9 Month Portraits

Besides almost losing my mind, Isaac's 9 month portraits turned out great. Being the huge sucker for pictures that I am, I also did their promotional series with Kendall. (If I had known they were doing this I would have actually fixed her hair.) Here they are to enjoy :-)

One of the collages that they put together.

Our sweet munchkins
The only one that she didn't have her dress up in.....

Before he was in serious need of food.....

My favorite of the day....

Did I mention that the photographer was awesome? (That she has 5 kids all under the age of 5....4 yrs, 3 yrs, 2 yrs, 1 yr, and 3 mo!)

Isaac 9 Months old

Long one for the Grandparents

Since we will be at the beach for father's day, we gave Ben his gift early.

We're pretty sure that he likes it :-)
Slippin' and slidin'



Kendall (and everyone else) had a BLAST at Maya's birthday party.
Isaac couldn't go down the huge slide but Melissa did get him wet in his own way!

A quarter, a rainy day, and your little brother on your bus with you....

PRICELESS!

We have started a lot of our summer activites and here is Kendall helping to lead laptime at the library.

Isaac at laptime

Just as it was with Kendall, the dogs are not far from Isaac when he is down playing on the floor.

Kendall thought that Isaac would like to dress up like a knight since she does.

Funny Faces....

Marriage survey...taken from Facebook

Since I haven't had a big chance to post any pictures in the last week and a half I thought that I would throw this on for our loyal family and friend readers! Hope you enjoy :-)


MarriageShare

For all you married people out there! Tag your married friends that you want to know about!

1. When was your "engagement" anniversary:
December 24, 2003

2. When is your "marriage" anniversary:
December 31, 2003 (Yep those dates are right don't adjust your monitor!) We also renewed our vows with our family and friends May 29, 2004.

3. How long have you known your spouse:
6 years last month

4. How long did you date/court before you were engaged:
6 months

5. Where did you meet your spouse for the first time?
Pensacola, FL at a concert

6. What is your spouse's full name:
Benjamin James

7. Do you have any children:
Two beautiful kiddos

8. How many - boys/girls:
1 boy and 1 girl with the possibility of more in the future

9. Do you have any house pets:
2 dogs (Jordan and Geronimo), 1 cat (Kahlua or kitty kitty), 2 turtles (big turt and little turt)

10. Do you own a house or rent:
own

11. Do you live in the country or town/city:
I guess it is within city limits

12. What is one of your favorite activities together:
Hmmm.....most recently I would have to say kayaking but really anything. Ben makes almost everything seem fun even house projects

13. Do you have a favorite vacation spot:
Anywhere together but I have to say that Charleston, SC, Fredericksburg, TX, and Puerton Rico stand out in my mind

14. How many siblings (including in-laws) do you have:
I have one little sister, 2 sister-in-laws, and 2 brother-in laws (wait unless I am supposed to count Judd then it would be 3!)

15. What church do you attend:
First Baptist of Jacksonville

16. Is this the church you were married in:
Nope

17. What town is your current address at:
Jacksonville

18. Do you work or stay at home:
I work at home!

19. Where did you go on your honeymoon:
We traveled from Pensacola, FL to Oceanside, CA for our first stopping in A LOT of cool places. New Mexico & the Grand Canyon are standing out to me. We went to Puerto Rico for our "real" honeymoon with our friends Dan & Nikki.

20.Who drives when you go out together?
Mostly Benny

21.How long have you been together?
almost 6 years in total

22. How long did you know each other before you started dating?
a little over 2 months

23. Who asked who out?
hmmm....well technically it was me. I asked Ben to pretend to be my boyfriend to get a guy to leave me alone at the beach then Ben called me to ask me if I wanted to go out on Will's boat the next day.....I guess a little bit of both!

24. How old are each of you?
Ben's 32 and I am 31 (but soon to be 32 yuck!)

25.Whose siblings do/ did you see the most?
Actually surprisingly it is about even since we live so far from all of them!

