Little Man and Miss G: 2009

12 October 2009

the trek begins......

Oh, where do I begin? After a really long three days of packing out , pick up and change of command activities we got on the road. It was with much anticipation after such a long time coming that we headed out...but not without first saying goodbye to many friends whom have made our Whidbey time bearable, fun and memorable. To all of you and you know who you are --thanks for the laughs , sharing in tears and picking me up off the ground when I needed it most. Alright, enough of the sappy stuff...
First day we made it to Spokane where we stayed at Fairchild AFB...it was familiar to us as it was the home of one torturous week for J.at one time years ago...and that night a front decided to move through ..record breaking temps. COLD--we weren't prepared for winte coats, gloves and hats but luckily the mama bear in me knew I should pack all those things for the kids but didn't for me and daddy. So we stayed there and found out quickly that our heat works in our lovely little camper--and works well.
Day two we made it through scenic Idaho and p.s. Lake Couer d'Alene is BEAUTIFUL...but as soon as we passed it we began seeing snow andmore snow and ice and there wer were in a little place called Deer Lodge , MT. When we called to inquire if the KOA was still open we were greeted warmly by the owner who quickly invited us over the the local fairgrounds for the pig roast...we had chili instead but were appreciative. It started to snow in MT.....and didn't stop. (sidenote: as we pulled into what appeared to be a lovely little mountain town we began to see signs all over that were from children begging their parents not to do meth--uh oh, we're not in KS anymore are we??--I gt a little worried )
Day three: Through MT in the snow and ice, swerving, freezing temps in the 10-15 degree range. We hadn't seen temps in two days over 23 or so....we made it to Sheridan , WY and stayed at our KOA there where we had a great time playing in the snow, watching wild turkeys wanderthrough and deer and rabbits too. Dogs loved it, kids played finally b/c it was cold but different cold and fun with the inches of snow on the ground.
And that brings us to day four: LM and Miss g doing well..swapping out with mommy and daddy but mostly there is a girl car (Mommy, G and Mattie) anda boy car (daddy, LM, Beau and BT). We are trying to walk the dogs severa times a day when we stop...we hop out make lunch in our camper , get back in and go. We went through Mt. Rushmore and Crazy Horse monuments today in SD after going through the snow all day in WY and SD and suffice to say the WY DOT is much better than the MT DOT about road clearing. Anyway, we saw crazy horse and drove past Mt. Rushmore which I did not see as I was tryikng to keep my eyes on icy , snowy road and as per usual for us there was clouds covering some of it...icky day here and not much playing outside for the kdis but we are managing. LM was excited today to get to what he calls "Rabbit City" aka Rapid City. Seems we'll never get out of SD and will travel here tomorrow as well....wish us luck in our trek to VA--can't wait to get there , see old friends and find a home.

29 September 2009

Just blossoming...

My little G is just turning into quite a talker. She is just talking up a storm....trying new things and adores her brother to no end. Her latest words are "poop" which is just hilarious when she follows you into the bathroom (there's no privacy here people) and points every time you go whether it's that time or not.

Lime popsicle faces

Now we have "peepee" added to our arsenal......but the most important she has learned is "no, no , no" If she doesnt' want to do something she runs from you shaking her head, "no, no , no". Learning the no, no has helped in the screaming we used to hear so often when brother took something from her but still is not the best word to add to vocabulary. She can identify all our dogs by name now and can effectively give them a stern "go" from the kitchen when they try to get her food...but she also laughs hysterically at them when she feeds them when we aren't looking. I think she loves Beau the best..he's her buddy. Here's a few pics and I know, I know, working on video..haven't had much time to upload videos they take a while but I'll try tonight if daddy will stop hogging the computer. LM is so funny here's our latest exchange during our late night before bedtime talks and cuddles :
Mommy: what are you doing baby boy? (as he was stroking my hair)
LM: There is a boogie in your hair
M: what??? how'd that get there?
LM: very matter of factly : I put it there....
then he says in a sinister little way: "is it tickling yoouuuuu?"
Thank goodness daddy witnessed all this or no one would believe that I promise...what a stinker...definitely all boy except when it comes to bugs--not so fond of the bugs but I gotta tell you neither am I.

the green icing LM and I made to go w/ our cupcakes

the toilet G clogged up by putting en entire roll of tp in it

first time w/ yogurt feeding herself

watching the clothes go round and round and round and.....

