Happy Birthday Nathanael Paul!!!

Today is Nate's 4th birthday. This is a very special and emotional day for me. I am very aware that my baby is no longer a baby. He is an independent little man!

Another Girl Invasion...

This last weekend we had another girl sleepover. It was for Victoria's 8th birthday. We welcomed 7 little girls into our home. The girls had a lot of fun singing Karaoke. They played, opened presents, had cake, and watched High School Musical. To me High School Musical is this generation's Grease. The next morning came early because we had church. Many of the parents came at 9 am and the other girls rode with us to church. It was interesting getting so many girls ready for the Christmas service at church! I talked the girls into taking a picture with me. They complained, but usually I am the one behind the camera, so I decided to change that up.
The girls!
Victoria and her guitar cake. Boy did that take a lot of work!

Command Christmas Party for the Kids

The kids had a great time at the Jumping Monkey playing on the different bounce houses and then getting gifts from Santa. Jacob bouncing away.

Nate taking a break to have a drink.
Julianne sitting with Santa.
Victoria as she received her gift.

Church Christmas Party

9 years and counting...

Last week Charles and I celebrated our 9 year anniversary. We have had a wonderful 9 years together and I look forward to the many years to come. Our love has blossomed each year into a more beautiful, profound, and romantic adventure together. The unity we share in our love for one another and our love for God solidifies our friendship and passion. I delight in and respect the man my husband has become. He sacrifices so much to take care of our family. I appreciate everything, big or little, that he does for us. November 22, 1997

December 1, 2006

GIRL POWER!!!

Julianne had a slumber party last night. Our house was invaded by little girls anxious to has as much fun as they could possibly fit into one evening. The girls came from as close as around the corner and as far away as the next city over.

We had pizza for dinner and lots of snacks to keep the little mouths occupied. The boys stayed at home, but retreated to safety zones. Jacob stayed upstairs most of the time. Charles was zoned into the computer. Nate on the other hand wanted to be in the mix of it all.

I had many activities and games planned to keep the girls busy, but they had their own plan of the way the evening should go. They were excited to get their pajamas on early in the evening and play, play, play. Julianne opened her gifts, all of which she loved, and quickly moved on to the next activity.

I had Charles pull out the Karaoke machine and the girls had a blast singing (even Nate and Jacob had fun singing). At one point Dawn, a close friend of our family, sang to the girls. Boy did they ever enjoy that! They enjoyed Dawn so much that when they woke up in the morning they were asking if she was coming back over to play. Next time she will just have to spend the night!

So the girls had a great time, stayed up extremely late, and woke up very early this morning. I made them a big breakfast, they watched another movie, and played until their parents came to pick them up. Julianne had a great birthday!

CHARLES IS HOME!!!!!!!!

Charles came home on the USS Ross after 190 long days of being apart. Since the beginning of the year he has been gone for 8 months.






It has been a long road over the last year. Charles has been gone for a long period of time and there have been many challenges while he was gone. Monday started with a burst of excitement as the children and I got ready to watch the ship come home. We left the house later than I had planned, but still arrived at the pier with plenty of time to spare. There were many activities for the kids to do while they waited, but we were anxious to see the ship.

When we were finally allowed on the pier, we could see Charles and the kids anxious waved and yelled to him. The first kiss had happened, all the new dads came off the ship, the CO, XO, and CMC were reunited with their loved ones and then we were allowed to cross the brow. Charles was there waiting with open arms. Tears rolled down my cheeks as I watched him embrace the children. I was overwhelmed with joy and love. We are reunited as a family once again.

The children and I are blissfully happy. We know there will be times of separation again in the future, but for right now, we know we are a complete family. God has protected us as a family. He has given us the strength to make it these last six months. We look forward to the fun adventures that are to come in the near future.

Halloween

This is a picture of the kids before we headed out to trick or treat. The girls' friend, Justina, came over to spend the evening with them. They had a blast! Victoria was a witch, Julianne wanted to be a princess (may people said she looked like Princess Di), and Nate chose to be the infamous tiger (the tiger has been used almost every year by one of the children since 1998).

More Halloween Pictures...

Nate seriously considering whether he wanted to try and keep up with the girls or not. He took his time going from house to house at times frustrating the girls.

Justina, Victoria, and Julianne had a blast going from house to house collecting candy! At one point a firetruck and police car from the base parked and distributed candy to all the kids. I wish I had a picture, but it was challenging enough keeping track of all the kids in the mob of children.

