fun days

A glimpse of VBS on Friday. Logan was an excellent helper in my class... and the little girls loved her, as you can see! We had the VBS performance Friday night at the church. The preschoolers did three songs. Wilson said he wasn't even going to have stage fright because he had sung in front of a lot of people before!

****new day****

Today on post, the police officers had a fun day for the kids... complete with rides in police cars!

and a fire truck, of course! Walker cried when we had to get out of it... I asked them if they do birthday parties, (he would be thrilled!) But, sadly, they don't. I guess they have better things to do with their time - you know, like putting out fires and stuff...
Next up was the climbing wall, they were nice enough to let Walker give it a try...

(I may have retouched that photo a bit to give the effect that he actually tried to climb the wall!)

Wilson was excited to give it a try, because we didn't make it to the climbing wall at the block party last weekend. I think he was a bit intimidated when he got up there...

Then, after naps/rest time, we went to a banner-making party. We asked Wilson what the kids' banner should say. I told him that it couldn't say welcome home, because we already had one that said that... So he thought a second and said, "Daddy is my hero." Oh that boy! Here are the kids painting that banner...

Here is another one we made... It's about DANG time....
I'll say.

30!

We love you and we are thinking of you today. Can't wait to celebrate together!

all aboard!

The VBS theme is "Boomerang Express" which takes the kids through the Australian Outback - and all the Bible stories are about Peter and Jesus. Not sure about the connection between the two, but the kids seem to be enjoying it nonetheless. Last night I pulled out my scrap fabric and made some smocks to go with the Aussie Animal masks that we had in our classroom - of course, Wil and Walker had to try them out this morning...And here are a few of the kiddos from our class during "Centers." Such cuties! By the way, the theme song has a line in it that Walker repeats, and seriously, it is so adorable! "You might hear a didgeridoo." He kept singing that on Monday in this itty-bitty-angel voice, and it was priceless!

boomerang express!

We had our VBS kick-off today. It was so fun! We had 29 kids in our completed pre-K class! Wow! Thank goodness we have a lot of workers =)I had to take advantage of the photo-op with our boys too. Such cuties!Then this afternoon while dinner cooked in the crock-pot, the boys played in the sprinkler... ...then jumped in the mud puddles...

...and were a filthy mess.

So, we opted for showers/bath BEFORE dinner. And those boys were tired out tonight!

Hoping for a great day #2 tomorrow!

Memorial Day

We met some friends at a park on post, and on the way we passed the cemetery. All the flags and flowers were so striking. I thought I should stop on the way home and walk through with the boys. I've been to Arlington Cemetery a number of times; but this one on post is tiny, and I felt a little awkward walking around. Then trying to explain Memorial Day to the boys was even a bit more awkward... But Wilson was intrigued, and they were both respectful. I am glad we stopped.

I had no idea that there were "unknown soldier" graves at our little cemetery. And I felt compelled to snap a picture of this grave marker. I don't know a lot of the military stuff (sometimes I like to pretend to, Hooah), but I do know that the Medal of Honor is a very high honor. I found a link to Col. Treadwell's citation, you can read it here if you like...

We had a good day. We are tired, and we are ready for Daddy to be home. But even in my weariness, today I was reminded about all of the other families that have given so much more than we have for the cause of freedom.

almost VBS time...

...the boys pitched in to help prep the classroom. Apparently, Wilson did not want his helpfulness documented. Don't you love the "sky" that Walker is coloring? The boys came with me to church this afternoon to set up the classroom. Nicole & Faith were also there, so we tied up loose ends... with a deadline because the church was hosting a neighborhood block party tonight! They sent flyers home to every elementary student in Lawton.

Here they are in the fire truck. They do this every chance they get. Walker would've probably been content to sit in it for quite some time - and then he would want to explore all the buttons...

And the pony rides... all of Wil's pictures were blurry for some reason.

***side note*** I guess enough people have said, "Walker Texas Ranger" to Walker when they find out his name that now he knows there is something else that sort of goes with his name. But he's just not sure what the words are - yesterday while he was playing, I heard him call himself "Walker Danger." Oh boy!

Anyone want to venture a guess as to what unspeakable mess happened in the bathroom sink? I discovered it after the boys were asleep, but I sure can't wait to get the details tomorrow a.m.

another milestone...

...I am still processing the fact that Wilson is no longer a kindergartner. My baby. Here he is with Ms. Frost... she was everything I could've hoped for in a K teacher. She definitely cultivated a love of learning in this little man...

...just a flashback from Day one. Nervous, but ready.

And here he is with his buddy, A.

