Real Moments...

Have you ever had a "moment"? 

A "real moment"?

A moment when you sit back in realization of what was actually occuring

A moment when you tell yourself that what you understood before had not really existed.

A moment when everything surrounding you makes your knowledge REAL.

Maybe it was when you were moving out of your first home, and you didn't understand how it was happening, even amist the internet searches for new homes and boxes piled high...

and it wasn't REAL...

Until you stood in your empty home, surrounded by silence and sparkling floors and memories of the past four years. 

Maybe when you were prepping your first child's nursery, and you had never thought about how much life would change.

and adding a baby wasn't REAL...

Until you stood in the room, surrounded by the baby shower gifts, miniature clothes, pieces of a crib, and diapers galore.

I recently had another one of those moments.  A moment when a part of my life became more REAL.  

Our Nation's Soldiers are still in war time.  We hear the news reports.  We speak to soldiers we know.  

But do we really understand what the war environments are like for our soldiers?  

Do we really know how real the danger is?

Standing back and looking at the extreme damage on an armored vehicle door blew me away. 

The broken glass that didn't quite break.
The bullets that didn't quite penetrate.

I was in awe of the level of destruction that was attempted.

I was in awe at how much damage had occurred without preventing the door to do its job.

I was in awe at how much damage must have to occur before injury occurs.

The whole experience made my year apart from my husband more real than it was before.

And I am still in awe that we have been in war conditions such as these for nearly 9 years.

These photos were taken at the US Army Transportation Museum. 

The Museum is an amazing collection of vehicles used in the military, dating back to Colonial days.

Please stay tuned for photos from our adventures there.

Until then, have you ever had a moment that wasn't quite real to you until something shook at your heart strings? 

Theatre Trip!

And so continues the summer of firsts! 

We took our children to their first movie in a theatre!

The kids were familiar with the Disney/Pixar Toy Story series. 

They were one of the first movies that Lucas ever watched. 

I purchased them shortly after Meredith was born, so they have had over 2 years to learn the music and lines to the movies. 

Without considering that, I still remember going to see them in the theatre when they were released years and years ago!

Needless to say, we were all very excited to go see the new Toy Story movie.

Toy Story 3 was released on June 18th.

Richard insisted on going on opening night, something we had planned for weeks!

We drove to Norfolk to meet Uncle Travis (my brother) and his lady, Alicia- after all, he grew up with Buzz and Woody as well! 

The kiddos watched the show with their Toy Story gear in hand. 

Lucas actually has the Buzz and Woody figures that belong(ed) to my brother!

Anywho, the movie was amazing! 

Have you seen it?!  You should!

Lucas' First Race

On Saturday, June 19th, the Icelandic Seafood Fest 8K Run took place in Newport News. 

Although WAY shorter than his normal marathons, Richard planned to run the 8K (5 miles) because:

*He likes to run

*There aren't other races of greater distance in summer months

*The entry fee was inexpensive (many short races are quite (in my opinion) overpriced)

*There was a seafood dinner afterwards, sponsored by Icelandic Seafood

As with any race, there is usually a "Fun Run" before hand --- which is a 1 mile course that begins half an hour before the official start time. 

Lucas LOVES to run.  And he was so excited when Rich asked him if he wanted to run a race with him.

We explained to him that it was a race for kids and he had to be 3 years old to run (to eliminate Mere from running). 

He has run on the track for fun before, but this was his very first race. 

He was so adorable coming in toward the finish line!

He completed the race in 17 minutes and 3 seconds

(according to Richard's Power Ranger Forerunner)

He was issued a super cool ribbon!

All the finishers also received a bottle of Icelandic Glacial water, which is truly from Iceland!

Do you think we have a new spokeswoman?

Rosy cheeks and all!

Richard went on to run the 8K, finishing in third place!

We are going to give the award to Lucas, but change the name plate to remember this monumental event!

I am sooo proud of my baby! 

He completed the Fun Run with a faster time than people ten times his age!

And he obviously LOVES running. 

He asked for more running shorts. 

He is just adorable!

He talks about it daily. 

He will be running his second Fun Run (tomorrow) Saturday morning! 

The Splash Park Incident

Oh my goodness...
I don't think you could believe how much stuff I experience in one entire day. 

So many things I could blog about, but either
A) Don't think you care
or
B) Don't take the time to write because I don't think you care. 

So let's discuss the main topic of today, because I have time while my husband ignores me watches a show I could care less about...

