Happy Birthday!!!!!

Yesterday was my Little Professors 6th birthday. I really can't believe how time has flown! We have moved a total of 6 times in his six years! (just typing that makes me tired, especially when I realize that 5 of the six times was before he was 4.) Things have been a bit up in the air around here lately. We are in the process of buying a house, and it has been quite an experience. We still aren't moved, but because we weren't sure when we were going to be moving I didn't make any concrete plans for celebration. Even though plans weren't "made" we still had a day full of fun. He came downstairs to a LEGO birthday banner. He is really into legos this year, so he loved it! His crown he is wearing in the last picture was given to him the last day of school....he had to wear it all day! My little Roo helped me make him some special pancakes for his birthday. They were "funfetti" cake batter baked as pancakes. Very addicting, and very not part of a nutricious breakfast! A great birthday breakfast! He also got to open a few presents at breakfast. He got Chinese Checkers and some new clothes. The shirt he is holding is a Spiderman shirt and glows in the dark.....he had to wear it! After breakfast we had some pre-op appointments because he is getting his tonsils and adnoids out on the 21st, not the best way to spend your birthday, but oh well. The receptionsists sang "Happy Birthday", and the doctors had to check out his glow in the dark shirt. There were no needles involved, so no tears! After the appointments we headed over the bridge to have lunch with his "Drinny" and "Pap Pap". We took him to a hibachi restaurant. It was fun to watch the reactions to the fire and the show. He didn't like the rush of heat from the fire, but loved the show! They were awesome and really played it up for him and even came out and sang, "Happy Birthday" and let him hit the gong for luck! When we got home he opened the rest of his presents. They included books, a superhero cape, a Nintendo DS (which he has been hinting for) a Star Wars game for it, a science kit and a tin can robot kit. Overall, Cameron declared it to be one of the best days of his life! Monday is his kid part, so the celebration goes on!

Yummy for My Tummy!

This morning my little Roo needed some distraction, so I put down the packing tape and boxes and took her to the kitchen where we mixed up some Pumpkin Pie Granola that I have been wanting to try. I was drawn to this recipe because there is no oil and no nuts! While we don't have any nut allergies, my friends do, so I am always looking for "safe" snacks! My little Roo was a natural in the kitchen! She loved stirring and dumping the ingredients! Here is the recipe we used! Pumpkin Pie Granola (nut free!) 4 cups Old fashioned rolled oats (use gluten free if your sensitive to gluten) 2 tsp Ground cinnamon 1 tsp Pumpkin pie spice 3/4 cup brown sugar 1/2 tsp Salt 1 tsp Baking powder 3/4 cups Pumpkin 1/2 cup Applesauce 3 tbs maple syrup (or honey or agave nectar) Optional Add-ins: 1/2 cup white chocolate chips, 1 cup honey graham crockers lightly crushed, craisins Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, or foil and spray with non-stick cooking spray. Mix the dry ingredients in one bowl, and the wet ingredients in another. Mix the wet ingredients into the dry using a spatula, (or your hands), until everything is well combined and oats are coated with wet ingredients. Place granola on baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes, then stir granola around. Bake for an additional 20 minutes or until the granola is golden brown and is crisp. Take the granola out of the oven, and let it cool completely on the baking sheet. Stir in additional white chocolate chips or teddy grahams at this point if desired. Store in an airtight container for up to one week. I think it will make a great snack as I continue packing!!!!

Crafting Before Crazineess!

So after weeks of not knowing what in the world was going on with the house that we were buying we FINALLY have a closing date! We will be closing this Friday and moving the following weekend. The next two weeks will be busy with packing, moving, end of the school year festivities, Father's Day, my little Professors birthday, my hubby's birthday, and whatever else pops up. Yesterday I decided to get some crafting that needed to be done out of the way, or at least that was my excuse! I put together end of the year presents for my sons teacher and bus drivers. My dad was in town visiting, so I took the opportunity to make his Father's Day present. After a quck trip to Michaels and some fun with spray paint on a windy day, this is what I came up with! What Grandpa doesn't need a way to display pictures of his grandkids! Especially with a new granddaughter on the way! (My sister is having a baby, not me!) I got the idea off of pinterest, but it was too girly, so I made it more "grandpa" then "grandma"! The smileface stickers are scrapbooking stickers that I stuck on with wood glue to make sure they stayed! It was a nice little break from cleaning and packing and doing moving things yesterday. Now I can hardly wait to get in the new house and unpack and get ready to enjoy the summer!!!

To My Friend....

One of the things about military life is that your friends up and move every few years. It is the one part of military life that I like the least, and I don't think it will ever get any easier. I have been very blessed with a great group of girlfriends a girl could have! We have laughed, cried and threatened to run away from it all together! I really think that if we put our heads together we could take over the world!

