Potty Training

So we have been talking about potty training a lot.  Landon was showing interest before we left Omaha but it just wasn't great timing.  He really wanted to be like his friend Bo! Well this week he woke up one morning and put on his own big boy pants.  He had a couple of accidents but did pretty good.  He has really been doing great!  We were out at a store and he even told me that he had to go, held it and then went on the potty!  We are SO excited for him.  You can just see in his eyes how proud he is!  I hope this continues and we will soon be diaper free!

Friday we were hanging out at home since Bill took the car to work (we are still waiting for the Camry to arrive from Bahrain).  Addison came to be and said "Mom will you call me Ruby and Landon Bond."  Ahhh ok....I said something to her and she made me say it again using Ruby.  I have NO idea where this girl comes up with this stuff!  Addi and Landon (aka Ruby and Bond) are loving their backyard. There are a lot of trees and they love to play back there.  They even found some wild strawberries growing.  Oh geez they were excited! In front there is a flat sidewalk and they are loving that to ride bikes.  We have met some of our neighbors too and they have kids about the same age so really all is well.  As far as the house goes....that is another story.  Most things are out of boxes...except the garage which is so full of empty boxes we can't move. Now it is trying to hang pictures and all that. And I am still and will be for three years struggling with where to put stuff.  This house is half the size of our house in Omaha.  It is just painful.  Today I was really missing home.....it just takes so long to get places here.  There is no such thing as a quick trip anywhere! I MISS OMAHA!  

Mother's Day

I had a great Mother's Day!  My family made me feel so special.  I woke up to heart shaped toast and delicious Kona coffee.  Then we went to church and then out for breakfast.  When we came home Bill kept telling me I should go for a run.  I was a little worried as I couldn't remember the last time I had ran.  But I went.  Wow what a tough run!  The air here is just different! Or at least that is my story!  When I got home Bill and the kids had planted my favorite gerber daisies in pots for me outside.  They are so pretty!  After that Bill typed an address in the GPS and told me to go there...he said something to the effect that it won't all be enjoyable but worth it!  Ahhh.....what?  Well, he gave me a Thai yoga massage.  It was amazing.  The best massage I have EVER gotten!  I went into this room, put on some scrubs and laid down on the floor.  This little Asian woman who weighed maybe 95 pounds came in and she massaged everything!  Even my face which was kinda strange! But she made my shoulders feel amazing! THANK YOU to Bill for yet another very thoughtful present!
We were also able to spend some time together in D.C. on Friday since I got back on thursday from MN.  We went to the botanic gardens and the air and space museum.  It was really fun.  It is amazing that it is all free!  Bill had the goal of getting a picture of me and the kids...he did a good job even despite the camera having a dead battery and the second battery no where to be found.  We had to use the little camera.

Botanic Gardens

 I have the most beautiful family ever!  Someone told us we looked like a Gap commercial....I suppose so! 

We went into the Air and Space Museum....we didn't get too far so we for sure need to go back...but it was really cool!

Here Addi and Landon are eating lunch from a street cart!  You can't beat hot dogs from a street vendor!

 This picture cracks me up!  It looks like Bill is running for Congress or something!  

Cartwheels infront of the Capitol...why of course!  

While I was away at my massage Bill, Addison and Landon made me a very yummy cake!  It is the most beautiful cake I have ever seen!  Thanks guys I am so lucky to be your Mommy!

May 4th

May 4th- The day started with such joy...we found out that our friends from Omaha, Jess & Rob Schneider had their baby boy!  Jackson arrived safely and was healthy!  We continued the day by attending a First Communion for Luciano Ragonese....we hadn't seen the Ragonese family since Naples so it was great to see them!  It is so nice that we live so much closer about 30 miles or so. It is amazing that we have friends all over the world!

As we were leaving the party there was a sharp turn of events.  I got a call from my sister as we were leaving...I figured I would call her back on our way home.  The phone rang again and I knew something was wrong.  Then as I looked further at my phone I had missed a bunch of calls.  My Grandparents have been ill...both fighting influenza.  But they were doing better.  My Grandpa was scheduled to go home that day so I figured it was a call that everything had gone well.  It wasn't.  Apparently, things for Grandpa didn't go well through the night and he was having a hard time breathing.  He wasn't going home.  The staff there administered morphine for pain and the dosage was maxed out meaning it was just a matter of time.  As I was on the phone with my Uncle Jody, he and I got word that Grandpa had passed.  There are many good things as he was surrounded by his entire family, he was able to participate in communion and speak with the Pastor from his church that he had attended his entire life, and was not in pain.  This being my only Grandpa it was more than difficult for me.  But as always my family pulled me through.  Bill has a way of making me feel better in all situations.  He told me about a sermon that he had heard once....the pastor was talking about all the flowers there are at funerals....and he said give me my flowers while I am living!  This made sense to me!  I got to see my Grandpa on face time the day before and he actually said goodbye to me and had spent some time with him when I was home.  He was really concerned about us making it to Virginia.  I talked to my Mom and my Grandpa had asked if we made it and she didn't know.  He told her she should go home and call me and then come back and tell him.  I had never heard that kind of concern from my Grandpa before.  I have so many great memories and have more than a little bit of his stubbornness in me.  But in the end I am glad that he didn't have to suffer and was surrounded by love in his last moments.  Here is how I remember him......someone who wanted you to believe that he was so tough....but one smile from Addison or Landon and he would totally melt.  I will certainly miss that grin and those amazing twinkling eyes!  

