Adventures of the Lord Family

Jack and Brutus at his first OSU game

2011-12-20T19:26:00.000-06:00

Our Disney Princess

2011-11-26T15:26:00.001-06:00

Ready for the wedding party!

2011-11-19T17:59:00.001-06:00

Game Day at Sasa's house

2011-11-19T09:02:00.001-06:00

Luke Fickell and I.

2011-11-18T14:19:00.000-06:00

Writing my paper at Panera in Columbus and ran into the head coach for the Ohio State football team.

War Eagle

2011-10-29T20:33:00.000-05:00

War eagle

2011-10-29T15:56:00.000-05:00

Our own port-o-potty for the tailgate.

2011-10-29T11:54:00.001-05:00

This is our tailgate, YJCMTSU

2011-10-29T11:38:00.000-05:00

"The Belly is starting to get fat"

2011-10-16T18:30:00.001-05:00

Zoo Boo 2011

2011-10-15T19:08:00.000-05:00

iPhone 4s 8mp of cuteness

2011-10-15T16:41:00.001-05:00

Toomer's Tree

2011-09-25T00:11:00.000-05:00

Sasa and Dada Daycare

2011-09-24T17:03:00.001-05:00

We are thankful for iPads today.

Finches Team Photo

2011-09-24T11:35:00.001-05:00

Rollin' in the new Accord

2011-09-19T14:47:00.000-05:00

Who needs rear seat entertainment? I got my iPad and some dope DJ headphones!

Ahoy Matey

2011-09-18T16:20:00.000-05:00

Finally cool enough to go outside. Captain Jack and the Pirate Princess navigating the jungle gym through the stormy waters of the playground.

Jack's First Soccer Game

2011-09-10T14:52:00.001-05:00

Make sure you have some time, you will want to watch this over and over and over again. Click on it to "watch in youtube" so you can watch it in full screen HD. Or click on this link. Enjoy.

Let's Go Finches

2011-09-10T09:01:00.000-05:00

Jack's first soccer game.

Beauty and the Beast at the Montgomery Zoo

2011-09-09T19:13:00.000-05:00

Digging for dinosaurs at the McWane Science center

2011-09-04T15:46:00.001-05:00

Ross Geller strikes again.

My Girls in Birmingham

2011-09-04T14:15:00.000-05:00

Mongolian BBQ

2011-09-04T13:12:00.000-05:00

She does do other things besides eat.

Ellie's new favorite

2011-08-27T11:28:00.000-05:00

Costco footlong hot dog.

Mmm...broccoli!

2011-08-25T17:25:00.000-05:00

We got a ball!

2011-08-24T20:25:00.000-05:00

Biscuits

2011-08-24T19:46:00.000-05:00

Montgomery baseball.

Watching the Biscuits

2011-08-24T18:56:00.000-05:00

2011-08-20T11:44:00.000-05:00

Alabama Bowling Fun

2011-08-20T11:34:00.000-05:00

Oman, Saudia Arabia, Bahrain

2011-05-22T07:09:00.000-05:00

I know that it has been awhile since I have made any posts, but last week I had the opportunity to go on a trip to Muscat, Oman; Riyadh Saudi Arabia; and Manama, Bahrain. Below are some of the pictures from the trip.

Seriously, we were roughing it, this is the view of the Gulf of Oman from my hotel room

In Oman we had a traditional Omani dinner outside on the roof of a building.

here is a view of old muscat from dinner

old muscat in the daytime

in muscat we visited the royal stables and saw some horses

we even got a carriage ride, felt like i was part of the royal wedding

the grand mosque in muscat, amazing...

inside the grand mosque courtyard

lobby of the restaurant where we had dinner in oman

From Muscat, we flew to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The first stop in Riyadh was the Kingdom Tower, we went to the 99th floor, the arch you see at the top

This is the view of riyadh from the 99th floor

Then we drove out to the "edge of the world", about 30 miles outside of Riyadh

What is now barren desert used to be ocean, this is the landscape created by the water

anther picture from the edge of the world

Our group in the open desert

there was some serious carpet shopping done

the next stop was manama, bahrain, the scene of some recent protests. the street below was where many of the protest marches took place, but as you can see it has returned to normal.

the view from the hotel room

inside the grand mosque in manama

it was a whirlwind trip, but definitely filled with some once in a lifetime experiences.

