Surprise! We are alive!
Yeah - definitely NOT a good blogger. I apologize.
First off, we ARE ALL doing well, even those in utero and those on the other side of the globe. Patrick is due in 8 days, and I am determined that he will stay put for at least 6 of those 8 days so that my mom can be here to help with the kids and be my coach - for some reason she is actually excited about giving me sips of water and listening to me moan, crazy woman! We are hearing from Joe 1-3 times a week, and have started to watch a daddy movie every now and then, because Joe no longer has internet access, so we only get to hear him, not "see" him on the iPod. He is doing well, though. They are starting to prep for their return, which is very busy and time-consuming, as well as doing their normal QRF missions. So, he isn't getting the most sleep, but his men are still being a great team, and the end is drawing nearer (not quite near... but nearer).
Now... on to a quick run-down of our last month here at Fort Bliss:
First off, to end our August here, the kids and I had a really fun adventure and enjoyed a local El Paso tradition for families. During the summer months there are free movies held in a huge outdoor amphitheater built in the mountains here. They were showing Puss in Boots, so we were crazy, and when we were usually sound asleep we headed out the door and went and saw it. It was a gorgeous night, and we had a blast! It is an adventure-filled movie, and Therese got really into it - she even got scared for a moment and had a classic "jump out of her seat" moment, spilling her snack all over. It was classic! We are actually going to attend our second "Movie in the Canyon" tonight - Despicable Me! Good thing Patrick is staying put so we can go!
For Labor Day, we checked out another Splash Park on post that we had recently found out about. It was AWESOME! The kids had a blast, and I got a lot of David's stocking done while they splashed. We packed a picnic and were set to stay for the afternoon. Unfortunately, however, the classic kids' water park thing happened - poop in the pool! So, our day was cut short (it wasn't my kids' poop, just FYI). And unfortunately, we found out about and experienced this awesome place on the last day that it was open for the season... but we will definitely remember it for next year and take advantage of it often!
When we were kicked out of the pool area, T showed off her monkey skills.. she is quite the brave climber!
The kids (particularly David) have been REALLY in to dressing up recently, since we organized the costumes in the toy room. In these shots, Therese had helped him find and put on quite the "spiderman" costume! Watch out for this up-and-coming superhero!
And Therese dressed up as Spiderman's wife (I think she is pulling off a pretty great pirate... but who am I to say?)!
The kids and I were both extremely bummed when we realized that even though it is still regularly reaching 100 degrees here, the locals are convinced that summer is over, and so all public pools are now closed and you cannot find an outdoor kiddie pool to purchase anywhere. So... one day I promised the kids that we would go get wet at the one "splash park" that was still available - the one outside the PX on post. Due to helping out our friend in the neighborhood, our trip was pushed back a few hours, so we arrived at about bed time, but the kids had a blast, because it was still quite hot out, and they had it all to themselves for most of the time. They got totally drenched, but luckily we live in El Paso where it is so dry that an evening of leaving the car's windows down in the garage will completely dry the car seats!
FYI: I LOVE some of these action shots! (the one of D jumping and of T "flying")
So... we didn't find any kiddie pools, but we were so desperate that we got a couple tubs from the sale rack at walmart! For a total of $10 we got some silly water fun for the backyard! Yeah - simple pleasures - gotta love 'em!
Sorry - I should have got these oriented correctly before putting them on here, but I didn't. If you turn your head, you can get a glimpse of the stockings I have made for Therese and David. It took me three years to finish David's, which is embarrassing, but I am determined to finish Patrick's before this Christmas, maybe even before his birth - we'll see when he decides to show his face!
There were several minor details about David's pattern that I didn't care for and changed, but the one thing I wish I would have changed and didn't was Joseph's "eye". I may still try to take that darker thread off if I think I can do it without destroying the stitching around it. Oh, and I was so excited that I finally figured out how to do good french knots... and they are so much fun and so pretty! I will definitely be using more of them in future projects!
Another evening in our homemade kiddie pools!
