family time

We've gotten to have lots of family time the last week or so before Jeff leaves. It's been nice just to hang out and also get out and do things together. Friday we celebrated Jeff's birthday with a few presents, cheesecake, a trip to the swimming pool (with both kids going off the diving board and slide repeatedly) and finally Ice Age 3 during which charlie fell asleep and Cameron was so vocal about the movie we had to go out of the theatre. Today we got a late start (as usual) but went for a long hike to a lake in the middle of the island. The laguina hike was fun and climbed around 1200 feet over the 2 hours up. The kids did great on the way up complaining a bit but it was quite an uphill battle most of the way. On the way down we went to some scenic spots but had a run in with slippery rocks, blackberry bushes blocking the path, a cow field and an electric fence (jeff). The kids were less enthusiastic about the way down but short naps re-energized them to run around the sprinklers and slip-n-slide for a birthday party when we got home.
Yesterday we got to meet Heather's teacher. There had been a lot of concern with the first grade situation but after meeting her teacher all should be OK. She's in a 1/2 split class with 9 first graders and 6 second graders but she's with two of her friends from kindergarten and some other kids whose dads will be deployed at a similar time to Heather. She reads at a mid-first grade level so she should do well with the opportunities to be around some more experienced readers. School starts Monday.

cameron's "first birthday"

Since Jeff will be gone for cameron's first birthday we decided to let him have a few presents and eat cake today. We started off the day with a trip to Angra and the "big park" with some friends. We then got Chinese food at a place near the museum and let the kids play for a few more minutes at another park. When we got home I iced the little cake for Cameron and he opened his "recycled" gifts. Jeff helped him tear the paper and then he had quite a good time tearing it up and off the real presents. He liked taking the blocks out of the shape sorter and actually enjoyed putting them back in with Jeff. The highlight for Cameron was definitely the candle and getting to smear icing on his face. He tried to go face first into the cake but the tray was a little far away. He settled for grabbing icing and placing it on his face and delighting in the reaction from his siblings who were watching. He got appropriately messy then took a bath in the sink which he always enjoys.

good neighborhood!

Our neighborhood has become even more fun lately with the addition of more kids over the past few months. We've had a lot of outside time and fun playing. Jeff and some guys went to see transformers while the ladies and the kids "hung out". My friend bought a large ham so after a laid back day yesterday we played outside with friends for a while then went to her house for dinner, a few of us bringing side dishes then returning with ice cream cones and s'mores for desert. The kids got along pretty well and we had a lot of fun on a beautiful night with the kids riding tonka trucks down the incline by their house!

halfway through a fun weekend

Heather enjoyed a fun week of girl scout camp in the mornings this week, doing lots of crafts and having a good time with some friends. Thursday we had the CE gang over for a cookout for Chad's birthday. Friday Jeff and I got to go out on a date while the kids had pizza and movie night with friends and then a sleepover (heather and charlie). We enjoyed dinner at the "portuguese officers club" which was really good and right on the beach in Praia and then a walk on the walking path by the beach before grabbing some crepes and ice cream and heading back to get cameron and bed. It was nice just to get to talk about plans for the next few years, work, kids, etc. without being interrupted over and over...The night was good just to relax and remember what it was like to be two adults without kids for a few hours. Thanks so much Amanda and Rory for keeping our kids in good hands!

Today we had a very busy day. We started out with a boat trip to Split Rock. The weather was not cooperating when we first arrived and we thought we might get quite wet. Fortunately the rain stopped long enough for us to cruise around the Angra Harbor, head out to split rock and boat between teh rocks. Francisco took us into a little cave where Jeff and our friend got out to snorkel. Unfortunately the boat was not cooperating so they had to swim out of the cave and it was not sunny enough to really see far down into the ocean. Charlie got in the water for 2.5 seconds before deciding it was too cold and Heather did the same. We had a good time on the boat and on a beautiful day it would have been perfect! Cameron took a nap in his lifejacket and was very good on the trip. We watched a kids play in the afternoon and then went to a dinner for deployed spouses so we could "get a feel" for the events. Back home we're getting ready for a campout and movie.

two wheelin--finally!

