i have a package

There was a yellow slip waiting for us when we returned from our VA trip. DaddyO's Bahrain package was at the post office ready to be picked up. EJ is used to a weekly trip to the post office to send him a package, but this was the first time she got to pick one up!


She ran excitedly to the post office counter and proudly told the postwoman that she was there for "MY daddy's package". It was big and filled with everything she loves.


 Dresses, bracelets, a pink stuffed camel, and gourmet dates were just some of the contents.


Ellie was excited to try on DaddyO's new gifts


And I was excited to see some of his pictures from Bahrain.

find this printable here

EJ is giving her little bro a jump start on reading. he "read" to of her favorite books to him (she has many favorites) and made sure to point out the important pictures. He was a captive audience.

from them all

A move, a deployment, and a new son. So much has happened since our last Father's Day with DaddyO and through it all I know more than ever that he is "the best".

ej's baby blanket made by avia

With the arrival of EJ came my passion for sewing.  I saw outfits and toys I had to have for her and making them was the most affordable and fun route. Fortunately I had the support and expertise of my friend Kimberly as well as DaddyO's mom Avia. Kimberly's Brother sewing machine and Avia's easy to understand instructions took the frustration and difficulty out of learning this new skill. I've been sewing ever since!

learning from avia

It is neat to see how my sewing has affected Ellie. She gets excited when I bring her a new outfit and immediately asks "Mommy made this?!" Now she is the one learning how to sew. She went to work making dresses, hats, and necklaces the last time we visited Avia. She measured, the fabric, marked it with the marker, cut it into the desired piece and then made us sit down for a fitting.


When she was finished we all were adorned with one of her creations.


Oh how I look forward to seeing what she makes in these years to come!

DaddyO, EJ and I had a favorite sushi restaurant we would frequent during our stay in Norfolk. Being pregnant I couldn't enjoy the raw stuff but EJ sure did!


I hadn't had sushi since moving up north and so I thought our return to Norfolk would be a good time to take her out. I had just accomplished a six hour car ride by myself. How could this be harder?

Two kids alone in a car is a bit different than alone with two kids in a restaurant. CJ decided to blowout his diaper just after the rolls arrived and Ellie felt the need to hula dance to the Japanese music. Not the relaxing lunch I had hoped for, but the sushi was delicious and I left knowing EJ had enjoyed a healthy lunch.

EJ loves her Uncle J and was thrilled to be spending the weekend with him. I don't know what she enjoyed more, feeding the geese, swimming in his rooftop pool, body painting, or seeing the big ships at HarborFest.

they have no fear (the geese that is)

goggly eyed

only uncle j would teach this

uh oh

say cheese

lots of paint

big ships

and fireworks

I do know all of these activities were all the more special because she was with him.

chesapeake bay bridge

Our family loves to travel. When we look back twenty years from now I think we'll be happy to look back at all the things we explored, dreamed, and discovered together as a family.

I tackled my first long car drive on my own with two little ones this last weekend. We headed south to visit Uncle J in Norfolk, VA. EJ has been doing 16 plus hour drives since she was three months old (PA to MN and back) and CJ proved to be just as good of a road warrior.

I loaded up the car with books, cd's and (most importantly for me) snacks and we hit the road. 

surrounded by books and dolls

snacks

We made a couple stops along the way to get gas and stretch our legs.

fill'er up

But most of the drive was spent reading books and smiling at the mirror.


I even was able to enjoy an audio book while they slept.

sleeping angels

I love car drives and look forward to tackling another 16 plus one when DaddyO returns! For now though I think I'll stick to the six hour ones.