New Job!

I'm sure that you're realized that something is going on here! Nothing bad though!! I've been away in Killeen, TX just outside Fort Hood on a training trip for my new job with Military Child Education Coalition! I'm now part of Fort Cambell's Parent to Parent team. Our team of three military wives will be giving workshops in the Fort Campbell community to educate parents on how to become their child's best advocate in their educational career.
While I was in training, my mom and sister came and stayed with the kids. I am so thankful that I have such loving support. This is a fantastic opportunity for me since I will only be working 10 hours a week and it is something that I really think that will make a difference in our community.
The kids had a great time with my mom and sister and everyone was pretty sad at dinner tonight. Here are a few pictures that Laurie took while I was away. It was so nice to come home. I thought it would be nice and relaxing to be in a hotel room by myself but the truth is that I missed the kids and the chaos so much. I'm glad that the training was so good - it balanced out the guilt of being away and the pain of missing my babies.

A LITTLE Rain

It's hot everywhere but it has been just unbearable here. Thursday evening we got a tiny bit of relief in the form of a rain shower that lasted all of 5 minutes. It got a little cooler and the rain cooled the pavement off enough that the kids could run around without shoes. We were playing in the backyard and waiting for the "storm" to arrive. It seemed like we were going to get an actual thunderstorm but it went south of us and we just got sprinkles. The kids thought it was just OUTRAGEOUS to be outside while it was raining but let me tell you - it felt so good!

New Shoes

Brendan has this affection for VANS - must be something from his childhood or perhaps a deep desire to be a professional skateboarder. These arrived in the mail for the kids a few days ago and boy are they adorable!! The kids love them and they are easy to get on and off so I love them even more!

Cold Stone Creamery

As a reward for doing awesome at swimming lessons for 2 whole weeks, we went to Cold Stone for ice cream on Friday night after supper. The kids had been really looking forward to it and Emmy had been planning what she was going to get mixed into her ice cream since I explained the process to her. Her original plan was to get gummy bears, gummy worms and m&m's all mixed in. Once we got there they all chose cotton candy ice cream (it is blue after all). Aidan and Aoife chose gummy bears but Emmy went a different route and got white chocolate chips mixed in. They all enjoyed the outing and came home VERY sticky!! And - yes - the people at Cold Stone thought I was totally weird for taking pictures inside the store!

A visit from Kate

Aidan's godmother, Kate Clarke, came to see us on Friday. It was so great to see her - if only for a few hours. She visited us last October and it was so nice to spend a little time together again before her next big adventure! Kate gave Aidan the hat he is wearing in the picture and he literally has only taken it off for baths - he even sleeps in it. Please stay safe Kate! We love you and miss you!
Here's a link to her book.

Swimming Lessons

So Thursday is the last day of swimming lessons for the kids. Aoife has made good progress - from screaming every minute of the 30 minute class to only kicking and screaming when she knows it's time to go underwater. I can't get any pictures of Aoife in her class because I am in the water with her - can't figure out the logistics on that one. Emmy has stayed in the level 2 class with Aidan and has made good progress as well. She can kick with a kickboard all the way across the pool and back and can glide on her front and back and float on her back. Pretty good I think for a 4 year old. Aidan can swim freestyle and backstroke - although not very far on his own. He really likes using the kickboard and jumping off of the diving board. Here are a few pictures I managed to get today:

A visitor

The heat here has been incredible but the flowers seem to like it - as long as I keep them watered at night! Butterflies are regular visitors but I managed to actually photograph this one the other afternoon. Usually they fly away before I can get the camera but this one was really enjoying the purple flowers and stuck around for a while!