Home, Home On The Range

Well, we took the plunge.... We bought a house in Tucson. TA DA! 10325 E. Camino Tesote. Starting July 10th, feel free to come on by. I'll be happy to hand you a paintbrush or a box to unpack! :)

A Little Bitta Lexi

This past weekend, we made a trip to DC to spend the day with some great friends, the McClintocks, to include one of Paige's best friends in the whole wild world, Lexi. As an added bonus, we also got to see the Warrens as well! After a tasty brunch at Chateau McClintock, we spent the rest of the day hiking and picnicking at Great Falls National Park. Who knew that hidden within all the hustle and bustle of Washington DC is an absolutely peaceful spot where the Potomac forms beautiful falls. 

We, of course, had to take the opportunity to get some family pics of everyone. 

Paige's Flip Flop Party

With all the moving hubbub gong on around here, we didn't want Paige's birthday party to be something thrown together at the last minute. (We are leaving here the day after her birthday) We decided  to have it a little early. We kept it simple, just a few of her besties for a sleepover and then a trip to the beach the next day. It was awesome. She had so much fun and I am so glad that we were able to giver her something special in the midst of all the chaos.

Hot pink, lime green, zebra print, and flip flops... what else for my future vet?

Another spectacular cake a la Dennis. 

Can it really be possible that she is blowing out 12 candles?

Making ribbon flip flops to wear to the beach the next day

Paige and Veronica

Beach time! Summer, Destinie, Paige, and Chelsea

Reminiscent of our honeymoon, Dennis built another sand car

 Time for some boogie boarding!

Thanks to an incoming Nor'Easter, there were some decent waves rolling in.

After a morning at the beach, we headed to Paige's favorite restaurant on the Oceanfront - Planet Pizza

3rd Grade Musical.... Sort Of

Every year at PES, the third graders have an end-of-the-year program. This year, for some unforeseen circumstances, that program had to be cancelled. However, three of the third grade classes, including Summer's got to perform two songs for the second graders touring the school today. I simply couldn't pass up a chance to see one of my girlies perform, so I popped in to watch. Summer in in the third row of the forward-facing stands in the brown tank top. You may also be able to pick her out by her obnoxious hairbows. :)

To Watch The Video, Pause The Music On The Side Bar

Dandelions

I ran across this poem on a dear friend's Facebook page this morning. Their Air Force career is coming to a close and they have  managed to raise 3 great kids. With the upcoming move, this little bit of prose just spoke to me.

The official flower of the Military child is the Dandelion. Why? The plant puts down roots almost anywhere, and it's almost impossible to destroy. It's an unpretentious plant, yet good looking. It's a survivor in a broad range of climates. Military children bloom everywhere the winds carry them. They are hardy and upright. Their roots are strong, cultivated deeply in the culture of the military, p...lanted swiftly and surely. They're ready to fly in the breezes that take them to new adventures, new lands, and new friends.

Experts say that military children are well-rounded, culturally aware, tolerant, and extremely resilient. Military children have learned from an early age that home is where their hearts are, that a good friend can be found in every corner of the world and in every color, and that education doesn't only come from school. They live history. They learn that to survive means to adapt, that the door that closes one chapter of their life opens up to a new and exciting adventure full of new friends and new experiences.


Thanks Tina, for this little bit of inspiration, and thanks to you all for the last 23 years of unwavering service to your country.

You Can't Outgrow Fabulous

I was uploading pictures from my computer onto Shutterfly and I ran across this picture from Summer's 9th birthday.

Which brought me back to this picture from Summer's 2nd birthday.

It's nice to see that some things don't change.

Survivor: Chickahominy

This weekend, we took the girlies and some of their friends to Chickahominy Riverfront Park for a quickie campering trip. The weather was not awesome, and I was dreading having to keep 5 9-12 year old girls entertained inside the camper for the entire weekend. Boy, was I wrong! The girls decided it was going to be be Survivor weekend. The ran around in the rain, made spears out of sticks, rocks, and vines, gathered and tasted Honeysuckle flowers, got, wet and muddy, skinned knees, and just had an all-around great time.

Summer and her friend Jessica trying to land rocks on top of a fallen log in the river 

Paige and her spear 

Summer and her spear 

Summer and Jessica 

Paige and Ericka, who looks remarkably like out neice 

Our "Survivors" 

Ruby and Paige gathering honeysuckle blossoms 

We got a long-enough break in the rain to get a fire going and make some s'mores

Time for bed! 

A little Go Fish before breakfast 

A quick, very damp trip to the playground before heading home

We even got treated to a heck of a light show Friday night. Sorry for the poor quality, I shot this with my phone in the dark.