Leave your sister alone!

Cole and Olivia LOVE to play together -- sometimes she needs to be reminded to be gentle because he's still a baby, but one of these days, he's going to dominate her ... and I'll be screaming "Leave your sister alone!"

~Mommy's new haircut

Mommy has finally had it! It's about time for a change and with everything going on in our lives, there is a need to make things as simple as possible. And the fact that I have SO much hair and this summer has been really humid ... so I decided to get a haircut. I think it turned out cute - although the picture doesn't do it justice, I'm VERY happy with it! It's fun and easy!

Happy 1st Birthday Little Man!

Today is Cole's first birthday! And man has he grown! I don't know where the time has gone ... I blinked and it was gone. Daddy did call tonight to wish Colvin a Happy Birthday but we missed having him here. In just three months since Gary left, Cole has changed tremendously! He is getting in his two top front teeth, he can wave and say "ba" for "bye" and just the other day he took 4 very wobbly, but distinct steps without any support! Everyday he gets more brave and it will be any day now that I can finally be free of carrying around that extra 20 pounds! Nonetheless, I'm going to miss my little man!

In Their Boots Episode Trailer

Pause music on left to hear sound...

Gary and I participated in a documentary about deploying and how the Iraq/Afghanistan tours affect service members and their families. Here is the trailer -- you can also view it on youtube or at the In Their Boots website (http://www.intheirboots.com/), and you can see other families' stories there also.

We are actually having a preview for family and friends, but anyone is welcome to attend. We are using the venue to raise funds for the Maine Troop Greeters, so the more, the merrier! The event is scheduled for July 27th at 1:00 p.m. at the Prospect Harbor United Methodist Church. Hope to see you there!

Sitting a top his throne ...

Okay, It's not the porcelain throne you are all thinking of (although that would probably be more appropriate for Gary) ... here is a picture of Gary in Iraq, sitting on a throne given to Saddam Hussein from Yasser Arafat. He said that all the guys go to have their pictures taken, sitting on it. Who would have thought there would be a tourist attraction in Iraq? I wonder if you have to wait in line ... I doubt it will be in any of our future vacation plans.

I'm going to Disneyland!

I'm a little late getting this posted ... I had to get the pictures together, we took so many! While in California (Sunday, July 6th to be precise) we made a trip to Disneyland! It was a lot of fun, but exhausting, too! Totally worth it, though ... for our little mousketeer Colvin and our Princess Olivia. We had a great time - Cole loved the Tiki Room and Olivia went to the Princess Fantasy Faire, where she had her hair and makeup done and she dressed up like a princess ~ she even got to dance with the princesses! I don't think she has any one favorite, but that day, she wanted to be Sleeping "Booty" (Beauty) a.k.a. Princess Aurora. It was adorable! We saw Fantasmic and fireworks and closed the place down ~ What an awesome day!

Picnic at Sandy Point Beach

Olivia had to have blood drawn today, so it started out as a rough day. But after a nap, the sun was shining and we decided we would have dinner on the beach. We made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and brought Olivia's favorite Cape Cod Salt 'n Vinegar chips, some cheese and grapes. Then we stopped by the store because the picnic wouldn't have been complete without chocolate cake, according to Olivia. It was so yummy! We were the only ones on the beach and it was so nice just to listen to the birds and the water lapping and of course, to eat our dinner. It makes me proud to know that we're safe in this country to be able to enjoy this kind of freedom, the kind that allows us to do things like this ... and it is because of the brave men and women serving in the military who preserve it. It definitely puts things into perspective while Gary is in Iraq. So thanks to all!

Splish Splash...Taking a Bath!

I have discovered Cole LOVES to take a bath! He loves to splish and splash about and even cries when I turn the water off. Who'd have thought this kid would enjoy it so much! I think Ariel is his favorite bath toy ... God help us!

The smell of hamburger...

Last night my brother, Matthew, came over and we took the kids to see Wall-E (the movie about the robot who falls in love with another robot) and I made taco salad for dinner. It's funny, the things you remember about someone at the oddest of times, but while I was cooking the hamburger meat for the salad, my thoughts drifted towards Gary and how he LOVED the smell of cooking hamburger. He is a 'meat and potatoes' kind of guy and I always laughed at him when he'd get all excited over the smell of hamburger. So, I smiled and decided I would taste the plain, cooked hamburger meat and savor the flavor in honor of him. It's amazing the mundane things that make you remember something about a person and how it reminds you of how much you love that person. So, Gary, if you read this, remember I love you most.

