No Babies Here!

We've been busy, the way I like it with Marc gone. We are just busy enough that I am distracted from the reality of single parenting. I have a great support system in both of our families, which I am EXTREMELY grateful for. Our families have done so much for me and the boys during this different time. They've always been supportive of our little family but these last 3 weeks they have gone above and beyond.

With Marc gone I notice the boys' achievement a little more acutely. Such as the following:

 Jaxter stacked these all by himself. He was very excited!

Desmond is intrigued by Nana's obsessive puzzle puzzling. He has started putting together his own puzzles - 12 piece pictures, pretty good for a 4 year old. Do you recognize these puzzles, Julie?

Well, there are officially no more babies in this household! Jaxter has made the leap from crib and diapers to big boy bed and big kid underpants!

 Jaxter in his big boy bed. Gramps had to save the day because Mama underestimated how difficult it was to change a crib into a big boy bed. 

 Doing good at 10pm.

 Still sleeping .... just not *in* the big boy bed. =D

 Opening his present for going all night with no paci and staying in his big boy bed.

 Both boys enjoying the dress up hats from the present.

 Getting ready to carve pumpkins and eat pumpkin seeds.

Playing in the fall leaves, one of my favorite traditions about this time of year!

Happy Birthday Desmond

Desmond woke up this morning with one question: "Am I four now, Mom?"

He has been anticipating his birthday for days now and he was ecstatic that it was finally here.

We had our first "friend birthday". A birthday where we invited friends! I asked Desmond awhile back what he wanted for his birthday and he said friends so we invited a couple friends over for the big day.

Desmond requested a Lightning McQueen birthday so we went with a racing theme. We made a race track the length of the stairs and the kids raced their cars down it, then trucks, then balls. Anything they found they raced down it. Then we opened presents, had pizza (Desmond's favorite right now) and birthday cake. It was all in all a success.  =D

The only downer was that Jaxter spiked a fever halfway through the party. He spent the rest of the time cradling a juice and watching Curious George with Nana. Then an early long nap.

We took a piece of birthday cake to Uncle Maury since he had to work during the birthday party.

We ended the day with Desmond's favorite movie because both boys were draggin' their feet.

It was hard to have a birthday without Marc. I won't deny fighting tears at points throughout the day and thinking more than once, "I wish Marc were here." But we had fun and cherished the moment even though our favorite guy is gone. We took lots of pictures and videos so that we can share with him when we are reunited.

Here's some pictures of our fun day.

 Hard at work making a red Lightning McQueen cake.

 Desmond showing his age. 

 Decorations for our birthday boy.

 The finished cake. I think it turned out pretty good.

 The birthday crew!

 Opening presents.

 Jaxter sitting out. =(

 The racing track.

 Blowing out candles.

Desmond taking some turns on the track, post-party.

An Adventure

For those of you that don't know - Marc is in the Army now. He shipped this last week for Basic Combat Training. He will be gone till Christmas time. The boys and I are living with Marc's parents and spending 3-4 days each week with my parents so that I can put in some hours at my part time job at the Surgery Center.

I was thrilled to be able to drop Marc off. He had to ship from Butte, MT. So the boys and I reserved a hotel room and we made an adventure out of it. Marc and I said good-bye about 3 different times. We said good-bye when he left that morning from the hotel, then at the processing station after his swear-in then again at the end of the day.

We had been told to come to the swear-in at 11:30 - so I had planned to have me and the boys there by 11. Marc called at 8:10am and said that he was going to swear-in before 9am. WHAT?! Due to some poor sleeping the night before the boys had just woken up and were ready to go get breakfast. I, too, had just woken up. So we hustled faster than we have ever hustled and got to the processing center at 8:50. This included breakfast for the boys, a shower for me and everyone being dressed and looking their best. Well, as miraculous as that was, we still missed it. So we stayed a minute and then said good-bye.

The boys and I went back to the hotel to get our stuff and check out. Then we headed to an early lunch. At the end of lunch I got a text from Marc telling me to meet him back at the hotel in 20 minutes. Turns out they had no plans for him that day and he was free to spend his time however he choose. So we went to the park, drove up to Canyon Ferry Lake and enjoyed a nice afternoon as a family. We dropped him off (again) at 6pm and headed home.

The boys loved the hotel, although they did not sleep well, they had a blast jumping on beds, running down halls, eating pizza in bed, swimming in the pool, having special breakfast. Here is a video of what Desmond did whenever we were in our room.

We are doing alright with Marc gone. Although, I do miss him terribly. Desmond has started asking "Where is Dad?" which means that he notices Dad is gone. Desmond (and Jaxter) knows Dad is in Basic Training (Army School) and he will be back at Christmas. Marc did a lot to make sure he could "be around" when he couldn't "be around".  Which is proving to be just as therapeutic for me as it is for the boys.


Have a lovely week!

Eating pizza in bed.

 Reading books with Dad, last time.

Even in their sleep they like to get in each other's space! Jax did end up falling out of bed twice that night.

 The boys with Dad.

All of us together on the big day.