And THESE pictures are of possibly my favorite moment of the day... when I finally ease out of bed and head downstairs - only to find:
David surrounded by the pile of books he has already "read" - engrossed in the next one.
...and Therese in the midst of her current art project. All of this happening without needing mom... AWESOME!
Well, it was wonderful and overcast day here in El Paso a bit ago, so we figured it was a GREAT day for the Zoo! It actually drizzled on us a bit while we were there, which was wonderful. We did our usual... pictures on the tiger and elephant... lunch with the meerkats... it was great!
As I said earlier... "Daddy Movies" have reemerged since Daddy moved to Airborne and is no longer chatting via iPod.
And... the "regular" superhero around the home: Robin Hood! If you knew David's sword before, you may notice that is has been loved dearly, everything possible has been broken off of it. But, it is still his favorite and his constant companion.
As you know, T is always excited to play mommy. This day at the park she was helping her "baby" on the swings. After the first 20 pushes she told her baby she was done and got her first glimpse of why sometimes pushing kids on the swings is not mom's favorite thing to do!
I took this picture almost too late to show you what it was. The kids and I started a "Patrick Chain" a few weeks back. It is color coded: the red ones were for when Patrick wasn't big enough to be born healthy - they meant "Stop, Patrick, You aren't Big Enough Yet!". Then there are yellow ones (where we are now) - they mean "Patrick, You are Big Enough Now, but You Need to Wait for Grandma!". Finally, starting next Friday, they will be green - they will mean "Go, Patrick, Go! Grandma's Here! We Wanna Meet You!"
Last Friday we had a spur-of-the-moment birthday party here for our dear friend, Lucy, from MCCW and daily Mass. The kiddos invited her over after Mass, and she played baby dolls with T while I made some fried egg sandwiches, peppers, and watermelon. We even stuck a candle in a watermelon slice and sang to her. It was a blast! Lucy is our favorite!
OK... ready for the BIGGEST NEWS of this installment?
THERESE FINISHED HER READING PROGRAM... EACH AND EVERY 100 DAYS OF IT!
As she says: "Now I Can Read!"
Here she is showing off her special page that received a sticker every day we did "school".
And just so you know, this book is AWESOME! I will DEFINITELY use it with all of our kids!
Speaking of, Therese immediately ran to our "reading couch" after finishing her last lesson and started reading. So far, she's read Go, Dog, Go - Have You Seen My Cat - and Green Eggs and Ham. It is so exciting!
Therese is very excited for Patrick to come, both because it will give her a "real" chance to mother a little one, but also because if he comes earlier than Grandma comes, she'll have a chance to have an extended play date with friends. She desperately wanted to have a bag packed and ready with her doll, etc., but since she uses these things all the time, I convinced her to just make a list that we could go over and use to pack once "Patrick is coming". Here is her list - isn't her writing getting great!? (Also an outcome of the above-pictured book!)
A special Sunday treat - "English" tea (with milk and sugar). Both kids beg for this many times throughout the week, but we try to keep it for a special treat during our Sunday movie.
My two cuties: Mommy and Robin Hood.
Last Sunday David got to watch one of his favorites: "The Big Pickle Movie"! He loves the story of David and Goliath - whatever the format for telling it may be (straight from the Bible, VeggieTales, or storybook). Either that or Robin Hood and you will always win with David!
Speaking of... David asked for another photo shoot this day, because he "completed" his uniform - he found a feather and had me add it to his hat... just like the REAL Robin Hood!
On this past Tuesday the kids and I were crazy and took a trip to Las Cruces, NM starting at noon. We hit up the 2 awesome used book stores there, a local craft store that was having super sales on some things I needed for making some upcoming birthday gifts, and (of course) "OLD MCDONALD'S"! We had a blast, and the kids even sort of got a nap in the car! I was determined to get this trip in before Patrick, and we did!
Oh, and you can kind of see in the above pictures that we now have 3 car seats in the back seat of the Camry! We also have put together the Pack-N-Play to have a nap center on the main floor, the bouncy seat, and the swing - we are ready for the little guy! Yay!
Well, that is all I have for now!
Love, Us.
