Christmas Pictures

Okay this one is just a memory for you Carl yep two years ago you took this picture. She is so big now! Wish you were here!

The kids with Santa. Everyone asks how do you get them to smile. I have no idea they do this at school. The school pictures turn out so good, what is the secret! I was there for this one and I had a bag of candy in my hand!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

They love each other so much will this last!

AHHHHHHhh ITS DECEMBER!!!

Opening presents with Susan

Three snowmen!

Going downtown to look at Christmas Lights!

Nate loves all the fun things at Susan's

Check out the look on Nate's face

Nathan and Caitlin at the Christmas parade with Claire and Blythe. I didn't get any good pictures of them all together. Without Carl my picture taking skills go downhill fast!

Nate with Nora they no longer remember each other ! How sad, oh well maybe they will still get married someday! Although Nate might have to grow a few feet AHAHHAAH

Christmas it just happens so fast. Can I have an extra day or an extra week please. I found myself running around the house today doing nothing because I have so much to do . ! I am sure it can't be that hard right!!!!! We had an awesome weekend in Sunny and Warm St. Petersburg. Wow was it nice. We stayed at Tony and Susan's and the kids had a blast! Can we come back the entire month of January!

Here are a few pictures of our weekend.

OVER 100!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well we hit the mark, yep Carl has been gone for over 100 days which means we can now mark the half way point. It is really hard to describe how excited I am to hit this point.
It has been been extremely hard but I have gotten so much support from everyone in so many ways. I can't thank you enough. Now only 100 more to go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Turkey Day, Happy Birthdays

Wow what a weekend! We started on Wednesday with a birthday party for Ali and Amy. On Thursday the whole gang was here and we enjoyed a yummy turkey with all the fixings. Saturday we celebrated Caitlins birthday. Everyone was here and Caitlin had a great time. Happy second birthday Caitlin!

Nathan and Caitlin help put the candles on Amy and Alison's birthday cake.

The party

The Christmas flotilla in Swansboro.

Matching aprons from Aunt Caren, they are so cute we love them!

Getting ready for the birthday party. Caitlin with her singing Elmo balloon it is so loud!

Caitlin checks out the Elmo cake

Time to blow out the candles, with Nate's help.

Caitlin loved all her presents, she has played with them all she is having a blast!

Carl Update

This is a picture released from the ship. This is what Carl would like you to think he is doing.

Can you find Carl?

This is what Carl is actually doing, he can see this indoor ski slope from his hotel room! He spent a day skiing I am not sure if he went skiing before he saw the new James Bond flick or after!

Drinks before dinner, looks like he has been drinking since Lunch!

Funny I didn't know the Marines issued flip flops!!!!!!!!!!!!

I can't tell a lie. I have been putting this off because it is hard for me to write. Don't get me wrong I am so happy Carl is not dodging bullets and worrying about roadside bombs. Well like they say pictures speak louder than words!

A nice quiet week!

Caitlin playing dolls while Nathan swims

The diva going to sleep, she now wears sunglasses and a passi to go to bed.!!!!

Nathan loves the water just like his mommy!

Where's Nate -- look under the water!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Not much going on here it was Veteran's Week as I have come to call it. The town shuts down for most of the week which is fine with me. Thanks for all the nice phone calls thanking Carl for his service and checking on me. Nathan did great at swim lessons this week. Not many new pics to post so I featured swim lessons this week. The kids have been helping me clean and organize their rooms and we got so much done. Tonight I am getting Christmas presents together to send Carl just a few small things so he will have a present to open. It is so weird wrapping Christmas presents in November!!!! I will do a Carl update tomorrow I promise!

LOOK WHOS TALKING!

Picture taken by Nathan!

For a while we thought it would never happen. Caitlin was a women of very few words mostly No No No and NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. This week it happened Caitlin started talking (purple, bannana, where mama go?, Leo (the next door neighbor), fishy, boat). Not only has she started talking but then last night she started couting . We were reading a book, from Shelly and she counted the mice , one two , three, four..... It was a proud moment. I thought she would never talk. Okay I must go time for Granny to come give me my day of freedom! OH I can't wait!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am counting the seconds until Freedom!

I must go check on the kids I just figured out Nathan is alone in the bathroom with wrench!!!!!

Happy Halloween

Nate and Carlie at the aquarium

Caitlin loves the fish as much as Nate!

The only time we ever got Caitlin in her costume it was short lived!

Nate sings songs with his class.

Caitlin's halloween party in her classroom. She is painting a candy corn!

NAte makes a craft while Granny watches.

Nate the lion gets ready for trick or treat

Grannie pulling the wagon

THe kids check out a little haunted house

Trick or treat at their doctor's house ( he lives four house up the street)

On the way home, what fun we had !!!!!!!!!!!

CHeck out this house! Nate was not scared he went right inside to get his candy

He had just as much fun passing out the candy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We had a great day. On Thursday evening we meet Carlie and Caren at the aquarium, with Grannie and Grandad along !. On Friday, Nate and Caitlin had school parties followed by a night of trick or treat. Of course Caitlin did not wear her costume but that was no surprise. Nathan had a great time and had a blast getting and giving candy.

TWO MONTHS DOWN, yep Carl has been gone for two months as of Friday ONly five more to go.... Must check on kids!!!!!!!