Polka Dots and Preschool

Gracie attended her first day of preschool last Thursday and it was a huge success! We were a little uneasy about how the transition would go - for her and us - and are pleased to report her first day went far better than we could have imagined.

Gracie was off to a great start last Thursday as she bolted down the stairs from bed and made a bee-line for her new backpack!

Unfortunately, Marc had an exam that morning and was unable to see her off on her first day. Thank goodness for the trusty 'ol self-timer and a makeshift tripod!

Liam was equally excited about her starting school...I think he already is understanding that Gracie's preschool days = undivided attention from Mommy. :)

Gracie was a little nervous as she made her backpack at home in her cubby, but didn't shed a tear when we said good-bye...Mrs. Smalls said the tears came shortly thereafter, but she quickly recovered. Phew!

Granny Banannie Pays a Visit

Last week my mom decided to catch a break from the Florida heat (ha!) and pay us (read: Gracie and Liam;) a long-overdue visit. It was so nice to have her here for the week and the kids thoroughly enjoyed some much-needed time with their Granny. While she ate up the kids, Marc and I seized the opportunity to head out for a dinner date night at our FAVORITE restaurant here in the DC area: Mike's American Grill...it was pure heaven. :)

The summer heat subsided briefly, providing us a gorgeous morning in downtown Fredericksburg.

As a military family that is seldom has the opportunity to be with extended family, we have really come to cherish these visits. Watching our kids enjoy their grandparents and cousins (and vise-versa) brings us such joy!

My mom put the finishing touches on this gorgeous hand-sew quilt while she was here...I was so excited to learn it would be staying with us! Thanks, Mom!

Liam and the Purple Chairs

What exactly is it about certain toys that draw kids to them? This one has served as a real head scratcher for Marc and I for a few weeks now...Liam is obsessed with the tiny purple seating that goes to Gracie's doll house. Seriously. There have been times he'll sit for 15-20 minutes at a time adoring these little chairs. Marc and I often joke that we know Liam has left his "mark" in the playroom when we find nothing but two little chairs sitting alone on the tabletop. In some ways I find this terribly cute, but in other ways I wonder if we should perhaps invest in some G.I. Joe's for the poor boy...

A budding Vern Yip, perhaps? I wonder how Marc would feel about that one... ;)

See Mommy Run!

On Saturday some good friends and I decided to take part in the RunStock 5K here on base...and had a blast! While I have been running for a couple years now (nothing like having a baby to encourage a new mom to hit the pavement!), this is the first time I have taken part in an organized run - and I think I may be hooked! With Marc unable to participate, as he is only one month post-surgery, he gladly linked up with the other husbands and kids to enjoy the festivities.

A famished Liam enjoying my post-run banana. :)

Here is Gracie the groupie. Gracie was completely enamored by the Chick-fil-A cows...very unexpected being that this is the little girl who has burst into tears any time we have gotten within 15 feet of Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny!

Here Fishy, Fishy...

On Wednesday some friends from the neighborhood and I decided brave I-95 and head north to scope out the National Aquarium in Washington D.C. . While it certainly could never stand up to more well known aquariums across the country, like the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago (so neat!), it was the perfect place for our special pint-sized tourists!

Gracie was fascinated by the fish. However, when we got to the alligators and sharks she was a little less-enthusiastic!

Liam having a good ol' staring contest with one funky looking fish.


After we got out fill of fish, we walked over to an open area near the Washington Monument so the kids could run around and enjoy a snack before we loaded up to head home.

Thanks, Mr. Stretching Jogger Man for snapping a group shot of these brave mommies! :)

EWS

Well, this marks Marc's first full week of EWS (Expeditionary Warfare School) and he is off to a great start! Marc has mentioned on many occasions how foreign being a student once again feels...this is the first time in the last six years that he has only had to be responsible for himself!

