When it snows, it pours!

Day 2 of our 4 day weekend.  Day 2 of closed schools and closed base.  (Day 4 of my yucky cold but I'm 100% better then yesterday even!)  We let the kiddos go out and play in the snow for a while today.  They had so much fun but were pretty darn chilly when they came inside.  I video-ed them playing and that's when Josie was outside.  She didn't stay too long and didn't make it to the still camera pictures.  She opted to come in and watch Peter Pan (her Daddy's girl!).  Enjoy the photos:
Winter wonderland out the front door:

Michael vs. the driveway:

Our boys:  (Luke with a school yard stare apparantly)

Kaden's the angel above :)

SD of the Year

Michael was awarded SD of the Year yesterday for his squadron.  (SD is for Senior Director, Michael's job on the AWACS)  I cannot tell you how proud I am of him. 
Now on a completely selfish note---this award means a lot to me as well.  I easily get upset about how much Michael is gone or how he seems to always be the go-to-guy.  I get jealous of the time he spends at work and on TDYs.  I feel like the kids and I sacrifice our husband/father so he can be away.  When Michael gets recognized this way at least I know he is appreciated at work for everything he does.  At least I know someone understands how hard he works, how seriously he takes his job and how good he is at it!  That makes it a little easier when he leaves.  But just a little.

GO Caveliers!!!

No, I haven't suddenly converted to being an NBA fan or anything.  Caveliers is the name of Kaden, Luke, and my nephew Logan's Upward Basketball team.  Go Cavs!  They've had 2 games so far and the boys are quite impressive to say the least!  We are SO proud of them.  They all do such a great job listening to their coach and following his instructions!  Each of them have already improved, I cannot wait to watch them grow through this season.
Game One, our boys are in blue:

Waiting for the inbound pass:

Get that ball boys!

Kaden dribbled out from all those defenders :)

Josie and Gabes waiting for the game to start:

Happy cousins, Aurora and Gabriel:

Game Two, we're now in orange.  Luke and Kaden are 2 and 3 in this lineup:

Go Kaden!

Defense!!!

GO Logan!

Encouraging words from coach:

Luke watching his shot (go in by-the-way! :)

Silly Gabes:

Silly cousins:

Proud Papas:  (GO TIGERS!)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GABRIEL!!!

5 years ago today, my angel Gabriel was born!  I cannot believe my baby boy is 5 years old. 
Oh little one how I prayed for you.  I couldn't wait to see you, hold you, and kiss you.  Early on in the pregnancy we had a little scare and we thought I was going to lose him.  I remember being at the emergency room and praying over this little angel of mine.  While praying, for the first time in my life, I had a feeling of peace wash over me and I knew that everything was in God's hands and that all would be okay.  No matter what was to happen, God was in control.  It was a beautiful experience.  The nurse came in for an ultrasound and there he was, my 3rd little guy.  He was the same size in real life as his TINY ultrasound picture they printed out for me.  I remember hearing that everything looked "real good" and things would be "alright".  God what a blessing!  What a blessing You have given us!
Gabriel was a name I had always loved, Michael took a little while to come around, but eventually he did :)  (Heidi, I know you love that story so much but it's a little hard to explain on a blog!!  But know I know you're thinking about it!)  It was Michael that was the first to say we should name him after my uncle.  Each of our boys have a middle name after someone whom we love very much and has touched our lives in more ways then just family.  Luke Thomas for Michael's mentor and friend Thomas McNish.  Kaden Thaddeus for my brother, who needs no explanation of why we wanted to honor him.  And then came Gabriel Todd.  Todd for my Uncle Todd, my Uncle T.  Our love for him is beyond words.  He has always cared for me in such a special and beautiful way.  We have always had a special relationship and he knows that I love him as much as he loves me.  My Michael loves him as well.  He was hooked the first time he saw Uncle Todd using ketchup at a family BBQ.  Yes it's an inside joke of sorts, you ought to ask Michael about it sometime.  Together we wanted to honor Uncle Todd and show him how much he means to us.  I pray that Gabriel turns out to be a man after Uncle Todd's own heart, what a true blessing that would be. 
Gabriel Todd.  Our angel, our love.  We thank God for him and his sweet soul.  My Gabriel, the little guy with the elvish ears.  The sweet boy who loves to give kisses.  Michael always says to me he is too cute to get mad at and I have to admit he does get away with quite a bit.  He is a doll.  He is adorable.  He is our Gabriel and I cannot imagine life without him!  Happy Birthday!  :)
Gabriel's birthday:

Turning one!:

I'm two!:

Three years old!:

Happy fourth!:

I'm FIVE!!!:

Christmas #2

We had a Christmas at home before heading off to my family in St. Louis.  We opened Grandma Harmon and Grandma Short's gifts.  How wonderful :)
Ready for presents:  (Josie really is screaming with delight--promise!!!)

Happy kiddos leads to happy shopping:

More presents:

More Josie, just because I still cannot get enough of this girl :)

Thanks Grandmas for our wonderful Merry Christmas :)

Christmas #1

Christmas with Michael's brother and his family.  We had an incredibly great day!  It was so much fun to be with each other and have the kiddos celebrating together!  An experience I hope they remember.  Both of us being Air Force families we can't always be together and so times when we are together are PRECIOUS!  I'll let the pictures, the many, many pictures speak for themselves.
Waiting for present time:

Happy Josie with her Pony:

Gabe and his punching bag:

Kaden and a nerf gun:

My nephew Logan, Phineas and Ferb, a fav in these parts :)

Luke's getting a nerf too, check out K's face:

Aunt Belva's lovely AWACS pin:

Josie and Ariel:

Gabe and Wall-E, that face is precious!

Kaden and Goofy:

Luke and Pirates (I personally wish it was Johnny Depp's face instead of the skull...but what can you do?!)

Josie and Uno:

My niece, Aurora and her baby panda:

Me with one of my 4 piece Cherished Teddies Wizard of Oz set.  TOO cute!  (the bears, not me!  :)

Michael and his Jedi Mickey watch from DisneyWorld:

James and his Captain America shield from us:

Playing with all the loot:

After presents, Michael and I left the kiddos with Uncle James and Aunt Belva and headed downtown to a  Trans-siberian concert.  It was interesting, I'll say that for it.  It was wonderful to be with my hubby.  That is for sure!  Yay for the happy couple :)

Alrighty, was that too many pics?!  Hope you enjoyed them!