Christmas 2009

Braedon's Gingerbread Tree

Rice Krispie houses...they were delish!

Libby's keyboard...now to find someone to give her lessons!

Not quite a PS3, but it takes a lot to compete with his hook em' horns tshirt!

Michael loved his pirate Mickey set we got him on our cruise...he thought it was 'very cool'.....

We spent Christmas Eve here at the house, with some friends that we cruised with. We had a yummy dinner of scalloped potatoes and ham.....and cookies that I had baked...the kids opened gifts, we played games all afternoon, had some wii fun....ended the night watching The Grinch (Disney)....Christmas Day we went into DC to Jason's cousin's house....his aunt, uncle and cousin had flown in from Aberdeen to celebrate with them. We had a delish lunch of German roast with Potato dumplings and some more yummy desserts...figgy pudding was a first for me and it was delish with rum butter...we cleaned up, found room for the gifts recieved and fell into bed, exhausted!

Today, we had a lazy day, cleaned up some more and made rice krispie houses and a gingerbread tree with the kids....and yes, we're still exhausted!

Mt. Vernon

We visited Mount Vernon (G. Washington's family home) on Wednesday, since the kids' school this week was cancelled due to our big snow storm we got a week ago today...we were snowed in and after taking turns shoveling for 6 hrs, and only getting half the driveway done...I called someone to plow the rest out...we survived our first snowstorm and am looking into getting a snowblower...our 200 yards of driveway is just too much if it decides to snow 24 inches again!

The water is a view of the Potomac River from the back of Washington's house...they used to catch alot of fish to eat/sell from the river...George entertained alot at his house...weary travelers used to stop and stay the night on their travels through the area...that's Virginia hospitality!

They also had a gingerbread replica of WAshington's house on display by a former white house Chef...I forget his name, but he's got a book out, yada yada....it was very cool!

The tour was very interactive, the house was interesting...the kids loved it. There were quite a few out-buildings that were closed due to snow/ice removal...so we plan to go back and really enjoy the view of the Potomac when the trees are all leafy and everything is green and lush! Washington's house grew as his status grew, he did not live there while he was the president, matter of fact, he only came home twice during his presidency, both I believe were during the Revolutionary war on his way through, mission planning with his lead generals.....anyway, to walk through the original house that he once lived in was amazing...his wife was also actively involved in Washington's presidency, she came during the long, cold winter months to the war site to help nurse those that had fallen ill and feed/cook for the soldiers....what a great woman, at 4'11 she was almost half the size of George, who stood at 6' 4"......I'll have to read up on her....anyway, George had no kids of his own, but he was stepfather to Martha's (who was widowed)...he provided for her children as they were his own...also interesting, Georgie never finished school....he only completed like up to 4th or 6th grade; that's around the time his father passed away and he had to help provide for his family...he is largely self taught, his own personal library contained somewhere around 900 books....he studied everything and education was so important to him that he provided for the education of his step children and even some nephews.......whew.....great place to visit.....we're looking forward to a weekend touring Monticello and Montpelier homes to Thomas Jefferson and James Madison about an hour and a half from here.....this spring or summer!

It's Winter in MD

It has finally snowed in MD....it's wet, and heavy and doesn't stick around (at least on the pavement).....the kids had a blast sledding and throwing snow balls...their clothes are sopping wet, but they had a good time!

DC

WAshington Monument...nestled in the "Fall" of the East Coast....tis pretty in fall out here!

Capitol Hill....where business is done!!

Lincoln Memorial...

I swear we saw it and didn't super-impose ourselves in a picture....

Vietnam Memorial....takes your breath away with so many names.........we also saw a group of "Honor flight" veterans on a tour....what a great way to try to say thanks to those that serve! Honor flights take groups of WWII vets to DC and show them the sites along with their own memorial that has been erected in their honor...flights are 100% paid for through dontations...if your looking for a place to give, consider these honorable folks!

Lauren and Tait...enjoying the fall colors on the Mall in DC....so pretty!

The Smithsonian....entrance and information building....it's comprised of several buildings...we ventured in to the animal one....so great to see...can't wait to take my own kids!

We ventured into DC one day with Tait and Melissa while they were visiting....we got to the Smithsonion, Washington monument and the Lincoln Memorial....words can do no justice to the feeling of being there and seeing it...I got a little choked up at the Vietnam memorial...

R & R

Palo is the 'adults only' restaurant on the ship....Yes, we DID eat there! Great food...lots of really great chefs come through there to work...watch all about it on the travel channel when they feature the disney cruises! Jason and I, Weldon and Kristen and Mike and Laurie...good food and wonderful company!

