Christmas Pics

Those of you with small children know it can be a chore to get a good family picture. I decided that since I just got that new hi-tech camera from Chris, we'd try and put it to good use and take our own Christmas card picture this year. The base decorated a plane, 'the Christmas Jet', with lights, so we dragged the family over, along with the new camera and tripod to try and get a good picture. The kids actually cooperated really well, though none turned out well enough to use for a Christmas card. Still, we had a lot of fun taking them and I thought I could at least share them here.

Is it bad that my kids have started to pose at the mere sight of a camera?

The pictures all turned out a little too dark (have I mentioned I don't really know how to use this new camera?!) You may have to click/enlarge the pics to really see us.

Silly Faces

Kissing Siblings

After getting home and realizing we still didn't really have a good pic, I tried to get the family to sit together once more in front of the tree. As you can see, Jonathan was over modelling at this point!

Merry Christmas!

Little Gym

The Little Gym just opened a new gym in the town near us. They held an open house on Saturday from 2-5pm and so we took the kids to check it out. They promised 'Fun, crafts and more", and boy did they ever deliver. Both kids had a great time as did Chris and I. The day left us trying to figure out if we can afford to sign the kids up for some classes there.

Initially, Jonathan's favorite part was the arts and crafts. He was able to decorate his own Christmas tree with stickers and such...I'm sure the cookie and lemonade helped, too!

Looks like both kids are going to be lefty's like their Mommy!

There was sooo much to do in the gym and they'd bring the kids together on the mat for a group activity from time to time as well. Clara had a ball jumping on this inflatable.

She was so proud of walking on the high balance beam on her own.

She was amazing -- as well as amazed by how much she could do on her own. I love watching her confidence grow with even the smallest of activities.

She figured out how to put her feet up on the bar and hang like this. She was thrilled later when one of the employees told her it had a name, "Basket Hang." She proudly told me, "She said it's called a basket-case!"

Even Jonathan finally worked up the nerve to come into the gym and attempt the high balance beam.

By the end of the day he was walking it on his own!

He loved climbing and jumping on all the mats.

Taking time to rest with Daddy.

Just hanging around!

We had a ball there and hope to find a way to fit it into the New Year! It was a great place to watch the kids expend some energy and gain some confidence, all while making friends and having fun!

Chinese Food

Chris brought home a few trinkets for the kids from his travels. He gave each of the kids an authentic silk Japanese outfit, Clara got this robe and Jonathan got a little pant and shirt set. He also brought home chopsticks for the whole family. Needless to say, going for Chinese food was a priority this weekend!

Here's Clara dressed up to go for Chinese food. Jonathan didn't want to wear his outfit out. Clara decided that since she was dressed so fancy, the rest of us needed some accessorizing as well, so she gave us each a beaded necklace to wear.

Jonathan decided one necklace was not enough, so he wore about 5.

Time to use the chopsticks. Jonathan wasn't so keen on Chinese food, so this is actually about all he used his for.

We spent a lot of time practicing while waiting for the food to come.

All you need is 2 hands and a little concentration.

Yay! She did it!!!!!

Show off!

Clara the Clown

On Thursday while we were waiting for Thanksgiving dinner to finish cooking, we were a little bored, so we pulled out the face paint I bought after Halloween for these occasions! Clara decided she wanted to look like the picture of the clown on the package.

Then she figured it was a good time to go for a bike ride. I asked Jonathan if he wanted some face paint...he said, "No, Mom."

So I guess I won't quit my day job!

Daddy Goes to Preschool

As excited as Clara was that Chris was coming home on Monday morning, she was a little upset that it meant she had to miss school. I easily put that to rest by suggesting that Chris go to school with her on Weds. Clara was so excited she could hardly contain herself, and Chris couldn't wait either, especially since he had to go into work for a little while on Tuesday. He didn't feel so bad about having to spend that time at work, knowing he would be able to go to school with Clara the next day. I was a little jealous since I have yet to stay in Clara's class with her - they don't really like for you to bring you other children (Jonathan) in with you, so I made Chris take the camera with them for their special morning.

Show and Tell.

