Puddle Days

What a fun day to just forget about the to do list and just go outside in the warm weather and play in the rain. The boys had a blast and at some point Coop kept trying to get me to chase him so I obliged.

Nobody Told Me

Some poor little turtle has gotten lost on it's way to out little pond not once but twice and ended up very confused with only stairs to fall down. The first day I got over my girly scared factor and picked it up to put it back on some grass. (Trying to set a good example and all.) Little dude not only pees on me but poops on me!!! I admit to a few squeals but I got him down into the grass and he finally ran away. Jim says, "Oh you didn't know they did that? They do it all the time!" Humph nobody told me that!

So two days later he's back and stuck again. I know now to pick him up right in the middle but this time instead of going back in his shell he starts kicking and clawing trying to scratch and bite me!! The boys had a good time though playing with him till he figured out he could get away and we wouldn't stop him.

Carolina Beach 2008

Day 1

We had big plans for the 4^th of July to include packing for our impromptu beach trip and going to see fireworks at the Raleigh State Fairgrounds. We spent the entire day packing and preparing for our trip!! There was a huge storm on the way so we lucked out by having too much to do because it was rained out. So we left early on Saturday with barely a 2.5 hour drive to Carolina Beach.

We pulled in and eagerly went to explore our little condo. (It’s actually bigger than the apartment we are currently renting!) Cooper walked in first and said, “Ohhhhhh it’s beautiful!” They had just redone it with some bright yellow and orange colors along with bright red couches. The boys were eager for a trip down to the beach so off we went for a walk on the beach. (Or so we thought!) The boys wanted to go into the water but Jim and I hadn’t put on our bathing suits- whoops. Last year on our beach trip the boys spent the first day just getting acclimated to being on sand. I think we have pictures of Coop playing on the sand while he was perched on his chair. Not this trip. He wanted to go in the water and wherever Coop goes Bear goes. So into the water we went!

After our impromptu outing on the beach we headed into town for the things we’d forgotten and some beach chairs. The boys were so not interested in sleeping alone so that took a bit of work but once they fell asleep they were done for. Jim and I on the other hand were facing the street side and some college dudes decided to pull out their guitar and bongo and have a little jam session. If it had been during the day I might have enjoyed it but I admit to visions of storming over there and throwing that bongo into the water and asking if they knew what time it was but then I felt really old and just put my pillow over my head!

2^nd day

7 am tent went up. Cloud cover made the day wonderful but we all got a bit too much sun. We took naps and then headed back out to the beach. I have to say they went down for bed so easy being that tuckered out. For some reason Jim and I stayed up to watch an old Harry Potter movie that put us up until almost mid-night. I wanted to go to sleep but I’d forgotten how it ended and really wanted to see it. Made it painful when we heard Coop and Bear squealing and calling out for us to come get them at 6:45 am.

Cooper's favorite toy was a pair of tongs from the kitchen. This is the look he gets when you've told him not to do something and he did it anyway.

3^rd day

8 am tent up. We’ve now figured out that everyone else just leaves their tent out over night. (Probably don’t need to mention the annoyance on Jim’s face but you can imagine it!) No cloud cover and we all covered up a bit more and stayed in the shade. Spent the whole morning with the boys on our laps while we let the waves crash over us. I got lucky when the boys went up and I got a few minutes to play in the waves and read. Then I went up to the condo and Jim went to have his play time on the beach. It was one of those trips that you realize just how different life is with kids. This time the boys all but climbed in to their cribs for a nap. The afternoon was back out to the beach for more sandcastles, chase and time in the water.

Everyone but Bear got too much sun. He is just golden and more blonde. Still scratching my head on that one. Coop has turned pink and freaks out when we put sunblock or lotion on him. He just wants to run around with his Super Cooper cape naked. (He has taken to turning his bib around so it’s his cape.)

We use the term sand castles lightly. Every time we get a few buckets made the boys would lovingly jump on them and clamor for more castles. I decided to get one little boat thing made but it only lasted for about 4 maybe 5 minutes.

Quotables from the Beach:
Me- “Coop you ready to go to the ocean?”
Coop- “No ocean momma, let’s go to the beach!”

Bear’s favorite, “Here you go!” generally followed by a thwap as you are hit with whatever he is trying to give you.

Me to Coop, “Ok I’m going to take a shower.”
Coop replies, “Goodbye Momma. Come right back Momma.”

