The inevitable...

We took our first (and hopefully last) trip to the E.R. in the middle of the night since Chris has been gone.    Pete woke up crying around midnight with a fever of 102.  I gave him Motrin.  When I checked him at 1am, his temperature rose to 103.  I gave him Tylenol and waited another hour and checked again... 104.  Yikes.  I decided to wake everyone up and drive to the ER at Fort Bragg (which felt like an eternity at 30 minutes away).  When we arrived, the nurse took Pete's temperature rectally... 104.7!  He felt like he was on fire.  Turns out he has an ear infection so the doctor prescribed antibiotics and Tylenol and Motrin around the clock for the next 24-48 hours.  Thankfully his fever is down significantly but he still seems out of it and just wants to be held.

Poor baby!  This is just about all we've done today... cuddle and relax in bed.  

Hopefully he's back to normal tomorrow.  Nothing is worse than a sick baby.  :(

Highlights...

Things have been relatively quiet around here the last few days.  Our friends from West Point, the Hudson family, moved into the neighborhood over the weekend and, lucky for us, they have a son who is 7!  Kenton and James have become fast friends.  They also have a daughter, Kerrigan (5) and a son, Clayton (2).

Henry got a new pair of Batman pajamas and has worn them constantly for the last 3 days.  He told me they are "nighttime clothes and morning-time clothes."  Fine.  Yes.  Whatever... wear them again.

"VICTORY!"

It's been raining here for the last few days so my girlfriend, Meagan, and I took the younger kids to Fascinate U,  a children's museum in town, this morning.  While the company was great, the museum itself was just okay.  I don't think we'll be returning.  It certainly doesn't even come close to comparing to other children's museums we've been to in New York or Washington, D.C.  The children's museum in Raleigh, called Marbles, is supposed to be excellent.  It's on my list for summertime activities!

Meagan and Jayme...

You thought I was kidding about the pjs, didn't you?

Tonight our good friend, Rob Shaw, is coming over for dinner en route to his new duty station, Hunter Army Air Field in Savannah, Ga.  I'm excited to see him and catch up.  Well, it's time to check on the boys... both fell asleep after playing at the museum so I guess it wasn't so bad after all!

Memorial Day...

We spent this Memorial Day at our friend's house.  Melissa and Patrick had a bunch of us over for a BBQ and to splash around in their pool!

What a beautiful backyard!

Melissa has gorgeous flowers all over...

Shelby (Henry's friend) made these red white and blue strawberries...

 When the rain came, everyone came inside for a bubble and ice cream party!  

(Clearly she's a much better mommy than me!)

We all had a wonderful time... but never did the real meaning of today escape us.  For all of the soldiers who never made it home, and the mothers and fathers and wives and husbands and sons and daughters who carry a heavy, broken heart because of your absence... we thought of you, we prayed for you, and we celebrated you.  God Bless.

A wonderful week...

A special thank you to my dear friend, Allison, for flying in from Texas to spend the week with me and the boys.  We had a wonderful time together... doing a few projects around the house,  going out to dinner with several of the wives in Chris's unit, going to a pool party, going out for Fourth Friday downtown, and just spending time together!  Allison's husband, Greg, returns from an 11 month deployment next Sunday!!  We can't wait to hear that they are all together again!

It was so nice having you here.  

We can't wait to see you all in July!

Yaaaaay!!!!

Allison arrived last night!  She flew in from Fort Hood, Texas and is staying with us until Saturday.  I can't even describe how nice it is to have her here.  She has been an incredible help and so wonderful to have around.

The boys think she is the coolest person ever.  

Here she is playing Monopoly with James... for the 2nd time today! 

(And check out Pete in the background!)

We love you, Al!  Thank you, thank you, thank you!

THAT little...

Chris called for the first time in a week this afternoon and 

while I was talking with him, James started his homework...

And... over the weekend James asked me why I don't have a job.  I told him actually, I have THREE!  Someone's cruisin' for a bruisin' huh?!   That little stinker!

Today's catch...

That's right!  Henry caught a lizard.  Quite frankly I'm amazed at how many living creatures he is able to find and capture daily.  His friend, Jonathan, purposefully stepped on the lizard's tail (which upset Henry and myself), which is why he is tail-less in these pictures.

Here Henry is playing with the lizard.  The lizard bit him though, so...

he was put back in his "home."

I was hoping lizards were one of those animals that regrow body parts but apparently not.  He is now... asleep.

Fishing Derby...

