4th of July Camping

We went camping for a couple nights for the long weekend with some great friends. My children were pleasant and got up before 7 on both mornings, so while the rest of the camp slept and Ben and I started breakfast, mine went down to the sand and played. This way they didn't wake up the rest of the kids and adults, I wanted them to remain our friends. We had so much fun and went from dawn to dusk (or way past midnight for the adults). The kids swam, fished, played in the sand and on the paddle boat, sat by the fire, ate til they could eat no more and enjoyed being outside. Fireworks were the highlight of the weekend thanks to our friends Kraig and Melissa, Beau talks about them nonstop. It was a great trip and we can't wait to do it again next year. We are now on the lookout for a small pop-up camper that will make things a little easier then just tenting it.

Just for clarification, Luke is not looking at her butt in this picture he is watching her play with the fire poker.
Here he is examining his ladybugs, although Ben thought if he had a flower he was saying "she loves me, she loves me not" because his little friend Bridgette kept sitting next to him and then getting up over and over. It was cute with them both in the chair but she never sat long enough for me to grab the camera.
Ben in the middle of a story.
Beau doing his most favorite thing at camp, snacking.

Swim lessons

The kids had a lot of fun during swimming lessons last week. Beau didn't seem to pay attention most of the time, but had fun and learned a little nonetheless. Anna did great, learned a lot and moved up to the next level. Luke finally got in the pool on day 6 and by day 10 was jumping in and going down the slide to his instructor. They are ready to go swim in Michigan with Aunt Liz and Uncle Sean.

Can you see the top of Luke's head under the water?

Promoted

Congratulations Ben!!! We are very proud of you. Ben promoted to Lt. Commander in the Public Health Service today. His first two promotions were in the Army and there was always a big ceremony and a huge deal made. However, now it is a more personal thing. There is no pinning ceremony and no party afterward, it is just pride and self-fulfillment that we are celebrating today. As an 04 more opportunities will become available in the next 5 years and with continued learning Ben will be able to find a job he truly loves. Getting out of the Army was a huge life-changing decision that Ben made a year and a half ago, but he made it for all the right reasons. His priority in life is his family, and I couldn't be more thankful to have him by my side everyday raising our children. He is a great father and the kids have blossomed into self-confident, eager, happy little people having him come home every night at 5. The changes I've seen in them are more than the confirmation I needed to know that he had made the right choice. So there may be no ceremony and no one will really know that his status has changed, but the people that matter know, and his kids are becoming better people because of the choices he's made. Thank you Ben we are proud of you and we love you.

I Succumbed...

To Facebook and it was totally worth it because I got to chat with one of my best friends who is stationed in Iraq right now and it was so great to reconnect. I miss him and all his sarcastic comments. The whole world is also on there so I have got messages from all sorts of random people I haven't heard from in a really long time. I won't neglect my blog though because I can write more here and tell more stories. Life is good.

Happy Birthday Anna, We love you

Today was Anna's birthday. We had a magnificent time so far. We went to swimming lessons and Anna (gingerly) jumped (tiptoed off the edge) into the pool for the first time. Then we had a birthday bash tea party of pizza making and cake eating, the mess was evident on most of the kids faces but everyone seemed to have lots of fun. Anna was graciously given some great gifts. Each has been opened and played with most of the afternoon. Beau made her a crown from one of her girts that she has now had on for at least an hour.

Planning Ahead

I'm having Anna's birthday party on Friday from 12-2. I thought that would eliminate cutting into our weekend during this great summer we are having. Although doing that means that I have to have everything ready because Ben isn't here to watch the kids or help prepare or get in the way. I got all the cakes done tonight. We are having a tea party thus, the the teacup cakes and then the big cake shaped like the kettle. I wrote all the girls names on their cups, spelling is questionable though. I also made cakes that are round (or half circles, I cut one in half to have enough) and put the boys names on it. Beau gets to have one friend and so does Luke (both of them have sisters that will be here anyway so why not.) It will be fun, or I hope. Any ideas for party favors to go along with the tea party theme, I'm stumped.
Also a couple pics of Anna getting her ears pierced that Ben took while they were there. I thought I'd taken some of her all done up after the piercing but I can't remember whose camera they are on. I'll find them soon.

Here She Is

Anna's haircut turned out just fine. I curled it today and I really like it. I am growing to accept the bangs for now. She has a birthday party to go to today and she is getting her ears pierced for her 6th birthday which is Friday. She grows up a little more every day, how sad I miss those little blond curls on her two-year-old head. She is a lot of fun and full of sweetness.
To answer the last post, her favorite was C the 80's punk style she liked the best. Her cut was a cross between B and D. (that is if I'm remembering the order right). She looks adorable no matter what and she is such a great daughter.