Santa in June?!?!?!?

OH GOODNESS!!! We had to run to the comissary this weekend for some grocery shopping (that is the Marine Base grocery store) and in the parking lot Benson spotted a man in jean shorts and white shirt who he BELIEVED WAS Santa Clause. Well we saw him a few times in the Comissary and each time Benson said, "Mommy, that is Santa from the Mall.... I remember!" I just thought because the man was bigger and had the white beard and hair Benson just thought he was Santa. Well when we were ready to check out we got in line and just happened to get behind this man "Santa" and his wife. Benson and Britton were besides themselves with seeing Santa in the summer. Finally Benson got up the nerve and pulled on the back of this man's shirt and whisperd, "excuse me?" The man turned around, smiled and said, "Son, do you know who I am?" Benson and Britton smiled and together said, "YOU ARE SANTA CLAUSE!" Well the man WAS the Santa from the Mall and Benson KNEW he was. The man was so sweet and played the role perfectly. Telling the boys he remembered them and that he has been watching them. Asking them if they have been good boys and what they have been up to. This lasted a good 15 minuets and I wish I could have had my camera to capture just how presious Benson and Britton were talking to "SANTA in June!" Right before "Santa" and Mrs. Clause started putting their items on the counter to be checked out Benson had one final thing to say to "Santa." He looked at him and in a VERY SERIOUS voice he told him, "Santa I know who you REALLY are.... you are Jesus's helper!" The man smiled, looked at Dan and myself and said, "God bless you for teaching your child what Christmas is truely about!" It made me feel so good inside to know that even though Benson is five years old and he loves Santa, he knows who "Santa" really is!

The Twins turn THREE today!

Daddy and Ava:


Daddy and Taylor:



Happy Birthday to Taylor and Ava on their THIRD birthday!!! It is amazing how much I love these two. It is such a blessing to be a step mother. At times it is hard because I believe their mom would rather me not love them, but I just can not help it! THEY ARE WAY TOO CUTE! We can not wait to have them in August for three weeks.
It is so amazing that even though their time with Dan is limited that they still know that he is so special in their lives. It is such a testimony boost for me on the love between children and their parents. It is my prayer as Taylor and Ava go through this life that they will never doubt their Fathers love for them. It is so great. I can not tell you what I see Dan go through on a daily basis being away from his children, it breaks my heart. It makes me want to be as giving and fair as I can be with my ex husband.
Taylor and Ava have such sweet spirits and so much love. They are a blast to have around and they LOVE being at "Daddy's house." We hope one day to have A LOT more time with them!
Happy Birthday to Taylor and Ava, we love you so much!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY BROTHER PRESTON!

This is Preston and his daughter Taylor!

The 11Th is my brother Preston's birthday! HAPPY BIRTHDAY PRESTON!
Growing up Preston and I did not get along too well. He teased me and of course I freaked out. I remember crying all the time because of his teasing... poor little me! But as we have grown up I have come to love and admire him so much.
Just to show how loving he is.... When I went through my divorce and was a single mom Preston and his wife Karen would come and eat dinner with me and the boys at least once a week just to make sure I was not lonely. It meant the world to me and they did it just because. It may not have seemed a lot to him and Karen, but to me it meant the world!
I am excited to see him in a couple of weeks and play some Texas Hold Em with him at the reunion! Last reunion he helped me out and I got lotsOmoney! SO I am hoping he may lend a hand this time too! WOO HOO!
LOVE YOU PRESTO!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY MAMA!

My Mom, Sister and Me!

Happy Birthday to my Mom who is turning 63 today BUT still looks like she is in her 40's! YEP SHE IS A HOTTIE! It is a great gift to see her so happy with her life. She has not always had the easiest time in this life and I feel like for all the struggles she has gone through she has held fast to faith and her love for life and is now being able to enjoy the "fruits of her labor!"
I think this is the longest I have ever been away from her and to be honest it is hard. There is such a bond between a girl and her mother that can't really be explained, just felt.
My mom tries her hardest to make sure all of her children are happy. There has been so many times that I need her help and she is so willing to help in any way she can. She absolutely LOVES being Grandma Connie to all of her grandchildren, and it is AMAZING how all of the grandchildren just think she is the best thing ever. My boys love her so much that they actually play "Grandma Connie" at the house, it's just like them playing batman or any other fun scenario. It cracks me up!
I am so excited to see her and get some Mama Love at the end of this month when we go to our family reunion! LOVE YOU MOM HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Benson's First Season of Tball!

Benson just got done with his first season of Tee Ball! We wanted his first sport to be Soccer, but we tried it last year and he was just not having it. So when the Marine Base offered youth sports we looked into what they had and Tee Ball seemed fun and so we signed him up! He had a hard time at first and was a bit unsure of himself and what Tee Ball was all about, but as the season went on he really got into it and LOVED when he had a game to show off his new learned skills.
He was one of the only kids who EVERY TIME he was up to bat hit the ball on his first try. He also (towards the end of the season) got really aggressive with the ball and if it came his way he was all over trying to pick it up and throw it! His favorite position was on the pitchers mound because that is where most of the balls came!
I got to be the assistant coach and I LOVED IT! I am really hoping next spring the boys will be able to be on the same team and I will be putting in for the same coach. His motto was all about FUN and that is all it was! A bunch of FUN! There was no losing, everyone won. In this age group there is no outs, everyone gets to bat and everyone gets to run.

Enjoy the pics!

Coach Craig giving some last minuet pointers to Benson:


Hey Batter Batter! He loved being at bat:


Britton never missed a game and was Benosn's BIGGEST fan, he can't wait to play next year. SO CUTE IN THE HELMET:


Britton cheering on his brother!


Next to bat.... BENSON!


Benson's READY position in the outfield:


Me coaching on the field:


Benson getting his trophy for the season from Coach Craig!

OH COME ON.... IT'S FUNNY!

I do try REALLY hard to not make fun of others because I don't like being made fun of, even though it sometimes is pretty funny to make fun of me and most likely I will laugh... still.... I try not to do it, but this story is just too good to pass up and therefor HAS to be blogged about.
Last time we had the twins with us (Taylor and Ava) they WOULD NOT eat anything that was healthy. I mean ANYTHING! No veggies, meat, pasta's, fish, etc. All they wanted was Twinkies and cookies.
So this morning when Dan called to say hello to them (it was dinner time in Japan) Taylor was SCREAMING when Dan's ex wife, Cheryl, answered the phone. When Dan asked what was wrong she replied that he didn't want to eat his dinner because all he ever wanted to eat was junk food and nothing else. When Dan asked what was for dinner Cheryl replied...........
DRUM ROLL PLEASE.................................

"CORN DOGS!!!!!!!!"

Oh my goodness, I laughed so hard! So Corn Dogs are so healthy and Taylor won't eat them.... Please someone... laugh with me!