This was taken Monday night. Joseph got a burn on his forearm while we were in Teas and Kendra decided she wanted to be like her brother. The doctor had just told us that day that we didn't need to keep wrapping his whole arm, so we didn't need to save the rest of the gauze. It really shows how Kendra is communicating, but I doubt many people will be interested unless you hold the title of "Grandparent". Sorry about the scratch at the end of the video...
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Back Home Day
I know that I need to blog about our trip, but there is so much to say that I'm having trouble putting it all in order. I have posted the best pictures at the following sites:
First half of the trip
http://web.mac.com/jvmoorefamily/iWeb/Site/Ranch%20Favs.html
Second half of the trip
http://gallery.me.com/jvmoorefamily#100164
We really did have a great time. Travel couldn't have gone more smoothly even though everything had to be last minute. The worst things that happened were that Joseph's left forearm was burned pretty badly from a grill, we missed one train and when we checked into one hotel, they assigned us a room that someone else was already in--and it was 11:30 at night. Oops! The children loved the travel and the activities. The highlight was seeing family--almost all of James' family and we even squeezed in a quick visit to my Grandparents in the Bay area before we flew out! This morning Joseph was even telling me that we needed to go to the airport this morning and catch our plane. I guess he's pretty acclimated to traveling!
Despite the great time we had away, it was good to get home. Our neighbors are awesome and the whole trip they kept begging us to come home and they were good at assuring us that our house had not burned down. The children keep waking up early, but it has worked to tell them that they have to sleep until the sun comes up and they go right back to sleep. Yesterday we were up early to go get my driver's license. My out of state one expired in January, so I was driving for a couple months on an expired license and then I took the written test so I had my driver's permit for a couple of months. After three hours there yesterday I am a licensed driver! Straight from there we all went to the Y so Papa and Mommy could get some exercise (Mommy gets grouchy when she doesn't work out!). Joseph climbed on the climbing wall and played with the dump truck while Kendra played with the dolls. Then it was nap time! While Joseph and Kendra slept, Uncle Joseph came over so that Papa could take Mommy on a motorcycle ride: (notice the rain)
When we got home, the children had just woken up and we all went to Battle & Battle's house for dinner! After that, the children went to bed without any fight whatsoever. It was a great day of being home and being together.
First half of the trip
http://web.mac.com/jvmoorefamily/iWeb/Site/Ranch%20Favs.html
Second half of the trip
http://gallery.me.com/jvmoorefamily#100164
We really did have a great time. Travel couldn't have gone more smoothly even though everything had to be last minute. The worst things that happened were that Joseph's left forearm was burned pretty badly from a grill, we missed one train and when we checked into one hotel, they assigned us a room that someone else was already in--and it was 11:30 at night. Oops! The children loved the travel and the activities. The highlight was seeing family--almost all of James' family and we even squeezed in a quick visit to my Grandparents in the Bay area before we flew out! This morning Joseph was even telling me that we needed to go to the airport this morning and catch our plane. I guess he's pretty acclimated to traveling!
Despite the great time we had away, it was good to get home. Our neighbors are awesome and the whole trip they kept begging us to come home and they were good at assuring us that our house had not burned down. The children keep waking up early, but it has worked to tell them that they have to sleep until the sun comes up and they go right back to sleep. Yesterday we were up early to go get my driver's license. My out of state one expired in January, so I was driving for a couple months on an expired license and then I took the written test so I had my driver's permit for a couple of months. After three hours there yesterday I am a licensed driver! Straight from there we all went to the Y so Papa and Mommy could get some exercise (Mommy gets grouchy when she doesn't work out!). Joseph climbed on the climbing wall and played with the dump truck while Kendra played with the dolls. Then it was nap time! While Joseph and Kendra slept, Uncle Joseph came over so that Papa could take Mommy on a motorcycle ride: (notice the rain)
When we got home, the children had just woken up and we all went to Battle & Battle's house for dinner! After that, the children went to bed without any fight whatsoever. It was a great day of being home and being together.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Ranch Fun
Last Sunday, we hopped a military flight from Hawaii to Southern California. We had no idea what awaited us in Cali, but as it turned out, we found an REI store, a Bass Pro Shop and a Victoria's Secret. We also found Claim Jumper and Melting Pot restaurants!! After three days in Southern Cali, it was time for us to catch our train to Texas. We had planned it perfectly: drive the rental car to the MetroLink public transportation train, take the MetroLink to LA and catch our Amtrak Train to Texas. Unfortunately, the MetroLink train waited at the platform less than a minute, which left James with a few of our bags on the train and the rest of the baggage, the children and myself on the platform. The children and I started running after the train yelling, "STOP!" and James pulled the Emergency Stop button. Finally the train stopped, but then the engineer told me that he couldn't open the train door. Finally, one door opened to let James out, but they told him not to get back on the train and that it should have been a $500 fine for pushing the Emergency button. But we still had to get to LA! We ended up taking a taxi to the next train stop and catching the only other train that would have gotten us to LA in time. Thankfully, the rest of our trip here to the ranch was uneventful. Long, but uneventful. All said and done, all four of us made it from Honolulu to the ranch for a grand total of $600. Airfare alone would have been over $2,000 so we are FRICKIN' proud of our frugalness!
