FRIDAY

Today is Mike’s day off but he had things to finish up at the office and so went on in.

I paid bills. Whoppee!!!!

The older children took up a collection to send Mike and me on a date tonight. We went. We had dinner and then looked around for last minute things that he needs for his trip. We found a pair of running shoes. He wants to see if Sunday’s ads have any sales on a small digital camera and a 1 gig jump drive.

The rest of the day is chronicled in photos below.

It must be something in the air...Nolan woke up and told me he'd decided to begin working out and that Dad thought it would be fine if Jamin would watch him...Here he does crunches with a weight on his chest....a sight we see Jamin of the 12 pack do every a.m.

Zander ran in & told me he was "a little bit bizzy...he had to lift my weights" and off he ran with them to the garage where Jamin & Josiah have a weight bench.
Anything the boys can do - Stacia can do - she loves to be with her big brothers.

Jamin reading an Alaska Alphabet book to Nolan & Zander
The girls wanted to try some new colors, my neighbor is a Mary Kay consultant and so we played. She wonderful with the girls. We all had fun. Arielle played with her daughter.

Breanne (21)

Krista's new look (19)

Jamin decided to try a new technique on pizza tonight. I really didn't get the purpose but he was determined that it would taste more like pizza hut if he squashed it instead of rolled it....so he brought in a big, round, black weight...and well you see what he did....

HEY note my bedroom curtains and hangy things in the background behind Mike....see it PAID to wait all this time to get them rehung...but I think today I'll make this a project.

Krista cleaned my living room glass globe things.....it was high...but she likes ladders. LOL Maybe we're on a roll.

31 August ~ a special day for our family.

We got to see Ian and Becky's (Our Family Fun) new son - darling! I didn't think to grab the camera but I wouldn't have posted a picture of him anyway because I try very hard to remember to ask before doing that and I would have forgotten to ask! I was a bit frazzled.

What a blessing that Mike was able to pin on rank HERE and not in the Middle East...and that all the children were home!

Mike chose to go to Mr Gatti's (remember the Chuck E Cheese knock off) for his promotion dinner. What a man! He isn't even crazy about Gatti's but he knew it would be fun for the children and that is what he wanted to do. Our new chaplain's family joined us and it was a good setting, I think, for their children and ours to meet....beats the awkward sitting in the chapel introductions. :::snort:::: Something there didn't set well with me and I've been sick all night...should be about clear of my system I would think. LOL

Here are a few photos from the ceremony:

Father Jim and I pin the oak leaves on Mike's uniform...I had a bit of trouble and got it on wrong....leading to "helpful tips" from both men....I was pregnant with Arielle when Mike pinned on Captain and it was our very first day as an Active Duty Military family - 10 years ago. Those pictures are not on Disc or I'd post one...

After F Jim (Wing Chaplain) and I finished, Mike knelt and the children put the major rank on the shoulders of his shirt. Arielle is the one in the foreground, funny that Cy and Krista grabbed the reins.

Father Jim then administered the Oath of Office. Mike had sworn to this when he entered the Reserves and again when pinning on Capt. I guess you do this at all promotions...swear to uphold the Constitution and to protect the Country and Constitution from all enemies foregin and domestic "so help me God".

Newest Homeschooler on the Block...{G}

Got a call last night at 11:50. Becky and Ian have a brand new son. It was too soon after birth for me to have any other details to share with you. She was able to have him at home. It was "beautiful" and Michaela sounded totally excited that "Jesus gave us a baby brother".

Bre tries her hand at yard work. {G}

Stacia pulled the stepping stool over, climbed it and reached the keyboard;all while I looked on in hysterics.