While Daddy is away....

Ben is in the Dominican Republic for work for 5 weeks and we are here! School came to an end and the restlessness set in so I decided to visit family in Jacksonville for a little break. So we headed North June 24th with plans to stay through the holiday to celebrate the twin's birthdays. 

 We started out with a visit to my grandma's on Saturday to help celebrate her 82nd birthday.

Aunt Barbara, Grandma, and the kids.

Sunday we helped my niece Abby celebrate her 9th Birthday, Bieber-style!

 

 During the next week we just hung out.

We took in a $1 summer movie, Nanny McPhee Returns, with Uncle Larry.

We tried to go see one of Uncle Larry's baseball games but after we drove all the way out to Middleburg the game was cancelled due to rain.

We got together with my Mom and sisters and all our our kids for a group photo followed by a closing down of Chic-fil-A.

I got to hang out and play Bunco with my girls, while the kids spent the night with my Mom and took in Cars 2.

 

Drove (well, Uncle Larry drove) to St. Augustine with Grandma. We visited the Mission, Fort Matansas, and the carousel.

 

 

 

We did the St. Mary's Aquatic Center on Saturday with my Mom and sisters.

     

 

Jacksonville Zoological Gardens after church.

 And for the twin's birthday we got to hang at the beach before watching the fireworks.

New Nerf guns for their birthday.

 

Beautiful!

 All in all it was a great visit that could only have been better if Daddy was with us!

Mrs. Independent

I have been struggling with becoming the independent "military" wife who has to take care of everything while the husband is out on business. I am perfectly capable of getting everything done that needs doing. It's the idea of being too independent that bothers me. I don't want become the woman who doesn't need her husband.

I caught the season premiere of Gene Simmons Family Jewels the other day and as Shannon struggled with her emotions and decision whether or not to leave, I felt so much sympathy for her and saw myself in 20 years. It just added fuel to the fire.

Part of me is ok with being able to do "guy" stuff. I pride myself in being one of those girls who can change a tire (while pregnant with twins I might add), lift heavy stuff, take out the trash... you know, those get your hands dirty things that most women shy away from or leave for a man to do. The other part of me just wants to be pampered, just like every other woman.

I know it's necessary for me to step-up when needed, and I always will. Reality is always a hard pill to swallow. I'll take mine with a case of Diet Coke please!

The Adventure Begins...

Ben travels alot with his job and gets to see lots of different places. He is always showing us pictures when he gets back but they seem to lack something exciting at times for some of us. So we came up with an idea. We went in search of a small toy/trinket that he could take with him and pose in different locations so the kids could track his travels. We were originally were thinking of using a lego man, which would have been cool in my opinion. But we went back and forth and after a trip to Toys R Us yesterday, Ben found what he thought would work. Meet our Angry Bird friend who will now follow Ben around the world on his travels. Stay tuned to find out where he goes next.

Angry Bird ready for take-off at MIA.