Wetting Down

We went to our friend's Warrant Officer promotion ceremony today on base. 

(Actually Brad went to the ceremony while I stayed home with what I THOUGHT would be napping children which ended up NOT being. Then we all went to the reception together).

According to our semi-long winded CO during his speech today, the ceremony is called a "wetting down" ceremony. I'm not really sure why. He explained it but I was too busy clapping my hand over Camden's mouth as he screamed "YOOOOOO GABBA GABBA!!!!!!!!!!!!!" over and over in a room of probably 75 guys with heavy shoulder boards on their uniforms that have probably never in their life heard of that preschool program.

Actually it was pretty cool that we got to be a part of it and it was fun for the whole 15 minutes that we lasted before Camden's screams of happiness went to screams of rage and anger for having to hold still. 

One of those few little perks of being in the military. Or being married to it. Which is pretty much the same as being in it. 

And congratulations to Brandon and everyone else that got promoted today. 

Our next door neighbors the Trinidads - congratulations to Brandon for making Warrant today!

 

 And then to complete the day we played in the pool once again and then ordered pizza and ate it on the front lawn. I really can't think of a better day. 

There was a shark in our pool...

Dinner on the lawn

 

Belly Flops

We added a slip n slide to the fun today. Because we needed more water accessories. But hey, it keeps the kids happy and entertained for hours and hours. 

 

Let The Summer Days Begin

Well we just skipped right over spring and went from winter to summer around here as we were wearing hoodies and whining about how cold the wind was on Memorial Day and two days later it's 80 degrees, sunny and the kids were outside in bathing suits eating popsicles. 

Who needs spring anyways. It's just full of allergies and rain.

On second thought, maybe we DID have spring. A cold one.

The kids were outside literally, from the moment they finished breakfast until the moment I had to drag their tired sun-bathed carcasses in due to Calen's looming speech therapy appointment. In other words, from 9am, until 5:15pm. They spent the morning in the back yard playing in the sandbox, the playground, the tire swing and driving the 4 wheeler around. Then, lunch in the back yard, a short rest (30 minutes for Calen, but 3.5 hours for Camden), and then back outside to the front yard for Calen where we set up the big pool and spent the next four and a half hours in it. Then, dinner on a beach towel before we had to end our outside marathon and you know, put on real clothes.

Did I mention I love summer?

How Camden played with the ball today. He would run....

....and then do whatever this is....

And then he would roll off the ball and just lay in the grass.

Air Time

 

Memorial Day

I can't really think of a better way to celebrate Memorial Day than having a barbecue/picnic with our fellow Coast Guard friends and their families. One thing about living on a military base, we do patriotic functions big, and we do them well. 

I suppose that has nothing to do with living on a military base. But it sounds that much more important. 

Happy Memorial Day. In remembrance of those that gave our lives for this country's freedom, and for those that are fighting for their lives to endure it. 

We started the day with Flag waffles

 

Pushing Our Luck

We had a hard day. 

I'm not really sure why either. It just didn't work out. You know sometimes, someone pisses in your coffee and the whole day is ruined. 

Okay hopefully that didn't actually happen. 

We started the day by attempting to go to church as a family. But Camden was having a trying morning, and when we attempted to drop him off at the nursery, he conducted a spectacular fit of rage that we could not ignore no matter how much we tried. So, Brad and Calen stayed, and I took the rage machine home. Who fell asleep in the car by the way, at 10am. 

Then, while we were home, he somehow managed to smash his face (I'm not sure how, as I was outside busy chasing Chance around the neighborhood). He has a huge welt on his forehead and a black eye. 

P.S. Calen leaped off his bed yesterday and landed face first into the train table, giving himself a massive welt on HIS forehead. 

CPS will be calling soon. 

Then of course I had to drive back to church and pick Brad and Calen up, and locals will know that today is the ONE day of the year that you don't ever, ever leave your home. Shoobies have invaded and it took 35 minutes to get 3 miles down the road. 

Well that eventful morning aside, we had a good day outside riding around on the 4 wheeler and doing yard work. And then we pushed our luck this evening and let the kids stay up WAY past bedtime and go to the Sunset Parade on base. 

Sunset Parade: little ceremony done at sunset a few times a year on Sundays that is open to the public. Recruit companies are marched out in formation, cannon is shot at sunset, color guard honor guard etc etc. On lucky days maybe even a flyover (not today though). 

It was definitely pushing our luck. Camden was a basket case the first half of it and on the walk back to the house in the wagon, Calen said "I'm just so SO very sleepy." To which I said: "That's the best news I've heard in years, buddy."

But that's okay. It was worth keeping them up late enough that they didn't even try to negotiate extra bedtime stories or play when we got back. They went straight to bed and we never heard a thing from them again. 

The one part of the day where everyone was happy

Sunset parade

Their faces say it ALL at the sunset parade. Nevermind Cam's black eye and Calen's bruised face. I swear we don't beat them.

