My cutie bugs....

Just watching the world go by....

Backyard Blunders....

Before today, this was the view of our backyard.

The two trees that are centrally located are no longer there, and neither is the grass for that matter.

Zoom, Zoom! And yes, that is a Bobcat in the photo as well.


You see, the backyard was one big slope (please see original photo for details.) There was no where for the water to travel, except for straight underneath our house. The deck was beginning to sag (which was also error due to improper installation - losers!)

This water issue was known to us before we purchased our home. However, the owners refused to fix it - fine, it was too late to walk about over a couple thousand dollars. Our stuff was already in the house before we had closed the deal.

But we had issue with water standing around and under our house. We didn't know how to fix it prior to Richard deploying, so we sat on it. And in his downtime between reading the new classic novels, working out and watching bootleg HBO shows, he considered how to remedy the problem in the backyard.

So in the last few weeks, he talked with several people and decided what was the best solution.

A man and his son arrived today to tear up trees, flatten the slope in the backyard, install drainage pipes, and fix the falling stairs on the deck.

This is the end result after Day 1.

The babies were FACINATED by the tree removal, the bobcat and people being at our home with all these cool (dangerous) tools.

Lucas thought he was at the beach again with all the sand (dust).

There is still much work to be had, but tomorrow marks the completion of project save our house from drowning.

Meredith in August...

All dolled up and ready to roll

With Daddy before school

Her hair is getting longer


Cheesing for the camera

Trying to eat an apple with her fork

Cockroaches

What comes to mind when you think of cockroaches?

Yeah, that is what we thought when we each came across one in a few consecutive days.

We knew that if it was a cockroach (because what did we know, we aren't experts), this problem was not going to be a fun one to remedy.

A pesticide guy came out today.

The problem is not one that can be tackled.

You see, we live out in the middle of a wooded area. And a long while ago, roaches migrated along the east coast from Pennsylvania - hence the name "Pennsylvania Wood" (as pictured above).

I am not sure why roaches migrated, but what is besides the point. "Bad" roaches are smaller and darker in color, not as long as my pinky finger and redish-brown.

So these guys are not a danger to us, because they cannot be controlled. They do not survive indoors. They are drawn to wood.

They really freak me out.

They fly. So fly back to your homestate little guys! It is the home of chocolate afterall - it couldn't be that terrible.

"Wow!"

My husband's favorite response to me lately is "You won't be winning any awards with it!"

I know this may come off as rude, but when I ask him how his dinner is, this is how he responds.
I haven't been able to produce anything worth talking about since he has been home. I am not sure what I am doing wrong, but everything just seems very "ho-hum."

Well last night was a different story. I actually thought about what I wanted to make for dinner the night before instead of waiting until the day of....

I hadn't made a Tuna Casserole since I was pregnant with Lucas. I had a very strong aversion to tunafish and I always visited the bathroom with one wiff. I just recently started eating tuna again, so I thought I would take a chance with the casserole.

I use Betty's recipe with a twist - a topping of crushed Honey Nut Cherrios.
Easy Breezy.

We sat down to dinner and Richard took one bite which followed up with "Wow! This is good!"

I thought he was joking. Did I finally make something that justified a comment like "Wow"??

Something as simple as a Tuna Casserole? I need plans to try to top that.

5th Anniversary

Yesterday, August 24th marked 5 years of marriage. What is even harder to believe is that we got to see each other!

Richard requested Chili for dinner - which I protested against because of the hot weather, but decided to still give him because I already had the ingredients in the pantry.

Our plan was to eat together after we put the babies to bed, but Meredith said that the smell of the chili was keeping her awake -- so she joined us. After getting her down, Richard cracked the books for a while.

When he completed his assignments, we made plans to eat dessert.

I also made a Key Lime Cheesecake. Rich loves Cheesecake and has been wanting a Key Lime Pie, so I killed two birds with one stone.


I heavily altered the recipe, which is very brave to do for baking - but it actually turned out

Richard didn't want to waste any and was cleaning off the edges of the pan.

Lucas thought it was delicious too!

But wait! Why is Lucas awake at 10:30 pm??

We wondered the same thing when we walked into the living room and saw him perched on the couch, quietly staring at the blank TV.

We had heard a loud thump, and I went to investigate. A horrible smell stopped me in my tracks by the front door. I immediately wondered if someone was sabatoging our home and called Richard to take over the investigation. He opened the front door and the smell discipated.

I peaked around the corner into the living room to make sure that Dixie hadn't left a surprise for us and saw Lucas! Not only had he brought himself, but a wonderful surprise as well!

So we changed his bottom and couldn't deprive him of cheesecake.
He happily went to bed afterwards.

Sweet Boy!

Lucas is a good big brother, always trying to include his sister.

Here he is, trying to put on her shoes.

Kisses!

Daddy captured this shot of the kiss in progress.

Donuts with Daddy

Last Friday, we went to a potluck with Richard's classmates. Let's just say that a potluck to "grown-ups" does not mean the same thing to college students. We are not used to being around this type of people in a social setting. I know this sounds vague and indescript....so let's just get to the point of this post.

On the drive home, Richard asked how the Dunkin Donuts has been doing, which opened while he was away. We made the decision to let him try some since we didn't have too much to eat for dinner.

