June 27th

Today I'm thankful:

1) Hanging out with Eddie, Sally and Mackenzie McRae - in the picture with Gavin and Ez

2) Jason not going to work until 11am again today

3) Less humidity today than yesterday - I would be NO GOOD in the South

4) My new experience with Vanilla Chai creamer tonight - thank you Kristen

5) Have I posted since last week? I don't think so - Friday Jason getting his badge! A big step - and this means he only has 8 weeks left of Academy.

6) Gavin wants to wear underwear to bed now and he's been dry the last 2 mornings

7) A new pair of capris- thanks to Kristen's hand-me-downs

8) New books from the library

9) Gavin's sense of humor - I'm pretty sure he gets it from his Daddy(ok, who am I kidding - of course its from his dad...)

10) Getting to talk a little bit with some of the wives in Jason's class Friday - it was good to be able to talk about our similar experiences as wives going through this time...

June 22

I am thankful for:

1) The fun time Gavin, Ez and I had at the Santa Ana zoo today

2) Miso soup from TJ's

3) Jason getting home a little early tonight so he is not up so late getting his stuff ready for tomorrow - he has an early day so 3:30am is going to come quickly!

4) Gavin going to bed so easily tonight

5) Ez starting to put his arms out for me specifically

6) Dinner and time with my mom at The Block tonight

7) My mom knowing me so well - she can read me like a book!

8) Air hockey at the Vans Skate Park - I think it was the highlight of Gavin's night

9) The kid who told me that my son "is such a cool kid" - very sweet coming from a young guy (ok, he was probably late teens, early twenties...sweet nonetheless)

10) Gavin asking me at least 5 times today in different situations: "whats the word, Carrie?" - a phrase Jason uses all the time.

Bragging

Ok, Kristen took some great pictures Friday of Ez and I have to share...oh, Gav too!! :-) I will post some other pictures of Father's Day later!

June 19th

Late...Happy Father's Day. Yesterday was also my dad's birthday. I'm so blessed by my dad, and of course my husband, who is tied for being the best dad in the world.

Jason is the perfect dad to our boys. He is patient, loving, affectionate, stern when necessary, involved, encouraging, and loving. He teaches, disciplines, and indulges at all the right moments. I could not have picked a better man to be a father to my kids!

Now on to my dad - not just because its Father's Day, but also his birthday. Some people have a hard time seeing God as "Father" because their earthly father tarnished that image for them. How can God be loving when they haven't seen that in an earthly father? I have been blessed to say that I have a Dad who shares the term with my Heavenly Father and teaches me what God is like. My dad has been a rock to me my whole life. He has loved me unconditionally, supported me regardless if he agrees with my decisions and encouraged me. He has shown me how a man should love his wife - because thats how he loves my mom. He is humble, compassionate and willing to change when God brings to light an area that needs changing. He is committed to serving the Lord with His life, time and money. I am so proud to be his daughter. He is and always will be the first man in my life.

Dan, Jason's dad, is also an amazing man. He loves the Lord and pushes others to as well. He is generous and thoughtful, encouraging and patient, interested and diligent. He raised 3 children who love the Lord and that reflects more than words. He loves his family and his grandchildren and is careful and patient with our kids. Most of his days off, we get a call to see if he can come by and see the boys (and us!) because he just loves to be with them. I am most grateful that he raised Jason to be the man that he is.

1) All of the fathers in my life

2) Jason's love and commitment for me and our kids

3) Seeing Darren, Pam, Jesse and Luci for awhile Sunday

4) A fun dinner with my parents, Daniel and Bethany

5) Jason being home in the mornings these next few days - meant Monday morning I could run a long run by myself!

6) Being able to take our car in today for maintenance it has needed for quite awhile

7) Another fun afternoon playing outside and eating lunch in the backyard for me and the kids

8) Seeing Ez's face as he yearned for Gavin's popsicle - it was so funny. I gave him some of mine a few days ago and he must have remembered because he was determined to make it his. Funny for me and Gavin. Then I got one and let him suck on it a bit.

9) The kids both still napping right now - going on 2 hours - at the same time!

10) Getting both bathrooms cleaned this morning while Jason played with Gavin

June 17th

Last night I had a surprise night off of work. I was scheduled to work and when I got there, the nurse in charge asked if I wanted to go home! Ummm...did I even need to think about it?? NO! Off I went, charged with caffeine to put Gavin to bed and hang out with Jason. It was a great night of just hanging out watching a movie on tv. I don't take these evenings together for granted, because we rarely get them. In the near future we probably will have more time together, but for now, I cherish them when I get them!

1) No work last night!

2) Waking up this morning with Jason still there (he leaves for work so early, I always wake up alone)

3) Downtown HB Farmers Market - Kristen and I hung out in HB yesterday with the kids and got really good strawberries from the Farmers Market ( yes, 2 days in a row for me in downtown HB)

4) Kristen coming over during the day yesterday to hang out - might have been a disaster since both kids were cranky, but it was fine and we had a great time

5) Thursday - such a fun day for me - hung out with my dad all day, then my mom came over in the afternoon and we went shopping! It was SO FUN - it reminded us both of when we used to do this when our lives weren't so complicated and busy. Then went to dinner with my parents and had frozen yogurt together after the kids went to bed

6) Shopping at Nordstroms with my mom - we talked each other into buying some really cute stuff--then topped off our shopping trip with coffee from the nordstroms cafe

7) Both kids taking long naps yesterday so I could nap...thinking I was going to work!

