Our Pooh Bear's 16th birthday

May 2017 is a month I dont really want to remember most days. Although I am thankful for the memories that were made. As time goes on and I look back at the moments we had, it seems like the moments were somehow planned out to absolute perfection. 

We found the house we would call home for our first year at Seymour. Little did we know, that Pooh Bear wouldn't make it to Misty Lane with us. 

May 5th we celebrated is sweet 16 birthday. We had a party for him in TLF! Birthday hat, decorations, fancy feast dinner, cupcakes and all. I even remember telling the housekeeper it was his birthday!

Soaking in the love and attention of his 3 favorite siblings. 

Here we are singing to him while he eats his fancy feast birthday meal. 

Dad and Papa were gone most of the day. Dad stumbled and hesitated all morning about buying our first camper and finally he gave in and did it. So he and Papa had been gone most of the day doing paperwork, and picking up our camper. The kids had no idea so when Dad pulled up in the parking lot, camper attached, it was a total surprise!! We eventually named our camper "Howie" and he adopted him on Pooh Bear's 16th birthday! (Howie- Hotel On Wheels)

Our arrival to North Carolina April 2017

Every now and then Im going to back track on blogging. Starting with our arrival to North Carolina from Korea 2 years ago this month, in April 2017. One of things I will always remember is being so shocked and so incredibly happy to be able to SEE. To be able to physically see through the air. To have a blue sky. To have warm bright sunshine. It was so clear. Korea was always foggy, dusty, cloudy, dim. We didnt get hardly any days in 2 years that we could see a blue sky. We were so happy to be able to BREATHE clean air. We spent a lot of time outside in TLF among the trees. Carly had never experienced squirrels before, so she fed them peanuts nearly every day. 

Our Pooh Bear was happy. Little did I know how tired he really was. In Korea, I just hoped and begged him to make it out of Korea happy and healthy. And the universe, and he had heard me. He did just that. Although now 2 years later, I hate driving past TLF on base each and every time. My heart sinks each time, because those were the last memories we made together. In that room, in TLF. I will never forget the kids and I waving at him through the window while he napped on Carly's bed on that pink Minnie Mouse blanket. 

Kayla's last selfie with our Bear. So thankful she was being goofy and took this picture. 

A couple weeks after we arrived to SJAFB, Mimi and Papa came to visit. The kids didnt know about the visit so it was a total surprise. 

Also, a couple weeks later, Mom and Dad bought a new car with a whole new purpose behind it. 

So we could tow our very first camper! What an April it was! So many new things and changes for the family. 

Catching up on September 2013

September 2013 was pretty uneventful. Kayla was falling into Kindergarten very well, she took it easier than I did. She was student of the week already this month. She had to bring her favorite stuffed animal and wear her favorite outfit for one of the days.

It was also September 11th, patriot day. A day I'll never forget. Sr in High School in Science class, our first class of the day. 

Carly turned 6 months old, and just like each of the other 2 children, we celebrated her half birthday with her first cupcake and a gift. 

Dad found out he didn't break his wrist, but he broke his arm instead. 

Carly and Caden were taking advantage of the time Kayla was now in school and bonding with each other. It was a good break for Mom once she got used to the idea of Kayla being gone 5 days a week, 2.5 hours a day. 

Dada also flew back to PA to be there for his Father's neck surgery and got to see his sister and her kids as well as his brother. 

New things going to happen this week

The big things happening this week in order:

1) Mimi is leaving Las Vegas to go back home to PA today. We told Kayla and Caden yesterday so that they wouldn't feel too much of a whiplash today. They will miss her for sure. Mimi definitely could NOT have been here at any more of a better time even if we tried. She was here for Kayla's 4th Birthday, and for the days of discovering our pregnancy, and a the first few weeks of this pregnancy. She got to see 2 ultrasounds.  I know this time has been crazy and hectic and exhausting, but glad we have this memory.

2) Tomorrow Kayla starts her first day of pre-school. I know how I feel about this.... but not sure how I will feel about all this when I drop her off. She needs this. She is 4 years old but her intelligence level is that of at least a 1st grader...maybe higher. She needs the challenge on a social level. She needs to break away from me a little bit. She is bored at home and I kind of worry that after a while she might be bored at school because she already knows everything that will be taught to her. Im not kidding when I say she on the level of AT LEAST a 1st grader or higher. However, I think the fact that she will be around new adults and lots of children her age will be good for her. She needs some independence. BUT, when I go to take her in, let go of her hand, and walk out leaving her with strangers, leaving her without a parent or well known family friend...that might be hard on me. But I will get over it. I just dont know how we reached this age and milestone so quickly.

3) Tomorrow I will be 10 weeks 2 days pregnant. Time for the week's belly shots tomorrow. I think I have a little more belly this week. But the symptoms are close to none minus the exception of still having bizarre dreams. I will spare you from the details. Exactly one week from today is our 12 week scan. Its a few days ahead of being 12 weeks because we are requesting a certain midwife and I had to take the last open appointment she had. It cant come soon enough. If all is ok and healthy I would like to start running again.

Over the weekend I discovered I really like James Patterson books. Its Tuesday and Im on my 2nd book. The first was Sam's Letters To Jennifer.

(look at the belly!)

Kayla's 4th birthday beach party was a blast. Could not have had it go any more perfect....unless Papa was here to enjoy it with us. 

Kayla was so excited and happy every moment of the day.

I edited 103 pictures, but I will spare you from posting each and everyone. 

Here are just a few of my favorites. It was not easy choosing just a few. If you call this a few....

Birthday girl and her Mimi.

Taking a candy break from the pool.

(my homemade jolly rancher lollypops were a hit)

Announcing time for cake!

Birthday girl and her Dad.

Birthday girl and her Mom.

Birthday kiss.

All of us with Mimi.

Everyone loved the gift from Kayla's birth father. (look at the faces!)

Birthday gift from us!

Gift from Mimi and Papa.

Cupcakes- blue are cotton candy and sand ones are chocolate marshmallow.

Super Yum!

Candy sharks

Candy fruit slices

Juice for the kids in sand buckets

Shark watermelon

Lounging in the pool.

Cheetos in a sand bucket, candy turtles and candy aligators and mint oreos!

Bubbles, Doritos in a sand bucket, swedish fish, graham cracker goldfish and the candy sea glass I made.

Flowers from Mimi and Kayla's birthday blocks I made.

Poolside for a candy break. (love this picture)

I also love this picture. Caden....