Cute dogs and kids

This is Jack's favorite resting place, our sofa. Caroline took this pic.

Jack and his shadow, Bernie.

Caroline and Will playing with Bernie. One of the problems with a little dog and my son is he is very rough. He knows he needs to sit and have the puppy in his lap but if something doesn't go his way then he likes to kick her. He has kicked other small dogs before and I know he gets this trait from the Crissman boy side. Not all the brothers but I know my dad isn't the fondest of little dogs sometimes.

Juliet with her new puppy.
Lots of people in our neighborhood have dogs. But unlike at Fort Polk where it seemed everyone left their dogs outside to bark all day and night, there are nice dog owners here. Our best friends just got a little 9 week old puppy and it is the cutest thing. Jack, my mom's dog, is very sweet with Bernie. Tomorrow is the last day that Jack will be staying with us. Our month long dog sitting duty is over. He has been a great house guest and others in the neighborhood have really enjoyed him too. But all the black dog hair will NOT be missed. I will probably spend an entire day de-hairing my house next week!

Playground time!

We love going to the tot lot in our neighborhood and playing with friends. Today was the most perfect day for being outside too. It has been hot and humid and the gnats are horrible around here, but not today. Breezy, much cooler, and just perfect. I could stay out all day but I have too much to do to get the kids ready for a week away and then our triathlon stuff ready for this weekend.

Caroline is carrying the very loved "pink baby" up the wall with her. And yes Ashley and Caroline are wear the same dress. When I found the dresses and H&M for $3 I had to get 3, one for Caroline, Ashley and Juliet.

I think this might have been taken by Caroline. It was either her or Ashley. They were playing with the mom's cameras today and took some really great and some not so great shots. Some are very impressionist looking too.

One of the things that Caroline got when she was with Grandma and Grandpa was a Dora digital camera.  Caroline loves using my camera and so now she has her own "real" camera.  Above is a picture that she took when I meet the grandparents to pick her up last Friday.  Not too bad a job for an almost 4 year old.

In other news , I got a call yesterday morning to see if I was interested in having my own water fitness class.  Of course I was and now I am going to start teaching on Monday and Wednesday mornings.  This works out great because this fall Caroline will have preschool on Tuesday and Thursday so I will still have time to get things done around the house and spend some quality time with Will.

Training

Besides training to do the swimming part of the Mission Man triathlon this coming Saturday I have full on started the training necessary to walk 60 miles. I convinced a friend from church to walk with me and she has been great at having me really train for this. We meet at 630 both yesterday and today for a training walk. Yesterday we walked about 4 miles or so and this morning we walked 6.4. I know that is no where near the 20 miles I will have to walk for 3 days but with 11 weeks left, it is a start. The only thing that bothers me after walking for longer distances is my shins, everything else so far seems fine.
Justin has been very supportive about watching the kids and is not too sure when he will get some golfing in as early Saturday morning was his usual golf time!
I am still raising money to reach my goal of $2200 and could use all the help I can get! Thanks to those of you who have already donated. I really appreciate your helping me.

i big, daddy!!

This is Will's newest phrase. And he only says it to Justin and at random times like at breakfast after we have said the blessing. It all happened when Justin was saying how big Will was getting and Will caught on and started saying, "I big, daddy!" The cute part about it is the word big is a little deeper than the rest.
Friday was a super busy day with teaching VBS in the morning then dropping Will off with my neighbor Ann at 1230 and then I was off to meet with Grandma and Grandpa to pick up my Caroline. On the drive home Caroline would randomly tell me "I love you mom." It was so great to hear that again!! Justin picked Will up from Ann's when he got home from work. It was such a nice blessing for Ann to watch Will instead of me having to drive 7 hours with him during nap and dinner time. I owe Ann BIG time.

The fastest 3 hours ever

It has been forever since I made a post and I have been trying to get around to it and you think I would have more time since I only have 1 kid this week. Caroline is off with Dennis and Ingrid for a week at Sugar Mountain in NC. Justin dropped her off Saturday and I will meet them on Friday to get her back. SHe is having a blast going to Tweetsie, fishing, and swimming. And of course having all of the attention on her. Justin and I miss her terribly and are looking forward to her return. It is nice to have a break and remember how easy it is to have just 1 child but the extra hugs and smiles are surly missed!
Update on VBS - Will is doing fantastic! There are enough nursery workers plus youth volunteers so it is about 1 on 1. So if Will needs some extra cuddles there are plaenty of people there who love to hold him. They have told me everyday how well he is doing and how sweet and gentle he is. I am not sure they are talking about my son but I guess anything is possible! Considering he has already tackled Juliet this afternoon I am not inclined to believe them.
VBS lasts for 3 hours and it goes by so fast. I had no idea that being with 11 4 year olds time could move so fast. We are moving and going to a different place even 20 minutes so it just flies by.

Helping mommy

Here are some pictures, I know it has been a while since I posted a picture.  Such a happy boy sitting on the counter helping mommy.

Will is helping me make play dough for VBS this week.  I am teaching a class of 12 four year olds this week for VBS and I needed some play dough so Will had lots of fun helping me stir and even ate some too.  

Along with the challenge of the 4 year olds Will will be going to the nursery for 3 hours every morning this week and I am praying that his separation anxiety doesn't get too bad.

