BRINGING UP BOYS!

Being Brothers

Happy Very Belated Birthday Papa Brent!

Papa Brent,
We hope your birthday was wonderful and that you forgive our tardiness in this post! Sometimes, we get a little confused on what day of the week it is! I knew your birthday was soon, but when I went to look on the calendar realized that we missed it!
We love you!

Love,
Zach, John Christian, Charlie, and Rebecca

Have You Been Reading The Blogs?

Hi! I know I haven't posted on this blog in a while b/c I am still trying to catch up the new blog. I wondered how many of you actually read this blog. I think I have my settings worked out so that the people who read it know who we are, know the blog address, or are friends with a fellow blogger. With that said I'd like you to do something for me. If you read this blog I'd like you to leave me a comment by clicking on comment below this post to let me know you are out there. I ask this because I am considering making my blogs private. I'm just not sure how I feel about random strangers finding the blogs and reading all about the boys. I have a site meter and so far this doesn't seem to be a problem, but you just never know. I know it would be more of a pain for those of you reading this to actually sign into the blog, but it shouldn't be too bad.

So, with all this said let me know if you are checking the blog. I don't want to leave anyone out on my list if I make it private!

Thanks,
Rebecca

*Note - You only need to comment on one of the blogs. That will give me the information I need!

A New Blog!

I am starting a new blog. Please check out BEING BROTHERS! My plan is to start fresh and up to date with the new blog. Then, I will also try and get caught up with this blog as well!! Wish me luck in finally blogging again!

Merry Christmas 2007!

Maybe by next Christmas the blog will be up to date! :)
We wish you all a Merry Christmas and may God continue to bless us all in 2008!

We have been blessed with so many things, but most of all we are thankful to be together as a family this Christmas!

Charlie LOVES his Big Boy Bow tie just like his daddy's!

John Christian was the Shepherd in the Sunday School play.
He was absolutely adorable except when he broke off pieces of his stick and threw them at the Angel Gabriel. I wish I had it on film, but at least I got a photo of him in his costume!

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Out of the mouths of the boys.....

I told John Christian his friend Meg was getting a baby brother for Christmas. He gave a concerned reply, "Why can't she just get presents?"

On Christmas morning Charlie looked around the room at what Santa brought. He looked at me and asked, "Where's my MONSTER TRUCK?" Santa didn't get the memo on the Monster Truck until Christmas Eve Day when Charlie announced that Santa was going to bring him one. Luckily, his Uncle John, YaYa, and Colonel got the memo about the Monster Truck because he got a HUGE one from Uncle John, a Hess Monster Truck, and a bag of little Monster Trucks from YaYa and Colonel. However, I still don't think Santa is out of the woods on this one.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! We have so much to be thankful for, but are especially happy that our family is together. We know others who are still deployed. Our hearts and prayers go out to those families!

Ear Tubes Anyone?

After 10 - 12 ear infections (maybe more) in his 2 short years the decision has finally been made to put tubes in Charlie's ears. We are scheduled to have this done on Monday morning. If anyone reading has experienced this situation please comment on what it was like for you. I'd like to hear the good and the bad. Although, mostly good would be helpful! Thanks!

Hugging Molly!

Friday, September 21, 2007
This photo is just too cute! Charlie loves his Molly Dog!

Back Blogging Again

Hi! I am starting to update the blog again! You'll have to look back all the way to Charlie's birthday! I am trying hard to get caught up!!

Happy 4th Birthday John Christian!!

I cannot believe John Christian is 4! I have tons of photos uploaded from the past few weeks to include some with Zach. He came home last Saturday night!! I will be updated very soon, but in the meantime wanted to tell John Christian we love him so much! The past 4 years have been amazing!!

John Christian got an early morning call from Grandma Dot.

John Christian wanted a Monster Truck Cake. I couldn't find one anywhere! So, I asked the lady at TCBY to make a cake with blue icing (his favorite color) and to make a road on it. I then went to Walmart where I found some little trucks and made my own Monster Truck Cake. He absolutely loved it and so did the teachers and children!

I took these photos from a window inside the school. It was fun to watch him try and accomplish walking across this balance bar. I did however get really mad when I saw a little boy walk up to him and push him off for no reason at all. I became a super protective mom and told the teacher who happened to walk by me inside. No wonder he doesn't like school! He's come home with a black eye and then a child pushes him off the balance bar into the dirt on his birthday for no reason at all. Yuck! The teacher told me they had issues with that particular child earlier in the day and she was glad I saw him and told her. Still, getting pushed on your birthday is not a nice way to start out the day!

At first John Christian didn't notice that I was in the classroom.

Then, he noticed me!

A little boy blew out his candle and we had to start again. He was most upset about this.

I wish I knew the names of the little ones in John Christian's class, but we haven't been there long enough to figure it all out yet.

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After school we picked up lunch from Burger King and headed over to the park to play with Margaret!

I'm not sure what Margaret was doing in the swings, but she was very cute!

Look at how big these brothers are! I cannot believe they are 2 and 4! Wow!!

Getting Dad All Over Again!

On Sunday night we had to drop Zach off at the air field to meet the rest of his soldiers that were coming in because they were not all able to fly in on the same night. Charlie had a complete breakdown because he thought his dad was leaving again. It broke my heart to see Charlie so sad. We headed back over to the meeting place where we had picked up Zach the night before and waited for a very long time for the 2nd set of soldiers to arrive. Charlie was very excited to see his dad again, and I don't think he'll let him out of his site for a very long time!!

Charlie had fun wearing his daddy's hat.

This is one of the twin daughters of one of Zach's soldiers. John Christian loves these girls and we were happy to see that their dad was finally home also!

We can't go anywhere without blanky and pappy!

Exhausted!!

Going To Get Dad!!

Saturday, September 15, 2007
On Friday we headed up to Fayetteville to get Zach. We weren't 100% sure he'd be coming home the next day, but we wanted to be in town when we got the call. The original plan was to visit with our friends Jamia, Macy, and Ava, but they called when we were in the car to say they had the Chicken Pox which we did not want! I decided to press on and find somewhere to stay once we got there. It's a good thing I did because on the drive up we got the call from Zach that he was in Kuwait and on the way home. Luckily, there were a few number of rooms left at the Inn at Fort Bragg and we were able to get a room where we stayed until we picked up Zach on Saturday night.

Charlie was not really sure what was going on, but John Christian knew exactly what was happening and was thrilled to see his dad for the first time in over 6 months. It took Charlie a little while, but Zach also wasn't wearing his glasses. I don't know if Charlie has ever seen his dad without glasses, but after a few minutes he figured it out. Now he is all about his daddy and can't be without him for a second!

Thanks to everyone for your constant prayers for all of us! We know that God is good and once again he has brought our family back together again. I just hope it will be for a little while longer this time! Either way for now the boys have their dad and I have my husband. Is there much more in life that matters?

John Christian was practicing the freak out faces he was going to make when he saw his dad.

Charlie enjoyed sipping on his special coke from McDonalds while we waited for the soldiers to come home.

Our friend Grant came with his parents to support the families waiting on their soldiers to come home. Grant's dad was in Iraq with Zach. 2 years ago.