Hail to the Chief

July 8th was  day we, as a family have been waiting for quite some time; however, more importantly, it was a day that Ed has been thinking about since 1987.  On July 8th, Ed was promoted to the highest enlisted rank there is, a Chief Master Sergeant.  Only 2% of the those in the Air Force are Chiefs, it is a very select and highly respected position/rank.  He is the hardest worker I know and will be (already is) an amazing Chief Master Sgt for the United States Air Force.  Ed cares about his job, the people in the field and the ethics behind every decision he has to make.  As, his wife, I am extremely proud of him and hope he able to change and effect policy over the next two years as he hopes. This moment also signifies that we are getting very close to the next chapter in our lives...when Ed retires from the Air Force. What he will be doing, where we will be living and where the kids will be going to school are all questions we have to wait on God to answer in the next 24 months.

 

 

Summer Time

I know, I know....it has been a while since I have updated here.  What can I say, it has been a busy, but fun summer for us!  I have a couple of major blogs to put together like Ed's promotion and our trip to Vegas for Big Sis' wedding, but I am going to start with just some good old cuteness that everyone need to see.

We have spent a lot of time having play dates, going to the beach, playing at the park, and taking walks and getting ice cream on the boardwalk.  We have had swim lessons, kick ball games,  a couple of vacations, soccer try outs, a certain little girl began walking, talking and getting more girly with each passing day, and a little boy has become Mommy's best helper around the house. There has been lots of bubbles blown, sidewalk chalk used, bug bites gotten (which even led to a trip to the ER once), jelly fish avoided, sand castles built and holes dug, butterflies chased, sprinklers/hoses played in and treasure found.

I have so many random pictures from both my phone and my camera, so I am going to try to post in a semi-sorta organized fashion by just posting phone pictures first.

A couple of pictures of the Annual Dragon Boat Races right at our boardwalk.

 

 

 

Pictures from Nico's summer swim lessons. 

After the first day of swim lessons

This was the view of the swim lessons for me...it was almost impossible to see what he was doing.

Nico's swim report card...he moves on to the next level!

 

Natalee at swim lessons...I just followed her around while waiting for Nico.

 

Here are some pictures from when Pops and Jason were here in June that I missed including in the previous blogs since they were on my phone.

 Pops arriving at BWI

 



Nico in the Supreme Courts of Justice

Entering PA

Downtown Getteysburg

Having a quick bite at Chick-fil-a before dropping Pops and Jason off at the airport

 

Here are some boardwalk/beach excursion pictures from over the summer:

Friday night Farmers Market...means time for ice cream!

 

 

This was when the kids and I had a picnic dinner on the beach!

 

Campfire s'mores on the beach

 

 

Playdate/lunch date with some new but great friends!  We had lunch and then let the kids play around on the boardwalk and get some ice cream.  The boys even got to help catch a fish on the pier!

 

A few picture from our latest beach excursion with our friends and neighbors.

Playing in the mall play area in Annapolis!  I love that Natalee is able to play and have fun with her brother.  I also enjoy watching Nico follow Natalee around and watch out for her.  He is so protective.

Natalee's first movie (that she was cognoscente of watching). She really enjoyed it!

 

 

Cute and handsome boy!

 

Playdate!!!

 

Playtime at the park on AFB!!

Nico is showing off his muscles since he just climbed up the rock wall!!

My precious babies love each other! :)

Mommy and Natalee being silly girls!

 

Another handsome boy shot!

This was Natalee and I while we were off having some girl time together.

The boys...at a birthday party.

The boys of the block...end of summer.