Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day to all the Fathers out there!

And especially to my two favorite Daddies: the Daddy who raised me and the Daddy who is raising our Little Ones along with me.

I love you both, more than words can ever explain! And wish, more than anything, that we were celebrating today together. ♥

Since the kids still have spots that are healing {and I have some that are appearing}, we decided that instead of risking being turned away from the church nursery, the kids and I would stay home again this week. Which was a bummer. But at least they got to have a mini-dance session with Papa before he left for the service.

We all met for lunch at Cimmaron Steakhouse and then headed back to Mom and Daddy-Man's to change clothes and get ready for our Father's Day outing with Daddy-Man. The girls and I took him to see Green Lantern in the balcony while Mom and the kids went to visit Papa Snow and Grami.

{This one was the result of me getting on to everyone who was encouraging the kids to look at the camera... but wasn't directly behind me. Which meant that no one was really looking and everyone was giving crazy faces. I think it's my favorite of the day.}

Happy Father's Day, Daddy-Man! We are three of the luckiest girls {and two of the luckiest sons-in-law... and two of the luckiest grandbabies} in the world to have YOU as a Daddy. You've been there through it all, loving and supporting us, providing and caring for us - showing us, not just with your words, but with your actions too, what a real Daddy {and husband!!} is all about. We love you!

***

Dearest Benjamin,

Thank you - for all the love and attention that you give to our children - it has not gone unnoticed, by them or myself! It is in the small quiet moments, along with the big major ones, that memories are made, traditions kept, and character built. And all these moments of your time that you give them {and me!} are not in vain! I love you, they love you, and we are SO very lucky and blessed that God chose YOU to be my groom and their Daddy. ♥

The videos below are the same, except the first one actually has the music on it. The second one the music was disabled by YouTube because evidently you can't post a homemade video with music you've purchased.

{Click on the "photo" above to take you to the video WITH music.}

Little Fishes and Family Birthdays

We've still got spots around here. No fevers, but lots of spots. And I woke up with a sore throat Thursday morning which hasn't left... so I'm anticipating finding a few spots of my own.

Nevertheless, we needed to have some fun.

And Aunt BB's recently-opened-pool was just the place to find it.

The kids were beyond excited to get in!


"Waah-dee! Waah-dee!" {Water... according to Ellie!}

Noah was like a little fish from the get-go. He wanted to splash and play!

Ellie treated it just like she treats the bathtub... and wanted to lay back and relax!

For being the first time they've been in a pool since last summer, they did great. We've definitely got to invest in some life-jackets and swim lessons though - for everyone's sanity and safety! Thanks BB!!

After a {very} short nap, we headed over to Uncle Bud's and Aunt Sally's house for the May/June Birthdays.

We have two birthdays in May: Daddy-Man and Morgan, and six in June: Bettina, me, Papa Snow, Sally, Erin, and BB. That's a lot of celebrating to do!

At one point, Megan decided that it would be fun to just run laps around me... I tried to get BB to capture it, but realized afterwards that it wasn't working because my ISO was too low {making my ss wonky... blah, blah, blah}, but I managed to capture one of Megan and Noah running around Aunt BB that made me laugh:

Those two are a mess together!

And speaking of a mess together...

My Mom and her siblings

{minus Uncle T who flew back home to Germany just a few weeks before we moved up here}.

SuperHeroes to the Rescue!

I've been trying for months to get Noah to let me turn his blanket into a cape... Nana asks him once and, "That's a greaaaat idea, Nana!"

{And despite the fact that her blankie says "baby" on it... she's all toddler. Oh, and Nana even got her to go poo-poo on the potty without even trying! Nana = SuperHero too!}

Look out, Maryland...

because here comes the Smith Family!

We found out last week that our new duty station starting in January 2012 will be Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Aberdeen, Maryland.

Truthfully, we're still {I am, at least!} in shock and even some confusion as APG was not at all on our dream sheet and isn't even an Air Force Base - it's an Army Post! Not to mention the distance it'll put us from all the people and places we love the most. I guess the exciting part is that we'll be within easy driving distance of many historical and entertaining landmarks... and are expecting lots of visitors already! ♥

I'm certain that there will be plenty more to say about it in the coming months, but for now, that's all I've got.

Deployment Gifts {Month 1} and a Dinner Out

I miss this guy. I haven't posted much about what he's been up to {he says that he will do a post here soon!}, but I'm sure it goes without saying that he misses us just as much as we miss him. I feel so lucky and blessed that we are able to talk to him every day on the computer {and almost always feel bad complaining about him being gone when I consider where he could be and what he could be doing... which is what some other military wife's husband IS doing.}. It's tough, difficult, and at times heart-breaking, but it could be so much worse.

We are blessed beyond measure.

This morning, we opened up our {month 1} deployment gifts from Daddy while we Skyped with him. Noah had slept a portion of the night in my bed {thank you, fever-induced screams}, so he was the first kiddo awake and the first to open his present.

He was so excited about his new Thomas, Stanley and tracks!

"Thank you for my new Thomas, Daddy! I just love it!"

Ellie woke up immediately after Noah opened his present, so she got to open her new Rapunzel "BEE-bee" as well before Daddy went to sleep.

All morning and afternoon was spent doing temperature checks {both now only running low-grade fevers! yippee!} and playing almost exclusively with their new gifts from Daddy.

