Faces of Summer

 

Here are a few of my favorites! Check out the link to see the entire album!
http://picasaweb.google.com/cmsteele9499/Summer200802
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Anyone else Type A?

Moving is part of life with the Marine Corps. For the past 9 years, we have moved somewhere new every 2 to 3 years. I love going to new places, meeting new people, experiencing new things, but I strongly dislike the actual moving process. The miles of boxes and packing paper, the piles of pictures and decorations that just don't fit in the new house, the weeks on end with no routine, and leaving behind dear sweet friends. A definite love/hate relationship when it comes to moving. It's enough to make a type A person have to be committed to a place where all the walls are padded! God has been teaching me to stop and breathe over the past few months and be thankful in ALL circumstances. Thankful for my wonderful husband and silly children who can make me laugh like no one else. Thankful for the love and support from our families and friends. Thankful for all the blessings that have been given to me. Thankful for a home and wonderful neighbors. Although the piles still give me a twitch every now and then, God's faithfulness in my life makes that pile a blessing and not a curse. So I give Him thanks for the craziness and the routine of life. He wants us to be out of our comfort zone sometimes so that we can see just how awesome He truly is.
"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18

One Crazy Summer

I think there is a movie by this title. Crazy best describes how our summer has gone. We moved out of our house in Jacksonville on June 13 and just moved into our new home in Virginia on July 21. As I type, I am sitting amongst boxes and packing paper galore, but more than thrilled to finally be getting settled.
Our vacation has been fantastic. We have been to Myrtle Beach, SC, Asheville, NC, Gatlinburg, TN, Atlanta, GA, Kure Beach, NC, back to Atlanta with our final destination being Chesapeake, VA. Luke and Hayley have been such troopers. They have loved every minute of our moving around (especially in the hotels)! Luke was asked where he was from when we were visiting Gatlinburg. He looked up at me and then back to the lady and said, "The cabin in Gatlinburg!" Too cute!!
During our travels Hayley celebrated her 3rd birthday and Luke celebrated his 5th! Instead of a birth"day", they have both enjoyed a birth"month". Aunt Holly had a party for them, we had a party for Hayley at the beach, Mimi and Papa had a week long celebration at their house, and we celebrated Luke's bday in our hotel room and dinner at the Olive Garden (one of his favorites)! I'd say that their births have been celebrated sufficiently!
Chesapeake is wonderful! Our neighbors have been nothing but gracious and friendly. They have brought candy, plants, cakes, etc. I have a feeling we will be making many new friends here and some treasured memories.
I will post pictures of our summer as soon as get my computer set up.
Luke and Hayley start school after Labor Day. Luke will also be playing soccer at the YMCA and Hayley will be taking dance this fall as well. We will have lots to report so check back soon.

Be Back Soon....

We are still on our whirlwind tour of the south. This week we have been at Mimi and Papa's house having an absolute ball! I will post our summer adventures as soon as we get moved in to our new home in a couple of weeks. Stay tuned.....

ABC's of Me

I got this from a friend's blog, and thought it was fun!
A-Attached or Single? attached to Chris
B-Best Friend? Chris, Nan, Jules, Krista, Linds, and Kelly
C-Cake or Pie? both please (cake-red velvet with buttercream icing and pie~pumpkin!)
D-Day of Choice? Anyday that I can be with my husband and kids
E-Essential Item? God's Word and chapstick
F- Favorite color? blue
G-Gummy Bears or Worms? Gummy bears
H-Hometown? my Georgia roots
I-Favorite Indulgence? dark chocolate
J-January or July? July~the month that both of my blessings were born
K-Kids? Luke and Hayley
L-Life isn't complete without? Great friends and family
M-Marriage Date? September 4, 1999
N-Number of brothers and sisters? 1 sister and 1 brother
O-Oranges or Apples? oranges
P-Phobia and Fears? Phobia:mice Fears: I lay them at the throne of my King. Trust in the Lord!
Q-Quote? "Nobody puts Baby in a corner!" Patrick Swayze(sp?) from Dirty Dancing
R-Reason to smile? my husband is home from Iraq and my hilarious children
S-Season of choice? Fall (football, apple pies, cool crisp air,...I LOVE IT)
T-Tag ten people? skip
U-Unknown fact about me? I love making lists
V-Vegetable? fresh corn on the cob
W-Worst habit? pop my fingers
Y-Your favorite food? so many, fresh seafood (shrimp and scallops), milkshakes, and Mexican food
Z-Zodiac Sign? Gemini

Ready, Set, GO!!!