26. Which situation is the hardest on you as a couple?
I would have to say money and cleaning....although we are getting better in our old age!

27. Did you go to the same school?
Nope....I from PA and Ben is from (TX) hee, hee well from jr high on at least!

28. Are you from the same home town?
Nope see above!

29. Who is smarter?
We each have our own special areas!

30. Who is more sensitive?
Me hands down!

31.Where do you eat out most as a couple?
Recently Chick Fil A (active toddler= kid friendly resturant) Before that we really liked a local place called Duck's (one of the few non chain resturants in J'ville)

32. Where is the furthest you two have traveled together as a couple?
Puerto Rico & 2 trips across the country courtesy of the Marine Corp

33.Who has the craziest exes?
Not really sure?

34. Who has the worse temper?
We both can hold our own! He is part Italian and I am part German....interesting mix!

35. Who does the cooking?
usually me unless it is grilling

36. Who is more social?
Normally me I guess but Ben does great once he warms up!

37. Who is the neat-freak?
ME!!!!

38. Who is the more stubborn?
Both of us!

39. Who hogs the bed?
Both of us!

40. Who wakes up earlier?
He does! Poor Benny and that long drive!

41. Where was your first date?
Group date....Flounders at Pensacola Beach, Casual date....dog park in Pensacola, We also did a lot of dating at the beach too!

42.Who has the bigger family?
Benny

43. Do you get flowers often?
Yep....not as much as when we were dating but then again we would be in the poor house if that continued!

44. How do you spend the holidays?
We rotate Thanksgiving with the families normally. Most of the time Christmas in PA & we have spent a large majority of New Years with Ben's family....either in NC, WI, or MO.

45. Who is more jealous?
I am

46. How long did it take to get serious?
About a month or 2

47. Who eats more?
Probably me?!!

48. Who does the laundry?
Me

49. Who’s better with the computer?
depends what you are doing!

50. Leave a piece of advice for the other couples:
Go to church and pray together; laugh, laugh, laugh; enjoy each other and your life together because you never know when it can change!

Down and Dirty....

What's been going on in our household in 5 minutes or less!

• Isaac had his 9 month well check up on Friday (no vaccines!) He is starting to even back out. He weighs 23 pounds 4 ounces (90%) and is 29 inches tall (75%.) The pediatrician is super happy with him. It is best to be at 75% and 75% for both height and weight according to him so if he keeps going at the same pace.......


• Ben went on a men's camping trip on Friday night. He had a great time minus being bit up my skeeters. I had the ladies over here at my house and had a blast as well esp with all the good news that was floating around!


• Obviously, I celebrated by myself on Friday night when the Pens won the Stanley cup!


• Saturday, we all napped a bit then of course went to Lowe's for more home improvement project materials....Ben is such a good sport!


• Sunday was good as well. I missed church since I had nursery desk duty but we had a great SS class. I am really loving our study and bummed that we won't be there next weekend! We puttered around the house and worked on completing those other projects.


• This week is going to be busy.....we have a bday party on Wednesday night, I have a squadron wives coffee at my house on Thursday, then we leave for the beach on Saturday. Oh did I mention we get back on the 27th and I will be having Kendall's bday party on the 28th? So we will probably be hit and miss on here for the next 2 weeks! Ok little man is crying so off I go!

Friday Fill-ins (on Saturday)

Sorry I was crazy busy yesterday! Isaac's 9 month MD appointment, my knee xray, getting ready for the girls to come over.....etc. Anyway, here we go!

And...here we go!

1. I grew up thinking I would live about 3-5 hours away from my parents. (I think this is the closest that I have been since I first moved away in 2001 & we are 10 hours away!)

