Sam at Gabby's T-ball practice tonight. They took a short break and he ran over, put the helmet on backwards, found a ball, put it on the tee, came back and found the bat and went over to hit. He was so cute. Of course I did not have my camera but one of the other moms had her camera phone and kindly snapped this one and sent it to me. He loves to do whatever Ga-Ga does!

Sam the Piano Man

Here's Sam the piano man. Right before I took this video he was dancing up a storm. He only did a little once I got the camera out. He likes to turn it as loud as it will go, which is quite loud.

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday dear Robert!
Happy Birthday to you!

It's your birthday where you are! We love you!

First Two Weeks (plus a few days)

Been meaning to write this for quite a few days now but with Spring Break and everything else going on, it just hasn't happened. So we've survived the first two and a half weeks. As some of you know, usually everything goes wrong the first week husbands are gone. I mean, when Robert deployed to Bosnia in 1998, Jordan ate a whole bottle of antibiotics and then threw up and had nasty poop for days. When he went to Albania in 1999, I picked up a nail in my tire before his plane ever left Ramstein. Then when he went to Ranger School in 2001, the trash can blew apart, Jordan discovered how to open the gate, and I picked up yet another nail in my tire all in the first week. When he went to France last year we went straight to puking.

So I was on guard two weeks ago, ready for the van to break down or someone to break a bone or the volcano to blow or something. At the very least I figured someone would get sick. So imagine my surprise when the first week went amazingly well. Gabby got to school on time every day, Sam slept all night, we managed to make it to the commissary twice and Costco and everywhere else we needed to go. Dinner was on the table, the dishes were washed, the laundry was done, the floor was picked up every night, I was ahead on projects (a big thing for my procratinating self!) and I got enough sleep. Amazing, right? Yeah, it only lasted a week.

Saturday morning, one week after he left, I got up to find Sam had puked sometime in the night in his bed. Gross. And so the pukefest began. Saturday Sam was sick. Sunday Sam was sick. By Sunday night my stomach was starting to roll so I stopped eating and no one slept. Monday Sam was sick and I didn't feel so great myself and no one slept. And we were getting hungry and tired. Tuesday we finally started feeling a little better but still we weren't eating much or sleeping. By Wednesday, I was four days behind, sleep deprived, malnourished and Sam was having the most disgusting diapers I have ever seen. And I was seriously missing my husband! We finally recovered by the weekend, at least from the sickness.

My bright spot was Gabby, who was very patient and not complaining about me not moving much from the couch, nor about the sad little meals I fed her while I didn't feel good. She entertained herself, which she is not the best at. It helped that I let them watch whatever TV and movies they wanted but she still was a great trooper. And she never got sick. She truly has the immune system of steel.

It's been a week now since we started feeling better but I am still behind on laundry, cleaning and a few other projects that have to be finished by this weekend. Poor Robert is not going to get his birthday box on time because I got so behind. Last night was the first night we have slept all night. Once Sam started eating, he ate constantly for five days. I think he was waking up because he was hungry. Hopefully he will sleep for me tonight so I can catch up on sleep. And hopefully we have survived round one!