Last Friday I was able to attend a spouses day for a chance to understand what he would be doing in the coming months, receive a schedule, and get to meet other spouses whose husbands are in Marc's conference group. I was also able to gain a true sense of what an honor it was for Marc to be chosen to attend this school as a resident...turns out that while all Captains who desire to further their careers must complete this school, only 17% are selected to attend it as a resident - all others complete it via distance learning. I couldn't be more proud of Marc and all that he has done to arrive at this point. Not only is this a fantastic opportunity for him in his career, it is a huge blessing to us as a family. The schedule for EWS students grants an abundant amount of family time - and from what I've been told - we will most certainly never have an opportunity like this again throughout his time in the military! With that said, we are so thankful for each day we have. Knowing that fleet-life and deployments are just around the bend make us all the more mindful of how precious this time is.

Gracie's Birthday Party

Last Saturday we had the pleasure of celebrating Gracie's birthday with great friends and great food. Despite the fact that the hot and humid weather kept all 18 of us indoors, we had a wonderful time! We feel so blessed that God has given us such great friendships here - something especially comforting when living so far away from family.

Gracie thoroughly enjoyed her polka-dot cake I made her and had a great time running around with the other kids. When it came time to open her gifts, her thankful heart made us so proud...at one point she said, "These are such wonderful presents!". :)

Is anyone else noticing a trend here? What is it about us singing "Happy Birthday" that results in instant tears from Gracie? I'm beginning to think this is her way of telling us our singing voices stink!

Once the singing ceased, Gracie was able to somewhat compose herself for a family picture.

Once her cupcake of choice was in hand all was well in the world once again. Phew!

Now Liam was the annoyed one at this point in the night...who could blame him, though? We had just finished dressing him in Gracie's new tutu and rainbow leggings for a good chuckle.

Happy Birthday, Gracie!

Can you believe it? We can't! Gracie Marie turned three yesterday and Marc and I can't help but feel stunned by how quickly time has gone. It blows our minds to think back to what our life was like on this date three years ago... After a tearful good-bye, Marc had recently deployed back to Iraq for his second tour and was busy conducting combat operations with 3/2. Back in North Carolina, I was just heading home from the hospital with our beautiful new baby girl wondering how I was going to "do this" on my own for the next 7 months - uncertain about what the coming weeks and months would bring. God was so faithful to us during that time and has continued to bless us and provide for us as a family - and as individuals.

With Marc's surgery recovery being lengthy, we decided to throw her birthday party next Saturday. As a result, we decided to celebrate as a family yesterday in a more relaxing fashion...

Our "Little Ladybug" thoroughly enjoyed her ladybug cupcake that we picked up from the bakery. We, however, underestimated the staining power black frosting has on the tongues and clothes!

While the cupcake was adorable and delicious, the after effects definitely warranted a quick detour to the bathtub prior to opening presents!

Hooray for Elefun!

We decided to end Gracie's special day with a Bullock Family first: Jammie and Movie Party! Marc picked out the original Charlotte's Web for us to watch. Gracie kept commenting on Templeton and his "stinky egg". :)

Adventures in Baltimore

We were thrilled to learn that our family from Oklahoma would be vacationing out our way in D.C. this past week! Although Marc's surgery made it difficult to spend as much time with them as we would have liked, it was wonderful to see them. The kiddos and I loaded up the van on Wednesday and ventured into Baltimore with plans to spend the afternoon with them before they continued on their travels...

After a journey into Maryland taking longer than expected (I am no longer surprised by the unexpected D.C. traffic jams here) we enjoyed a fast-paced harbor side reunion with our beloved family, complete with a yummy lunch at the Cheesecake Factory. Naturally, there was a shortage of time to adequately catch up, but such is the way it goes when your visits are few and far between, right? Despite a three hour car ride and a napless afternoon, Gracie and Liam were in great spirits and had a great time exploring the harbor and getting acquainted with my Aunt and Uncle and Jaimi, Jaclyn and Nicholas.

By the time our afternoon came to an end, the kids were exhausted, our bellies were full and we were soaking wet (thanks to an unexpected downpour)! It was a delightful way to spend our day and I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to visit with them - albeit short. :) Our only disappointment was that Marc was unable to join us, as he is still early in his recovery.

Aunt Amy and I sneaking a quick post-downpour snapshot!

