Hey Hey

Anybody still reading this thing???

9 months

Dear Cole,

You are 9 months old now. 9 months!!! I cannot believe it will be your first birthday before we know it. Time has certainly flown by since you were born. Seems like just yesterday when I was calling Daddy telling him to "Come home now!" But look at you now. You are fun, energetic, and full of life! You keep me on my toes like your brothers never did. You are a black-belt crawler, a wanna-be walker, cabinet door slammer, toilet bowl player, big brother wrestler, and world's worst napper. You weigh 21 pounds, wear size 3 diapers, 12 month clothes, are continue our family history of gigantic feet. You think baby food is for sissies, and that Coke must surely be from heaven. You have a skill for mess making that rivals a tornado. We all love you so very, very much and are so thankful you are part of our family. Happy 9 months, Little Bit.

Love, Mommy

Homeschool Half-time Report

We are now halfway through our first official year of homeschooling. Praise the Lord! Things are going pretty well, and we are right on track, despite several interruptions already. Tyler is in Kindergarten this year, and Jackson is doing preschool. We are using the ABeka curriculum, because it was the only one I felt comfortable starting with, and so far it has worked out really well for Tyler. For Jackson, I am just using books picked up from ChinaMart and T@rget along with some Leap Frog videos.

Half way through Kindergarten, Tyler can:
identify all numbers through 100
read one syllable words and recognize several sight words
recognize blends within words
count by 10's
recognizes coins and value
recite most books of the Bible
identify a few states and countries on map


Halfway through K3, Jackson can:
identify colors and most shapes
recognize letters and sounds
identify right and left
count to 10
recite Old Testament books
aggravate his older brother =)

Praise the Lord for getting us through this far. There have been a few tears shed, a few days I wanted to set them on the curb for the bus to take, and a few laughs along the way. We have also enjoyed a few field trips with our church group along the way.

I know there are lots of mixed feelings about homeschool: love, hate, confusion, and everything in between. I also know that some of our biggest challenges will come from within our own families. That's okay though. We feel we are doing what God has called our family to, empowered by Him, and owe no explanation or apology to anyone else. If God be for us, who can be against us? Maybe that should be the motto of our little basement school.

I'll leave you with this short video clip of Voddie Baucham about homeschool. While I don't know much about this man or his ministry, I like what he says here.

Arithmetic of Life

1 tiny hospital room + 3 little kids x 3 days = 1 husband - gallbladder + 1 tired momma

Birthday Fun, Part II

Present time with Gramms and Papa

Mater and Lightnin Pillow Pets

Coley got in on the fun too

Checking out the new toys

It looks like a toy store exploded in the living room =)

Daddy--still a kid at heart

Oh yeah, Daddy got a new toy too. Most Mothers-In-Law only want to shoot their Son-In-Law. His actually bought him a gun. He is over the moon excited!!

My Future Song Leader

Jackson singing "Sound the Battle Cry." One of his favorites. =)

Birthday Fun, Part I

In his PJ's on the way to TN. We left EARLY in the morning.

Getting ready for party #1

Checking out the new toys

Jonathan and Jonathan (Cole)

Getting ready to whack the pinata

Waiting for a turn

Papaw and Coley Bug

A birthday ride

October Review

I know October isn't completely over yet, but it feels like it should be. This month has worn me out! And honestly, I am ready for it to be over with. I have some birthday pictures to post later (when I have time to download them), but for now here is a recap of our busy month.

-Prepare for trip to TN
-10 day trip to TN (4 days driving)
-2 Birthdays
-2 Birthday parties
-Missions conference
-Base Exercise (12 hour shifts, no off days)
-Stomach bug x 4
-Cold/cough/fever/congestion/headache x 5
-Minor surgery

Yeah, that about sums it up. Except for the usual...cooking, cleaning, homeschooling, church, family time, etc. Those were in there too. =)

I am also soooo looking forward to my neighbors removing their less-than-innocent Hallowevil decorations.

Hurry, November.

Birthday Boys



Tyler age 5, Jackson age 3, Cole age 1/2



22 Down, 2 To Go

Today is just another ordinary day for most...and truth be told, nothing is out of the ordinary here at home either. But today is a special day for us. Today marks 22 years of active duty Air Force service from my husband. Today he also reenlists for 2 more years...his last two.

B2 dropping missiles

It's kind of a bittersweet feeling. Part of me is so ready for this journey to be over, and for us to start a new chapter. A chapter where (hopefully) we won't be wondering when the next time Daddy will be leaving. A chapter where Daddy can be more involved in our day-to-day lives. A chapter where we can learn what it is to be a "normal" family.

But, there is a (big) part of me that will be sad to see it all end. The military has been Keith's only job...ever. In the end he will have given 24 years of service to his country. It has, in many ways, been his life. And it has become mine too. When we got married almost 10 years ago, I had no clue what military life was and it was quite the adjustment in the first few years. But, after the adjustment phase came a deep love for this life of ours! I can't explain it, except to say that I feel like I have been woven in to this military family. I feel as much a part of it, in many ways, as I do my own biological family. And when it comes to an end, I feel I will mourn the loss of it. Yes, we will always be a part of the military family. But the everyday-ness of it all will come to an end. It must. And it's only two short years away.

I'm feeling very reflective today. And very thankful as well. I hope you all have a blessed day in the Lord!

(P.S.- The significance of the picture is that my husband is assigned to a B2 base, and his job is to build the bombs that they drop. Pretty neat picture, I think.)