Ford Family Happenings

Happy Spring

2010-04-24T06:15:00.000-07:00

Spring is finally upon us and we are enjoying the warmer weather for sure! We had a very LONG winter this year with more snow than we've seen in Missouri for some years. The kids really enjoyed it but it did get a bit boring after a while. Spring Break brought us a good warm up. Mom and kids enjoyed a week full of fun while daddy was away in Washington D. C. We are now full swing into soccer (cancelled today because of storms and lightening) and started t-ball practice last week. Both kids are playing for Uncle Chico which they are incredibly excited about! Mom has gotten her bike out for the spring training season and daddy is spending his own time outside, clearing out the woods below our house. Together, we are working on our garden, which we hope will bring us a lot of good, organic veggies this year! If the rabbits stay out of it that is.... Mom and kids are winding down the school year and looking forward to summer and all the fun that will bring. We are planning a trip to San Diego this year to see the new cousin/nephew due in late June and of course all of our grandpas/grandmas and extended family who live there. We hope to stop at the Grand Canyon on the way and make it to Legoland and the beach. The kids are already talking about it. They are also wondering when they will see Uncle Joel, Aidan, Abbey and Alec so I am sure we will be negotiating that soon also! We are going to have one busy summer! We hope everyone is enjoying their spring as much as we are.

2010-04-23T19:52:00.000-07:00

Molly, starting to figure things out.

Jack with his best buddy Grant and Madison, who play soccer with him.

Jack getting the hang of things too.

2010-04-23T05:22:00.000-07:00

Molly and her buddy Maci at soccer

Dying Easter Eggs

Visiting with Mr. Rabbit

2010-04-22T15:54:00.000-07:00

Camping out in the basement over spring break.

Molly dressed up as something wierd...

Jack is ready for career day at school!

Winter Fun

2010-01-04T07:02:00.000-08:00

We hope you all had a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. We have been just relaxing here and trying to gear up for the return to school, which is supposed to be tomorrow. As you can see, we've had a lot of snow so not sure it will happen. The kids really enjoyed their Christmas and their break and mom is glad she doesn't head back to school until the 27th! Daddy even got several extra days off and it was hard for him to go back to work today.

Riding the sled behind Jayden (our neighbor) on the four wheeler.

Warming up with some cocoa! It was really cold out!

Jack's snow angel!

Our Christmas picture.

The thankful tree we made for Thanksgiving....we have a lot to be thankful for.

Christmas Stuff

2010-01-04T06:40:00.000-08:00

Seeing Santa at Bass Pro

Jack and Daddy with his new B. B. Gun

Me and me cuties.

Wow! It snowed on Christmas!

Spending Christmas Eve at Uncle Chico's!

Birthdays, school, rides....

2009-11-02T19:13:00.000-08:00

At the start line of the Livestrong Challenge in Austin, Texas. I rode for my sister. It was quite an event.

I got to attend the VIP dinner with Lance Armstrong the night before. It was really neat, especially since he answered the question I submitted.

We followed up with a few days in San Antonio where we took the kids to Sea World. We went to see the Lori Aviary where we had sent our bird years ago.

Molly is a little doctor doolittle. She loves all animals....can you tell?

2009-11-02T18:06:00.000-08:00

Jack enjoying his new bike. Love that smile.

The gang on halloween! We had a lot of fun!

Molly's fifth birthday party!

Daddy with Molly before her "buddy breakfast" at school.

2009-11-02T17:03:00.000-08:00

We enjoyed having our cousins from Michigan here for two weeks this summer. Here are all but one of the cousins: Maelyn, Abbey, Molly, Aidan, Jack, Alec, and Chico III

Jack's first day of Kindergarten!

Molly's first day of Pre-K

Mom at the half-way point of the MS 150 bike tour.

Big jack is SIX!!!

T-ball, new dog, and more.

2009-06-29T15:26:00.000-07:00

We have been having a great summer (until the past two days) when the kids and I all broke out in a very severe case of poison ivy. Let's just say that not only is Mommy is hurting too but is very tired from being up hours at night comforting kids. This is NOT fun! We have no idea where we got it but hope we will be on the mend soon.

The kids finished up soccer in May and took a few weeks off before beginning t-ball. I played Molly up one level so they could be on the same team. She spends most of the time digging in the dirt and chalk. She does love to hit and run the bases though. Jack is all around doing really well, though he could do without the heat. He is showing a really strong leftie throw and hitting on a slow coach pitch.

I am playing softball too and doing some pretty instense training for my upcoming bike races in the Fall. I'll have to put all of that on hold until my poison ivy clears up. We have also been working hard trying to improve our grass this year which includes at least four hours of moving sprinklers once a day (usually me!). Not fun. We have seen some improvement so that is good. Some is better than none I guess.

Jeff has been working hard as always but also managing to find some time at home. He's been building his pub room and I have become impressed at how well he does with woodworking. He's sure taught himself a lot over the years. We are looking forward to the upcoming four day weekend and possibly having some family over to celebrate the 4th.

Unfortunately, this has been a Hallmark year for us, and just following Papa Hadley's death, we are faced with a tough decision about our beloved Odin. We will be saying good bye to her in the next couple of weeks. Jeff and I just have to work up the courage to let her go and figure out how to tell the kids. Hence, we introduce you to "BOLT," our female West Highland Terrier. We rescued her last week and she has been a crazy addition to our family. We thought it was time to get the kids their own dog and help buffer the coming situation. She is quite funny and Molly (not so much Jack) is an awesome dog mom. We are working on her bonding with Molly instead of me. I try to ignore her most of the time for that reason, but honestly, who could resist that face?

The whole family is so excited that Uncle Joel, Aidan, Abbey, and Alec will be coming down for a visit in late July/early August. Along with Grandpa and Grandma from California. The kids ask every day "when" and we are anxiously discussing what fun and exciting things we will be doing!
As Jack puts it, " I just can't wait any longer!"

T-ball, New dog, etc

2009-06-29T15:12:00.001-07:00

Jack does really well getting ready for the ball.

She's more interested in the dirt most of the time.

The cutest little t-ball players.

Jack's first time on a roller coaster without a grown-up. He was so funny.

Daddy being silly at Molly's last soccer game.

Trout, Grads, and Mickey Mouse

2009-05-20T19:49:00.000-07:00

We went on our annual trout fishing trip and had a great time! If you don't count the mud from the one night of rain it was really good. We've had tons of rain and the river was up so the fish were harder to catch but we still managed to do okay. Mom has decided there is an adult fishing trip in order soon because she enjoys the fishing but the kiddos didn't have the patience to WAIT for the fish to bite. Jack said it best, "I like reeling them up mommy, I just don't like to have to wait for HOURS for them." His "hours" are more like 30-45 minutes but what can you do?

Hiking with our buddies Luke and Garrett. We go together on this trip every year.

What a pair. Posing in the opening of the cave.

My little tomboy---she is filthy but she had way more patience than Jack. He caught one and was done. She stuck around and we caught two more, though mommy did drop one back in the river while trying to get it on the stringer....she stood on the bank crying and I was totally embarrassed.

Look at this handsome guy...I found him hiking in the creek bed near our campsite.

Graduations!

2009-05-20T19:20:00.000-07:00

Let's see....Molly got promoted from preschool to pre-k, Jack "graduated" and will be going to Kindergarten in the Fall, and Chico III graduated from eighth grade! I can't believe how time flies!

Molly singing at her promotion ceremony.

Showing off her artwork

Jack at his "graduation" in the traditional paper hat. Love it!

Molly congratulating her brother...little does she know how much she will miss him next year.

Cousin Chico at his graduation. I remember when he was Jack's age like it was yesterday...it's amazing how grown up he is.

Disneyworld 2009

2009-05-20T18:19:00.000-07:00

We took a trip to Disney the first week in May and what fun! It was HOT and exhausting but everyone had a great time (if you don't count the few grumpy moments we had). The kids are still talking about it and giving full narratives to anyone who will listen. I was proud of the kids for trying just about anything they were tall enough for. We do have two strikes as parents: the Dinosaur ride terrified Jack, and they both disliked the huanted mansion. After we rode that one, whenever they started to act up we threatened to make them ride it again....okay, so maybe we have three strikes! We rode splash mountain several times and surprisingly, Jack's favorite ride was big thundermountain railroad. We also rode Star Tours more times than I care to count. In fact mom, who loves rides, opted out of the fifth time on it!

