Charts

We have tried a lot of different ways to help motivate our kids to do things, and right now I think we have found what works for us for right now; reward charts!

On our fridge right now, we have charts for the following:

-Making your bed
-Cleaning up at night
-Going potty on the toilet
-Waking up with a dry pull-up
-Loving one another

Each chart carries a different reward. Clean up charts equal a treat at the store when it's filled up. Potty charts equal a toy.

I'm not sure how long this system will work for us, but right now it's working so everyone is happy! :)

Snow in March

We has a snow storm come through the DC area a couple of days ago, and surprisingly the world didn't come to an end here. :)

It was the biggest snow storm we have received all winter, but school and the federal government stayed opened. A couple of weeks ago, we received snow and everything was shut down, so I was surprised when the same thing didn't happen.

The boys loved it and played in it until their little hands were bright red. When it snows so infrequently here, it makes any snow we get feel special. I am definitely ready for spring though, and would not mind it if it didn't snow again this winter. :)

My own gym

Greg has been helping me build up my home gym over the past few weeks, and I love how it's coming together! We are piecing it together slowly because its expensive, but I love the pieces we have now.

Greg is the type of person to have an idea and then find a way to make it work. (Something I definitely lack. ) He had the idea to build a pull up bar and a box jump, and over the space of a couple weekends, did it! I am so grateful for his creativity and imagination that definitely blesses me!

There are a few more things I want to add in the near future, but for now I am content. :)

Ironman

Kayden got this cute Ironman costume for his birthday that Deagan has managed to confiscate. :)

The boys are obsessed with The Avengers, so we play dress up for the Avengers basically all day every day. But I love it! I love to see my kids play and use their imagination.

Kayden's 3rd Birthday

Our sweet little Kayden turned 3 on March 18. It is amazing to me how fast those 3 years went! We are so grateful for Kayden. He brings so much joy to our family.

He is a very smart little boy. He talks all the day and sometimes blows me away by the words he uses and the logic he comes to.

For the most part, Kayden is a great listener. He will do what we ask with little to no complaints most of the time. But he also is learning how to use his independence and can be very stubborn if he wants to be.

Kayden adores his brother Deagan, and the two play together non stop all day. Which means they also fight non stop all day :). Deagan starts Kindergarten in the fall, and I know they will miss each other a lot when they are apart then.

Right now, Deagan and Kayden go to preschool together, so I know it will be hard when they do each of their own things starting in the fall.

We kept it simple for Kayden's birthday this year. We opened presents right when the boys woke up, went to lunch with friends, had a play date, ate cake, and played with Kayden's new birthday toys all day. It was a great day! :)

We love you Kayden!

A year...

Today marks 1 year since the boys and I flew out to Wyoming to live with my family while Greg was deployed. I have been thinking a lot about what was going on a year ago and how I was feeling, and it kind of blows me away that a year has passed.

Leading up to the time we left, we were busy packing up our apartment and taking care of last minute details. I remember the morning the boys and I were to fly out feeling like I could make time slow down because we had all been so busy getting ready to move, that I felt like I never had a chance to really process Greg leaving.
That morning, we took the boys to a park to kill some time before our flight tool off. We got lunch and headed to the airport after that.

It was at the airport that I felt myself almost panicking. The boys and I were checked into our flight, and it was time for us to head through security. Greg was going to ask if he could help me through security since I was going to be juggling two small children on my own, but the answer was no and it felt like we were forced to say goodbye right then and there; I did not get the "proper" goodbye I was hoping for.

I remember I started crying and Deagan was concerned. He told me everything was ok, and didn't want me to cry. He has always hated it when I cry and will do anything to help to make me stop. I hugged and kissed Greg one more time, and Greg hugged and kissed the boys. It was a very hard moment. Even though I wasn't ready, it was time to say goodbye. I remember walking through security half aware. I was crying, so I could hardly see anything, and I was trying to rush to get us through security. I think we made it through smoothly, but I don't remember.

I looked back one more time at Greg before we moved on through the airport, and feeling an overwhelming feeling of sadness since it would be over 7 months until I would see Greg again.

