A happy place

So here we are in Washington. Bremerton, Washington, to be exact. New car. New house. New weather. Life is good. It's very different here. Absolutely beautiful though! The Naval Shipyard is an amazing conglomeration of some of the biggest ships I've ever encountered! The Stennis is most definitely a good-sized ship! It was really cool to watch it glide through the water as we stood on the Bremerton Boardwalk. The ferry ride across to Seattle is one of the most amazing things ever! Seriously! If you get the chance, do it! It's free to go to Seattle if you're walking on, and you can take your car there and back for $23.00! We haven't had to take the car across yet, because just walking through all of Pike Street Market is suffice exercise for one day. It's so awesome across the sound. Awesome. There are so many interesting people to see, places to go, and tons of stuff to try/buy! Jake is out to see right now. Hopefully he'll be back by Thanksgiving! Beckham is super excited, because we're planning on going to go see Imagination Movers in December! We've had a little bit of excitement with the wildlife here; the raccoons decided to walk off with all 7 of my miniature pumpkins that were outside for a mere day and half! We're finding our way around the city of Bremerton and the city of Silverdale as well. The kids are ready for some dinner, too bad I don't do seafood, because there is a VERY wide variety of it here in the Puget. :p

A little update on us

Since it's been way too long since I've posted, I figured I'd at least try to type out something. Even if it is a big rambling mess of randomness. :) We're going on week 3 since we were in Chicago. It's tough having Jake gone, but we're coping. The graduation was absolutely amazing. There are really no words to describe the feelings (and that lump in my throat) I had when I saw my husband for the first time in 9 weeks.

I'm still serving at the Golden Corral here in West Jordan. Although it's hard and sometimes I don't like it, it keeps my sanity, it's a perfect way for me to get even just a few hours away from the chaos of the boys. :) Now if I could cash my paychecks, we'd be set! But that in itself is another story. The tips are usually pretty good, so that's all that matters. :)


Beckham is growing and is as smart as ever. He can now count from 1 - 11. He knows nearly all of his colors with the exception of Red/Green. He's constantly getting them both switched around. I am a little bit curious as to why.... I have a feeling that he could possibly be color blind. Why else would those be the only two that he confuses? He knows ALL the other ones. Even pink! I just don't know how to go about getting him tested, so once I call someone and get him in, I'll let everyone know! He is convinced that every new and upcoming day is his birthday. He's convinced that Grandma, Papa, and even Aunt Jessica are coming with us when we move to "our new house". I'm amazed at the things he picks up on. He's so quick and funny. He loves to play computer. PBS Kids, Nick Jr., and even Barbie.com are some of his favorite places. He tries very hard to be a good big brother. Most days, he's a big helper. Others... not so much. Why does this kiddo not understand that sitting on Holden is NOT acceptable? I don't care if "he likes it". It's not nice. A few days ago, while playing with a car, Holden went up to where Beckham was, and he ripped the car out of Holden's hand. I asked him why he did that, cause it wasn't nice. Beckham said to me: "Mom! It's a one player game!".


When Holden isn't being pushed over by Beckham, he's into anything and everything. 2 days ago, he finally decided to do more than just leap excitedly into my arms when he's standing. He's walking! Unassisted! Woo! He's doing fabulous, 2 weeks after his yucky Swine Flu ordeal. :) He's making car noises when he has one in his hand. Blows bubbles with his spit. Says mama (still can't tell if it's directed towards me or not). Loves the bathtub (and the toilet water - blech) and playing in the kiddie pool outside. This kiddo is just like his mama - complete and utter water lover. If he has any chance to be in it, touch it, bathe in it, drink it, dump it out of his cup, he's there. He loves, loves, loves the water. He's still wearing his Plagio helmet. We go in to Dr. Warnock on Wednesday. Can't wait to see if he's finished with it or not! It's hard to believe that in just over a month, my baby boy is going to be ONE year old! Where did the year go?! It's nuts how fast he's grown. He's still little compared to Becks, but sooooo big compared to that first day I held him.


Jake's schooling is going well. He loves the city of Chicago and has been fortunate enough to be able to spend time playing and enjoying it when he's not in classes. I must say, I am SO jealous!

So far Jake has


• attended a Chicago Fire game
• ridden on a water taxi
• seen Navy Pier
• gone to Shedd Aquarium
• eaten at Giordano's not once, but TWICE


That's just the things that I remember/he's told me they've done. He is taking his very first test tomorrow, and if he scores well, he'll have his foot in the door for the Advanced Placement something-or-another - which will make him come out of schooling as an E-4!!! I miss him terribly. The boys miss him, especially Beckham. Beckham is always asking about his daddy and telling me that he misses him. It's tough. We don't have too much longer and we'll be together again! I can't wait! We're supposed to be getting our PCS orders on Friday. So I am sure I will share that exciting news too!