There I was - at the splash park. 
The time was approximately 10 am. 
The temperature was approximately 92 degrees.

My children had been dressed in their SPF 50 swim suits and covered in SPF 50 sun block. 
All was right in the world as they raced through the water, feeling complete joy. 

Meanwhile, I am sitting in the hot sun sweating in places I don't normally think about....

I wonder how appropriate it would be to wear my swim suit and run through the sprinklers with my kids.

I see a woman arrive in her swim suit and realize that she should not be coming out in public like that. 
I rethink my own wonderment to join the ranks of women like that...

Then, I notice a child - approximately 4 years old - come up behind another child, ball up his fist, pound him squarely in the center of his back. 

Seriously, pound him. 

I leave my hot spot on the bench to listen to their conversation. 

"Do not hit me!"
"I was here first!"
"No! You weren't!  You are hitting me!"

I walk past to tell my Mere not to drink the nasty recycled water. 

Then I notice the child pounding MY CHILD on the back. 

I walk to him quickly and crouch down.

"Excuse me!  DO NOT hit my son!" 

The child stares at me.

The second victim child looks at me "He hit me too!"

I continue on..."Is that how we treat people??  Do you just go around hitting people?  Would you like it if they hit you?" 

The child shakes his head and walks away. 

I take Lucas' hand and walk him to a different part of the splash park. 

I recount what just happened in my mind, scrolling the picnic tables to see if I could identify this child's mother.

I wonder if I should have asked him to take me to his mother. 

I think about how I don't want to be confrontational.

Instead of Lucas being taken to another part of the water park, he asks to come sit down with me. 

"The little boy hit me!  Why did he hit me mommy?  He hurt me!" 

****

To spare you the rest of the conversation - I will make it short. 

Lucas asked to leave. 

I was still very angry about the whole thing.

I recounted the story to my husband, and we discussed what would be said had I actually confronted the mother....then he shared our opposing sides with his co-workers. 

So I ask you, What would you do? 

And really think about it.... because one day (if you have children) this will happen to you.

I promise.

Happy Father's Day

I hope your Father's Day was spent with extra hugs and kisses. 

We had a wonderful day.

We took Richard out for a breakfast buffet with omeletes, waffles and the like. 

We explored the outlets and visited Busch Gardens.

Richard had a wonderful Father's Day! 

And we were very glad to have him home since he was out of country last year!

So here is to my loving husband....

who is brave...

supportive....

fun-loving...

and intelligent...
(I mean, if you are friends with Thomas Jefferson, you have to be smart right?!)

I couldn't ask for a better man...

And neither could my children....

Happy Father's Day!

Busch Gardens

Back in October, we took our first family trip to Busch Gardens.

Since we are so close, we decided to purchase passes to visit all summer!

I have a ton of photos of the kiddos, but these are a few of my favorites so far!

This was my baby's first corn dog!

Yum-O!

Call me...

I am so behind on updating. 
Time is of the essence, and my time to dedicate to such blogging activities do not exist.

Call me a bad blogger, if you must. 

But to call me a bad blogger, you must also call me an awesome mommy!

And don't forget to call me an awesome wife! 

And frankly, I think those things count for a lot more than being a bad blogger :)

And if you really cared what was going on, you would just call me. 

Like old school style - on the phone! 

Visiting Colonial Williamsburg

Over Memorial Day weekend, we visited Colonial Williamsburg.

This historic sight is participating in the Blue Star Museums Initiative this summer, where active duty military and their dependents receive free admission.

Click here to see the museums participating in your area!

The littles actually SAT and SMILED for me at a fountain near the front entrance!

After getting our admission tickets, we made our way back in time...

Colonial Williamsburg is a walk back to the 1700's

The first stop was the Gardens near the Governor's Palace.

We couldn't actually visit the Palace, due to a 30 minute guided-tour with two small children...

But here is Mere next to a foxglove! 

They were amazingly beautiful and soooo tall!

More flowers....

The palace...

Taking a stroll...

I am not going to lie. 

A great deal of our time there included Lucas complaining....

he didn't want to walk..

he had something in the bottom of his shoes....

he was hungry...

he was thirsty...

so he was always on the lookout for a water barrel fountain!

(this is one of many photos I have)...

I felt so wonderful when we finally punished him for his annoying behavior.

We left without seeing a great deal of the area.

We left without appreciating the re-enactments for what they were.