Our flights went well, and the boys traveled as well as a 1 year and 4 year old does. I found some strength that I didn't know I had and used that to get through the rest of the day of traveling. We made it safely in Wyoming, and I remember feeling a mixture of emotions. I was SO excited for the time I was going to have with my family, but sad that our family was apart.

That night, after we got in bed, I broke down. I went to my mom and cried like I did to her when I was young. Reality really sunk I'm then. I felt like I should have told Greg I loved him 1 more time, or kissed him one more time. I was afraid he wouldn't come home and I would always wish I had done more. It was a hard night.
My mom gave me the idea to write to him at night what I would say if he was there, and that helped a lot for awhile.

The past year has been an amazing and an amazingly hard year. We have experienced a number of hardships, but we have also experienced an abundance of blessings. I wouldn't trade the past year for anything. The time I had with my family was truly wonderful. I have so many amazing memories, and the boys developed a bond with extended family that I'm so grateful for.

The 6 months since Greg has been home has been amazing as well. Our lives have changed so much. While our life is not perfect since Greg is home, our life feels more complete. I am so grateful for this past year.

Tree Swing

When Greg and I were in Costa Rica this fall, we bought a tree swing to put up in our new home. We knew we had a great tree in our backyard where it would work perfectly.

We moved into our home at the beginning of winter, so the swing sat in our closet for months just waiting to be pit up and used.

This past week, temperatures hit over 60 and we knew it was time to put up the swing! All weekend the kids swung in the swing as Greg pushed them.

Their smiles and laughs were precious. As a sat and watched all of this happen, I couldn't help but feel content. Having a tree swing just feels so homey doesn't it?

I have to admit that the transition to moving to a new area has been a hard one. Traffic is crazy, everything is fast paced, and I am generally in the minority everywhere I go. But I come home, and I feel safe and secure. I feel that our home has really become heaven on earth; especially when all my family is home sage and sound a swinging on a tree swing.

Funny Moments

Having small children means that I am bound to find some kind of fun thing they come up. In the pictures below, I laughed each time I saw one of these things. I did not do any of the things below, it was all thanks in part to the creative imagination of a 5 and 2 year old. :)

Williamsburg Visit: Virginia Beach

Our 2nd full day in Williamsburg, we decided to head to Virginia Beach which was only an hour from there. We love the ocean and couldn't wait to see it. Again, it was pretty cold, and even colder right by the water, so we saw the ocean and went back to the car. Kind of disappointing, but it was really cold and everyone was miserable.

It's kind of funny because we visited the beach in NC last spring and it was cold, and we went to the beach in VA this sprung, and both times it was cold; you think we would learn :). We are hoping to go back this summer since its not far from where we live when it's actually warm.

We decided to go to the aquarium instead, and it was the highlight of the day. We love aquariums and this one did not disappoint.

One of the most interesting things I learned at the aquarium was that sharks don't eat all the fish they swim around with in their cage. I would think that they would since they are sharks, but the sharks are fed on a schedule so they aren't really that hungry. Kind of cool right? Another cool thing was we got to watch the sharks being fed. The handlers put a fish on the end of a hook and put it in the water as a shark swam by.

Even though it was cold, it was still a great day. We hope to go back soon!

Williamsburg Visit: Colonial Williamsburg

Over President's Day weekend, we spent a few days in Williamsburg. We bought a Groupon while Greg was deployed in hopes to take a family vacation there once we were all back together. Because of one reason or another, we didn't get to cash that in until that time. It was a great way to get away as a family, and we had a great time.

Our first real day there, we went into Colonial Williamsburg, which is basically a representation of what the city looked like during the late 1700's. It was interesting and fun to look around at, but going to historical sights with kids is only fun for so long. :). We let the kids run around, so even though it wasn't the most kid friendly thing, I think everyone had a good time. It was kind of chilly that weekend too, so between trying to please two boys and trying to stay warm, we figured we were good with one outing that day :)

Spring Days

Every few weeks we get a random spring day, and every time that happens we spend as much time outside because it doesn't last long.
A couple of weeks ago, we found a really great park and spent all afternoon there. I love those kind of days :)