Mulit tasking momma

Recently Will has been very clingy towards me. He used to go to other people just fine and not have any issue with me being out of his sight. But about last week he started the whole crying thing again. This is not a good time to be doing that since I am subbing more with water aerobics. Caroline went through the same thing at the same age but I thought hers was due to moving back to Louisiana just me and her and not having the grandparents around anymore. Last Thursday the nursery workers at the gym just let him cry so much he went to sleep. I felt so bad for him and not too happy with the care providers. Well this week I asked them to make sure he didn't go to sleep and not to let him cry himself to sleep please (it ruins afternoon nap time). Well it is the policy that if the kid doesn't settle down then the parent has to come get them. Well about half way through my class the worker tells me he won't stop crying. SO I asked if they would bring him to me and they did and I taught the rest of my water aerobics class with Will on my hip. The good thing was I was teaching from the pool deck because of the large number of participants so it worked out just fine. Plus it made the old women smile a lot to see a cutie pie there too.
Will even had a hard time with Ellie whom he sees almost everyday. But yesterday was her afternoon to watch the kids and she was great and just gave him lots of cuddles and he eventually got better. So hopefully this stage won't last long!!

Independent dependent

For those of you who don't know a dependent is what the kids and I are according to the military.  Well, I try to be an independent person and do things myself when I can, but it seems that the military really thinks I should be a "dependent".  It took me 2 hours to get a new ID card this morning.  IT was a very frustrating experience and I am glad that I don't have to get another one for 4 more years.  I had gone to the ID office in June and tried to get my ID but they told me my sponsor (Justin) had to be with me or I could fill out form 1173.  So not wanted to have Justin leave work and meet me I just asked him to get the form and then I would take it in later.  Well later was today and after searching for about 20 minutes for a parking spot I get to the ID office and give them my form, and the lady tells me that the sponsors signature is missing.  So I walk carrying Will to the opposite side of Walter Reed and get the signature and walk back with Caroline telling me she needs to stop and take a break the whole way.  Now when I get back in the office it is full and the new lady at the desk asks me where I got the form and when I tell her my husband she says, he can't do that and it needs to be either signed in front of an agent or notarized.  Are you kidding me?!!  So then I call Justin and he has to come to the ID office and be there so I can finally get my ID.

After that I brave the commissary and lucky me get the new check out boy who has to call for overrides after everyone checks out.  But the positive thing is that Will stayed awake on the way home, he is notorious for falling asleep in the car.

Then after naps the afternoon was filled with playing outside with friends.

4th of July weekend

I forgot to take the camera with me on the 4th so these are pictures from the 5th. We had a great weekend seeing friends and family. Friday after naps we went to a friend's house about 30 minutes away (neighbors in LA) and had a wonderful cook out despite the rain and then watched some fireworks that the neighbors did in the street. I was glad we didn't try to brave the traffic and weather and go into DC to see the fireworks. Caroline covered her ears the whole time even for the little ones,so the big ones would have been no fun. Caroline was obviously not cooperating for the picture. Oh well, what can you do.

Then here we are at Susan and Grahams apt on Saturday. Graham, Justin and Justin's Sgt major went on a bike ride from BWI to Annapolis and back. Susan and I went shopping! Then home for naps and an afternoon swim in the pool. Then the boys went out again to see the Orioles play some ball. Susan and I rented a girlie movie and had a good time. Then Sunday morning was a great birthday breakfast for Graham and then home for us to recover and clean the house some and after dinner we walked to the ice cream store with some neighbors. It was a great 4th and sorry we missed out on seeing all the extended family of Crissmans and we hope to see you all when we come down for the triathlon at the end of the month.

Cookie Caper Cookies

Yesterday was my afternoon to watch Ashley and Juliet. I also decided that I would try making cookies with 4 kids under the age of 4!! Of course I made the recipe that we used to make with Aunt Eleanor. Caroline and Ashley both looked at me like I was crazy when I told them to use their hands to mix it up. They had a great time and it was probably cleaner than if I had just tried to do it myself. I know it was more fun to let them and I am glad I tried it.

Will's job was licking the beater that just had butter and sugar on it and Juliet's job was keeper of the measuring cups. Neither "little" kid complained that they couldn't put their hands in the bowl so all was well. I know Aunt Eleanor would have been pleased at us passing down this wonderful tradition.

Ring around the roses

What will you do on a rainy day at the beach to entertain kids? Well we did all kinds of fun songs like the one in the video, the wheels on the bus, and the hokey pokey. After exhausting all fun songs, read all the books we brought, and did some praying for the rain to stop did we turn on a movie. The kids had fun as you can see.

The first time attemping to add a video

Ok, here is a video. He wouldn't say what I wanted him to say with just giving him jello so I had to get some leftover pizza out! HE said it right before I started filming but then with some prompting her said it again. Enjoy!!

Yeah and special kisses

My bruises are healing, slowly, but they are getting better. Will is fascinated with boo boos and when Justin had a scrape on the heel of his hand Will would always want to see it and then give it a kiss. Well it is no different with my elbow. He points to his elbow and says boo boo and I know that he wants to see my elbow. He touches it oh so gently and then gives it a very nice kiss. What a sweet child when he wants to be. Other times he is wrestling his sister and the other kids in the neighborhood. Boys!
Will has a special word that he likes to use with everything. Yeah _____ (fill in the blank). It is usually something like; Yeah pizza, yeah ceem(ice cream), yeah daddy. Those are his favorites but you get the idea. He has also learned how to correctly use the word "mine" and that is another favorite when his sister comes around.
I am going to try and get a little video clip of him saying his yeah phrases this afternoon. But since we aren't having either pizza or ice cream it might not work!