I love my husband.

Last week I swore I would never take the kids to the grocery store by myself again...ever. Henry had cried the whole time because he wanted Cheetos and I wouldn't buy them (more out of principle than anything). At one time during the trip I asked Henry why he was crying...because it couldn't just be the Cheetos (right?)...and he replied that he was "just fussy." Well atleast he could acknowledge that!

So...fast forward to yesterday, when I dragged Henry out of the library crying because they didn't have the Dr. Seuss books he wanted to get...and he wanted to "keep looking." I love the looks I get as I carry a crying 3 year old out while I'm carrying Andrew in the backpack on my back. Talk about a work out! :)

One hour after the library incident yesterday we were in the car again heading to Chuck E. Cheese for my nephew Sammy's birthday party. Mike had to work a little late so he just met us there. I was only "alone" with the kids for about 30 min. before he came, and really my sister's family was completely helping out...but I still had such a sense of relief when he showed up. I think the relief has to do with the "shared responsibility" issue. I am so grateful that I have someone to help out with the kids each night. (I seriously don't know how single parents do it!!) When we were dating, I knew Mike was "good with kids"...but he is a tremendous father...better than I could have imagined. I love watching Henry say "I love you" in sign language to Mike at the dinner table (something Mike taught him)...and how Andrew will start smiling and shouting for Mike to pick him up when he gets home! I am also grateful that after 6 years of marriage and 12 years of knowing the guy, that our relationship is still strong and that we desire each other's company.

Naptime thankfulness...for friends

I am going to agree with Lindsay's comment from yesterday about being thankful for friends! I talked to my friend Barbara last night and got very excited about our upcoming trip to go visit her & her husband Jay & their dog Scooter in San Jose, CA in January! We are combining the trip with a visit to the Wood's house in LA too...and boy is Henry going to be "grateful" for the Thomas the Train set they are giving Tyler for Christmas! :) It is so nice to have friends that want your company enough to come visit or to host you! Pictures show us with Barbara & Jay and then me and Lindsay & Melody.

With the addition of "Facebook" it's easy to "quantify" your number of friends...but that doesn't necessarily mean that those numbers represent "quality" friends. Mike and I have been truly blessed with some tremendous "quality" friendships over the years (and I'm guessing that if you're reading this...you're included)! So THANK YOU!

Someone had "warned" my mom that it is hard to make friends in the military because everyone is always moving. What I found out though (in my "six years" as a Navy spouse) is that military spouses get really good at making good friends fast...you're all in the same boat (or atleast your husbands are...hee hee), so everyone helps everyone feel welcome. Living overseas bonds you in another special way since you're experiencing a new culture together as well. It has been really different for me to make friends here in the civilian world!


Well, both boys are no longer napping...so I'll sum it up with a quote by Tennessee Williams: "Life is partly what we make it, and partly what it is made by the friends we choose." O.k...and another...as Michael W. Smith says, "A lifetime's not too long to live as friends." Love to you all!

Thankful for holidays

Today I'm grateful for the upcoming holidays. We are super excited about going into St. Louis this week to spend Thanksgiving with my parents and sisters and their families. Henry has been talking about going to the train museum in St. Louis since June, which was the last time we went! It will also be nice to see my sister Jan's family who we haven't seen since their visit here in May. Speaking of my sister Jan, one of her best friends (and bridesmaids) is Sandy (Sandra) Magnus...who is now in space...until March! She is the lead engineer on the International Space Station and just blasted off last week for her 3 1/2 month stint on the space station. Can you imagine!!??!!


Today we are also setting up our Christmas tree, so that reminds us of the fast approaching Christmas season. We are excited to spend it with Mike's family in Denver this year. Last year after having a baby and moving, the holidays just kind of happened...this year, we're hoping to appreciate the season and enjoy the quality time with our families! May you all have a blessed holiday!
(Since I can't seem to find a 2007 holiday pic of us, here's our family pic from Italy, Christmas '06!)

Another day to be grateful...

So much to be grateful for today alone!! Last night I went out with the girls from a new small group we're in...so I'm grateful to have "friends" to go out with! This morning I delivered Thanksgiving groceries/turkeys to a "sister" church in downtown KC...so I'm grateful that I have groceries myself...AND have the opportunity to help those that need. THEN, we went to the playground with the boys (Thank you God for playgrounds!) on our "way" to the Purdue game with the Alumni club here...so today I'm grateful for Purdue. I'm grateful for my Purdue education (Thanks Mom & Dad) AND their win over Indiana today! :) 62-10! Go Boilers!

We have "supper club" tonight! What a fun Saturday!

Thank you for same-city-family!

I may have mentioned before that when we were deciding where to live, my sister Jill recommended moving somewhere where we had some family. It turns out we moved to HER city (about 8 minutes away), so she is the one who has gotten to help us out when we get in a bind...or celebrate a birthday with us...or spoil my boys...or call for no reason. It has been such a tremendous blessing for me, especially since making friends outside of the military has been hard for me. It's also been fun to watch Henry & Andrew get to know his "local cousins" in a special way too. Thanks Jill & Mike (and Timmy, Katie, & Sammy) for sharing this city with us and being such a special part of our lives!!

