Fun Day

 We took the boys to the mini-golf course.

 Putting the ball through the tunnel.

 The decor was just as interesting as the golf itself.

After golf we went to Saturday church and then on to the Coastal Heritage Society Fundraiser at Old Fort Jackson. We are members because we have a membership at Savannah Children's Museum. They had some children's activities, dress up with period soldier uniforms, guns, live music and Cannons!

 The event.

 Sorry these are fuzzy but you get the idea. The gentlemen doing the presentation asked for volunteer soldiers to reenact a cannon firing. Des and Jax got in on the action.

 Jax was a "powder monkey". Here he is so excited to be yelling the commands.

 Desmond cleaning out the cannon.

 Jaxter putting his pretend cannon ball in.
Right after this they shot the canon for real (without the volunteers).

Jaxter dressed up.

Desmond dressed up.

At the end of the night they shot off their two biggest cannons - a 32 pound and a 9inch/75 lb cannon (the cannons are named by the weight of the cannon ball that goes into it)....very impressive. Jaxter was not a fan, however.

 Jaxter helped me with a big project at the Commissary and this was our special (secret) treat that we shared....though I will say I had to eat pretty fast to keep up with the boy! Gotta love "Free Ice Cream For A Year"!

Playdate with Desmond's new friend from PreK! We walk home together everyday because they just live on the next block. =)

Trying on Dad's helmet. We didn't get a front shot because right after this was taken the weight of the helmet made him fall over.

This is a tape from my childhood and we pulled them out to share with the boys recently and they ask for this song over and over! The best part is Jaxter's robot dance which you can see clearly at the beginning and the end. =)

Random Pictures From Marc's Phone

Hanging out with good friend Rachel at her old home in VA, she has since moved.

 Visiting one of the forts in VA with Chris giving a guided tour. This was the tunnel the Union Soldiers dug to initiate an ambush on Confederates. Very interesting stories in our nation's history.

 Me and the boys playing at the Savannah Children's Museum.

 Me and Jaxter taking Desmond to his first day of school.

Rainy Days

 A new routine....Story time with just 1 boy.

 Holding a baby for the first time - almost dropped her but...was a highlight of his day!

 Big ouchie! Dropped his yogurt bowl (ceramic) on his toe - broke the bowl, sliced his toe.  We were able to fashion a 'special' bandage to help it feel better.

 Worn out! Fell asleep on the couch today at 11:00! 

 Des and I having a picnic upstairs for lunch so we didn't wake up Jax.

Playing in the rain!!!

So....Ft. Stewart is home to the 3rd Infantry Division (3rd ID). They have a tradition here that reflects their victories in World War I. Read here if you want the whole story about how the 3rd ID got their nickname and hence the tradition. The tradition is a short conversation that can be used in all sorts of different situations: a greeting, a pep talk, even somber events. 

The conversation goes: 

"Rock of the Marne!"

"Top of the Rock!"

This tradition is carried out by all the security guards at the post gates. They check your IDs and then send you off with "Rock of the Marne!" Our boys have subsequently learned how to appropriately respond....enthusiastically. =) Now, you can watch the video.

It is sometimes difficult to tell at the beginning of thunderstorms whether we are hearing heavy artillery or thunder and I hadn't seen any lightning yet so we took advantage and played in the rain, although we did go in right after this.....

First Day of Pre-K

Desmond started Pre-K today. He was so excited to go to school and even told me, when I asked him if he liked it, "Yes! I wasn't even sad at all like at the big school." (He was referencing the daycare I put him in while I finished my part time job back in Montana.)

We live close enough to ride our bikes to school! Even though it was trying to rain on us the boys were still way excited to ride bikes.

 First day of school!!! 

 After school.

Jax excited to see Des, who is excited to see me. Jax couldn't hold still after Des came out he was so excited to have his brother back. Des was also pretty antsy with excitement, he told every teacher, "This is my brother." 

My Husband, The Stud

Here are some pictures of Marc doing his gig this weekend.

In other news:

I have implemented a new chore chart! We get magnets and check marks for the things we do well (including small ones for individual choices during the day) and big Xs for the not so well done things for the day. Desmond wanted a star by his name and Jaxter wanted "a treat and a meatball".  Their prize will be to make a super hero cape with Mom if they get 45 magnets in a given week.

 One of the 'chores' is helping mom with lunch and dinner ... this is a fast supper after night church in our jammas. Jaxter loves, loves, loves helping. I always have to have something for his hands to be busy!

200!

This is my 200th post! Wow. I had wanted to do something "special" for this post but I have really liked my new habit of posting small blogs more frequently (I think it makes the webpage slimmer, hahaha!). And so... we'll just soldier on with the new usual. =)

Marc actually had a mission today that we would have liked to have gone to (the boys always love parades and concerts), especially since this was Marc's first time conducting the band but they had a bike rodeo at the PX (think Army WalMart) and so we opted to have me take the boys to that because they have been all about bikes this summer. I had secret hopes that they would be giving away bike helmets (the bike rodeo in Wyoming always did that). Alas.... no free helmets but Desmond did win a $20 gift cert to the PX so it was a win.

  

 The boys rode through the little cone race. It wasn't too busy so they got to do it quite a few times and got pretty good at it.

 They always have a mobile home that simulates a home with fire dangers. This is the boys practicing calling 911 (there is someone on the other side of the wall having a conversation with them).

 Dinosaur face paint.

 If Desmond looks uncomfortable, its cuz he is. The last two times he has gotten his face painted he has had a reaction of sorts, so we may be staying away from that for awhile.

 This is our church's bookstore. I had to look for a book for a Bible Study I am starting in September and Desmond knew how to look for the kids section, picked a book and sat down to read it.

They both are always asking us to read books! =)

The first time Jax went through the course, he didn't quite get the concept, he was doing 100% after awhile.

Desmond doing another bike challenge.

This is days old but I had to wait till our soldier friend arrived safely before I could post his deployment picture. This is Mr. Tony and the boys saying goodbye to him as he leaves on his deployment with the 3rd ID Band.

Grandma's birthday.

Happiest of birthdays to Grandma! We even made a treat and ate it in your favor today! =D (Although, I couldn't take a picture because our hands were all too messy - Crispy Marshmallow Treats!)

Singing to Grandma - Des is actually getting really good at singing the actual melody!

So these pictures are identical except that one has Desmond with closed eyes and one has Jaxter with closed eyes. Sheesh! They are not sleepy! Marc asked them to get ready to go and they, obviously, grew up in colder country because they not only got shoes but jackets and hats, too.

A spontaneous play date with our friend Lance today!