HHC Friday Night Dinner

Last night I had the joy of hosting several HHC ladies and their children over for a fun-filled dinner. Ok, so in the early part of the day I wouldn't exactly have called it a joy, but it eventually got that way by the time people started showing up! I love hosting, but this time it was a LARGE group and I was so nervous I'd run out of food, or Gavin wouldn't share his toys, or I'd mess up cooking, or just that something in general would go wrong! This was the first time I'd be meeting some of these ladies so I didn't want to make a bad first impression! I did my grocery shopping earlier in the week after all the RSVP's were in (10 adults, 15 children). I opted to do a low country boil in the turkey fryer, as it's easy to make a large helping! I also made broccoli slaw and bought potato salad. Several wives offered to bring various things to help, I was so thankful! Of course by yesterday morning I was 2nd guessing myself that I didn't have enough stuff (at the coffee Thursday a few extras told me they would be in attendance) so I ran to the grocery store and bought a few extra things then came home to get the house cleaned. I wish I had motivation to keep my house as clean ALL the time like I do when I have company coming over. I was pretty impressed by 5pm when my entire house was clean! :) I had even dropped the dogs off at Doggy Daycare so they would be out of the house for my event and I could have 24 hours of no doggy duty. I'm savoring my last few hours before I have to return to pick them up... at least they will be freshly bathed and hopefully with a little less hair. (Sidebar - I HATE all the dog hair they shed in the hot summer!) Back to the party.... I had the back yard all set up with kids activities (baby pool, slide, sports games, etc.) so the kids had a place to escape and call their own. Did I mention that all 15 kids were UNDER age 5!?! I started cooking the boil around 5:30 and people arrived at 6pm. The food was ready shorty after. Next time I host people on a 100 degree day, I won't do a low country boil outside again. I was COVERED in sweat by the time people arrived. Thank God for a little deodorant and perfume so I wouldn't smell TOO bad to meet my new friends ;) The evening turned out great. A few extra people showed and a few that had RSVP'd didn't show so we didn't run out of food. Gavin shared his toys for the most part. The boil turned out successfully. It was a good night. Here are some pictures from the evening!

I opted for paper and plastic... Didn't want to be up all night doing dishes!

We aren't wine drinkers so I was excited for a chance to finally pull out our glasses with the super cute ranger charms!

Boil Seasonings :)

Look at all the leftovers!

After dinner we had a popsicle party outside

Then we played a game called Left, Right, Center - I couldn't believe when I won!

Pajama Party Coffee

Thursday evening we had a coffee in Richmond Hill. "Pajama Party" was the theme of the night! We had all the unhealthy food to go along with the theme - pizza, chips/dip, ice cream sundaes, etc! I had our babysitter, Lauren, come over and I enjoyed a few hours of adult time. We did the welcomes, voted on best pajamas, played games, and then sat around just having a good time.

Star Babies Graduate!

This morning we had our final session of the Star Babies Swimming Lessons. It's amazing how much Gavin has grown and learned in just 4 sessions! The Star Babies is a mommy and me class taught in a very small group with one instructor at the Chatham County Aquatic Center. Gavin had a blast with each session. At the beginning of summer he was fearful to even get into a small at home plastic pool, but he can now jump in with no assistance, kick and doggy paddle with just being held under the arm pits, blow bubbles, allow you to let go while he "swims" under water (today he swam under water through a hula-hoop), and he loves swimming between the instructor and myself. The pool has a large 2 ft deep section which he loved playing in at the end of each session since he didn't have to be held. I had to keep a close eye on him because he would often take off swimming on his own and need help back up. The hardest thing for Gavin this session was floating on his back (with my assistance). He was NOT a fan! Not sure why, but we'll keep working on that. I would have thought he'd love it since we sing "Twinkle, Twinkle" and look up for stars! His favorite parts were all the singing and jumping in. At the first class he would only jump in to my arms and not go under water. He now loves jumping in all by himself, going all the way under, then kicking to come back up (and I then reach for him). Another thing they learned and we really worked on each session was pulling themselves out of the pool. They put their hands on the side, then elbows, and then pull one leg up to get out. Gavin hated this the first day, but can now almost get out himself! I'm so proud of all his progress. Today I signed him up for the next level, Super Star Babies, which starts next week. We'll go every Tuesday for 4 weeks. I'm so excited because it will be the same instructor. I think Gavin will move right along since he's already aware and comfortable with her.

Jason and I were both big into swimming at younger ages - I was on a competitive swim team for years and Jason was also on a diving team! I think Gavin is going to follow right along in both our footsteps and be a little fish himself.

After our final class today Gavin was given a "graduation patch" - I LOVE that it almost looks like the Ranger Patch they get at the Ranger School graduation! I told Gavin he was just like his daddy. He wore it proudly!

Another success today, when we went to the locker rooms to change he told me he had to go potty and he DID!!! It was the first time he's ever told me he had to go while we were in public so it was such a big step. (I had to get a picture on my cell!) Gavin has had a great morning!

Big boy potty at the Aquatic Center

He loves getting to watch the fish swim after his lessons

At home, wearing his patch proudly... and munching on mama's apple!

How We Get Through

...Deployment, that is! We've been very fortunate in the last couple years to come across some very special resources that have helped tremendously during the multiple deployments we face in this current day and time. I wanted to share these with everyone so that you, too, can join in on the amazing ideas to help your children. I know all of my "readers" aren't military, but pass these resources on to friends of yours that may be! I'd like to take credit for finding all of these, but 99% of them were sent to us from Jason's mom, Starla!