Instead of doing regular 'Show and Tell' Clara's school does 'literacy bags'. Each week the kids are given a brown lunch sack with a letter on the outside and they are to bring in one thing, that fits in the bag, and begins with that letter to share with the class. It helps teach the kids look around and start thinking about what letter the objects in their world start with. It also gives you some insight into what's important to the child. Clara started with a strong 'princess theme' to her choices: A was Ariel, B was Belle, C was her Camera (though Cinderella was a close contender), D was a picture of her Daddy and Dog, E was an Envelope, F was a Feather Fan, G was a Goat, and H was a Heart that she cut out of construction paper and decorated on her own. Mrs. Lorraine accidentally skipped over G and did H first, so last week they went back and did G. Here's Clara showing her classmates her Goat puzzle piece.

I sent Chris and Clara in with some 'Green Gooey Goop' I made in honor of G week. It was a huge hit!

Clara and her friend Callie in the art area.

Chris and Clara both had a great time. Chris got to see her school and and meet her teachers and friends -- a chance to see what she's been up to while he's been away.

Not the Daddy!

Here are the pictures from Chris' Homecoming last Monday. I had no worries that the kids would warm up to Chris quickly once he was home. There has never been a kid that didn't warm up to him, though I was a bit worried that it would take some time for Jonathan. I was soooo wrong. We picked Chris up at the hangar, an hour and a half later we were sitting at Applebees for lunch; Chris and the kids jammed into the booth on one side of the table, and me - alone - on the other side. For the rest of the week I have not been allowed to zip Jonathan's jacket, change a diaper, buckle him into his booster seats (in the car nor at the table), or tuck him into bed. Honestly, it's refreshing (except the tucking into bed part, that's one of my favorite things). I feel as though I live in an episode of that old sitcom 'Dinosaurs' with Jonathan hitting me over the head with a frying pan, yelling, "Not the Daddy" every time I come near! Still, it's great to have the liveliness and energy back in the house.

These are some of the signs the Officers' Wives Club put up around the base in preparation for Homecoming. Chris' squadron is VFA-22, the Fighting Redcocks.

This is the sign the kids and I painted for Chris and hung on the garage. The kids each put their hand prints on the sheet. Jonathan was so proud of his first set of hand prints (in blue) that he put his hands hands back down on the sheet by the yellow bow and proudly exclaimed, "Blue, hands, self!" He's been experimenting and taking a lot of pride in his independence lately!

The house, ready to greet Chris on his return.

The kids ready to greet their Daddy. Clara was happy to have the earmuffs to reduce the sound and the kids and I had matching t-shirts made. They turned out really well, though I never got a good picture of the shirts' front and back. The front has Chris' picture in the plane and says, "My Guy McFly". His call sign is obviously 'McFly' - I guess the other guys in the squadron thought he looks a bit like Marty McFly from Back to the Future.

All the planes lined up on the ground. Waiting for the guys to get out. Chris is in the plane with the 104 on the side. I believe it was the 3rd plane back (the one right before the break in the line).

Here's the picture and snipit that made it in the paper Tuesday morning. Chris is the 2nd from the right (next to the guy who's waving).

Clara had the whole 'first hug' planned out in her mind - She was going to run to Daddy and he was going to pick her up and spin her around lots of times, all the while giving her a big hug and lots of kisses. It was all she talked about for the week before Chris came home. I passed the info along so that she would not be disappointed -- though, I'm sure it would've been close to the same even if I hadn't.

Jonathan caught up to them finally.

Look at those smiles!

Together again!

Cheese! After greeting Daddy, Jonathan's next order of business was the huge fruit platter they had prepared in the hangar!

More signs in the hangar

They also put up these signs -- one plane for each guy in the squadron with their call sign on it.

One last banner on base YCBAR! (You Can't Beat A Redcock!)

With Chris home just in time for Thanksgiving we obviously had a lot to be thankful for. We opted for a quiet Thanksgiving at home, just the 4 of us. It's so good to have our family together and complete again!

Welcome Home Baby!

I LOVE Jet Noise...

...Especially when that jet is bringing my husband home to me!

I know everyone must be curious, and yes, Chris made it home safely Monday morning on time. They didn't get to fly over in formation as expected due to the fog...it's that time of year again! The kids in I were there in time to watch the planes fly over and land, despite a 15 min. search for a parking spot. I only got a few pics of the homecoming (I was too busy hugging and crying to take too many), but Chris is spending the morning with Clara at preschool today and I made him take the camera, since I haven't yet had the privilege of going to school with her. So I'll try and upload the pictures later today.

I wanted to thank everyone for the prayers and support you extended to me and my family over the last 6 months. Knowing that our friends and family were thinking of us helped keep us sane and the prayers helped keep us strong and brought my husband home safe where he belongs. We are a very lucky bunch!