Josh's Homecoming!

On August 20, 2011, Josh came home from his second deployment to Afghanistan. Here are two of the banners we made for him! There was another one that got hung at the squadron, but Josh ended up flying into HNL and we were able to go pick him up there!
Kristen and James were SO excited for Daddy to be coming home!
Since he was returning from a combat deployment, we were able to get special passes to meet him at the gate! He we are waiting for the plane to land.

There it is!

They both RAN to hug him. Kristen first, then James realized who it was and he ran too!
Here's Kristen telling Josh about the pictures she made for him that were waiting at home.

She loves her Daddy. :-)
James thinks it's pretty cool to be just like Daddy.
Family Photo. All Together again.
I will also add that it was an answered prayer that I wasn't holding our new baby in this picture! We met Peter together two days later, at one week past his 'due date.'

James's words at 26 months

James just came up to tell me about "Go-wy-wif" and his "swing."
(that would be Goliath and his sling.) I asked if James was David, and he went off to shoot him, with his toy trains of course.

Typically James speaks really clearly. And enunciates every single consonant. He can say 'Rs' really well, but not 'Ls.' (see above)

I think it's really cute to hear how he pronounces words he doesn't quite get yet. I still know what he's saying almost always. Here are some examples:
Potato/Tomato = "Pay-toh-toh"
Airplane = Er-peen
Sprinkler = Spinkwrerer.
He used to call Kristen "Tih-ten" but now he says "Kit-sen" (which I think is adorable). This past week it started sounding more like Kristen, but still not quite. It's usually Kitsen.

And he just out of the blue said "Today is Fursday. Today."

He loves to sing "Happy to you! Birthday, to you!" He and Kristen both love to wrap presents (their toys) in blankets or boxes and sing Happy Birthday. Then I get to blow out the candle open them.

Behaving?

I told the kids, "I'm turning on a show; I'm going to go take a shower. Okay, Kristen?"

"Okay, Mom. We won't fight, or scream, or do bad things to each other."

what a relief...

Kristen's thoughts

"Mommy, I have a stomach ache... um, a stomach throat."
?? "What hurts, Kristen?" She opened her mouth and pointed inside. "Oh, that's called a sore throat."

"Why did you share your sore throat with me, Mommy?"

Prayers

So, I really never write on here, but I want to start again. I typically use facebook as a way to keep up with people. We'll see how it goes... I'm not too optimistic, especially with #3 about to arrive!

Anyway, I want to at least write down some of the fun things my kids say.

I asked James (just turned 2) to pray at dinner the other night, so he folded his hands and put his head down.
"Bless Daddy. Hel-cop. ter. And plane. Bless playground few minutes." (everytime we drive by a playground he asks, "Mommy, playground few minutes?" I think he learned that one from his sister..."

Tonight he prayed, "Bless Daddy, new baby. Bless Tractor. Amen."

Kristen's prayers still include on pretty much a daily basis, "Dear God, Please bless Daddy and the new baby. Bless Mommy and Kristen and James. Bless the people in Japan, the people in Alabama, the people in Missouri. Bless all our aunties and uncles. Bless Daddy and the new baby. Bless Mimi and Puna, Grandma and Grandpa. Please bless all our friends. In Jesus' name, Amen."
There is usually more included in her prayers as well, but always all of that. And Daddy and the new baby sure get blessed a lot in this family!

"God, thank you for blessing Josh and me with such amazing, sweet children!"

Giving Thanks

"Kristen, what do you want to tell God thank you for today?"
"For giving me a beautiful heart... Thank you for giving me a beautiful heart, God!"

Surprise Day with Josh!

Josh has been on the USS Bonhomme Richard for RIMPAC for another week now. He was gone for 2 1/2 weeks, home for 9 days, and back on the ship as of last Monday night. He emailed me on Sunday afternoon that he might be home on Monday and could possibly have lunch with us, but said not to count on it. So, the kids and I continued on with our plan to go to the Hale Koa pool with our friends, Vicki and Grace.

As I waited in their driveway to pick them up at 9am, Josh called and said he was at K-bay, and didn't have to be back to the squadron until 3:30pm! So rather than cancel plans, we decided to still all go to the pool!











































It was a beautiful day and so much fun! He's gone for a couple more weeks, so it was a real blessing to be together. :-)