This morning the boys and I went to Lake Rim (about 5 minutes away) and participated in a family fishing derby, sponsored by Ft. Bragg.  The boys had a blast-- each caught 3 (big!) catfish and a few small ones too.  And the weather was beautiful-- high 60's and sunny blue skies.  A perfect day for being outside!

Ready to fish!

 Look at that proud smile!

Henry caught this one... 1 lb, 9 oz!

One of the catfish James caught...

Fortunately the guy running the event was super cool and helped me keep an eye on Pete.  I was so worried he was going to fall in the lake when I was helping the big boys.  He didn't, thank God!  

It was about as perfect as mornings go...

School News...

The 2011-2012 school year is quickly drawing a close.  Two nights ago was James's Spring Concert.  The entire first grade sang and he had a speaking role!

The signs are everywhere...

While his line was short, his courage was big.  It was a packed house!  

Can you spot James?  He's in the very back, center, under the globe!

Henry's preschool graduation ceremony (from the 3 year old room to the 4 year old room) was on Thursday.  They sang lots of cute songs and he really got into it.  Here are a few pictures from his ceremony...

Buddies!  Shelby, Riley, Maddie, Henry, Luke, and Luke...

Henry's last day of school is this Wednesday and James's last day is Friday, June 8th.  Both are quickly approaching!  I signed James up for a cool outdoor camp, Henry for several Little Gym camps, two Vacation Bible Schools, a week at Tybee Island with friends, friends are moving in June 10th across the street, and we are hoping to have some summer visitors too!  But do you think that's enough to keep everyone entertained for 3 months??  Hmm... me either.  YIKES!

Dadisms...

Today marks 2 months since Dad passed away.  It feels like so much longer.
Dadism #2:  Love is everything or nothing at all.  

My dad had four great loves in his life-- my mother, my sister, me, and music.  As fathers go, mine was pretty affectionate and always told me he loved me.  He made a point to tell me how proud he was of me and, in particular, the mother I am.  My father had a very difficult childhood and I don't believe he ever got over it.  Growing up, music was a great escape for him and throughout my childhood, he always had music playing in the background.  On my wedding day, Dad requested the song "Landslide" by Stevie Nicks for our Father and Daughter dance. And when he passed away, I asked my mom if we could play the song again.  We did.  She hired a guitarist and he played it beautifully.  This song represents so much to me... played on one of the happiest days of my life and certainly the saddest.  I will always be proud of my father for climbing the mountain... throughout his entire childhood, in his daily life as a diabetic, and during his battle with cancer.  I love that my father picked this as "our" song.  I know he built his life around us and for that I will be forever grateful.

Landslide

I took my love and I took it down
I climbed a mountain and I turned around
And I saw my reflection in the snow-covered hills
'Til the landslide brought it down...

Oh, mirror in the sky, what is love?
Can the child within my heart rise above?
Can I sail through the changin' ocean tides?
Can I handle the seasons of my life?

Well I've been afraid of changing
'Cause I've built my life around you,
But time makes you bolder, 
Even children get older,
and I'm getting older too...

Well I've been afraid of changing
'Cause I've built my life around you.
But time makes you bolder, 
Even children get older,
And I'm getting older too.
Oh, I'm getting older too...

Take my love and take it down
I climbed a mountain and I turned around
And if you see my reflection in the snow-covered hills
Well the landslide will bring it down
And if you see my reflection in the snow-covered hills
Well, the landslide will bring it down
Oh, oh, the landslide will bring it down.

Dancing to Landslide...

Happy 4th Birthday, Henry!

Henry's special "birthday door" for when he woke up this morning...

which Pete loved!

James was so excited to wake Henry up and wish him a Happy Birthday!  

Henry got to open one present before school.  

Daddy sent him an "Action Trio Costume Set."

Henry loves it!  He wanted to wear all 3 costumes at once of course.

All before 8am, folks... Henry insisted I get in on the action.

Henry got lots of great presents from his brothers and
grandparents and loved eating cupcakes after dinner tonight...

Thank you all for making his day so special!
It's hard to believe it's been four years since we brought him home...

He brings so much love and laughter into our home.
We love you, sweet boy!

They don't stand a chance...

Henry keeps finding baby frogs.  Everywhere.  He is obsessed (literally) with finding insects and frogs.  He will pick ANYthing up, no matter how gross or weird it looks.  I keep begging him to release the baby frogs.  Crazy, I know, but they don't survive long in Ziploc bags or almost-4-year-old hands.

They're goners.