To celebrate this milestone, we went out for ice cream. We went to Braum's for hand-dipped cones. You can see it was a big hit...Those boys are so unpredictable. Obviously they didn't quite finish their cones, so they had to wait for me. Maybe right after school isn't the best time for ice cream. This morning started on a high note because Daddy emailed the combination to the lock on his box. Seriously, this was the biggest treat for them... They went through it last night, but got right back into it this morning as soon as they got up. So adorable!

And randomly today, this was parked in the commissary parking lot. So we got a picture with it. Its the National Guard Chopper as constructed by Orange County Choppers.

When we were walking away from it, Walker muttered, "I'm going to get a bike like that..." Super.

around the house stuff...

here are some pictures of a couple projects I worked on with Yaya. Here is the nasty before picture of the ottoman. I do wash it periodically, but wanted to be real with you... Yep, its that gross... ... which is why we thought it would be smart to make a washable slipcover. We had bought fabric to cover the floor pillows, and had enough to cover the ottoman too! I'd like to at least keep it nice to throw on the ottoman when company is coming ;)

Wilson: modeling proper usage of a floor pillow.

(here is what those pillows looked like before - they were hand-me-downs from Barbie...)

And this, my friends, is a sight for sore eyes... A big black case containing gear & stuff that Brad no longer needs over there... Time is ticking away...

Oh, p.s. my strep test was positive. Blah! But I started my z-pack today. And I don't feel that bad... especially when I remember to take my motrin on time. Please pray that the boys don't get it this time either! Thanks!

a few random Sunday photos...

...look what we found on our front patio light... No eggs though. Brad, I am guessing you would like this thing relocated before you get home???
Crazies on the bench...

And Walker's church-inflicted wounds.

I think I may have strep again. I went in today for a swab, waiting for the results before I begin another antibiotic. Hoping nobody else gets sick around here...

Wil's last day of school is Thursday. Next Tuesday-Friday our church is doing VBS. I am doing the (completed) Pre-K class. This is my week to prep everything. So I thought I better post now, or I might not for the rest of the week!

PWOC finale!

Well, I know time is passing because PWOC is over for this year. My last official act as VP/Programs was this morning at the board meeting. It was such a privilege to serve God in this position with these wonderful women this year. So many lessons and treasures to ponder in my heart! I hope that Brad will be able to meet some of these ladies when he gets back... This first picture is me with my "Spiritual Mommas." They have blessed me greatly this year with encouragement, prayer, and wisdom. Diana is wearing the pink, and she was our prayer coordinator this year, she also worked on my Programs team. Sherry was the president this year. She and her husband will be moving to Georgia this summer, but not the same post that we are supposed to be moving to.

And this is Crystal. She was one of my roommates at the retreat I went to in Dallas last November. She will be the president for our PWOC next year. I am so excited for her and all the things God will do through her here at Fort Sill. By the way, she is the one that did all the leg work for the "Dear Army Families" Christmas Card project. She is really humble about it, but honestly, if left to me - it would've only been an idea. She made it happen.

Last Thursday was the last meeting for the year, also the last program - which was the installation of the new board. This picture is the outgoing board...

And these ladies are the incoming board...

I can't even begin to explain all of the blessings that I have received by participating in PWOC this year. My heart is overflowing with gratefulness.

My service at PWOC wouldn't have been possible without Brad's support and encouragement - imagine problem solving a women's event from thousands of miles away - he is a good man! Also, Barbie helped with childcare every single month so I could be single-minded in my purpose. I am truly blessed.

"Therefore, as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude." Colossians2:6-7

seriously?

...has it nearly been a week since I last posted? Last Friday was a beautiful day. I had decided to let Wilson stay home so he could have an extra day with Yaya. We went to the park... Yaya played at the playground with the boys...

Then we got the pool out... just look at Wilson's face...

Walker obviously had Wilson's swim trunks on...

Not sure why, but I really like this one... messy muzzle, anguish, and mischief all at the same time...

Friday night ended with a movie night, Wall-E because Yaya had never seen it. I had an event at the chapel, so it was just the three of them.

And I believe this was taken on Tuesday, the day after Yaya was supposed to leave...

In between the Friday pictures and the Tuesday picture, lots of other stuff happened, but none of it was photographed...

• I went to reintegration training most of the day Saturday, while the boys hung out in their pj's with Yaya.
• Saturday evening the boys and I went to the park with Gavin & Nicole... and then Wilson and I went to the ER for a few hours. He knocked his noggin on a bar at the playground and head injuries make me a bit nervous. They ran a cat scan and all was fine...
• Sunday - Mother's Day. It was a lovely day.
• Monday took mom to the airport (after cramming in one last sewing project... pictures to come... maybe). Brought mom home from the airport because her plane was delayed which would cause her to miss her connecting flight...
• Watched Hotel for Dogs to make up for the loss of our regular movie night on Saturday while we were at the ER