Meeting Belle at the Princess breakfast in Epcot.

Molly did not want her picture with Captain Hook (the only one besides the Queen of Hearts she didn't like) but Jack thought he was a riot!

Every boy can dream right (yes, I have pictures of Jeff on it too)?

The highlight and the disappointment of the trip....Molly got picked to be on stage for Jedi training and Jack didn't. He was a little upset but got over it after we assured him he was so good that he didn't need Jedi training. The drawback was he thought it was REAL and wanted to learn the "force push." So cute!

Molly visited the Bibbidi Bobbidi Bootique for a princess makeover. I was not too happy she picked the pink hair. I would have preferred blonde. Jack was supposed to get a "cool dude" makeover but decided he would much rather go to the Lego store with Daddy.

Just Silly

2009-05-01T18:19:00.000-07:00

Molly dressed up for "crazy hair and clothes day" at school. She is quite a character.

We planted a tree on Veronica's birthday. The kids were really into it and Jeff loved this picture of all of us that he captured while I was mulching and Molly was watering the tree with her watering can.

Hanging out with the Chick Fil-A cow at Military Appreciation jump night at the YMCA. Our organization, Warrior Wives put the event on and it was a huge success!

Jack in a neat tree at the zoo for a school field trip.

My best buddy....man is he handsome or what?

Hoppy Easter!

2009-04-16T07:17:00.000-07:00

We spent Easter Sunday at our house with my family and Jeff's parents. We tried to get a pictures of us all together AND smiling but that was pretty hard!

Jack and Molly dying eggs. Jack was cracking up at something goofy Jeff was doing.

The kids and I spent an afternoon at Bass Pro Shops where we checked out the animals, saw the Easter Bunny and went on an egg scavenger hunt. They had a lot of fun but later that evening Molly made it very clear to Jeff that "there was something funny about that bunny...." I have to say I agree.

The first time they weren't afraid of the stuffed grizzly bear at Bass Pro.

I had this picture taken during a fundraiser. I only bought the one copy but wanted to share!

Soccer, Spring, and more

2009-04-05T08:10:00.000-07:00

We are still waiting for a break in the weather here. Our spring break and following days were cold and rainy so that was a bit disappointing for me and the kids. It was hard to go back to school but I think the kids were thrilled to get back to their friends. I'm still trudging along at school myself. I'm having a hard time really getting into it this semester but I am still doing it, still getting A's. I have a goal and I will get there. I think right now we all need a break from the monatony (I know I do) and are looking forward to our Disney trip and some camping trips we have planned this summer. Jeff has been gone most weeks recently so I am anxious for him to have some time off so we can all just relax and be together. We have two more weeks coming up with him gone to training and after that things should slow down. He is working hard and is exhausted and he deserves some time off. The kids started soccer this week and somehow I ended up coaching Jack's team. It's going pretty well though and they both love it. Last time we did outdoor soccer it was kind of a waste of our time but it is nice now that they are older they really enjoy going. We are going to try real tee-ball this year too so it should be interesting!

For those of you who call and email to check on our family, I wanted to let you know that we are all doing fairly well. Some days are easier than others and there are days when emotions can creep up without warning (as I prove quite often:), but we are all going day to day. I talk to Joel and the kids often and though we all miss Veronica terribly, we are all dealing in our own way. I thank you for your continued support and prayers for all of us.

My very own GI Joe. I told him it was too bad he didn't shoot better that day but he sure looks good....ha, ha.

Molly Jean at her first soccer game. It was really windy and cold but they both hung in there on a day that started at 8:30 am. She counted the number of times she kicked the ball:)

Jack and Coach Mommy after his game. He played really well and is showing that he really likes this sport.

That's Jack bringing the ball into the goal. He kept count and said he got six goals that day. He was great.

They love to play together at everything. Here they are doing games on Nick Jr. I'm so grateful that they are friends.

2009-04-05T07:34:00.000-07:00

We are really ready for Spring! The kids have a bit of cabin fever and despite the rain, I let them go play outside one day. All they needed was raincoats and boots. They were very happy.

Goofy Molly! Daddy was using the neighbors yard aeroater and the kids went along for the ride.

The family gave me a belated birthday party this year. It was nice to spend some time with them riding horses and just being together.

Jack posing on Maylyn's new horse, Comet.

Molly is all about the horseback riding. She borrowed her cousins hat for the occasion.

Is it Spring?

2009-03-05T08:23:00.000-08:00

I'm not sure if it Spring yet but it sure feels like it. We've had some really nice days and a few more ahead. These were from a trip to the park with Grandma.

Winter Fun

2009-03-05T07:54:00.000-08:00

My little country girl. She is so funny! She loves to catch and carry things in her net---this pictures reminded me of Mayberry in some ways!

Finally! We got one decent snow. It wasn't much but it lasted three days so we got some good sledding in and the kids were thrilled.

Jack liked "helping" me shovel too.

Jack taking his "beautiful Sissy" for a ride down the hill. He has just taken to calling her that.

2009-03-05T07:44:00.000-08:00

We made a tent out of sheets on Molly's bed because they wanted to have a sleepover. Not much sleeping actually happened but they had so much fun we just left them alone.

As most of you know already my sister, Veronica, passed away on February 10th. She was so beautiful, brave, and smiling until the very end. I miss her more than words can say but I take comfort in knowing that she is not longer in pain because I know, she must have been in terrible pain. There are no words for a loss like this, but I thank each of you who have reached out to us at this time!

Happy New Year!

2009-01-14T13:08:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year to all! We wish joy and blessings for every one. Our new years wish is for Veronica. That she will continue to get better and that she will be cured!

2009-01-14T12:42:00.000-08:00

What a great Christmas! The kids were so funny on Christmas Eve because instead of PJs they wanted to wear their new star wars costumes that Grammie had gotten them. In the morning they had to have their helmets before they would come out of their rooms. Jack was thrilled that Santa brought him his Star Wars Legos and Molly got her Zoo that Santa had to put out quite an effort to acquire. We got to go out and see the lights at Silver Dollar City after Christmas and it was beautiful as always. The kids loved it.

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-22T19:07:00.003-08:00

What a Christmas season we are having! We are truely feeling blessed this year! We had a great time seeing Santa at Bass Pro Shops in his very own "wonderland." We filled out letters and mailed them right there. It was great. Molly had her first school program which was adorable. We always knew she was a class clown but finally got to see first hand. She was an angel who led the shepards to Bethlehem. Very cute! Fortunately, the picture of her rolling around on the steps was after it was over, but barely! I was also fortunate enough to attend Jack's class party which they started off by singing us songs and recited a poem about Santa Claus. It was adorable too! They both had a great time at their class parties. Currently we are battling bitter cold weather as we await the big day. I am glad that the kids don't have to go out to school in this. The wind chill has been well below freezing and what's worse is it is just plain COLD and WINDY. There is not even any pretty snow to look at while we are cooped up. We are all really looking forward to Daddy's FIVE, count them, 5 days off of work in a row. That is a record for the year! We cannot wait to tuck into our jammies and new toys for the majority of those days! We wish you all a safe and blessed Christmas too!

Ho, Ho, Ho!

2008-12-22T18:53:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-30T17:02:00.000-08:00

Santa arrives at the puppet show!

Happy Thanksgiving ! We had a nice holiday here and ate way too much food! We have so much to be thankful for this year that Thanksgiving was extra special. We spent Thursday afternoon and Friday decorating for Christmas and getting into the spirit. I braved the black Friday crowds to pick up a few special gifts to help out Santa. I stood in line at target from 430 to 600 am and it was COLD. I did accomplish my mission and saved 50 bucks on one item so I guess it was worth it. On Saturday, I threw a Polar Express party for the kids to help "kick off" the Christmas season. It was so much fun. I mailed out gold train tickets and we had a puppet show, craft, and of course watched the movie. The kids got lots of popcorn and goodies and I think everyone had a great time. It is so much fun, as a mom, to see how excited and how much joy comes to my kids from little things like this. A Christmas movie in their PJs made them so happy that I imagine they'll be asking for it again next year. I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving too and that you might find joy in in some of the "little things" this holiday too.

