The park

Micah and I have some seriously busy schedules (ok mine is just erratic, but still I feel busy)  We are 2 ships exchanging cargo and then moving on.  The kids being the resilant monkeys they are have handled the whole thing like troopers (they are so tickled with more one on one daddy time, they don't notice I'm gone!)  We have tried to meet on at fun places for the exchange... like the park!


I took the kids last week and finally remembered to take some pics

 Lots of yummy fries

equal a happy boy!

I think i missed one

Just give me a sec... I'll get it

Mason's a little greedy with those fries...  poor Miles had a little fall and his nose stopped caught the brunt, our first bloody nose (I am sure we have lots more coming our way)

Once lunch was over, I was to busy chasing after the boys to take pics... I am sure you have a mental picture of our crazy chaotic boys!

Aquarium!!

We took the kids to the Aquarium in Newport last weekend.  We've decided to try and do lots of practice runs before we head to Disneyland (I think we are going in the next year, it all depends on the kids)  They are doing so good when we go out in public, baby steps for my boys!

Any who, the aquarium was a blast!  The boys explored and ran crazy over the whole place and it was perfect for 2 very active and crazy babies!

We made it!

He decided he wanted to get down and play too

They had a gator burrow for the kids to explore... can we say best 20 mins!

Miles didn't want to put down his drink to poise with Mase on the drift would sculptures... can't say I blamed him!  It was nice and warm outside!

The walrus...I have a very blurry pic of him kissing it!  YUCK, germs!!

This was at the end, and by far my fav!  It was a serious of underwater tunnels, we love fish!!!

The story of our lives, self pics that cut off parts of our faces (this was a better one, I found something to stand on!)

On a side not... I promise after we move I will figure out the whole camera issue.

Mason is like an onion... he has many layers

With Mase what you see is not always what you get

I asked him if I could have one of MY fries... thats a negative mama

 Pretty sure he wasn't mad, it was just that Clinger look he gets sometimes....

The aquarium was a hit... leaving the aquarium not so much

I have had 8AM training for work the past couple of days... I took Mase to care this morning in his PJs and he was not thrilled, when he woke up at school in his Jams.  He wouldn't let me put him down, so we sat and had a talk.  He kept saying "mama shoes, SHOES!!"  I helped him dress and put on those shoes, as soon as the laces were tied he jumped off my lap, led me to the door by the hand,  pushed me onto the porch, open his arms for a hug and puckered for a kiss (which he always rubs off) and shut the door in my face.  It was closer to a slam, but shut seems nicer and less intentional.  If only all of life's stresses could be fixed with a change of clothes and tied laces... if you ask my mom she will see a new outfit makes everything better. 

Dang I love this kid!

My little slice of heaven

This little man keeps us hopping!  Thank goodness we love to hop!

A time to mourn

No, our family has not suffered a loss, well a least not directly.  Today my clients were amazing people, who reminded me of all that I have and how very precious each day is. 

One of my first clients of the day was a woman in her late 60s who had this amazing love story about her sweet husband. They met when she was 13 started dating when she was 15 and married when she was 19... they had been married for 47 years.  She had just brought her husband homeand told she has 30 days to say good bye... I cried, I really just bawled.

Later I had an older mid 50s sassy grandma sit in my chair and during our time together she talked about a trip she and her widowed daughter in law were taking in a few days that would suprise her 10 yr old grandson, to disneyland!  She said that she was a 3 time cancer survivor, and she had an appointment for monday about a new lump... she calmly told me she would fight to the end, of course, for her grandson... who had recently lost his father, her son, and had clung to her through his grief.   I just put the tissues at my station!

Later I had a Military man, who was preparing to leave on another tour, and his wife was due in several months.

A father brought in his son, who he hadn't seen in 3 months, he came to oregon for a job, but is from Az.  Due to the market they can't sell there home, and refuse to turn it over to the bank, so they only see each other every 90 days when he builds up enough time to take off.  His son was 8 and his mirror image and very best friend, they made a pact to only cut there hair when they are together.  UGH!!

My very last client of the day sent me home in hysterics.  Nice, normal looking guy, who had hopped a flight last week when he and his wife had recieved a call that there 19 year old son had been in an accident.  As of this evening they were unsure of whether he would make it.  Every day a baby step towards the unknown.