ARgh...Captain Hook tried to commandeer the ship...but it was Mickey Mouse to the rescue!

Ok...is this not the greatest way to spend a weekend?!?!?

This is Wavebands...the club on the ship...after 10pm it's adults only...this is from karoke night...and oh what a night....there was lots of alcohol!

Jason and I escaped for a long weekend to get some much needed R & R while his brother and family were here to look after the kids. We boarded the Disney Wonder cruiseship on Thurs and got back Sunday. It was beautiful...the sun was shining, I had drinks in my hand...everything is always perfect with Disney!

We stopped in Nassau, Bahamas and Castaway Cay...my only request is Disney put a resort on the island so I can go there and stay.....FOREVER!

School Halloween Party Oct. 30

Here is a pic of the kiddos from the school halloween celebration on Fri....

Happy Halloween!

Here we are, starting out...the kids are pumped to trick o' treat.

A graveyard along E. Capitol St....and most were in costume as well....great time!

Capitol Hill....

We celebrated Halloween in Washington DC with Jason's Cousin and his family. We ate a fantastic dinner and then headed out trick o' treating in their neighborhood and then along E. Capitol St. It was an experience, and a great one. I'm assuming that those that live along that street most likely are staffers and legislators that work on Capitol Hill. We trick o' treated the house of Al Gore's campaign manager...it was just so very cool! They decorate their yards and make it such a fun time for all the kids.....

Update

Fall Fun...we wanted to get into the fall spirit, so we decorated for the passing motorists!

This is the driveway, looking down from our house, across the road, you'll see our landlord's plantation....

This is la casa...to the left and back, is a cornfield...to the right of the picture is the garage and tree grove...or the wilderness, as michael calls it....when you come up the driveway, you can park in front of the deck (kitchen door) or go around, (where the van is) and the garage is around back...it's a curved driveway. The home boasts 4 bedrooms, 3 full baths, 2 living areas, 2 dining areas, a basement (cement, laundry) a sunroom and many nooks and crannies to store stuff. We have turned the formal dining area into a spare bedroom/office to accommodate us better.

...it's 'country' about 10 minutes from the city...we live in a suburb of Baltmore called Gambrills....out here there are towns every couple of miles...so if you go down the driveway and go left, you'll enter Crofton and right takes you to Davidsonville.....The kids go to school in crofton....Braedon's middle school, comprised of 6-8 grade contains 1200 kids...libby and Michael's has about the same. They each have between 30-35 kids per classroom. That's about all for now...will post halloween pics this weekend.....

WE HAVE ARRIVED!

We arrived in MD a week ago today, last Tues. evening and hit the ground running Wed. scheduling houses to look at. We found a wonderful realtor to show us rentals and give us her 'advice' on schools and neighborhoods, and anything else we asked about. She's born and raised, along with raised her own family in this area so she knows it very well....We've finally settled upon a 'farm' type house in Gambrills, MD...it's as country as you can get. It sits on an acre and has lots of great landscaping and room for the kids to run. 2 sides are bordered with corn fields and the third is a forest that stretches for quite a ways.

The area out here is lush and clean and beautiful...which wasn't what we were expecting....there's lots of hustle and bustle, but everything is tucked away behind lots of trees, there's nothing right off the interstates, other than trees. So it's very easy to lost because nothing is visible from the roads. The trees are beautiful, it's definately fall here on the East Coast. The drive here was awesome with all the fall colors....the most beautiful states, in my opinion were Ohio and Penn....the colors were bright and beautiful. Once we got here it proceeded to rain the next, well, up til Sunday. Yesterday was the first sunny, beautiful day we've had here. It's supposed to stay nice until the end of the week.

Right now, we are scheduled to move in Fri, if all goes well. It's been very frusterating to get everything accomplished because of all the hoops. The schools require 2 proofs of residency, well, when you've just moved try making that possible! Thankfully, I got copies of the kids' school stuff before I left, that was just an accident! Some schools will understand and work with you, these here not so much! Had we not had the info. with us, we would have had to wait to register them....this is where laws and such need to be reevaluated when military is involved. When the gov't is forcing us to move, the schools need to be a little more understanding of the situations. Then again, civilians rarely understand!