RESOURCES FOR (younger) CHILDREN

From left to right:

"Hug-A-Hero Daddy Doll" - daddydolls.com

Talk, Listen, Connect Elmo Video - www.sesameworkshop.org/tlc

Brown Puppy - (We made this as a family together before Jason's 2nd deployment and Jason put a message in the dogs hand for Gavin to press whenever he wants) - http://www.buildabear.com/

Over There and I'm Here For You Now books - http://www.zerotothree.org/about-us/funded-projects/military-families/ or 1-800-899-4301.

Photo Album - just a little soft album we found at Target that has all pictures of Jason and Gavin - he loves to carry it around and talk about the memories!

RESOURCES FOR PARENTS (of any age)

Jason's mom recently attended a MCEC Conference where she picked up all of these printed materials. She was super sweet and send me copies of them all! MCEC is Military Child Education Coalition. You can find out much more on their organization at www.militarychild.org

I'm so excited to look through all these phamphlets, books, etc. over the next few days! If anyone has questions on any of these resources, don't hesitate to ask!

ATTN: DC Friends

Just wanted to give a heads up that I will be in the DC/Belvoir area the first week of September. I don't have set dates yet, but I'll be available for photography sessions while I'm in town! I will be busy with family September 4-5th celebrating Gavin's 2nd birthday party (a little early) and being a DC Tourist! I'll let you know when my dates are firm, but let me know if you are interested in booking a session with Kara Smith Photography! Feel free to pass my website on to other friends/family in the area. Thanks!

http://www.karasmithphotographyonline.com/

Evening at the Playground

**Not sure how to rotate this picture back?**

Downtown, Take 2

Fishing and River Street

Lauren and I packed the lunch cooler for everyone while my mom and David worked on a project list for me. (David arrived last night by plane at about 11:20pm!) They were super generous and took the time to pull out my oven, fridge, washer, and dryer and to vacuum/mop under them all. I was so appreciative! They also noticed that the dryer hose had a huge hole in it (causing the laundry room to overheat everytime the dryer was used) so David fixed that for me as well! Yay for help! Other items on the project lists were one of my floor transition strips needed glued back down and the yard needed edging. Those projects were mostly completed (we had issues with the edger so I'm going to have to get a part replaced)!! I'm so thankful to have those items marked off the to do list. Next we headed to a different location on Tybee for a few hours of fishing!

Giving lessons to all the kiddos on NOT touching the knife, what a jelly fish looks like, and how to bait the fishing pole! Who would have ever thought fishing lessons would be given out by Kara?!?!

Gavin was too excited about the watermelon Neena purchased to even think about fishing!

Once that pole was in the water Morgan didn't take her eyes off of it. She was so anxious to catch something!

Kaylee and Lauren stuck with trying to catch minnows with the net... more on this later!

And here I am so excited because after only the 2nd cast we had a bite!

A fish! Jason would be so proud :)

Using the cheat sheet to try and figure out what we caught. We determined it was some type of baby mackerel, but could of course be wrong! It did have some very sharp little teeth!

A few casts later Morgan noticed some bites and reeled it in, but the fish came off in the process :( Good try Morgan!

And back to the minnow catching... Kaylee was very proud of her little 1 inch catch!

Unfortunately our first catch was out of the water a little too long and didn't make it... The kids had fun with it though!

2nd catch! Same kind as the first, just smaller

Ewwwww

Reagan in the fishing bucket :)

And David's BIG catch :)

This was the last catch, as we were all worn out from the beach. We went back to the pool to rinse off then home to get ready for downtown. A babysitter came over to keep the twins and Michael. We went to Tubby's on River Street for dinner and sat outside on the balcony. We were hoping for live music, but the musician never showed. Bummer. The kids did get to see a couple cargo ships pass by!

Tubby's

Kaylee and Lauren at dinner

Sisters - Lauren and Morgan

Another one on the River!

Kaylee and Myself

It was soooooo hot outside that we had to stop in for some ice cream... Gavin enjoyed sneaking a couple bites of mommy's!

Feeling much better after cold ice cream

Kaylee and David on River Street

I wanted to show everyone the new Ellis Square before we went home - Kaylee and Lauren opted to join in the fountain fun!

FUN

Then it was home to bed... another long day!

A Busy Day Two

The day started out with homemade pancakes by "Mom/Neena/Grandma Lori"!
Then it was off to Tybee Island! We had to stop at the sign for a picture.
Gavin, Ella, Lauren, Reagan, Morgan, and Mike... so excited for the beach.

Morgan was thrilled to pick out one of Jason's hats to wear for the day! She asked me which one he wears a lot and then picked that one! Morgan loves Jason!

Reagan and Morgan did everything they could to catch a seagull...

Morgan ALMOST had luck with a chip, but the seagulls were just too fast!

Digging away!

Doritos boy... with the evidence all over his face!

Michael hanging out under the umbrella

A nearby man was fishing and reeled THIS in! WOW... Reagan and Morgan were the only two to get anywhere near it!

Still eating those chips...

Whats a girl to do when she's gotta go to the bathroom!?! HA!

SONIC stop on the way home :)

(Gavin was asleep in the car, worn out from his morning!)

After sonic we went to the pool to cool off and clean all the sand off us. It was then home to get changed and head to a local mexican restaurant. I then surprised all the girls and took them to get mani's and pedi's. We had a good time! Mom took all the boys home (thanks!)

Colorful nails

...and toes!