KNOCK, KNOCK!!

KNOCK! KNOCK!!!
WHO'S THERE??

This is Mac's new playhouse!! She loves to play in it!! She likes to look out of her windows and knock on the door, and then answer it!!! She really likes our doorbell these days. Before coming in, she has to ring it!!

The outfit!

Tonights blog photo is actually for Nana...... This is the outfit that Nana sent Emily for her birthday...She HAD to wear it to her party! It is rather cute!!! I really think that the bowling shoes truly make the outfit!! LOL...

I had to throw this one in there... She was the only one I didn't post yesterday, so here she is, with her cutsie face she always makes!!!

What a day!!!

Emily had a most 'wonderful' birthday!!! She had about 15 people at her bowling party today... She had 5 friends that are around her age....The rest are her friends that also happen to be mine and Shane's friends...LOL....
Of all the friends that came, this one probably was one of most special!! This was her VIP at the party!! His name is Aaron. He and Shane have been friends for a LONG time. And when we first got up here to Alaska, they didn't know that the other was here, until they saw each other at formation.. Ever since then, he has been in Emily's life....She loves Aaron!! He loves being with our kids, it's like another uncle for them!! He just got home for leave (R&R) from Iraq!! She said that she didn't even recognize him!! But then it was a big hug!! Needless to say, her day was great!!

Moving right along.....right after Em's birthday party was football practice... Little man is doing really good this year... He is tackling people left and right! He is a lineman on defense, and a right pulling guard on offense. He was promised a mohawk if he did his very best and knocked some heads!! Well, since he can't really have a mohawk during the school year (Christian school won't allow it) he got one tonight!! This is a big transformation for him.... he now is a warrior!! Would you want to be right in front of him on the line???? I think I will pass!!!

We didn't cut this in a point, it is the way his hair grows!!! crazy!! The purple mark below it is a bruise... from football!!! I know this was a lot for today, but this is just another full day for us!!!

Some beach.....

Well, if we were at a real beach we wouldn't have to improvise!!........Tomorrow is Emily's birthday!! I think she is 5 going on like 25.... We hadn't figured out what we were doing for it until last Thursday, so she and I laid in the bed discussing what it was that we were going to do....She said, 'I got it covered mom.' I told her that she needed to tell me so at least I could be her taxi driver.... Where does she get this independence from??? Anyway, we decided on the bowling alley!! And I would make the cake... Hence the picture... It is an ice cream cake....so easy to make...a Sara Lee cake cut in half and chocolate ice cream in the middle....with twizzlers to make the flip flop straps and M&M's around the bottom.... Cool whip is the frosting...The sand is made out of graham cracker crust!!! Amazing that this is what she wanted and it was SOOOO easy!!! Wish you guys could be here for her birthday!! Maybe next year!!

side note: Jacob kicked butt today at football practice!!! He is playing the defensive line... and an outside lineman..(I think)... He was on every pile of boys!! Right in the middle! GO #49!!

Our day of exploring

Shane had therapy today, and so instead of sitting in a waiting room for an hour and a half, me and the kids go exploring in the car. We found this water fountain today. We didn't even know it was there. It was at Alaska Pacific University. I liked the fountain, but what I found really cool is the hanging pots in the background. You can see it if you click on the picture. They were huge. Pretty cool day exploring!!!

Sweet Dixie

Even in Alaska, they know what is the best state to live in!!!! I came across this truck today and had to take a picture! You guys wouldn't believe how many South Carolina license plates are up here. I would say more SC than any other state. I have even had people roll down their window at red lights and ask me where from in SC that I am from!!! Gotta love that good ol SC pride!!!

(the only thing that I would change on this truck is the Gamecock trailer hitch!! I think it needs to be an orange tiger paw!!!)

His Boots

To some, military is just hoorah kind of guys and girls that run around in camoflauge. To me, it is a way of life. We are very proud of our flag and what it stands for. Day in and day out he puts on these boots and goes off to work.....sometimes to the opposite ends of the earth to fight for our freedom. The very freedoms that you and I enjoy and take for granted everyday. Shane always says these boots and his feet are what pays our bills. But, I know different. It takes a very special and courageous person to fill these boots! Not everyone is cut out for these boots. Not everyone would lay down their life and sacrifice everything just to insure that you and I can enjoy the very comforts that we have become accustom to. I thank God everyday that my husband and every other person who has served and are serving have put on these boots and have sacrificed everything- their families, their lives, their bodies unselfishly for me and my children..

All over my house are hints of camoflauge and desert boots. Sometimes it clutters up my house as he packs for missions, 'nature walks'-(road marching), and even for combat. I hear taps playing outside my house everyday, and along our streets are flags waving in the wind.... We are a very patriotic group of people.... We as wives and children are left many times to carry on at home, to be independent, to make sure that he doesn't have to worry about anything while he is gone except for his safety and his mission. We have to carry on this way and wait anxiously and patiently until those boots come walking in our door again.

I felt that I had to get this out today. Shane's platoon in Iraq has had many injured and sent home and one killed. These were all guys we knew... the people next door, the people who wear these boots day in and day out, go without sleep, without all the ammenities of home. They do this for all of us, unselfishly give up everything. It is what is in their heart. They love what they do, and they wouldn't have it any other way. Please keep praying for all our men and women serving, who are courageous enough to put on these boots!