Jack eating popcorn and watching the movie from his "train seat"

Drinking hot cocoa and watching the puppet show.

All the kids after receiving thier jingle bells---I can still hear them--can you?

Trick or Treat

2008-11-06T19:19:00.000-08:00

Molly wanted a kitty pumpkin!

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Jack went for Batman--I did the best I could!

We had a lot of fun this halloween. Jack was Obi Wan Kenobi and wore the costume Grandma had made him for his party. Molly insisted on a "pink R2D2." Why keep it simple right? So I made her a costume and I think it turned out pretty cute. People actually knew what she was and Jack was telling everyone "I'm Obi Wan and my sister is my droid. " We got a good laugh. The kids wanted daddy to be Indiana jones and I'd say he pulled it off. I was just a girly explorer with a snake to scare of Indiana.....lots of fun and way too much candy still in our house!

Happy Birthday Molly!

2008-10-26T07:08:00.000-07:00

It's official, I am feeling the pangs of time flying by! Molly just turned four and I can hardly believe it. She is definately NOT a baby anymore, but a very particular and sometimes bossy, four year old girl. It really is crazy how quickly they can grow up! We had a "littlest Pet shop," and Molly told me exactly what games she wanted, who she wanted there, etc. She even wrote the name on all the invitations herself. They were actually all readable and very cute! I think she had a great time.

With her party over, I am finally taking a breath on all the planning and organizing I've had to do the past few months. I did have to finish up Molly's costume for Halloween but that didn't take long. We know the holidays are just around the corner so we are just trying to take a breather. It is getting colder here now. After almost two months of no heat or air I had to turn on the furnace for the cold nights. Jacque and I did the Bass Pro Shops "tour de Bass" yesterday and it was quite chilly. At the last minute we both threw on sweatshirts and I bought a pair of gloves with fingers and I am quite glad we did. Jeff is actually home this weekend and we went to an adult costume party which was lots of fun. We don't get many opportunities to do things together so that was nice. He is in the garage now trying to wire his truck for trailer brakes and then we are going to pick up the kiddos who spent the night at Grandma's house. It's so quiet around here without them!

Molly smacking her pinata.

All the little pets at the party.

She always crosses her eyes when she blows out the candles, which of course I think is adorable!

More Fall fun.

2008-10-26T06:52:00.000-07:00

Here are my littlest pets getting ready for the party. Molly was very specific. Girls are kitties and boys are dogs. So, I made cat and dog ears for all the kids.

We've spent a few days at Silver Dollar City this fall. Here we are at the Harvest Festival with the kid's buddy, Harrison.

Their favorite at the pumpkin patch is always the corn maze!

2008-10-26T06:41:00.000-07:00

Molly's preschool got to spend a day at the pumpkin patch. Jack got to play his first day of hookie to come along. We all had lots of fun.

If you look closely you'll see that our roof is covered with packages of shingles. That's because our roof, at only 8 months old was damaged by hail and totaled by our insurance company. Our roofer said we didn't really need a new roof but insurance kind of twisted our arm. I think it went something like this, " if you don't repair it now and it leaks later, you aren't covered....."

I finally got a few pictures from the bike ride so I just wanted to show you that I did do it. Here I am at the finish line in Joplin, MO....about 80 miles. If you see all the water I am standing in, that's because it rained for the first three hours of the ride and off and on all day. Good thing it wasn't too cold out!

Family

2008-10-07T14:01:00.000-07:00

I realize I am way behind here but we had another computer crash and I've had to get up and going again. That, and it has been a very busy few months. Let's see.....my nephew came down and spent almost two weeks with us in August. He flew all by himself from Michigan. Jack and Molly started school this year, I had been training and then completing my MS 150 bike ride, and I have two classes this semester myself. One of those classes keeps me very, very busy with my bookwork. I also went to Michigan to be with my sister after one of her chemo treatments and just this Saturday we threw a benefit for her here in Missouri. Ultimately, the benefit went awesome! We had a softball tournament, silent auction, raffle, etc and we raised quite a bit of money for her. We also got to have a reunion of sorts down in good old Galena, MO. It was fun. I feel like I have about two days to breathe before I tackle my latest writing assignment and start planning Molly's birthday. Sometimes I wonder how we make it on only 24 hours a day! Yikes! Jeff has been working a lot as usual and is currently the "commander" of the unit while they wait for a new LTC to take the job---we're still waiting but hopefully someone will come along soon. That's about all for now---hope you enjoy the pictures. If you see this and didn't know I had posted it's because I don't have your email address anymore. Please send it to me so I can update my address book....again!

Fall stuff

2008-10-07T13:50:00.000-07:00

Jack played indoor soccer for the last time:( He is too old now but Molly is a riot! She is really starting to play---she controls the ball and was beating out the boys this time! Almost got her first goal too! We'll probably sign her up to play in November.

Another Molly must....she had to have a scarecrow and not one from the store! She is her mama's daughter.

I wish I had a picture of myself at the finish line, but they haven't posted them yet. The second day of the ride was cancelled due to Hurrican Ike--flooding and trees down. I did 80 miles the first day and look forward to next year when I can try for the 150 again!

1st Days of school

2008-10-07T13:42:00.000-07:00

Jack goes to the pre-k program here in Ozark. He is there five days a week from 9-1130. I used to think that was plent of time to get things done without taking hime, but I was wrong. He loves school and is learning A LOT!

Molly goes to a private preschool two days a week. She would go five days a week if I let her and she loves her teacher Miss Tracy!

My little artist.....she would draw, color, cut and glue all day long if I let her! Her drawings are getting so detailed too!

Jack's Birthday

2008-10-07T13:32:00.000-07:00

Jack turned five in August and we had a Star Wars party. Jeff says I am getting to be too much like Bree VanDeCamp but I just have fun with parties. We did a Jedi training theme and the kids had a blast. The cake even had dry ice in it but you can't see it in the picture.

Yoda was there to take pictures with all his trainees

Jack's "lava scene" cake--the one where Obi Wan fights Anikan Skywalker.....

While Aidan was here this summer we took him floating on the Northfork of the White River. I think he had a great time!

Sorry!

2008-09-19T14:08:00.000-07:00

Sorry if you have been checking for new pictures. I was behind already and was going to update after the bike ride but my computer CRASHED and the hard drive was fried. We are currently trying to save some data and after that I will be posting new pictures. We have lots to update including Jack's 5th birthday, our visit with Aidan, and the first day of school. Check back in a few days and we might have something!

Lots of Summer Fun

2008-07-17T12:39:00.000-07:00

We've been pretty busy this summer, but it doesn't mean we haven't found time for some fun! We are enjoying lots of time in our little backyard pool where the kids are quickly mastering the art of swimming without assistance. We've been camping, to Silver Dollar City and to see my sister and her family in Michigan. We are expecting Jeff's grandparents and Aunt in August and are gearing up for Jack's 5th birthday and a camping/floating weekend. Mom had her 15 year high school reunion (yikes) and is trying to get ready for her bike ride. Dad is working on finishing up the basement here at home and just trying not to work too hard at his regular job (an impossible feat I might add). It's finally getting really hot here but oddly, not as muggy as usual so we've been able to spend a lot of time outside---especially since it finally stopped raining!!!

Molly's silly face being demonstrated by the campfire....

This is definately my daughter. She was so excited abou these two toads she found and I'm sure she played with them for at least an hour.

Meeting Bob and Larry at the Silver Dollar city kids fest was pretty exciting!

4th of July Fun

2008-07-17T12:29:00.001-07:00

Catching fireflies at home before we head to Michigan.

The "cousins" taking a pause in the water gun fight. They were hilarious. We spent all day outside playing with squirt guns, water balloons, wiffle ball, and throwing washers. We all had a great time.

Jack enjoying a smore at Veronica and Joel's outdoor firepit on the fourth of July.

