A goodbye Cookout

The week that Jason was home we had a little cookout so he could say good-bye to the friends we have made here in the last 4 years. All our good friends were there!! It was a fun day and the weather was perfect! Unfortunately there is always a lot going when there is a lot of people at your house, so I only got a few pictures. I wanted to get some of everyone, but it just didn't happen, instead I have a couple of the same people! Thanks to everyone who came!! We love all our friends and neighbors here and we are going to miss everyone. It is not easy making such great friends and always having to say goodbye at the end of a tour. But we have met some awesome people at each duty station and our lives just keep getting richer from our friends.

Eric, Carrie, Jackson and Erin

Jason with his favorite DI's! Chris, John and Joe. He loves these guys, they were the few bright spots of his tour of a Drill Instructor.
Jason with Eric, Ryleigh and Ben
John and Jill
Chris and Amanda
Jeff, Emily and Mandy
Cammie, Mike and kids
Becky and Sal
Jen, Madison, Jason T., Grant and MichelleMy SC sister, Carrie! :) Erin with baby Caroline, me and Carrie
Kyle playing baseball. As you can see, he is the catcher. Like his catcher "uniform?" Very original!

Too much to post.....

As you can see by dates from my last post, I am way behind in the blogging world (and in most other areas...). Jason was home for about a week, we went back up north for Lydia's wedding and for a visit with family, and now I am home, but overwhelmed with how many pictures I have! While I was home Aimee showed me how to use a website called "photobucket" that lets you do lots of fun things to your photos. So, I just picked a few photos that we had fun editing from our trip to hold everyone over! Who knows when I will get them all up. After a 11 hour car ride back home with three kids all by myself that was full of fun times, (that is a joke in case you couldn't tell) and settling back down to life that does not include a husband or Daddy, blogging has not found its way into my days or nights. :) How cute are these photos? :)

Jason with his sister Lydia and brother, Joel. I love this picture!

Lydia and Katie.

When I get finished mowing our enormous yard and the countless other things I have to do this week, I will put up more. Trust me there is more, lots more! :)

A Decade

Then and now!

On Friday, April 4th, we reached a milestone, our 10th wedding anniversary! I woke up that day sad since Jason is away and I knew I would be spending our 10th wedding anniversary alone. Now, I think we have been together on the actual day of our anniversary maybe half of our ten years, so I am used to not celebrating on the actual day. But, since 10 is a big one, I was a little depressed about this one! He is in Virginia right now and when I talked to him earlier in the week he said he would drive home Friday if he could. Then on Thursday he called and said they were not letting leave the area this weekend and there was no way he could come home. I believed him because it sounds like something that would happen! He called me early in the morning to wish me a Happy Anniversary, but only had a second to talk. I only heard from him a few times that day, and only briefly, because each time he was on his way to a class or had to be somewhere in the next few minutes. I kept myself busy that day, working in the yard all afternoon, mowing and raking. I ran to Lowes after I got Aiden from school and picked up some bags of mulch. (dragging 3 kids and 18 bags of mulch through Lowes and loading them into my car was no small feat!) I came home and immediately starting spreading the mulch. I worked until the boys were literally banging on the windows from inside the house begging for dinner and Ryleigh had taken off all her clothes outside and was running around the yard in just a diaper. I heated up some dinner for the kids and was just getting it on the table when I heard the door open. To paint you a better picture, I should describe what I looked like. :) When you mow in this lovely state of SC you kick up a lot of dust, dirt and sand, it kind of covers you with a nice gritty layer all over. My clothes were filthy, mulch stuck in my hair and on my clothes, my face streaked with dirt. Not a pretty sight. :) I turned towards the garage door, wondering what kid was escaping and there stood Jason! With flowers and a card. I was shocked! I am not easy to surprise. :) He drove all day to be here for our anniversary. It was the best gift I have ever received on an anniversary! Thanks honey for spending so many hours on the road for such a short time at home! Thank you for 10 wonderful years and this great life you have provided for us. You are an unbelievable husband (and father) and I know I am the luckiest girl in the world to have you in my life. I love you!!!

Kyle turns 4

That grin says it all, that is Kyle, captured in a photo.

