Most of a weekend with Daddy!

The boys were off school this past Friday so I decided why not head to San Diego to see Ian's ship pull in and spend some time with Paige and Tira dog. I had debated all morning but we had such a good time I am so glad I went. Jacob took this picture of the ship once it was pierside. I knew Ian never got my emails or texts saying we were coming and I also knew he had work to do before he could leave but the boys so wanted to just see him and wave and I really wanted Luke to realize that is where he was at. So after a half hour of debating I called the quarter deck and asked them to find him and have him call me. Now, you have to realize I NEVER call the ship. The last time I called was to tell him to come home immediately because Jacob was having his appendix issues and was most likely going to have surgery and I honestly can't tell you when before that. I scared the poor guy half to death because he just thought oh my gosh what happened. He came up to the flight deck and called me and as soon as I answered he could see us:) I felt bad but don't regret it because the boys were THRILLED. Luke thought it was hilarious. He was far enough away that you could tell it was him but really only because we knew it was. They all waved and yelled they loved him. After that we were off to see Paige and wait for daddy to get done. Ian was chosen as Sailor of the Year for the ship (a huge honor!) and had to get his dress uniform ready for pictures the next day. Poor Luke was not happy leaving without him and after about an hour at Paige's playing at the park he was over it. He wanted his dad. Finally he pulled in and Luke was ecstatic even trying to climb the fence to get to him.

Ian had to work half the day Saturday but we spend the rest of the weekend being foodies and him making an awesome stuffed pork tenderloin dinner and a yummy eggs benedict breakfast and I think I made a pretty darn good chocolate french silk pie as a celebratory treat for our Sailor of the Year! Ian and the boys also made Jacob and Nathan's pinewood derby cars for this Wednesday's derby. So thankful he had ONE day to help them. Totally bummed he will be working but I guess that just means I have to take a lot of pictures. Thursday means the last workup is over! It means we will get some time with him FINALLY before deployment is here. Here are some pictures of our foodie weekend:)

Pictures from the last couple of weeks

I found myself not taking very many pictures the last couple of weeks while Ian was gone. We all had a rough time here and kind felt like we were in mourning. The ship ended up broken in port a couple off hours away and so when Ian finally got home late Saturday we were so thankful to have him even if it was only until Monday am early. He is gone again and then next week has their final big qualification to deem them deployable. In some ways I am not so thrilled because the inevitable is getting closer but most of me wants to jump for joy because it will mean the next month or two will finally (supposedly) ease up. We are all ready especially my poor hard working Ian. Last week while gone though he was awarded a NAM (Navy Marine Core Achievement Medal for his involvement as team leader for CMTQ or for us lame civillians Cruise Missile Tactical Qualification. Say that a few times. Basically from what I understand it was qualifying them to be able to shoot the missiles if needed. It was HUGE. It just so happened it was over the day Jacob's appendix decided it needed to come out:/ I know he worked his butt off and am so glad he was recognized. He also was awarded Sr. Sailor of the Quarter for his ship:) Yay Ian! He will at some point while they are gone this week go in front of the board on the ship against the other 3 Sailors of the Quarter and one of them will be awarded Sailor of the Year. Either way hes my Sailor of the year! He realized this past week that since CMTQ he has been involved in EVERY SINGLE qualification to date either as a trainer or a trainee. No wonder he has hardly been home! I am proud of him and the hard work he is doing. We are all very much looking forward to his being home by dinner and taking a bit of time off. I told him I am running away! (kidding of course). We had the fun of Christina and Corban coming to see us last week. Luke fell in love with Christina (actually let me leave him with her without a huge issue!) and her Ipad:) Corban and the boys had fun playing games, legos, visiting the pet store and holding snakes :/, having a movie night and more. A lot of times I am sad we are not closer so they could spend more time together. We spent an afternoon for a bit at the park while Nathan was a scouts. It was finally under 95 so I figured better make the most of it. I feel like I am in HELL! So ready for fall. But my favorite picture is of Ian and his babies Sunday night. You can tell how beat the poor man is! But he always has time for those cuddles and I know two boys who love it! Here are some pictures from the last little bit:

