Kids Surprise Party

Since Darrick's birthday is the 16Th of August and he will not be here to celebrate it the kids wanted to plan a little surprise party for him. I only helped them when needed but they did the rest. Micah and Naomi were in charge of decorations and wrapping the gifts and Jacob made the cake and decorated it.

They made him some things out of LEGOs including a birthday cake.

They couldn't wait for Darrick to come home from his last day of work! They hid in their spots so that they could jump out and yell "Surprise" when he came up the stairs!

When it was time to open presents they were so excited. Micah and Jacob picked out what they wanted to get Darrick and could hardly wait for him to open it.

He was very surprised with his PSP!
Then it was time for the gift from Naomi and I.

A new ice tea maker-his old one broke in the move
Then they had to check out the PSP

They also planned a special dinner. I made it but they planned the menu. It was ribs, mac salad, corn on the cob and veggies with dip.

In the evening, a couple from church, invited us over for dessert so they could say goodbye to Darrick. We sat out on their deck and had brownie sundaes with strawberries from their garden. She also made homemade strawberry lemonade-delicious! They live close enough for us to walk so we had a nice walk home. The weather was perfect and Darrick and I commented on how much we love Washington. It was a good day!

Gymnastics

For the past couple of months, Naomi has wanted to do dance and gymnastics. With Darrick leaving we thought it would be good to have some activities to do. We found a gym in our town called Rising Star Gymnastics. They offer a free class so that the child can try it out and see if they like it before you sign up. We thought we would take advantage of the free class before Darrick leaves so he could see her do it.

Last night was her class. It was from 5:30-6:15 and she was in the 3 and 4 year old class. We were a little early and she could barely wait to get out there. She looked adorable in her little outfit and she was so proud!

There are many different classes going on at the same time but all the kids start out together warming up.

Then they broke up into their classes and worked at different stations. She loved them all.

She listened really well to her teacher and did what she was supposed to do. At the end of class they each got a stamp on their hand.

We signed her up to have one class a week. It looked like so much fun the boys thought they might like to try the free class next week!

Garden Update

I thought that our garden was failing but all of the sudden it came to life and took off. It is so exciting. We had a small crop of strawberries but they were so delicious. I am so excited to see what grows and what we will get to eat!

Our zucchini plant

Our raspberry bushes

Our tomato plants

Both Gardens

Our garden beans

Our corn

Our watermelon and pumpkin plants

Cadet Campout

This past weekend Darrick and the boys + Hendrik went to the annual Cadet Campout. Friday afternoon they drove 3 hours south to Westport, WA. They camped in tents by the beach. They did all kinds of boy things but the highlight was making their own kites and flying them. They got these cool shirts and lots of great memories!

Our Sailor Girl

Stepping Stone

This past weekend Darrick and the boys went on the Annual Cadet Campout so it was a girls weekend. We had a lot of fun together. We did some shopping, watched a CareBear movie, took a bubble bath and did a project.

Two years ago the boys made stepping stones with their handprints so I wanted to do one with Naomi too. It turned out really cute. She picked where to put the stars and moons. She is very proud of it!

Naomi and Nene

This is Naomi and her sweet friend Nene. They were both very proud of their stretchy rainbow bracelets and took some pictures after our support group. The bracelets are for them to use, stretch, bite anything that helps them when they are feeling dis regulated. They have so much fun together every week and are becoming very good friends.

Bethany Goodbye

Every Monday night at 6:00 pm we drive down to Seattle to Bethany Adoption Services to participate in an adoption support group. It is a new group for the Seattle office so right now there is only one other family in the group. We have gotten really close to the other family, the Alvines, who adopted their daughter from the Philippines.

Last night was our last meeting together before Darrick leaves. They brought in a cake for him. It was chocolate-yummy!

Then we all had to write a note to Darrick and put it in a little box for him to take with him.

I think that is what set me off last night. I had to confront how I was feeling and write it on a piece of paper. It overwhelmed me. All I wrote was "You are my heart, I love you".

Emotions

It is 1:30 am and I cannot sleep. Everyone else in the house has been asleep for quite a while, except me. I am so exhausted that my eyes hurt but sleep won't come.

Today was a tough day. Knowing that it is already less then a week until he is gone. I feel like the time is slipping through my fingers too fast. The kids are starting to show their normal signs that Daddy is leaving. Micah is emotional, Jacob is naughty and Naomi is not sure how to act.

Tonight I had to cry. I had been holding it back and it just broke through. I don't like going there because when I think of being without Darrick for the next year it is the most empty and sad feeling I have ever felt. I love this man and having a family with him. It is just not the same when he is not around to share the joys and sorrows with.

I struggle with wanting the next year to fly by vs. cherishing my kids and each day during the next year. We can't put life and experiences on hold just because Darrick is gone.

What I dislike the most is that nothing I can do will change our situation for the next year and I have to go through it. It is coming whether I want it to or not.

One of my best friends is about to have a baby and her due date is August 9. It is ironic to me how she will be having one of the best days of her life while I am having one of my worst. Life is funny like that.

Most of the time I feel really peaceful about the whole situation. I have entered my numbing mode. The emotions hurt too bad so I just try not to feel them. But then they come out tonight in tears.

I know we will be okay but I still wonder why we have to go through this. Why our family? I know we can do this but I don't want to.

I'm just having a bad night...hopefully it will all look better in the morning...if I can get to sleep.

A Ride in Doug's Airplane

We have a guy at our church, named Doug, who built his own airplane and offered to give Darrick a ride in it before he leaves. Yesterday was a beautiful day, a perfect day for flying so they planned to meet at 7:45 pm at the Arlington airport.



Darrick got a kick out of this sign when he got in the cockpit! But he had full confidence in Doug and his building abilities!

He said the views were beautiful and Doug even let him take over the controls for a bit. What an awesome experience!

Hail and Farewell

Yesterday the Navy held their Farewell for Darrick. It was at a restaurant near the base called The Scuttlebutt. The Chiefs gave Darrick this beautiful plaque. He was surprised because he is not really leaving for good but just for one year. Hopefully they don't know something that we don't know!

Organization helps me deal

By far, the boys favorite toy for years has been LEGOs. We have bought them and people have given them to us and they have gotten a bit out of control. We have them stored in a HUGE tub but this is not an ideal situation. The boys can never find the parts they want so they dump them, and they get all over their room. Oliver tries to chew them, Darrick and I step on them, it is the pits! Have you ever stepped on a LEGO with no shoes? It hurts!

One day when we were at Costco I saw this amazing storage unit and right away I thought about the boys LEGOs. We waited a few weeks and then we bought it-I needed Darrick's help .

I knew this was the perfect project for me right now. When certain things in my life are out of control, like Darrick going to Cuba for a year, I organize. At least I can control something and I feel a huge sense of accomplishment when the task is completed.

Well it has taken me 2 weeks but today I finished separating the LEGOs into their correct bins. At times I wanted to scream because there were just so many pieces. I would try to get the boys to help me but they would discover a piece they had not seen for a long time and they would end up building and playing. I was better off by myself. Here is what my finished project looks like!