Kyle with his new board, on his birthday.
Our adventurous little guy turned 4 years old on March 31st. It is hard for Jason and I to see them grow up so fast, yet we are having fun watching them grow and enjoying each stage. 3 was a fun year with Kyle, though not without its many challenges. Kyle is a very determined young man. While this really helps him in conquering any challenge that lies before him, it also sometimes makes meal time, bedtime, bath time or anytime a challenge for me! :) We have had many a battle! Kyle is loving, sweet and sensitive. He is the first one to Ryleigh when she falls, helping her up and soothing her with his cute little voice. Last week when I got the news of my grandmoms death, I was visibly upset. Kyle came right to my side and started stroking my arm, patting my leg and saying "It's OK mommy". He didn't leave my side until he knew I was OK. He makes us smile daily with the funny things he says, gives us daily heart attacks with the crazy stunts he pulls. He is tough and brave. Most of the injuries he gets would have other kids out for the rest of the week. Kyle jumps back up before you even have time to see what happened. I think he is afraid that if he admits he is hurt, we will take away his skateboard, bike, ramps etc...! We will forever be grateful that God decided to place Kyle in our family!

Kyle asked for a chocolate cake, with chocolate icing and chocolate ice cream for his birthday. A boy after my own heart! He wanted to help make it, but when he saw how long it was going to take, he decided he just wanted me to call him when it was time to put the sprinkles on. I by no means claim to be a cake decorator, but Kyle thought it was awesome! :)

One happy birthday boy.

Kyle is still taking skateboarding lessons and loves it more every week.

Kyle with his instructor, Justin.

Kyle cruising across the skate park. :)

Happy Birthday Buddy!

In Loving Memory

Gloria "Jean" King

1932-2008

Last Saturday was a hard day for our family when we lost someone very dear to us all. My grandmom, Jean King, passed away, just one day before Easter Sunday when we all planned to be together again. I had been praying for months that she would last until March 23 so I could see her one last time. She had really suffered the last few months and even though we all miss her more than words can say, we know she is in a much better place. There is no way I could fit in to a blog how much my grandmom meant to me, to all of us. We all have more memories than I could ever write down. I was tasked to write something in honor of grandmom for her funreal. Somehow, with the help of Ashleigh by my side, we read this tribute to our Grandmom at her funeral last Thursday. In honor of her I wanted to share it here.

Our grandmother was all that grandmothers are made of. When we all sat down to talk about our memories of her, they came fast, with lots of laughs, and covered so many areas. Because from the moment each of us were born (all 13 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren) she was a big part of our lives.

She made all of us girls in to bargain shoppers from our countless shopping trips to Frederick Town Mall, or cutting out coupons and taking us grocery shopping at old Food Rite. And each time we went somewhere, no matter how far away we got from Mt. Airy, she would run into people she knew. To some of us she passed on her love of cooking and baking. Her macaroni and cheese, Jello-O salads, hot milk sponge cake, crab and vegetables soups, to name a few, will be recipes that will be passed on from generation to generation. None of us will ever be able to eat Frosted Flakes, drink a cup of hot tea, see a Santa, play cards, do a puzzle, or see a Longaberger basket or season socks without thinking of her again. The color purple, going to Ocean City, reading something about Cal Ripken Jr. or hearing a Randy Travis song are all things that will trigger memories of her for us all.

She surprised us when we were younger with stories of playing basketball when she was in high school and when we didn't believe her, she challenged us to a race across the yard. She always had a good sense of humor, even when one of us would hide her teeth after she went to bed, or when a certain young grandchild called her a "stupid old lady"!

She loved holidays and made them very special for us. Our Easter baskets would be filled to over flowing. Valentines Day she sent us all candy. And even this last Christmas, when she was so sick, she personally shopped and wrapped gifts for all of us, even for those who are not officially family.

Grandmom also made us work! From helping maintain her flower beds, to waxing and washing the windows of their buses, to making applesauce and canning peaches. Sometimes, if we assured her we knew what we were doing, she would let us hang her clothes on the line, because it was a science to her! But, she always rewarded us many times over for the work she made us do. She was always buying something for someone. Or taking us to Jimmy Cone, the snow cone stand, Friendly's or Twin Kiss.

Spending the night was always a treat, even though when we were little she did powder our butts and armpits after our bubble baths! We all had our own labeled toothbrushes that she kept for us in the bathroom closet. She let you stay up late, drink coke out of little glasses and eat a bowl of ice cream no matter what night of the week it was. We did have to endure countless hours of the Grand Ole' Opry, but somehow we survived.

We were all amazed how she could keep on going these last two years when things became so tough for her. She continued to knit and bake pies even after she lost six of her fingers. She still called all of us to see how we were doing and what was going on in our lives. Even up to a month ago she was sending packages in the mail to those of us that lived far away. Or making sure we had our favorite foods at the house when we came to visit. Her will to have life be as normal as it could be, even when life was so difficult for her, was an example to us all.

We will all miss hearing her say, "Someone fill the glasses with ice, but don't give me too much." or "Make sure you give me the little fork" or "If Cal Ripken ever kissed my cheek, I would never wash it again." We will miss sitting on the swing with her in the backyard. We will miss seeing her reading her magazines or doing a crossword puzzle in her chair by the window. Seeing her diamond heart necklace around her neck, her many bracelets around her wrist, her apron around her waist cooking us all a meal in her kitchen.

