Columbus Day Weekend

We had so much fun this weekend! It was a great way for the kids to spend time with their daddy before the deployment. We went to King's pond on post to enjoy some outdoor fun! We got to canoe, listen to a story, decorate masks, picnic, play at a park, and make s'mores. We had a blast!

Jeanette, Caleb, Ella, Faith, Darrell, DJ, Steph, and Coo Muk listening to a story.

The kids doing crafts.
Darrell working on his mask.

DJ being silly.

Ella the kitty.

Faith the kitty.

Caleb's 10th Birthday

I can't believe my baby is ten! Caleb decided he wanted to go to the circus for his birthday. It was the first time our kids have gone to a circus. They were all very excited.

Caleb and Jerome

the Shriner's circus ringmaster
Tigers and lions, oh my
Faith and Jerome

the clowns
Caleb loving his first circus

Caleb loved the bears.

We saw this interesting vehicle on the way home from the circus.

Caleb's Star Wars cake

The guys playing Xbox

blowing out his candles

Caleb super happy daddy got him mini ninjas.

Michigan

Visiting Michigan was awesome. It was so good to see family and friends. The kids had the best time. We all left with some great memories and a strong sense of family.

The kids and their great great grandma Dorthy
me and my granny :)

Ella and my friend Heather's son Daniel having fun at the park.

my sweet Faith

DJ pushing Ella. She loves to go high!

Darrell wall climbing

Ella and Daniel playing on the bus

Faith and Caleb playing on the wall

Our trip to John Ball Zoo was a blast! Of course we had to do the traditional pose on the statue. Ella, Caleb, Laneigh, Kameron, Darrell, and Faith

Darrell and Laneigh barrel racing. lol

Ella and grandma Becky looking at the animals.

Ella, Faith and I feeding the birds.

Caleb, Shannon, and Kameron

Faith, Caleb, Ella, and Darrell enjoying the aquarium.

The kids playing soccer at grandpa and grandma Fogle's house.

Faith, Caleb, and Darrell posing with grandpa Fogle

The boys with grandpa Ben

All the cousins in attendance

Solomon, Caleb, Faith and baby Elijah

Ella loving on Ellie

Shannon's awesome house!

Darrell, Faith, Ella, Caleb, Kameron, and Laneigh

Faith, Darrell, Caleb, and Kameron on Kameron's not quite finished tree fort.

Darrel climbing a tree in Shannon's huge backyard.

Faith and Shannon chasing Ella

All of us and Grandma Dorthy. We were so happy we could stop by and see her again on our way home.

Aunt Linda and Faith

The Play

Faith and Darrell were cast in the cutest play. It was a revamp of Jack and the Beanstalk. Faith was cast as a village farmer and Darrell was cast as a giant magical Mexican Jumping Bean. The kids got to sing and dance. It was the cutest, funniest play I have ever seen. The beans were so adorable. They would speak in Spanish. All these little kids saying" Si, si, si!" Faith as a farmer recieved one solo line. She got to say,"beast of burden," referring to Jack's cow. She put her whole heart in it and delivered that line with her best version of a southern twang. It was rather funny. I was really proud of those two. They had to learn many group lines, songs and dances in one week for this play. The pratices were every night for several hours that week. On top of that they had to do thier homework and thier chores. They both did such a good job!

part of the cast of Jack and the Beanstalk
Darrell the Bean

Faith the Farmer

First Day of School

School starts again! Hip hip horray! More daily structure makes mommy a happy camper. The kids would have been excited too if they hadn't been so tired. lol

The boys showing off thier ultra short hair cuts just in time for the first day.

Faith would have rather slept in. lol