29 November 2012

Year at a Glance: June 2012

In case you hadn't already guessed when this picture was taken, it was Nic's last day of First Grade. Still can't figure out if he's excited here or in pain.
 
 
More soccer photos! 
 


We had some wonderful family visits during June as well. First up was a visit from Sergeant's "little" brother and his family (the boys only cousins on Sergean'ts side of the family.) We use the term little loosely. After all, Uncle M can put Captain on the ceiling (not sure how I feel about footprints up there.)


Aunt K and Maddy and I shared laughs.


And the monsters bonded over video games with Mikey.


We also had a lovely visit with my Grandma Helen. She is an amazing woman and I truly wish we lived closer to her. Ok I wish we lived closer to all the great-grandmas. I truly feel lucky that my boys have three of their great-grandmas in their lives. Grandma Helen came to stay with us overnight so we could take her to the airport. She had also been in town to see Padawan play soccer prior to this. But here the monster enjoyed a rousing game of Chutes and Ladders.


 
Most of our outdoor playtime takes place at the Mimi and the Papa's house. But with such a large play area (an awesome double lot), we can't stay away. The monsters took turns pushing each other around the yard in one of Uncle B.A.'s old toys.
 


I think the Captain got the short end of it though.


I'll wrap things up for the month here. We have a fantastic indoor playground here in town (though I must say that it was more fun when grown-ups were still allowed on the bounce equipement.) There are a total of four swing sets, even more bounce houses and such, and I here tell they recently added a mini golf course that we still need to check out. The point of all this is that the Captain recently reached the height requirement to go on the big slide. Once he went down once there was no stopping him.


 

12 November 2012

Year at a Glance: Walking for a Cause

The weekend before Memorial Day 2012, the Sergeant and I participated in the first Walk with a Soldier Memorial Road March. This was in support Wounded Warrior Project. The Project is an amazing support network for our Wounded Veterans. We walked 9 miles to raise money for the project. The Sergeant and I walked with our friends Alyssa and Aaron.
 
 
All of us prewalk.
 



 
Heading out.
 
 

 
Finishing up.
 
 
We did it!
 
 
It was an amazing experience. I am really looking forward to the 2013 March.

Year at a Glance: May 2012

In May of this year, Padawan decided he wanted to try out soccer. Both monsters have taking swimming lessons so this was something new. We got off to a rough start but he definitely ended up enjoying himself.
 
 

Uncle B.A. joined us. Still not sure how much of the game he actually saw while studying for school.
 

Captain cuddling with the Mimi.

 
Keeping warm with the Papa.
 


Mother's Day was spend visiting with the Sergeant's family. It was the first time we have seen his Gramma since she moved away in 2009. The Captain was just a baby and Padawan doesn't remember very well. We also had all but two of her great-grandbabies there. The monsters had fun playing with some of their cousins.


Lunch date with Gramma, Captain and Mommy. The Captain loved that she colored with him.


This one is a school field trip. I swear.


Nic in the thick of it on the soccer field.

Year at a Glance: April 2012

I'm starting to feel like all I do is post pictures of the monters visiting the zoo. But I love our zoo and so do they, and we always have such fun. The weather was wonderful enough for two separate visits.
 

The much loved Miss Alyssa. She is the boys current favorite babysitter but she truly is much more than that. She is surrogate aunt, sister, friend, the list goes on.


A rare Mommy siting. I'm starting to use this butterfly art to track the monsters' growth.


The newest elephant at our zoo, Lucas.





The second trip was without Padawan but with Mr. Aaron, Miss Alyssa's hubby.



Mommy and the Captain.


Watching the cheetah pace. It's neat because you can track his path by the worn spots throughout his enclosure.

 
 
A fish as big as his head.
 



Counting it's arms.



The Captain visiting with one of his "cousins."


The end of our trip. I think we wore them out.