 

Summer Vacation

Today is the first day of Calen's summer vacation. 

Not that you'd know, because instead of spending it outside riding his bike or scooter, swimming in the pool using sidewalk chalk or whatever, we're stuck inside hiding from a cold, rainy, windy, and generally disgusting non-summer day. 

If I could tell you how many of my childhood summer vacations launched with days like this. But we expected that in Seattle, you know. And no, it wasn't every year. 

So the boys watched a lot of movies today and before the rain really came down I dressed them up and tossed them outside for a quick photo-op. 

Hey, I needed something to do today to. 

 

Turtle Power

One of my very first memories is when I was five, as a kindergartner. Every day I went to AM Kindergarten, then rode the bus home, where my dad made me a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and I watched Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Like the classic, 90s pizza eating tubular original series. Michaelangelo was always my favorite. He was funny. I liked orange.

And like his mother before him, Calen has manifested a mild obsession with Ninja Turtles. Especially since they've completely re-released the series into an even more awesome (if that was possible) cartoon, and it's HUGE in the kid world. Especially my kid's world.

Donatello is his favorite. 

And hello? That new show is awesome. And funny. And I may or may not sit and watch it with the boys and enjoy myself. 

Shhhh. That's a secret. 

And slowly our house is filling up with the things I remember being surrounded with as a child. TMNT action figures. dress up bandanas/weapons. T-shirts and pajamas. Stuffed animals. Bedsheets. Underwear.

Awesome. 

And also, thank God it isn't that satanic yellow bastard Spongebob. 

Calen sleeping with Donatello on his Ninja Turtle bedsheets. And he has Ninja Turtle underwear on too.

 



 

Graduation

Calen graduated from his first year of preschool tonight. 

Yep they had a little graduation program in the big convention center and everything. 

And I may have teared up once or twice. 

But it was really, REALLY cute and pretty much anyone with a soul would have teared up from the sheer cuteness. 

Victory!

 

The Last Day of School

Today was Calen's last day of his first year of school. At the end of his first day of school, I tossed a couple goodies in his carseat when I picked him up (a small Lego set and a rubber snake -- boys!). You know, a This Is the First Day Of The Rest Of Your Life gift. 

Actually, sometimes I need a good excuse to spoil the kids, so I justify it by labeling it. Or something. Isn't that how they market Valentines Day anyways? I'm on to them. 

Anyways, I decided he should get a little something today for it being the last day of school. Brad called it the "Here's Something To Do All Summer" gift. So Calen came home from school and sitting on his chair at the dining table was a brand new big boy 2-wheel scooter (to replace his kiddy 3 wheel one, and to prevent him from continuing to steal his neighbor buddies' scooters) and a giant Ninja Turtle stuffy. 

He spent the rest of the day on that scooter and is currently sleeping with Donatello. 

One year down, 14 to go! Next year is ALL DAY Pre-K at the elementary school, holy hell. 

Public Tresspassing (Or Not, But Kind Of)

Yesterday we hopped the fence to the elementary school playground to spend an hour or so wearing off some Yogo frozen yogurt. 

Technically we weren't breaking in because ONE fence waaaay down the other side of the field was open and Calen will be a student there next year. 

That playground is just full of awesomeness and beats the nasty rubber tire chips that cover the base playgrounds and stain shoes/clothes. And it's bigger. And it has a climbing wall, hello?

 

The Boy Next Door

I have a confession to make.

I'm totally on a date right now with someone other than my husband. He's the new boy next door.

What can I say, I always seem to go for the younger men.

Yesterday

Last night after baths the boys were playing in Calen's room while I did a massive cleansing of Camden's room. 

Which included taking apart Cam's crib and throwing it on the street corner. We're officially crib free in this house, folks!

...don't I get like, a certificate or something?

Anyways, I had the baby gate up at Cam's door to keep the kids from annoying me getting in my way. I was busy doing my thing when I hear "Hey Mom!" at the gate. I look over and there are both boys standing at the gate with cowboy hats on. 

Calen says "We are being cowboys!" and Camden in turn whips his hat off his head and yells "YEEE-HAW!!!". Like they had scripted it. Which they didn't, which made it even cuter. 

Of course then I had to force them to sit next to each other and put their hats back on so I could take a picture. And by then the moment was over and Calen didn't want to look at the camera and Camden didn't want to wear his hat. But I somehow managed one single shot. 

     

Sleep Training

So once upon a time maybe two months ago we introduced the big boy (twin) bed to Camden. He took one nap in it and slept in it overnight, and the next day, we all got the pukes, and decided to hell with this, we needed him contained in a container. So he went back to the crib and there he stayed. 

Until two days ago, when I thought I would be intelligent and try again. It should be, in theory, a very easy transition.

But nothing involving my kids and "transitions" are very easy. 