Another week of blessings! It always amazes me how quickly everyone adjusts after Chris has been gone for so long. God has had His hand on us, and we are all getting used to being a family of four again! The kids have gotten over the initial "DADDY"S HOME" excitement, and are just enjoying playing, reading books, going on walks to the park, etc. They have both been thoroughly entertaining and I think Chris is getting a kick at seeing just how much they have grown and changed.
Movers come next Tuesday to pack the house for VA. Then we will be on our month long vacation to the beach (SC), Gatlinburg, TN, the beach again (NC), Atlanta, and then into our new home on July 21st (day after Luke turns 5!) . Hope to see some of you during our travels.

Home Safe and Sound!

It is hard to find the words to express how grateful I am that Chris made it home from Iraq! These past two years have been the toughest out of our almost 10 years with the Marine Corps. I am happy to say we are about to close this chapter, and move on to VA where life will not involve deployments for a while!!!!
When I saw Chris hop off the bus, it seemed surreal that he was actually standing in front of me. I didn't want to let go while I hugged his neck. The kids were beyond excited to see Daddy. They both were up at 5:45 am that morning and ready to pick Chris up. Hayley has not let him put her down for the past 3 days. Luke is busy showing Daddy all of his new tricks and filling him in on all the things he has done while Chris was away.
Praise God for bring Chris home to us for the second time. Thank you to all for your thoughts and prayers. They have been felt and much appreciated! God bless!

Only a few more hours.....

I am so relieved that this day is finally here! The kids made this sign for Chris on Saturday to welcome him home. I will post pictures of homecoming as soon as I can. Yippee!

My Little Graduate!

I am so proud of you, Luke! As I sat and watched your program last night, I was thinking of all the things you have learned this year. Your letters and sounds, numbers, writing, reading, making friends, sharing, and so much more. It seems not to long ago you were just a tiny 6 lbs 6 oz baby lying in my arms and sleeping. I imagined then what your personality would be like. Would you be shy and cautious? Would you be outgoing and silly? My imagination could not have done you justice! You are becoming the little boy God has made you to be and it is awesome to watch. He has blessed you with so many wonderful traits and talents and I know He has big plans for you, little man! I love you and can't wait to celebrate more big milestones with you.

Fun in the Sun!

We are having a little taste of summer as far as the weather goes around here. While playing in the backyard yesterday, I was HOT and thought what a great opportunity to bust out good old Tiki Soaki (aka the sprinkler!) The kids screamed with excitement when I mentioned getting him out and putting on our swimsuits for some relief from the hot sun. They had a blast and I had just as much fun observing. As I watched them play, I started getting so excited about our summer! With Chris's homecoming just around the corner, I can barely keep from jumping up and down and shouting for joy like the kids did when I put the sprinkler out. So many great memories are going to be made and I can't wait!!!!!

First Shiner

My poor baby boy! Luke got his first black eye this week while playing with another little boy. They were chasing each other in a circle when one of them decided to change directions and they ran into each other full steam! We went to the doctor to check for any fractures and to make sure his eye was not damaged. Everything checked out fine thank goodness. All this just in time for school pictures tomorrow.

Baboons!

I didn't know what to expect today when we went to the Lynnwood Park Zoo with Luke's preschool class. I had heard to expect the unexpected, and I must say I was pleasantly surprised! We all absolutely loved it. Who knew good old J'ville had this little "jewel" to visit. The weather was perfect and the bugs were not out (thank goodness)! The zoo had such a wide variety of animals such as llamas, emu, wallabies, wild cats, zebra, porcupines, goats, lizards, donkeys, chickens, turkeys, ducks, prairie dogs, and the kids' favorite, the baboons! After the big tour, we all sat and had a picnic lunch before heading home.

Tonight as I was tucking Hayley into bed, we were talking about the days events. She asked me, "Do you 'member the baboon from today?" "Oh, yes! He was so funny." I replied. "Yeah, but the chickens didn't like me. They said bok bok bok when I standed by the fence." I giggled at Hayley's response and she said she wanted to pray. So here is her prayer:

"Dear God, Thank for da baboons, and da porcupines, and I pray that the chickens like me next time and don't say bok bok at me. Thank you for today. In Jesus name. AAAAAAAAmen."

More with Mimi and Papa

Feeling a little Crabby?

We had a wonderful time with Mimi and Papa last week. We took a trip to Wilmington, ate at the Cracker Barrel, Olive Garden, and Chilis to name a few. We went to Toys R Us (or as Luke calls it Toys 4 Us!) and thanks to Mimi, bought lots of goodies to play with. Pine Knoll Shores Aquarium was a huge hit. Thanks for coming to see us Mimi and Papa. We love you!!!

Two and Four

The first 3 months of Hayley's life are kind of hazy. I remember the screaming from colic and the sweet quiet times of her nursing. I remember trying to balance two children, take care of myself, and be a wife seemed almost like an impossible task. I remember Luke's precious face as a 23 month old when baby sister came home from the hospital. I remember praying every night that God would make me the mother and wife that He wanted me to be. Boy, how things changed for all of us.

