A New Experience!

Our family has taken many adventures and experienced many different things. We've tried to find things that our whole family could enjoy. Well, we have finally found it!! Yesterday we were invited to join some friends out on their boat. I was a little hesitant because the last time I was on a boat it wasn't good! I was also nervous for the kids but to my surprise...WE ALL LOVED IT!!!! Jason has been on boats before growing up but I have never had the opportunity to get out on a boat for personal enjoyment nor have our kids. I have to say that yesterday was one of the best days we've ever had. I sat in the back of the boat watching my kids up in the front. Laughing, singing, screaming with excitement as the boat crashed up and down on the waves. The smiles on their faces were priceless. I'd look to my left and see Jason just taking it all in and looking so peaceful. He was in his element and that made me feel good! We were about to spend a good 7 hours out on the water! We swam in the lake, took dives off the boat, rode on the tube being pulled by the boat and even pulled up to a restaraunt and had dinner. Then we got back in the boat and headed back to the docks. I sat and watched each time we pulled in so I could learn because Jay and I have come to an agreement...we are buying a boat!!! I'm thrilled!! Not sure when but hopefully soon so over the Summer we can spend many more wonderful days on the water as a family!!

This was Cory jumping in the water from the boat!

This is Joe...our captain, LOL!!

The kids enjoying the ride back to shore.

Thank you, Joe and Amy for taking us out on your boat!! We had an absolute blast and hopefully when we get our boat we will be the ones driving you around the lake!!

Dragon Awards!

Today Cory received two awards at school. One was for Perfect Attendance and the other was for Citizenship. Cory hasn't been at this school very long but he has not missed a day since he's been there. He's done so well waking up every morning and getting off to school. This is his very first Perfect Attendance award!!! His other award was for Citizenship. Helping in the class, being on his best behavior and always following the class rules!! He was so excited when he realized he was getting two awards...he had no idea!! Neither did we!!

Here he is going up to receive his Perfect Attendance award!!

All the kids who recieved a Perfect Attendance award!!

Going up to receive his Citizenship award!!

ALL of the kids who received the Citizenship award!!!

Playing at the Park

Last Sunday after Church the kids and I joined Jeannie, Rob and the girls at the park. We went to ride bikes and walk around the park. Well, Caiti's bike was not cooperating! Poor Rob kept having to fix it but by the 3rd try we gave up, haha!! Caiti just decided to run after Maddie while she rode her bike!! Gracie and Cory just took off without us around the park!! Rob kept up with Maddie and Jeannie and I just kind of cruised behind enjoying a nice chat while walking. I really enjoy spending time with them. They are such a wonderful family and so much fun to be around!! After our walk/bike ride around the park the kids wanted to play at the park and since it was a little hot outside we let the kids completely soak themselves with water!! They had sooo much fun with that!!!

They were so much fun to watch!!

Still Staying Active...

Well, it's been one week exactly since I became "Active" and what a week it has been!! I absolutely LOVE this program!!! I have nothing bad to say about it. So far I have burned around 450 calories and I have lost 4 pounds!! I am now 159 pounds and I have lost an inch on my waist!!! It feels great!! This week I have ran a total of 25 laps and learned many new techniques...cardio boxing being one that has really kicked my butt!!! My energy level has increased and I am back to craving a workout everyday when I wake up. However, I do not work out everyday. It gives me a calendar and has my workout days planned for me with certain goals I need to reach. It will tell me what days I workout on and what days I rest on. If I miss a day that I was supposed to workout (just as I did yesterday...due to errands!) it automatically switches that day with another rest day and moves that workout to what was supposed to be my rest day so I really don't miss a workout at all. I have recieved 5 trophies, haha!! I am 23 days into my 30 day challenge and I figure if I average losing 4 pounds a week I will lose around 16 pounds in one month and that is so exciting to think about!!!

I am super proud of myself!!

Dinner with New Friends!

After the pool I joined my new friends here for a girls night out. We went to Joes Crab Shack. I have never been there and was a little unsure because I thought it was all seafood but Nelly assured me that they had other things I could eat (she doesn't like seafood either, lol). So I left my kiddos at home with Daddy for a few hours and headed out. It was so nice to be able to have some adult time without having to keep my kids under control!!

Let me introduce these ladies because I'm sure over our next 3 years here you will see more and more of them. Lauren (far left, next to me), Anna (direct middle) and Nelly (pink shirt). The other girl is Courtney...she has known Anna and Lauren for years and she was our waitress for the night. These girls are a lot of fun and I look forward to spending more time with them...family time or more girls nights!! hee hee!!

Anna and Nelly both cannot drink for the next 9 month (hint hint, lol) so Lauren and I were the only ones able to have a drink. I took complete advantage because I was not driving and I had no kids with me!! Lauren and I both ordered margaritas and they were super yummy!!! Laurens drink had pop rocks in it which I thought was really cool!!

I had a lot of fun and I am so glad these ladies invited me to join them. It was really nice!!

Pool Time!

This past weekend we joined some friends at the pool on base. The kids had been begging me over and over to go swimming and we finally went!! They were so happy!! We joined Anna, Nelly and Sean (Nelly's son). Cory was really happy to see Sean and I'm sure the feeling was mutual! Nelly and her family were stationed in 29 Palms with us and her husband was also a part of 2/7 with Jason. Sean and Cory played a lot together when they were stationed there so Cory was happy to see a familiar face. They played in the pool for about 2 1/2 hours before the Virginia clouds started to roll in and it started to get a little breezy which made things a little cooler.

Sean and Cory kept squirting Anna with the water guns so Anna retaliated! LOL!! She dunked them both in the water!!