The Birthday Boy...

Well, today was the big day. Douglas turned 18 and became an official adult. He got a little scared when I said I have no more legal obligation to feed him anymore. In between going to baseball games with his Grandpa we got a little fun in. I just can't believe how fast the last 18 years have gone. For many years Doug and I got a lot of grief because we do everything with our kids. We may have a date night twice a year, in fact the boys have always gone with us on our Anniversary dinner. In addition, we have only gone on one vacation without the kids. My thought was, if I get 80-some good years on this Earth, I only get my kids for 18 of those years. It's a very short time!!! So, we always tried to create memories every chance we got. This is just our way, and I certainly don't think there is anything wrong for those of you who do create more adult time. It was just our preference. I suppose it was one of the perks of having kids so young, Doug and I will have oodles of time to spend together while we still have our drivers licenses. 

I was out early this morning in my PJ's creating this masterpiece. 

Grandma and I spent the evening blowing up all these balloons and snuck them into his room while he was asleep this morning. 

His birthday present, a new car stereo so he can plug in and play his tunes off his phone. My brother and I spent 2 hours taking apart his car to put it in the night before but realize neither one of us knows jack about wiring. LOL 

Birthday dinner

He loves it when we sing to him!

He finally complied to being happy after I kicked him under the table

The birthday party people! It was all fun until Ella became the party pooper...literally!

I love you...

I posted this picture on Facebook from Dougie's graduation. Everyone loved it! Him looking up at us in the crowd and signing "I Love You" seemed to melt all your hearts. As I promised, there is a story pertaining to this picture. I'll never forget the day when he was in fourth grade and he got to that point where he was too big to kiss his mother good-bye for school in front of everyone. It's the day we lose our babies for good! So, I showed him the sign for I Love You and he decided that was okay to do when we said good-bye. And that is what we did everyday when he left my car and entered the school building. It then followed onto the football field. When his team took the field, the first thing he did was find me and sign I Love You. When he flew for the first time last year by himself, I didn't leave until he got through security and he turned around and signed, I Love You. So, last Saturday when he looked up and signed I Love You, it was a natural thing to do. It's been our thing for many years. In fact, I do the very same thing with Cameron. Just because they are boys and don't want that physical attention from Mom anymore doesn't mean they can't be affectionate in their own way. I love it, and wouldn't change a thing!

Homeless...

First, let me explain the process of our military move to Germany. There are three shipments we are allowed. First is household goods (HHG) which is the bulk of the move. This shipment gets put on a ship and makes the long trek across the Atlantic Ocean. Second, is unaccompanied baggage. These are items you don't want to travel with but need to have around, such as extra clothing and handy housewares and are put on a plane to Germany. Last, there is storage which will sit here in the states until we move back and include our washer, dryer, and our extra fridge. 

We had reserved our dates of when the movers were to come. On Monday we were expecting the unaccompanied baggage movers, however the HHG movers came instead. To say I was unprepared is an understatement! I was planning on packing our suitcases Monday after the movers left. I had NOTHING packed. After a little (okay, maybe huge) meltdown I kicked it into gear and went through each room of the house one room at a time grabbing what I needed and then allowing the packers to come in and pack up the room after me. It worked out, but I think I aged 5 years in the process. 

We are currently staying in temporary lodging on Ft. Bragg until we leave North Carolina next Thursday. I still have a full schedule as relatives have come into town for Douglas's graduation this weekend. But, the physical packing and moving our household items are done. 

It's always comfortable when they pack your furniture

My wall of boxes in the kitchen

Living Room

Our dinner among the boxes. Cam is thrilled, right?!

This is Tuesday loading up the crates on the truck