I won't even tell you how many attempts I made at trying to update this little family blog of ours. It's just pathetic. I guess I started to think that everyone was on facebook like me and kept up with us there, but I've learned otherwise.
We have made some pretty big decisions the last few months, specifically since the beginning of the new year. Currently, I am living in California with the kids while Ryan is still in Georgia working with the Coast Guard there like he has since we moved there over 3 years ago. We packed everything up in February and drove 4 ridiculously long days out to California. The plan was to see Alton before he left on his mission and instead of making two big/expensive trips out to CA (one to see Alton, and the other actually moving here for another job we anticipate) we decided to just to make one big trip. Based on the knowledge that we had at that point, things were looking pretty solid. As the last couple months have progressed, things of course aren't happening as WE planned them, but I have to have faith that it will all work out like it should.
The kids and I are missing Ryan, and our friends in Georgia a lot. We do love being so close to all our family and making some new friends too. We look forward every few weeks when Ryan gets to come see us, and I especially look forward to the help, and date nights!
Parker turned 2 years old last month! To celebrate we had a double b-day party with his cousin Seth who is 3 days older. In proper 2 year old fashion, it was all about trains, and we had so much fun! The last two years with him in our family have been pure bliss. He had a little incident on the trampoline and fractured his wrist, but luckily that healed up really fast. Having your arm in a sling for a 2 year old is not fun! We're so happy it was for such a short period of time. He loves to be funny and make people laugh, he has so enjoyed getting to know his family here in California, loves playing outside, always wants milk, just recently given up his beloved pacifier, has a great vocabulary, has a great fake laugh, and loves his family so much. He is a typical little boy that loves to throw a ball, play with cars and trains, and get dirty. Anything round is a "baskeet ball", and I just love the way he says "yes" with a slight lisp on the end of it. He melts my heart everyday.
Skylee turned 4 years old in November, just goes to show how long it's been since I posted anything. She is a typical girl, maybe more dramatic than most, but still typical. She loves playing with dolls, princesses, wearing dresses or skirts, having a bow in her hair, loves to be tickled, can't get enough of reading, and she especially loves coloring. Skylee is also very thoughtful, she is always coloring a page or making a card for someone else, and offers such sweet prayers. She has been having so much fun with all her girl cousins since we moved here. There are 4 other little girls on my side of the family, it's almost like having sisters. She's a brave little toaster, she'll jump right into a cold pool or give just about any food a try (and usually likes it!) It's been so great to see her grow up to be such a happy little girl. We are so excited to see her in her first official dance recital next month!
Ryan is almost at the end of his Coast Guard/military contract, and the last 8 months since he graduated he's been trying to line up a different career once he gets out later this year. For me, it's been such a roller coaster of emotions; things look hopeful, then disappointment- back and forth...it's starting to drive me loco. Before we moved, Ryan surprised me with a little 5 year anniversary trip to Washington D.C. He organized it all without me knowing about it, which included flying his mom to Georgia to look after our kids for the week. It was so sweet and a great opportunity for just the two of us to get away. We really had a great time!
As for me, I'm just in the middle of it all. Being a partial-single-parent has been an adjustment but, I have so loved being in California again, there really is no place like home. Since we've been married and in other states with the military, I missed spending time with my parents, my sisters and their families (and little visits from my brothers), old friends, the endless options of things to do in California, and great weather!
Of course a ton of things have happened since my last post, but there's just no way I'm going to go through it all. For now, generic will have to do, I'll just resolve to do better from this point on :)
This highly anticipated day has finally come! Skylee started Pre-K today!
She insisted on her nails being painted before she left, blue sparkles, of course!
Ready to go!
The Hello Kitty backpack we searched everywhere for and snatched up the last one from Target, all the way in FL ;)
"Tangled" soundtrack to her life, the right music to kick of this special day
Almost there...
I walked her into her classroom, where her teacher, Mrs. Karen, met her. In her southern accent she greeted Skylee with a loud "Oh honey! Don't you just look beautiful!!!" Skylee had arrived! :) I'm glad she wasn't embarrassed by all my picture taking, I'm sure that will come in years to come, but I've taken advantage of all I can for now.
I made Skylee's skirt and headband for her first day, and lucky for me, she loved how it turned out. I have a couple more things for the school year I'd like to make up for her still, and now that my house is so quiet, I have no excuses. We just can't believe she's in school now, but we know she's going to do great!
