Happy Birthday Katie

I can't believe my baby is five years old! She acts 13 so I guess I shouldn't be all that surprised. But seriously, what happened to my little baby? Since we did a party last year, we told the kids they could each pick a place to go for their birthday but we weren't doing a party. They were a little disappointed but they ended up getting a day all to themselves that they don't normally get when we do the combo party. Katie's birthday was Monday. She picked Chuck E. Cheeses. It was just the four of us and we had a great time. She will start preschool this week. Here are some things she can already do:

She can hula hoop, swing by herself, skip, and ride her new scooter. She can also use big words and make us shoot milk out of our noses. Like the other night at the dinner table when she said, "Mommy, what's a pagina?"

No there is too much. Let me sum up.

I haven't blogged in a very long time. Mike went to Vandenberg AFB, CA for Air Force training for six weeks this summer. I thought this would be a good time for me to go on full time orders and start my master's degree. It was quite a busy summer but I think it really did make the separation easier. I had a gal from church come and watch the kids each day. I am still working full time but Mike is back now. I got an A- on my first class. I was pretty nervous since I haven't been a student in 13 years. I was afraid the only reference material I could come up with would be Nickelodeon or Disney. I go back to working part time the first of October. It seems like the kids are growing so quickly. I look forward to being home with them more.

My mom has finished her radiation treatments and is starting to get her energy back. She just got back from a trip to Washington with her friend where she went out on her boat and caught 8 salmon!

Mike was able to visit his friend Blake while he was in California. It is such a miracle he is still with us and he seems to be doing really well.

Even though we were really busy all summer, we still had some fun.
I dropped the kids off in Salt Lake one weekend so I could work. This was at the end of Mike's training and he drove them home. Here they are getting ready to fly to Salt Lake.

I took the kids to the fair. We had a great time.

They love snow cones!

Weeeeeeee we're having fun now!

Just a random cute Sunday picture.

Mike did make it home for the 4th of July.

These are s'mores I invented. Little cinnamon gram cracker pretzels with marshmallows and chocolate chips. Broil for just a couple of minutes and the marshmallows toast perfectly. mmmm.
Mike was also able to go to my squadron's family day. Here is Katie in a Huey. My kids really do have fun at all of these places we drag them. I just can't capture their joy.

Katie getting ready for a chemical attack. That cute face should be all the protection she needs.Puppy kisses...
Speaking of the dog, he disappeared for two days. We finally found him when I saw this picture on the Humane Society website. The folks that had taken him there also called Mike that day when they saw the flyers we posted all over the neighborhood. Mike went and saved him. He questions that decision daily.

Our annual butterfly project. This guy could have at least spread his wings for the picture.We were into making balloon animals for a few days. We're over it now.

Tommy's Graduation

Tommy graduated from Kindergarten today. I thought it was a very cute program and I was relieved that there wasn't a long, boring speech.

Here is Tommy going into his classroom for the last time.Some good friends.

Mrs. Bartges is a fantastic teacher.

This song they sang is so cute. I need to learn how to edit my videos. You can hear Mike and I snapping at each other about cinematography because he wasn't willing to sacrifice his body and good manners to get the perfect shot. Darn civilized man. Also, there is a boy standing right in front of Tommy.

We had the opportunity to tag along with Mike on his TDY (temporary duty) to Florida this past weekend. He was going to watch the launch of the Delta IV GPS IIF SV-1 and learn more about his unit operations. He was able to tour Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral. We were able to spend a lot of time on the beach! The kids loved it. Every morning they would wake up and look out the window at the amazing view of the ocean and they were ready to head out. They would have been content to just play on the beach every day. When Mike showed us his pictures from Kennedy Space center, though, Tommy had to see it for himself. He loves the Saturn V rocket and he couldn't wait to see it up close. We spent our last day there. I loved it. And I love how excited the kids are about it. We didn't see an alligator like Mike did on his tour, but it was still very fun. It was great to spend time with the family, enjoy some warm weather and relax. But why do I feel so tired now? By the way, the rocket launch canceled so we never did get to see it. Maybe next time.