USMC Homecoming!

I mentioned a friend's husband coming back from a deployment, but thought I would share a few more pictures from that day. Homecomings are amazing. Even if you don't know a sole coming home, just the thought of families being reunited is totally amazing. I cry every single time I go to one because I know how special it is to hold your Marine for the first time in months. It's like you can finally relax because they are home safe... What an amazing feeling. 

Lunch at the O Club. 

Waiting for the Marines. 

Finally here! 

Taxing in. Felt like it took FOREVER! 

Self portraits while we wait. 

Just discovered how much Gray loves the self-portrait mode on the new IPhone. 

Marine wives (and Gray)! 

We took Gray to the park on base to play with some of his BFFs after the homecoming and happened to watch Josh fly out (night flight) while we were there! Here he is headed out into the night! He flies all the time, but I never really know when I'm seeing him or someone else, so it's always fun to KNOW it's actually Josh in the air! 

Christmas You Missed!

The Armed Services YMCA in San Diego does a Christmas You Missed every year for the families who had a deployed service member over the holidays. They had fun things for the kids to do, like ride a horse, make crafts, etc. Breakfast was also provided for everyone. There was a fun little Boston Terrier who had his own motorcycle, that the kids LOVED!! 

With the Coleman kids! 

Ornament making!

Santa was also there, and he gave out toys to each one of the children. He had a lot of fun with his friends that were there and wasn't expecting a toy from Santa so it was double fun. The ASYMCA did an amazing job on this event! I know that our family, and the families we went with (two others from our Squadron) really enjoyed making up for some of the Christmas memories we missed while Josh was in Afghanistan. Thanks Armed Services YMCA!! 

San Diego Fair!

This was our second trip to the SD Fair since we have lived in San Diego. Josh was working last year, so he missed out. This year he had a random day off, so he was able to go with us for a few hours. 

The fair is HUGE and kind of expensive, but Gray loves it. From Superman as we were waking in the door, to the pig races, turkeys, rabbits, huge pigs, cows, super healthy food (like fried Klondike bars), games, flower decoration/specimens and art winners, space exhibits, and tons of fun rides, Gray was in heaven.

Gray just loved this pig and kept laughing at him! 

First roller coaster! 

Gray had so much fun, and he talked about the fair forever. I love that Gray is able to do more things as he gets older. I think each year will be a little more fun because he will be able to ride more things as he gets taller. Anyway, if you are ever in town the fair is fantastic and they always have live bands and tons of random foods deep fried, so it's worth the trip! 

Worst Blogger Award goes to... ME!!

It seems like a million years since my last post (I'm back dating this and a few others so they will show up in the right place time-wise. Don't judge me.), but I'd like to blame a fun filled summer for part of my absence. We went to the San Diego State Fair, celebrated Christmas in July, spent time at the beach, and a lot of other things I plan to fill you in on as fast as I can post. Gray also played soccer on base. I think I shared one picture a few months back, but here are a few more from his final game.  

This is misleading because normally Gray ran the opposite direction
or simply sat in the grass and refused to participate. 

Half-time photos.
(Josh had just shaved his head for a costume the night before in case you were wondering.) 

Gray and his GF. They are in a very serious relationship. 

Gray's trophy!!  

End of the season party. 

Sit tight, because I've got loads more to update the blog with and tons of pictures to share!  

Tricky People

I found this article the other day via a friend's FaceBook page. It has some great information for parents about protecting your children from predators. This article was very insightful. 

I think my favorite line was "Teach your kids not to DO ANYTHING, or GO ANYWHERE, with ANY ADULTS AT ALL, unless they can ask for your permission first." The general idea is: Bad guys aren't always strangers. Be vigilant and aware of adults who are spending time with your children. 

Tricky People are the New Strangers

Since we moved...

