Christmas 2008

Wow - Christmas has come and gone and the last two weeks flew by just as fast. I spent tonight putting together my first attempt at digital scrapbooking so I will save my chatting for another day. Not sure how this is going to look so my apologies for any uh-ohs, I may repost later.

A quick little bit. Michael and I have been "winter cleaning" and it paid off as Mike's parents came in for a very short visit, but enjoyable being able to stay at home and still have family to watch the excitement in our little boys. Landon acted as if he had never known Christmas - with this year being his first real year to have such excitement. Zach knew what was going on, but as far as gifts went. His first was his favorite and after that had little interest in the fact that he had been blessed more than we deserve.

Michael is back at work tomorrow and it goes back to just the boys and I until Thursday for New Year's. We will be staying here in Florida as Michael heads out on TDY the 2nd of Jan. He returns on the 5th and I am very excited about that day not only that he will be home after a long 3 days, but also because my sis-n-law, Leigh, will be coming to visit!!!! I pray that your Christmas was a time of family, reflection, and just able to relax knowing that we serve a God who has blessed us all beyond our own understanding. God Bless and good night until tomorrow!!!

It's all in the name -

Ok, so I did my homework and have made it through an entire book of name possibilities for Baby Boo. This honestly is very stressful for me because I want the perfect name for each of my children and have many times wondered if I have made the right choice in the past - though I do love my boys names, I just wonder...So, Michael and I have made a very small list which we will respectively keep private for now because I am so unsure and there are still 3 months. BUT we would love any suggestions you all may have. Go ahead - send us your ideas - if we happen to choose your name we will send you a little something, something...So go ahead and let us hear from you.....................................

Weekends Come and Go!

Well, today is Sunday and you will begin to notice that my most used phrase is "Man, how time flies!" Well, I love weekends because Michael is home and we have time to just be a family.This weekend was no different though we did keep busy. On Friday evening we watched our friends daughter, Rebecca, so that Jake and Jill could attend their squadron Christmas party. Rebecca is the only kid that has ever spent the night with us and the kids always like it. They are more like brother and sister - so the idea of a "sleep over" hasn't even hit them. It was fun. Michael built his best trains with them before sitting down to watch some traditional Christmas movies. Saturday was full of me running around. Who would of thought I would of spent so much time as the post office on Saturday - be forewarned, if you need to ship something do not plan to be in a hurry. The big highlight for my family was probably the fact that I went grocery shopping :) - you know sometimes they are just really easy to please :) Now I do not have to hear Landon say, "We can buy some mom, that sound good?" I also got my first pair of real Crocs and I must say they are really comfortable. These are the winter version so they are lined - comfeeee! I do a little mystery shopping here and there so when all is said and done, my $40 shoes will cost me $13. Not to shabby.

We finally got together with Jake and Jill on Saturday night for what use to be a regular game night. It is always fun to get out of my house and enjoy some adult time. The kids do great going to sleep over there in "their room". Honestly, I have been better with keeping the house lately but Jill's is always clean so it is nice - I always have one friend everywhere I go that has the "perfect" house :) Landon's big thing today was the beautiful necklace he made at church - they learned the story of the candy cane - and also because he finally got his replacement fish from when Gold died - a fish he won at the school festival that lasted almost a whole week :) The funniest thing was we were walking through Pet Smart and Landon's saying, "Can we flush them?" "We might flush them mommy." "If they die I want to flush them" and so forth and so on. Mike stressed so much over the death of the last fish because of having to tell Landon, but Landon is so cool about it all. I am just hoping if we have dead fish they will be in the next 2 weeks and we can take them back for a replacement :) Hee - I am terrible. So anyways - we now have one orange goldfish and one that is white with black and orange. I thought we should get a Beta, but being the sweet brother he is, Landon insisted on getting two so Zach could have one (maybe it was to raise his chances of getting to "flush").

Well we hung the last of our beautiful wreaths on the windows with candle lights in the middle tonight. The weather is so funny, this morning and the last few days have been freezing and then today was a beautiful day. We watched Ally and Andrew this afternoon/evening so their parents could enjoy a Christmas party and the kids had a blast playing outside until the terrible no-see-ums decided to take their frustrations out on the kiddos.

Well, all in all the weekend was uneventful and enjoyable. Not much to report HA! though I can type a lot. We did think we would be taking Landon to the hospital because he fell and hurt his knee, but I think he has just bruised it and it seems to be getting better. Daddy gave him a miracle Epsom Salt bath which helped a great deal.

Well as for the week ahead - Look out for Tuesday as we will be having our third and possibly last ultrasound of little Boo. I know a name really should be chosen. I am heading to the books right after this. Also, I am praying that I will have our Christmas card to the printer this week since we are so close to Christmas. Maybe even a slideshow on here of the best of 2008.

Take care ~ ~ ~ How do you like the monkeys?

WELCOME - So Simple!

Hello to all! This is my first attempt at blogging and I am very excited! Who would of known it was so simple and FREE! I have been wanting to do a blog, but decided that was one more project I shouldn't put money into and start (thinking I would have to pay to have a blog space) and only halfway work it. I am so excited!

I hope you will visit our family often and see what we are up to....

As for today ~ MERRY CHRISTMAS! Four Monkeys, many of you are wondering what I mean - as we have been out of the loop for a while now, Michael and I have two beautiful little boys and are expecting our third son in early April of 2009. We are excited though it honestly does seem a little surreal to me. We joke that I already have 3 boys to raise since "daddy" is so young at heart and plays so well with the boys. One of Landon's favorite songs is "No More Monkeys Jumping on the Bed". So, I thought it would be fun to do a little Monkey themed blog. So, now you have the explanation to the title :)

I do hope this finds everyone well. If you are reading this - you have somehow touched the life of our family in some way and we are truly blessed to know you and be able to share what I hope will become a weekly, if not, daily look into our lives. Please come back often as I will hopefully update the look of the page as well as adding some photos here soon. Until then, here is a little update on our family...

January 2008 - after traveling around while Mike was deployed the boys and I moved our belongings out of a storage unit and into our first off base home. Since October 2006 we have been stationed in Panama City, FL, at Tyndall Air Force Base where Mike works at the AFCESA headquarters office.

Feb. 2008 - Our little Landon turned 3 and we celebrated with the return of Daddy to the States. Landon also started 3-half day's a week Preschool and has really enjoyed it.

Mar. 2008 - Zach turned 1 - wow how time flies! We were truly blessed not only to have dad home for both big days, but also to be able to have family and friends drive, fly and visit for one big party - wow, I always seem to go overboard. I am really trying to work on it, but what a true blessing to see the faces of so many come together just for us. I had to take a break from the party at one moment, because I became overwhelmed with true blessing and honor.

As for the rest of the year I will not fully outline it, but it has been a year. Looking back there has been a lot of complaining on my behalf for which I ask for forgiveness, because to see what we have and how we have been blessed is more than I could ask for. Michael has spent most of his time home traveling, but we have made the most of our time together. I was able to get away for a week and go to New York with my sis-n-law for a great time. Our boys are healthy, growing and so ACTIVE!!! And to top all of this - we have been blessed with the upcoming birth of another healthy boy.

May you be blessed and please come back to see us soon!!!!