So we set out this morning with Charlie excited to take the training wheels off his bike and try it out and came home with heather a happy two wheeler! Jeff lowered her seat and handlebars and she was much more comfortable, refusing anyones help and figureed it out on her own. Charlie had high hopes and did pretty well with one training wheel off (while Sara drove back to teh house to get the tools to take the other off) but wasn't too sure about both off. It was hard for him to get started and he stopped pedaling if we let go all the way. His recollection is, "i kind of did it for a little while bymyself!" He was completely frustrated when Heather caught on but with the training wheels back on was a little terror. They had a good time and ended the bike time happily by riding down each lane of the parking lot we were in. We came back, had lunch and went to the pool to cool off. After an hour of playing and sliding and diving board they were ready to go but then saw friends so charlie had to put his swimsuit back on (no dressing room needed) to get back in. Another hour and a short nap for Cameron went by and we were on our way. After dinner I got to sneak out with a few friends and see "The Proposal" which was cute and Jeff set up the living room for yet another campout. I believe it is almost 11 pm and all are sleeping...

water, water, water and s'mores

We were lazy today and didn't actually get out of the house until after 1:00 but made up for it with a busy afternoon! We drove out to the duck pond to get rid of the bread that has been in the freezer for them for a while. It was very busy so the ducks didn't swarm us and we almost had more bread than they could handle! Our next stop was the place we got tadpoles (oh BTW did I mention that two tadpoles were discovered to actually have made it to FROG! with 4 legs and all! I'm pretty proud of the little guys (?!) and can't wait until the remaining 50 are hopping around the kitchen. I mean tank...Anyway the pond was a lot smaller with water but a lot soggier all around the edge. Charlie and Heather were happily fishing for minnows and tadpoles when Charlie apparently stepped into a sinkhole and was up to his knees and falling over--not happy at all! Jeff went to help him out and ended up in the mud/muck halfway to his knee as well. It was very comical, as was Charlie pulling his foot out with only one croc, jeff losing his sandals then attempting (successfully in the end) to get Charlie's croc out of the hole...We came away with all shoes, a bunch of minnows and some pondwater to bring home to the frogs...On the way home we picked up a hitchiker from Lithuania and gave him a ride half way around the island. We got home and turned right around heading for the beach with some friends. It was quite cool but the kids had a great time playing in the sand then floating in the ocean. It was a quick trip then we headed home for dinner, but got distracted by s'mores that our friends were cooking. So we had s'mores for dinner and steak and grilled veggies for desert. A good end to the day as the kids and jeff are having their living room camp out tonight...

a week of girls nights

Not really a whole week but a few nights! The kids and I mostly relaxed this week and enjoyed the company of friends. We had water day at a few houses, lots of park time and some bike riding as well. Heather and Charlie have been pretty content playing at home together (well asking for friends all the time but playing together) so I haven't felt the need to be on the go. Wednesday I hosted bunco--am trying to get a group started--and we had a good time. It made me miss the easy group we had in MS where everyone already knew everyone but it was really fun and we should be able to continue...Friday night I went out to dinner with a few girls in the CE squadron and left the dads to have pizza and movie night with the kids. We had a great time and I think the kids had some fun as well ;-). Yesterday I took all the kids to the pool myself and even ventured into the big pool. Cameron loves the water and crawled all around the little pool making me slide all around to make sure I was there to catch if he went in face first. He's still not too interested in walking, getting teeth, or eating anything besides biter biscuits, wagon wheels, or things that dissolve in his mouth but the other day I was holding him and he looked at Jeff, leaned his way and said da-da-da-da. I am not sure if it counts but it seemed like the real thing to me. He's crawling ALL around and getting into anything that's there to find. Unlike the other two he likes to put things in his mouth--yeah!
Heather and Charlie periodically ask things about Jeff being gone but it's not a big deal to them yet. They want to know if it's going to be as long as Mr. Andy was gone (longer), how many more days, and if he will be back for christmas (no). I think the real fun will start after he's been gone for 2 days and they ask how much longer...

