Just a Boy in My Shower

Someday Brock will be too old to come to my house and take a shower, but until then. I have to take pictures of his cutie shower face.

Chinese Cultural Project

Cali participated in her 6th grade cultural celebration project. She studied China, and learned a lot about Chinese culture. Lucky for us we have a good Chinese friend who let us borrow her wedding dress and other artifacts. We had fun walking around the classrooms learning about all the different countries. Cali's was the best!

Headin' West

Brandt's ship put together a really fun race for their last day in San Diego. It was supposed to be a 10K (6.2 miles), but they decided to make it a 6.2K (4ish miles). Running at sea level was magnificent. I felt great and loved looking around at the sights on the Embarcaero. After the race, there was a ton of food! Sailors from different cultures prepared delicious food from their countries. We ate a roasted pig, some sushi, and some fried plantains. It was pretty amazing.

Most of all, the time I got to spend with Brandt was pretty priceless. We had such a good time together and I look forward to a time when we can do these fun things together again.




After the race we got mom and dad, and headed to the Hotel Del Coranado for some lunch and sight seeing. We ate at some of Brandt's favorite places and he showed us around his stopping grounds.



I had to fly home this evening, but not before we stopped at the Navy Exchange and bought a lot of things. I got a great Michael Kors watch, and mom lost her mind! She bought a ton of great clothes and we shopped until we literally dropped. Well, everyone was still standing but me. I got the worst headache of my life this day, and ended up in a bad way. Brandt and mom and dad had to drop me off at the airport, and I've never been so sad or sick in my whole life. Luckily I started feeling much better before we landed in Utah and I have now discovered Excedrin Migrane.

Family Day Cruise 05/20/15

We stayed at the Navy lodge on Tuesday night and woke up bright and early Wednesday morning to board the ship and participate in the Family Day Cruise activities. It was a little chili to start the morning, but the ship was amazing. Brandt took me on a tour of the ship and showed me where his cabin and his office were located. Then, we got settled in as the ship went underway and we were sailing on the Pacific ocean. Of course, none of this stuff happens quickly. There was a lot of sitting around and waiting for the next thing. I thought how hard it would be to have a career where you hurry up and wait so much.



The tug boats drag the boat out of the harbor. It's a pretty cool experience. It's really unbelievable that people are sailors for a living. Just the amount of procedure that has to take place for a boat to sail is incredible.

San Diego

On May 19th I flew to San Diego to visit Brandt before he moved to Japan. The Navy was hosting a Family Day Cruise and Brandt ask me, Neal, and Gwen to come on the cruise with him. Alexis was already in Japan, and I was sad that I didn't get to see her or Kate, but it was a great time with Brandt and mom and dad.

I hadn't seen Brandt in person since the morning I woke up in Atlanta and we said good bye at 5:00a.m. They picked me up at the airport and we went to dinner near Brandt's former house near the beach. The food was so good, and I was hungry from travelling most of the day.

Uncle Cwischin

The pretend like they don't like each other, but I think this photographic evidence that Christian and Brock are buddies.

Rock Springs Field Trip

 

Carter and I had a great time on his field trip in downtown Rock Springs. Third grade was a trying time for all of us. Carter had some struggles, and I struggled with his struggles. However, at field trip time we were both feeling a lot better and we'd both learned a lot.

We've been to most of the downtown locations featured on the field trip, but it was fun to learn more about the history and to share the day with Carter.

Ooops, Poops!

This cute little nugget is lucky to be alive. Bethany left him in my care at one of Carter's baseball games. He was playing with Caleb on the playground and having a good old time, until it was almost time to leave the park. At which point he promptly pooped his pants. I had NOTHING to clean him up with. I threw away his underwear and pants, washed him off the best I could, and tied his sweatshirt around his waist for the drive home. It's a good thing he's so cute, otherwise, I would have left him at the ballpark.

Yep.... Still Posing on a Rock

Yep, Still Posing on that Same Rock

16th Anniversary

These are the only pictures I took on our anniversary trip to the Grand America in Salt Lake City. It was a rainy, cloudy weekend and we took that as a good sign to sit around and do a lot of nothing. It's been a very eventful 16 years, to say the least. It was nice to have a weekend to celebrate and relax.

Yankee Brothers

Baseball season and brotherly love are in full swing at our house. Any bets on which one lasts longer?

Caleb's Preschool Graduation

As if I needed another reminder that my baby is turning into a big boy, Caleb participated in his preschool graduation. He has spent the last three years at WWCC's Children's Center. There were a few rough days, but the dedicate teachers at Western made his (and my) preschool experience very special.

Caleb won his teachers over with his creativity and tenacity. They taught him how to stand in a line, wait his turn, and gave him the security and structure he needed to be successful. I will never be able to repay them for their dedication.

On this day, I knew the tears would squirt, and I was prepared. Instead of feeling sad, the waves of gratitude spilled out of my eyes. Caleb sang all his songs and marched across the gym floor to receive his diploma. It was a really special day for both of us. In a way, it felt like we'd both accomplished something.

Rookies

Caleb may be considered a Rookie when it comes to official Little League standards, but in his heart he is a professional. He's enjoying his time as a member of the Astro's baseball team, and posed for a few "action" shots after one of his games.

It's pretty clear that Caleb can hit the ball, but he's not really sold on the idea of defense and tends to run into the dugout and wait for his turn to hit again. He has coined the phrase, "I was made for hitting, not mitting!" We may have to work on some teamwork skills...

We are so thankful for patient and dedicated coaches who take the time from their schedule to play ball with these tiny crazy Rookies/professionals.

Carter's Dog

All of the decorative dog pictures used in the Sage Elementary Choir production of Arf were given away to members of the choir. Carter was selected to take this cute little dog picture home. It's probably the closest he's ever going to get to brining a dog home, so we took a picture.