I ♥ Faces - Tooshies

This week at I ♥ Faces the contest theme is "Tooshies". I took this photo of my husband's "Tooshie" along with other brave Seabee "Tooshies" as they were preparing for deployment. Click on the button above to check out some other Tooshies!

Celebrating Angie's Accomplishments

I had the opportunity to meet up with a friend I went to high school with for a fun photo session! We were in the same kindergarten class and were on all the same dance teams. Oh, how time flies! She wanted new pictures so that she could include a couple to send in her graduation announcements. Congratulations to Angie on an amazing accomplishment! We met at her downtown apartment and drove to a very neat location. It was so COLD and WINDY but she did great! You would never know it from looking at these photos...

I really enjoyed getting the opportunity to take these photos for Angie and being apart of her celebration. If you know anyone in the Dallas area that will be graduating this year please send them my way! {thenavywife@gmail.com}

Black Friday

Last year, I was one of those crazy people shopping at midnight to kickoff Black Friday and to take advantage of the good deals. I was so excited until I reached the SUPER long lines. One store was so hot and crowded one lady completely passed out! Not joking! So, this year my husband and I came up with a different, more organized plan. I window shopped all the advertisements for "wants", created a private wish list for myself on the Toys R Us website based on what was going to be on sale, e-mailed it to Mark to get his feedback and waited for the prices to drop at midnight! I kicked off my Christmas shopping for the girls from the chair I'm sitting in now. I normally don't shop online but this year I think it's the best option for me. With Mark being gone, I would have to get a babysitter just to get out and go shopping on my own. At exactly 12:00 A.M. I pulled up my wish list and added my items to my cart. I then went to finalize the items in my cart and 3 of them were gone. At first I thought it was some sort of internet error or that maybe I was crazy. Then I went to re-add the items and to my surprise the items were "temporarily unavailable". I was shocked! I guess that's the downside to shopping online. The items were sold out just minutes after they went on sale. So that set me back but I still got some AWESOME toys for my girls. Here's what we got them so far: 

Imaginarium Cozy Country Dollhouse - From Santa

Disney Princess Bike - This will be a 4th Birthday present for Addison. Poor thing, her birthday is the day after Christmas.

Lilly wanted a house too... :)

Lilly loves anything that talks and sings!

Leap Frog Leapster Learning Game - I think this will be great for the car and when we're out and about.

Of course, I had to get a princess themed game to go along with it!

Melissa & Doug Building Blocks - I remember playing with these exact blocks in my kindergarden class! I loved them and think that Addie will too, she LOVES to build stuff! I really hope the "Cardboard" holds up though. I don't want to be throwing them away in January.

Little Tikes Obstacle Play Center - From Santa - I bought this more with Lilly in mind. I think Addison might be getting a little too big for something like this even though the age recommendation says 3-5. We'll see! This should be a great item to pull out on a rainy day.

    I can't wait!!!! My girls really needed a toy update. Just posting this and thinking about wrapping these presents when they arrive is making me feel very Merry and Bright! Christmas shopping is so much fun especially since I planned ahead and got everything on sale. YAY!

Thanksgiving 2009

First holiday without Mark, just three more holidays and two birthdays to go. Despite missing my husband a TON we still had a fabulous time and ate yummy food at my Dad and Krista's house. I'm so thankful for my wonderful family and all the supportive, uplifting people in my life. In 2009 there were four beautiful babies born in our family. I wasn't sure which kid was crying! Baby 1 - My Lillian, Baby 2 & 3 - cousins, Case and Stetson, Baby 4 - niece, Elizabeth. Here are just a few pictures from our family feast!

Happy Veterans Day

On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, was declared between the Allied nations and Germany in the First World War, then known as "the Great War." Commemorated as Armistice Day beginning the following year, November 11th became a legal federal holiday in the United States in 1938. In the aftermath of World War II and the Korean War, Armistice Day became Veterans Day, a holiday dedicated to American veterans of all wars. -History.com

Today, I am thinking about the millions of military veterans that have served our amazing country. Months from now my husband will complete his first deployment and will be considered a veteran of war. I am honored to stand by his side in support of his service to our country. It's because of our veterans that we can enjoy the freedoms we have today. 

Thank YOU veterans! This is YOUR day.

This is the only photo I have received thus far from my husband's deployment. Mark is the second Seabee from the left side. He's the one not looking at the camera! 

Happy Veterans Day!  

She eats like her Daddy...

.. a little on the messy side!

Addison's First Gymnastics Meet

Yesterday, was a huge day for Miss. Addison Jane! She competed in her very first gymnastics meet. Okay, well I wouldn't really call it a competition. Maybe, more like a bunch of 3 year olds jumping up and down, following the coaches instruction. :) Although, I was very impressed with the organization of the meet. They split the girls, all ages 3 - 5, up into 6 different groups so that there were 6 events going on simultaneously.

Mark and I put Addison in gymnastics when she was just 18 months old and I just can't believe how far she has come. She's not doing back handsprings or anything but I can see major improvements in her skills and more importantly her attitude! The coaches at her new gym do an awesome job promoting a "CAN DO" attitude. We ALWAYS say I WILL TRY and never (well ALMOST NEVER) say I CAN'T. I'm so proud of Addison and know that her Daddy would have been is extremely proud of her as well. I wish he could have been there!

Here are some good old FLASH BACK photos (gotta love the point and shoot camera) of Addison in Gymnastics:

 And now look at her at her very first Gymnastics Meet:

Lillian can clapping for Addison! YAY!

Awesome job Addison! I will always be your number one fan!