Sneaky kids

Whenever the kids are quiet it usually means that they are up to no good. I try to enjoy the quiet and give them the benefit of the doubt. By doing this, I always end up kicking myself in the butt! When am I ever going to learn?

That would be Lauren using my stamps as stickers!

I forget to lock this door more times than not! Oh yeah that's definitely poisonous miracle grow in the background! Nobody turn me in please!

Our trip home

Eric and Michelle Wilson

Recently we went out to Chicago and Indiana. Our first trip was to Chicago to see my brother Eric get married. The wedding was very nice. Lauren was the flower girl with Zach, her cousin and also the ring barer. She was of course extremely shy, but it was still cute. It's amazing how expensive everything was for a 30 second walk down the isle! I am thinking I am going to get some more professional pictures of her in it and then let her use it to dress up in! What else can ya do with it other than sell it? While we were in Chicago Nolan had his 1st birthday! We were pretty busy with the wedding, but we took some time early in the day to go out to breakfast and to visit the mall. For the circumstances, I think he had an okay birthday! We celebrated later with a cake. After the weekend in Chicago we drove to Indiana to Mom and Dad's house. Not nearly as long as our trip to Chicago. The kids are awesome travelers anyways.

We had Lauren and Zach practice in the hotel hallway

Lauren was so nervous and Zach was a pro!

After the wedding waiting for pictures to be done

The next week was Halloween week. We did trunk-or-treat at the church on Thurs. night and then took the kids to Sweetser, where we used to trick-or-treat on Halloween night. And of course headed to Aunt Alices for her famous carmel popcorn afterwards. The kids got lots more candy the first night than the second. My nephew Gregory ate so much candy he threw up! Nolan was a lion the first night of t-or-ting and a giraffe the second. Lauren was a witch with her cousin Victoria and Grandma. Cassidy thought it would be funny to spray everyone's hair pink so we all looked dumb with streaks of pink. It was the kind that washes out, but if you aren't dressing up it looks gay! It's alright though, we got him back!

And this picture officially sucks because Cassidy decided to push me

My nephew Kenneth turned 8 on Saturday and was baptized the day after. He is so funny. My all time favorite quote was from him. He had received candy as a baptism gift from a friend at church. After her got it he said, "Man if you get candy for getting baptized I'm doing baptisms for the dead for sure!" Of course you need to be LDS to appreciate that quote. He says funny stuff like this all the time though. I love that kid!

We spent lots of time at the dining room table as always playing games. Mostly the "idiot game!" We all took our fair share of being the idiot this time! We even designated a trophy that the winner must take home! It's a super fun and easy game that will stay in our family forever! When we weren't playing games we were watching movies together or taking unneeded trips to wal-mart b/c really what else is there to do in "Marion?" We had a great time either way and look forward to our next visit back to mom and dad's!

The "IDIOT!"

Pictures of our week thus far

It got quiet and then I realized the basement door was open. I looked on the stairs and no Nolan....I proceeded to walk downstairs b/c there was no Nolie in any of the rooms upstairs...this is what I found! Nolan getting some exercise!

Lauren, my ballerina!

I tried something new this time! It's fun and fallish!

Lauren's song!

Every afternoon at 5:00 the National Anthem plays here on base. This is a time where everyone stops what they are doing to listen and respect the freedoms they enjoy each day. This freedom could not be possible without those who have served and are currently serving in the military. Lauren has claimed the national anthem as, "her song." Each day as the song begins, she runs outside and on her way says, "Mommy, its my song!" After which, she stands on the side porch each day rain or shine with her hand over her heart facing the music.

After the song, I chased Lauren around trying to take pictures of her. She kept running from me so I couldn't take her picture. We both had a good time with that! I feel like lately I am always getting on Lauren for everything and praising Nolan just as much as I "yell" at her. It makes me sad. I told my friend Cassie today that I feel like the mom on "Everybody Loves Raymond" favoring my second child. I hate being on her all the time. She is such a sweet child. I keep reminding myself that she misses her daddy and needs extra attention from me.









There have been times where she will purposely do what Nolan is doing just to get my attention. It breaks my heart when she does that. I think we need a mommy/Lauren date soon. I am going home in a few day so I think I might make it a point to leave Nolan with my parents so me and Lauren can go do something fun together. I love being a stay at home mom so much and know that I am so blessed to be able to do this for our family. Without all of Joe's hard work I could never do what I do.

Halloween Dress Rehearsal!

"Roar!"

There will be cuter pics later, but this will have to do for now!

Yep....hates it!

My scary little witch!



What happens when mom gets bored? I dress my kids up and take pictures! As you will see Nolan absolutely hated his costume....its the hood! Lauren didnt have her hair or make-up done, and there are a few embellishments we still need to add like a broom, jewlery, ect. Im so excited for Halloween. We will be with lots of family. This will be our first year since we've been at Whiteman that we have been gone for Halloween. This will be our second Halloween without Joe home though

: ( He will be home in 51 days though! It is going fast!

Our Random Week

I love it when I walk in and see that she has read herself to sleep

Practicing her dance
"Honestly Daddy, we're good as gold!"

My crazy cheezer trying on her recital costume !

They always get a treat from their teacher at the end of dance class!

Learning the dance....it is way cute to watch!

And another hairdo

Nolan in my basket of toys I dont want to put away!

Just some fun new pics!

I like this for the wedding...simple and cute!

Ok mom, I'll take one more, but that's it!
I am practicing new hairdo techniques!

Our first attempt for the "wedding" do


I think she likes it!

I curled my hair for once and wanted proof

Distracting them at my Dr. appt. while waiting on him to come in



They love each other!

