I have an Instagram addiction

 I LOVE using Instagram on my phone to take, edit and post quick pictures but I usually end up taking pictures of Declan because he moves a little slower than the rest of them!!  I've got to remember to post pictures of the others too!!

Declan and Aoife - cuddles on mommy's bed

 

It's like looking in a mirror!  Declan LOVES the baby on the Pampers box but gets very irritated when it doesn't act like a mirror! 

 

 Declan this morning waiting for his breakfast of mangos and oatmeal - I could just eat him up!  He is the cutest thing ever!!

I should have known...

There were so many signs: the crying, the gorging herself at dinner, the crankiness.  I didn't pay attention and I paid for it.  I also decided that I would stay up late last night to watch Justin Timberlake host SNL for the 5th time.  (It was awesome.)  It was also daylight savings time so we missed an hour of sleep anyway and at 2 am (3 am??) Emmy came into my room covered in vomit.  Why could she not have gotten to the bathroom - oh why????  After a shower, stripping the bed (top bunk to boot), throwing some stuff away that I just couldn't handle and putting a load of laundry in we sat together for an hour in the bathroom.  Once things seemed to settle down I put her to bed and she slept until 7 (6??).  Whatever - between her, Declan and Justin Timberlake I got very little sleep last night and so she is crashed out on the couch right now and still can't keep anything down.  Poor little thing!  She is still in pretty good spirits but we're stuck home for the time being.  I hope that no one else gets it!!!!!!!

***** 3/11/13 Update - Emmy is feeling much better and will be off to school in the morning!!

Lincoln's 3rd Birthday

Yesterday was my friend's son's birthday and we went to the park to play and have cupcakes!  It was pretty warm and the kids had a great time!  Happy 3rd Birthday Lincoln!!

Who Does Declan Look Like?

The debate over who Declan looks like rages on!  Most of the time I think he looks like Aidan BUT I think that may only be because he is a boy!  Here are pictures of each of the kids at about the same age - what do you think??

Aidan:

 Emmy:

 Aoife:

I think the bottom half of his face looks like Aidan and the eyes looks like Aoife's - except blue.  One thing is for sure - they didn't look much alike as babies but they sure all look alike now!!

Is it Spring yet???

Yesterday after school we went to the park because it was warmish and sunny.  It was still winter coat weather as far as I was concerned but the kids ran around with light sweaters - or a t-shirt in Aoife's case!  Today was FREEZING and it rained and then snowed for bit.  Winter is lasting WAY to long this year.  It's hard to believe that Daylight Savings Time begins this coming weekend and baseball practices will start the next week and it is still super cold! 
Last year at this time we were in Gatlinburg and I remember how warm it was!  Can't say it's like that this year!  I am sitting hear listening to the wind roar outside.  Brrrrrrr!! 
Here's a picture of the girls from yesterday - Emmy, Kate, Aoife and Aubrey!

Day 2

It seems that we are experts at this deployment thing because it's only day 2 and we are back in the groove.  I'm sure that the fact that Brendan's job has had him coming home late most nights has helped prepare us but so far I'm really impressed by the kids!  Granted, it's only the second day - we'll see where we are in four months! 
We were able to talk to Brendan again today.  It's really amazing how much things have changed since our first deployment back in 2003.  He left for the invasion of Iraq and I didn't hear anything for four months!  When he was able to call, he had to wait in line for hours to even try and then sometimes he wouldn't be able to get a line through or I would miss the call.  He had no access to internet so we had to write letters (!!) and those took 6 weeks to get to him or get to me.  Now the mail takes about a week and we can skype, email and talk on the phone.  There isn't even any delay!  It really is amazing and I hope that it makes keeping the connection with the kids much easier. 

Deployment #4

 Here we go again!  Brendan left this morning for his 4th tour.  He'll be gone for another 12 months and he should be home for R & R about halfway through this time instead of 1 month from the end!  Yesterday we took pictures of him with each of the kids for their Daddy Dolls, I baked a batch of Brendan's favorite cookies so he would have something to eat on the flight, and I made our usual pre-deployment dinner, steak sandwiches with arugula lemon mayonnaise and gruyere bechamel.  It's a little sad that we have a pre-deployment dinner at all!!  After Declan and the girls went to bed, we watched Big with Aidan. 

This morning Brendan took Aidan, Emmy and Aoife out to get donuts and then we just hung around the house while Brendan straightened up the garage.  It feels like he always ends up doing that on the day he leaves - maybe it's just to keep busy and feel productive!!  It's nice that BOTH of our cars and all of the junk fit into the garage now!!

Since Brendan was traveling with such a small group and they were going to fly commercial, they left in a van from work to go to the Nashville airport.  Instead of dragging the kids out in the cold and snow, we had one of the guys he was traveling with pick him up.  It was quick - like ripping off a bandaid.  One more kiss and hug for everyone and he was driving away.  The kids went right back to playing and I may have given myself a few minutes alone (with Declan) upstairs.

After a bit we had some lunch, got all dressed for the cold and went to Aidan's Little League player assessment.  It was AWESOME!  He has gotten so much better since last year - mostly due to the Swing Away that Brendan bought.  Aidan has done his "workout" in the garage most days since last June.  He is really strong and confident now.  He was really proud of himself and is super excited to start the season.  We are playing in a different location this year - it's a little closer to us and we will be carpooling with Aidan's friend, Cale, who will be on his team.

In the afternoon we had Cale and his sister Aubrey, who is Emmy's friend, come over and play for a few hours.  It was a really great way to fill up the day!  Brendan was able to call at bedtime to wish everyone goodnight!!  The kids were so happy to hear his voice.  It'll be a few days until we hear from him again because the travel time is really long but we will be waiting excitedly by the phone!!

 Mmmmm donuts...

 Try this Emmy!

 Deployment cookies

Bag is packed and over 100lbs - body armor is heavy!!

 Everyone on the couch this morning

 Aidan crushing the ball