Queen for a Day

Kira and her friends Allison and Zoe were playing dress up together and performing plays for the parents. In almost every "play," Kira was the queen. With those kind eyes and beautiful smile, who could blame them for wanting to make her queen.

Common Face

These are faces that Phoenix is making more and more. He will do his silly goofy grin (top) and then laugh. The picture is slightly fuzzy, but the face is hard to catch since he laughs so quickly after making the face.

Having a hard day...

Kira had a particularly hard day of missing Daddy, but Daddy had prepared for something like this and talked to Kira about being brave and being a big helper and praying all the time for Daddy. We had bought her a Superman doll to compliment all of the girl dolls that she had gotten from previous birthdays and Christmases. We just didn't know when the right time would be to give it to her. Talking to Daddy on that hard day, he said "Give Kira the Superman doll to help Kira remember all the special Superman connections that we have." As it turned out, Kira was so excited about the doll and so happy that Daddy had thought about the doll for her. She looked at the doll and said, "Superman is so strong that he will help me remember to be strong for Daddy."

Helmet hair

Phoenix was trying on sissy's helmet. He kept putting it on and then taking it off. Maybe he didn't want to leave it on too long for fear of helmet hair.

Cleaning up the bathroom

Step 1: put the toys inside the mesh bag

Step 2: pick up the mesh bag...the bag has so many holes, I couldn't get that toy to stay in.

Step 3: get the bag into the tub and drop it.

Step 4: Oh man, now I can't play with the toys. Well, at least the floor is a little cleaner.

Tiger at the Zoo

We went to the Zoo with Ben, River and Miya. We saw the tiger laying down in a place close to the fence. Of course we had to get picutres.

Special Projects

We have been doing special projects to help the time pass while Daddy is gone. Kira wanted to create a counting box that she can put coins in and count the days while daddy is gone. She says when it is full, Daddy will be home and she will pay for a party for Daddy. The only thing is that it is a shoe box. I told he that Daddy would get to come home before we got the box full. That was when she had the idea that Phoenix and I could put money in every day that Daddy was gone too... you know so we could have the party too.

Playing

Phoenix climbed up on Kira's bottom bunk for the first time. He was loving it up there. He would crawl around and lagh and lay his head on the blankets.

Kira was running and hiding from the camera. One time I stuck the camera around the corner and caught this picture of her squealing laugh. Other than this picture the other pictures of her were the back of her head and her hair streaming behind her as she ran to hide.

The Real Deal

Once I opened the train for Phoenix, he drove it around and around. He took pieces off and put them on. He is 100% boy the way he drove the train around and made noises with it and took it apart and fixed it.

Phoenix and the train

When he first got the train open, he just looked at it and flipped it over a few times. He couldn't quite figure out if he liked it or not, so he played with the wrapping paper.

Look of love

I can see the love in Daddy's eyes in these pictures. We love Daddy and we are proud of what he is doing everyday to ensure the continued freedoms of our country and that our family may worship God the way that God has laid out in the Bible.

He is just so handsome

So I had to take lots of pictures to capture his good looks.

The day

The day that Daddy deployed we were waiting before official time of departure. The kids ran around and we chased them. They were both happiest playing on the four wheeler though.

My two boys

The men in my life. What more can I say? Well... My husband, the love of my life, my best friend and support, and the best Daddy ever. My little man, happy, silly, sweet, loving, and already showing an incredibly kind heart.

New Rug

Ok so this post really has nothing to do with our kids or what they are up to (except for the fact that this rug will keep their tootsies off the cold hard wood during the winter months). However this is the best way for me to get a picture to my loving husband of the new rug that I bought. Clearance at Lowe's-- $20. We have been looking for 4 1/2 months.

Who said Birthday?

Phoenix: It's my birthday? What does that mean? Is it hanging out anywhere? Can you help me with the birthday thing?

Kira: Birthday? How does he get a Birthday already? Wasn't he just born? When is my next Birthday again?

The end

This is the end of the cake story... Mmmmm that was some good eatin'....OK I am done. Someone please get this dirty, cold, damp shirt off of me. Please.

Now the good stuff

The cake is good and messy. Nice squishy texture... Ahhhhh it is cold. Someone, quick, take it out of my hands.

OREO

Can you imagine what is going through Phoenix's head...that was a good bite. I wonder what it was. Oh, they say it is cookie. A handful of this white stuff should be good too. They come from the same place. It must be good. Oh it is good. Mmmmm

Ooooo What is this?

First he was just sitting there talking up a storm and pointing at people. Then he noticed the cake in front of him and his face said oooo what is this, I must try some.

Crete

This is us arriving at Souda Bay Naval Air Base in Crete. We had 30 hours from the time that we landed to the time we were going to be taking off. On your marks...Get set....Go explore.... Many of us went into town for most of the day...shopping, adventuring and site seeing. Eight of us went on a 4 hour snorkeling tour while we were there. The water was beautiful. We even got to snorkel at a crashed plane from WWII.

To the Test

We had a party at a friends house on Labor Day so that Daddy could be at the celebration with us. Phoenix got a moving singing ball from his friend Ben and a top from Uncle Paul and Devon among other presents. He just had to give these two presents the tried and true test of "how do they taste?"

The Cake(s)

One cake for Phoenix and the kids and one cake for the adults. We got ice cream cakes thinking that it would be unique and delicious. Phoenix didn't like it because it was too cold. That is one way to keep his sugar intake for the day to a minimum.

Cereal too?

Kira had a muffin for breakfast, but she had a small bowl of cereal too. She loves her cereal in the morning, just like her Daddy.

Good morning Hewletts

Playing at the Site

Kira played on the swing that Daddy hung, with bubbles, and with her brother. Phoenix played with the rocks and the cement bumper.