E is for Elephant!

Too irresistible not to share!

Andrew Jeremiah turns 3!

We had a party over the weekend for AJ's birthday. Here's a number of the kids standing by patiently waiting for their cake!
I don't know why these pics turned side-ways. They weren't taken that way. But here is the 'dirt' cake and the 'sand box'.

Right before we sang, Abigail got so excited she tackled AJ! Of course everyone laughed and said that was probably appropriate for a boys birthday!
Here he is in his classroom having 'dirt' cups with his classmates.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AJ!!!

Speedy September

We had such a busy month! Grandpa came for a visit and to help us move into our new house! This is Abigail & AJ's housewarming gift (it's a hand-me-down)! Obviously they love it!These pictures are taken on a walking path that runs behind our new house!
September is also the Air Forces birthday so we had a birthday ball!! We got all dressed up and went to the ball. We had a lot of fun!

I WANT ONE!

Ok I hate to push AJ and Abigails first day of school off as the Post of the Moment but I Want one of these and I had to connect a comment to my blog!!

http://karaspartyideas.blogspot.com/2010/08/silhouette-craft-cutter-giveaway-300.html

Severns' First Day of School!

Today was the first day of school and the very first ever day of school for AJ! He started preschool today! As you can see he was excited.

In this pic he is ready to go. "C'mon Mom - no more pictures."Here is Abigail in her new classroom also a new building! She moved up to Early Kindergarden!

Daddy's Home!

Andy got home a week and a half ago! It was great to see the kids so excited and not shy back at all!
After a few days of him being home we went to Monterey, CA for a long weekend. We visited the beach and the world famous Monterey Bay Aquarium. (Abigail took this pic!)

Gun Show

Tonight after dinner I was invited to a private gun show. I had to pay 5 kisses to each participant before I was admitted! It was very much fun!

Bowling!

I took the kids bowling with a friend and her kids yesterday. This is a first for my little ones. They LOVED it! They want to take daddy tomorrow (he's coming home today)! The pics are blurry because I took them with my phone and then had to resize them.

Good Reminder

http://beautythatmoves.typepad.com/beauty_that_moves/2010/07/from-a-very-early-moment-in-my-mothering-career-i-got-it-that-if-you-dont-take-the-time-to-teach-a-child-a-job-or-task-there.html

For some reason I could not put this in as a link but you can still get here by pasting and cutting.

Thought this was a good simple reminder that little ones will not just do a job when told to but must be taught.

Cutuest Baby Boy!

Ok so I know I emailed this pic to lots of people but I'm so in love with it I wanted to post it too!

Strawberry Weekend

This weekend we got a bunch of delicious local strawberries and made jam one night and then made an amazing berry shortcake tonight it was YUMMY!

Summer Solstice

To celebrate the first day of summer we had a bonfire and roasted marshmallows. It was a cool evening and not very summery but ended up being a perfect evening for a fire.

Rachel's Visit

We had such a nice visit, lots of just hanging out and a lovely trip to Alki. I'm sad we didn't get a picture snapped at Alki but we were lucky to remember to take any pics as these were quickly snapped on Rachel's way out!

Great Idea!

I read in a magazine, a recipe for strawberry frozen yogurt. It is so simple: Blend 6-8 oz vanilla yogurt and 2 cups frozen strawberries, freeze for 30 minutes or serve immediately. I tried this today and my kids love it, they think they are eating ice cream!! I love it because I know they are eating normal, healthy stuff (and no sugar)!

My Take on Mastercards Ad...

Watching my kids play contentedly outside while I cook dinner - $1000

Watching my 2 1/2 yr old son stand and pee in the corner of the fence (independently) - $2500

Explaining to my daughter WHY boys can do that and girls can't - PRICELESS

Wonderful Words

This morning the kids went to the sitters across the street. I rested in the quiet. As we were walking back home AJ had to go poop and evidently couldn't hold it. So we got upstairs and got him stripped down in the shower. I swished out his undies in the toilet and left them to soak. As I was getting him ready for nap I thought I'd multi-task so I sent Abigail to go pee and get in bed. All of a sudden she yells "MOM, AJ'S UNDIES!!!" OMG! Well okay, I urged her not to flush and just get into bed. Okay, she cooperated, thankfully. So I got AJ tucked in and went to deal with the undies now soaking in Abigail's pee. SIGH. (rubber gloves made this not a big deal at all.)
I went back to check on AJ and he hugged my neck and said "You da best mommy ever, ever aw da rorld." WOW, that was all the payment I needed!

Flowers from Friends

A knock at the door generally means one of Noah's friends either looking for him or telling on him, a neighbor needing to borrow something, or Brant with his hands too full to open the door. Imagine my surprise when the knock at the door meant an absolutely gorgeous bouquet just for me. And not just an amazing assortment of flowers and a very cool square glass vase, but even more than that. It was a reminder that two very special women with whom I have shared many experiences were thinking of me and celebrating with me in the completion of the longest, most drawn out undergraduate degree ever.
Rachel and Carrie, I was so blessed by your gift. I immediately carried it outside to show off to my neighbors. I love you both so much. Thank you for your thoughts and for recognizing this significant completion in my life!

Two Weeks Old!

Abigail's End of the Year Program

Last night we enjoyed entertainment provided by Abigail's preschool. They sang songs and recited pledges and prayers. It was wonderful!

1. This is Abigail with her two best friends (from left) Diamond and Camille. 2. She and Logan, a friend of ours that lives here on base. 3. Abigail and Diamond. 4. And lastly is us out to dinner with Erin and Maria!

Grave Mistake.

This weekend I ran to the commissary for a few necessities. "Ice cream sounds good, I'll get a pint." So I strolled past the freezer cases and my eyes fell on Haagen Dazs Java Chip. Since I was in a bit of a hurry I thought "Sounds good, I'll give it a try." BIG MISTAKE. It is incredibly yummy, smooth, satisfying. BIG MISTAKE.

Overheard

Kaelyn: "Your baby is hungry"

Elyse "Ok, I'll feed her"

Kaelyn "Are you going to feed her with your nibbles?"

Elyse "What?"

Kaelyn lifts up her shirt and shows her "Your nibbles."

Tonight's Dinner Conversation

AJ (arms extended in classic muscle man pose): "I m a strong super hero! (GRUNT) I will save you."
Abigail (sweet and composed): "Thank you for saving me from the lion, hero, will you please call for dinner?"
AJ (flexing again): "GRUNT"

...for some reason I felt like I was in a caveman re-enactment!

First Haircut!

Look at that long hair! It was down to her waist.

This is pretty much how she was for the whole first half....leaning on Mamas tummy.

First Snips!

Ta-Dah! She was comfortable by the end and now has hair half way up her back. I have to admit I'm a little surprised that I was kinda sad since I was the one pushing for the cut :) They put "princess" braids in her hair which she promptly wanted removed when we got home in favor of a ponytail :)