There and Back Again

Yes, it's been a while since my last blog post. It's always hard to get back into the swing-of-things once you return from a vacation. Six days of cleaning...and we're almost settled again.

So, for those of you who we may have missed on our trip...our family traveled home to southern California and spent two weeks with family and on a cruise boat. Don't worry, I'll get pictures posted up here as soon as I have the time. I've noticed lately that there isn't enough time in the day - these two kids are pretty demanding. Here it is 10:30pm and I finally got them both to bed, but it's only a matter of a few hours before Ethan wakes up and needs to eat, or before Emily wakes up because she had a nightmare. Gosh it's exhausting being a parent!

So, our travels to California were pretty good. Ethan slept the entire way and we had no issues with him whatsoever. Emily, on the other hand, she slept the first flight and then decided that she wanted to be WIDE AWAKE from midnight till nearly 5am...it was INSANE!

We left Kodiak at 4pm and didn't arrive at LAX until 8am the following morning. What a long and exhausting day! Once we arrived we immediately started visiting friends and family. It was Ethan's first time meeting everyone, and had no problems to adapting. Emily remembered everyone from her visit in December and it was as if no time had passed since then. She really loves you guys.

Here are a couple pictures from that first day. I'll try to get more posts up about our trip as soon as I can (wouldn't you know it...I can hear Ethan fussing...and then fun begins again... :0) )

Easter

We had a great Easter. We colored Easter Eggs, got Easter Gifts from California, had two Easter Egg Hunts and an Easter Scramble, dinner with friends, Easter Baskets...it was fun! Yesterday we went to Base for their Easter Egg Scramble...so, between everything, we now have a TON OF CANDY! (And, Emily is wired!)

Coloring Easter Eggs

Easter Scramble on Base

Easter Baskets

Ethan's First Easter

Egg Hunt

Collecting Candy!

Spring Snow

If April Showers bring May Flowers...

then what does April Snow bring...?

Chris Turns 30! (And, it's not an April Fool's Joke)

Chris turned 30 today. He seems to be a bit blue about getting so old, but all-in-all he had a nice birthday. His lovely wife (me) dropped off a bakery cake to his work at lunch for him and all his buddies to share (he was so embarrassed!)

The kids and I took him out to dinner at his favorite restaurant here on the Island. And then we went home for cake...well, actually, cupcakes. He and Emily blew out the candle together and then we opened gifts. He got some nice gifts from the family back home, but perhaps the BEST gift came from his kids...

Ethan's Dinner

Well...the little guy took his first attempt at a real dinner. The other night he sat at the dinner table with us, in his high chair and we all ate dinner together. He wasn't quite sure what to think of the spoon and the cereal, but after a few spoonfuls he got the hand of it.

He's still very new to this whole "food" thing and he still needs quite a bit of practice, but its sure going to be fun experimenting with all the new flavors and textures!

B of M&D

The two gorgeous kids above (and their parents) are going to be able to come home to visit family thanks to a generous loan from B of M&D (aka: The Bank of Mom & Dad). The IRS is still taking it's sweet time with our tax return, so mom & dad have generously offered to loan us the money until our Return comes in. THEY ARE SO AWESOME!!

Last night we made our flight arrangements, and over the next few days we'll be making our schedule. Just as all of our other trips have been, we are going to be slammed with things to do and people to see while we're in town! We're going to have a lot going on and we'll be sure to keep you all informed as the plans are being made.

So, we'll see you all real soon!

THANKS AGAIN MOM & DAD - WE COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT YOU!!

LOVE YOU!

Painted Lady

Emily got her fingernails and her toenails painted today. She absolutely LOVES IT and refuses to put socks on her feet even though her feet are little ice cubes. She was so proud of her painted nails that she made me take a picture of them.