I truly cannot believe that these two darling young ladies are "little" Jaimi and Jaclyn!

Gracie had officially entered into her "I am waaaay past nap time" haze.

Not the most opportune place to snap our pictures, but the whole unexpected downpour sorta threw a wrench into our gorgeous harbor photo plans!

Surgery Update

Just a quick update on how Marc is doing...

Marc went for his scheduled surgery last Thursday morning in Bethesda, MD and everything went beautifully. The neurosurgeon was pleased with how smoothly it went and felt it will indeed provide Marc the relief we were so desperately seeking. Marc has already mentioned feeling as though he has a "brand new leg", as the shooting pain and numbness he had been experiencing over the last year has completely subsided! Praise the Lord!!

Marc is pretty uncomfortable around the surgical site, as to be expected, but is feeling quite well overall and is able to walk and stand for short periods of time without much pain. I am receiving much-welcomed help from Marc's mom, as she so kindly offered to come and stay with us during this initial recovery period. Needless to say, Gracie and Liam are basking in the love and attention from their Grandma, and I am enjoying the opportunity to keep Marc company and comfortable while he rests. Continued prayers for his lengthy recovery are very much appreciated.

Prayer Request

As many of you know, Marc is scheduled for spinal surgery in Bethesda, MD this Thursday, July 16th. It has been a long road for us in finding ways to manage his pain caused by two herniated discs and severe back arthritis and we are cautiously optimistic that the recommended procedures may finally bring him relief. Please keep Marc (and the medical staff caring for him, too!) in your prayers during this time as he prepares for, undergoes, and begins the long recovery post-surgery. More updates soon to come...

Gracie and Liam, at a glance...

Liam is currently 14 months old and is a little boy on the go-go! Unlike our soft-spoken Gracie, Liam is, well, loud! Whether he is excited, happy, sad, mad or frustrated, they all equal the same thing: screaming. He is incredibly silly and loves to dance. In fact, the other afternoon I cranked up an old 80's tune, Walkin' On Sunshine, and he immediately broke into dance...I laughed so hard I cried! His language is slowly improving..."Mama", "Dada", "Doggy", and "Go-Go-Go!" are his favorite things to say. What is on Liam's bookshelf these days, you ask? His current faves are Brown Bear, Brown Bear, Go Dogs, Go!, and Inside Outside Upside Down. As far as how Liam likes to spend his days, he is really quite happy wherever he is. Whether we hit the park, nature trail, go for a walk, swim, or just stay put at the house, he tends to find joy in just about anything!

It really brings us such joy to see Gracie and Liam playing their little games and enjoying each other!


Gracie is growing and learning more with each and every day. I was amazed when I sat down to do a ladybug alphabet puzzle with her the other day to find that she can accurately identify almost every letter of the alphabet (M's, N's and Z's tend to confuse her most)! Her love for books continues and she is really enjoying the magazine subscription to High Five that her Grandma Ann bought her for Easter. Her love for helping in the kitchen continues, and that is something I love equally. I have really enjoyed teaching her about different foods, cooking with her and watching her try new flavors...in fact, while making a black bean dip this afternoon I found her happily munching on leaves of cilantro!

While having a backyard that isn't exactly level is often a source of irritation, when the rain pours it instantly turns a boring slab of concrete into a fun-filled water-wonderland in the rain!

Stars, Stripes and S'mores

In an effort to dodge the insane crowds (read:
spending the 4th of July in D.C. traffic on I-95), we teamed up with the Rosenberg and Farley families and celebrated our nation's independence with delicious food from the grill and smoker, gooey s'mores, and a package of sparklers.









Gracie and Liam spent much of the evening racing around with Abby and Keane. To complete the celebration, we roasted marshmallows and gave them their first taste of s'mores - which proved to be a bit anti-climatic for Liam! While Gracie's bright blue eyes about popped from her head upon taking her first bite, Liam was completely bothered and irritated by how sticky his hands quickly became. Little did we know, a simple graham cracker was all he needed to be satisfied!

Gracie was thrilled at the privilege of holding her very own sparkler!