Where's Jonathan?!

I was getting the kids ready for their baths tonight and walked out of the bathroom for a minute while the tub was filling up.

When I came back in, I couldn't find Jonathan. "Where's Jonathan?" I asked Clara.

"There he is!" she said, laughing at me.

Look at that face and tell me they weren't working together on this one!

Ballet

Clara started her new dance class today. This time she's going to a real dance school out in town instead of just the base community center. After just one class today, I know it's the right choice. The dance school is more structured and I think that in just today's class, she learned more ballet and tap steps than she did in the full 6 weeks this summer. She loves that they dance in front of the mirrors too -- she spent the whole time looking at herself! I only snapped one pic today, because for the class the parents sat outside the room and watched through a viewing window. It was fantastic, I could watch without either Jonathan or I being a distraction -- no more chasing after him throughout the whole class as he tries to be with his sister!!!!

Clara was adorable today! I got this pic when they let the mom's in the room at the beginning of class to run through some rules and protocol. I wish I could've gotten more pics, but there was too much glare on the window from the reflection of the outside door. I know Chris would've loved to see it all! I told Clara that he may be able to come watch one of her classes when he gets home (she takes a morning class, so he'd have to have a late flight). She got SOOOOO excited. She said, " I'll still be in that class when he comes home?" She can't wait to show him what she's doing. Clara will have just one recital this year, the first weekend of June - though I heard a nasty rumor yesterday that Chris will be back out to sea at that time :( Time will tell.

Clara has been reading her Fancy Nancy book a lot lately, and she is quite certain that ballet IS fancy. All she talked about this morning was how fancy she looked, so of course sticking her in a room where she was surrounded by mirrors was just icing on the cake!

Clara's 1st Day of Preschool

Clara started Preschool today!!!! She was sooo excited. Both kids were still sound asleep when I went in to wake them up at 7:10am this morning. Jonathan, for one, was not at all excited to see me 2 hours earlier than normal, but we pushed through it. By the time we had breakfast and Clara was dressed, she was so excited she could hardly stand it. She has a new backpack with her name embroidered on it -- purple, of course. I'm not sure which part she was more excited about -- her new school or her new backpack!

Here's the preschooler all dressed and ready to head to school. The Child Development Center (CDC) is only about a 10 min walk from our house, so I gave Clara a jacket since it was a little chilly so early in the morning.

We found her cubby and put her backpack on the hook underneath.

We put on her name tag, and then Clara found a place on the rug with her friends and teacher, Mrs. Lorraine.

I guess every year they go with a theme - this year is a barnyard theme.

When I came back to pick Clara up, I got her to stand with her teachers, Mrs. Tiffany and Mrs Lorraine, so I could get a picture. Mrs. Lorraine told me, "Clara did great in school today. She's really bright." I explained that was exactly why she was there, she's too bored with me at home. She needs the stimulation.

Clara was particularly excited because today was one of the other kids' birthday, so she got a cookie to bring home. How much better does it get? She even offered to share it with Jonathan "since he's not big enough to go to school and get his own". That girl makes me sooo proud!

This pic is particularly for Chris. He filed a formal complaint with me after my trip to Phoenix because I'm not in any pics, so I got a friend to snap this one of me and the kids on the way out of preschool this morning. Jonathan still insists on wearing those boots -- what are you gonna do?! People are always commenting on Jonathan's appearance, whether it's the boots, sunglasses or the beaded necklaces and bracelets he gets out of Clara's room. Today as 2 of the other kids' fathers passed us by, I heard Jonathan's outfit had sparked a conversation, "I wish I could dress like that...."

Update

Thank you for all of your well wishes and prayers for Preston and his family. I spoke with Uncle Larry Saturday or Sunday and they had just brought Preston home from the hospital, which is REALLY impressive considering all he's been through. He's doing well, but he still has a good bit of recovering to do, so please continue to keep them in your thoughts and prayers. Thanks.

Guess who can tie?!!!!

Making 'bunny ears'...