More fun stuff

2008-07-17T12:16:00.000-07:00

We tagged along with Daddy on one of his many overnights in Kansas City and we got to stay at Great Wolf Lodge,eat out at the T-Rex grill, and I think mommy and daddy had more fun than the kids.

While in KC, we hopped ovet to Kansas to see Thomas the Tank Engine again. The kids weren't as into this time and I am sad to say it will probably be our last year for that....:(

Both the kids did the YMCA t-ball camp this summer. Here they are kicking dirt while waiting for a ball to come their way.

Molly's pet and more

2008-06-02T13:55:00.000-07:00

This is our newest family member, Ziggie. Molly really wanted a cat but we were able to satisfy her with this adorable guinea pig....

My country kids....playing in the dirt pile before it was spread in the yard.

Congrats to the new Major.

Outdoors stuff.

2008-06-02T13:47:00.000-07:00

Jack shooting a crossbow for the first time!

I love this picture of Molly balancing on a little rock and fishing. You should have seen her trying to get on it without falling in.

Busy Time of year

2008-06-02T13:23:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year again where we have a lot going on! It seems like we are extra busy this year but that may just be ME being busy because Jeff is gone so much. Jeff got promoted to Major in March which was well deserved on his part. The kids took two rounds of swimming lessons getting ready for summer and I'm proud to say Jack can swim by him self with his face in the water. We took our annual trout fishing trip in May and made out quite well. We caught six trout which is two more than last year. We took my niece Maelyn and my cousin jerramy with us so they helped add to the stringer. We all had a great time. I am starting back to school TODAY to start towards my degree in Nursing. I've been thinking about this for a long time and finally decided to make the leap. I am very excited but it is going to be a somewhat long and challenging road. I'm sure four years will fly by as I watch the kids grow. I've also signed up to do a 150 mile bike ride for Charity in September which most of you already know about. Yes, Jeff says I am crazy but I am looking forward to the challenge. We do finally have some grass in our yard (still with our ruts but not as bad) and I got my landscaping done. When everything really gets blooming I'll take some pictures.

The kids with their cousin Maelyn on a hike.

The casting pro!

Little Singers

2008-04-01T11:24:00.000-07:00

This one is for Aunt Revanna. Molly was in a goofy mood but Jack did his job beautifully.

Spring? Updates

2008-03-31T17:42:00.000-07:00

Well, we are still waiting for Spring to arrive here but we are getting there. Our area had some serious flooding two weeks ago but we seem to be past that now. It dried out enough to soak up the water and it is pouring again as I type this. Our house was not damaged by any water but we did lose about 30% of the yard that we had just got put in prior to the rains. March was pretty busy for us. Jeff was gone most of the month but we still had swimming lessons, indoor soccer, and all of our Easter activities. Things are winding down now and I am hoping to just enjoy some nice outside time before it gets too hot. As they say, if you don't like the weather in Missouri just wait a day----that is how it has been around here. Here are some fun pictures from the past month or so.

Here is a picture of Jack celebrating after he scored his very first soccer goal! He suddenly just "clicked" and got the whole concept. He scored three goals in about 4 minutes. He was a madman and very humorous with the celebrating.

Here is my team of cuties after the last game.

Laugh if you must but I just had to take a picture of the first grass sprout I could see. If you knew the MUD (and flooding) I have been dealing with the past three months you would be moved by this picture!

Easter

2008-03-31T17:33:00.000-07:00

Getting ready for the Easter Egg hunt at the park in Ozark. One week later this was about 4 feet under water.

Molly really got into the Easter Spirit. I peeked in at naptime one day to find her sleeping with her bunny ears on. Very cute!

Our annual trip to see the Easter Bunny. It took us two tries before Jack would cooperate. He's always had an issue with the bunny more so than Santa----wierd.

2008-03-31T17:18:00.000-07:00

They really like each other! This is what I find most nights when I head to bed and check on the kiddos. I find one of them asleep in the other's bed. I think it is the sweetest thing I've ever seen.

We only had one good snow this year and we had to go into Springfield to see it. We didn't get a flake of snow at our house but there was 6 inches of snow at Grandma's.

We took our first swimming lessons in March and the kids learned a lot. After four weeks Jack is swimming and floating on his back above water and 4-5 feet under water. Molly has learned how to hold her breath to go under and very short back floats! By the way, the reason Jack is completely wet and the other kids are dry:

When the teacher said "let's go" to the kids (meaning, let's get in on the steps), Jack took two huge steps and leaped into the deep end. The teacher (fully dressed and six months pregnant) jumped in after him and then when she got him out, he jumped in again. I guess all that rock jumping in California might have over-prepared him for swimming lessons at the YMCA.

Pictures, pictures

2008-03-01T11:41:00.000-08:00

I've been practicing with my camera little bit. I've had it a year and never used any extra settings so I thought I'd give it try. If I could just get the kids to really "pose" so I could practice that would be nice....

I took the kids to Home Depot today for a free workshop. They got to build wooden racecars. If you haven't tried this for your kids, it is great and FREE. Doesn't get much better than that. Lowes does them too.

Family Fun

2008-03-01T11:22:00.001-08:00

We are sooooo ready for Spring here. It seems like this winter has gone on and on and we just get more pale from being inside all the time! The past two days have been great--upper 50's and sunny. We went to the zoo yesterday and after 3 hours outside, we were pooped and Molly had sunburned cheeks. That is how long it has been since we spent a day outside. Anyway, we hope Spring is on the verge but they are calling for snow on Monday again....Other than the cold and ice we have been having a pretty good time this winter enjoying our new house. The kids love having their own rooms though sometimes I check on them at night and find one of them sleeping at the end of the other's bed. It is very sweet. They are best buddies and can play together for hours on a good day. Daddy's schedule is very hectic and he is gone a lot so that is hard on all of us, but we are really trying to keep our schedule regular so they don't get too stressed about it. We start soccer and swimming lessons this weeks so we'll be pretty busy for the next month. That is our update for now. Here are some pictures to bring a smile.

I posted this for Terrie. Jeff got all his old legos out of his parents attic and between the two boys, we get a lot of lego building time around here!

Coach Mommy and the worlds cutest soccer player.

Okay, this was one capful of bubbles and they just went nuts. As you can see the kids loved it!

Christmas Pictures

2008-01-18T10:55:00.000-08:00

We had a great Christmas this year. Of course, moving into our house was the highlight but being able to be with family was great too. We spend Chrismtas eve at Chico's house and Grandpa and Grandma Ford came over here on Christmas day. We got to use our dining room for the first time. Jeff's sister and her husband came down from Michigan for New Years and since Jeff hadn't seen her in such a long time, that was a real treat. Jeff spent most of his time off work getting a ton of stuff done around here. I can now officially say we are "settled in." It would be nice to have grass but I guess you just can't have it all. We'll just be looking forward to Spring

AND to some visitors!! We hope you all had a great holiday too!

Santa had one gift that wouldn't fit down the chimney, he left it in the garage instead. The kids love driving down to the mailbox when it is warm enough.

We expected a stampede this year but the kids were still very mellow and took their time. I did catch Jack out of bed at 600 am with his head up the chimney. Very cute!!

Christmas Fun

2008-01-18T10:19:00.000-08:00

The kids got a jungle gym from Grandma and Grandpa Ford. They were pretty excited but it's been so cold they haven't got to use it much.

Jack being silly with his "musabelly" Frog!

I couldn't help but think of my niece Abbey on this picture!

2008-01-18T10:09:00.000-08:00

Jack and Molly dressed up after inspired by Molly's new dress up shoe set from Grandma and Grandpa Gonzalez. I tried to encourage Jack to got with the cowboy outfit but he wanted to be a princess like Molly so....

Relaxing in Mommy's tub!

I'm coaching Jack and Molly's indoor soccer team this winter. Can't you tell I'm doing a great job???

The big move!

2007-12-24T07:45:00.000-08:00

As most of you know, we recently moved into our new house. What a chore, and we still aren't done. Still, we were able to get in and somewhat settled by Christmas. Jeff has been working his butt off hanging curtains, towel rods, and many other things. He also installed the shower doors because we wanted to use it but didn't want to wait for someone else to come do it. We still have a few things for the builder to do but for the most part, the house is complete. We couldn't be happier. After a couple days of confusion, the kids are settled in and doing great. As one of our friends put it, we feel that we have finally "arrived." Here are some pictures for those who keep saying SEND PICTURES! Merry Christmas everyone.

