I can't forget Nathan!

In posting pictures I realized I did not have a single shot of just Nathan and his Gramps so I had to make sure to get one good one before we left for the airport.

Thanks for a great long weekend Gramps! We love you.

Happy Birthday Daddy!

Ian is officially IN his 30s. Yesterday he hit the ripe "old" age of 31. Our plan was to attend church as a family but Nathan woke up feeling awful and sounding even worse so Jacob and I went to Sacrament Meeting (the main service) while Ian stayed home with Nathan, Owen and Gramps. When we returned home Jacob went with Gramps and Ian to the San Diego Air and Space Museum. He had a free pass and it is definitely something that is right up both his and Gramps' alley! They had a great time looking at as much as they could but said you could go a few times and still not see everything. We hope to take Nathan back soon with his free pass since he missed out.





When they got home we went to Old Town for dinner at Coyote Cafe. A great mexican resturant where you can watch the ladies make the tortillas fresh and the mariachi bands walk around and sing to you. The look on Ian's face when I had them sing happy birthday to him was great. Unfortnately I thought I was taking video but the camera did not work. Bummer for me great for Ian:)





Finally about 9 last night Ian got to have his birthday "cake" of a brownie sundae. I think all in all it was a good day for him getting to spend it as a family and with his dad. Looking forward into the future I can forsee many birthdays he will be away from us so I am glad yesterday was a fun day.

Here are a few more pictures from Gramps' visit. He even helped Ian out by doing all the back yard for him. Nathan and Owen wanted to "help". Owen especially helped by hosing down Gramps instead of the patio. I could not help but laugh. My boys are blessed to have wonderful Grandpas!

We went to the flea market on Saturday and saw these guys playing music. If you look closely you can see that all their instruments are made from household items. Too cool!

A day in the life of the Heller Boys....

Gramps has been visiting for a long lovely weekend. Today Nathan is not feeling all that great so we decided to hang around here but did venture to In and Out for lunch a place the boys have never been and I think I have been to maybe twice and its been years. It was yummy! Owen, if he had his way, would exist on french fries and milk and that is what his lunch was. I adore this picture of him!


When we got home Owen was soooo tired so he went right to bed and since he is out we made paper air planes with the kids so here they are flying them off of Owen's little slide. Hopefully with some rest Nathan will feel better soon because he starts school in a week! I found out today I have to have him at the bus stop at 6:40 am. Yikes that is so darn early! Worth it? I think so but man its going to be an adjustment for sure.

More Gramps pictures to follow!

End of Summer Beach Trip

This summer has been so strangely cold coupled with Summer school and babysitting additonal kids that we have not made it to the beach NEARLY as much as I would have liked. I am sure we will be there again in the weeks to come but with only a week left until school starts and chilly weather on the horizon this last Thursday was a great opportunity to make one last trip. I decided last minute to call Valerie to see if she was free to meet us with the girls and we got lucky that was her plan of the day as well! I did not tell the boys they would be there and as we pulled into the parking lot on base Nathan shouted "YEA Valerie and Kinley and Kayden are here!" Jacob told him he did not know what he was talking about and to be quiet. (Gotta love the big brother tude I have no idea where he gets it from....) Nathan asked me if it WAS Valerie's van and I said "I don't know you tell me" and that is when they both agreed it was. It ended up being super windy but thankfully the sun was out shining and so it was warm. The kids just love digging in the sand and only Jacob and Kinley really got in the water and even then it was just for short spurts of time. Valerie brought her wonderful camera and spent the time snapping away while I enjoyed not being behind the camera and chasing a baby for once. Owen is doing much better though about staying with me. He still lets the birds distract him but overall its a much easier experience to take all of them with me. The only downside of the trip? Stupid me putting sunscreen on myself which led to a lobster fried back. Today is the first day I can wear clothes without wanting to cry. Smart one huh? Lesson learned!

So here are a "few" of the pictures...enjoy!



Valerie was getting a kick out of Owen trying to eat pretzles like a dog out of the cup holders. He did manage to get them out of there though!

This was the best! Nathan and Owen rammed into eachother and Nathan had to leap frog over him. The funniest part though was Owen waddling wet to us telling on Nathan saying "I icky Nate Nate Nate" :)







I love this picture of Owen looking at me. I think he loves me a bit:)

Faking It

Yesterday as I was straightening up downstairs (for about the millionth time of the day:) I heard a strange sound. I followed the sound to the couch where I found Owen with his monkey, his plug and a blanket that he had covered himself with alternately fake snoring and giggling. It was so cute. I grabbed my cell phone and snapped a picture but by the time I could grab the camera he would not do the snoring anymore. I asked him if he wanted to go to bed (he is great about telling us he wants a nap or is ready to go to bed at night) but he told me no. So I asked him if he wanted to watch Curious George and I got a definite YES on that. So, I turned it on and the rest of the boys slowly migrated to the tv where they all sat quietly for the ENTIRE show and watched it. Amazing. Rare to say the least.



Jacob is finally on a summer break until the day after Labor Day. I have been watching our neighbor's son and the boys have been having a blast building legos and playing as many video games as this mean mommy will allow. Of course its NEVER enough:) Here is a picture of Davin and Nathan showing off their recent builds. I believe they are guns?

BOYS!

