Playdate with the Fitzkees

We went and had a playdate with Mo and her adorable offspring. Maeve and Gallen are both just a few months younger than Ava and Ellie. Thanks for having us over Mo!

You have to hide your accessories when Ava comes over. She will try it all on and try to leave with it!

I adore this hat

Ellie: "Gallen let me check out your CRIB"

Gallen's crib tricked out with fun toys

Beep Beep

Why there was a lull in blog entries....

There was a big lull in blog entries for numerous amounts of reasons. First, I had 592 pictures to sort through that we took on our road trip. Second, the flu epidemic hit Tarrelton Oaks. Dad V first had it, then Ava, then Ellie and I at the same time, then Jen, then Matt, then Garrett (poor guy was only in the state for about 24 hours and he still got it). I am not a good patient. I am a wuss. Ava was better with it than I was. I send Greg "Video Emails" and the one below was the one I sent that night.

Then I was crafty with making Dad V's birthday present, making Greg's calendar square (picture of what calendar squares on the previous "Greetings from Greg" post), and then I was redoing our guest bathroom. Lastly, Ava has officially entered her "terrible twos" and has about two 30 minute tantrums a day. We are going out less to avoid destruction of public property and doing more online shopping. Ellie is now so mobile that her mischievous side is starting to show. Ellie has stopped sleeping through the night and is back to waking up about three times (teething). By the end of most days, I am collapsing into bed.

Don't take this as a "woe is me" post. I actually have one of the most optimal deployment situations with my family (immediate, inlaws, and extended) being 3 hours away, an active spouse club that I have met some dear friends in, a handful of college girlfriends living in driving distance, a supportive church, and my best friend living 4 houses away. The Browns feed us probably 3 times a week and watch one or both of the girls for me whenever I have a "You need to talk me down from jumping out the window" moment. I am so blessed with such a fantastic support network. But you know what, I really miss my husband. My hats are off to single Moms and I can't even imagine what widows go through. This experience is strengthening me and making me appreciate my husband, my children, and support network more than I could have imagined.

Ava being a trooper with the flu

Dad V's bday present

The shower curtain that I saw in a magazine and almost jumped off a dock to get reception to buy it online immediately. The walls are yellow now too. Pictures of the finished product to come.

Ohhh Bean....

It just doesn't get old does it?

Nanny and Pop Pops Visit

Nanny and Pop Pops came to visit and worked their magic. One morning I was able to go get a massage with Laura (which she treated me to- thank you again Laura). Nanny did an overhaul of our backyard and it transformed it from a forest of weeds to a calming garden. Pop Pops installed our new light fixtures, fixed all our busted things, built planter boxes, etc. They watched the girls so I could give our upstairs guest bathroom a face lift. Pictures of all the transformations to come. We even had time to hit the pool and beach. We loved having them as usual and were very sad to see them go.

impromptu picnic while we were renovating the back "yard" area.

Beaching it!

Bean loving her food

Dip in the pool

Relaxing in the baby pool

So excited having them here! Thank you again Nanny and PopPops for all the hard work you did for us and your loving company!

Greg Reading to his Girls

So Sorry these are out of order! It takes so long for these to upload, I can't move them around, etc. so they are just going to have to stay out of order. Greg sent a DVD from the ship that he made reading in the Truman Room for the girls. As you probably guessed, this is now Ava's favorite movie and asks to watch it everyday several times a day. Thank goodness for technology.

Ellie is Tickilish

Greetings from Greg!

Greg sent a package of CDs with all the pictures he has taken so far on deployment and then a DVD that he made for Ava (another post with those pictures).

My Hunk Hubby

Greg and Zack

Greg's 1st Med Port Stop

Classy dinner

For some reason Blogger will not allow me to rotate this picture but I love it.

Catching up with his USNA roommate Cliff who came aboard when the Ike was coming home

Swordsmen Ready Room

The Calendar Squares- each swordsman has their spouse or family member make their calendar square each month. Good morale booster for them.

Jen's class sent this banner to them for Memorial Day

Dirty Mustache group

B A R F. He has been notified that he is not allowed to return with it! Interestingly, notice that he has a RED mustache- the girls get their hair from their Daddy too!

Lake Nottely

Our last stop on our July roadtrip was to Lake Nottely to visit Mom and Bob's new lake house. It was like being in paradise. It is in a tiny quiet town on the water. It was one of the first times I have fully relaxed in months. Mom took the girls each morning so that I could sleep in and I was in heaven. We spent the majority of our time on her wrap around porch with the baby pool and ventured out to the dock and lake every afternoon.

view from the deck during the day

Sunset view

Penny HATED the taxidermy raccoon

Dock time

Ellie loved the glass table and circled the table for food like a baby shark

pack n play with a view

Ellie had fun knocking every magazine off the block

First time I had read a magazine cover to cover in months!

Ava was so excited to have a toddler bed

GiGi holding court

buddies

block time

Ellie doing the "sprinkler"

proud of herself of dumping out all the blocks

She thinks she owns this place

Dock time!

weeeeeee

swim time every day

our gardening babe

picnic table in the front yard

view from downstairs rooms

Bunk Bed Babe

Having fun boating with Ms. Shirley

GiGi and Ellie Bean

Sunset on lake

Ellie Bean driving

fell asleep with GiGi

view of GiGi's house from the water

feeding the fish all afternoon

monkey babe

Ava ended up getting motion sickness so we had to evacuate the van and clean it out. Thank Goodness GiGi was with us to battle the drive!