Date day, swimming and reading oh my!

Last Saturday we had Parent's Day Out at the CDC (a whole day 8am-5pm without kids and FREE). We had a pretty lazy day, but drove up to Zampa and walked around. The water was so clear as seen in this video. It was fun to just walk around and hold hands.



I bought some sunglasses for the kids because they have bugged me long enough to break down and get some. I thought Issy's were so chic!

I saw this indoor pool on my friend Sue and Stephanie's blog. I thought, "Where is this wonderful place?" It turns out there is a hotel where you can pay to use their pool and beach and Stephanie was kind enough to take me there today. This will be very helpful to know next winter when I'm dying to get some swim time in. The kids were so excited to go they were kinda bouncing off the walls. I told them if they didn't start loving each other we weren't going swimming. Here is their response to my threat:

Some pics of the inside:


Kate had fun too. Upon venturing outside they even had a dolphin cove where you could pay an arm and a leg to swim with the little creatures. It looked like fun. Perhaps another Date Day?

Lastly, here's a video of Noah reading the last page to Dr Seuss' beloved Green Eggs and Ham. He read the whole book! I'm so proud of his reading. When the teacher told me at the beginning of the year that he would be reading by the end I sorta thought, "No way." But, he's doing great and seems like he likes school (although he'll tell me his favorite parts are recess, gym class, eating lunch and specials (ie: art, music, etc). The apple doesn't fall far from the maternal side of the tree.)

Where do I live?

Funny stuff the kids have said--

Ben: Where do I live?
Mommy: What do you mean? Do you mean Okinawa? Japan? Old Lester? Camp Lester? 6114B? PSC 557 Box 1842 FPO, AP 96379?
Ben: NOOOOO! I mean where do I LIVE?
Mommy: Do you mean that you're an American? Do you mean by the ocean? on an island?
Ben: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Where did I come out of your belly?
Mommy: Cleveland, Ohio
Ben: No, that's not it.
Mommy: I'm pretty sure that's it.
Ben: I mean, yeah, that's it. Cleveland, Ohio.

Poor kid has moved around so much that he doesn't know where to call home.

Isabella praying the other night--

Isabella: .....and please bless the boys that they won't bug me tomorrow....

Oh, there are so many funny things they say everyday. I really should write them down better. I will try to on here because I know that I'm no good updating their baby books.

I've been taking a poll on my Facebook page, (but in case you don't look at it) where Rob and I should spend the next 50 years. Things are still very much up in the air, but IF (big if) we get out of the military in just over 1 year where should we set up shop? Does anyone have any suggestions? I like the no winter weather we've had for the last 3 years. Utah calls us for so many reasons, but I've heard it's hard to make it as a dentist there. Where, where, where??????? Please give us your two cents.

Random Post #291

Wow...291 posts (over the last 4 years). I know that's not as many as some people, but I can't believe I have that many posts. I know I've been kinda random lately. This post is no different. These pictures aren't really in any sort of order and I'm too tired to switch it around. Here goes.

The youth at church went ice blocking on Wednesday. I haven't done that since college in Ohio. We were on a very steep hill and it was a lot faster than I remember. I didn't even make it all the way to the bottom without falling off. Pathetic. Ben and Noah crashed our party and enjoying flying down the hill on a boogie board. They didn't fall off that and it wasn't as fast. Our youth totally rock.

Before we left in our grubby clothes.


Kate likes to get into EVERYTHING lately. Nothing is sacred to this child.

Last night we had a relief society activity at church. They had babysitting and since Rob had a boy scout meeting I had to bring the kids with me. We didn't get home until close to nine (two hours past their bedtime). I thought it was so cute that they all crashed in the back of the car. Rob pulled up just after my 4th trip into the house carrying the children to bed. In case you wonder what my priority was and why: 1) Grab the baby first. Nothing is worse than trying to get a baby back to sleep. Plus she blocks the escape route (ie: door) to get the other kids out. 2) Then go oldest to youngest. By the time I made my fourth trip into the house I was glad I had my toothpick girl Isabella to carry because I was out of breath!

A couple more pics of the cutest blue-eyed kid in the world! This is just after bath time. I like this first picture with her head cocked...

and Rob likes this one better. Oh, and Kate definitely has a strawberry tint to her hair, especially when we are outside. I wouldn't say it's red, but it's the best I've got so far!

Rob spent 9 days in Washington DC last week. I don't think he mentioned one word about the snow or being in America. I on the other hand would have talked incessantly about it. He did however take one solitary picture from the trip. See below.

I love Quiznos. Noah was cooked in my oven solely on Quizno's honey mustard chicken sandwiches. I don't know if Rob is taunting me with this picture or just showing that he was thinking of me. I'm sure it's the latter as he doesn't have a sarcastic bone in his body.

Noah's grin minus a tooth.


The boys started soccer (on the same team. I knew I had kids close together for a reason). Of course they are loving it. I think Ben's body is a bit huskier than Noah's and he seems more well suited for soccer, although they are pretty evenly matched. Ben is just beside himself happy with being on an organized sports team.

Ben immediately picked up the social cue that it was "cool" to rest a foot on the ball while waiting for his turn.

Considering they have never seen a game of soccer in their lives they are doing pretty well. After dating someone who was WAY too obsessively into sports, I appreciate Rob's lack of interest for all things sports related on TV. Of course he's super athlete, but doesn't spend hours wasting his time watching ESPN for the latest info on who will be the 10th round draft pick for some team in Alaska (no offense to those friends in Alaska). He'd rather spend time with us and I'm grateful for that.

Sweet stuff

Kate's a cruising around.

We were cruel parents and gave Kate a lemon. I just love giving a baby a lemon.



This time of year, most kids are dreaming of summer days and playing at the pool. Not in our household, though. Noah is obsessed with snow and not being able to play in it. Like most kids, Noah had to complete the I have a dream sentence for MLK Jr day. See below:

I have a dream.....someday it will be snowy.

Being goofy

Once again a video for the grandparents. Ignore the silly mom in the video. Focus on the darling baby who's becoming less and less a baby everyday.

Cherry blossoms and orange picking

We went up north last weekend to Nago to try and find some cherry blossoms. Unfortunately they were mostly gone. We did, however, find this fun children's park. Of course we took way too many pictures. Here they are for your viewing pleasure.

Kate's talking/standing up

So Kate learned to crawl and stand up this week. She was also very chatty today. Here's a video of her, although I'm not sure anyone except the grandparents would want to see it. She's a keeper!