Pretty?

The past few nights have not been too high on the wild side. We've mostly just hung out and watched movies together. Last night we didn't feel like making dinner so we finally made it down to our special Souplantation.
This is the place that Joe and I have been talking about going since he's been gone. I didn't go because it reminded me so much of him and Joli would ask for him when we were there. He talked about how that was the first thing he wanted to do when he got home, simply because it had been so long since he'd had fresh fruits and vegetables!

Tonight we watched another kid's movie and Joli got dressed up and danced with Joe. She even showed off how well she can shake her little booty now!

We were laying on the couch when the music started and she said "Come on guys, dance on the floor with me!".

It had been a few days since she'd had a bath so Joe gave her a bath while I picked up the living room. He wasn't all too thrilled about me following them around with the camera.

But when Joli and I went to play in her room, it was Joe who took the pictures.

Look at me. All dressed up and nowhere to go!

I kept trying on hats which Joli immediately ripped off my head and then collapsed into giggles.

Joe told Joli it was almost time for bed. This is her sad little "Noooo".

Then when it finally was time to clean up for bed, this is the response I got.

It's been so nice to just hang out and enjoy each other, although the wrestling matches on the "big bed" are far too wild for me. Joli has discovered how to dive onto us! What a wild child!

Winds of Fury

We decided to take a little trip out to the mountains today. Mostly to let Kota run around but also to enjoy the great outdoors. Unfortunately we weren't quite prepared for what the great outdoors had in store for us. By the time we got up the mountain the wind was threatening to blow us off the road and even in the little campground we stopped in it was still insane. In an attempt to stay warm we all huddled together at the picnic table.
Kota loved being out of his yard. There was another dog around so he wasn't able to run around off the leash too often, but he still loved it.

I tried to make an effort to play with Joli as much as possible despite the cold. I showed her how much fun it can be walking on fallen trees.

Every five minutes or so we would head back over to the cars to visit Kacie who was keeping Charlotte warm and out of the wind. It was a nice little break to rewarm ourselves.

Chris decided he wanted to collect some pinecones and Joli thought this was a great idea.

I'm not sure what the exact purpose of this game was besides "keep Joli occupied".

I'm going to come up with a game like this at home called "find the toys and put them in the bucket"!

Here's Charlotte after being fed and changed. Doesn't she look nice and toasty warm!?!?

Joli loves all things lady bug, but she rarely gets to see live ones. So today I showed her how nice lady bugs really are. She still wouldn't touch it though.

After about an hour we were all chilled to our bones and Kota was actually showing signs of exaustion. So we decided to give him one last run before we headed home. Joe and Joli hung out and watched.

It was a nice afternoon and hopefully we'll be able to go up and camp once it's warmer!

One Big Family

Today was another wonderfully relaxing day. We started out with a nice game of t-ball. Joli was so excited to have talked someone else into playing with her.

Part of the way Joli likes to play is to hit the ball and then say "go get it". Joe thought it should go the other way though.

I've spent hours trying to teach Joli how to hit the ball right, but of course she'll listen to Joe!

After awhile we moved on to basketball and then eventually we headed in the house. Joli started out by putting her babies to bed in the baby seat and then after I went into the kitchen she decided she wanted to rest too.

Now that the guys have been home for a few days it was time to celebrate. So we all met on the beach for a BBQ. Joli was thrilled, she LOVES sand!!

It was so exciting to see everyone. I'm always amazed at how much I miss all the guys when they are gone. It truely is like one big family and it was nice to have that family together again! Of course what family is complete without a beautiful baby girl to pass around!? I kept reminding myself that there were a lot of people there that don't get to see Charlotte on a regular basis, but I wasn't about to pass up the opportunity when Kacie offered! It was also exciting because it was Charlotte's first trip to the beach!

Joli was so excited to have so many people around to give her attention! A bunch of the girls were there to love on her and play with her and of course all her "uncles" were there to spoil her! Chris and Nikki kept her quite entertained!Then of course there's her daddy who loves her to pieces and will do just about anything if she asks in the right voice.

After a couple of hours it was time to wash off as we were meeting some of the guys that weren't at the beach for dinner. Unfortunately the showers are not heated, and since Joli chose to do a few face dives down the hill she had to be washed. I especially love how there is a perfect layer of sand covering her little bottom.

I had hoped that Joe would get in with her to comfort her, but he informed me that he hadn't had that many beers!

Joli was a very sad sight to see and Joe and I both felt bad that she had to endure such cold water. She gaves a nice little lip to rub it in.

Joe had such a hard time putting her back in when she said "Please no daddy!", talk about breaking daddy's heart!

I had a nice warm towel waiting for Joli once she was done and it wasn't too long before she was warmed up and being bossy once again. Joe and I got changed into some nice clothing and headed out to a wonderful dinner with some more great friends. Joli was so excited to see Little Bear, everytime she would see pictures of them while they were gone she would say "that's daddy and that's my little bear". She gave him a big hug when she saw him and got a huge grin on her face when I asked her if she wanted to sit by him at dinner. He was so sweet and talked to her and played with her throughout dinner, and then pretty much stole her little heart when he gave her his ice cream! As we were leaving Little Bear was holding Joli and she said "Little Bear, you want to come to my house?". I have a feeling we're going to be hearing a lot more about Little Bear this week!