2. Yahoo mail was the last website I was at before coming here.

3. Why don't you help me figure it out?

4. A nice hot bath helps me relax.

5. Thanks for the invite Melissa we are excited to celebrate Maya's bday.

6. ??? very off-putting.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to (the girls coming over to my house and the Stanley cup playoffs), tomorrow my plans include recouping from the kids when Ben gets home from camping and Sunday, I want to get some house projects done with BeeGee!

Congratulations Pittsburgh Penguins!!!!

2009 Stanley Cup Champions!!!!!!!

The ABC's of Me

The ABC's of ME!

I saw some other people do this so thought I would too!

A - Age: I'm not telling! :-) JK....31 soon to be 32

B - Bed size: King....Ben is a big guy and we both like to sprawl out.

C - Chore you hate: paying bills

D - Dog's name: Jordan (rhodesian ridgeback/boxer mix) & Geronimo (rottie)

E - Essential start your day item: a shower

F - Favorite color: Pink

G - Gold or Silver or Platinum: White gold

H - Height: 5 foot & 3 glorious inches

I - Instruments you play: clarinet from 4th grade thru senior year

J - Job title: Wife, mommy, RN, domestic goddess

K - Kid(s): Kendall (soon to be 3 on the 30th) & Isaac (9 months)

L - Living arrangements: In our own beautiful home with my wonderful hubby, Ben, 2 children, 2 dogs, 2 turtles, and 1 cat

M - Mom's name: Linda

N - Nicknames: Jamie, Jamers, Jamela, Buns, Mommy, Mum ma

O - Overnight hospital stay other than birth: Just giving birth to my beautiful babies

P - Pet Peeve: Bad drivers

Q - Quote from a movie: Beginnings are usually scary and endings are usually sad. It's the middle that counts the most. So give hope a chance to float up. "Hope Floats"

R - Right handed or left handed: Right

S - Siblings: 1 sister, Jen

T - Time you wake up: When the kids wake up....normally about 6

U- Underwear: Ummmm.....I like them :-)

V - Vegetable you dislike: Peas!

W - Ways you run late: Ha.....the two kiddos, my blog or facebook, trying to make sure I look half way decent....surprising how much your looks slide after kids!

X - X-rays you've had: Chest (pneumonia), left leg (sandwiched between a hosptial bed and wall during a code), right leg (Geronimo demolished the MCL, meniscus, & patella in 2005....& I have to get it xrayed again this week before my MRI!)

Y - Yummy food you make: Earthquake cake, Italian dip, Turkey vegetable chilli, Meatball stone soup, Crab boil (even if Ben doesn't like it!)

Z - Zoo favorite: Bengal tigers

Daddy time

This is from the past weekend when Kendall and Ben shared some special time together.

They put together a wooden helicopter.

Kendall got a lady "bug" apron so that she could be like daddy so they made waffles for supper which we topped off with YUMMY homemade syrup that my parents brought down from the PA "Hardy Gang."

Delightful Dentist Visit

Yes, you are reading the title of that post correctly & no I am not being sarcastic. I must admit that driving to the dentist today I was remembering our visit last time where Kendall wouldn't even open her mouth much less do any cleaning. I am pleased to report that (with me holding her in my lap) Kendall let them count, polish, rinse, and floss her teeth. I was so proud of her! Next visit, her hygienist is hoping to add a fluoride paste to Kendall's regimen. Kendall brushed her teeth with her new tooth brush and paste while we were waiting for the dentist to come in and check her. She got to grab a prize and settled on an emerald ring to go with the rest of her bling, bling that she wore today.

I feel on top of the world with potty training (at least #1) is going well and we seem to have conquered the dentist as well!

Working the chair!
Showing the teeth how pretty they looked after she brushed them.

Brushing them again

With her hygienist

467 1st annual Flight Suit Party

Ben and I before the start of the party

The idea is to find a used flight suit, cut it up and dress it up, so it is girly.
Great group of girls!

One of our skits was based on the song "Beer, bait, and ammo." The bait was some NICE undies that we personalized for the guys.