Pulling it tight...

Ta Da!!!!!!!!

Look how proud she is! I'd like to take some credit here, but really can't. I got her these lacing cards/shoes a couple Christmases ago and she plays with them a good bit -- just not typically in the way they were intended. Chris and I have both shown her in the past how to use them to learn to tie and there's a diagram on the back of the box. This morning she brought a shoe and the box to me and said, " I've been doing it the way it says, but it's not working." So I walked her through it one time. Then she did it this time ALL BY HERSELF!!!! I'm so proud -- as is she!

A Military Wife

I received this email from a friend today, I don't know who wrote it, but it made me cry, esp the last part.

What is a MILITARY Wife?

They may look different and each is wonderfully unique

But this they have in common.

They have THIS IN COMMON!

lots of moving---

moving

moving

moving far from home

moving two cars, three kids and one dog----all riding with HER of course

moving sofas to basements because they won't go in THIS house

moving curtains that won't fit

moving jobs and certifications and professional development hours

moving away from friends

moving toward new friends

moving her most important luggage;

her trunk full of memories

often waiting-

waiting,

waiting,

waiting for housing;

waiting for orders;

waiting for deployment;

waiting for reunion;

waiting for phones calls;

waiting for the new curtains to arrive;

waiting for him to come home for dinner----AGAIN!

They call her 'military dependent',

but she knows better

she can balance a checkbook

handle the yard work

fix a noisy toilet.

She is intimately familiar with drywall, anchors, and toggle bolts.

She can file the taxes, sell a house, buy a car, or set up a move,

all with ONE Power of Attorney.

She welcomes neighbors that don't welcome her.

Reinvents her career with every PCS;

locates a house in the desert,

the arctic,

or the deep south

and learns to call them all 'home'.

She MAKES them all home.

She is fiercely IN-dependent

Military Wives are somewhat hasty

They leap into decorating,

leadership,

volunteering,

career alternatives,

churches and friendships.

They don't have 15 years to get to know people.

Their roots are short but flexible.

They plant annuals for themselves and perennials for those who come after them.

Military Wives quickly learn to value each other.

They connect over coffee, rely on the spouse-network,

accept offers of friendship and favors

and record addresses in pencil.

Military Wives have a common bond.

The Military Wife has a husband unlike other husbands.

His commitment is unique.

He doesn't have a job,

he has a 'mission'.

He can't just decide to quit.

He's on-call for his country 24/7

but for you,

he's the most...

Unreliable guy in town!

His language is foreign: TDY, PCS, OPR, ACC, BDU

And so,

a Military Wife is a translator for her family and his.

She is the long-distance link to keep them informed;

the glue that holds them together.

Military Wife has her moments--

She wants to wring his neck,

dye his uniform pink,

and refuse to move to Siberia.

But she pulls herself together.

Give her a few days,

a travel brochure,

a long hot bath,

a pledge to the flag,

and a wedding picture.

And she goes.

She packs.

She moves.

She follows.

Why? What for? How come?

You may think it is because she has lost her mind.

But actually it is because she has lost her heart.

It was stolen from her by a man

who puts duty first

who longs to deploy

who salutes the flag

and whose boots in the doorway remind her

that as long as he is her Military husband,

She will remain his Military wife.

We have reached our halfway point, just 13 more weeks until my 'Military husband' returns to his family :)

Say a Prayer...

I received an email from Chris' Uncle Larry today (the one, who along with his wife, was kind enough to open their home to us when we first moved to Fresno last year). Their youngest son Preston was in a car accident this past weekend, here in Fresno. This is the car he was in.

Thankfully, he's making great progress and has already made it to the Step Down Unit of the ICU. Uncle Larry says he should make it into a regular room later in the week. Preston was in the back seat and sustained some internal injuries. The driver, a friend of his, suffered some injuries as well, but is OK. I don't know much more than that, but I wanted to ask that everyone says a prayer for Preston and his family, as well as his friend, as they recover from this accident. Thank you.