June has been a wild and crazy month so far. We moved the last week of May and spend several days following getting the old house ready to turn back over to the landlords. To say that I've never been more ready to get out of a place and get away from a landlord, is the understatement of the decade. The second night we were in the new house, the landlord (knowing we weren't staying at the house) decided it was perfectly acceptable to just go in the house without our knowledge. That just so happens to be totally illegal in case you were wondering. Trespassing anyone? I had left the alarm armed, so of course it went off and drama ensued. Not only did we not receive an apology, she later demanded we let her have free run of the house for TWO full days to do general maintenance that is normally done after a tenant vacates, on top of several other days she had already spent in and out fixing things. The landlord did not leave herself any time to make changes because she started the new tenants lease the day after ours ended. Does this give you some idea of some of the ridiculous things we had to deal with for 2.5 years? Again, understatement of the decade. 

Gray on moving day.

Gray was not a fan of the house hunt, but he is a huge fan of the "new house." He loves that he can go from his room to the living room without having to take a parent with him. He is also in love with the yard and the play ground about 6 houses up from ours. This was his 3rd move in three years (from Florida to North Carolina to California to this house), but the first one that he remembers I'm sure. He seems to be right at home here like we never moved.

Memorial Day. Loving the new backyard! 

Brothers. One is a lot more relaxed than the other. :)

Now a month after we moved down to the beach, we are mostly unpacked (4 boxes remain). It would all be done by now, but I'm going through everything as I put it up to throw out and donate things that we don't need or use anymore. We downsized a lot when we moved into this house and there isn't room for all the crap we have been lugging around the USA. If you steer clear of the guest room (where I'm hiding the boxes), I think it looks pretty put together. Curtains and hanging the rest of the pictures is next on the to do list! 

Busy Weekend.

Several Marines from Josh's squadron came home from a 7 month deployment last Thursday. I couldn't miss my friend's spouses homecoming, so Gray and I went to the squadron to join the festivities. Gray was wearing his cammies and his Daddy's wings, so as Gray left the house he waved and said "I'm going to work."

Too cool for pics with Mommy. 

If you ever have the chance to go to a military homecoming, I would highly recommend it. I haven't ever been to a homecoming where I didn't cry. I tend to be a cryer anyway, but how can you NOT get a little misty when seeing people reunited for the first time in months? I know how excited I was the day Josh got home, but seeing my friends reunited with their husbands is almost as good as if it were my own day to celebrate. There is nothing more special than that first hug and kiss after so much time apart. The days before Josh came home felt like I was getting ready for our wedding with all of the anticipation and excitement in the air. Deployments aren't fun, but homecomings are so amazing they almost make you forget about all the things that he missed or that you had to deal with alone. Almost. 

Legoland!

At the last minute we backed out of our plans to go to the SD Fair because it was a beautiful Saturday and I didn't really want to brave the crowds. We opted for Gray's favorite place on earth, Legoland. This kid loves Legoland almost as much as he loves us. It's nice to have something that he loves so much just 25 minutes up the road. He has been begging to go back since before we got to the parking lot Saturday afternoon. 

Leaving church. 

We left church Sunday afternoon and Gray just HAD to "sit on the rock." He made this crown in Sunday School (which people in California have apparently never heard of before) and wore it for an extended amount of time Sunday and he continues to talk about it. Josh and I are still driving inland to an amazing church a friend told me about just before Josh deployed. Oh man is it the best church ever! It takes us around 30 minutes to get there from our new place, but we always learn something and get so much out of the services that we just can't switch to a closer church. If you are looking for a place to worship in San Diego, look no farther! 

First ride on the beach cruiser! 

And finally, we bought beach cruisers a couple of weeks ago. We were waiting to ride them until Gray had a seat and helmet. I finally picked them out and placed an order. Josh installed the seat and as soon as Gray got on it he decided it was a death mobile. He started screaming that he wanted to ride in the car. He wanted to walk. He was "so scared." I told Josh we should just ride around for a minute and see if he warmed to the idea that we weren't going to kill him and within a few minutes he was laughing and having a blast. We rode down to the beach and once we got home Gray said riding the bike was his "favorite." 

Maybe this coming weekend we will hit the SD Fair and try something fried, like deep fried cereal...