I am grateful for my sweet family and tonight I am treasuring them now.  I understand that life is a cycle, we are all born to die.  I don't know what comes next, nore will I live my life in hopes of that.  I embrace the now, because the now is real, and tangible. 

Daycare

We have the best daycare.  I never have had to worry about the boys during the day because I know that no matter what they are doing they are being showered with love, and attention.

There days are so full...  Legos

 Reading

 Water games

 Art projects

 Lots of outside playtime

 Walks with best buds

The adorable little gilr in the sunglasses tells Mase constantly that she loves him, and she calls me mama when I pick up the kids... future DIL, who knows!

Gampa... Gampa

We were so lucky to have my dad come for a visit during Mason's Birthday! My dad spoiled the boys with attention and love that only a devoted gee-pa can give. We went to the coast, a movie, and Chuck. E. Cheese... it was a very crazy and fun weekend.

 Miles and Grandpa

 Mason and G-pa

 The BEACH!!!

 Chuck EEEEE Cheese

My guys!  I love them so mucho!

Happy Fourth...

We spent the fourth at home this year.  We started off the day in Creswell, enjoying a great small town parade.  Since Micah and I both grew up in smaller towns, we both really enjoy a small town parade, with all the fun traditions they bring.

The parade started with a flyover by the Airforce, that both boys loved! The planes were really low and very visible... I heard ooohhhs from both of my little guys.

Set up and ready to go

Miles had issues with the visor...Down...

 UP...

 Mason's please give me candy face...don't you just wanna throw him a succor!

 He made this face while standing on the side of the road with his hands extended in front of him... we came home with a mountain of candy!

 The boys loved the big trucks!

 Miles finally had to parked in the shade!  I just randomly walked to the middle of the yard and parked him, then Mic and I took turns talking to him about the parade, and keeping Mase from getting run over... worked out perfect

We spent the evening with Friends BBQing and then we all headed to PK park to watch the Fire works... Miles sat with everyone but us, he was our traveling man!  Thanks to all the random stranger and friends who played with him!

A Melinda story...

This is one of those stories I should keep to myself... but when have I not shared?

Saturday morning we were getting ready to leave the house and go to lunch with my dad for Mason's Birthday.  I was in the bathroom switching out a load of laundry, when I noticed a few things fall back behind the dryer.  I hate losing clothes that way, so I pulled the dryer forward a few inches and climbed up on the washer, braced my self with one arm and leaned forward to reach behind the dryer. 

Most of you know I am short, vertically challenged, and because of that I have no reach, none.  From the top of the dryer to the floor is, I can say with out a doubt, well out of my reach!  I leaned and stretched and reached until I lost my balance and fell behind the dryer!  Imagine my round little body upside down in a handstand behind the dryer... it was a moment I am glad we did not capture on camera.  I tried with out success to get out of my predicament without calling for help.

I decided very quickly that no amount of bending and twisting would save me, so I called for Micah... I had to yell for him 3 times before I could cut through the ESPN anouncers voice, and get a response from my husband.  The panic in my voice finally got through to my husband and father.  Mic came to the door and tried to open it, but remember I pulled the dryer out and with our realizing it had blocked the door.  I started to freak.  Mic couldn't get in, he couldn't get a good angle on the door to bust it down with out ramming the dryer into me.  I was upside down, in a state of undress, and images of very handsome firemen breaking down the door to save me went swimming through my mind.  I bruised my shoulder, hip, back, forearm and heel... but I got out of there before Micah could call for help! 

I have promised that I will not retrieve clothing from behind the dryer with out a spotter again! 

Laugh and then send chocolate... I am going to need help recovering!!

A Miles minute

My camera broke, actually I put Mic's soda in my purse and the lid was loose and the soda spilled all over my camera, my favorite wallet and my rear-end... it was a choice moment for me!  

Until I research a new camera, you all are stuck with graney I-pics (sooo ugly)

Miles would you like a cookie?

Yes Please!!!

The goat says... NO?

One day after I picked the kids up from daycare I got a wild hair (figure of speak, I know I literally have wild hair) and decided to run out to Lone Pine Farm and let the kids see the goats.  They were both in heaven, its such a fun stop for kids of all ages (I got a kick out of feeding those little stinkers too). 