We had made plans last week to eat dinner with Grami and Papa Snow tonight and since both kids seemed relatively "ok" {Noah did have a few spots appear and Ellie's are finally starting to heal just a little}, we decided to just keep our dinner plans - Grami and Papa Snow didn't mind and though they were tired, the kids were excited to get out of the house too.

By the time we finished eating, it was time for baths and bedtime routine, so Grami and Papa Snow came over to help.

I'm so glad for this time here - if only for times like tonight, when my kids get to spend some extra time with those that mean so much to me.

***

I Don't Want to Forget:

On our way back to the house from dinner, Noah struck up a conversation that made me think he was remembering the last time we went to Soda Pops with Grami and Papa:

N: "Mommy, where's my Daddy? I can't find him."

Me: "He's on his long trip for work, remember? He'll be back, Buddy."

N: "But I miss my Daddy. I can't find him."

Me: "I know Buddy. Mommy misses him too."

Sigh.

My day in a nutshell: Tylenol and Motrin.

Noah woke up with a raging fever and it's been a high-low-high roller coaster all day. Ellie's fever is down, but has several places where the rash is really bothering her, including her thumb-sucking thumb {it's so sad looking} and we think her mouth {though, she won't really let us look}.

Luckily, it was Nana's first official day of summer break... but unfortunately for her, most of it was spent helping me care for these two sick little ones.

In an effort to help cool them off, we went to get sno-cones after dinner and before baths. Noah was so excited when we left. He didn't even want to get in the car {but we made him!} when it started sprinkling while we waited for our order. But by the time we got home with them, the fever started rising again. And not long after I snapped this shot, he laid down on his blanket and didn't even take another bite of his sno-cone.

Breaks my heart. And we're just waiting now for the spots to start appearing.

Sigh.

All Around Infectious

We were suppose to have a playdate this morning with some friends that we haven't seen in a loooong time.

We had to cancel.

I was so very sad. {Soon, Heather! Soon!!} I just couldn't live with exposing her kiddos to this:

or this:

Poor Ellie. We lovingly call her a leper now. But we've all been exposed so we love on her anyway.



In other news, Uncle Bryan taught the kids a new "game": Burritos!

Noah thinks being wound up in his blanket like a burrito is the funniest thing in the world. His giggles can be heard throughout the entire house!



Except for when Ellie gets in on the fun and he pretends to eat her up {which, the child would NEVER eat a real burrito. sigh.}... in which his giggles then become infectious!

Cute Little {Spotted} Fingers and Toes

Last night, while we were at dinner, DaddyMan mentioned how lethargic Ellie seemed after her nap while we were at Jessie's shower. I didn't think too much of it since she hasn't been sleeping well since we got here... until she got sick in the tub. And I checked her temperature: she had a high fever. And spots were literally appearing before our eyes.

Fantastic.

I pulled out her shot record and she HAS had the chicken pox shot... so we're pretty sure she picked up hand, foot, and mouth disease somewhere. And after learning from several friends that it's been going around our church nursery {both here and in Texas}, we're just waiting on Noah to come down with it too.

Until then, Ellie is being cuddled and being given medication to keep the fever down and the pain away.

All You Need is Love {Love is All You Need}

Today was Jessie's personal shower. She is a Beatles fanatic. Actually, she's simply a music fanatic {probably has something to do with the fact that she worked at a radio station for so long?}. So coming up with a theme for the shower was simple:


Using some ideas found floating around blog-land, BB made nearly all the {amazing!} food, with some help from Mom too. I was mostly in charge of the invites/decor and photographing the event. I think we made a pretty good team.

{click photos to enlarge}

All of the food items were labeled with Beatles songs: my favorites were "For the Benefit of Mr. {diet} Sprite", "Helter Skelter Salsa", and of course, the "Yellow Submarines".

Another idea we used, was having a photobooth with fake mustaches and Beatles songs written on the quote bubble... I'm STILL giggling at some of them!

All in all, it was a fun day, Jessie was showered with lots of nice things {sorry, Bryan! No sneak peeks here! ;) }, it was awesome to see some old friends, and make some new ones!

Congrats Jessie... and all you really need is love, LOVE! ♥

They Share Everything

The bulk of today was spent preparing everything for Jessie's shower tomorrow. Making decorations, getting the food prepped, actually decorating BB's house some and keeping the kids out of all of it! It's no easy task.

But luckily, they woke up from their afternoon nap relatively happy and instead of sitting separately to eat their snacks, Noah pulled his chair over to Ellie's highchair and they shared.

And made a game out of feeding their snacks to one another.

And thought it was hysterical, even when the other one didn't want the bite.

Me Time + a Fun Lunch Date

I was in desperate need of some "me" time today... and lucky for me, my Aunt KK somehow knew it and asked to watch the kids for me. So, I took her up on it and finally went and got my Mother's Day pedicure {thank you, Benjamin, Noah and Ellie! And KK and Grami too!}.

By the time I made it back, it was lunch time, so we grabbed Morgan and headed over to the kid's favorite: McDonald's!

I'm so grateful for sweet family who loves on me by loving on my kids.

Cookie Wednesday

The kids and I haven't made cookies together in weeks. I've missed it... the extra time together while we mix them up, the impatience while they are baking, and the snuggling that almost always happens when we eat them. So when Mom suggested the the kids decorate some extra cookies that she made for them when making some for Jessie's shower, I couldn't refuse.

Noah loves sprinkles.

♥