Calen was a royal pain in my ass extremely difficult to take out of the crib. He wasn't quite two yet, Camden was on the way and we needed the crib. It took a good two weeks to get him to go to bed and to stay in bed. And in the process, it slowly fizzled out his naps. AKA worst nightmare. 

Camden is no easier. In fact, he's a lot more stubborn, if that could even be possible. Yesterday even after not napping and being absolutely bone-tired, he did not fall asleep until 9:20 (bedtime is 7pm). He got into as much trouble as humanly possible considering there are few toys in his room, the closet was locked and his door was gated. 

Neither of my kids are "weird place" sleepers. They've never fallen asleep in high chairs, strollers, the middle of the floor, laundry baskets etc. All those pictures I looked forward to taking of them sleeping in funny places, no. Never. Not even the couch. Not even when they're horribly and disgustingly ill. 

Until last night, at 9:20, when Brad and I noticed that the top floor finally got quiet. I sneaked up to investigate, and Cam's door was wide open, and there he was, face first on the floor of his room, with his blankie on top of him. He.was.done.

And I got my picture.

       

The Mother's Day Fiasco: An Odyssey

Today was Mother's Day, in case you haven't seen all the mushy status updates and pictures slapped all over Facebook today. 

Because nothing is real or official until it's on Facebook. Obviously. 

Before I start the story of today's slap-stick catastrophe, know this. My wonderful husband really tried. He did. He planned everything out perfectly and it should have gone wonderfully and the Powers That Be decided otherwise. None of it was his fault and he's probably really pissed that his master plan failed miserably. But it wasn't his fault. And it was pretty funny how awful things went.

It started off with an omen. 

An omen in the form of the two year old that rules this house lives here decided for one of the three times in his entire existence to NOT nap. 

Camden not napping is the equivalent your family car spontaneously combusting at high speeds on the freeway and wiping out a family of chickens crossing the road in a fiery death.    

Aka, it's really BAAAD. 

So after Cam's non-nap we drove to the base. Brad had rented a canoe through the base MWR (Morale, Welfare, Recreation) and the plan was to launch the canoe from the base, go across the bay and up the shore and dock at a little seafood restaurant on the water and have lunch. 

So we loaded the canoe up with kids and myself, and Brad pushed off. 

Two small minor issues: the wind was blowing probably 540mph and the current was extremely VERY MUCH HORRIBLY strong. 

We immediately went sideways into the trough of the waves, which were surprisingly big and splashed over the side of the canoe. Like big enough waves that if we stayed out there we'd probably take on water. Then Brad tried to sit down and we nearly capsized and I had to stick my foot out over the side to keep us from flipping. Brad pulled us back to shore and then tried two more times, with the same near-drowning results. Calen is crying "I don't wanna go on a boat ride anymore!" and Camden is going "WHEEEEE!!!!" and I'm using a lot of four letter words yelling at Brad "This is a terrible idea we need to get the EFF off this boat before we drown our kids on Mother's Day" (yes, they were wearing life jackets). After much consideration Brad decided that it was most definitely not safe to take that stupid canoe out today.

P.S. what in the hell kind of Coast Guard offers CANOES to take out on a BAY when it's always this windy? How about say, a real boat? Just a little aluminum boat with a motor and you know, sides. 

Also, Calen couldn't have run any faster from the boat to the truck, then flung his door open and literally LEAPED into his seat and shut the door. He was done. 

That disaster adverted, we drove to our previous destination of the Crab House on the other side of the bay, thinking hey at least we could salvage a good lunch out of it. It was a pretty cute setup, right on the water, live music, and covered outdoor seating. 

It was probably the 2nd worst seafood I've ever eaten in my life. 

The food was awful. The service was even worse. And the place was incredibly overpriced. The kids meal (one hotdog and a handful of fries) cost $8 and didn't even include a drink (which cost and extra $3). It cost $88 for four of us to eat. And the hotdogs weren't even good, neither of my kids ate them (and they're big hot dog eaters). The seafood was so disappointing that we didn't even save the leftovers. 

And napless Camden was a complete and utter basketcase during the meal. 

So we went home and tossed Cam into bed for a nap (which he didn't take) while Calen played outside with the neighbors. 

The one thing that DID go right was we walked to the Drydock for dinner. We pulled Cam in the wagon and Calen rode his bike, and we all had ice cream for dinner. And that was perfect and wonderful and awesome. But you can't screw up Drydock, especially when it comes to ice cream. 

At least it ended well. 

Brad feels bad and I'm more laughing at the chain reaction of calamities that happened. But we're definitely having a do-over day next weekend. That doesn't involve canoes or seafood. 

Endnote: Camden is still awake, causing whatever havoc in his bedroom. We decided that yesterday was a GREAT day to start round 2 of trying out his big boy bed. He did really well yesterday since he was so sick. Today, he's throwing a party in protest. 

Ready to NOT go out on the canoe

 

The highlight of the day