Morgan's 5th Birthday party

Morgan's birthday is in one week and she will be 5 years. She is such a beautiful little girl inside and out. She is always so fun and happy, making a smile come to your face when you are around her. I am so blessed and so grateful that she is in our family.

Tonight we had Morgans Birthday party at a bounce house place called Fernandina Party and Play.

We went to this fun place where she had her friends come and play with her. It was a great time, she was SO happy the whole entire time! It was one of those nights, you knew she was truly happy, and her smile made you smile. I am so glad she had a great party. She deserves it.

Tristen, Morgan and Jake

This was a big slide... they all loved it!

Steve playing with all of the kids...

Happy Birthday Morgan!





(Now for my rant about this place...)
Although the kids had a blast- the owner of this place was not a very honest person when it came time to paying for the party. I will NOT be taking the kids back. He totally scammed his way into more money at the end of the party.... and there was not really anything I could have done to prove him wrong.

In the end... Morgan had a blast and I guess for tonight- that is all that matters!! I am only posting this rant because I am hoping locals will be reading this and will not EVER host a party there.

Orlando Trip

A week and a half we took the kids down to Orlando for Valentines Day. We had a blast going to IKEA (my favorite store), great restaurants, staying in a hotel over night and then to Sea World. We had a great time spending the weekend with each other and enjoyed our time together.

This ride took them up pretty high, then dropped them. Aydin loved it!!

Her first ride in almost 2 years.... she was so proud of herself!

under the sharks

Aydins Birthday

Well- this is almost a month after his birthday..... Could I slack any more than I have been at this blog???

On January 21st, Steve and I took Morgan, Aydin and 3 of his friends took a trip to the circus for Aydin's birthday. They had a great time!! Since his birthday was the next day, his friends all slept over and spent the day with him. He then had the rest of his friends that did not go to the circus with us over for pizza and cake. He had a great birthday filled with friends and fun!

Jimmie, John Kenny, Ty, Aydin and Morgan

We walked the floor before the circus started...




John Kenny, Ty, Aydin

Lunch on his birthday....

I am so grateful Aydin is a part of our family. I cant believe he is 7 years old already! What a blessing he has been to our lives. Aydin is such a sweet, caring and loving child. We love you!

Christmas vacation

We had a great time in Vermont this year for Christmas. We left Friday the 18th and headed straight for the worst snow storm to hit the east in 40 years. What should have been an 18 hour drive took 3 days and 30+ hours to get there. We were SO excited to finally get to moms house Sunday afternoon.

My FIRST time to DC- we passing through that is... and this is all we could see. We even drove down Pennsylvania Ave- and Saw nothing but WHITE.

I thought this was too cool... (doesn't take much to make me happy) but we went through an underwater tunnel in Baltimore.

While we were there, we had a blast!! The kids were looking forward to the snow- and snow is what they got!! We were able to do so many fun things while we were there. We went shopping, went to the movies, made ginger bread houses, picked out and decorated the Christmas tree, went rock climbing, went on a sleigh ride (in -15 degrees), went ice skating, had snowball fights, made snow angels, played games, ate a ton of GREAT food and best of all..... had a great time hanging out with the family.

Picking up the tree... Heather, Mom, Aydin, Morgan and Steve

Aydin and Morgan decorating the tree...

Gingerbread house with ALL of the cousins... Morgan, Jacob, Sarah, Aydin and Taylor

Christmas Eve matching pjs... gotta love it!!

Christmas....

Steve and I- by the fire....

Sleigh ride.. .in -15 degrees...

Ya- it was COLD.... Steve and Morgan

Heather and Aydin snuggled up to keep warm

Ice Skating with almost everyone... Our family, Heather, Mike, Sarah and Jacob (Taylor was sick and couldn't come skate)

Uncle Mike trying to help Aydin.. he was so good with him.

Heather (Steves sister) and I

Morgan and Aydin
one of many snowball fights

Jacob and Aydin

Auntie Heather is so much fun... she made snow angels with Morgan- even though it was WAY too cold to be outside

After a short week and a half... it was time to come home. We left on the 30th and this time... drove straight through.

I have to say- I am so thankful I married Steve- or he married me. Not only is he the best husband ever, but his family is pretty amazing too!! I am so lucky to have in-laws that are so fun to be around.

I hope everyone had as much fun this Christmas as we did! Hope you have a great New Year!

Happy Halloween

So it has been a long time since I have posted anything on the blog. I have been so busy with the kids school, Aydin finishing football and starting school. Yes- I have started school again- and more often than not, I wonder why I ever thought it would be a good thing.

Enough of that... Halloween was great. We went to a friends house to watch the GA/FL game... where FL killed GA. After the game, we got the kids ready and went trick or treating. The younger kids went down the street and back and were done, so they started their party games, while the older kids went back around the block for more candy. When they got home, they had their turn of games. It was a great night, with great friends!!

our pumpkins- were so good... trick or treaters were taking pictures

Aydin was a ninja... Morgan was Cinderella

Julianne, Tristen, Morgan

Walker, Jordan, Ty, Jimmie Frank, Aydin and John Kenny

Me and the kids..... Aydin was not happy with all the picture taking :)

Steve is Home again!!

We love when it is that time for Steve to come home!!

Like always- we went to the beach to watch him pass through on their way to base. This time we had Morgans little friend and Aydins two friends. They have been wanting to come along and see the submarine coming home. They had a great time. As for me... it is always great to see it heading home. We are so blessed to have Steve home through the new year!!

FINALLY.....

For the past few weeks we have been going to our friends house a couple times a week to hang out. They have a ton of land... so the boys all go outside and shot bb guns 'trying' to shoot the squirrels. Well- Tonight was their BIG night!! Morgan pointed out a squirrel in the tree, Aydin aimed and shot. He HIT it!! They were SO excited they could hardly stand it.

Well our friends are big hunters (they have 15 hunting dogs - for deer hunting) and has always told the kids that if they ever kill anything, the are going to eat it. I didnt think they would actually live up to their statement. And they did! They skinned it, gutted it, and grilled it (with a ton of seasoning).


Much to my surprise... Aydin actually tried it. He tool the smallest bite ever- but I have to give him props... My little man tried squirrel.

It does make me wonder if they are going to be shooting squirrels anymore though.


Ok- Do I win the mother of the year award or what?