G with her puppies......LM was in his room having a hissy fit thus not participating in the photo session

16 September 2009

Photography class

I along with a friend am taking this online photography course.....I just needed to learn the basics, the nitty gritty, logistics, etc. of this beast of a camera and photography 101. It's helping.....but as many of you know math is not my strong suit. Can't stand it, would prefer never to do it again and wnat to forget about it all together. Why is it needed for all the things I like to do??? .....sewing , embroidery, photography. Stinking math , cramping my style. Anyway, I am trying desperately to learn this stuff but my brain isn't keeping the information so each night I am reviewing and figuring things on my camera, understanding the settings, aperture, shutter speed, etc. Tonight some of it finally kicked in...finally getting it and hope tomorrow is a bright wonderful day where I can try out my new discovery of f/stops and ISO combinations. Not looking to be a pro just want to know more about what I am doing and how to get the best out of what I have. I already knew some of the stuff just not in the fancy dancy terms it's actually called....I make up names for it which I won't indulge you with for fear of being made fun of forever. Anyway, it's going okay and glad I can do something like this from home where I can take out my frustration on my notepad or something else instead of losing my cool in front of a class of people. And pretty sure there is no way I could talk daddy into keeping the kids while I flit off to some big falutin' city for a "photography class" and do a girls weekend sometime in the near future on the East Coast......I'll take the girls weekend, my internet class and my camera to take pics of the girls weekend~ ha

15 September 2009

As I tried on a few dresses for a mini fashion show to ask the opinion of my three yr old LM this is what happened. Mind you they were eating dinner as I disrobed and changed in the hallway after finishing my dinner....why do it then do you ask? Simple ......Miss G was strapped into her chair and eating which usually means she isn't screaming too....also meaning she wasn't in either toilet, dog bowl or one of the kitchen drawers......

So...as I tried on the dresses I came out in the first one and he says to me: "Awww, You're a cuuute mommy". How did that sweet little man know I needed that so badly that day? How did he know that my heart would melt as he said those words and tears would well up in my eyes? Yes, all of that happened and I was overwhelmed with the notion to scoop him up and hold him and stop time right then and there. Make him all my little boy for a few years longer. What he doesn't know is that he still is and always will be my little boy...just like I tell him he can crawl in my lap as long as I am here for as many years as he wants. He's never to old to kiss his mama and to quote a famous book many of us know by heart : ."as long as I'm living my baby you'll be.."

10 September 2009

My favorite canine faces

Recent pics

This one's really a flashback from a year ago

04 September 2009

Rafael Federer....

Right, right .....I know that's not the proper name but what my dad has said LM could be: "you never know , he could be the next Rafael Federer". We do all know their proper names but it's fun to be silly like that. LM has taken a liking to watching tennis since the US Open is on right now and also football. Today we took him out to play tennis again and he did GREAT in my book. He refuses to hit a one handed forehand but hey --he's three. He hit the ball over the net several times this time and was very determined to keep doing it. We were so proud of him just trying so hard --he normally gives up easily if it's not something he could master quickly and with this he stuck with it. Lots of fun!
G. ....well she's just G....into everything, like a little tsunami that comes through. She adores her brother and is getting a mouth full of teeth. Trying to talk and says "tank tu", "dac-ton", "beau" and "diaper".....videos to come soon of her talking..gotta get them uploaded.

02 September 2009

Spokane...such a fun little town

LM taking pics w/ his new camera

Or big town I should say...home to Gonzaga...a beautiful riverfront park and the biggest Radio Flyer I've ever seen :) Had fun visiting w/ Mimi , Paw paw, Aunt Reena and Uncle Bubba before they headed off in search of bears in Glacier. And at the hotel pool LM essentially swam underwater , face in full on swimming back and forth to each of us--hallelujah! So proud of him :) And G just put floaties on and floated around and kicked all around with no problem.