Miles was thrilled, until one of the goats chomped his poor fingers. He cryed for a minute and once he was calm I had to run and grab Mason off the tractor he was determined to kill himself on. After I grabbed Mase, I quickly turned around to this aweful baa-squeal coming from the cage I parked Miles by. When I got close I could see Miles had gotten his revenge... he was biting down on one of the goat's ears for all his worth. It was a proud Mother moment, right up there with finding Mase standing in is window seal earlier this week banging on the window and yellowing for all his worth. Did I mention it was 930 at night, he was naked with his boy junk smashed against the window,the lights were of course on and his window faces the parking lot... I didn't?  Well I am sure you can picture it! Such heart warming moments bring a tear to my eye, I just know my Mother of the year award is in the mail!

Miles was thrilled everytime there little heads would pop through the wire, he thought it was a game!

 

The Tractor of Death

Miles has the poor thing by the nose... I didn't realize until I was looking through the pics.  (please don't call PETA)

Mase had to feed them on pellet at a time... it took forever!

I won't attempt this again alone, I had to carry Mason out over my shoulder while I pushed Miles with my ribcage... they cried and tantrumed halfway home.  This is as close to pets or a farm as they will ever get!!

What men do for fun...

Somedays are just made to stay home with your daddy and watch manly shows (like Lion King and ESPN)  and eat in the living room (since mom isn't home and can't be a nazi about the clean carpet) and take a nap like a man (on the couch)...

Mase was a little under the weather this morning so Mic and he had a Man's day on the couch... Don't even ask about the mess I came home too!  (worth every damn stain)

We are still alive...

Just checking in, we are still alive, just super busy!  I have 2 papers due this week, a math test, and next week if finals and I have 4 finals to prepare for.... bare with me I will get back to the blog soon!

PS  I renewed my hair license and am having it transfered to Oregon... I'm only going to take 12 credits this summer instead of 14-15 so I decided I should work, and make some extra spending dough... I've lost a little weight and need some new threads... life is good, super high stress, but I am really loving being so busy!

Wish me luck on my finals, Anatomy is slowly sucking the life out of me, but I am determined to get a B (I know my standards have slipped a little, but science is not my forte)

M.A. Basketball!

The inter-office Basketball game happened!  Micah came, he played, his team conquered! 

Mic was getting ready to go to the game and had an epiphany, we (me and the rug rats) should come and support .  I am all for a family adventure... until I have a bad mom moment in public!

 The game was played at an LDS church house and for those of you unfamiliar with the layout, the only safe place to watch from is the stage.  Sitting on the stage lost its appeal for Mason after about 15 mins.  He was bound and determined to get on the court and play with the big boys.  It became a running joke that if he fell he would bounce, as hyper as he was acting.  I worked really hard to keep him safe until Miles started acting up in his stroller, and then I became distracted for just a minute... and Mase did indeed bounce!  When he hit the ground he didn't cry, or even whimper, no my boy jumped to his feet and ran into the middle of the game.  Now you may be asking what was his mother doing?  I started laughing from the moment he hit the floor, (I will admit that I laughed before I knew he was ok; it had more to do with the fact that he had escaped and won than that he fell) while he chased Mic and the ball, and while he played with his new BFF Scott!  I giggled out the door, and on the way home... it was just one of those moments.

 Instead of checking for broken bones, I went for the camera!  Scott is the blurred guy in the black shorts!  I keep meaning to call is wife (my sweet friend Steph) to make a play date! 

Mase was so proud to be on the floor with the big boys!

The final score... (I tried to think of a fun little Accountant, CPA cheer... and then I realized fun and CPA don't mix!)

Spring game!

Micah gets depressed when duck football is over.  Its a combination of his favorite sport being done, and the beginning of busy season.  February and March are blue months for Mic... seriously its Postpartum for men!

The spring game is the beginning of summer, its the beginning of Audit (Mic's passion), and it marks the start of all of our trips to the coast (although this year we haven't had the time...yet)

 We sat at the top of the stadium, it was perfect for the kids

It was along walk, to the stadium... Mason ran most of the way, zig zag over the cracks!

 Miles was so tired, but he wasn't going down with so much going on around him

Mason decided that throwing his sippy down the bleachers was AWESOME!  That was our que to leave!

All in all the spring game was a success, we had to leave early for a benefit dinner that evening (thats another awesome post) but taking the kids was so worth it.  Micah is so excited for that point when they want to go to the game and watch with him (its sad to me that, that time is just around the corner).