Baving Soup

My sister Mickie invited us to go to her house for a Memorial Day bbq. We packed the kids and put them in their swimsuits and went over there to enjoy the pool and company. Once we arrived Kate runs over to her auntie to show her, her new baving soup (aka bathing suit). The kids were so happy to go swimming I don't think they noticed or even cared how cold the water was. It was great to see them happy and getting along with each other. They had a wonderful time with their aunts, uncles, and Taw along with their cousin Kyle. We had a great day yesterday with the kids and family...... I can't believe that the 4th of July is just around the corner!!!!!

Jake and Kate getting along :)

Jake doing his 1st dive into the deep end! Way to go Bubba ;)

Kate telling her aunt to look at her baving soup!

Memorial Day

Yesterday was Memorial Day and since last year we were not able to do much (since Sean was on bedrest) we decided to go to Dixon where the Sac. Valley National Memorial Cemetary is and also the resting place of my dad. It was great to see all of the branches together and to remember those who have served and have since passed on. Being an Air Force brat I was happy to see how the honored all of the men, women, and families of the military. Near the end they had the 21 gun salute and played Taps, to which is when I lost it. That was the first time since my dad's funeral that I had heard a gun salute and Taps. Afterwards a helicopter flew over us and back and we even had some planes from Travis AFB pass over us. When the ceremony was over we went to pay our respects to my daddy. The kids are still having a hard time with his passing but are getting better. He was a proud man who always had a story of his military days, and if he really liked you he would tell you some from when he served in Vietnam! This Memorial Day was also a special one because of our cousin James who is serving in Iraq with the Army. He will be coming home to Texas in about 5 more weeks. We are so proud of him and can't wait for his return home!

Jake remembering Papa with his Dallas Cowboys hat & Kate being Kate!

The 21 gun salute!

The helicopter, a fan favorite!

Almost here

It's hard to believe that summer is almost here and I am so excited for it!! This summer Sean has most of July off so we have lots of plans for road trips and camping. The kids really want to go to Discovery Kingdom (last time I was there it had only a few rollercoasters and was still Marine World) and we are thinking of surprising them with a trip there. We are also getting for soccer and Kate to start school. She is so excited to go to school with Bubba and her friends, plus she is happy that she knows all the teachers. Most of the teachers I had are still there and were Jake's teachers and they all have known Kate since she was born.
I also booked Sean & I's anniversary vacation for Southern Cal. In case you don't know Sean is a HUGE Halloween fanatic and loves everything about it. He collects halloween figures and makes his own lawn decorations. We celebrated our 10 year anniversary in December but it's so close to christmas we decided to celebrate in October (that is the month we started dating). Sean really wanted to go to Knotts Berry Farm when they turn it into Knotts Scary and to Universal Studios because the parks at night turn into a huge haunted place. Lets just say Sean usually pees his pants from laughing because of my reactions to getting the you know what scared outta of me! As I was booking it he said to get a 2 day pass for Disneyland (my favorite place)!!! As sad as I am that the kids will not be with us (and how much I will miss them) I am so excited to get and spend time with Sean. I am sure that I will have plenty of pictures of us with wet behinds!

Out Numbered

Sean has been talking about getting a new puppy for about a year, well on Saturday he came home with the newest member to the Cookie Clan.

Here is our new puppy Murphy. He is a Chocolate Lab (if you ask Kate he is a strawberry lab.....I don't know where she came up with that one!) and just turned 8 weeks yesterday. He is a sweet dog and gets along with everyone and all the other pets (counting him we have 3 dogs and 2 cats, we are out numbered!) Jake and Kate are in love with him and are helping Sean & I out with him a lot. Guinness and Sulley also get along well with him. Sulley loves to wrestle with him and is a little bit bigger then him but that will change in a few months. Guinness seems to "mother" Murph and takes care of him when he whines. Our cats Stewart & Talladega are keeping ground upstairs but come out once in while to see him. Sean said that this is it for pets and that we are done but as he walked away he said that the foyer would be a perfect place for a big fish tank!! My response was that the driveway would be a perfect place for a new SUV. Let see who wins :)

Busy, Busy Bees

The last month has been busy and extremely stressful. Due to the lovely state of California we were on pins and needles most of the last six months especially the last two. Everyone knows what is/was going on and what happened. Some people have asked if Sean's department. is part of the furlough and YES they are but not like the other departments. I will not go in my thoughts and views on that..........I have said it enough and even got into some "arguments" about it.
Jake is doing great in school and has most 4's and a few +3 (4 is like an A, 3 a B, 2 is C, & 1 is D/F). We are so proud of him and his accomplishments. He only has 2 more months of school and then it's summer vacation. He is also hitting a "mild stone" he will be 10 yrs. old in 6 more weeks! I can't believe how time flies! He is so excited that he wants to go out with a BANG (lets hope Jake does not follow suit of his daddy and need surgery?!)
Kate is still Kate. She is ready for soccer to start and ready to go swimming at Auntie Mimi's house. We signed her up for Kindergarten but she is still not wanting to go. It makes me a little nervous but I am being told that she will be fine. Luckily all the teachers at the school know her and know how she can be a handful. Sean is also doing well, he wants to start soccer again but I am nervous. It will be a year next month that he tore his ACL. I know he will be ok and he knows when to stop himself where before he pushed himself to much. I am doing good. I am getting ready for summer and some camping. I am ready for summer and to spend it with the family (Sean has his vacation in July). We are going camping and go to some cities around Nor Cal. I also will be seeing one of my best friends from high school that I have not seen on over 10 years!!! We are ready for some sun, and fun :)