Warning: This post is bragging about my AWESOME husband!!

So, a couple of months ago, Eric was out to see and sent me an e-mail and imbedded in the e-mail was a line that said, "oh, I won some award, it is no big deal, but I am going to have to fly to Toronto for the awards ceremony." Okay, whatever, not a big deal--one of the reasons I love my husband--he is so humble!! Anyways, it was a big deal. Eric was selected by the American Bar Association as the 2010-2011 Outstanding Young Military Lawyer of the Year. He got to fly to the awards ceremony in Toronto to receive his award where he was accompanied by the JAG (the admiral that heads up the JAG corps--that's a big deal for all you non-military folk). The picture above is Eric and his award shaking hands with the JAG. Also, doesn't he look so good in his uniform--one reason I am glad we are in the military--a man in uniform is HOT!! Anyways, I am just so proud of Eric and so glad to be married to someone who does so well at providing for our family and does his best in everything! I am one lucky lady!!

First of many trips to the E.R.

Cade is such an active and busy child, that Eric and I have joked for awhile that he would be our first trip to the E.R. Now, Ethan has fallen and had some cuts that probably should have gotten stitches, but being the nurse that I am, I just have glued them shut and then slapped some steri--strips on them and everything was fine. Well, last week Cade was playing in a little bassinet Kailey has for her babies and went to get out and fell and smacked his chin on our hardwood floors. There was blood everywhere and one look at his cut and I knew we had to go to the E.R.--it was really deep and split wide open.

Luckily my friend was here, so she stayed with the other two kids and Cade and I headed to the hospital. Cade was tough and had stopped crying shortly after he hurt himself. At the E.R. I was lucky enough that we could just walk in. The corpsman came over and flushed out his cut--Cade wasn't too happy about that.

Then the doctor came over and we were lucky enough that the doctor in the E.R. that day is a good friend of ours. In fact, his daughter is Cade's girlfriend and he also joked that he wasn't surprised at all to see Cade. Anyways, he took one look and said that we would need stitches.

We had to wrap Cade in a sheet like a hotdog, from about his neck to his calves and then I held down his feet and two corpsman held down his torso and head while Steve, the doctor, stitched up Cade. Cade was not happy and was screaming and but we finally got 4 stitches in. The cut probably could have used a couple of more, but it was a lot of work to get those 4 stitches in.

Here he is after we were done. That bandage on his chin lasted all of 5 minutes and I tried to put about 4 more dressings on, but Cade would pull them off in seconds.

The next day, I laid Cade down for a nap and about 10 minutes later I heard a loud crash and walked into his room and he had climbed out of his crib and on top of his dresser, which is like 4 feet tall, and was standing on it and throwing stuff off of it. I have a feeling we have many, many more E.R. trips in our future, hopefully not the too near future!!

Kailey's 3rd Birthday!!

I have had a hard time getting motivated to update our blog, but since Kailey's 3rd birthday was a MONTH ago, I figure it is about time!! Kailey turned 3 last month and we had a little tea party with 3 of her close friends. Anyone who knows Kailey knows it is all about princesses, pink, and anything girly!! Everyone dressed up and we had a fun time. Here are some pictures from her special day!

She got a new plasma car--we already have one and the kids LOVE it and we decided to get another one--best toy every--the kids play with them ALL the time!

The tea party spread--cucumber sandwiches, PB&J sandwiches, fruit, and hummus and crackers.

Kailey and her friends!

Ethan, the pimp, with his lady friends!! I think he is enjoying it a little too much!

My mom sent Kailey the tutu swimming suit that she is wearing and even now, a month later, Kailey still begs me to wear it EVERYDAY!!!

So I made Kailey a pink princess castle cake for her birthday, but while I was making it, I walked out of the kitchen and came back and Cade, who gets into EVERYTHING, had climbed up on the counter and was devouring my cake.

This is a picture of what it looked like after Cade helped himself--almost half of my cake was missing, luckily I had some cake left over and I was able to salvage it.

Here is what the inside of the cake looked like--Kailey was happy with it and it tasted good--what more could you want!!! All in all Kailey had a GREAT birthday!!

