Happy Birthday, Daddy!

Jemma went with me to the Gym this morning while Jim took James to MyGym. After my step class, we went to Party City to get balloons for Daddy's birthday. She picked out a Tinkerbell balloon to be from herself, an Elmo balloon from James and a red and white balloon with Happy Birthday from me. I also let her buy a little candle in the shape of a heart with "Happy Birthday" on it. As we drove home I asked if we should make Daddy a cake or brownies. She said he would want cupcakes. A little while later she said, "Mommy, I don't love you. I love my Daddy too much." It almost felt like a knife to the heart... I just had to tell her that heart is big enough to love us both. The things that kids say...

We did have a very good day. I made cupcakes while Jemma and Jim went to Munden's for lunch (their special Saturday lunch date!) and James took a good nap. We had cupcakes and sang happy birthday to Daddy. Then Jim took the kids to drop off recycling, shop at the Home Depot and to see the jets on base while I did some laundry and worked on his calendar square.

This is our first cruise, so this is my first experience making his calendar square. Each officer has a date on a square that the spouse or sponsor decorates (it is 6 x9, so it is rectangular, but we'll still call it a square!). The squares are hung in the Ready Room for the month, then they get switched at the beginning of the next month. We had to do Sept, Oct, and Nov since mail can be slow and unpredictable on the ship. I am so picky, choosy, and slow... I wanted to have the right pictures and stickers and I bought special paper for each month - love paper for Sept for our anniversary, Halloween paper for October, and birthday paper for November since it will be Jemma's birthday. I didn't take pictures because I don't want my husband to see the squares before they are posted. I hope he likes them!

Sadly, the Hokies lost. I watched the first three quarters of the game... then went upstairs and came down later to discover that we had lost... I guess you can't win them all. We sent Jim off to get a pedicure (a luxury not available on the ship) while I fed the kids dinner. Then we went for a walk around the neighborhood.

While Jim gave James a bath and put him to bed, Jemma and I went out shopping for a birthday present for her friend, Thomas. We were getting ready to get into the car when she darted out into the parking lot. I was yelling like a crazy woman, "Stop... RED light... stop!!!!" It was only a few seconds, but my heart was pounding. I grabbed her and hugged her. Then, I gave her a firm whack on the behind. I tried to calmly explain that it was dangerous and inappropriate behavior and if a car had come she would have been hurt. She has not done that in so long that I thought she had outgrown such antics. She thought it was funny... I hope that now she understands not to do that again. She lost reading privileges and snack for the night. Plus Daddy gave her a stern lecture about being safe and listening to Mommy.

The Ball

The Strike Fighter Ball was 8/23. I had such a wonderful, wonderful time!! The best part was that both of my sisters were in town, so I had absolutely no worries with the kids and I could just enjoy time with my husband and relax! I didn't carry the phone or camera, although I do wish I had some pics from the evening. Plus, as a 5 year anniversary "treat" we spent the night at the hotel... it was heaven to wake at 8:30 and be able to snuggle and go back to sleep!! :)



Getting ready to leave the house. (I am a little sad that Jim decided to dress once we were at the hotel... it would be nice to have a picture with the kids and us all dressed nice.):

James with lipstick on his cheek:


Jim dressed at the hotel... isn't he handsome in his uniform?!?

A highlight for the evening was when Jim's squadron was given the Golden Wrench Award. (It is awarded to a squadron Maintenance Department that attains the highest performance in management of its personnel and material.) I was very proud to be with my wonderful husband who is the Maintenance Officer... he got to go onstage to receive the award with his CO!

The Fly-in

I just realized that I posted about the CT trip, but did not post pictures from Jim's last fly-in! So, here it is from July 30:

Jim's jet:

Jemma walking with Daddy:

Daddy in his gear:

The kids and Daddy:

James in the Ready Room:

James and Daddy:

The kids helping prepare the whiteboard for the next brief:

Jemma helping Daddy work:

Walking out:

It is so, so wonderful to have Jim home!!! :)

CT Trip

Our big adventure to CT began on Saturday, August 2. We left our house about 9 AM. The kids were great! We stopped for at Chick-fil-A for lunch, then stopped at Brecknock park so they could play. We stopped again at a rest area along the Garden State Parkway. At that rest area, James drank way too much apple juice. As soon as we pulled onto the highway, he puked. Luckily, we are experts at cleaning puke from the car. (Jemma went through her phase of puking anytime that she was overstimulated... overly happy or upset, so she puked ALOT.) After cleaning him and changing him, we were underway again. We arrived in CT late... the kids got a bath and went to bed.


When GrandMary took Jemma outside Sunday morning, she asked why she had a jungle in her backyard. You just never know what is going to come out of her mouth! James helped cook breakfast.
Sunday was fun! We went to see Thomas.... he was visiting a neighboring town, so we joined the fun. Jemma decided that she should wear her sun sunglasses with her hat. One lady told her that she looked like a movie star.

James is very into playing with cars and trains. He had such fun playing at the train table at the exhibit. He is at the age where he pushes them around making the "vrroommm" sound.

The kids were both fascinated by the little alligator. (The guy had snakes and other reptiles, but we didn't stay long enough to see those!)


After a lunch of chicken nuggets, we rode on Thomas.

When we returned home, we prepared for guests Sunday evening. And the kids got to have fun playing in the pool!

I think Nanny looks divine. She seemed to have fun just watching the kids! :)

It was Aunt Terry's Birthday, so we sang happy birthday and ate cake! She got the pillow as a present... the pink birthday pillow is a tradition that was started at Nanny's 90th birthday last year!


We went sailing with Grandpa Jim on Monday. It was the perfect sailing day and we were very lucky to have Jason sail with us!

James napping while we were sailing.

Daddy's Girl:





Grandpa Jim took such wonderful care of us all... he made lunch and dinner! :)

We went to Quassy Amusement park on Tuesday. The park has been in business for 100 years. James went on his first roller coaster and he didn't like it very much... in fact, he was in my arms clinging like a koala bear. I didn't realize how bumpy and jerky it was until too late... but Jemma loved it! I think one of their favorite rides of the day was the dune buggies... it beeped when you pushed the button.

James was a little unsure of the helicopter ride. Jim put him in and told Jemma to take good care of James. She put her arm around him and we could hear her saying, "It will be ok..." By the end of the ride, she was almost choking him but she was being very good and protective!

Jemma and GrandMary rode the "Music Fest" which goes around in circles very fast (both frontwards and backwards) while the seat swings up on its side... I thought Jemma would be terrified, but she had a blast! I tried to get a picture, but the ride goes too fast. We all rode the carousel several times and we rode the little train twice. We rode every ride that the kids could go on... most more than once!

While I packed Wednesday morning, Jim and GrandMary took the kids to visit Don's farm. They got to pet calves and sit on the tractor and see chickens... such fun! We headed south Wednesday after James' nap. But before we could leave, the kids had to visit the compost pile with GrandMary. Check out the huge worms!

GrandMary let Jemma pick a flower.

We spent the night in PA with Andy and Suzanne, then headed for home on Thursday. We stopped by Merin's parents house to visit with Merin, Mya and Scout. Mya and Jemma had such fun dressing in Merin's Mom's fancy black shirts and dancing with scarves! Of course, it turned into a hug fest complete with giggles!

Poor James was exhausted!

With less than 2 hours left before home, we stopped to visit the Eastern Shore Railway Museum.

It was such a fun filled trip! :)