Bible Quizzing and Talent Show

Yesterday the youth from our church participated in a zone wide Bible Quiz and Talent show in Port St. Joe. Kaitlyn and Karissa were both in the quizzing part and Kaitlyn entered the talent show. Both girls received a Silver medal for the bible quizzing. Kaitlyn entered the talent show and did some scripture memorization. She received a gold medal. It was a fun day and on top of that we got to visit beautiful Port St. Joe. Here are some pictures we took of the day.

Happy New Year!!

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year. Things were very busy around Christmas but thankfully since the New Year, it has slowed down a lot. Probably because I had to slow down!! If you have not heard, we are expecting a baby in August and as usual, I have been sick (not as bad as with some of the others though). Mostly, I have just been really tired with no energy to do much of anything. By the time I get school done with the girls and a little housework, I am pretty much done for the day. It will all pass soon and I will be back to my normal self (as normal as you can be while you are pregnant). Everyone asks me if I am hoping for a boy but the answer is, "I am praying for a healthy baby." The sex makes no difference to me.

On January 9th, we celebrated Lauren's 4th birthday. I can't believe my baby girl is getting so big. She is so special to me and I wouldn't know what to do without her around. If I am sitting, she is on my lap. If I am cooking, she is in the kitchen beside me. If I leave the house, she goes along. She is most definitely a momma's girl and I wonder how she will react to a new baby. She loves to play polly pockets with her sisters, color, play with her dolls and play dress up. I love spending every moment I can with my girls!!

I am posting some random pictures that have been taken between Christmas and now. I don't know how up to date I am going to keep this blog so until next time, enjoy!!



Girls on Christmas Sunday


American Girl Dolls...their favorite gifts.


Kaitlyn


Lauren


Karissa


Our Family


Our family with Paul's sister Rhoda, Luke and Emily


Luke, Rhoda, Emily, Paul Sr., Monica, Lenny, Angie, and our family


Rhoda, Luke, Emily


Kaitlyn, Karissa and Daddy


Lauren's 4th birthday

Kaitlyn at Jr. Museum

Holiday Busyness!!!!

I realize it has been almost a month since I have posted anything. Things have been crazy busy around here and will continue to be until the end of the month. At Thanksgiving we made a quick trip to Indiana and were able to spend the weekend with all my family. We also celebrated Christmas together while we were there. Since returning from that trip, every weekend is very full until Christmas and even some week nights. The girls are in the Christmas play at church so that has required several trips to the church for practice. I helped get some of the costumes ready. Last Saturday night, we attended the Panama City Christmas parade. It was two hours long and really nice. This Friday we have our church Christmas party. The children will be at the church for their own party, with the teens providing childcare, while the adults will be at the home of a church family. Saturday morning will be a full dress rehearsal for the play and then another Christmas parade in the afternoon and the lighted boat parade that night. Sunday morning will be the Christmas program and Sunday evening will be spent at our pastors house for more fun. On Monday, Kaitlyn and Karissa will be participating in a Spelling Bee that our homeschool group is sponsoring. The evening of the 20th, we will be hosting a Christmas get together here at our house, then my company will be arriving on the 24th and will be here until the Sunday after Christmas. We are looking forward to having some of Paul's family here with us for Christmas. Paul has a two week vacation so it will be nice to have him home. So as you can see, things are pretty busy around here but with all the hustle and bustle, we are remembering the true meaning of Christmas and thankful for Jesus birth. We wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!

Rhoda and Emily Visit

Last week Rhoda and Emily came for a visit while Luke was out of town. We had a great time and enjoyed spending time with them. We visited Zoo World, the beach and even played at the park. Here are a few pictures from the week.

Ripley's and Treasure Ship

Last weekend we took the girls to the Ripley's Believe It or Not Museum here in Panama City Beach. They had a lot of fun reading all the info and trying to decide if it was true or not. After touring the museum, Kaitlyn, Karissa and I went on the 4D ride. It was a lot of fun. Afterwards, we stopped at the Treasure Ship Restaurant that sits on the Bay. We had good food and great views of the Bay. The girls also enjoyed the Pirate that came around and talked to them. He had fun picking on Karissa. He also made them a balloon of their choice. It was a fun experience.