The kids were very patient on the night we decided to start moving and hooking up appliances. We put on a movie and set up a picnic in Molly's room and they did great. If you look closely you will catch a glimpse of Molly's castle mural.

All the running back and forth between houses was a bit tiring. If only I could have crashed like that.

The kids came up with the idea to make "carpet angels" when they saw that it had been installed.

Moved in

2007-12-24T07:29:00.000-08:00

Here is a close-up of the front. We still have to have a step put on and fill in the yard but we have to wait until the MUD dries out a bit.

Upstairs living room. We got our tree up just one week before Christmas. I wanted to do more unpacking but Molly insisted on ornaments and candy canes for the tree instead.

My favorite room (because I spend most of my time there). I love my kitchen. I still can't remember which cabinets hold what dishes but eventually I'll have it down. Get this, I have several cabinets that are empty!! I can't believe it!

More house Pics

2007-12-24T07:18:00.000-08:00

The Formal dining room.

My second favorite room in the house! The tub is GREAT!

This is the kids playroom downstairs. We still have to trim it and add carpet but it is pretty much done. We had a kids Christmas party yesterday and all had a great time!

Nursery Rhymes

2007-11-15T12:11:00.000-08:00

This is for Grandpa and Grandma who bought the kids these nursery rhyme cards when we visited California. They both have about 95 % of them memorized but as you can see, Molly is more apt to perform for the camera. What she likes even more is watching herself on TV! Hope you enjoy.

Trick or Treat

2007-11-03T13:56:00.000-07:00

Well, here are our halloween pictures. The kids had so much fun and loved halloween and all that went with it. The candy of course, but also the little festivals, pumpkin carvings and parties. Jack dressed up as Larry Boy from Veggie Tales and Molly was Super Spy Uniqua from the Backyardigans. Probably sounds like mumbo jumbo to anyone without little kids. Jeff and I were TOLD that we were to be a witch and a ghost so that is what we were. Jacque and I made the kids costumes together. She sewed and I did Jack's helmet and Molly's glasses and Jeff's hat. Anyway, they were super cute but we still lost a costume contest to a bunch of store-bought costumes. I can't believe that! Jeff says that if I start making unique costumes now it won't ever stop but I guess that is okay. I enjoy a challenge and more than that, being different.

More birthday!

2007-10-22T18:46:00.000-07:00

Jack picking a pumpkin at the patch on Molly's birthday.

A favorite gift! Grandpa and Grandma got Molly her glove. She tells everyone " it's pink and white too!" She loves it.

I just liked this picture. She is covered in orange doughnut frosting but looking as sweet as she can be.

Fall Stuff

2007-10-22T18:35:00.000-07:00

The kids are really into Veggie Tales right now (that's Larry the Cucumber and Bob the Tomato!). We were lucky that they were out when we went to Celebration City a few weeks ago. They were almost excited as when they see Mickey.

Some of you know that I planted my first garden this year. The best crop I had was pumpkins. Here the kids are after our FIRST picking. We had more after this. Good thing I don't have to pay five bucks for a carving pumpkin this year.

This is the most recent picture of the outside of the house. I took this on Friday. They are just about done with the rock (brick is already done). The painters are putting colors on the walls and the flooring guys have laid the tile underlayment in prep for when the painters are done. I have serious doubts that it will be done by Thanksgiving like we thought but I am not giving up hope yet.

Happy Birthday Molly

2007-10-22T18:20:00.000-07:00

Here is Molly blowing out her candles for her third birthday. We had it at a pumpkin patch again this year and we all had so much fun. We got to have a bonfire, take a hayride to get pumkins, make a scarecrow, watch a clown do a magic show, moonbounce, ponyrides, and a corn maze. Needless to say everyone was very tired by the time we left.

All the kids got a pair of goofy glasses made by me and here is Jack being the master of silliness.

This was the highlight of Molly's day. If you ask her what her favorite part was she will say without hesitating "Riding Ginger the Pony!" Daddy might have to buy a horse before we get to the car!

House Stuff

2007-09-13T19:45:00.001-07:00

Yes, we're still working on it. We're coming towards the end (I think!). A lot of things going on this week. Chico poured the garage, we got garage doors and all our interior doors hung and trim is going in now. All the plumbing and well holes are covered and the yard is somewhat flat so they can start brick/rock. It's been really nice seeing something changed every day this week. It gives me hope of being in by Christmas.

I can't tell you how many times I have subjected the kids to trips to our house or to see the builder. I finally gave in (after they watched me "paint" the garage floor the other day) and let them get their hands dirty. I am putting a huge chalkboard on the wall in the playroom so I got them some old t-shirts and a couple of brushes so they could help. This has been the highlight (for them) in the house building process! A bit messy for me, but seeing how excited they were made up for it!

Here is a picture of the trim and pine doors...I LOVE these doors. They are going to look great stained. This is the master bedroom and you can see the fancy ceiling. I always did want at least one stacked ceiling.

OTHER things we are up to!

2007-09-13T19:25:00.000-07:00

One our favorite things to do around here is go to the nature center here in Springfield. The kids love looking and learning about all the crawling things out there and they always look forward to story time with Mrs. Ladybug. Here they are dancing with her at the September storytime.

Here's a bit about Molly---she knows what she wants and sometimes what she wants is quite silly and cute. She has a tendancy to carry her "babies" around in her shirt and on this day it was overalls so this stuffed cat fit perfectly. Then she had to wear her paper chick-fil-a hat with it and this was her outfit for the rest of the day.

We had another battle with a stomach virus and were cooped up for three days. We spent one whole day as pirates hunting treasure in the basement. I hide the chest (full of leftover party favors and m&ms) and give them index cards with pictures as clues. I swear this can go on for hours and when I finally called it quits there was a lot of pouting and crying involved....

Great Wolf Lodge

2007-09-13T19:14:00.000-07:00

Over labor day weekend we took a "mini" vacation to Kansas City, Kansas. Actually, Jeff was sent there for work on a day he was supposed to be home so we tagged along. We stayed at this lodge with an indoor water park and we had a great time. It was wierd that we didn't go outside at all for two days but we didn't need to. The kids loved swimming inside and both of them even rode the big slides on double tubes with Jeff and I. They also had this indoor quest/adventure game where they give you a wand and you search the hotel for clues in order to defeat dragons and trolls (on huge computer screens). Anyway, the kids LOVED that and Jeff and I thought it was pretty fun too. They just loved pointing their wands at all the treasure boxes and seeing what was inside. Anyway, there are several of these lodges in the US and I strongly recommend them for families!

The Birthday Boy

2007-08-22T19:04:00.001-07:00

On Jack's actual birthday, we took him out to eat at his favorite restaurant (other than Chuck E Cheese). The "fire place"--Japanese grill where they cook in front of you. He and Molly are starting to use chopsticks. It is pretty cute! So, here we are with the birthday boy on his big day.

House and Jack's Birthday.

2007-08-22T12:26:00.001-07:00

We've had a big week. Jack turned four yesterday and I really can't believe that. We had his Dinosaur party on Saturday and that was a total blast. He is really enjoying his new stuff and so is Molly. She can't wait for her birthday now, which she keeps rememinding us is NOW! We'll get to it soon enough and I am sure she'll have just as much fun at her party. The other big thing is that the drywall is done in our house and now we can really move forward (we hope) and start wrapping things up. There is still a lot to be done! It's really hard to imagine all that is left but except for exterior brick, the major stuff is now done. We'll be getting our own hands dirty soon with painting, landscaping, and cleaning but it will be worth it!

This is a picture of the kitchen from the living room.

Jack blowing out his candles. I made this stegosaurus cake and it was a big hit.

That's the Mollosaurus hitting the pinata with all the other "dinos" looking on......

Party and bowling

2007-08-22T11:02:00.000-07:00

One of the highlights of Jack's party was digging up T-rex bones in the sandbox. I had made them out of plaster of paris and the kids thought this was the coolest thing!

