Ice skating

Jemma out-of-the-blue one afternoon about 3 weeks ago said, "My daddy is taking me ice skating" while pretending to ice skate around the kitchen in her socked feet. I don't know if she saw a commercial on tv, or they read a book at school, or it just popped out of her vivid imigination. Jim and I agreed that we should try to take her, but the weather had not cooperated until Friday. It was a perfect day! Plus, GrandMary had just arrived on Thursday so she was able to go too! Here are some pictures from our adventure. If you live in the area, MacArthur Center on Ice is a nice little family outing. It was only $5 to skate and that included the rental skates. It is not a big rink, but it was just what our little girl needed for the experience!

James with Daddy just before heading out:

Jemma getting her skates on:

Jemma wanting to go onto the ice:

More pics

Here we are at home on Christmas!

Jemma with her abacus:

James got a train set with the whistle, hat and engine:

Jemma got a new purse from Aunt Suzanne and Uncle Andy and proceeded to tell us, "Now I can go shopping!"

Here she is wearing the cute black coat with ears from Aunt Suzanne and Uncle Andy:

Here she is with a wonderful toy from Billy and Betty. James got one very similar... we'll probably put these away and bring them out each holiday season for them to enjoy!
James playing with one of his new CAT toys from Uncle Andy and Aunt Suzanne:

Jemma with her Chef's outfit (a present from Aunt Nicole):

Here is James with Jemma's chef's hat:

Merry Christmas!

We had a fabulous Christmas! We went to my parents' house (Granny and Papa) for Christmas Eve and Christmas morning. It was so wonderful to see so many of our extended family that we haven't seen in such a long time! (We were unable to travel last year since I was pregnant and having a few issues... anyway, it was great this year!) The kids had a blast and we pack quite a bit into 24 hours! We traveled home for a quiet and wonderful Christmas night. James and Jemma had presents from Santa waiting to play with, then they opened more gifts from family and friends, then went to bed! I'm so lucky to have my husband home. I keep praying that something will change and he will make it home for the holidays next year. I can't imagine not being with him for the holidays... I'm just trying to enjoy it now and focus on the present!

Our internet is being finicky again, so my posting has been extremely limited! Here are some pictures from the last week!

Here is James helping wrap presents:

Jemma enjoying the fire before getting ready to travel to South Boston:

At Granny and Papa's with the four wheelers. The little blue one belonged to my sister, Nicole when she was little. Then my dad sold it to a family friend for her grandchildren to enjoy. Now, he bought it back from her for his grandchildren to ride!

Bryan with Logan:

Christmas Eve dinner... we missed mom and Jerry... both were sick! :( Cousin Logan on Christmas morning:
James with Daddy on Christmas morning:
Jemma got a new baby doll for Christmas from Great-Aunt Jane and proceeded to wrap it in a blanket (kitchen towel).Me and my sisters on Christmas morning:
Daddy riding Coco:
Jemma picking turnips:
Jemma riding Coco:
Aunt Amy with Logan and Aunt Nicole with James:
Aunt Nicole and Logan... love the hat!

More pictures and posts to follow about Christmas... gotta run!

Enjoyment!

My husband is home (arrived Wednesday night)... the Christmas cards are mailed (just mailed yesterday, so they'll be late)... the shopping is done and there are only 3 gifts left to wrap! Here is our tree. I can't wait to give out all the gifts... I love picking out gifts that I think people will like!

We took the kids to see the holiday lights at the beach on Friday... James just laughed and enjoyed seeing the lights twinkle. Jemma was talking and questioning and enjoying it the entire ride.

Funny little girl...

Yesterday we went to Caden's 4th Birthday party... I can hardly believe he is 4! I remember seeing Sara (Caden's Mom) for the first time... We had just moved into our house and they were moving into their new house next door. She was so cute and pregnant! I was excited to see a young couple moving in next door and we were so incredibly lucky to have them as neighbors. I was so sad to see them move to Charleston, and so happy when they moved back to Va Beach. Sara is one of the sweetest people that I know and I love talking with her. She is also married to a wonderful man and we can enjoy being together as families!! (It is always great when the husbands and wives all get along... even better when the kids play together, too!!)