Adventures at Sea World

My brother, David, and I took the kids to Sea World while we were in San Diego. I hadn't been there in years! When we were kids and we lived in San Diego, we used to go to Summer Nights at Sea World. You'd pay a lower rate and you could go after 4 p.m. They stayed open late and we'd go see the shows and the fireworks almost every night. It was a blast! Although a lot has changed, there is still the attractions I remember and loved so well ... my favorites were the Penguin Encounter and Feeding the Dolphins. Olivia and I went to feed the dolphins, but she wouldn't touch the fish -- so I fed them, but at least she got to pet the dolphin, it was so exciting for her! I think Cole's favorite was the Shark Encounter, when you go through the tunnel and all the sharks are swimming above you! Kind of freaky, I wouldn't want to piss those sharks off! And of course, a visit to Sea World isn't complete without seeing the Shamu show -- which has also changed, but still as magnificent as I remember! I think the legend of Shamu will live on past the lifespan of this famous and well-loved mammal.

Del Mar Fair!

If you have never been to the Del Mar Fair, now called the San Diego County Fair, you're missing a huge piece of nostalgia that I remember as a kid! We ALWAYS went to the fair. There are vendors of every kind, animals exhibits and competitions (which I avoided because your feet got really dirty of you wear flip flops and the corrals smell like, well, animals), a flower show, rides, games, food booths galore and much much more!
And like true Colvins, boy, can we eat?!!! This year was different though, looming with a sense that something was missing ... my aunt Sharon loved the fair and we would travel from vendor bay to vendor bay buying trinkets we didn't need and trying to decide which food we wanted to have next. The trip wouldn't have been complete without a visit to the fair and it is a place where I'll always have fond memories to share. And each time I visit, I'll remember to sample all her favorites - from funnel cakes to french fries! Mmmmmm....good. Love you Sharon!
This year, Olivia was old enough to check out the rides in both the kidzone and the sliding, whirling, riding 'til you puke rides -- which I DID NOT go on -- except for Crazy Mouse, which was her first roller coaster and threw us in a million different directions! It was definitely fun, but never again! Check out the pics!

more thoughts ...

It's almost midnight and I can't sleep. It's not that I'm not tired, but I hurt my back two days ago and it's keeping me awake. That and the urge to cry my eyes out right now. Gary has been gone for almost three months and it's times like these that it really hits home and you feel like you can't hold things together. I feel like my kids suffer because of my injury, whether accidental or stupidity, I feel like I'm neglecting them. I can't take care of them the way I want to and Gary isn't here to take my place. Sure, there are offers on the table for help, but I don't think that includes filling the role of mom (and dad for that matter), up in the middle of the night with waking children or changing stinky diapers. My brother helped me last night, but I feel like I'm taking advantage of him. I was feeling better and then after he left, I had to take over again and my back hurts as bad as it did before -- over-exertion I think. And Olivia asks me tonight if she can come sleep with me, but I am afraid of waking her up in the middle of the night, so I tell her no. And I put Cole to bed early because I can't chase after him when he's crawling or playing and holding on to him hurts. This had to be the worst possible time to hurt my back. And after talking to Gary at night, it makes me wish even more that he was here. And I hate wallowing in self-pity, but these are the things going through my mind. So hopefully after getting this off my chest, I can bury it amongst pictures and accounts of our fun-filled trip to sunny San Diego. And hopefully next time I post my "thoughts," they can be happy ones.

Olivia's First Mani and Pedi

To complete the mini-makeover, in addition to having our hair cut and styled, we decided to get our toes styled. Pedicures were on the menu for Monday, June 30th and in addition to her toes, Olivia also had her fingernails painted. She chose sparkly purple and even had flowers painted on the thumbs and big toes. So cute! Even Uncle David pampered himself with a men's manicure and pedicure. Yes, men do that.

A Day at the Salon ~ with Margeaux!

On Sunday, June 29th, we all went to Suede Salon for a little pampering and girl bonding time (sorry David and Colvin, no offense) with Margeaux! The salon was closed for the day and we brought breakfast; the pack 'n play was in the middle of the floor and Olivia was free to go wherever she pleased. Everyone got haircuts, mine being most extensive with a color to accomplany it. Our after shot above shows off our new dos! The second shot is a telling photo of what goes on in a women's salon -- for all the men out there, this is the stuff we don't let you see. Ah, beauty does come at a price!

And Margeaux is the greateset hairstylist I've ever met -- she knows exactly what is best for our hair and individual styles and always finds time to squeeze me in when we come to California. We absolutely love her ~ she's such a sweetie! And behind the scenes (and the shutter), Megan did a great job helping complete our hair and she even kept Cole entertained! Check back later for a slide show of our photos from the day!

Sun and Fun ... Here we come!

After a LONG and GRUELING flight that spanned two days, we finally arrived in sunny San Diego! It's gorgeous! The weather is nice, the sun is shining, a nice breeze blowing through your hair and the ocean is breathtaking. Finally a change from the cold, bleak weather that has come to be indicative of a Maine "summer." After we arrived, the first order on the agenda? Padres game at Petco Park -- of course, we lost, but we had fun and ate a lot of good food! Check it out!

David was a big help with the kids too! They love their Uncle David! With Gary being away, any event or outing becomes a full-blown evolution and I could really use an extra 3 pairs of hands. But I'll settle for one extra - I couldn't have done it without David!