recently

We have recently began the remodel on our kitchen. Originally when we bought the house, we had decided that the kitchen would be the room to do over completely and so last Saturday Kaylen and I got to rippin' it up!! It was actually super fun! Now though, we have a mess! From plumbing being messed up [not by us] and random holes in the ceiling [not from us]...it's just a mess!

With our taxes, we are going to make the 3 hour drive back to IKEA and get the remaining counters and cupboards to finish it all up. We have most of the stuff but stupidly didn't actually measure the kitchen before our last trip up there! *smack to the forehead!* It will look great once it is done though!

Kaylen has been super busy since he has gone back to work since Christmas leave. It seems like the people at his command hate their families so they keep the guys away from theirs as much as possible! He deploys this year again and for the last time while in this command! Hallelujah! Before deployment he will be gone all the time and possibly miss his bday and valentine's day again. Hopefully he will be here for our anniversary!

Nixon and Noah are keeping me busy and driving me up the wall! Such is the life of boys! Noah just had his 3rd birthday and I can't believe he is already 3!! It seems like only a few weeks ago at this point that I was driving to the hospital on Christmas morning and in the afternoon there he was! He is such a funny kid... even when he is mad...it makes me laugh and keeps me sane! Both the boys keep asking Kaylen and I for "a baby Carter...." [our friend just had a baby and his name is Carter...] except Nixon wants a "baby Carter sister." Funny kids huh?!

My New Year's resolution [unofficially because I don't do those] is to keep hitting the gym and making sure it hits me back! We have had a membership to the YMCA for a few months now and between the holidays and what not I haven't gone as much as I want but I have dropped about 13 pounds now and I am trying to build my knee back up as well as my asthmatic endurance. So hopefully this time next year, I will be back down to the 130 area. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

Anyway.... Here are some more recent pix from the holidays and what not!!

"those kids"

So today at church was the Christmas primary program. Nixon gets up with the rest of the primary kids and Noah was quite upset that he couldn't go. One of the primary teachers noticed this and said Noah could go up too. He gets up there and has no idea what is going on since he is still in nursery and has not been properly updated on the singing of the Christmas songs. Nixon, the good big brother/taddle-tale that he is noticed this... "DAD! DADDDDDYYYY!! NOAH ISN'T SINGING!!!" This is what we hear...we were in almost the back row! Nice right?! Noah then says "HI DADDY!!" and they continue to wave and cheese it up for the rest of the congregation. Needless to say, our ward thought it was pretty funny... we officially have "those" kids in the primary programs. sweet! :)

It's Christmastime Again!!

2009 has been some kind of year! In April, Kaylen came home from a 9 month deployment [yay!], we took the kids to Disney World in Orlando, FL., I finished my associates degree, we got a new dog, bought our first house, and got a new car. Not to mention all the day to day craziness! Overall it has been a great year and it went by way too quick!

Family trip to the "pun'kin patch"

So as far as I can recall, I have never been to a pumpkin patch...Mom, I may just not remember...so we decided to take the boys to a local place, Taylor Farm's because they have never been to one as well. They had a blast! We walked away with 12 pumpkins and an ear of Indian corn for my fall festive table arrangement! Yay. Since we are in the new house and have a real dining room I really want to go all out for fall and Christmastime this year... and from now on. So we'll see what I can come up with!



Noah had a blast with the pumpkins, he thought they were all balls that could be kicked and thrown around.





Nixon wanted to get the biggest pumpkin he could find...and carry. He managed to move about 1 foot at a time with one pumpkin, then drop it and start over until he got it over to me and I had to tell him no because it was too big! He was a little ticked at me for that!



All in all we had a great day. We were able to spend some time together as a family, get some great pictures and play with baby goats...what could be better! It was especially fun because Kaylen will not be with us again this Halloween...or next year either...yay for the Navy...SIKE!

So....

I know it has been forever since I got on this blog and updated....my bad! We have been running around for the last little while trying to get all of our stuff taken care of. On August 19th, Kaylen and I became first time homeowners! YAY!! We had been looking since April at houses and changed our criteria so many different times. We decided on a brand new house in May and 2 weeks before closing, Kaylen and I both felt the "urge" to back out of that house. It was a long drawn out ordeal but we were able get out from under it. We then found another house and the bank decided to give it to someone else. With all of that stress, we opted to stop looking at actual homes and to start looking at townhomes.

We were able to remain in Virginia Beach [about 20 minutes from our old place] but get closer to Kaylen's work and his brother Kyle's work as well [Kyle now lives with us]. So we are still close to our friends and close to the guys work...a win win situation! The house is 2137 sq ft, 4 bedroom, 3 bathroom, 1 car garage, formal diningroom, back yard w/storage. It was built in 1974 and needs some upgrading, but the overall is in excellent condition and we are excited to get the tax credit back so that I can get my new kitchen! I promise I will get some pix up soon, but I have been the only one for the most part unpacking and well...let's just say... we're not all done yet. So be patient with me and I will keep everyone updated on the remodel and all that good stuff!



Another new thing....NOAH IS POTTY TRAINED!!! For those of you that have met "little" Noah, you know that he is a VERY strong willed child and will not do anything if it does not benefit him or make him happy... so at almost 3 years old, he now says "I go pee my weenie...." and uses the restroom! YAY!! no more diapers!!! Happy day! He still does poo's in his underware though.... but we're getting there!

Haircut...

Although Noah got his hair trimmed while Aunt Sara was here... we decided that with the heat and the length of his hair...it was time to cut it off! Sad! I know! I couldn't even sit out there the entire time...it was too much! His hair had been growing [with a trim here and there] for almost a full year...and now...it's gone and I have a hard time telling Nixon from Noah.... oh well...he's still a cutie and is much happier to have the hair out of his face while he is out playing.

Family Vacation!

For the first time all of my mom's grandkids were together this last week! Anjie, Kassie, Nixon, Noah, Brennen and Lucas. Jim, Sara and Lucas flew into D.C. on last Monday and toured around up there for a few days while Alisa, Pete and the kids flew into Norfolk and hung out with us for a day until we all drove up to D.C. to get Jim and the fam.

Together we all went to the beach and to Jim and Sara's hotel's pool...super fun! We celebrated my 25th birthday, it was the first birthday in 5 years that I was able to be with anyone from my side of the family, which was really nice. Thanks Alisa for baking my cake...oh how I love funfetti!! We also spent Father's Day together and took the guys out to a buffett, needless to say, Pete won! All the kiddo's were able to run around with each other and cause a little havoc every where they went!

Over all I think we had a great time and that it was maybe too short! We will have to do it again sometime! Thanks for coming out guys!

Newness...

So lately I have been really slacking in the blogging department...sorry guys! In the last two months, Kaylen has come home from deployment, we took a two week [much needed]vacation to Orlando, FL., we bought a house, Kaylen spent some time in NYC for Navy Fleet Week, I finished my Criminal Justice degree, Noah started [kinda] potty training and Nixon learned to ride his bike without training wheels...

We also took new family pictures, they all turned out so good and we got such a good deal on them! Hope you all enjoy!

A few pix from the Disney trip