Here's Jack getting ready for the dino egg race.

Along with Grammie (my mom) I took the kids bowling for the first time recently. They really liked it--especially the funky shoes. Molly won! She bowled something like 75 which is about what I was bowling when we did it in high school!

Enjoying the HEAT!

2007-08-07T12:02:00.000-07:00

Summer has finally REALLY arrived here. It's been upper nineties and very sticky! We are doing our best to stay cool. We went to Jordan valley park one day and enjoyed the FREE fountains and waterfalls. The kids thought it was great. Their favorite part was running their boats down the waterfalls.

Soccer Princess

2007-08-07T11:54:00.000-07:00

We gave up the battle of Molly screaming on the sidelines while Jack plays and signed her up for indoor soccer. They are on the same team and I think they both had a blast. Molly spend 3 out of 4 quarters on the floor and got one good kick on the ball. No offense to Jack but that is way better than he did his first time. She was just about the cutest thing we've ever seen running up and down the court, and they are both looking forward to next weeks game!

Mama and her soccer girl.

There were a few instances of unavoidable PDA (Molly running up and hugging Jack while he was playing goalie). This always got an audible "ahhhhhh" from the crowd.

Here she is trying to catch up with the bigger kids!

Jack Loves Baseball!

2007-08-07T11:38:00.000-07:00

Jack recently participated in "pop flys" at the YMCA. It was basically a camp for 3-4 year olds to learn the basics of baseball--hitting, throwing, fielding, and running bases. Jack absolutely loved it (and Molly threw fits because she couldn't play!). On the last night they got to play a mini-game and these pictures are from that. We were pretty proud of him. He was the only kid who knew to get the ball on the very first hit and he ran from first over to second to do it. Mommy was doing a lot of cheering! I can't help it...it IS my sport after all.

Here is Jack chasing the first hit of the game!

Ah, the other boys caught on now but Jack still held his own.

Standing on third base. It was HOT but he was having a great time!

Our first float trip

2007-07-16T11:40:00.000-07:00

So, here we are on our first canoe trip. The kids LOVED it and I have to say, that we found it really fun too. They liked "fishing" off the side of the canoe. Don't tell them that mommy rigged their poles with no bait or hook. I didn't feel like getting a hook in my back or ear. It didn't matter really, they just love casting and reeling. We floated the Northfork of the White River here in Missouri and it was beautiful. If you don't count the mishaps getting home (long story but cost about 600 bucks!) we had a great family trip over the fourth of July.

Jeff has been very busy with the National Guard. We are very lucky that he is not deployed but, WOW, it seems like we see him less than when he was on active duty. Of course, we know it is because he is moving to a new job (the one he has been waiting for) and there for a while he was working two jobs with them during the move. Now it seems he is always attending one course or another in training for his new job. Jack really misses him when he's gone so we really treasure the time we all have together. If possible, we look forward to some more camping and floating this summer.....

I love this picture. Jack was just casting away and he almost looked like he needed hip-waders. Future fly fisherman?? We stopped here by the bluffs for our lunch and it was gorgeous.

Look close and you will see the poor caterpillar that Molly tortured for two full days. By the time she was done with it, and I had to force her to let it free, it had lost all it's fuzzy hair and looked like a worm. She was so proud of it that I didn't have the heart to take it away!

Camping and House update.

2007-07-16T11:27:00.000-07:00

Here is another picture from our camping trip. Jack was reading to Molly in the camper while I was digging out bathing suits and stuff.

Things are really moving along with our house. The roof is done and we have windows and doors. Inside, the wiring, plumbing, heating and air are done. Well, the heating guys were finishing up today but while I was there bribing them with cold drinks (it's going to be 95 today), they were kind enough to let me know that it would be done today! So, the insulation and drywall are next. Hopefully now that weather is not really a factor, things will move right along. I am not going to speculate on a date, but at this point I will settle for being there by Christmas!

The Graduate

2007-06-24T12:01:00.000-07:00

Here we are with Revanna (far right) just before her graduation. She is really grown up now and we are VERY proud of her! Love you, sis!

2007-06-24T11:53:00.000-07:00

The kids went nuts over this full size lightening mcqueen. They had mater too!

Jack riding Dumbo with Grandma.

Molly and Grandpa playing in the pool. The kids are both little fishes by the way but Molly has really surprised me this year. I cannot keep her out of the water!!

San Diego

2007-06-24T11:30:00.000-07:00

It's hard to believe that it's been a year since I was in California, but it has. The kids and I just got back from traveling there to see my sister, Revanna graduate from High School. My sister and her family and my brother made the trip also. We did all the stuff we did last year and it was just as exciting for the kids. They loved Sea World and swimming in Grandpa's pool (though it was actually only warm enough to swim for one day). We also went to Legoland which I HIGHLY recommend to anyone with a child about 10 or younger. All of the kids loved it and so did the adults. I took Jack and Molly to Disneyland for two days. It was VERY crowded but also very fun. We spent one day by ourselves then grandma and grandpa joined us for the second day. Thank goodness, because I was exhausted. I am glad I did it though. The kids are still talking about the Buzz ride and who their favorite characters were. The trip was tiring for all of us, but we all had a great time and we really value the time with the family that we don't get to see too often. We can't wait to visit again.

Grandma Terrie picked out a Padres outfit for each of the kiddos. Aren't they adorable?

We went to Vegas too! Not really, this was in Legoland. An exact replica of Vegas made out of Legos.

This is Jack's "girlfriend" after a full day at Disney, this was the first character he WANTED to take a picture with! His daddies boy I guess.....

Kids trout fishing and camping

2007-05-31T19:33:00.000-07:00

We recently had one of our funnest weekends ever with the kids when we went camping and trout fishing at Roaring River state park in Missouri. We went with my friend from college, Brandy, and her family. We borrowed a travel trailer from a friend (thanks Emily) because our first tent-camp experience was horrendous. What a difference this made and the kids loved the fishing part of it. We actually caught three fish, Brandy's brood caught four, and we cooked them all up for dinner. I even cleaned my fish which I haven't done since I was 13 or so! I was surprised with Jeff playing Army for so many years that he LOVED it and it inspired us to buy our own camper so that we can continue going all summer long! We looked all over the place and Chico found us one on Monday while he was out doing a job. We bought it that night and are in the process of getting it loaded up with all the things we need for our next camping trip--hopefully at the end of June. I can't say it enough----GREAT family time! No TV, no computers and permission to be dirty! In other news, the kids and I are headed to California next week for ten days to see my sister graduate high school and just have some fun. Jeff will be TDY most of June, but in the end he will hopefully be sliding over to the job he has been waiting for since he joined the National Guard. A definate plus for us. The house is still moving slow, with frustration reaching a peak but I am trying to take deep breaths, count to ten, and make fists with my toes. Needless to say, I get a lot of toe cramps...I keep telling myself that it will all be worth the wait in the end. Right?!?

The kids not only enjoyed fishing but feeding the trout at the hatchery and walking the trails. This one was quite a hike up the side of a mountain---lots of steps and then a steep climb. The kids were pretty pooped after that!

2007-05-31T19:24:00.000-07:00

Here is Jack reeling in his first trout. It was actually hooked by a fishing volunteer for him to reel in but no difference, he was super excited!

These are the two fish we (me) actually caught--Jack reeled them both in for me and I stepped on them to make sure they didn't jump back in the river! Ha, ha! Seriously, we did forget our net!

Molly enjoyed casting her practice lure more than actual fishing but when she was doing that, she was happy!

2007-05-31T19:13:00.000-07:00

One our first casts! Jack was determined to catch a fish!

Molly lost interest pretty quickly--here she is relaxing with my friend Brandy.

One more House picture

2007-05-15T18:36:00.000-07:00

I wanted to add this one last picture for those who asked to see what the house was looking like. This is the top front (still framing the garage and ceiling/roof). There is a walk-out basement below that backs up close to the treeline.

