So apparently I fell off the blogging bandwagon, then got run over by it. I returned at 11pm on Dec. 23rd from a wonderful week-long pre-Christmas trip to my sister's house. I arrived home to a completely dead computer. It wouldn't even turn on. So, after a trip to Geek Squad the day after Christmas, I found out that it would cost more to fix my 5-year-old computer than it would be to buy a new one. I shopped for a week and am finally up and running on the new ones. All my stuff is still stuck on the old one, though, because I don't want to pay Geek Squad $159 to get it off. And that was the cheapest quote I got. No new pictures for a while either. My old computer had a slot for my camera card and my new one doesn't. I haven't the faintest idea where the USB plug is. So, bear with me. I will share our pictures from Christmas hopefully before summer.

Bits and Pieces

Here are some random video clips of the kids.

Thomas the Tank Engine outing:

Warehouse full of streetcars awaiting restoration. The live band was really neat.

Riding Thomas. Note George's reaction when he hears the whistle blow

Spinning:

Sweetness

Kate made me breakfast in bed this morning (because that's what she thinks big girls do). Thank goodness she couldn't get the step stool out or she would have tried to make me coffee, too.

Pictures for Daddy

Halloween and Newer

I think we may have a supermodel in our future.

Ruby's Diner, the kids' favorite restaurant

Pumpkin Patch

I don't know why George looks like he has a Charlie Brown head in this photo.

Yes, that's a stick on Kate's head.

Pumpkin museum

Ya-hoo!

Day 2 of riding with no training wheels. Turn your volume up.

A Little Bit of Lately

See how long my hair is?

I had "one of those days" and my neighbor brought me flowers.

The rainbow I saw 5 minutes after I got the flowers.

George's favorite place to chill.

Told you. (Yes, that's a pink purse).

I thought I'd take on a project and teach Kate to ride her bike without training wheels. It took all of 15 minutes before she could ride completely by herself. Must be the skirt.

It rained 2 days in a row!

George's raincoat from Uncle Mitch and Lisa.

George loves markers--both coloring with and eating them.

George got a train book from Daddy and took it to the corner so no one would bother him. Did I mention that George LOVES trains?

My Little Redneck

And so appropriate on the night I posted my camo Waffle House shirt.

Thank goodness it's Friday

Note to self: Don't wear a Waffle House shirt unless you want all the neighbors asking,

"Is there a Waffle House here?!?"

I have to admit I like bedtime on these nights.

Big Day

A first today: George climbed up the slide (not the steps) all by himself.

US Navy Video Feature - The Calling

US Navy Video Feature - The Calling

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Anchors Aweigh

Phillip participated in a burial-at-sea for 15 former servicemembers. Yes, they look happy, but I think it was the ashes of retirees or their family members.

(For those of you who care, Phillip's XO is the tall guy in the middle, his commanding officer is to the right of the XO and the ship's CO is at the far right.)

Manning the rails as the ship pulled away.

Indy films rock

I really love independent films. Don't get me wrong--I love a good Matthew McConaughey chick flick as much as the next girl, but there's something about indy films that make you want to make the world a better place. Maybe it's the kinds of films I choose, but it seems to be consistent.
I joined Netflix while Phillip is deployed for something to do when I have nothing to do. Okay, I always have something to do but I don't always feel like doing it.
These are some of my favorites:
The Motorcycle Diaries: The story of 2 cousins/doctors who take a road trip around South America on a bum motorcycle, their ultimate destination being a leper colony. The language is kinda bad (even worse because you have to read it in the subtitles), but the message is good.
The Girl in the Cafe: Two loners meet in a cafe and he invites her to attend the G8 summit with him. Not an entirely believable story with security measures being what they are, but a strong message about ending poverty.
Henry Poole is Here: The story line isn't as important as the internal faith struggle of a terminally-ill man. It gave me a good perspective of how people who were never raised with or have walked away from faith must feel when they are presented with the idea of believing in something that seems so unbelievable.
Arranged: The story of two teachers, one Muslim and one Orthodox Jew, who become friends after their students ask them if they hate each other.

World's Worst Blogger, I know

I'll have to be better now that Phillip is gone. Here's a recap of what we've been up to this month:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2035290&id=1286237581&l=5367a8b04c