Peace and Comfort

Today we didn't go anywhere. It was wonderful!! The day started out at 7:30am again, but it was only so Joe could get up and make me breakfast in bed!!! It was amazing! After I finished my breakfast Joe cuddled with me until I fell asleep and then he cleaned the kitchen!!!! What an amazing morning! Once I was finally up and about we had some lovely time together as a family. Joli went out on the porch and screamed "A roly-poly! Squish it!!", so I went out there and showed her how nice they are and that they do not bite. I got her to sit close to me and watch at first.
After a few minutes she was a little less freaked out and wanted to hold the roly-poly herself so she held out her forefinger and said "Here, get on". She's very bossy, that girl.

While I was showing Joli the different bugs, Kota and Joe watched. Joe has been trying to spend a significant amount of time with Kota in an effort to calm him down. He seems to be doing better, and at the very least he is definitely happier!

Joe and I were trying to convince Joli to be a little more daring and also to trust us. I couldn't get her to stand on the railing, but of course what little girl doesn't listen to her daddy!

After a few minutes we decided to head down into the backyard with Kota and Joe. Joli escaped into her playhouse.

Kota was calm enough that we were able to sit on the patio and get a little sun. Joe took off his shirt to tan his whiteness and Joli sat down with him.

We headed back inside to make some lunch while listening to Joli sing "Honey, Honey" off the Mamma Mia Soundtrack. So when we got inside I put on the CD for her. She sang right along word for word.

After lunch Joli was able to talk Joe into having a tea party with us. She is an excellent little hostess and made sure we all got plenty of tea.

I put iced tea in the tea pot so we didn't have to suffer through our tea party. Joe was a good sport and drank his even though he doesn't like tea.

After we all had a nap and a nice restful afternoon, I got up to start dinner before Chris and Kacie came over. A few days ago Jessica sent back the bouncy chair that Joli used when she was a baby so that we could use it for Charlotte when they're over at our house. I was so excited to see that Charlotte LOVED it! She sat in it the whole time I was making dinner and all the way through our meal, what an angel!

After dinner we all hung out and relaxed and Joli served us all pretend tea. Chris was so excited to have another male to talk to! The past three weeks he's been on estrogen overload and now he has a friend again! It was a lovely evening and a wonderful day!

Busy Bees

You would think that we would just be hanging out at home relaxing and cuddling in bed...
But it is not true. We've been busy, busy, busy. We started out the morning cleaning up the house and trying on outifts...

Then we headed out to get Joe some "civilian" clothes. Before he left for deployment he let his wardrobe go simply because he wouldn't need regular clothes, but now that he's home it was time to revamp. So we headed out to the outlet mall, spent a couple hours shopping and then drove to the base for some more shopping. Finally, around 6pm and Joli and I both complaining of sleep and hunger, Joe made his final purchases and we headed home for a nice dinner. Now I'm off to get some sleep and dream of the breakfast in bed I was promised!

As a Family

Today was our first full day as a family again! It started much earlier than I am used to. Joe woke up and 7:30am and tried to sneak out of bed, he got to the bottom of the bed when Joli popped up and said "Where you going daddy?", of course that woke me up and that was the end of sleep. So we spent the morning trying to figure out what people do before noon. Joli had a few ideas.

Idea # 1: Big Purple Ball
Idea #2: Read Books with Daddy

Idea #3: Jump on Daddy on my bed

At some point Joe was able to get away from Joli for about .25 seconds to come hug me. Here I am sitting behind Joe so he can play ball with Joli while cuddling with me.

Eventually it got close enough to swim lessons that we decided to just go to the store first, which only took about 20 minutes and still left us an hour. So I took Joe over to Chris and Kacie's to see Charlotte! Joe and Joli played in the backyard while I held the baby girl and looked at pictures with Kacie! Chris got home and talked with us for a little bit and then it was finally time to go swimming. Joli was so excited! She got a little anxious when Joe went into the locker room to change, but then he came out and got her and off they went! Here are the benefits to having Daddy swim.

Of course when Joe tells her to kick her feet she's suddenly super swimmer!

The biggest goofballs ever!

I think Joli laughed hysterically about 95% of the time.

Only Daddy's can get away with moves like these!

Eskimo kisses!

I tried to tell him he needed to stand pretty far back, but she still caught him in the face.

Once everyone was clean and dry we headed for the beloved Souplantation! Joli was exhausted by this point, but who doesn't love good food!?!?

One benefit to having such a tired child was that she was very calm. She just ate quietly and barely spoke, that is until Chris and Kacie got there and then she was all excited to have everyone there!

We still had a few more errands to run but Joli just couldn't make it. It's very exhausting having your daddy home. She has to be the happiest little ever though!

We are so thrilled to have Joe home, even though we're all wiped out!