Mr. Belding and Bowling for Soup--what a night!!

So we finished up the 4th of July with a bbq with friends and then we went and saw "Bowling for Soup." They are a rock band, that has a couple of famous songs--I like them. Mr. Belding, from 'Saved by the Bell' was the MC for the concert and I have to mention the military is AWESOME, because this was all free. Anyways, we had a GREAT time rocking out. The kids loved it and had so much fun dancing around and the music was awesome. Here are some pictures:

Bowling for Soup, Natalie Stovall (some country singer that also performed)

Mr. Belding, me and my friends, Barbie and Breclyn

(I hate to say it, but he hasn't aged too well, he looks like he ate Screech!)

Kailey learned to 'rock out'--we are so proud!!

Ethan watching the band!

Dancing in the parking lot

Awesome balloon hat

Fabulous concert!!

4th of July Parade

We had one of the most fun 4th of July's I have ever had. I started out the morning by running a 4-mile race around base with some friends--it was wicked hot, but we had a fun time. Later in the afternoon, the base had a parade for the kids followed by free ice cream. My dad was so nice to send us some awesome decorations and the kids bikes/scooter/wagon looked so patriotic. We walked in the parade with a couple of friends--I have to say it was hot and the parade was probably about a mile long, which for little legs is long--luckily there was free ice cream to motivate us at the end. Here are some pictures from the parade:

A fire truck led the parade--here are the kids with their friend, Isabel.

Getting our bike checked to make sure it is safe--it was!!

Cade, waiting to start the parade.

My friend, Kendal, running to keep up with Ethan--look how intent he is on riding away from her!!

We had such a great time and already we are planning how to decorate next year so we can win a prize!!!

What we have been up to...

I know I have been a slacker when it comes to blogging. We haven't been up to too much lately. Eric started a new job here on base. He is now the lawyer for the base, so he has been busy with that. He now gets to carry a blackberry ALL the time and gets calls on it day and night. Anytime a sailor gets into trouble, Eric gets a call about it. Most of the time they are drunk and getting into fights, but he has gotten some interesting calls--it is fun to hear all the stories--some of these you just can't make up. The kids and I have been busy playing with friends almost everyday. Here are a couple of pictures:

Cade got into the colored bubbles (don't ever buy these--they are a BAD idea!!!)

Ethan rides his bike EVERYWHERE--he loves riding it!!

We had a party and I was in charge of making a birthday cake and saw this cute idea. I thought it was so fun and it was a big hit at the party. It is just 2 round cakes with kit kats around and M&Ms on top. Sooooo yummy!!

Same party I made these really cute candy sushi. The kids loved them!!

Anyways, I will be better at keeping up on the blog. The kids are going to be in a 4th of July parade on Monday and then with Kailey's birthday next week, I will have LOTS of fun pictures!!

Easter at Purina Farms!

Purina Farms is about 45 min away from my parents' house and they have a great event every Easter where you can come see the Easter bunny, they have a petting zoo and you can watch a dog show. We went a couple of years ago when Eric was in Iraq and got lucky to go again this year. We had such a fun time.

Cade isn't quite sure whose lap he is sitting on!

Watching dog jumping--it is amazing how far some of those dogs can jump!

Dogs doing tricks--they were catching frisbees, running through obstacle courses--it was great!

Petting bunnies

Pigs

Petting the tiny baby chick

All that petting wore Kailey out--she is taking a little nap in the dog bed!

Maramec Springs

Still catching up from St. Louis!! One of the places we went while we were there was Maramec Springs--it is one of the most gorgeous places and what makes it so fun is that it has HUMONGOUS fish that you can see and feed. The kids loved it. Here are a few pictures from our fun day!

Dad, Mom, Brooke and the kids

Getting more fish food with Papa--luckily he brought a LOT of dimes and quarters!

Cade walking with Brooke--she is such a good aunt!

Looking at the fish

Grandma and Cade

Feeding the fish--it was amazing--you would throw the food in and you would get swarms of fish coming and trying to eat it--I had so much fun feeding the fish, but the kids were in heaven!