Well, we returned from Caden's party and put Jemma in her room for a nap. She never went to sleep, but she needed some quiet time. (James was napping, Jim and I were wrapping gifts). About 30 minutes later she comes downstairs with sticky hands and orange around her mouth. Jim asks, "What is on your mouth?" She replies ever so inocently, "Candy." Jim asks, "Where did you get candy?" She tilts her little head to the side and says, "From my pocket. I ate it in my bed. I'm not supposed to eat in my bed." I questioned, "Where is the rest and where is the wrapper?" She smiles, "I ate it all. The wrapper is in the trash can in your room." I checked... there were two Now & Later wrappers in my trash can... she must have picked them up from the pinata at the party and we didn't realize it. She was sneaky... she knows that we wouldn't have let her have that candy and she was right... she is definitely not allowed to eat in bed. I'll be checking pockets in the future...

Favorite things...

This is an awesome sight... one of my favorite things (taken 12/4):

I love to see my husband's flight boots... it means that he is home! :) Unfortunately, tonight he is still on the ship. He is scheduled to be back tomorrow; however, it is a Navy schedule which means that you believe it when it happens... how I wish I could see those boots by the front door now! I miss my husband when he is away...

I counted the days for next year that he is "scheduled" to be home/away. Right now, he is scheduled to be home for 133 days. I cannot complain... I have been so, so lucky to have him as much as I have during our years together. I knew a cruise was coming... we've done work-ups once and we missed the associated cruise because he went to Quantico. I was grateful that he had the opportunity to go to school and spend the weekends with us... I loved being able to talk to him at night and I knew that he could come home if anything major were to happen. Now, we are facing work-ups beginning in Feb. and a cruise in the Fall. I am going to have to start begging friends and family to come visit to make the time pass more quickly! A 7 or 8 month cruise seems like such a long time to have him away. I have such a respect for the wives of soldiers who are on the ground and deployed for a year or more at a time...

I am off to bed... here is hoping my husband flies safely back tomorrow!!! :)

The Holiday Season

I love Christmas. I love the holiday season. However, right now, I am slightly stressed.

I have not yet gotten our Christmas cards mailed. I love mailing regular cards and writing a personal greeting in each card, but this year I'm sending photo postcards. Yes, I love getting the photo cards from other people (especially those that I don't get to see nearly enough) but I love sending the real old-fashioned cards. I'm so disappointed in myself for not getting on top of the holiday greetings. Rachel and Judy made their Christmas cards... I think they have been my favorite cards! I love knowing that they made the card just for us. They are so cute and creative... I'm in awe that they were able to make such fabulous cards!!! :)

And the gifts are not yet wrapped... in fact, I still have to finish shopping! Yikes... where does the time go?!? I'm usually done shopping before Thanksgiving and now I'm a week away and still have to finish! I know what I'll be doing this weekend.

Before Jim left today, I went to Hallmark. That is a dangerous store for me! I see the ornaments and decorations and gifts and want to buy so many of them for friends. I so wish we had "extra" money to just buy gifts for everyone! I love giving presents.

I had to go to the Comissary, too. I volunteered to bring Chicken nuggets to Jemma's Christmas celebration at school tomorrow. I'm cheating on those too... I bought the frozen bag and I'm just going to heat and serve!

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Saturday, Dec 1

This was a busy and great day! Aunt Amy and Granny were here visiting. Jim took Jemma and Aunt Amy to watch Santa arrive in the Superhornet. The sqadron had bouncy things for the kids (see the picture below), craft projects, food and gifts. It was really nice and I wish they could have stayed longer, but it was the day of Jemma's birthday celebration!Then, we met at MyGym for Jemma's birthday party. Jemma and Mya had a party together and it was wonderful! There were 19 kids and they had such fun! Jemma played in the ball pit, which is one of her favorites! Here is Mya and Jemma:James had fun, too!

Jemma requested a Nemo cake... it had blue frosting!

After MyGym, Jemma wanted to open her gifts. She had such fun unwrapping her presents! After Jemma's nap, we headed to the mall. Aunt Amy and Granny wanted to give Jemma a build-a-bear. It was my first time in the store and it was fun. It was a little overwhelming for Jemma. She was good at picking the animal and stuffing, but there were too many choices for clothes and accessories. I think she will like it much better in about 2 years!

Before Amy left on Sunday, she helped me make the diaper cake for Suzanne's baby shower. I think it turned out cute!

It is now late and I need sleep... hopefully, there will be more tomorrow!