Ripley's Believe It or Not Museum


Kaitlyn playing the laser game.


Karissa in the hot seat


Wow,he is tall.


Paul


Lauren


Kaitlyn


Karissa


Treasure Ship Restaurant


Pirate Karissa


Pirate Kaitlyn


Karissa


Three cute pirates...don't they look mean?

Florida Home

Several people have been asking to see pictures of the house and area, so here they are. If you want to see what the inside of the house looks like, you will just have to come visit. We are enjoying Florida so much and love the warm weather and white sands. I am pretty sure that the most beautiful beaches in the US are right here on the Gulf. We are only going to be here for a short time (approx. 7 months) so I am going to enjoy my winter vacation here in Panama City Beach.





Our Florida Home


Another shot of the house


View from hotel we stayed in our first week in Florida.


Lauren


Paul's first swim in the Bay. This is where they will be doing some of the training.


View of Hathaway Bridge from Navy Base. That's Paul swimming out there in the middle.


Sunset taken from our balcony


Beach

Journey across the Country

As most of you know by now, we moved from Monterey, CA on September 25. Our day started out with Paul's graduation and then to the airport to pick up Paul's brother, Stephen. He flew out to help us drive one of the trucks from California to Florida. After picking him up at the airport, we went back to the house and packed up the final things, finished the final cleaning and turned in the keys to our house. Our first stop was San Diego where we spent the night and then did a little sight seeing the next morning. I was able to tour the Marine base where my dad went through boot camp many years ago. It was neat being able to see it after hearing him talk about it all these years. The next few days were spent driving and enjoying all the scenery. I didn't think we would ever make it across Texas. Even with the 80 mph speed limit, 880 miles is a long time to be in one state. We ended up getting stopped by the Border Patrol several times. They always wanted to know where we were coming from, where we were going, what we were hauling and if we were US citizens. Interstate 10 is right on the US/Mexico border at times. We had a really good trip and enjoyed having Stephen with us. He was a huge help and Kaitlyn enjoyed spending time with Uncle Stephen in the big moving truck.

We are very thankful for a safe trip but we did have one scary thing happen along the way. Stephen was driving the Penske Truck and I was driving our truck pulling our 20 ft. trailer. Stephen was ahead of me in the right lane and I was in the passing lane. All of a sudden I saw all brake lights ahead of me and Stephen swerved over into the lane in front of me. I slammed on the brakes and thankfully was able to stop just in time before I hit him. As he was driving down the interstate, there was a car in front of him driving in the passing lane (he was in the right lane) and he watched the car swerve into the right lane and then lost control and ended up in the ditch. A truck driving down the interstate lost it's trailer with a concrete mixer on it and it was sitting in the passing lane and was just over a dip where you could not see it until you were on it. In an instant, Stephen, knowing I was flying down that passing lane swerved over into the lane to keep me from hitting the thing. Of course I had to slam on my brakes to not hit him but I could see him. I would not have seen that thing in the road until I was on it. I am so thankful for his quick thinking and reaction. I know God has his hand on us that night. I was shaking for quite a while after that ordeal. Stephen kept his truck in the road until he and Paul could help those guys get their mess out of the road. I went and checked on the people in the car and they were both fine. The husband said "I'm glad my wife knows how to drive, I guess the drag racing paid off".

We were happy to arrive in Panama City Beach. We went and looked at houses the next day and was able to sign the lease the day after. We like our house here and we are enjoying the beautiful area. Paul starts Dive School on Tuesday but I will leave that for another post.


Our moving trucks


Marine Corp Recruit Depot San Diego


The Sailor and Marine (Paul and Stephen) trying out the pull up bars.


Where my Dad trained in Boot Camp


Girls posing in front of Papa's flag (Marine Flag)


Kaitlyn giving us a wave.


New Mexico


Arizona


Lauren


Arizona