Aydin at the doctors

Today Aydin went to the children's hospital to get his kidneys checked out. Both kids have had issues with UTI's so their doctor wanted to have tests done. Nothing major... just have an ultra-sound of the kidneys, sedation and then an xray of fluid leaving the bladder. He did great!! He does have mild reflux but nothing that antibiotics will not take care of...

All done...

Another day at the beach

The kids and I meet up with our friends Kelly and her girls at the beach today. The best part about hurricanes over the ocean is the amount of sea life it causes to come to shore. Today we saw crabs, fish, jellyfish, and a horseshoe crab. The ladies caught a few hermit crabs before we got there and made a little 'home' for them.

Liam didnt even want to play in the water because he was so fascinated with the crabs. He talked to them, pointed, watched, and even tried to put the shell in his mouth... until it started moving in his mouth. I wish I would have gotten his reaction on camera- cause it was a good one!!

Lili, Charlotte, Aydin, and Morgan

Talking to the crab...

The race is on... Aydin and Lili...These ladies love each other...They talked the whole way in...So CUTE!More talking...and then eating...this is what was in his mouth...As I watched Liam attempt to eat crabs... I look over to the right and see this bird catch a dragonfly... national geographic style...

Yulee Hornets vs. Orange Park

Well- today we had to brave the heat and support our kids playing their hearts out! I am so proud of the whole football team... today they won Orange Park for the first time in over 10 years!! Our boys did so good... even though it was 103 degrees outside today. What a great way to start the football season. I just hope they keep this up!

Poor little guy was hot... but it didnt stop him from getting into everything!!

Just resting for a few minutes...

Jamboree

Football is here for good!!

Yay- football games have begun!! Today we went to the jamboree. This is where we play two 20 min games to see how prepared we are for the season. 10 min of straight offense and 10 min of straight defense. The boys played great in both games and won both!! I think this season is going to be a great one!!

Aydin and Ty inbetween games...

First day of school...

Where did the time go???

This summer went by WAY to fast- which surprises me considering I was hoping it would go fast. Now that it is officially over... I want it back.

I cannot believe I have a third and first grader!! My little kiddos are not so little anymore...

Morgan...

Aydin...

Aydin is starting a new school this year, Yulee Elementary and has a great teach- Joy Huber. (He did NOT want to take a picture with her this morning... too old for that kind of stuff now).

Morgan is still at her same school with Beverly O'Conner. She is very happy to know she is in the same class with 5 kids from her class last year.

Putting her backpack away...

With her teacher...

Both kids were excited to start school, although Aydin is not happy about having to start homework again.

I was excited about school too- until I spent a hour trying to drop them off... and an hour and a half trying to pick them up today. Needless to say, I was not in the best mood after we got home. I can say now, I have had time to cool off and start all over again tomorrow morning. This may be the year my kids ride the bus... if those lines do not speed up!!

Its FOOTBALL season!

Football is in full swing!!

Last week was our first week so the boys could not wear pads. Being 100 degrees most afternoons, I feel part of the reason is to get these poor kids acclimated to running around in the heat.

This week is full pads... meaning it is hitting time!! I was a little nervous having Aydin moving up this year from the 5-7 year old team where he was by far one of the biggest kids in Pop Warner for his age group to playing with 8-10 year olds. Not too sure why I was so concerned... my kid is a beast. He is one of the biggest kids on his new team this year which made him a little more comfortable about playing.

He is doing well... I know he can do better but we are still on week one. I just hope he has a great season and enjoys it considering this year will be our last with football for a while (since we will be moving to Spain next summer).

He is #7 while at practice... his game jersey is a different #

The poor kid in the white pants... was just tossed by Aydin...

Today our team had a scrimmage game against the other Pop Warner team. They did amazing considering we were one week into wearing pads. Aydin did his 'job' and even had a sac in the end zone on the last play of the game... I was SO excited!! This is going to be a fun season if they continue to play like they did today...

Liam Liam Liam...

15 months and counting!! What can I say?? This kid is into EVERYTHING!!! We cannot do anything without making sure the chairs are pushed in, the dishwasher does not still have the silverware holder, the bathroom door open (if he is not climbing onto the toilet to climb into the bathroom sink… he is playing in the toilet), Aydin’s bedroom door (he climbs up the bunk bed ladder and jumps on the top bed), and anything else he thinks would be fun…

This is a daily routine... emptying out the wipe container.

He also loves looking at the fish!

Our fish tank is behind the couches… I thought I heard him playing with my grass fillers in the vases but nope… it was the whole entire can of fish food emptying right behind me. The worst part- is I didn’t think anything of the sound because I really thought it was something completely different!

This kid has his way of being so mischievous but yet so cute at the same time… How can you not smile at this kid?!

More Steve pics...

Central Mosque in downtown KabulThis was taken this morning, during a EUM visit at an Afghan Army base. He was sweeping their trucks to make sure they hadn't been stripped down and sold. Same base. He said its the worst possibile tactical location. There is WAY to many elevated vantage points for his comfort level. ISAF biergarten- Where he wishes he could stay and play... ISAF outdoor fireplace

Update on Steve...

Finally got to see a few more pictures of Steve and what the beautiful country of Afghanistan looks like...

I have been very lucky while Steve is gone and get to skype with him almost everyday. Because we are 8 and a half hours behind(yes... Afghanistan is so backwards they are working on the half hour), when Steve gets off of work it is around noon here. I love hearing from him everyday so much, we plan our day around his calls. The kids and I will either do something early and be home by lunch or wait until his call and then leave after. I am not too sure how it will all work out once school starts but I am sure we will figure something out.

As for Steve, he sounds like he is doing well. He has been staying busy most days and extremely boring on the other ones. He is required to be at work at 8am and stay until 8pm- 7 days a week. Fridays are the days he does not have to be to work until 1pm so he normally will spend his time walking the Bazaar. Unfourtunalty for him, this month is Ramadan so the whole town shuts down during the day to reflect on their own individual faith, fast, pray, and spend with their families (sleep too, I am sure).

Having the job he has, he is able to leave base and make deliveries. Here are a few pictures are of him out and around town...


Him stating point of a dismounted foot patrol in Eastern Afghanistan.
Rough country.

This is near the ISAF soccer field.

He saw a 'large' body of water and had to take a picture of it.

Mountians

Typical Kabul side street. Most people are selling whatever they can grow or steal from somewhere else.

This is in downtown Kabul, note the lack of any rhyme or reason to the traffic flow or pedestrian traffic. It's a tough environment to operate securly in.