My Grandpa's funeral was May 8th.  I traveled home alone and Bill and the kids stayed in VA.  It was a tough decision but we thought it was better that way.  It was nice to see the rest of my family and be there for my Grandma.  She is one amazing woman!  

Daddy & Addi Date

April 28-  Bill gave Addison tickets to the symphony for Valentine's Day...well they finally got to go!  It was a fun children's program about violins growing up.  Addi really liked it.  It is truly amazing how many great things there are to do in this area.  I am trying to plan activities for summer and I am totally overwhelmed.  But, it is a good problem to have!

Addison at the Kennedy Center for the first time!

Happy 11th Birthday Sidney!

So, even though I have tried for years to tip every pizza guy with a beagle it hasn't worked!  Sidney is still traveling around with us....and on April 24th he turned 11!!  He is a sweet dog for the most part... he lets Landon and Addison climb all over him, drag him around by the ears, dress him up, drag him around on a leash..he is tolerant!  When he has had enough he goes and hides for awhile only to come zooming out at the drop of a crumb!

 The Old Man on his birthday! I didn't have the heart to kick him off....but only for today!

 Landon has to know where Sidney is EVERY morning.  Today was no different but he wanted his picture taken with Sidney since it was his birthday.

This was Addison's way of helping to unpack...watching Aquamarine....THANK YOU BRE!!!  Even from thousands of miles away...you are still helping me out!!  We LOVE & MISS YOU!

Across the Country & Move In

So the dreaded time was upon us.....it was time to drive from MN to VA.  We had a couple of days in Minnesota where we were able to spend some time with family.  That was nice.  And because of SNOW yup SNOW in April we were delayed by a day.  We left early saturday morning and arrived somewhere near Fremont, Ohio thirteen some hours later.  Our kiddos were SUPERSTARS!  I really was shocked at how accommodating they were.  Landon would get a little bored and then feisty but once he napped a bit all was well.  Addison of course was super happy because she got unlimited movie time.  Bubble guppies topped the list of favorites! 

The next day we had a lot less ways to go and arrived at our NEW house about 6:30p.m. or so!  So seeing our house for the first time......it is small, the closets are tiny, but it is in a great location and has a super school. So that trumped everything!  

Landon is a genius!  Who needs cucumbers when you have stickers? 

 Our silly Addi-cat

So there was a little time between when our stuff arrived and when we arrived...so it had to go to storage...which I guess meant being put into crates!  Seems like a lot of extra work for somebody.  But all our stuff got here! 

 The cherry blossoms were in full bloom when we arrived...at least our neighbors were! 

  So the first day we arrived we met so many people.  I was amazed. I told Bill that I felt like I was on an episode of Army Wives...without the drama!  At one point both of my kiddos were at the neighbors playing...and she said...ahh don't worry about it you guys are busy and they are just playing!  What?  I could have hugged her a million times!  There are a lot of military families in the area! Which is good and bad.....good because we have something in common...bad because they are gonna leave!  

Addison and Sara...our neighbor. 

 Landon "helping"

 

Hawaii....continued!

Bill and I had a wonderful trip to Hawaii.  It was just what we needed to relax!  We went to oodles of beaches, ate good food, went kayaking (sadly we didn't see a turtle but Bill did while he was swimming), drove around in a fun convertible, and lamented about how easy everything was before we had kids!  But the next minute missed them terribly!  When were waiting in the airport to come home we thought more than once about the fact that the Navy is willing to pay us to live in Hawaii....and we are going to D.C.....huh?  I was influenced by too much sun and pineapple juice! It was hard not to be! 

 I have a new theory....food from a truck HAS to be good!  We had some huli huli chicken and shrimp here and it was delish!  

 This is taken at the Polynesian Cultural Center.  It was a really neat show.  I think Addi would have really liked learning about the dancers!  

 One of the dancers even looked a little like Addi!  

 Bill lookin cute in our ride!  It was a convertible...super fun...except when it was raining!  It didn't rain too much but we were caught in it more than once.  

 We spent a lot of time on bases on the beaches there...it was so much less crowded!  On the Marine Corps base we found a coconut on the beach.  Bill shucked it (he learned how at the polynesian cultural center) and we drank the warm water from it!  I was SUPER impressed!  It was the highlight of my day for sure!  I am TOTALLY convinced that Bill is Hawaiian.  He is SO happy there....he has Aloha in his blood....for real....Bill was born at the big pink hospital on the hill!!!

We did a little snorkeling at Hanauma Bay which is one of my all time favorite things to do! It was pretty much as I remembered it.
 

 Before we headed to the airport we toured a coffee factory....Lion  Coffee company....it was SO cool.  It smelled so good and we learned a lot.  Our tour guide was so sweet. She even sent me a cool coffee bag she had at her house!  How sweet was that!