Birthday Boy and House Pictures

2007-05-15T18:21:00.000-07:00

Just last week I was able to head up to Michigan to visit my sister and her family. The occasion was Alec (the cutie above) turning one but really, we were just due for a visit. His birthday gave us a good reason to go. The kids really enjoyed seeing their cousins, and other than the 12 hour drive I had a nice visit too. When I got back I was pleased to find that a lot had changed at our "homestead." The framing is almost done and barring a ton of rain--we hope to have a roof by the end of the week. We are planning our first trout fishing/camping trip this weekend and are really looking forward to that. Fortunately we have a friend willing to lend us their camper and we are NOT doing the tent thing again. We are also closing on our lake property this Friday. It really breaks our heart to sell it but we all know it is for the best. That's it around here for now--stay tuned!

Here are the kids "posing" in the basement of the house. They really enjoyed this visit out to the property because they could actually see and stand in their own rooms. I was glad to see that they actually understood what was going on.

Michigan Pictures

2007-05-15T18:08:00.000-07:00

While in Michigan we headed over to Kalamazoo for lunch and a visit with Aunt Amy (Jeff's sister) and Uncle Trin. We had a great time and I am CERTAIN Jack and Molly gave them a good dose of experiencing toddlers.

Here are the kids with Aidan and Abbey --I think Alec was napping???

We were lucky to get to see Grandpa and Grandma Gonzalez too. They had flown in from San Diego for Alec's first Birthday.

It's a bird, it's a plane, it's a HOUSE?????

2007-04-30T12:14:00.000-07:00

A major hurdle was overcome when Chico (that's my brother) was able to pour the basement floor of our house. He had one day in a week of rain to get it done. It was FREEZING and windy and I had to keep the kids in the car to watch him do it. It was fun and PAINFUL to watch. I'm really not sure how those concrete guys do it. Talk about physical labor!

Shortly thereafter (after several more days of rain) they were able to start framing the basement. It is just about done and they can start the top floor. It is really exciting now to see that we actually have a shape and rooms framed out. We were even more thrilled when we drove out to see it on Saturday and the workers were still there working.

2007-04-30T11:57:00.000-07:00

Molly gets more excited about Jack playing soccer than he does sometimes. She likes to practice cheering "go Jack, kick that ball!" so we made her a shirt.

Sun and Soccer

2007-04-30T11:48:00.000-07:00

Playing in the sandbox. Apparantly Jack found one of grandma's sun hats and when we went out side to check on them, he was well-shaded and having a great time...

We signed Jack up for outdoor soccer this spring but he is having trouble adjusting. We have had two games and you are looking at the ONE picture of him actually playing. The rest are of him running OFF the field. We did manage to bribe him to play for the last two minutes of this game. I am hoping it is just a phase because he asked us to let him play and now he won't, so getting up for an 800 am game on Saturday is not much fun.

Happy Easter

2007-04-09T18:42:00.000-07:00

So, Molly is a little actress. She likes to fake sleep, thumb and all. If you casually say "oh, I hope Molly doesn't fall asleep," she'll just go narcaleptic wherever she is. It is really funny. Here, she was trying to sneak into bed with Jack after their stories.

Our visit with the Easter bunny. I know they aren't really smiling but even though they were serious, they were very excited to see him. It is before and after that they won't stop talking about it. Though Molly did throw a fit when she realized THIS Easter bunny didn't offer any thing for visiting--not even a piece of candy.

All the kids doing up their eggs! Molly like scribbling on them with the clear crayon.

Silly Easter pics

2007-04-09T18:34:00.000-07:00

Jack with one of his dyed eggs. It was odd this year that they didn't just sit and watch Jeff and I dye the eggs. They actually did most of it themselves, with a "little" supervision.

Molly was most excited about her dum-dum suckers. She pulled them out of the basket one at a time and lined them up saying "oh, another sucker!"

More Easter

2007-04-09T12:10:00.000-07:00

Jack wouldn't stop dancing and acting silly so everyone joined in. Here are Jack and Molly with their cousins and Grammie on Easter.

Showing off the eggs the Easter bunny hid!

Cool Jack and his Easter loot!

Starting to look like a house.

2007-04-01T18:43:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I know you are probably sick of the whole "house" thing but since we are so excited to finally have something DONE, I had to share that we finally have basement walls and are getting our foundation this week (pray for NO RAIN--in fact a good dry spell would help us along). The kids enjoyed actually seeing something there since I have driven them out there many times just to see dirt....I said "look, they are building our house," and they proceeded to pick up rocks and start chucking them into the trench around the concrete. At that moment I realized how nice it must be to not really know what is going on and just be able to get excited about a pit to throw rocks into. I think we could all take a lesson out of that book. I'll try to remember that next time it rains for three days in a row. Below is a picture from the Easter egg hunt we went to on Saturday. The kids had a great time and of course were thrilled with all the candy!

Zoo trip

2007-04-01T18:31:00.000-07:00

This was our first trip to the zoo this year. Springfield has really updated their zoo and it is just perfect for little people. Jack walked 90% of the time and Molly about half the time. They really loved it. Grandma and Grandpa got the kids a zoo pass for the year so we'll be frequent visitors. Here is a picture of Molly feeding the goats and Jack "navigating" with the zoo map!

Little Steps

2007-03-14T13:28:00.000-07:00

It seems like our lives are happening in phases right now and two major hurdles are now in motion. First, after much deliberation and discussion, Jeff has re-joined the ranks as a full-time worker for the Army National Guard. We thought we were done with the Army but when certain opportunities arise, you have to take the blessings you are given. So.....we finally broke down and bought the new uniforms ( I affectionately call them Jeff's "pixels" because they look like a digital picture when you zoom in), patches, and everything else he needs to start on his new career. His first week back at work, he had to go TDY (temporary duty) to a class and the kids missed him bunches. As you can see from the picture, he was barely in the door when Molly was in his lap saying, "I not mommy's girl, I daddy's girl." Jeff was pretty happy about that.

Second step: break ground on the house! DONE, can't believe it but it is started. The winter was really rough and we closed on our construction loan about a week after the ice storm. With the cold and all the recovery still going on it took a while to get things moving. Finally, we have a hole in the ground and should have basement walls by the end of the week......

Jeff in his new uniform with "daddy's Girl."

Here it is...our basement. Can't you just picture it? Ha, ha!

I had to include this picture of Jack playing a cars computer game. I think he works the mouse and controllers better than most adults. I can't believe that he knows how to do things like drive with the arrows on one hand and use his other to press the space bar. His hand-eye coordination has gotten really advanced!

Welcome Spring!

2007-03-13T18:03:00.000-07:00

I don't think we've ever been this happy to see spring and I also don't think we've spent a day inside in at least five days. It's been great. The kids are in heaven and driving us crazy from the minute they are dressed until they go to bed to PLAY OUTSIDE! Here a few cute pictures of them riding the slide at the park. Molly has finally decided that she isn't scared of the slide and I am pretty happy about that. Now I can cheer her on from below rather than going up and coming down 300 times!

Update

2007-03-01T13:31:00.000-08:00

Things are still moving along here. Jeff starts his National Guard job on Saturday (the one weekend a month part) and starts his day job on Monday. It's going to be a challenging week for me. We've kind of gotten used to having him around. Our house is still yet to be started....if you asked me why I could tell you a variety of reasons I have heard but to be honest I really don't understand. Something to do with all the bad weather (even though we've had nearly two weeks over the 55 degree mark) and the soil condition not being right. "Whatever" I say, just get the darn thing built. As long as all the time we've lost is made up for, I'll be okay! The kids and dogs are doing great. We have really enjoyed the glimpse of Spring we've had in the last two weeks. We have spent lots of time outside and not surprisingly it has helped with Jack's sleeping habits. I am thrilled that my best friend Julie just moved back from Alabama after her husband finished flight school. Congrats, Shannon! I am currently trying to plan my trip to California in June for my sisters high school graduation. I'm going to squeeze in a trip to Disneyland so that Molly can see her best friend, MICKEY! It should be an adventure, especially since Jeff won't be with us!

Here is Jack meeting the famous Bass Pro shops Grizzly bear. Molly was terrified and I had to snap this photo while she was clinging to my leg.

Just being cute while we wait to watch the fish feeding at bass pro.