8) A card from Judy yesterday - covered in her signature stickers - Gavin especially enjoyed that

9) Finding a gas station to fill up that was on the lower end of gas prices

10) Jason never caring when I go out and buy clothes - or anything else - for myself

June 15th

Family birthday dinner for Judy!!

















The kids loving the park...


I'm still here. Enjoying the sun this week. Last week was so strange with the clouds and overcast weather every day. Yesterday we played outside in our "pool" for several hours. It was great. Even Ez enjoyed the water.

1) Ez flipping to his stomach now when he sleeps so he is sleeping longer --especially for naps!

2) My dad coming over today. Right now he is in reading to Gavin before his nap, but we went down to Main St. in HB and just played and had lunch. It was so fun!

3) My mom finishing a semester that has been very stressful

4) Another starbucks/yahtzee evening with Kristen yesterday

5) Tuesday was my mother-in-law's birthday. I am thankful to have such a wonderful MIL - not many people can say they were easily ushered into their spouse's family - with love and graciousness. But I can. Judy encourages me and compliments me, tells me she is proud of me and is thoughtful and funny. She loves our kids and loves hanging out with us too (I'm pretty sure...) :-) I am thankful that she is a part of my life.

6) Disneyland on Tuesday with Sarah and Ben. We haven't done it for awhile and it was super crowded, but we still had a great time

7) Lunch with my dear friend Natalie on Monday

8) Sarah wishing me a "happy-birthday-in-a-month " on Monday - she knows how excited I get about my birthday :-)

9) February 10, 2007 = a new neice or nephew!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

10) Organic applesauce from TJ's - Ez is opening his mouth for it! That is a first.

June 8

1) Kristen and I playing Yahtzee at Starbuck's last night

2) Starbucks Iced Coffee. I love it and its a tiny bit cheaper than other drinks

3) Our "barbie cups" for dinner last night (biscuits in a muffin tin filled with beans and meat and cooked, then topped with "mexican" style stuff...sounds weird, but they're good!)

4) Our pictures getting to Target - we will go get them today

5) The walks the boys and I have been going on at night - 5pm is Ez's slightly grumpy time - he just wants to be held and thats ok, but I've also been holding him all day, so my arms/back are tired! So we put him in a stroller and Gavin usually pushes and we go around the neighborhood a few times - or last night we went to the .99 store. Its been fun. And we are also meeting neighbors we haven't met yet

6) Emailing back and forth with my friend Sally. Eddie, Sally and Makenzie are moving back to CA after a few years away and I'm so excited. She's an amazing woman.

7) Getting Jason's schedule for later July last night so I can plan my work schedule - and finding out that he is going to have 3 days off starting when he starts his "foot beat" - Yes!

8) All the women at the park LOVING Ez yesterday - and Gavin...but Gavin always gets the attention when we go out and now Ez is starting to get it and its so funny. Makes me feel good when people compliment my kids :-)

9) Getting to chat with my mom for a bit Tuesday

10) Seeing Tim C. - an old friend of Jason's that we haven't seen for quite awhile - it was fun to catch up and he LOVED Gavin - the feeling was mutual...

Pictures Galore

When I promise, I deliver! Here is a smattering of pictures for you...the kids, Ez after eating prunes, Nannie and the boys, and Reagan Fisher!!

June 3

We had a fun day today supporting LAPD at a 5K run. Jason ran with his class and I ran with the kids. It was hot and kind of long, but fun for all of us.

1) Not working again tonight!

2) Fun running today even though Ez cried for a lot of the run - just wanted to get out of the stroller, I guess.

3) Great homemade dinner tonight

4) Getting to shop at a wherehouse sale this afternoon. I got cool stuff for really cheap!

5) Baby sunscreen (50+)

6) Seeing the little kids running the 1-mile fun run. It was so sweet to see a little 4 or 5 year old sprint down the finish line

7) My new watch I got today that is sold for $85 in stores and I got it for $25. I've been needing a new watch!

8) Getting Runner's World magazine today

9) The first weekend of summer - Right? I think it is, anyways

10) Not having to wear nursing pads all the time anymore - for those of you nursing or who have nursed, you know those are kind of a pain and with Gavin I had to wear them for almost a year!

And I promise pictures will come soon!

June 2

Our last day in Pomona, today, as my parents are moving again. I am taught by my mom's example how to be committed to Jesus - so much that you will accept a chaotic life, often in upheaval. When I start to explain what my parents are doing, or where they live or are moving to, I often grin and say "its kind of crazy..." And it is - in a way. They are not doing the traditional 50-ish organizing: do we have enough to retire, should we buy a vacation home, lets remodel the house, lets go on a 3 week vacation...etc. You catch my drift. Not that any of those things are wrong for others. But God has called my parents to a different life. It has been difficult for them, but I know without a doubt that our Father is smiling at them, and his heart is overflowing with love and pride for their obedience and loyalty to what He is asking of them.

1) I cherish my time with my parents and we had a great time today with them - seeing the animals, going to lunch, and just hanging out and talking

2) Ceiling fans in every room in this house

3) Sarah and Ben coming over to play yesterday

4) Not working tonight!!

5) The Banana coconut frap Jason brought me tonight

6) Talking to Jason (my brother) for a bit today and getting caught up - we haven't had a chance to chat much lately

7) Seeing Nick and Becky's new baby last night in the hospital!! Her name is Reagan Dorothy and she is so cute!! I'll post pictures later or tomorrow.

8) Pizza

9) Lucky Chinese food

10) chapstick