More than any of the things we mentioned about our grandmom, we know and will always know that she loved us all dearly. We take comfort in that fact that she is now in heaven, whole again, taking the walks she loved so much and enjoying singing in the choir once again.

As you can see, she will be missed by a lot of people. We love you Grandmom! You will be in our hearts forever.

Silly Kids!

I went out yesterday and it looks like Annah and the kids had fun! I don't get out too often without the kids, so yesterday was a rare treat for me. What was even better was I knew my kids were home with someone that loved them and having a good time. I am so envious of people who live close to family and get this luxury all the time!! A sweet one!
Aiden just looks scary here.....

Not sure why Kyle is closing one side of his nose or why Aiden seems to be eating his hands? Didn't Annah feed them? :)
Another sweet one! :)
A peace sign? Where did he learn that???
Here is Ryleigh listening to some tunes. :) She loves music. I didn't get a chance to get a video her here while she was listening to this music, but she was bouncing. :) You can kind of see in the picture that her one foot is up, that is because she was tapping to the music.

This video is of Ryleigh talking to Allie on the phone one morning. This is just a glimpse into the future!! Ryleigh LOVES to talk on the phone, every time she sees me on the phone she comes up to me and says "Dada??" She misses her daddy. Once you give her the phone to talk, it is over, there is no getting it back without a huge fight and a complete meltdown once you get it away from her.

Skateboarding 101

I love how he is standing on the board here.

Watching his instructor do tricks.
Running to catch the board.

Kyle has shown a keen interest in anything that has wheels. He started riding a bike, with out training wheels, when he was only 2. Then he wanted a skateboard. So we got him a little one, then he wanted ramps, which he got for Christmas (Jason said I was crazy to buy a 3 year old a ramp, but hey, they get the crazy adventure gene from HIM). The small skateboard soon was no good, he needed a bigger one. He spends hours in the driveway trying to flip his board and learning to turn. So, we decided to get him skateboarding lessons. He had his first lesson today and by the end of the lessons he was cruising fast and started to learn to turn the board when he went up a ramp. Unfortunately my camera batteries died at the beginning of the lesson, so the pictures are not that great. But, don't worry Liz, I promise to take more next week! :) Kyle's instructor, Justin, said that he (Ky) is really good and was surprised that he could actually comprehend what he was explaining for him to do. Now of course he wants a faster board, I guess those cheap Wal-Mart boards don't cut it in the real skateboarding world. Anybody ready to sponsor him? lol :) Aiden went with us and he spent the whole time running up the ramps and sliding down them. All I could think about as Aiden was standing at the top of the high ramps and as Kyle was riding on his board is "Lord, please no injuries today". Especially since last night was spent in two different hospitals with Ryleigh after she fell and hit her head on the hard wood floors then promptly throw up. I immediately picked her up and took her to the ER, they saw us right away and sent us in a ambulance to a different hospital for a CAT scan. After walking the halls to get her asleep so they could actually do the CAT scan, a CAT scan, another ambulance ride back to the first hospital and waiting for results, (which were negative for a fracture), and waking her up every 3 hours (per Dr.'s orders) to make sure she was ok, I was hoping for a good day! Ryleigh is fine, though she did have a concussion. I can't believe that all the things the boys climb, jump off of, run into, fall off of and slam into that Ry had the first concussion. Well, confirmed one anyway! My wish came true, we did have a good day! No one throw up, had a fever, the sun was shining, only minor injuries occurred, Kyle ate some of his dinner, they all had baths, they went to sleep without a fight, and moods were pretty upbeat! Miracles do happen folks. :)

Another quick post for Jason

Life has been too insane to post lately, but I try to get a few pics up for Jason to see each weekend. Here is Kyle enjoying some puddles after a storm and Aiden at his flag parade at school.

I would try to put a few up of Ryleigh, but the computer is not letting me post any more right now. We are getting hit with sickness again. I am praying this does not last too long, not sure how much more I can take!! :)

Happy Birthday Chris!!

I thought I would pick a picture that showed Chris in his true form. :) We hope you have a great day Chris and enjoy hanging out with your little family before you have to leave this month. We are glad you are part of our family!! Wish we were closer so we could come over and eat cake with you, I am sure Chelly made you a yummy one!

Lots of love, Jason, Erin, Aiden, Kyle and Ryleigh

We miss you Daddy!

Updated real fast since I know Jason is going to get on the computer today! We miss you Jas! Wish you were here to enjoy the weekend with us! Only 3 more weeks until we get to see you, I am counting the minutes!! WE LOVE YOU!!!