Our little one

Mason is just too cute for his own good.

Halloween 2009

Pretty Girl Emily

Birthdays

This month Pete and I both got a year older.

It's that time again...

Time to be on the look out for spooks and goblins. I'm so excited we are all going to dress up this year. Yes, I convinced Pete to wear a costume. Jacob will be a scary warlock, Emily will be a devil, Mason will be either a dragon or a dog. He hasn't made up his mind yet. I'll be a vampiress and Pete will be spider food. I've decorated the house inside and out. We are going to carve Jack-o-lanterns next weekend so they will keep longer. Every time we carve them early they end up all moldy. Since Halloween is on a Saturday I'm sure the ghosts will be out in full swing.

Mason

Yesterday we had a play date at one of the local parks. My friend Tiffany invited a photographer to come and take some pictures of the kids having fun. They turned out great. I was supprised I thought for sure Mason would look a mess. He spend about 20 minutes "rolling down the sand hills".

Pine Knoll Shores Aquarium

We went to the local aquarium with some good friends of ours the Brown family.

Yard Work

We spent Labor Day weekend landscaping. The front flower beds were horribly overgrown. We had to til it up there were so many weeds. It look so much better now.

USS North Carolina

Althougth it was HOT, we really enjoyed touring the USS North Carolina. Seeing the ship as it was during the war was impressive. The letter at the top is from a Jim Ellis to his family back home. I just had to take a picture of it. I wonder if he is any relation to me.

First day of School

Emily going to the 6th grade.

Jacob going to the 4th grade.

Friends

4 Generations

My Grandmother(Nanny) My Mother, Me and My Daughter.

I'm getting there

We are finally in our house in Jacksonville. After a great visit in TN I have so many pictures to post. I don't know when I'll get around to it.

I didn't realize how much crap I have until this move. It maybe because we have moved into a smaller house. Where to put it all? It will take me months to get it all situated.

New House

We finally found a place in Jacksonville. It's in a newer subdivision a really nice neighborhood. I'll send you all an email with the address. We will be moving in mid July.
TMO comes this Sat to pack us out and Sun to load it all up. Then we are off to Tennessee to visit family.

moving

Man, moving is stressful. We have about 2 weeks until we move from this house. Pete checks in to Camp Johnson at the end of July. We do not have a place to live as of yet. I'm worried about where the kids will go to school and everything else. It would be nice to have a place before we leave here. So we can try and enjoy our vacation.

Emily's Spring Concert

Family pictures

Student of the the month

Jacob made student of the month for April. There was an ice cream and cookie social to celebrate. Ms. Saunders the vice-principal handed out the certificates. We are so proud of him.

Helping?

Here is a rare occurrence. Emily helping Jacob with his homework.

Birdies

We have a pair of birds that have nested in the hanging fern on our porch. There are five eggs and only two have hatched. I don't think the other three will hatch. It has been fun to watching and checking on their progress.

Busy

This past weekend was busy, busy. We spent Sat. painting and trying to get the house spruced up for the rental market. Emily went to Busch Gardens with her friend and then spent the night with her also. Jacob went to a birthday party. On Sunday we did the yard work in the morning and spent the rest of the day doing family fun things. We went to the zoo, it was nice weather for it. Not too hot it did rain a little but we just happened to be under cover when it did. Mason loves to visit the monkeys. When we went to see the reptiles, Mason said at every exhibit "I don't yike it". So cute to hear. Even though he was very interested in seeing them he didn't want to get to close.
Today Mason begins swim lessons. I'm sure he will love it. He is a fish. I'll try and get some pictures to post.

Enlistment

Emily and Jacob have enlisted in the NAVY. They have their enlistment papers in hand. On Sat. morning they are to report to Norfolk and board a bus where will take a long ride to Great Lakes Naval Station. ILL. for their first assignment.

Just kidding it was all in fun. The USS Wisconsin was celebrating 65 years young. They had an enlistment station up to recruit people just as they would in 1944. Emily and Jacob signed their lives away and took the oath. They are in for the duration of the war. WWII that is.

Egg Hunt at home

Busch Gardens

We had a great trip to Busch Gardens. They have the new Sesame Street Forest of Fun for toddlers. Mason had fun, he even rode some of the rides all by himself. Emily was on a roller coaster mission. She was determined to ride all the big ones. She rode the Griffin, Loch Ness Monster, Big Bad Wolf and Apollo's Chariot. I was privileged enough to ride Apollos Chariot with her. Pete went with her on the rest of them. We didn't make it to the Alpngeist. That's for the next trip. Jacob went on The Loch Ness Monster and was scared.I don't think he's a roller coaster kind of kid. Mason and I also got to meet Dan. He is a ginormous Clydesdale one of the Anheuser Busch mascots. Mason was a bit afraid at first but once I held him he wanted to pet and talk to Dan. We'll be going back as much as we want,we have summer passes.

My Guys

Pete,Jacob and Mason all wearing Cubs hats and sun glasses.

Homecoming 2