Now even though I have been before, I had never taken Lucas INSIDE the store. His eyes and mouth were as big as silver dollars in awe.

We made our choices and sat down to share.

I think a bite was taken of every donut. But we did not eat all 6 in one sitting!

Yum!


Mom! Do you want a bite?

Yum!

Even though the purpose of the outing was lame, the stop for donuts was totally worth it. And not just for the donuts, but for the joy from the babies.

Buck

I found this lurking in my yard....I am sure the momma deer wasn't far behind.

Mere's New Set up

When running downstairs to get the camera, Meredith was screaming for me to see her new magic trick --- she can float!

When I really just wanted to take a photo of her new room set up. I flipped the crib and the rocker, so I could put the bookcase beside it. I also moved her shelf to be centered over the bookcase.

And got some cool tiebacks for her blackout curtains. I hope to embellish them with her dust ruffle very soon.

And here is her dresser if you haven't seen it before.

Both Meredith and Lucas will pull the bear chair over to the bookcase to sit and read.

She is such a priss.

A new chapter begins...

After over two years of preparation, Richard is finally living life as a student at the University of Virginia. The times were long and trying on both of us...and I feel that over the next three years we will experience more of the same....

Richard began two days of first-year orientation last Monday.

I was amused by him taking nearly 15 minutes to choose his outfit for the day.

His days were filled with mandatory fun, lunches, meetings (which he would call and say "Hey honey! I just got done with a briefing about X" -- brief is a term that is used the Army, so it was particularly funny to me that he called a college meeting this).

He nearly broke the bank with over $2000 in school supplies.

Rich with the Law School Locker!

The University also doesn't grant parking to first year students, so they offer lockers to store all of your things. Talk about a blast from the past! At least they are classy -- no more metal lockers with combinations.

We visited the main building on Monday after his orientation was complete - with a typical college "Welcome to College!" function - a picnic. I think it is great for Lucas to see where his Daddy actually is during the day. And it was a great way for me to sum up my opinion of the class..... :)

Lucas begins to look for Daddy in the driveway around the time that he is expected home.....and happily runs to greet him upon his arrival.

This is his first official day of being a Law Student.

I sent him off with a full tummy and a packed lunch - to which he was ridiculed for during lunchtime.

You see, there are very few married people in school. Infact, most of the students are straight out of college, which makes Richard 6 years older. We have since found out that they assume Richard to be their same age and think he produced children while getting his Bachelor's degree. He didn't tell them otherwise.

So the single guys saw Richard eating, and mumbled about how they wished they had time and motivation to pack lunch in the morning.

To which Richard replied, "I didn't pack it! My wife handed it to me as I headed out the door!"

There were many comments, but my favorite was "Oh! I need to get one of those! How much do you think they go for?!" (meaning a wife, not a packed lunch).

He spends all day in class....his breaks include reading and more reading. He arrives home after 6 pm and we eat dinner and do bedtime things with the babies. Once everyone is down, this is how you will find my husband. He stays in the position for hours, with water or bathroom breaks. He typically calls it a night after 11 pm.

So, yes, my time with him is limited. Actually, it is quite hard on me. I have since come to realize the greater purpose of the deployment that we just experienced. I had theories before, but the real purpose was to prepare me for these three years of his absent presence. Truly, my life isn't much different than it was before the deployment.

The rare times that we have time together, that is greatly valued and appreciated beyond what I felt upon his arrival home three weeks ago. Especially since we are still learning to live as a family.....

Spring in the Summertime

My front door had been naked and I hated it.

I like to play around with flowers sometimes, which results in the creation of wreaths. Thus far, I have two for Fall, and three for Christmas.

I intended to make a Springy wreath before we left Oklahoma, but we moved before Spring arrived, and my "ideas" were packed away and long forgotten.

Since I am always looking for reasons to not fold clothes, I decided that making a wreath took priority. But I don't know where I was going with the flower choices, so this project had been sitting in my dining room for nearly two weeks.

And since a quick run to Hobby Lobby doesn't exist anymore - I had to devise a plan....AND put myself in the right mindset to go to Michael's with my babies. Michael's will never compare to Hobby Lobby - and I think I will always have a void in my heart until I find Hobby Lobby again....

Anyways, back on topic -

Here is the finish product. I am not completely happy with it, but this is what welcomes the ones who (never) visit when they come up our front door.

Thankfully, September is nearly here so I can finally put up my Fall wreath and try to rework this one again next year.

Bejeweled

Jewlery is a popular thing around our home....

Somehow my toddlers even understand that your jewlery does not have to match your outfit.....
And you should never leave anyone out of knowing the current fashion trends....

Hugs!

Lucas and Meredith have become the bestest of friends...when they aren't fighting.

They share hugs and kisses daily.

And sometimes dance.

Virginia Sunset

We returned to a striking sight as we arrived home on Sunday. I think it is a lovely way to be welcomed from our wonderful vacation.

15 August - Return to Dunes

On Saturday evening, we returned to the dunes.
Here are a few shots as the lighting changed. And yes, they did look differently in comparison to our trip a few days earlier.

And with that, we packed our cars and headed back to reality.