Day 16....oh day 16, why????

Well, here's a little back story!  Sean's parents gave him a car when we moved here.  The car has a remote start installed......I have a 2 year old obsessed with daddy's keys.  So far I have been fairly diligent in watching and making sure he doesn't get them and start Sean's car.  Yesterday I was online paying some bills so I got my purse and put it on the floor next to my chair.  Next thing I know, Sean's car is trying to start.  I am thinking "No big deal, it hasn't been started in 2 weeks so it probably needs to run a bit".  I take the keys then go out to shut it off.  I cannot get the drivers door open (I later learn there is a accent chinese secret to opening this door)....so, I go to the passengers side and try to find the button I "think" is suppose to turn it off.  I am hitting buttons and switches but nothing.  At this time, my foot that is still on the ground outside becomes wet.  My first thought is "Why is Sean's car leaking water?"  then I smell it.  It's not water, it is gas, and it is not leaking it is pouring out!  At this time, I am standing in the middle of a fairly large gas puddle with a running car next to me.  I run over to my neighbor and bang on his door, I also call Sean's parents to see how to shut the car off.  My neighbor looks at me and I tell him "I don't care how you get it off, I don't car if you just start pulling cords.  It's got to shut off".  This car is about two feet from my front door, right next to my house where my 10 year old is still sleeping, and my 9 and 2 year old are at the back door ready to run out incase anything happens.  So, one by one my neighbor pulls the spark plugs, by pull number three it shuts off.  BUT THE DARN THING TRIES TO START AGAIN!  So he pulls the last one, because every time this thing tries to start, more gas pours out.  It's not done, it tries AGAIN!  So finally we find some pliers and pull one of the battery plugs off.  TRY TO START NOW!    It wasn't until about an hour later that I realize how very very very much God loves me!  About 2 weeks ago Sean wanted to leave the car in the garage while he was gone.  There was a gas odor in the garage when he parked it so I asked him to move it.  I didn't feel comfortable with it in the garage.  Had the car been left in the garage, the fumes would have built up from the gas leak, and when my neighbor pulled the spark plugs....let's just say it wouldn't not have ended well for any of us.  I am so thankful to have a God who protects me even when I am not looking.  Who loves me enough to give me common sense, and for putting such great neighbors in my life!  Here's to praying day 17 is completely boring and void of any excitement!!!!!!

All washed down and airing out!

Day 2.....

I feel kind of silly being so upset over a deployment.  Thousands of wives go through them everyday, and for way longer than 6 months.  I am really trying to keep my emotions together in front of the kids, and so far I haven't done too bad.  Today I wanted to stay more busy than yesterday.  I think I have done a bazillion loads of laundry, about 5 loads of dishes and cleaned my kitchen at least three times.  On top of that we finally go to make some home made play-dough!  Not just any play-dough, it was PINK!

We tried to let Stuart play with the dough but being a toddler, he would rather eat it.  So he ran around making us all laugh!

Day two was faster and better than day one!  We are closer to him coming home than we were yesterday!  Love you honey!

Deployment Day 1

this stinks.....THE END.

Boo Boo turns 2!

Tomorrow my baby boy will be 2....I don't know if I should put an exclamation point after that or a sad face.  He is getting so big, but I am enjoying him learn and grow every second of everyday.  He has stolen my heart!  Who knew I would love being the mom of a boy so much!  So, since his favorite character is Mickey Mouse, I thought I would be ambitious and make a Mickey Mouse birthday cake...and here it is!

For my first cake, I think it turned out all right.  I am sure he will love it!

There is no place like NEBRASKA!

We decided memorial day would be a great time to go see family.
So, for memorial day my parents took all the big grandkids with them to "Camp Sunshine" for grandparents day.

While they were off running through the trees, building bird houses, and dressing Grandpa up, Sean and I took Stuart to the cemetery to pay tribute to Sean's grandfather who served in the US Navy and his grandmother Jackie who was an amazing woman!

Our week was full of fun time with Grandma and Grandpa and lots and lots of cousins!  It was never a dull moment!

And what trip to Lincoln would be complete without an afternoon at the children's museum?

 Meow!

Stuart wasn't happy in the big chair

I have a picture of Sera on this horse at 4 years old

On Friday we traveled to Bellevue to light the shabbat candles and enjoy the evening with our friends Amy, Clint, and their AWESOME children!  (they swear Andrew is still alive and kicking but since I haven't seen him for a few years I am starting to believe he might be the Lock Ness)  We had dinner at spaghetti works, did some shopping and had a wonderful night of fellowship!

Retail time!

He kept yelling "Heeee-yaaaaw"

Shabbat Shalom

Then it was time for the main event!!!!!  Gracie's birthday at the Henry Doorly Zoo.  And we had so much fun!  She had no idea it was at the zoo, and we had convinced her that it was just going to be the five of us since everyone else had stuff going on that weekend.  Little did she know all her Weber cousins, grandma and grandpa, and the Howard family would all be there!  She was completely surprised and informed me that this was the best birthday "EVAR"!  First we visited the indoor desert.  Bellow the desert is a swamp, it is very authentic and had our bayou baby crying because she misses her Louisiana.  We had lunch with everyone and walked around the most amazing zoo we've been too.  It was fun to share these memories with them that I had as a child going to the zoo.  Gracie rode the Sky Safari with Sean.  It is a ski life that goes over the animals.  Sera is not a fan of heights so she and I  hoofed it up the hill to the aquarium where we met up with the rest of the family and enjoyed all the sea creatures.  Next off was to the indoor jungle.  One cannot imagine how cool it is until you are inside.

 Gator Bait!

 Cupcakes from PJ's in Lincoln

 Leela and Gracie

 Friends FOREVER!

 She loves her daddy!

 Oops, walked over a vent

 Jelly fish!!!

 Headed to the jungle!

 Two little monkeys swing'n on a a vine....

 This was funny watching Sera try to help Gracie on his back.

The end of a LONG but fun day!

Many thanks to those who played host to our family on this trip.  We had such a great time and made memories we will forever laugh about and enjoy.

Update

We have been so busy!  Our trip to nebraska was such a great relaxing time.  I got to glean some gardening tips from my sister in law, enjoy my entire family, see some folks who had such an impact on my walk with God, celebrate my baby Gracie turning nine, and observe shabbat with friends we've known from our station at Barksdale.  It was a wonderful visit!  More to come with pictures.