February 2012 - Part 1

Since Daddy was set to deploy in March, we decided to celebrate Eli's birthday a month early. He was turning 3, he didn't know the difference! However, he was very serious about this birthday stuff. None of the usual cheesy grins.

The birthday pinata. Filled with clearance valentine candy that was so bad my kids finally begged me to throw it out. Yes, candy can be that bad.

Someone is a future (and present!) troublemaker!

January 2012

Donnie was deployed for most of January, but the Big E did get to come in for one night to resupply. Daddy gave us the VIP tour of the ship, complete with a ride in the teeny tiny elevator up to the bridge.

Sitting in Daddy's seat on the bridge.

...and piled into Daddy's bed. He has one of the primo state rooms with his own private bed AND private bathroom. We're talking luxurious accommodations!

December 2011

Abby and Emma getting ready to go the Nutcracker. When did these girls grow up? Aren't they 2 years old?

Getting the Christmas tree with Daddy. Eli is a magnet for tools.

Christmas Eve! This picture really captures the personality of each child so well.

Merry Christmas!

Change of Command

Nov 30, 2011

Donnie's last day as CO of HSL-48.

Waiting patiently in the hangar for the ceremony to being. The kids were all so good. It was a small miracle.

Playing in the helicopter afterwards.

Daddy's Last Flight

It's Navy tradition to be greeted by a fire truck (and fire hose) on what is possibly your last flight ever. It was Donnie's good luck that the temperature dropped by about 20 degrees during the afternoon!

Waiting for him to land the helicopter....

Soaking wet.

November 2011

Happy Birthday Ezra! 6 years old.

November was a completely insane month. Birthday, Change of Command dinner, farewell luncheon, Thanksgiving, family in town, prep for deployment, Change of Command .... I know I'm forgetting something. So why not throw a trip to Universal in there? You know I'm married to the craziest man on the planet....

October 2011

Doing yard work with Daddy. They are a squad of destructive diggers if ever there was one!

Halloween Party at HSL-48, hosted by the Family Readiness Group.

Going to Steak Night hosted by the Chiefs.

Halloween. I have a rule that my kids have to dress up like good guys. But apparently my Transformer knowledge is lacking ... I don't know if Ezra is a good guy or a bad guy here!

My ray of sunshine, always.

Day at the beach.

A rousing game of Elements memory. We've got 50 elements down!