The Nichols Visit

We had a visit from Gregg, Angie, Josh and Jacob on their way to Disney World. They were our friends at Texas A&M. Gregg was one of the first people I met while at A&M and we remained friends all through college. On a side note, I almost flunked my first semester at A&M because I was helping campaign for Gregg when he was running for yell leader! Ha, ha! It wasn't really because of that but that is what I have always said. Goldie and I went to their wedding. We have kept in contact via Facebook and Christmas cards over the years but we have not seen them since we started our Navy adventure. It was so great to see them and catch up. I wish we lived closer because I am sure Angie and I could compare stories of raising boys. She is a few years ahead of me so I am sure I could learn a few things from her. The boys had a blast playing with Josh and Jacob and Kenan cried he was so sad when they left. I hope it won't be so long until we see them again! Thank you for fitting in time to stop by for a visit!

The Many Adventures of Sladen

That is salt in a batch of homemade Baby Ruth Bars! So sad! Compliments of Sladen!

He is always into his shoes but hardly ever matches them and that is the way he wants it.

Sladen was supposed to be coloring in his coloring book. I left the room for a second and this is what I found.

He colored the bottoms of both feet

Fingernail polish poured on the table

Cleaning the fingernail polish off of Sladen's foot

Sladen found some headbands!

This is what I woke up to one morning - Q-Tips in the toilet and poop on the seat! Sladen took off his dirty diaper and tried to go potty by himself. Notice diaper on the floor!

Sladen did put on a pull up (even though he was still dirty) after he attempted to go potty. He also tried to put on his shorts.

I walked in one day during nap time and found Sladen and his room covered in baby powder!

This is the infamous paint on the brand new carpet!

This is after the paint incident!

Sladen, Sladen, Sladen! Where do you start? Since we have moved to FL Sladen has discovered a new found freedom. He has moved into a big boy bed and there is really no place for me to contain him in this house unlike in Chesapeake. So needless to say I have to keep a close watch on him. I cannot leave him alone for any time because he is constantly into something. I've been trying to take pictures because I didn't with Kenan and wished I had. However, I don't remember Kenan being quite this curious. He was curious but nothing like Sladen. I do think it is just his curiosity. I don't think he is trying to be mean or to harm anything. The paint has been by far the worst of it. We scrubbed for several hours and we still have a brown and green blob on the floor. Not pictured above is when he got a bottle of Gorilla Glue and poured all over himself and the tile in the kitchen. Then he tracked it through the kitchen. And one morning I found Sladen in the bathroom and he had poured out three bottles of shampoo and body wash all over the bathroom! What am I going to do with this boy? ;-) It is a good thing that he is cute!

Dinner with Friends

Caylen, Camryn, Makenna, Abree, Sladen and Kenan

Goldie, Me, Sheila, Shannon, Joe, Alison, Mike and Amanda

When Goldie was in the operational squadron there were four of us spouses that hung out all the time while the boys were deployed. It had been a long time since we had all been together. I think the last time we were all together we each only had one child. Now we all have two. It was so fun to all be together again and the kids had so much fun together!

Mom and Dad Come Visit

My mom jumped on the trampoline

My dad eats his cereal with a serving spoon (notice in his bowl) so Goldie being funny brought him the biggest spoon we have.

My taught the boys to hold out their pinkie finger when they are drinking from their cup. This is Sladen's version of that. It was so funny!

Nana and her boys!

Nana and Da'Dunn about to hit the road to go home! Sad!

A couple weeks after we moved Mom and Dad came to visit. The original plan was for them to leave on July 5th and take a couple days to drive here. I got a call early on July 5th that they were in Louisiana. They left late on the 4th and drove all night and all day without stopping over. They arrived about 2300 that night. CRAZY! We were excited they were here though. We managed to get a lot accomplished while they were here. They were a huge help. They helped us unpack, assemble things, and watch the boys so that Goldie and I could paint etc. We worked most of the time they were here so there wasn't a whole lot of fun time. We did go to the zoo one day and went to "look" at the beach and eat one day. Hopefully next time they visit we will get to do more fun stuff. As always, we enjoyed them being here so much and were sad when they had to leave.

We Got a Trampoline

Me and Kenan jumping

Stephen, Amylynn and the boys

Stephen and Goldie assembling the new monster grill!

One of the things I wanted to do when we moved back to Jax was get a trampoline. The boys have been on them a couple times and always enjoy it so much. Secretly Goldie and I like to jump just as much as the kids do. So we took the birthday money that Granny J and Grandpa Steve sent the boys and money that P-Mo and PopDaddy put toward the trampoline and got a really nice one. We have all enjoyed jumping on it. We are looking forward to some cooler days so we can spend more time on it.

Goldie also got a new grill. He and Stephen put it together one day and we have used it a ton since then.

Stephen and Amylynn came to visit the first weekend we were in the house. They helped us get some house stuff done. The best help was breaking in the new trampoline. When the boys were napping all the adults jumped. We enjoyed their visit so much! We look forward to many more... hint, hint!

Happy July 4th

We are so thankful to have been born in the United States and live in freedom. We thank the Lord for how he has blessed this country and us. We live in the land of the free because of the brave. I thank my hubby and all the other service men and women who are and have served our country. We truly live in the greatest country! GOD BLESS THE USA!

Happy 12 Years

Goldie and I celebrated 12 blissful years of marriage this year! Well, we didn't actually do any celebrating since we were right in the middle of moving. These have been the best and most adventurous 12 years of my life. I love you, Goldie and look forward to many more years spent with you! Thank you for loving me!

We Made it to Jax

The Florida Room full of boxes.

Unpacking boxes and look what I found

We did start making some progress!

We made it to Jax! We are so glad to be back in FL. We went to church on Sunday and joined. We heard it was a good one! ;-) All our stuff arrived on Monday and we started settling in! Woo hoo!

Jacksonville Bound

Saturday morning we went by the H's house for breakfast and goodbyes. It was bittersweet. It was great to hang out one last time but so sad to say goodbye. The H's became family during our time in Norfolk. God put us together for a reason and we were so blessed by them. I know I personally would not have survived this tour without them. They loved my children and my children loved them. Goldie and I learned so much under Mr. and Mrs. H's mentor-ship. We loved getting to know their children and I would be so honored if our boys turned out like any them. They are respectful, friendly, personable, and delightful to be around. Not to mention just outright fun. They are a wonderful family who showed us how serving and honoring God in all aspects truly pays off. We made a lot of memories together. I hope God brings us together again!

Brooke Graduates

When we found out the dates of our move Brooke was a little concerned that we were going to miss her high school graduation from Hickory. Goldie and I decided to stay back one more day so that we could go to her graduation. It was a great day to celebrate Brooke's accomplishments. She had about 20 people there to support her. We are so proud of you, Brooke!