busy week

We had a nice weekend despite some questionable weather! On Thursday the kids and I walked to the library in the drizzling rain because they thought it would be fun. So we headed out and halfway there Charlie started crying that he didn't want to walk in the rain. Because we were halfway there we finished the walk with him crying. On the way back Heather set a goal of not using her umbrella (in the hopes it wouldn't rain on us) and charlie said, "my goal is not to complain". I thought it was great and he did it!! Friday we headed out to Praia to the festival there. the town was beautifully decorated with lights and statue types of things and people had their quilts hanging on their balconies (kind of random but neat). We had dinner at one of the tents set up with a few families and the kids. Then we walked up to have ice cream and stake out spots for the parade. The floats were fun and the theme was the flinstones which was kind of fun for the adults but I don't think the kids got it too much. They liked the floats and the characters were funny. Saturday we headed out and walked along the rocks by the ocean for a bit. We got rained out of the playgroud we were headed to so we went to a friends house to play and have dinner. Sunday we took it easy and made it out of the house for the swimming pool about 2 ;-). The water was so much warmer than before and the kids played for 2 hours and enjoyed both the diving board and the slides. After that we headed into Praia to meet some friends for a beach bullfight. Luckliy for some of the people on the beach they had pretty good control of the bull but it was fun to see the bull swim (amazing!!) in the ocean.

summer is here!

Finally summer has come to the Azores. AFter returning from Crete and the warm sun we were glad to find that warmth has finally arrived here (for at least a few hours at a time!). We have taken it pretty easy the last few days since we just got back from lots of activity and the kids have played really nicely with toys and projects together so I haven't felt pressed to get out of the house/yard area. There is a big festival going on in Praia so we headed out to a friend's inlaw's house to see a bullfight. It's always fun to talk to the people there as much as we can. The kids made friends with a little portuguese girl and boy who were playing the jumping/running game they created just fine despite the language barrier! We've also been having lots of cook outs/welcomes for new families coming to base and are enjoying making new friends. Unfortunately each day we spend brings us closer to Jeff leaving. FYI for those who may not have known he will be deploying to the middle east by the beginning of September so we're trying to get in lots of dad time and set the kids up for a "successful" deployment (whatever that means!).

Back from Crete

We had a wonderful trip to crete filled with sun, sand and swimming (and some broken buildings as Charlie put it). We stayed on the western part rather than take on the whole island and it was perfect. Getting in was crazy! The plane landed at 1:30 AM so we started out the trip sleeping in and being in no hurry. A few of our favorite spots were the harbor at Chania--tons of greek restauraunts where the maitre d's tried to get you in by enticing you with their menu's, children's cartoons and even internet!! It was beautiful to eat by the water and watch the sunset over the lighthouse. The weather was hot while we were there but the kids were troopers. Another day we took a boat ride to an island with a castle a 20 minute hike up steps. The kids did great and enjoyed it once we got to the top for about 10 minutes. The views were great and it was cool to imagine the castle at the top despite the rock here/rock there remains. After hiking back down we rode the boat some more to an inlet where the kids could swim. Another day took us to an island that we could swim/wade to. Elafonisi was really cool and the kids really enjoyed the short swim in the ocean to the island with pink sand. After 2 nights on the west coast we headed back to Souda Bay and another day in Chania then over to Geriopoli which is the tourist spot of the island. Here the kids really enjoyed swimming in the pool and they really improved in the time we spent there. From there we went to the coast to a fortress and simming area and also a bit east to another fortress and harborside restauraunt. All in all the kids had fun. It was pretty hot when we were walking along the ruins or the cities so we minimized that part and maximized the beach and the pools. Definitely a great family vacation to take when we had the chance!