Two things:

1. Apparently, google images in the Netherlands put up a picture from my blog. Blogger has a new interface and it shows all sorts of stats when you log in. My "audience" and blog hits spiked. Intrigued, I had to look. It's me...and my boob...nursing Deacon. I thought of taking it down, but, it'd probably still remain up on their images, right?. I don't know wether to be weirded out or not...

2. School is going well these days! The kids are pretty eager to learn and it's really not all that tough to do. The preparation for the week is the toughest job...well, that and keeping Deacon busy.

Oh, yeah, reality...

We've gotten quite spoiled over the last months. I mean, sure, we've dealt with separations (like six months' worth in 2011...cake, comparatively), but his has been a very off year. So off I'm sure that if Big Navy found out I feel like we'd have to pay a penance or something. 

John's been around: a lot -enough so that the kids have gotten used to it and our first of three children actually like going to him (as a baby). 

We've known all along what a fluke year this was going to be so we've tried to do as much as possible as a family. Family Fun Night is every Friday, weekends are together, shopping is (sometimes) together, whatever we can do is as a family to really use this time to connect. Making the most of this year has been the most important goal. 

Daddy helping Turner with school work. 

John got a phone call with a rumor that we initially dismissed. Then, the source called to say what what true and hearsay...

Now we're on stand-by: waiting to hear weather John will take command of his ship in just days. 

It all might come to a screeching halt, but I can be comforted knowing that we really did soak it all in!

My Next 30 Years

I'm positive my next 30 years will be the best years of my life. 

My 20s were all about feeling things out: the beginning of adulthood, going through college, meeting my future husband, the end of my single years, starting a family, and really learning who I was as a friend, wife, mother and person. 

My 30s are going to be about ENJOYING everything. I couldn't be happier to be at this place, right now, with MY family: my husband, my babies, my circus. 

He Walks!

Mr. Deacon wasn't too concerned with walking, but he's finally gotten the hang of things! He even grew out of his 6-12 month Pedi Peds and got a new pair of See Kai Run shoes. If they're not on his feet and he sees them, I get screamed at until they are! 

He's such a cutie!

School!

The boys started school! I blogged about it here.

Finally, a Birthday Party!

Hurricane Irene ruined my little buddy's party last weekend. We decided to still have the party, but a weekend later. Grandma scrambled to change her plans and so did John's aunt and uncle. A lot of our greatest friends came but we did have a lot of families that happened to all be going to Annapolis for a football game (three families!) so lots of little people weren't there. 

BUT, we had a fan-freaking-tastic time!

Grandma (Aunt Cathie is behind the brick wall) helping out with decorations.

The Castle.

(Minus the plastic wrap I've had since we lived in Monterey) This is where the
knights and princesses decorated swords, shields, princess crowns and wands. 

The food, all covered because a swarm of flies descended on the back deck.

Of course, Turner loved all of his decor. 

Kids had fun in the dirt pit! 

Even dads enjoyed shield decorating.  

Getting ready to hunt for the black dragon that had stolen the King's gold! 

Our friend, Josh spotted a clue! 

The kids had to find four clues that finally led to...

THE BLACK DRAGON!!! 

The dragon had to be slayed!  

Grabbing candy from the pinata. 

Blurry, but we're (almost) all looking! 

The castle cake that was only supposed to be the size of a smallish square plate...
I can never leave well enough alone! 

Turner checking out the scene. There was the cake, cake push pops from Twisted
Sisters Cupcakes, M&Ms, dipped pretzel sticks, Twizzlers and cookies from Sweet
Bella Bakery.

Happy Birthday my little man! 

Enjoying his push pop. 

Eli throughly enjoyed himself! So did Deacon! 

We had such a blast because family and friends (that are like family!) changed their plans to come and celebrate Turner's birthday with us! I was so worried there would be just the five of us that I was sad for Turner (and his first real party!). Everyone proved me wrong and it was a party for the books!