My motto during that time was, "When they are two and four, it is going to be so much fun!" Well, here we are at two and a half and four and a half and "fun" is one of the MANY words I would use to describe life at this point. My days are spent at tea parties and wrestling tickle matches. Some days the words, "Are you showing your sister/brother love?" are uttered over a thousand times. Luke 6:31 is spoken daily in this house and I KNOW that they will actually abide by The Golden Rule one day. We laugh, cry, sing, and dance. There are days that I cannot wait for the quiet of the evening, but after all is calm, I always sneak into their rooms for one more kiss while they are sleeping. I am so in love with two and four that I don't want three and five to come. But something tells me that it is only going to get better.

Paci Found!

Update....
Hayley ended up napping for two hours sans PACI! I was so excited. I hunted for that paci like it was the last Easter egg on earth while she napped. I was going to toss that thing to the curb and not look back. No luck.
When Hayley woke up from nap I praised and praised her for being such a big girl and napping without paci. She looked up at me and asked, "Can we go look for paci again now?!" She had not forgotten the deal. I told her that if she would go to sleep for nap without the pacifier that we would continue to look for it when she woke up. Guess who found PACI? Hayley went looking for thing like it was Mission Impossible. She was so focused and determined! I heard her yelling from the playroom, "I found it, Mama! I found it!" And deep in the pocket of her princess purse, there was her beloved paci!
Oh well. She has paci for tonight and she is one happy camper! Maybe next time.....

Pacifier is MIA!

Some of you may read this and think, "Why in the world does an almost 3 year old still have a pacifier (aka paci)?" Well, Hayley does or maybe I should say did. This morning when Hayley got up, she came into my room with paci and blanket in tow. The rule since her 1st birthday has been paci stays in the bed and is only allowed to be used while in the bed. I told her to return to her room and put paci back in her bed. She left my room and returned with only blanket so she was allowed to climb in bed and snuggle with me. The morning went on and we got ready for church, ate breakfast, went to church and out to lunch with our friends. We returned home and we were all ready to head upstairs and put on our comfy clothes for an afternoon of naps and playtime. As Hayley climbed into her bed for nap, she turns to me and says, "Where is paci?" I looked at her and asked, "Did you put them back in your bed?" She shrugged her shoulders with a quick little, "I don't know." We spent the next 10 minutes combing the area for paci. Paci was nowhere to be found! I laid her down at 12:45. She screamed and cried and yelled. I finally calmed her down,sang her a few lullabies and said we would look for paci after nap time.
It is now 1:23 and she is still awake talking some and crying at times. Every now and then she whimpers, "Mommy, I need paci." Oh where, oh where has she put paci. Who knows? But I'm actually hoping that we might be able to wean her. I'll keep you updated.

Something about a real Coke

I do love Spring. I love the warmer weather and everything in bloom. I love the beginning of baseball season and celebrating Easter. But one of my favorite things about Spring is a nice ice cold Coke-a-Cola as I sit outside and watch the kids play. The tingle as it first hits your mouth and tongue is fantastic. Hayley describes a sip of Coke as spicy (and that is all she has had is a sip!) I think of it as a little taste of heaven.
Chris loves Coke so much that I can barely keep enough in the house to support his habit when he is home. I guess I better start buying 2 liters now so that I will have enough for his first week home (which should be at the end of May)!

Happy Easter!

On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lighting stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, " Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, crucified and on the third day be raised again." Then they remembered his words.
Luke 24: 1-8

Whirlwind

Sometimes life moves so fast that I can barely keep up. Many things have been going on since my last post. We are officially on the move to a new duty station this summer. Chris received orders to Norfolk, VA working at Expeditionary Warfare Training based out of Little Creek. The best thing about the move is that Chris will be home for 3 years!!!! A non-deployable job......Praise the Lord.
At first, I stressed thinking about all that I needed to do for the move while Chris is still thousands of miles away. I basically needed to research the new area, find a place to live, find a pre-school for the children, put our house on the market, and keep life going here in Jacksonville. After the initial freak out, I handed it over to God, and boy, did He deliver.
I found a beautiful home in Chesapeake, VA that we are going to rent for the three years we will be there. The home is in a great school district and in a beautiful area. Item #1 ...check
Next, the task of selling the house. I frantically touched up paint, cleaned and arranged to put the house on the market. Houses in our neighborhood have been on the market and average of 90 to 120 days! I signed with a realtor on a Friday morning. Saturday, we had two different buyers come through the house. Each time, I was racing around picking up toys, cleaning counters and dishes, making beds, getting the kids ready and loaded up in the car. All I could think is, "If I have to do this crazy clean for 90 days, I will go CRAZY!" God is so so so GOOD! Sunday morning, my realtor calls and says we have a contract on the house!!! Are you kidding? WOW. One full day on the market and item #2.....CHECK!
God worked the preschool out too and the kids will be attending a wonderful program at a Presbyterian church in the area. Item #3...check.