Soccer and More

2007-03-01T12:53:00.000-08:00

Watching 3-4 year olds play soccer is a highly frustrating event but Jack does love it. When we don't have a soccer night, he asks for it, but when he does sometimes he is tired and unfocused. On this night (when we remembered to bring the camera), he was not entirely with it but he is awfully CUTE!

One of the rare moments when he was actually after the ball.

Here, as I was saying is our unfocused son. The Ref got a good laugh at this!

Jack played Goalie in the last quarter.....he saved about four goals and let in FIVE. He wasn't really paying attention but he was having fun!

Molly's pictures

2007-02-11T12:26:00.000-08:00

This is how I found Molly and Jeff one day last week when I got home from the gym. I thought it was the sweetest thing. We will all be in a "funk" when jeff has to go back to work....

Little miss pigtails looking as "innocent" as ever---oh if you only knew!

Trees

2007-02-11T12:05:00.000-08:00

So, most people know that Springfield was a disaster area (still is) after the recent ice storm. Jeff's parents had to take down a huge pine tree in their yard afterwards. Here I was watching them cut down this huge pine and the biologist in me is thinking "what a shame." I went outside and the tree trimmers informed me the wood was going to a burn site and I said NO WAY. I asked them to leave two of the big chunks for us and this is a picture of the biggest piece. Needless to say I found a guy with a sawmill who came out here and cut it for us. From this log and one smaller one we got a bar top for Jeff's bar, a huge fireplace mantel, and one smaller fireplace mantel for our new house! Isn't that great? They are going to be gorgeous and we'll always have a story to tell about where the wood came from.

Here is a picture of Jack doing Yoga, yes Yoga with Jeff's mom. Molly had lost interest but at one time they were both doing it. It was very cute!

Who is this handsome guy???

Coming Along

2007-01-27T08:55:00.000-08:00

Jack, ready for his first soccer game.

For those who have asked, this is VERY close to the look of the house we are building. The roof, the rock, and the windows are all very similar. The porch will be different and we'll have a three car garage, but this should give you a good idea of what we are embarking on.

Things are coming along here. We closed on our construction loan last night so we can start our house just as soon as the weather agrees. Not easy to do in January but we'll try to be patient. Jeff is now officially out of the Army and will be moving into the National Guard at the end of February. Jeff left early this morning to go put the lake land on the market and cut trees so the view is better. Hopefully we'll sell it quickly because the longer we have it, the harder it is to part with it. If there was any way we could hang onto it, we would. The kids are doing fine now that they got over a terrible stomach virus. Molly was sick for six days followed by six days for Jack. If I never see vomit again it will be too soon. The good thing is that Molly was able to bounce back on her own but Jack required a little medical intervention. After a full bag of IV fluids he was on the mend and is now doing fine. I think they both still have a little catching up to do because all they seem to do is fight and WHINE. It's the sleepiness coming out I guess. Jack has started an indoor soccer league for three and four year olds. I think it is the single most frustrating thing for us as parents but he loves it. He basically runs around chasing the ball (and the other kids) and once in a while gets a kick in. For his very first time out he is doing fine. At our last game half of our team was on the sidelines crying but I guess if you start at three that is what you get. Molly really wants to play too and at Jacks first game there was a major temper tantrum because she didn't get a soccer shirt. I guess we'll have to sign her up next year. Well, that is about it. Keep checking back because we'll be posting pictures as we get our house started and such.

Christmas Morning

2007-01-08T13:21:00.000-08:00

Molly was very excited about her Mickey's Christmas Carol DVD!

The Geo Tracks was the favorite. Jack didn't stop playing all day and still uses it everyday!

Wearing rollers like Grandma. She got really mad when she saw that daddy was taking her picture. She started screaming and ripping them out of her hair. Just like any self-respecting lady would do....right?

2007-01-07T11:54:00.000-08:00

UPDATE:
Things are moving along here. It looks like Jeff will be going back to work for the government (in a non-deployable way) and we are going to be starting construction on our house in the next few weeks! We are SOOO excited. It is going to be a custom-built home and will cost more than we anticipated, but we will get everything we want. In the meantime, we are selling the lake property (any takers give us a call) and trying to figure out what parts of the house we can do ourselves to cut back on costs. Right now it is painting, landscaping, clean-up, and that's about it. Anyone with special skills is welcome to volunteer! We are just getting over the "sickies " here but are looking forward to a new week and more new adventures. Stay tuned!!

Molly is getting pretty big! She is potty-trained now (it only took about two weeks) and she is getting more and more independent. She knows what she wants and it is usually pink and involves Mickey Mouse in some way!

One of the reasons we moved, here are the kids with their cousins (three of them) on Christmas Eve. We spent the evening at my brother's house with Tami's mom too. It was great to be with family.

Ringing in the New Year. No, it wasn't midnight--we staged the picture ahead of time.

Chiefs Fans and Silver Dollar City

2006-12-23T11:06:00.000-08:00

My little Chiefs cheerleader. She was having a lot of fun running around in her outfit.

"I'm a model, you know what I mean....." This kid is such a poser.

We went to Silver Dollar City for the "Old time Christmas" celebration. The kids loved the lights but what they loved even more were the corn dogs!

This was our second trip to see santa and the first time they would sit on his lap. Jack actually told Santa what he wanted for Christmas and Molly did too, just very quietly!

House hunting and Holiday fun!

2006-12-19T18:17:00.000-08:00

Things are busy here. Jeff is lining up work and at the same time we having been struggling with our housing options. After 3 weeks of house hunting and not finding what we wanted we've decided to build our house so that we get all that we want. We are very excited and hope it all works out as planned! We are enjoying our time with Jeff because we know how busy he'll be when he starts working again. We've joined the gym and the library and are looking forward to a trip to Bass Pro and Silver Dollar City to see the Christmas lights. It should be great fun!

This is what it was like two a day after we got here. Jeff had to run out and buy Jack snowboots because he didn't have any. It took over a week for it to melt off.

Playing Santa with Molly. She was so funny kissing and giggling and saying "Kiss me mama Santa!"

Molly with her blow up Mickey for the front yard. We saw this and of course had to buy it!

We were waiting for the Springfield Christmas parade to start. It was our first parade and I think the kids loved it!

Made it to Missouri

2006-12-02T18:21:00.000-08:00

Well...we made it to Missouri. It was a pretty good trip, but we did have to cut it to two days instead of three due to the big storm blowing in. The kids did pretty well as you can see from this picture of Jack playing in his seat. The second day was harder because they caught onto the staying in the car for hours on end but we made it with no major upsets.

Molly on the Metro when we went to Washington D. C. before we left.

We really wanted to see the WWII Memorial before we moved so we made a trip down to DC at the last minute.

Here are the kids wearing the Thanksgiving craft we made.

While in DC we went to the Smithsonian to see the dinosaur bones. The kids were amazed by this T-rex skull.

Jeff's Farewell

2006-11-14T09:36:00.000-08:00

I think there was an inside joke here. This is the cake from Jeff's farewell.

Receiving his gift from the Current Operations section.

I love this picture of Jack in Jeff's beret.

Receiving his farewell gift from the 20th Support Command.

This was our last day with Mrs. Lisa who has taken care of Jack and Molly while I exercise since Molly was seven weeks old. It was a hard goodbye! Molly calls her "my Wisa?"

2006-11-14T09:17:00.000-08:00

I don't think I need to explain how much cursing took place during camp set-up

We took our first camping trip in October with some friends and it didn't turn out too well....It started off great with one day of exploring, playing, and roasting marshmallows. After the kids went to bed, we had some adult time. About 11 pm I start hearing noises inside our tent after it had started raining. There is nothing cuter than unzipping a tent door and finding two blondies in sleepers standing there. Anyway, the rain on the tent was LOUD and it had woke them up. I said goodnight to the adults and tucked in with the kids. Jack slept fine but Molly did not like the noise (it was "big old fat rain") and she was awake--no lie--until 1230 pm the next day when we packed up to head home. Needless to say we were pretty tired and grumpy for about a week after that. Oh, did I mention that our air mattress was bordered by about an inch of water by the morning? We will definately camp again but are seriously considering a popup camper!