Horrible

So I know I have been horrible about updating this lately. So I just wanted to give everyone a little update about our goings-on.

First: Our computer has some sort of super-virus & has been at the "doctor" for the past two weeks. We were supposed to have it back last week and I am getting ready to go harass someone into fixing it quicker & giving it back to us. I'm pretty lost without it & that is also the reason there will be no pictures in this post. :o(

Second: I know this is long over-due, but for anyone who doesn't know...Brian's neck injury is mostly healed. He will not have to have surgery and he is back to full duty/PT schedule at work. He is no longer going to physical therapy and is almost pain-free. He still has some pain when he over does things, but is much, much better overall. Also, he will NOT be deploying at all during this rotation, so he will be staying safely here in the states until at least Feb of next year. (YAY!)

Lily has resumed her dance classes and I am amazed/appalled at how different this class is from the one in Virginia. Amazed because of how much better this class is, appalled at how little the other class actually taught her! She is loving every minute of her new dance lessons and has been practicing hard for her upcoming dance recital. (June 5th for anyone who is interested in attending).
Lily brought her report card home from school yesterday & both Brian & I were very pleased to see the improvement from last semester. (We were concerned when the last one came home because it stated that she didn't know a lot of things we KNOW she knows, but we think it was because she was enrolled for only 19 days of the semester and was still adjusting at that point.)

Jake has been doing great. He is such an amazingly happy baby. It's hard to believe he is already 11 months! We're starting to plan his birthday party (May 9th) but he is not slowing down for anything! He's into EVERYTHING and is constantly on the move. He LOVES to be outside and I think he is already close to walking. He's standing on his own for short periods of time and just this morning tried to take a step, but fell in the process. :o)
He's STILL not sleeping through the night... I thought I got lucky when he slept through the night 3 nights in row, but he's back to getting up twice a night now. I think we're going to have to break down & let him cry through - which is what the doctor advised months ago, but we didn't have the heart to do it. He's certainly getting enough to eat. He's eating almost everything we do now - anything he can get his hands on really. He's definitely a healthy boy with a very healthy appetite. :o)

We've started planning our summer "vacations" (mostly just spending time with family) and so far we know we (Lily, Jake & I) will be in MA from June 6th-21st. We can't wait to see everyone! And for a lot of you to meet Jake! Still unsure if Brian will be able to get away for a few days to join us though. He is not going to be able to take leave until August, so the rest of our traveling will have to wait until then.

We're still keeping Mimi in our thoughts & prayers...hoping she feels better very soon!

I think that's all our news for now. I'll post whatever pictures I have as soon as I get our computer back...hopefully soon!

Spring Break Fever

We had a very busy spring break this year, but it was filled with lots of fun for all.

We were able to spend a few days in Houston and we were so thrilled to spend time with everyone there.

Jammie, Madison & James were able to drive from the Beaumont area to spend Saturday with us. Out initial plan was the Children's Museum, but they were having their Grand Opening and when we arrived there were about 300 people waiting outside in the cold rain. We chose not to wait & be miserable and decided to go to the Aquarium instead.

She thought the alligator was going to come through the glass to get her...silly girl

Jake loved looking at all the fish

Touching the stingrays

I think she touched one...haha

They were really excited about the train ride

until we got in the shark tunnel

not looking so excited now

Jake & James playing back at Mimi & Grant's house

Sunday we headed for the Houston Rodeo Livestock show

Lily posing with the longhorns

These piglets were born the day we were there - I think there were 15 of them!

petting a guinea pig

when she saw she could pet a rabbit too she said "Oh man, this must be my lucky day!"

She was even more lucky when she got to ride a pony!

Lily only got to ride one ride before it started pouring rain, but she & Grant were able to play some games & win some more stuffed animals which seemed to make her forget about the rides.

Despite the weather we had a great time.

Monday Lily got her haircut - and finally has bangs "like Mom's" - which she has been asking for for months

so cute!

And, of course, then it was time for a dip in the hot tub.

Zoey wanted to go swimming too, but she was a little unsure...what a crazy dog!
she stood like this for a while - I have no idea how she did it...

On Tuesday we headed back home -

but not before the kids squeezed in a little play time

On the way home Lily spotted this beautiful field of bluebonnets & we couldn't resist stopping to get some pictures

I couldn't decide which was my favorite...

On Thursday I brought Lily & her friend Sammy to an indoor inflatable place. Surprisingly enough, I think Jake had the most fun!

Lily has been begging to play putt putt ever since we moved here, so Friday we finally brought her.
We also saw Lily's teacher while we were there - Lily thought it was the coolest thing ever that her teacher was playing putt-putt. Playing air-hockey with Dad

Saturday we took a trip to the zoo in Waco - which was fantastic.

Lily wanted her picture taken with the bald eagles

This slide went through the otter tank - which Lily LOVED! She would have stayed & played there all day if we let her :o)

Sunday Lily was invited to a Fancy Nancy party hosted by the Girl Scouts. She has been on a waiting list to join a troop & she was finally able to join during the party. She had tons of fun at the party & was so excited because they made dog cookies for the "lost dogs" (dogs at a local shelter).
Fancy Lily all ready to go!

When she got home I took her & Jake to the park as one last activity before she went back to school on Monday. (She's peeking out from behind the red pole)
She can do the monkey bars all by herself now - she's so proud!

(Not sure what I was thinking when I told her she could wear whatever she wanted...haha)
She can also climb the rock wall by herself which is also a source of great pride :o) Jake enjoying himself watching all the kids play