Danny's Homecoming!

He's finally home!!! After a long 7 months he's back safely. It was a very nice homecoming. The twins made daddy cards and bounced in the jump house while waiting. They also played with the buddy Logan. After an hour delay, they finally drove around the corner, led by a group of veteran motorcycle riders called the Patriot Riders. They escort all our troops home to Camp Pendleton. Very very cool. They walk around and shake as many hands as they can. Love them. Took us awhile to find him among all the guys, they all look alike! But he finally emerged! The twins went right to him and talked his ears off all the way home and up until bedtime! And they haven't left him alone since! Poor guy can't even go to the bathroom without them freaking out! It's so nice when everything falls right back into place and we pick up right where we left off. Now time to look to our next move in the spring!

Together again!

Posing with Logan's sign

Love you!

homecoming - how to make a free slideshow

Day Out With Thomas-California

This was our 3rd Day Out With Thomas this year. One in NC, one in ME, and one here in CA. The twins had a blast. We went with my friends and their kids too and everyone was so well behaved all day. Even us mommies! We rode the train as soon as we got there and then after lunch had fun with the train tables, crafts, and petting zoo.

thomas - create a slideshow

Halloween 2011

Halloween was a BIG hit this year! Luci and Eli had a blast trick or treating. We only went up and down 2 streets and their baskets were full. I'm surprised I could even get them out of their costumes! We went to the base and trick or treated with friends there, much safer, could walk down the middle of the street and not worry about cars!

"Thomas Eli"

"Princess Luci"

Ready to Go!!!

All Done!!!!

halloween 2011 - create a slideshow

Luci's First Dance Class

Luci had her first dance class today. She did so good. For about 5 minutes I was worried but then she got comfortable. It's her first activity without me right there. It is all she has talked about all day. Now I need to find something for Eli to do! Here a few pictures, the video wouldn't upload. We were outside the classroom looking through a big window so you will see my reflection every now and then! She was so smart. I can only imagine that the teacher was telling them to get on a purple star because she would rush over and stand on one. She had so much fun and I'm so proud of her!

Waiting her turn

Lining up at beginning of class

Walking into class

Putting on her ballet shoes all by herself!

Fair in Topsham, Maine

We took the twins to a little fair in Maine. They enjoyed pony rides, feeding goats and sheep, looking at pigs, cows and other animals, and riding rides. Their favorite of course was the train ride. They also liked the tractor pulling the barrels. We all had a great time!

Maine fair - create free slideshows

Trip to Illinois

Boy did we cram everything in a couple days! We arrived in Illinois on Friday afternoon. Friday evening we spent at Uncle Don and Aunt Janice's house for dinner. There were new kittens that Luci just loved playing with. Especially a little orange one, he almost hitched a ride back home with us! Saturday morning we got to see Susan and Great-Uncle Tom. They came to the hotel for a quick hello. Then off to the Hoffman family reunion. After that, we went to John Deere Commons with Todd, Traci, Avery, and Nora. Eli was a bit tired but that didn't stop him from enjoying the tractors. Sunday we went to the Rock Island Train Festival and saw some neat trains. It rained but we got to see some neat trains. They were really loud too and scared the twins every time they blew their whistles! Monday we headed back to NC!

illinois - free slideshows

Strike A Pose!!

Enough said!

Clarksville, VA Lakefest

One of the things the twins and I have done is go to the Clarksville, VA Lakefest where my mom lives. It's 3 days with the 3rd day full of vendors (they close of the street through town, yes the one street) and then fireworks. The first day of the festivities was free tethered balloon rides for kids. Unfortunately, the wind wasn't cooperating and it wasn't safe for the kids to get in the basket. And that was okay, we found out the kids were terrified of it anyway! They blew on of the balloons up and they were horrified by the noise. Oh well! We still got to check out a firetruck and get the kids' faces painted (well, Eli's arm!) before going home. Saturday we went and walked around and looked at all the vendors. There were hundreds of people there. Yummy food and the kids each got something handmade, Eli got a wooden tractor and wagon and Luci picked out a cute headband. Even though we all had bad colds it was still a fun weekend!

Flowers!

Thomas!

Getting the balloon up

Luci and Uncle Lance

Eli and Uncle Lance

Inside a real firetruck!

(We think Lance had more fun!)

Thomas the Train weekend!

While Dan is away in Afghanistan we are travelling the east coast for the summer spending time with family. This past weekend we went to Tweetsie Railroad in Boone, NC to see Thomas the Train. We rented a cabin and had the entire family there. Eli and Luci got to pet some animals at the petting zoo, pan for gold, and ride the real Thomas the Train. Very fun weekend! (The computer didn't save the slide show so that will come on the next post!)

Thomas the Tank Engine!

Couldn't get the twins to look away fromThomas!

Carlsbad Flower Fields

The twins and I went to the Carlsbad Flower Fields today with my bestie Kathy. It is definitely a place we will go back to. There was a playground which Elijah was thrilled to see sand to dig in (he was armed with his rake). Luci tried out every slide they had. There were all kinds of flowers to walk through, great places to take pictures, and a Sweet Pea flower maze. Who knew you could get lost even when you can see over the maze?!

Big Bear Weekend

The hubbies had a long weekend this past weekend so we went to Big Bear mountain and rented a house with our friends the Brown's and the Simon's. Total there were 6 adults and 10 kids! We had a great time. On our way up Friday evening it started snowing hard and we had to all put chains on our vehicles. We woke up Saturday snowed in. It continued to snow all day Saturday and night. The kids all went sledding right across the street. The rest of the time you can see they just had fun hanging out playing their games! Saturday all the mommies got to go to the spa and do some shopping. We came back and the men cooked dinner! Sunday we took the twins out in the snow and they hated it. They kept saying "snow mess!" But Dan got Eli to go down on the sled a couple times and he started to like it. Luci wouldn't let me put her down at all. Every time I would try she wouldn't put her feet down! At least I got lucky finding their snow gear at the thrift stores here! Great weekend away though. We all had a great time!

More Christmas

Okay okay. I'm a little late with these. Here are some pics of the twins opening more presents.