30 days?!

Oh boy. The countdown is on. ONE month until my sweet, handsome husband heads to Basic.
(Try saying that one 3 times fast!)

We've made a few trips to the Recruiters office in the past few weeks, to get things all squared away. I think with each new thing that happens and each new thing that's said makes it all sink in that the day isn't just coming, it's coming FAST.

• Medical release form - CHECK
• Holden's Birth Certificate - CHECK
• Beckham's Social Security Card - CHECK
• Physical fitness testing - CHECK
• Updated paperwork for Jake to sign - Going first thing tomorrow morning

It's coming. The day is really coming. I am not sure I can even begin to describe
the feelings that are running through my head, and I'm scared to even THINK of the
thoughts that are running through JAKE'S head. After all, HE is the one that's flying
to a city over 1400 miles away to go through Basic Training @ Great Lakes. I am so darn proud of him for making this choice for our family, and for being such a responsible person! I can't wait for the changes it will bring. Trust me, it will bring them... and it's going to bring them alot faster than I realized!

I'm a cripple

Here is the very first post from Jake:

So on Wednesday night I played not one but two soccer games. I played one at 5:30 and if we won we played again at 7:30. The earlier game was great! We played really well! And won 4 – 0 so we stayed and played another game. About ten minutes in to that game I got hurt. I believe we had played that team before and I remember them being a physical team, witch by the way I absolutely love. About five minutes in I was down in a corner with a lady that was probably five feet tall and maybe 110 Lbs. And she out muscled me! It was amazing. Anyway, I was tracking down a loose ball just over the half way line and I got to it first with a struggle of course, and I was putting my body in-between him and the ball and I think my cleats grabbed the ground wrong. The second I looked at the ball to see where it was I saw me knee, it looked like my knee cap had moved over the outside of my leg and bent in half. I rolled a couple of times and yelled a lot and probably said a couple of choice words. My wife and my baby weren’t there, thankfully, so she had to be called to come and pick me up. That’s a whole story in itself.

Two Mondays before these games my dad went to the hospital for a surgery. The hospital that he was at was literally a half mile away. In between my games my wife for some reason got mad at me and took Beckham, our son, to the hospital and she of course walked. It’s a good thing my mom was at the hospital with her car when the county called my wife so that she could bring my mom’s van. So she came and picked me up.

Before I talk about it any more I have to give a shout out to Jed and Levi, Some of Mike’s friends that happened to show up and watch these games. These guys helped me with everything! They lifted me up to sit in a chair and watch what I could and most importantly they carried me, not just let me limp beside them, carried me to the van that me wife brought to pick me up in. They are amazing. Thanks guys! They are for sure going to heaven!

So I got to the hospital and the first hour was horrible! We asked for ice and it came eventually but we had to ask for it a second time! I was getting nauseous and light headed and my life was crumbling right before my eyes! I finally got some ice and finally got into a room and the time I was in the room and got x-rays and everything was probably 45 minutes! Less time than when I was waiting to get back into a room! They stuck me on crutches, gave me some pain pills and said “Call a surgeon and make an appointment” and I was on my way.

The next day I had to call my Navy recruiter who actually took the news a lot better than I had expected. And that night I had to go to a meeting. A DEP meeting. Delayed Entry Program Meeting. It’s to help me get ready to go into the Navy. It was kind of sad when everyone had to do push ups but me. But oh well. What can you do?

Anyway… Thank you Syd for being there for everything even though you are 8 months pregnant and aren’t supposed to do anything! You truly are amazing! I bet you go to heaven too just like Levi and Jed! Thanks to my team for getting us that far! To the Final game! You guys are amazing too! But I think only a few of you will make it to heaven! C-ya later!

We're in...

... the Navy!

DH just got home from MEPS and is an official member of the United States Navy!
I started a new blog today, too:

www.lifeasanavywife.blogspot.com

We're so excited for this new, life-changing opportunity!
He's going in as a Culinary Specialist, which sounds so very exciting.
His ship date is December 16th, 2008 (if he wants to, he may be able to head out before that).
I'll have to post a pic later of his awesome picture that's on his military ID, it's so *cute*!

***Finally remembered to add a pic of his temp ID card***

MEPS

Well... I am hoping that after today, when DH gets home,
I'll officially be a NAVY WIFE! He's @ MEPS right now,
getting all his physical stuff done. Yay!

I can't wait to start blogging
I have a new blog, dedicated specifically to our upcoming Naval lifestyle:
www.lifeasanavywife.blogspot.com
as we adjust to our new life as a military family.

I must admit, I'm scared to death, but at the same time,
I am so utterly excited! I cannot wait to see what this new
life-changing experience has in store for us.

♥ Sydney