In a few weeks I am saying, "see you later" to one of my best friends, Karen. Karen is the most welcoming and kind person I have ever had the pleasure of knowing! We moved to Ft. Meade at just about the same time, so she has been a constant through all the ups and downs these years have held. She reached out to me after only meeting me once. I went to a game night at her house, and about a week later I ended up in the hospital, and she took the time to call and offer to bring me ice cream....it has been friendship ever since. She is the glue that has held our little band of friends together. She has tiredlessly hosted playdate after playdate, and game night after game night. She has come to my rescue to help with my kiddos time after time. Anyway, what kind of present do you give a person like that? We put our heads together and come up with this picture:

I saw this idea on Pinterest and immediately fell in love with it. So with my friend Rachel's help we did our own take on it! We included all of our kids, so that no matter where Karen moves, she will have a reminder of all the people who love and cherish her friendship in Maryland.

A Much Needed Break

Things have been a chaotic around the Cole household lately. We are moving to Columbia, MD in a few weeks, so packing has started! Plus, I have had many photography jobs, and have been able to volunteer at my little professors school. This weekend was a nice break, we had very low key plans and it was so nice! On Saturday we got to hang out with my friend Brooke and her gang! She has two little boys which Roo has taken possession of, calling them, "my boys". She has also taken possession of the rest of the family, but really, would you expect anything different of a 2 year old?

It was an evening that was filled with the happy chaos that you get when you add four kids, one dog, four adults, water to play in and some really good food! Sunday was a day around the house. I did some much needed laundry, and was able to start my week with empty laundry baskets, well at least the first few hours of the week! Yesterday that kids and I made a quick trick to Hobby Lobby in the morning. I needed some lighter fabric to make Roo a lighter blanket and pillow for her bed, as fleece isn't really summer in MD friendly! She picked out Tinker Bell fabric, she has really gotten into Tinker Bell and fairies lately, and I have really been enjoying it!

It was my first time sewing with "shiny" fabric, it was a bit of a challenge, but she was pleased with how it turned out. She even took the scraps to make blankets for her dolls! I let my little professor tackle the task of baking his first cake. It was from a box, but he had alot of fun. We took a basic white cake, and when it was cool, poured some red and blue jello over it, to make a patriotic cake for Memorial Day.

He decorated it is as well, and it was a perfect dessert to end the day with. Speaking of my little professor, he is turning 6 next month. With all the packing and moving that will be taking place shortly, I wanted to make sure to get his pictures in before the craziness started, so I dragged him outside yesterday morning for a quick photoshoot!

We used some props, and got pictures that really reflect him at this age! My dad got to come yesterday afternoon. The kids really enjoyed playing with him, and getting some grandpa cuddles!

We also spent some time in the backyard enjoying the water table and the hose. The kids were grateful to grandpa who knocked down the spiderwebs! They had a ball chasing each other around with the hose and watering the weeds!

It was a really wonderful weekend, and now I am ready to attack the week!

I Got to Say "YES"!!

Lately I feel I have been saying "no" from the time I wake up, till the time when my little angel go to bed. "No you can't play on the computer", "no you can't play with the toilet water", no you can't change your own diaper", "no you can't use your brother as couch"....well, you get the picture. Yesterday my day was blissfully free of "have to's". I had no errands that had to be run on any type of schedule, and while there was cleaning that needed to be done, I scattered that through out my day, so I had some time just to play with my little girl. I took her to the lake near our house, and I wanted to focus on saying "yes". "Yes you can sit on every bench that around the park", "yes you can feed the ducks", "yes you can sit and look at the water as long as you would like". I even let her carry my bag that help her juice and other things we had taken along (plus the 5,000 sticks she had picked up along the way). Motherhood is tough, it is easy for me to get overwhelmed with the responsibility of raising my children, and forget to take time and let them have fun and just be kids! I still won't let my little Roo do everything she wants, but I need to make sure to take time to let her be her, as long as it is safe and won't result in her taking over the world!

My Ebenezer

In the Old Testement the idea of "building an ebenezer" is brought up. These were piles of stones ment to guide and remind the Children of Israel of God's past help and faithfulness. Last year, on May 9th I had the most terrifying day I have ever experienced. That was day my little Roo had her biggest seizure episode. She had to be sedated for about 5 hours, intubated and flown by helicopter to Children's Hospital in DC. As the anniversary was getting close alot of the feelings I felt that day were starting to pop up. I remember the fear, the helplessness and despair. However, I have decided that instead of being a slave to those feelings, I would choose to use this anniversary to "build an ebenezer" of God's faithfulness. While those horrible feelings that I had were real, there were also an overhwhelming peace, a peace that is beyond understanding, a peace that could only come from God. I have chosen to do my best to focus on those feelings instead of the negative ones. So yesterday, on the anniversary we threw a celebration bbq, in a way celebrating my ebenezer, a party celebrating God's faithfulness. While the dads looked kinda shell shocked at the noise and confusion of it all, all the moms weren't fazed...it was the controlled chaos that happens when you but a TON of kids in one place.

It was indeed a celebration! All the kids played outside, apprently there were tons of ladybugs out there, and they were on a mission to catch them! All the kids looked tired and dirty as they were leaving!

I am so grateful to my military family. Last year they cried with me, this year they celebrated with me!! As I watched my little Roo play and be a kid (including getting hurt multiple times and giving mommy heart palpatations!) I couldn't help remember how small and helpless she looked last year. As I watched her run around I remember how scared I was that she would have physical limitations. I am so grateful for the miracle that is my daughter!