I have boys everywhere! I have been helping my neighbors with childcare the last few weeks of summer watching their six year old but they needed help with their four year old today and tomorrow (I have watched him in the past too and they are both really good boys) So, today I had a 7, 6, 5, 4 year olds and Owen. Can we say LOUD? The only one that is a stinker is Owen as he is in this hitting/pinching/throwing things stage that is driving me insane! I don't ever remember Jacob or Nathan going through this THIS bad. He is especially not nice to Daniel and Davin so I have to have him with me constantly to make sure he is not being mean. It is tiring by the end of the day to say the least.

It has been warm so I decided to put out the slip and slide and let them get wet with that and some squirt guns. They all had a really good time. Owen especially LOVES lapping up all the water.

We are looking forward to Gramp's visit next week. The boys are counting down days on the calendar!

Donuts!

The kids have been asking to go get donuts for a while now so since we needed to do a commissary run I thought it would be fun to take them for breakfast before heading up to the base. Ian and I had breakfast croissants while the boys had their choice donuts. Owen was not all that enthused with the donut holes we got him but he had his first taste of chocolate milk and THAT was a hit with him. Ian and I were quite amused with the FOOT donut and decided to get one on the way out.







It was a fun start to the day. By the time the shopping was done and we pulled into the drive Owen was passed out. I think a full belly of milk and being drug around the store did him in because he slept over 3 hours. I love family days!

I know this picture is really bad because the sunlight just was awful but I had to share. Owen's little animal entourage continues to grow. Ian's dad gave me a sailor Winnie the Pooh while Ian was in boot camp and I have had it on Owen's dresser since we unpacked here. Last week he took a huge interest in him and now wants to drag him around. So we are up to two monkeys, elmo and the pooh bear and at times a dinosaur as well. He has to have ALL of them to go to bed and when he wakes him he hands them to you one by and wants you to carry not only all of them but him too. He is quite the demanding little stinker too if you don't do it. We joke that pretty soon there will be no more room in his bed for HIM!

He keeps me on my toes. I swear he needs a cage. I am constantly cleaning up something with him behind me going nuts like the tazmanian devil. I got some food and things from a friend who is moving tomorrow and while trying to unload all of it he got ahold of a can of corn starch took the lid off and covered everything that was on the table. I should have grabbed the camera but to be honest I was less than thrilled. While cleaning that I gave him some apple sauce to eat which he instead dumped all over him and his chair and so the day continued. I just have to laugh or I would have cried. It was just one of those days. Recovering from major dental work last night did not help the stress level. But after that drama was over he and I spent some good quality snuggling on the couch so that I could rest a bit. I am still sore tonight and probably will be for a couple of days but slowly progress is being made.

One last thing. We made it! We made it ONE whole month without having to take Owen (or anyone for that matter) to the doctor. Owen has his regular (late) check up and shots today so we shall see what they say about his ears. Woo hoo for a month!:)

Life

It has been quite busy around here. Jacob is more than half way done with Summer School (his last day is next Friday). He was less than thrilled with going and his attitude showed that quite well at school but with some adjustments he is now functioning well. He gets to have breakfast and lunch before we pick him up at noon. Nathan was less than thrilled he was gone but then our neighbor needed some childcare help so I watched their four year old for a few days, then one day had both their four year old and six year old (Five boys ages 7, 6, 5, 4 and Owen is um LOUD!) and then this week and most likely most of the rest of the time until school starts I have Daven, the six year old. This has helped immensely. Nathan is not as bored so I am not as irritated with him and his whining:) And the little bit of extra money does not hurt!

Owen is goofy as ever. I have not really been taking pictures but here is one of "his" way of eating yogurt (his favorite food) and him with a picture of Ian's shoes on. Those are some BIG shoes he has to fill! Someday I am sure. So far his ears seem to be doing okay. We thought he may be starting to get something but allergy meds seem to have helped whatever it was. He goes in next week for a regular check up and shots so we shall see how he looks.


I have been busy with all the kids! I also have been starting all the dental fun. I have an appointment on Monday to get the stuff that is messed up taken out so the new can be put in soon. I am SO thankful that most of it is being paid for. Such a relief! We just finished watching our third dog in about two months. Valerie and the girls went to visit family so we had Chancer their miniature snauzer for two weeks. Poor little guy is getting so old and just was not up to much play but he was very good and it is strange to not have him here anymore today.

Ian has been insanely busy. More days than I would like he is not home until 6 and that is a good day. I can think of at least three or four days the past two weeks its been 8, 8:45, 9:30 and one night he had to go up to LA and got home at 1 am only to be back at work at 6 and worked until 6. So not cool! Last night it was 8:30 so just hoping he gets to see the boys (especially daddy's little boy Owen) before they are in bed. Chief results did come out yesterday. Unfortunately he did not make it but it was not a huge surprise. It would have been nice but not a big deal seeing as it is still early for him. He did have some good friends who made it though including our good friend Ben so we are beyond thrilled for him as he made First Class when Jacob was a baby so it was long overdue! So onward and upward moving on to the next year. The guy at the command who has the spot of Leading Petty Officer at Sea (LPO) made Chief which leads Ian into that position which is something he has never been able to do and feels it is important to have to make Chief. So things seem to be falling where they should!

I can't believe in just a little over three weeks I will have the majority of my kids in school. I ask Owen all the time what are we going to do when brothers are in school? And he replies with "I do not know" (you should hear him it is cute:) I ask him if we are going to go shopping and he says "no" or are we going to go on a walk and he says "no" and so on until I ask him if we are going to go to the park and he will say "park! park! park!" and run for his shoes. He is definitely at an age where he KNOWS what he wants and let me tell you the child has some lungs.