Ummmm.....Ben caught the undies that were meant for his CO since I have such a lack of aim & throwing arm :-)

During "Beer, bait, and ammo"

Last day of PMO for Kendall

Thursday was Kendall's last day of PMO. It seems like it was just yesterday when I was bringing her home from the hospital & now September will be starting preschool. Where did the time go?

One of her sweet moments!

Kendall's best friend from PMO. Good luck Sidney!

Saying goodbye is so hard to do....Sidney's family is moving to Monterry, CA so I am quite certain that Kendall will have a melt down about it soon!

Miss Juana and Miss Jessica did a wonderful job! Isaac will be with them next year for PMO.

Kendall's class minus 4 kiddos.

Kendall's Korner and Isaac's inch by inch

So Isaac really is starting to inch along....just backwards! He can get up on his hands and knees but seems to prefer scooting backwards.

Kendall found her princess crown from her 1st birthday & celebrated playing princess for the day.
Sweet boy!

A typical pose at our house

Kendall loves squeezing her little brother

The least recorded member of our family stopped and posed real pretty for a picture.

Friday Fill-ins

And...here we go!



1. There's no place like home.

2. My favorite thing for dinner lately has been chicken. (I don't know why!)

3. All my dogs do is bark! bark! bark!

4. A nice long walk with Ben, the kids, and the dogs is my favorite way to end the day.

5. I enjoy when I hear some good news.

6. When all is said and done, there's no other place that I would like to be.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to the flight suit party for Ben's squadron, tomorrow my plans include a ladies tea with my friends & some relaxing with my family and Sunday, I want to count my blessings!

Pretty cool picture

The aircraft that Ben flies.

Cherry Point Triathlon Results

Ok so I will add the video on here in a little bit.....if I can get it downloaded with all my to-do's today!
Ben completed his tri on Saturday in 1 hour 1 minute and 10 seconds. (The only way it would have been quicker is if he hadn't had to stop to pee...hee,hee you knew I wouldn't leave that part out babers!)
He placed 2nd in his age group and 5th overall out of about 100 people.
Great Job Benny!
Watch this post later for video footage!

Where did the weekend go?

First let me say that today is sad for me because we are hitting some milestones here! Kendall is on her last week of PMO and will be onto pre-school in September...where is the time going?! Isaac had his first ride in a big boy car seat instead of the infant carrier. (Even though he has been over the weight for awhile now I just couldn't bear the thought of moving him! Too grown up for this mama!)

We had a great weekend. Friday night we had a great time with small group and started a new lesson on parenting.

Saturday we got up at the crack of dawn & went to watch Ben do the Cherry Point Triathlon. He did great as usual and came in 2nd in his age group. I will post his final times when he gets them to me. (I also have video that I need to download when I get time.)

We ran home to get cleaned up then went to the CO's house for an appreciation dinner that night. Kendall and Isaac did great for our new babysitter so I was pumped about that since we will be using her again on Friday night!

Sunday we were blessed with some downtime after church and Sunday school to let all of us recharge our batteries....which was desperately needed!

Yesterday, Ben came home to keep the kids & I went to the doctor for my knee. He is going to get an MRI to see what is going on then decide if I need to go back to PT or what is going on. After that, I went to the dentist to get my ortho work up. (I will find out next week how long and how much my braces are going to set us back.) I also finally got my broken tooth fixed. My mouth is pretty sore today but it is much better than last night! Anyway, you know that I couldn't leave you without some pictures!!

Kendall cheesing it up for her next to last day of "school"/ PMO.

Isaac's first big boy ride!
Isaac found Ben's sunglasses hilarious on Saturday

After the triathlon

Father and son moment

Kendall loves her daddy and was wishing him good luck before the race!

I can't take claim for this photo....Kendall took it with my camera!

Oh we were blessed to hang out with some friends during the race so it made it easier to wait for Ben to get done! Thanks Kelly!