It's a ........claire bear

Repeat 15 times, it never gets old when you are three.

This picture cracks me up!

Here's Nate looking all serious like he is solving the world's problems or something! I think he was just getting a tour or something simple. Notice the camera on his wrist. I think those are UAV's (unmanned aircraft) in the background but don't quote me. I don't know who the guy in the flight suit is but the guy standing next to Nate is Chaplain Brown who is also stationed here at Charleston and also on a 4 month to Balad like Nate. They have hung out a lot. So thankful he has some friends over there :)

Doggy Sweetness

Jacob and Abby hanging out... He surprises me every once and a sits still. Usually to pet the dogs or read a book. I think he likes Abby better because she will actually sit still while lacey moves around as much as he does!

Christmas Card Outtakes

I am seriously sore from attempting Christmas Card pictures. I feel like I did a million squats! I would put Jacob down walk to the camera and he would get up and then I would repeat... I tried the wagon, he screamed. Then I resorted to candy canes and they both became a sticky mess. I admire real photographers :)

okay okay i will post something :)

I am terribly sorry but have not felt like blogging lately! I have gotten some comments about not blogging so I will fulfill my monthly requirement! The kids and I went to Houston for Thanksgiving and I didn't take any pictures. What has happened to me? I guess I am too busy chasing kids. We got home and put up the tree and the stockings. Since we will be going home again for Christmas, I didn't want to over do the decorations. Claire insisted we go buy a star for the top since you just have to have a star. So off to Walmart we went.... Then she insisted that I lift her so she could put it on top. Hmmm. Where is Daddy when I need him!!! Give me a call if anyone wants to get together while I am in town :) Nate is doing well. He ate a nice Thanksgiving meal and worked. I am sure he didn't miss watching the Aggies lose...again.

Goodbye C-17, Hello Pentagon

Nate found out he will be working at the Pentagon for our next assignment. He will be completing his ACSC (Air Command and Staff College) Requirement working as a Legislative Liason at the Pentagon. He is very excited about the new job and we are both excited about the change. Washington D.C. is such a beautiful area and there is so much history ready to be explored. We have started the research of houses and areas and it is all very overwhelming. We have a while since we will only be renting. Claire is very excited that we will be moving somewhere where it snows. Anyways. We should be moving in July and wanted to share the news.

Real People, Real Faith, Real Jesus

What is your cardboard testimony?

Halloween 2008

The kids had a great time last night trick or treating. I on the other hand was exhausted after walking the block and pulling Jacob in the wagon! Phew! Claire dressed up as Tabby the Turtle. You might remember meeting her back in August. When Nate deployed he gave the kids each a build a bear with his voice recorded in them. Claire's was a turtle with a hello kitty shirt that he named Tabby. Sooo Claire was Tabby. Thank goodness we already had the hello kitty shirt. I made the shell and it lasted the day before, the day of for playgroup and halfway through TOTing. Not bad. She loved it. Jacob was a horse and he tolerated it well. He looked so cute! I am sitting here feeling sick as my body tried to metabolize all the sugar I have eaten! We missed Daddy but it was a fun day.

Non-Pumpkin Patch

We went with our MOPS group to the West Family Corn Maze. We didn't attempt the corn maze but had fun otherwise. Of course the kids loved the animals and had fun doing the crafts and other activities. Claire picked out a cute pumpkin while Jacob used them as a jungle gym. Claire painted a pumpkin and named it Dad while Jacob ate the paint. Claire and Jacob both humored me and looked cute for a photo op in the hay maze.

Pumpkin Carving

Claire and I carved pumpkins while Jacob walked the streets of Summerville, SC. No, just kidding. He played in the garage and the car. But Claire and I had fun. She scooped the guts and I was the face creator. Jacob's pumpkin has cheeks per her request and her pumpkin is flowers. It was actually fun but harder than I thought. Nate is usually the pumpkin carver.

Two for the price of one

The other day we went to the outlet mall to shop for fall clothes and I always tell Claire that if she is good while we are shopping she can ride one ride. Well she can play on as many as she would like but I will only give her money for one. I know, cheap mom! Well I realized that most of the rides are built for two kids! How great is that!!!! I don't even have to pay for Jacob. And is there anything cuter than a little boy in Levi's? Nope don't think so. I always get sentimental when fall comes and I put shoes and pants on my kids. They always look so much bigger! Does anyone else feel this way. I seriously almost cried when I put this outfit on him...Ridiculous I know!!!! Maybe it is the hormones...

Claire the Artist

I went to book club with some friends dowtown and had a sitter. When Claire woke up the next morning she sais, "Wanna see what I made!" Sure! She told me all about these pictures and it was the first time I had seen he draw people. I am sure I will keep them forever. Her descriptions were so cute
1-This is Claire because she has red hair
2-This is Daddy because Daddy's don't have any hair (I think she has been spending too much time with Mr. Tim, Maddie and Mackenzie's Daddy who has a shaved head)
3-This is Mommy because she has green eyes and brown hair (Look close you can see the streak of brown amongst the green)
4-This is Jacob because he has red hair and a big head (We had gone the day before for his 15 month checkup and his head measured in the 70% so I think she heard me telling Nate about the appointment and remembered!)

Priceless!

Monkeying Around

We've got a monkey on our hands around here. Thank goodness for Claire and an extra set of eyes. She really helps me when Jacobs gets into trouble. It took Claire three years to figure out how to use the chair to get onto the kitchen counter. It took Jacob 1. I have to be really careful that all the chairs are pushed under the table or he uses them to help himself to whatever is on the table. I heard Claire saying, "Mom, he is going to fall!" I ran into the kitchen and he was hanging on the edge of the table. He had somehow in all his brute strength pulled himself up on the side and was half way up the table! I can't childproof for that!!!! Crazy kid. Here is trying to climb the table while the chairs are still pushed in, in Claire's sink with the HOT water turned on, and inside a toy basket. The kid seriously doesn't ever stop moving. My little princess was always so content to sit still... Oh well. He is the active one :)

Random cuteness

I almost went to bed without blogging! I think that would be tragic. Here are some pictures of an abby sandwich and of jacob cuddling daddy at lunch on the day he left. he has become quite the cuddle bug. don't tell claire she insists that she is the CUDDLEBUG and jacob is the WIGGLEWORM.

First Day of School

Claire goes to Child's Day Out at our church two days a week and they started back up last week. The first day of school was a rough morning. It was one fight after another getting Claire ready for school. I was trying not to rush her so she wouldn't be upset at her first day so it did take forever and we were late. When we got there the kids were finishing up the morning activity of play-doh and she heard the teacher say it was time for circle time. She has this really bad habit of having to go potty when we get to church/school and I just let it slide because I don't want the fight but she had to go and while we were in the bathroom she was crying and sad because she wasn't going to get to play play-doh. So, I explained that when Mom says it is time to get ready we have to listen and get ready so we can make it on time. But today we missed play-doh, come on lets go to class. She looked at me with the sweetest face and tears and said, "wait, mom i have to get rid of my sad face." And my little brave girl wiped away her tears, got a drink and walked right in. BROKE my heart. I hate taking her to school. I enjoy the break but I think about her and miss her the whole time she is gone. I don't how I will be able to do Kindergarten. But when I picked her up she had the best time and was all smiles. AND...we haven't had a problem in the morning since. She gets ready fast and eats and we are out the door in no time. I had to go to Walmart while she was at school and picked her up this game she has been wanting forever. I gave it to her when she got in the car afterwards and she was so excited. Anyways. Enough of me being sentimental. Oh and the reason she picked camel to come to school with her is because camels live in the desert and that is where daddy is. So sweet.