Nolan looks so old in this picture


This brings out his eyes a lot

One really important thing for both me and Joe is that we take plenty of pictures of our family. Though I have manged to dodge many pictures in the past by always volunteering as the photographer, we now have a child that loves to take pictures! Needless to say, I am in many more these days! Some are of my new found hobby of playing with different hairstyles with Lauren's hair (thanks Misti!), but most of these are just random pictures we take throughout our normal day to day activities. Hope you enjoy!

"I Love Your Blog Award" Tag

Here are the rules: I have to answer the following questions with one word answers and one word only! Then I must pass it on to seven others.

The questions are as follows:

1. Where is your cell phone? purse

2. Where is your significant other? Deployed

3. Your hair color? Highlighted!

4. Your mother? Sandy

5. Your father? Ken

6. Your favorite thing? bedtime

7. Your dream last night? none

8. Your dream/goal? Retirement

9. The room you're in? Family

10. Your hobby? Crafts

11. Your fear? Widow

12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? graduated
13. Where were you last night? bed

14. What you're not? male
15. One of your wish-list items? Zune

16. Where you grew up? Indiana

17. The last thing you did? snacks

18. What are you wearing? jeans

19. Your TV? Debate!

20. Your pet? Nada

21. Your computer? new

22.Your mood? anxious

24.Missing someone? Joey

24. Your car? beast!

25. Something you're not wearing? contacts

26. Favorite store? Gordmans

27. Your summer? over

28. Love someone? Absolutely

29. Your favorite color? pastels

30. When is the last time you laughed? Today
31. Last time you cried? earlier
I award the following 7 people with the "I love your blog award" and in so doing tag them to complete the above questions.

Sarah W., Brandi, Cindy, Misti, Jade, Rachel, Michelle

Lauren's First Dance Class!

They dont have a clue!

Before her first dance class


Lauren really enjoyed her first day at dance class. She has 2 of her friends she already knows in it with her....Mary from church and Jordyn, her neighbor friend. I took some video of them. It's not the best quality and it has no sound since parents arent in the room while they are learning, but it's cute to watch them. They dont have a clue yet, but Im sure after a few more lessons they'll start to catch on. It was really fun to watch. At the end of the lesson, the teacher asks the parents to come in so they can show off everything they learned! I think that was a cute idea. They get a little shy when they have an audience, but hopefully that will go away by recital time! We'll just have to wait and see! Here are a few pictures though.

New Pics and a little rambling in between!

Nolie being as cute as ever!

Lauren my poser! She kept rearranging her animals so I could get them in the shot too!

They play so well together


GO COLTS!

Well I just wanted to post some new pictures of the kids. We are slowly creeping up to the end of this deployment. We can almost see the light at the end of the tunnel. We have one more full week of September and then Oct and Nov. should be cake! We have some things planned that should keep us busy. Let me just list a few. October: Well, things really dont get busy until the end of the month, but I will just be busy getting ready for the end of the month business throughout the month. My brother Eric is getting married on Oct 25th. The wedding is in Chicago and Lauren is their flower girl. She is going to be so darling! Nolan turns 1 the day before on the 24th. We are going to have to put something together for him. All of the family is going to be together. Except for the most important person, my husband! Figures...he always has to miss out on all the fun. Poor guy! Halloween is also in that last week in Oct. I love Halloween! I actually will get to eat the candy this year b/c Nolan doesnt know that it's his yet! Lauren was sure to put me in my place last year when I tried to eat all hers! This year Lauren is going to be a witch and Nolan a giraffe. Fun! November: well November doesnt really have much, but it is the last month I have to be alone. Thanksgiving is in Nov. and me and some friends are getting together for that. I am not going home for that since I will have just left. It's fine with me. I will miss my mom's cookin, but things will be fine. Lauren is going to be starting dance this week so that is one more thing to have on my list. I cant wait! Yes I know I am rambling, but all this rambling helps me get through things easier. It's like you're in my head I know! It's therapy! Free therapy at that! Only 82 more days till Joe gets home! Let the countdown begin!

Summer Update

Nolan and his Great Grandpa Carl in KY

Lauren at the lake in Kentucky

This is Lauren and Zach. Zach is Lauren's cousin.

They came in and were so proud they had switched suits!

They both said, "Tada!" It was so funny!

A new updated picture of our dog cousins!

This is so funny...Eric and Michelle's bridal shower!

It has been quite some time since I have posted anything on here. Since I last posted we have been to Indiana and Kentucky. We just got home earlier this week and I must say it is great to be home! Nothing is quite like home as Im sure all of you will agree. While I was in IN we caught news that Joe made SSgt. It was such a relief to know that he has done it. His goal was to make Staff before we left Whiteman. We aren't sure yet, but in about 15 days we will know whether or not we are getting overseas orders out of here! We put various places such as Japan, Alaska, Hawaii, and Germany on our dreamsheet...or should I say Joe put it on "his" dreamsheet. We are anxious to see where we are going . We have been here over 3 years and feel like its our time. Joe is still in Qatar and is due home early December now. We are just about to our 1/2 way point. Once we are through the month of Sept. things will go fast for us. I can't wait to be together as a family again. Lauren tells me everyday, "Mommy, I miss Daddy." Im so glad that she is still talking about him. I think Joe was afraid the kids would forget about him in the 6 months he was gone. Nolan I think will go to him right away...he takes well to men anyways! We are staying extra busy here. Lauren is getting ready to start her first dance class. There will be more on that later Im sure. I hope she likes it. I am out of school for this 8 weeks. I guess I needed a break because nothing seemed to be going through like it has always in the past. I am hoping to get back in the next weeks. If that doesnt happen I will for sure in the spring when Joe is home. Right now I need to make lunch for some hungry bellies so I gotta run!