Life Vests

I would just like to point out that the boys had zero interest in wearing these life vests at the actual beach. But we get home and then they decide that it would be fun to wear them ALL day!

Carolina Beach Aquarium 2008

June 2008 Update

So much to tell so little time to write it all down! June seemed to zip right on by us. We had figured that it would be our last busy month here before we got Jim’s oh so coveted orders and we’d be packing up and moving. I completed two of my level 2 courses and passed those with flying colors. I’m now a Certified Living Foods Instructor/Raw Chef and have been bumped up to Wellness Counselor. It was pretty exciting. Coop completed (I use the term loosely) his football session with the Rec Center and we made our own little playground in front of our apartment.

So here we are in July and the calls are coming in asking are we still here??? Unfortunately the answer is yes we are still in Raleigh and I’ve just called the apartment office asking for yet another work order and also to extend our lease until the end of October. If anyone cares for the details please feel free to call Jim but my non-Army speak version is he’s STILL waiting on some medical waiver (after 5 attempts just to get a physical) for his previous asthma diagnosis. Once that get’s approved his “packet” will be sent to the Active Army Re-Appointment Board (no clue if that’s really their name) and they will then determine our future. Turns out the last packet he submitted was for the Reserve Board and they told him he was accepted into the Military Police Branch or the MP3 Branch as Jamie and I call it. Jim’s not keen on that option so he’s holding out for the Active Army Board or he’s now talking to a National Guard Unit here. (Did I mention the Guard Unit here deploys next year???? Sigh….)

So onto more fun things- the boys are a just a blast. Bear’s favorite phrase is, “Here you go!” as he slings the toy at you. He now thinks its fun to hit and pinch and he hates his naughty corner with a passion. But he sits there which is amazing now. Bear is a happy camper now that he and Coop share a room. If I get Coop out though while Bear is still sleeping every time within 5 minutes he wakes up! He hates being alone. He has finally gotten over the tantrum phase at the gym and just RUNS in now without giving me a second thought.

Potty training- well let’s just say I’m holding on to the fact that all the other mom’s at the gym are in the same boat I am- It’s not working out that well. He knows what to do he’s just not doing it. In fact he now has an aversion to the potty and is finding other “potties”. He filled up his sand bucket a few times and my personal favorite was when he filled up a ¼ measuring cup. Good news is we know the boy has aim and he ALWAYS cleans up after himself. He takes whatever he’s filled up and put it in the toilet, flushes it and then washes it out. I continue to call Jamie and ask, now what do I try??? All the women at the gym bribe their kids with chocolate treats or with a choice of characters on underwear. We spent 30 minutes choosing which ones he wanted at Target and he was so excited to put the Little Einstein underwear on but as soon as it was on he started sobbing that it was, “broken!”

I have so many pictures to put up this week. We realized July 4^th was coming up and decided we had to get out of here. So we found this cute little condo at Carolina Beach and had a quick 4 day trip that was so wonderful. (You may hear more about Carolina Beach as we think we may open a business down there in the next few years.) We went to a local kid’s museum called Marbles that was a hoot and we even had a puddle day where I joined in. They’ve even started to play patty cake together now- I will definitely get that on video! We finally heard from Poppi (Chris) today and we are so grateful that he’s back up and had a smile on his face again. Please send him your love right now he really needs it.

Hope everyone is doing well!!

Bear In The Legos..... Oh My

Daddy's Lap/Laptop

Hanging Out

Floatation Devices?

I promise I didn't know this was happening. Coop kept trying to hand these to me as they were wrapped up and I kept telling him they weren't toys. Coop was outside on the patio and I hear this ripping and crinkling sound and thought, "This can't be good!" Went out and he was ADAMANT that the boat have a diaper. I have to admit it was a battle I chose to lose and take pictures instead!

One More Time

This was 100% unsolicited. He took the sponge off the counter and began cleaning himself!

Bubbles

Thanks For Sharing

I put some of Cooper's toys away and he saw them. He of course said, "Momma what are you doin?" I replied, "I'm putting your toys away Coop- why you want them?"

"Pleeeeeeease!" he responds. So I give him the toys and he says, "Thanks for sharing momma, Shiua shiua." (That's thank-you in Chinese for those of you who don't watch Ni-Ho Kilan. I know I didn't spell any of that right but you get the idea!) The funny part though was the look in his eyes. He knew he was saying something cute or something attention worthy. He kept looking at me waiting for a response with just such a smile it was so cute!

Our Little Strong Man

"Momma I'm strong!"