Summer is Here

Memorial Day, the unofficial start of summer. First and foremost, Memorial Day calls to mind the sacrifices that  too many brave Service Members have made so that we can enjoy the freedoms we often take for granted. With Aaron deployed, Memorial Day touches a particularly tender place in my heart. To date, five soldiers from Aaron's brigade have selflessly given their lives for our country. On this Memorial Day I remember those five, in particular, and pray that no more names are added to the list. I pray that their families find peace and comfort.

Memorial Day also means a long weekend. Most people welcome a long weekend. Honestly, during deployment, a long weekend is the last thing I look forward to. The absence of the daily routine of work and play can tend to make the days go slow. So when there are four of them in a row I actually kind of dread it. In an effort to speed up the day and get this darn holiday weekend over we made big plans to enjoy the beautiful weather. Naturally we never pass up the opportunity to spend time with our friends (who also kind-of-sort-of dislike the long weekends for the same reason...) so we invited some over and picnicked, splished, splashed and had a grand time in the sun!

Colton, clearly enjoying his first time in a pool!

Clara, all wet and loving it!

Copy cats!

Tomorrow I will welcome the return of our regular routine. Back to work, back to daycare, and continuing to wait and count down the months until our Soldier comes home.

Dear Daddy

Dear Daddy, We just want you to know that we miss you sooooo much! I says prayers for you to stay safe every night and come home soon. I blow kisses and throw hugs all the way to Ghafghanistan before I go to sleep each night. I'm really strong and they can make it all the way to you from my bedroom. I have a long list of things I want to do with you when you come home. I want a daddy-daughter date and we will get ice cream. I want to snuggle in bed and watch Curious George and The Cat in the Hat. I want to have a movie night. I want to go to Funtopia and to the zoo and the water park and play at the mall.

You aren't going to believe how much Colton has changed! He is walking more and more every day now and has learned some words and lots of baby signs. He can climb onto the couch and keeps trying to play in the toilet! Colton snuggles and plays with his Daddy Doll in bed and loves listening to daddy books before bed each night.

We talk about you all the time, daddy. I love talking about the things we did together when you were home and about the things you are good at. You are WAY better at wrapping up my baby dolls than mommy is (but she's getting better). And, mommy can't make my tacos as good as you do - must be because she doesn't like sour cream like you and I do!

Daddy, don't for one second ever think that we are forgetting about you. We miss you so much. We love you tons, tons, more, though. And, we miss you bunches and bunches and bunches, so that means we really love you A LOT!!!

Love, Clara
(Colton & Mommy, too)

Colton Boltin'

You can't have just one kid with a cute nickname, right? Colton Boltin' not only rhymes and sounds fun, it is true! The blink of an eye and this kid bolts! He's climbed onto the couch, he's splashing in the cat's water bowl, he's pulling place mats (with cups of milk on them) off the table, and he's stealing my heart, every day!

Got 'em! (and yes, he climbed in there all by himself!)

Oh my! The view is so much better when you're walking!

Now I can be even faster with my new rocket!

I know this little guy will keep me on my toes for years to come. For now, I'm enjoying it, despite the challenges he presents at times, at the end of the day he brings me nothing by smiles.

Colton's First Steps

He did it!!!! Colton took his first steps this morning! He walked 2 steps from the couch to where I was sitting on the ottoman before leaning foward and falling with a big smile on his face into my arms. It was so great!

Grandparents and Grandchildren

I just love seeing my parents with my children. The love grandma and papa have for Clara and Colton is just so abundant and special it makes my heart smile. The admiration and adoration Clara has and Colton is developing for them is so spectacular and strong, I can't wait to watch it grow over the years. We are so fortunate to be able to visit with them often and enjoy their company down here in Kentucky.



Grandma and Colton

Grandma, Clara, Colton and Papa

They were here for a week to help celebrate Colton's first birthday. My wonderful mother helped me catch up on laundry and household tasks. My work-horse father tackled a number of projects like installing ceiling fans, assembling a gazebo, organizing and sweeping the garage, and getting our garden ready. I honestly don't know what I would do without them to help and support me during Aaron's deployment. I'm so blessed!

Clara Beara

Our little girl has affectionately been called "Clara Beara" for a long time. She's just so cute and sqeezeable and loveable and huggable and a whole bunch of other "-able" adjectives! I had to take this opportunity to post some recent pics of little lady being silly, enjoying life and making us smile.



Clara's idea of playing dress-up!

Enjoying a bubble bath

Proud of her sunflowers, but too shy to look at the camera!

Colton is One Year Old!!!!

Can it be? Is it true? Our little baby boy is ONE YEAR OLD!!!! How the heck did that happen? The answer is....quickly. In what seems like no time at all, Colton has celebrated his first birthday and man, was it great!

Yep! I'm one, and I'm proud of it!

Our little man spared no restraint in enjoying his cake, playing with friends, new toys and loving his party. By the end of the afternoon he was pooped; and so was everyone at the party! 



Get it off!

Get ready...

 ...and go!

And, go some more!

Our little guy is so sweet and amazes us each day. He is cruising with one hand, standing all by himself for many seconds, is learning new baby signs each week, and getting ready to walk! I can see it in his eyes when he stands, lets go, thinks for a while, lifts his foot, tries to take a step, but decides to get back down to his knees and crawls. I'm keeping the video camera handy, gotta make sure I can have a chance to record firsts steps for Aaron!

Ahhhh, Green, Green Grass

Our visit to Detroit included some gorgeous, spring weather. We jumped at the chance to play outside and enjoy some romping in my parents' beautiful, soft, lush, green grass. Oh, how I miss nice grass. Having lived in rental homes in the south the past 4 years we just have not had the good fortune or resources to have the kind of grass I enjoyed in Michigan.

Clara couldn't wait to take off her shoes and socks and feel the blades between her toes; she loved it! Colton was picking through the grass with his little fingers and was crawling over the the yard.


Daddy's Little Man

Fun with Papa

A "big girl" bike for our big girl

Get...this...hat...off...of...me!

Papa makes it look so easy...

....why isn't it working for me?

Mommy and her sweet girl



I know, there are a lot of pictures here, but there were just too many cute ones to not share them!

Easter 2011

The kids and I had a fabulous trip to Detroit for Easter this year. The adventure started with our flight to Detroit from Louisville. I had no idea what an undertaking I was embarking on, but I did know it could go great or horrible. It went great! Our kids were absolutely fabulous flying to and from Kentucky. Not only that, but, our travels reminded me that there are plenty of kind strangers out there, and like my friend said, "chivalry is still alive." Thank goodness that when perfect strangers saw this mom traveling alone with two young children they didn't hesitate to offer a helping hand. Whether it be closing and opening a stroller to get through security, holding open a door to get into a restroom, carrying a car seat off the plane and then all the way to baggage claim when our stroller was taken there instead of left at the gate, and many other little courtesies and blessings, it made our airport/airplane adventure the best it could have possibly been.

Our great experience getting to Detroit definitely put me in a great mood to start our actual visit. We had a great time visiting with friends, family, and playing....A LOT!

One of the highlights for Clara was our trip to Jungle Java! Oh, how I wish we had one in the Elizabethtown/Ft. Knox area. A coffee house/cafe with the most incredible indoor kids play equipment! I was so proud of our little Clara. She was climbing rope ladders, going down 4 level-high tube slides, and having a blast. Colton was just as busy exploring the baby/toddler area complete with tunnels, steps and slides. It was so much fun watching the kids have so much fun, and the coffee was good, too!

All in all, it was a great visit. I have more pictures that I'll post later this week. For now, it's getting late, so I'll leave you with our 2011 Easter pics.