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!