Now that we are here, the children are having the best fun of their lives. The first day we loaded onto the dune buggies and gathered sheep and goats. Kendra was laughing the whole time and Joseph immediately became his Papaw's (grandfather) shadow, Joseph repeated everything Papaw said and mimicked his every action...it hasn't stopped yet. We've done more ranch work, ridden tractors and petted the horses and dyed Easter eggs and hunted the eggs and had huge Nerf gun fights. Joseph has wanted to sleep on the dune buggy every night. They are exhausted from all the fun--so much so that they probably should have two naps each day just to keep up. They are back again from their latest adventure and it's time for me to go get them some lunch. I'll type more when I get the chance!
Now that we are here, the children are having the best fun of their lives. The first day we loaded onto the dune buggies and gathered sheep and goats. Kendra was laughing the whole time and Joseph immediately became his Papaw's (grandfather) shadow, Joseph repeated everything Papaw said and mimicked his every action...it hasn't stopped yet. We've done more ranch work, ridden tractors and petted the horses and dyed Easter eggs and hunted the eggs and had huge Nerf gun fights. Joseph has wanted to sleep on the dune buggy every night. They are exhausted from all the fun--so much so that they probably should have two naps each day just to keep up. They are back again from their latest adventure and it's time for me to go get them some lunch. I'll type more when I get the chance!
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Joseph is 3!!
More birthday pictures posted on our Mobile Me Page (see sidebar to the right).
Today we celebrated Joseph's third birthday. He is such a blessing! We celebrated at the beach with our amazing neighbors and good friends from church. We played in the ocean and ate an entire cake from Costco, along with a ton of munchies. Despite going without naps, Joseph and Kendra maintained good attitudes and didn't drown. Wonderful time. Joseph got some very cool presents.
Now, it is 1 AM on Sunday and we are frantically packing hoping to jump onto a military flight to California in 4 hours. Plus: it's free. Down side: we aren't guaranteed to get on the flight. Our great Texas adventure begins today when we try to hop a military flight with enough room to Cali and then hang out there (camping? hostel? seven hour road trip?) until a train heads to Texas. In Texas, we plan to ride horses, ride dune buggies, go to James' cousin's wedding, go to Sea World, camp, ride more horses, shoot guns and RELAX. Then we get to reverse the adventure with the train and military flights at the end of the month. My neighbor, EmilieAn, said I was either stupid or smart. We won't know until we try to get back!! I'll keep you posted.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Four Years
Today James and I celebrate four years of marriage. It feels like he has always been a part of my life and it is such an honor to be his wife. He always treats me with respect and is so careful to make sure I feel loved. He is so good at taking care of me--not only physically (financial, making sure I have a jacket when it's cold, etc.), but he is so good at looking out for me emotionally as well. He is so in tune with when I'm beginning to get run down and he will tell me to go take a break or a nap before I hit my crash point. I love him so dearly. Our children adore him; they know that they are a priority to their father. He gives them such focused attention and for some reason they obey him so well because of his special combination of "I'm serious" and "I love you so much". He is not the picture of the man I always dreamed of marrying, but he is better than what I had imagined. I always said that living in the suburbs with a white picket fence and two kids was my worst nightmare, but that's exactly where I am now and I love it. Life is so deep and meaningful--largely because of James vision for our family and for raising our children. He is a man who loves God with his whole heart and is willing to follow Christ regardless of outside influence or opinion. I love him so dearly. James, you are the biggest blessing that I will ever receive. I am thankful for you beyond words and I'm excited for many more anniversaries to come!
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