I am grateful...

There are so many things to be grateful for...stuff we completely take for granted or consider junk could be a treasure for someone else. We though, have been blessed to live in a country and a lifestyle where clean water, a warm house, and a doctor are available. So today I have our US flag flying and am thankful for America AND all of the people who protect it. We know a "few" of them who have been and are out there...separated from their families...for us and our country. So THANK YOU!!! Thank you for providing us with a country where even Spiderman feels safe taking off his disguise. (?!)

Gratefulness & Health

Last week, we heard a sermon at church about having an attitude of gratefulness (at all times...not only in this season of "Thanksgiving"). We were challenged to write down five things each night for which we were grateful between now & Thanksgiving, and just SEE if it made a difference in our mental health/health/attitude... (The pastor referred to a study in which three groups of people were to journal about the things they did each day--one group on everything--one group on only the bad things that happened to them--and the last group on the good things that happened to them. And, as the pastor said, "Surprise, the last group had a more positive outlook on life and were all around healthier.") So, I thought I would try to post ONE of the things I'm thankful for...each day until Thanksgiving. (So yeah, check back daily!)

So here it is for today: I'm thankful for our health. Kind of general I know, and Andrew was actually "kicked out" of my MOPS group today for a 101 degree fever, but in general, my family has been very healthy aside from a few colds & flu bugs!

I wanted to post these chess pictures, so I'll tie it in along the "mental health" lines-- I think Henry is doing exceptionally well! :) He inherited the
"chess genes" from both of his Grandfathers. He LOVES setting up the board (and knows where all the pieces go...and what they are called...AND how [most] move. Here are some pictures of when he introduced Andrew to the game. Note that he does not mentally do well in the "o.k. it's your turn now" category.

If anyone wants to comment on some things they are thankful for, that might be fun! :)

Happy Birthday Henry!

In a tribute to Henry, here he is...through the years.

and that (quickly) brings us to Nov. 14, 2008!

Henry has had two birthday celebrations so far. The first one was Friday (on his actual birthday) with Andrew, Mike, & me. The second one was last night with my sister's family. He will have the THIRD celebration (appropriate since he's three I guess) next Friday with a few local friends we have playdates with.

Over the past year he talked about having a "Wiggles" birthday party, however within the last few weeks it switched to a "Cars" party and then finally, a "One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish" party. So having (minimally) planned three parties this year, I'm thinking of going into the home b-day party planning business! :)

For his "parties" we had fishing games with his new fishing rod (thanks Nonna & Grandpa!), a "throw the fish in the bucket" game, cut the Zed's hair game, and Hot Fish (like Hot Potato). We ate goldfish, fish sticks, blue jello (with red Swedish fish), and drank "pink ink" (just like the Yink in the book).

Every time he opened a present he would say, "What is it?" and smile really big. :) It was really cute. Also really cute is his nice rendition of Happy Boathday for himself.

And our little unbirthday boy was (as usual) a good chocolate cake eater. The "standing-in-the-highchair" habit is something we're trying to break. :) He thinks it's hilarious.

All in all, the "terrible twos" were not at all terrible...(although we could probably label some "terrible moments") and we're looking forward to all that the next year will bring! He got dressed by himself and stayed dry all day the day before his birthday!! Happy Birthday Big Boy!

My apple eater & chocolate milk drinker

Drew has recently become a very good apple eater. He eats it all...as you can see, sometimes even the seeds and stem. I guess now that he has FOUR teeth on the top, he's ready to use them!

Also, he is officially weaned as of this week! It didn't involve too much crying (although some), and no cabbage leaves! :) Look how happy he is with that CHOCOLATE cow's milk! :)

Fall fun...

We bought a new computer yesterday so I have a super fast connection to upload pictures and blog! So HOPEFULLY I'll be doing it more!! Here's the first entry on our new computer...

I'm not sure exactly why leaf jumping is so much fun, but here are my boys, playing in the leaves! We sure do appreciate the fall colors, having not experienced them while in Sicily.

Last weekend, Mike's parents came to visit. It was a gorgeous weekend and we actually cleaned out our garage enough to put BOTH cars in it for the upcoming winter! (Now the storage area in our basement is getting a "little" crowded...time to get rid of some stuff!)

Halloween was a lot of fun this year. After borrowing three bear costumes from my sister, I figured that I would be Goldilocks & we would represent Henry's FAVORITE story. Henry, however, wanted to be Goldilocks, so after much discussion & convincing, he won, and we were decided to have him be Goldilocks (although we didn't have a costume for him). When the actual night/hour came around though, he changed his mind and didn't want to be Goldilocks OR a bear. So I physically forced a bear costume over his head inspite of the crying, and as soon as it was on, he LOVED it! :) There are a ton of cute pics...here (on Snapfish). Hopefully that link works for you!