A Day in San Diego: the tail end of Chelsea's trip

We loved every second we got to spend with Aunt Chelsea while she was here.  She not only made our house a more cozy feeling home, but she ran that little twosome of ours ragged.  We explored the neighborhood a bit which was a tiny disaster, thanks to me.  First off, our neighborhood is filled with hills.  If you're not going uphill, you're going down.  And you have to walk up a small hill to get the large sidewalks around the side of the house.  Clearly not thinking it through, I told Emmy to hop on her scooter and go for it.  Next thing I know, she's gliding down the hill, not quite understanding how to stop and completely bit it.  She was a-okay, but I have now learned that we're going to have to find more flat land to wheel around on... 

Chelsea and I took the kids to a children's museum in downtown San Diego, the same museum when we visited in December.  I think their faves this go-around had to be the tire ladder and slide and the bubble station.

We grabbed lunch and hit the beach next.  We couldn't send Chelsea off to TX without getting our toes dirty.  It was a little chilly, but we went to the beach on base at Coronado and watched as helicopter after helicopter buzzed our ears.  And of course, I didn't manage to get a picture of that.  Next time...

Emmy is a lover of the beach.  She and the ocean waves have a special relationship.  She loves running into the water and holding out her little arms as if to say, come to me.  

And Brenner is okay with playing on the sand, but as soon as you pass the dry sand and enter the wet sand, he wants to be held.  He's not so much a fan of the water.  But Emmy was the same at his age, so I'm guessing it will grow on him.  Because it's always a fun day at the beach...

Last Days in Lemoore

Our last days in Lemoore consisted of live action scenes from Star Wars with our neighbor friend, Sarah, celebrating Christmas with just our little foursome, having football parties and lots of get-togethers with friends and incredible neighbors and ringing in the New Year with the most loving friends a girl could ask for.

So, we'll start with Star Wars.  Brenner is obsessed.  Sarah introduced Brenner to Obi-Wan, Yoda, Anakin, Luke, Leia...  yada, yada, yada.  And just like that, the boy was taken by it all.  Soon after we watched the movies, the Lego series on tv, bought a light saber, then another, and another.  Then he got into the little action figures and even got a Star Wars encyclopedia that it is evidently the perfect gift for a Star Wars enthusiast.  So, here those three are.  Playing their little hearts out.

We celebrated Christmas in California this year.  Since we were moving shortly after, we decided not to travel and take advantage of being all together in our cozy home.  No deployments.  No visitors.  Just us.  And it was pretty great.  

Our great friends, Becca and Greg, decided to throw us a little farewell on New Year's Eve.  My sister flew in that afternoon so she joined us in our crazy shenanigans.  I won't ever forget this night.  Yes, it might have been the tipsiest night I've had.  Ever.  (For those that don't know, 1 glass of wine and I'm 3 sheets to the wind.)  So, I probably had a glass and possibly a half this particular night.

I met Becca when we were pregnant with our #2's in Virginia Beach almost 4 years ago, and then exactly 1 year ago they moved west.  It was last New Year's Eve, that her and her adorable family pulled into Lemoore and joined us at our neighbors to ring in 2012.  And now we've come full circle, only this time, we're moving away.

Before I get too emotional, I'll start by saying that she was so gracious to host this completely fun night.  Memories to last forever...
Theresa and Ron were our next door neighbors.  Even saying that in the past tense is weird to me.  They are our second family.  I mean, really.  Theresa is like my sister.  Ron is like my other husband.  I'm laughing as I say that last part, but it's so true.  He does all the "manly" things that I need a guy to do around the house when Wade's gone.  Mow the lawn, grill...  I cannot tell you how many to-do lists I've given him, and he does it without hesitation.  Wade tries to do the same when Ron's out of town.  So, Theresa and I are nearly sister-wives considering one is usually gone while the other is home.  Theresa and I have gotten so close in the last 2 years.  This lovely lady is the funniest person I know.  My days are automatically bluer and sunshinier (yes, I just made up that word) when I spend them with her.  Love you two!  And on this very night, the laughter was off the chain.  

 Playing a card/drinking game called Kings.  The best drinking game ever.  Period.  Any game where you can snort like a pig when you drink, talk in crazy accents, or drink until your neighbor puts theirs down (ok, maybe not that last part), but it's seriously just asking for a crazy good night.

 Like I said, 3 sheets to the wind.

Cheers!  And farewell sweet friends.  I wish you all a year of absolute joy and happiness.  Now, please come visit.  San Diego is calling your name.