We are currently living in a one bedroom hotel room...stress and tension levels are high, no room for anyone to get away, the kids are being good thus far, but mom and dad have stress levels out the roof! It's coming together slowly, luckily Jason will be home for a month or two until he gets his polygraph test taken and his security clearance paperwork completed....it will be nice to have someone help me unpack! Pictures to come when we get a little settled!

We're in MD!

Hello...we arrived in MD Tuesday evening and after much driving around (there's lots of trees that block views from the interstate!) we found a hotel for the night I called realtors to set up appts for the following day to start looking for a permanent home. We were able to look at 5 houses and had decided on a quaint farm 'type' house in Gambrills, MD. When we went in yesterday, it had already been taken.....so, now it's back to the drawing board. We have a wonderful realtor who is being very patient with us...our stipulations are very minimal....Good schools for the kids and that's hard to come by...an elementary, middle and high school all in the same district! However, she understands, having been born, raised, and raised her sons here as well......we'll keep on looking, but it looks like we'll be in this tiny, one bedroom Candlewood Suites room for another week or so until we find something......many prayers are needed!

Birthday Photos

Libby and Michael had their Birthday celebrations today with their friends....Libby is the big 1-0 and Michael is 6....how time flies!

Happy Birthday Air Force!

Jason and I attended the AF Birthday Ball Sept. 12....it's been our first Birthday Ball, as he's usually deployed at this time! However, we have attended the International Ball when Minot hosts the Canadians (usually the Canadian military, retirees that come down) in February and every year the Canadians show us how to party and a good time is had by all. We'd have liked to take in the Canadian Ball in November, however we will be gone by then.....maybe another time!

We're on the move again!

Greetings all....we got big news a week ago...we recieved notice on Aug. 29 that we'd be PCSing to Ft. Meade, MD. We will be moving to the Baltimore area on Oct. 9. Jason has to report by 30 Oct. We've got little time to make big changes, but we'll do it....we always do! We are looking forward to this chapter in our life as we've not done the East Coast thing yet. Jason has done as much research as he can regarding schools and areas to look for houses, etc.....we're hoping this is a smooth transition, for us as well as the kiddos! Pray for us........

A Baby NO More!

So........on our way back from Denver I heard Libby say "mom, Michael just knocked his tooth out"......I'm thinking, we are in a car, what the heck could he have done? Apparently, he knocked it on a water bottle and it fell out...Libby found it and we put it in a Diet Coke bottle for the tooth fairy to pick up........the next day, he lost the tooth next to it, eating at our Church picnic.....didn't even know he'd lost it until I said something...needless to say, he probably swallowed it!

My baby has lost two teeth and will be off to Kindergarten......it's hitting me....and I can't wait for "first day of school champagne"!!!

Denver II

We stopped to smell the roses 'so to speak'.....this little creek ran next to the Old Homestake Mining Co. in the Black Hills...outside Spearfish, SD.




















Homestake Mining Co. #2

This is Sami (with Libby) and Abby playing with Abby's dollhouse........

AND this is little Maddy.....Madelyn Elizabeth....she's demanding and beautiful!

Denver

Lora's hot tub...chillin with Gramma Judy............................................................................................................................Badlands of ND

Hello all....Libby, Michael and I packed up on Monday and headed to Denver to help Lora welcome the new addition....Madelyn Elizabeth. She's adorable and her sisters love her!Here's a few pics of all the fun.....

Here's Braedon and Gregory with their scuba gear ready to get in the water at Castaway Cay...our last stop before heading back to Orlando.

Here's our group disembarking onto Castaway Cay, Disney's private island...it was awesome...there's beaches for adults, families, and teens. They also have Scuttles Cove, where you can drop the kiddos should you need adult time to relax...the food was scrumptious....can't say enough about the service and the food...top of the line!

When you get off at Castaway Cay, they have the 'Flying Dutchman' from the Pirates of the Caribbean movie....the boys were awed!

Our family on the ship on formal night....we enjoy dressing up every now and then!

Our first stop was in Nassau, Bahamas....the water was gorgeous and the kiddos had a blast playing in it. Braedon opted to stay on the ship and go to the kids club....maybe he'll be sorry one day..but he had a good day as well!

This is the welcome aboard deck party...Michael was jammin' out....all the characters came out to sing and dance....the kids were completely impressed that Mickey, Minnie, Goofey, Pluto and Captain Hook got to cruise with us!

This is our family photo op at Hollywood Studios......we spent half day there and the other half at Wild Kingdom....which we have agreed to go back and spend a full day there.....the kids enjoyed seeing all the animals and watching the shows.

Laurie and I got to kiss Mickey....don't be jealous!!