Thankful

Reunited!

Our family has a lot to be thankful for this year.  Being together, healthy and happy are all on the top of our list. The 2012 highlights have been welcoming Sophia into our family and Carl safely home. The last few months have been a whirlwind.

On September 10, Jack, Sophie, Lara and I left Jacksonville early in the morning for the airport.  The kids did great on the plane to Nashville.  Once there, we did a quick goodbye to Lara, met Carl's parents at the gate, and flew off to LAX.  The kids were awesome on the long flight, and we happily made it to California.

Sophia getting ready to go to the airport

After a long drive to Camp Pendleton, Jack was super eager to play on the playground near our cottage.  Jack loves playing with his Papa and Mimi.  They have a ton of fun together.  Sophia also loves all of the attention.  While we made the long trip across country, Carl was doing the same across the world.  He left Camp Bastion, made a stop in Romania, Germany, Maine and then finally California.  It was hard not hearing from him but he called when he could.

It is amazing how much more agile Jack was in September than when we originally went in February.

Jack wanted to spend all of his free time on the play ground.

To keep ourselves busy, we played on the beach, toured the local area, and went to the Lego land aquarium.    On the second day there, Carl made it to the states. It was so surreal looking down at my ringing phone to see "Carl's mobile" on the display. It has been such a long time since I had actually gotten a call from his phone, and I was even more excited to be able to call him BACK.

Mimi and Sophia

SO excited to see her daddy!

Around 8 pm that evening, we received word that the guys would be arriving at the base soon.  We gathered the family and headed over to the waiting area.  Lots of other families were there. They set up a DJ, a ton of BBQ food (very typical U.S. thing to do), crafts for the kids, streamers, and such.  Sophia slept the whole time but Jack stayed up.  It was a three hour time change so Jack literally stayed up until 1 am waiting for his daddy to arrive.  He was so excited.

Jack and Sophia made their daddy a sign

Jack loved the streamers

When the bus arrived, a horn started to play.  The soldiers all got in line, and marched in.  Coincidentally, when they did their about face, Carl was standing right in front of me and Jack.  Jack was so excited to see him.  Despite it being dark and Carl in uniform with hat, Jack recognized him and went to him immediately.
Jack wanted to go with Daddy to get his bags.  In Jack's eyes, it was like Carl never left.  He kept following Carl back and forth as he grabbed his bags.

Five minutes after arrival

Mimi was so excited. She was ready to get Carl home

It was a wonderful reunion. Over the next week, we spent time at Camp Pendleton getting Carl's paperwork completed and enjoying our afternoons with the kids on the beach.  Carl's parents stayed an extra few days to spend time with Carl.  We had a wonderful time, and got to see some of our friends from Georgetown as well.

We went to Manhattan Beach to visit the Halls. 

Jack loved the play area

Enjoying the California beaches

Fun in the sun

Jack made some new friends on the beach.  

Daddy was so surprised at how big Sophia had gotten

We spent two of our afternoons in Temecula Valley. We tried a lot of great new wines. Carl and Sophia at lunch in the vineyard.

After a day on the beach

We spent my birthday in California.  We went out with the Halls, and left the kids with  their sitter.  Mike took us on his Beverly Hills tour.  We had a great time.

Carl started work again in October, and we started our new routine.  Jack started ELP II this year at St.Mark's and his teacher is Mrs. Smith. She is so wonderful and caring.  He is really having a great year, and now gets to go to music class.  He loves it so much.  Every Tuesday, he comes home and wants to pull out all of his musical instruments.  Also, he must use scarves at school to dance with because he goes into his drawers, pulls out a long sleeve shirt, and then flings it around while he dances to the music.  It is super cute to watch.

Jack loves to play doctor. The funny thing is he likes to give shots in the knee,  just like Daddy!

I left Jack alone with spreadable cheese for a minute. The result : No more cheese in the container and a lot of cheese on Jack!

The end of summer is near. Trying to get full use of our summer clothes.

Jack loving on his sister

Sophie turned six months in October, and began sitting by herself.  One of the best parts of being able to sit up by yourself is getting to go in the grownup bath tub.  Jack and Sophie LOVE to take baths together.  It is one of their favorite evening events.  Sophia also started solids.  She did really well with all Stage 1 foods but then became violently ill when we started the Stage 2 foods. She would throw up for hours straight.  We still aren't sure what she is (was) allergic to but it was some combination of oatmeal, apples and formula.  We stopped all three. She lost so much weight that she was back to her four month weight;(  I strictly breastfed for a while, and then finally started introducing solids.  We don't use baby food but now just puree our food. She loves it!  She gained back all of her weight and was at 17 lbs by 7 months.

Sophia taking the spoon from me. She wants to feed herself.

There isn't a food that our little girl doesn't like

Enjoying a nice weekend with the fam.

In October, we celebrated Carl's return with a great party.  Carl's parents helped me throw the party. The Freemans know how to throw a party, and Michael and Melanie really helped coordinate it all. Aunt Jess made the invites, and my mom made the decorations.  People traveled from all over to come welcome Carl home. The party was themed after Carl's favorite things.  We had a Cuban cigar roller, a whiskey bar, a dark chocolate table, MOJO's bbq and a Latin band.  The weather worked out perfectly, and Carl's outdoor lighting was great.  We danced the night away, and I believe everyone had a great time especially the guest of honor!

Right before the party started, Molly and Sophia enjoying some time together with their daddies.

Our Neighbors

Michael testing out the dance floor

Carl's co-workers came to celebrate

Laurie and Colin enjoying a night out!

Chrissy, Evan and Betsy...Georgetown representing!!!

Jack wanted to come out and dance!

DG girls!

Mimi, Papa and Jack dancing together

My parents having a moment:)

Sophia at lunch with Aunt Jess

Happy Girl!

For Halloween, Jack was Elmo.  Sophie was a lot of different things.  Godmother Elaine came through with all sorts of fun costumes for her. We went to Avondale, and Jack and Sophie did their first trick or treat. Jack was a little shy but loved the candy.  I think he will be back at it again next year.

Jack loves his POP-POPS.

The MOPS kids. If you notice, Sophie is in the middle and the little boy is kissing her hand.  

Brotherly sisterly love

Fun with pumpkins

Sophia enjoying the hay

Jack as Elmo.  He didn't really dig the hat.

We all came to school to watch Jack in the Halloween parade.

With Carl's return, Jack's verbal skills have really improved.  By November, he knew all of his colors and proudly states them as he sees them.  He is stringing a lot more words together in sentences.  His favorite toy is a tractor.  To clarify though, almost all trucks fall into the category of tractors in Jack's mind. He knows that one is a dump truck and another a crane truck but they are all tractors.  However, nothing excites Jack more than a John Deere tractor.  He is OBSESSED!  We have little ones, big ones, and he is asking Santa for a BIG BIG one.

Jack loves to dig in the dirt.  Enjoying a nice fall day in the garden.

Jacksonville is a great place to live for gardeners.  We have two planting seasons.  Helping Daddy plant tomatoes.

Jack enjoying a MOPS playdate. He LOVES the bounce house.

With Thanksgiving approaching, we busied ourselves with all things fall related. Jack, Sophie and I went to the pumpkin patch, played in the bounce house, and of course, took a tractor ride. Jack and Mimi picked pumpkins together.  We went on playdate at the Clarke playground and made Thanksgiving baskets.  With all of the travel and excitement of Carl's return, I was just too tired to make a turkey this year.  We ended up having a wonderful time with some friends at their home, and just relaxed.

Fun at the mall

Making cookies with Ella

It's cold outside!  Happy to inside MOSH.

Fall fun

She has picked out her pumpkin