Jacob's difficult week

Jacob has had a very challenging week. He got into a lot of trouble last week at school and at home. It is hard to be a one parent household right now, trying to find the correct discipline. One of the things Jacob lost was his privilege to the fun of Halloween. Boy did I feel guilty, but the impact really seemed to make a difference. He did so well last night without complaining or causing any problems while we were out, I let him go home and hand out the candy. This is the last few minutes before we turned off our light for the night. It is the first and only picture he let me take of him.

New Pictures

Julianne and Nathanael lounging in the yard.

Victoria heading to school.

Nate having fun.

Victoria was Student of the Month for September

Student of the Month for Responsibility!

Victoria reading to Nathanael during the assembly.

Jacob...

It took awhile, but I finally downloaded a few pictures from the little party we had for Jacob when he got home from school on his birthday. Jacob getting ready to open presents.

Flight test lab from Grandmother.

Skateboard from 'Ampa and 'Amma

Pictures of Charles

Here are some pictures of Charles. I was talking to my sister Heidi and she said I should put them up on the blog. I don't know why I did not think of it...Thanks Heidi!

This is a picture of Charles holding the Father's Day T-Shirt we sent.

Charles in Jerusalem on 6/1/2006

Charles in Corfu in August.

11 years ago today Jacob blessed us with his presence. I remember how excited I was, but also how scared I was to be a mother. It is a joy to watch Jacob grow and explore. He has always been very active, he loves a challenge, and he is one of the smartest children I have ever been around (I'm not just saying that because he is my son).
The one thing that amazes me about Jacob, above all else, is his love for God. The depth of his love for God and his knowledge of the scriptures provide him with the strength to be successful each day. He loves others the way Jesus loves us. I learn something daily from watching him.


Happy Birthday Jacob!!!

The girls and their friends

Fun, Fun, Fun

The kids go back to school on Tuesday. In so many ways I am grateful; I am ready for the summer break to be over, but there is a part of me that will miss some of the freedom we have had this summer. On Wednesday I went with the kids to the Gator Pool, a small waterpark on base with waterslides. The kids swimming instructor, Nicole, lifeguards there. We had a blast. She took her lunch time and spent it playing with the kids. I am grateful for the love she shows my children. Nicole, Julianne, and Nathanael going down one of the smaller slides.
Jacob making one of his favorite faces as he goes down one of the slides with a nice drop.
Victoria waves to the camera as she enjoys herself on one of the slides.

Charles sent me flowers!!!

These are the beautiful flowers my husband sent me. I am so excited.

Fun with Family

This weekend Charles' mom and grandmother were here. It was a short visit, but it was great to have them here. The quality was great. On Saturday we went to the beach. From the house it only takes about five minutes to get there. Here is a picture of mom with the kids:

The kids are getting to be so brave in the water. The swimming lessons are really helping. The girls spent most of the time in the water. Nate played at the waters edge most of the time and Jacob used the time to build a fortress in the sand. I am grateful that we live so close to the beach.

On Sunday, after church and naps, we ventured out to dinner and went to see Pirates of the Carribean. It was great to have fun with our family. We cannot wait until the next visit.

Life is non-stop

I keep wondering when the day will come that I can just sit at home and do nothing. Unfortunately with four children, that day does not seem to ever arrive. Since summer started I have had something going on daily. First the trip I took, then the week long camps both Jacob and Victoria participated in. Last weekend I went to the women's retreat. We have swimming twice a week, weekly appointments, and many other things. Just in the last week Jacob and I were both sick and then Charles' mom and grandmother come for a visit. It was a wonderful visit, but I am exhausted.

One thing I have learned through it all is that I can manage. Daily I reflect on Philippians 4:13 and 1Corinthians 10:13. He is my strength and will not put more things on my plate than I can bear. There are some days (many actually) that I am not sure how I am going to make it through the day, but I make it through (often with much prayer).

I have to say I really dislike being a single parent. I am grateful that I do have an amazing husband that will be home in 3 more months to help out. Until then I face each day as it arrives. If I look at the scope of the full 6 months it is too overwhelming, but taking one day at a time, I feel like I can I can manage. Thank God for email. I remember the days without, I am grateful that is no longer the case.

So I will continue to face life as it arrives. I know there are not very many chances to catch my breath right now. I do however know that I will grab every opportunity that arises to take a time out and enjoy a bit of time to myself (even if it is at 1 in the morning).

Julianne is growing up

Each day I watch the children and each day I notice something new about them. Today we were sorting through the girls clothes and I discovered many of the things that fit at the end of the school year already do not fit.

Julianne was really excited because a couple of the skirts that still fit Victoria also fit her. Today she wore one of those skirts. I could tell she felt like a big girl.

It is difficult to see the children grow so fast. I know that Charles will be blown away by their changes when he return in November.