Winter Fun

Well its been quite a week, Carl was gone and Owen and I have been sick but before that all started I took Caitlin Nathan, Seth and Garrett to Wilmington for a few hours. Actually Owen was just starting his sickness so Carl stayed home with him. Caitlin had so much fun doing laser tag with the boys, they were always on the same team and just competed against strangers and both times the teams they played were hesitant to play against kids and they won both times!

 Caitlin getting ready

 That is actually Nathan

 We stopped by the battle ship but didn't actually get on as it was going to close soon so we will go back for a visit soon.

 We also took a family nature walk on Saturday to the Emerald isle park trail I had to scout it out for my class everyone had fun and wanted to stay longer, but Owen sickness was just starting hahah you can see how sick he looks in this picture.

Packing our bags

Oh I am so so excited two weeks from today if all goes as planned we will be on the slopes , kids for the first time, me first time since I can't remember when. Oh I hope we stay healthy and it snows snows snows! In other news the crazy train has pulled into the station. OMG my social calendar. I don't really talk about it with anyone as its weird, deep down inside most women would love to have all this fun stuff to do, there is just one issue I have a 9, 8 and 4 year old and they need mommy the most. So we will make it work with everything and when I am home I try to spend quality time with each one asking how their day was and making sure all is well and then when I look at my calendar for the next month I think AHHHHHHHH Would anyone like to join me for  game night, new spouse luncheon, volunteer meeting, spirited art,  a town hall meeting, two conferences, and ..... oh my anxiety!

This and That!

Nothing much new, everyone is back into the school routine. Ali still has my camera so pictures will have to wait. Its been cold and rainy and I think there have been a few nice days mixed in there but the dark wet ones seem to overshadow those! Okay I am ready for spring! Well first we have a big ski trip planned. It just seemed easier since we needed to get our cameras back to each other that we should do it in epic fashion!!!! Pray for snow, ohhh this is going to cost a semester of college for Nathan or Caitlin by the time its all over, okay so maybe I am exaggerating but only a little. Its so expensive that as Caitlin sat in the dentist chair and and the dentist gave me the bill...... and I told Caitlin her ski trip just went out the window the dentist said "oh okay I won't charge you for the tooth pull that ought to cover a lift ticket hahahahah! No kidding! So there was a trip to the dentist and like always the boys who eat sugary everything and brush for 1 second did great and poor Caitlin $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Oh well

Where's my camera!

Well not many Christmas pictures now, it seems Ali and I accidently switched cameras and my camera is in northern Virginia right now. .... bummer. There were a few pictures on Ali's camera so I will post those now and do an update when I get my camera back hopefully soon!  Anyway Christmas was awesome, we have been cleaning and organizing the house, my new years resolution, relaxing and doing lots of family things, there were trips to the movies, visits with the cousins, sleepovers with friends, lots of playing outside and just relaxing!!! So here are the Christmas pictures, I don't have all the good pictures of the kids with their favorite toys but I will post those later.

 Look Santa came! I will post the Christmas eve pictures when I get my camera back  but here are a few from Christmas morning!

 Caitlin opening her stocking, she got American girl stuff,

 Owen opening his stocking

 tennis balls could there be a tennis racket

 Nathan with airsoft bullets he has been asking for airsoft guns for an entire year and this year santa delivered

 Wow a recorder thanks santa!

 What could this be?

 Caitlins new tennis racket, with Nathans new mountain bike behind  it, he loves it , he has been riding it everywhere I was nervous that he wouldn't like it but he loves.
  Caitlins kayak is beind her and there was a kayak for owen tooo wow santa!

 Airsoft goggles, he has been playing airsoft wars with his friends since Christmas day, don't worry mom got biodegradable bullets.

One of Owen's favorite presents is a shaving kit so he can be just like daddy! Merry Christmas!!!

Trains Trains Trains

 The boys are all about trains this year, a trip to the train show in Beaufort, and my house is filled with trains. My office is trains, my living room is trains ohhh boys!

I still love Christmas pjs

Christmas Cookies

 The prettiest tree ever !

 We made some Christmas cookies!

 Even Owen helped decorate

 Caitlin helped too.

 Look Nathan even took my picture, I do exist!!!!

So pretty so yummy!!!!

Tis the season

Well I am back, 8 Christmas parties down if I never see another Christmas party it will be too soon! I have been off work for 2 days and it has been awesome. I have vowed to keep up on laundry and dishes, so guess what after this blog post to laundry folding I will go!!!!! So here it is 6 days before Christmas and after a crazy early December our social schedule is free all weekend..... shhh don't tell anyone I don't actually plan on getting off the sofa!

 We decorated the tree and the house well lets just say there are not too many decorations but the train is up and that is all anyone cares about around here.

I don't think I put on a single ornament I think I watched from the couch I know bad bad tired mom!

 Don't worry mom we got this!

Caitlin is 8

How did Caitlin turn 8 how did 8 years go by so fast. So I thought I would write a birthday post about Caitlin. OH Caitlin how we love you so. Caitlin we are so similar but so very very different. I love our similarities and how I love love our differences. I love her easy go lucky not a care in the world attitude at times.  She's got this laugh or giggle I think its actually from her Aunt Caren and it cracks me up every time I hear it. She can even laugh at herself. She loves all things girl, dolls, and dance and dresses and make up and she requires very to little maintenance.  There are far too many nights after I have read Owen 10 books , brushed his teeth and finally finally gotten him to bed that I check to make sure Nathan has had his medicine, and answer his million and one questions about what toy he is dreaming about that I go to tuck her in and she is already sleeping. I hope she knows that I tell her I love her and I give her a kiss. She's my easy and I know she might not be my easy forever but she is when I need her and for that I thank you Caitlin. I hope all your birthday wishes come true! I can't wait for a lifetime of adventures with you.
Well I started this post days ago but now I am back to it so I will just go ahead and add Caitlin's nutcracker pictures as I may never get  a chance if I don't do it now. Ohhh we are so busy. I just looked at my calendar we have Carl's work Christmas parties on Monday and Friday, I work Tuesday and Thursday evening this week. On Wednesday we have dance team and ballet, which leaves, next Saturday evening our first free night AHHHH I hope I can get everything done, I am not really sure what everything is hahaha! Oh did I mention we have two meal trains, numerous battalion babies and its final exam week! Let the games begin!!!

 She really enjoyed the Nutcracker.

 Here is Caitlin getting her Nutcracker she was so excited.

 Caitlin with the Polly's

 Everyone came to see the show but everyone else drove separate so I didn't get pictures

 There is Caitlin purple dress all smiles

 Front and center!

 Flowers after the show.  She also got a very pretty Nutcracker snowglobe from Grandma!

Caitlin's birthday party

Caitlin had an awesome 8th birthday party.  We had it a little early because Thanksgiving weekend is just crazy and so we had it two weeks early. Which was fine, like always its been a birthday weekend. She did most of the decorating and was so hopeful we had a very rainy day the weekend before so by the time the party rolled around we were ready to go. It was American girl party with horseback riding . She invited her two best neighborhood friends Audrey and Bailey and Carlie. Good times

 cupcakes

 making shirts for their dolls

 blurry picture oh well.

 opening presents

 time to play dolls