Everyone was quite hot, tired and VERY cranky.

Swimming Lessons

Going to the pool is part of our daily ritual...part of the perks of a hotel.

In normal circumstances, the kiddos are not really around a pool EVER!

As usual, Meredith has no fear and LOVES the water.  This actually scares me a bit, but I have to learn to let go.  I am super anxious around water.

She has a pink floatie that she adores.

She yells "I can swim all by myself!" and does not want you to be near her as she spins in circles, kicking her little feet.

Sometimes she even lets her big brother take it for a spin!

And then there is the infamous Nemo suit.

I first told you about it during our summer vacation.

Just keep swimming!

Just keep swimmming!

Over the past few weeks, our time at the pool has changed.

From the first day, the kids clung to the stairs.

Slowly, they eased out and begun to take to the water.

Now, Lucas will jump in the pool buy himself.

He has perfect form and swims around chasing us or our pool toys.

And he even sticks out his tongue in concentration!

We are sooo incredibly proud of the progress that they both have made.

Meredith has her own arm swimmies now and plays in the pool like Lucas.

And the ironic thing is that the Mommy who can't swim is teaching her children to swim. 

Farmers Market

On Wednesday's, there is a farmer's market near the city center of Newport News.

In any other circumstance, I would have researched the history to tell you a little bit about the area...

but instead I need to get ready for the park before the weather gets any warmer.

Things are rough when the temperature is 85 degrees before 9 am.

And it doesn't help matters when you have a child that decides to poop 3 times within an hour of waking...

None the less, there is a farmer's market....

meat and vegetables.

plants.

crafts.

applesauce.

 

homemade Virginia apples, applesauce...

that they allow you to taste with one of those mini ice cream spoons.

applesauce that is smooth and delicious and natural.

applesauce at a booth where BOTH of my kids threw a tantrum for an unknown reason.

applesauce that i was suckered into buying because of said tantrums.

i could have just walked away.

i could have used the tantrums as an excuse to escape.

but instead i handed the man $9 and walked away with my screaming kids and

my jar of blueberry applesauce.

oh yes, that's right.

$9!

but i now have a jar of heavenly, healthy goodness.

and it was so worth it.

The Perks of a Hotel

I have mentioned that we are living in an extended stay hotel.

 

Have you ever lived in a hotel?

Like REALLY LIVED.

 

Not for a vacation, but made it your "home" for an extended period of time?

Doing so definately has its perks.

I am no longer responsible for bathroom cleaning! 

I do not have to change sheets!  And if I make the bed, it gets remade "the right way" -- essentially I have stopped making beds too.

I don't have to worry about tripping over toys or screaming at my kids to pick them up(because we only brought a few things). 

I haven't done laundry in TWO weeks! 

Cooking is few and far between! 

I can take long and hot showers and not worry about my water bill!

Infact, the lack of normal household duties actually give me so much free time that I don't even have time to blog about what we are doing in my free time! 

No worries, I will make time soon.

Virginia Living Museum: Land Area

Walking around the outdoor portion of the Virginia Living Museum is super fun! 

They somehow maintained the natural surroundings, which are quite beautiful!

Like any museum, the outdoors continue to be super-educational, with question board, facts and fun signs.

The aviation area includes a couple of pelicans!

There are several exhibits featuring animals that are going endangered.

Eagles, coyotes, deer.

A red fox!

Wild Turkey!

A grey fox!

We really enjoy going to the museum, just for an hour! 

Virginia Living Museum: Aquatic Area

One of the first things I did with the kids last week was take them to the Virginia Living Museum.

The Museum is located in Newport News

Within the building are over 200 species of animals, aquatic and land animals,

all of which live IN Virginia. 

 

The entry fee is $17 for adults and $13 for children over age 3.

With such a high cost, we opted to buy a membership pass.

This allows us to go back all summer and pays for itself in only two visits. 

Lucas insists on calling it an aquarium since it has such a large marine animal section.  

I am super paranoid that I will lose all the photos I uploaded to blogger, so I am doing it in sections....

Especially since it takes FOREVER to upload here in the first place.

And without further ado, here are the photos from the "Aquarium"!

The largest loggerhead turtle I have ever seen!
Sorry for the terrible flash relection!

A puffer fish!

Apparently, alligators inhabit the swampy region of the state!

Who knew?

A little turtle!

A horseshoe crab!

Stay tuned for the land animal installment of the Museum!