The Good Life...

These kids don't know how good they've got it.  In the two weeks since the boys got out of school, they've been at a pool, a party, a sleep-over, with friends, or at camp ever since.

$1 Days at the Movies.   First up: The Lego Movie…

 It's a pretty sweet deal: tickets are $1 (adults are free), and popcorn and sodas are also only $1!

 After the movie we took all the kids out to celebrate Gabby's birthday…

 

As you can see, it was a nice, quiet celebration...

 Peter started swim lessons at the HealthPlex (an indoor pool) last week...

He is absolutely part fish. He
will swim for hours in the pool!

We've checked out all of the pools on post…

 Although there is general grumpiness when I mention taking everyone to the gym, this is how we found them at pick-up the other day.  Clearly they're not that miserable...

It's impossible to pick out a favorite but I do love James's Elvis
wig and apron; Henry's Wonder Woman dress and leopard tights; Nicolas's
scary Jason mask and purple flowy pants; and then there's Peter… who looks like a midget.

On Friday we checked out Chris's new office...

The boys got a kick out of his FOUR computer screens!
Have you ever seen such a thing?!

 … and went to 2-504's Family Day.

Every child got a USO box with a cute stuffed animal...

 and all of the FREE Girl Scout cookies they could carry!

 On Saturday, Henry had his last soccer game and end-of-the-season party at Mellow Mango...

Henry and a few of his team mates gabbing and eating...

So proud of his 1st trophy! 

Henry passed the swim test and is now allowed to jump off the diving boards with James.  Quite a big deal for both of the boys...

The boys convinced me to jump off that high dive and let me tell you… NEVER AGAIN.  It was awful!  But James loves it and jumps off again and again!  (Henry sticks to the lower of the two diving boards.)

What's better than pizza for dinner after a fun day at the swimming pool?

 On Monday, the big boys started camp at Camp Rockfish...

 This was drop off on the first morning so the boys were a bit reserved...

 …but everyone was super excited at pick-up time!  They are having a blast!

 All of this summertime fun is definitely wearing one of us out...

Peter has taken an afternoon nap every day for the last two weeks.  And it's about 9am right now and he's still asleep.  Waking the big boys for camp at 6:30am is akin to waking the dead so maybe all of these fun days are wearing everyone out.  A few more days of camp and then we leave for Cape Hatteras on Saturday for a week at the beach with Gigi, Aunt Megan and Uncle Tocco!  We can't wait!!!

New job, new craziness...

So, as if being a part of the 82nd Airborne Division isn't hectic enough, we have definitely reached a hightened level of "crazy" with Chris's new job.  Chris took over as 1st Brigade Executive Officer last Monday and… well, I'm quite certain we won't see him again for an entire year.  I only wish I was joking.  Anthony, the man he's replacing, is nothing short of a machine, Chris said (Anthony graduated FIFTH from West Point; 1st at many well-known Army schools; owns 18 homes on the side that he and his wife "flip" and sell on the weekends; built their own home with his own two hands; owns $250K in baseball cards; is #1 in his entire Branch; and is moving to Italy in two weeks, just to name of few of the awe-inspiring things he's shared with Chris recently.)  Chris has huge shoes to fill but is already doing an excellent job.  He leaves our house at 4:15am and hasn't gotten home before 8:30- 9pm ever since.  (Anthony said to get used to those hours. They don't change.  Yikes!)

COL Bredenkamp (on the left), Anthony (the outgoing BDE XO),
Chris (the incoming BDE XO) and others after PT...

Anthony Barbina (the outgoing XO) and Chris

 Last week we attended our first Brigade Hail and Farewell.  That's COL Bredenkamp on the left "welcoming" Chris and me to the Brigade.

And since life isn't crazy enough, Chris texted me this message an hour ago….

"Normandy Housing Office just called and offered us a house on post… 4 Lafiere Street, Ft. Bragg.  Available mid-to-late July.  I have to respond by 5pm tomorrow."

Of course you do.  Because only the Army would ask you to make a decision in 24 hours that involves moving three children, two adults, two pets, and an entire house load of stuff in less than four weeks.

Tomorrow at 5pm is long before we'll know how long we're scheduled to stay here.  Whether or not Chris's next assignment will come through as planned.  But it is definitely within the timeframe to know that no, we cannot move our children away from the home they know, the friends they love, the school they adore, and the life we've made.  If it were just Chris and I?  Yeah, I'd jump at the opportunity to do something different, to purge and donate and get rid of "stuff" with the anticipation of setting up a new house and home, to meet new friends…

But those reasons aren't good enough to move our boys.  But our eyes are already on the horizon for our next adventure!  Hopefully this time next summer we'll be packed up and moving on…

Can't wait to see what's next!

Weekend trip home...

We had a great weekend at home and tried to cram as much in as possible during our short stay.  On Friday night, Chris and I stayed in Georgetown as a special welcome-home-slash-early-anniversary night out.  It was awesome!

While Chris and I were enjoying peace and quiet and uninterrupted conversation, the boys were all having a great time with the grandparents (can I get a "hallelujah!"?).  

We split the boys up so Mom played with Peter and Keith and Marta watched the big boys.  I think it gave the boys a chance to do what they love doing, without having to "age up" or "age down" to accommodate their brothers.

Mom took Pete to do all of his favorite activities, which include (in no particular order)... playing outside, eating broccoli, and eating soup!  Check out that smile...

 They walked around the Kentlands lake and looked for geese...

That teeny tiny watch Gigi gave him is too funny.

It's amazing how quiet and content Peter is when
his big brothers aren't around to drive him crazy.

And while Mom and Peter were busy having fun, so were James and Henry!  Grandpa took the big boys to laser tag, which is just about their favorite thing ever!  They also went fishing at a friend's farm and caught several!  

Henry and a worm… he's in heaven!

They also went out for McDonald's, watched a movie, and played T-ball.  (Here are a few pictures from earlier on Friday when Petey was around…)

We all had a fantastic weekend.  Thank you so much to Mom, Keith and Marta for making it so special!  We love you all!