Mental Note

Mental note to self. If the song Daylight comes on by Maroon 5 anytime in the next oh, say year do yourself a favor and TURN IT OFF! Or you will find yourself sobbing in the car on the way home:/ It is crazy sometimes how a song speaks to our hearts and this one, for me, is a killer. Don't torture yourself! (It is hard though because I LOVE the song but can't help but get wrapped up in the words. So over deployments!:) Daylight Here I am waiting, I'll have to leave soon Why am I still holding on? We knew this day would come, we knew it all along How did it, come so fast? This is our last night but it's late And I'm trying not to sleep Cause I know, when I wake, I will have to slip away And when the daylight comes I'll have to go But tonight I'm gonna hold you so close Cause in the daylight we'll be on our own But tonight I need to hold you so close Oh-woah, oh-woah, oh-woah Oh-woah, oh-woah, oh-woah Here I am staring at your perfection In my arms, so beautiful The sky is getting bright the stars are burning out Somebody slow it down This is way too hard, cause I know When the sun comes up, I will leave This is my last glance that will soon be memory And when the daylight comes I'll have to go But tonight I'm gonna hold you so close Cause in the daylight we'll be on our own But tonight I need to hold you so close Oh-woah, oh-woah, oh-woah Oh-woah, oh-woah, oh-woah I never wanted to stop because I don't wanna start all over, start all over I was afraid of the dark but now it's all that I want, all that I want, all that I want And when the daylight comes I'll have to go But tonight I'm gonna hold you so close Cause in the daylight we'll be on our own But tonight I need to hold you so close And when the daylight comes I'll have to go But tonight I'm gonna hold you so close Cause in the daylight we'll be on our own But tonight I need to hold you so close Oh-woah, oh-woah, oh-woah Oh-woah, oh-woah, oh-woah Oh-woah (yeah), oh-woah (yeah), oh-woah (yeah) Oh-woah (yeah), oh-woah (yeah), oh-woah!

What a few weeks we have had and it is not getting any slower anytime soon. School started, then we had Laura and Greg and their "goggies" as Luke calls them visit. It was so nice to get to spend time with them. The boys are still asking if we can go visit them or if they can come back. Next week Christina and Corban are coming out and we are looking forward to that. Ian turned 34 last week. 34!! How the heck did we hit "mid thirties" status? Were we not 18 last week? Time just flies. The boys have been very busy. Nathan has had his moments of really being down and we are working on it daily. But he is enjoyng being in school again and is making friends. He loves Scouts and looks forward to that each week too. As hard as he is on himself he is really doing well. I met his teacher last week and really think she will be a good fit for him. I realized in posting these pictures he is not in any by himself. I will have to fix that next time. Most of the pictures I did have were of Luke because he is the one I have all day. I have to admit having two hours of quite time a day is amazing. Time to work out or clean is really what it is but without interruptions. I seem to have plateaued a bit with my weight loss at about 16 pounds. So annoying so trying to trump that! Jacob is starting band today! He has chosen to play the trumpet so we got that all set this weekend. Nana graciously paid for the rental for the year and is helping with our monthly fee. We love you! Jacob is beyond excited and I really hope this is something he can learn to do and feel confident in. His teacher this year I think is an answer to prayer (hopefully I did not just jinx myself). She is huge on responsibility and organization both of which we struggle with with him. The organization mostly. We are working on reviewing and rewriting his IEP (individual education plan) to make sure he is getting the help he needs earlier than planned because unfortunately San Diego schools did a poor job and they want it up to par. Very thankful we are in this school district. Owen is having a good time in his new school as a "knight". He is very proud of that status. He got his first progress report on Friday. Every day was a big smile for doing good....until we got to Friday it was a straight face for "ok" with a note that says "put hand in toilet". Shaking my head really Owen? He told us a car was in there and he was trying to get it out:/ I asked him if he washed his hands with soap and gagged a bit. Hopefully he won't do that again. I am volunteering Friday mornings for about 90 minutes and its fun to observe him. He is such a little stinker at home but seems fine in that environment. Thankfully. One of the pictures is of his "self portrait" he did the first few days of school. I could not help but take a picture while I was there. Luke is growing. We have hit the "terrible two" stage nice and early. He knows what he wants and wants it when he wants it. Its FUN!! As I type hes having a melt down because I won't let him watch the cartoon he wants for the 3rd time today. Oh well!! It is fun to have some time with him each day. He is loving play dough and coloring. He is very much like Owen in that sense. He has a shoe fettish and wants shoes on from sun up to sun down and has a complete cow if you take them off for nap time. He likes to walk up to random strangers and lift his foot and say "shoe!!" to show them off. Quite amusing. Two of my favorite pictures on here are of him and Ian. One of Ian lifting him with a ribbon from or friends party and the other of him and Ian with Ian's new Darth Vader "DadLife" tshirt. A friend of ours from High School is the graphic designer for their company. I could not help but get him one especially with a son named Luke. Ian is beyond busy and hardly home. Its been a huge struggle for all of us especially him. I think we are hitting the point in his career where we are just over it. He loves being at sea and loves what he does but he misses his boys and to be HOME but not HOME does not sit well him (or me). He left today for a couple of weeks. I cried last night and said how the heck am I going to do this deployment when I dont want you gone two weeks....and then said I just am. You just do. Not looking forward to it but we ARE looking forward to having some actual time with him after this month is over. Cant.Wait.!!! Enjoy the pictures from the past few weeks as I go play referee.....