Doha Auto Show

2011-01-30T04:01:00.000-06:00

I went to the Doha car show, one thing is for certain, if there is enough money, anything is possible. the car show was pretty amazing and everything was free, paid for out of the benevolence of the Emir. here are some of the highlights:

before i knew everything was free, had to hit the atm. luckily they had a mobile atm set up as part of the car show

i think there is a car in this picture, don't remember though

Yes, a working IMAC in the rear window

And my favorite, the IPAD in the dash for the radio

But in all seriousness, it was a really good auto show, my for real favorites were:

Skyline GTR...if I am ever stationed in Japan...

CTS-V, not my Grandpa's Caddy

New Years in Afghanistan

2011-01-09T12:24:00.000-06:00

While Christmas 2010 was a day of many firsts, New Years was also a day first... I rung in the New Year in Afghanistan...what a cold, windy, and dusty place. It was definitely interesting and really made me appreciate where I am now. Here are some pictures from the trip:

I didn't take this picture, or fly on THIS plane, but I rode in a C-20 like this...

This is what it looked like on the inside...notice the disgruntled "steward" in the background

The Afghan countryside view from the base

Slightly better view...no T-Wall installed yet

Standing in front of an MRAP...HMMWV's are so 2003

MRAP Convoy leaving the base

I dont look very tough, but it was friggin' cold

Top 10 Things I Did on Christmas 2010 that I have never done before...

2010-12-26T00:50:00.000-06:00

As I went through the day yesterday I realized that I was accomplishing many Christmas Day firsts. If I had been at home with family, the day would have most likely consisted of waking up at the crack of dawn (which I know Jack forced everyone to do) eating cinnamon rolls, watching football, drinking beer, and eating way too much food. Yesterday my plan was to stay as busy as possible to keep my mind occupied as not to get too depressed. In the course of the day I accomplished 10 things that I have never done on a Christmas day before. Here they are:

10. Ran a 10k Christmas Jingle Fun Run

09. Swam .7m miles

08. Did laundry

07. Received mail

06. Went to a shopping mall

05. Ate schwarma and hummus

04. Smoked Shisha (relax, its just tobacco from a water pipe)

03. Skyped with my wife and kids

02. Went to mass presided by an Arch-Bishop

01. Went to work---no pictures of this one....

So as you can see it was a busy day. Thank you all for the awesome presents and I really cant wait to see you again soon. Hopefully next year it will be a much more relaxing Christmas day.

Golf Outing

2010-12-19T07:21:00.001-06:00

Today was one of the perks of my current job. Got to have an awesome day of golfing with the boys. I cant believe I am saying this, but the weather was absolutely perfect. Here are some pictures.

Our foursome

seriously, what a rough life!

notice the salt water and the floating golf balls...an ingenious way to help golfers find their balls

view from the 18th tee of the clubhouse. can you guess where the sprinkler coverage ends?

Friday Night at the Deid

2010-12-10T13:17:00.001-06:00

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

World Cup 2022

2010-12-06T13:58:00.001-06:00

My things to do in Qatar seemed to be a post people were interested in. So here is another one about the proposed first five stadiums for the 2022 World Cup. They have a lot of work to do, but they also have a lot of money to get it done. Who knows where we all will be in 2022.

5 Destinations to explore in Qatar

2010-12-06T01:59:00.000-06:00

(CNN) -- A lot of travelers probably had to get out the atlas Thursday when Qatar was named host of the 2022 World Cup tournament. A little-known destination, Qatar is a small Middle-Eastern nation with a population of less than 1 million. It borders the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia and promises hot and humid summers.

Qatar beat out bids from the United States, South Korea, Japan and Australia for the right to host the tournament.

Temperatures average about 95 degrees during the summer, but have been known to reach 120 degrees -- something that, along with sandstorms, could prove uncomfortable for fans. But Qatar plans to build new stadiums and improve old ones, hoping to shield the players from the hot weather. The stadiums will include air conditioning, powered by solar panels.

Qatar is developing a public bus system, and visitors can also rent a car or hire a driver. And you'll want to get around -- Qatar has plenty to see aside from the best soccer in the world.

Lonely Planet suggests visiting these five places while in Qatar.

Al-Corniche

A road stretching 4 miles runs along the harbor in the capital city of Doha on Qatar's eastern coast. Aside from the beautiful Indian Ocean's waterfront and the dhows (traditional sailing vessels), visitors traveling along the road, Al-Corniche, will see some of the country's most innovative modern architecture. The road has six lanes, but it is also possible to walk alongside the shoreline.

Souq Waqif

One of the main commercial areas of Doha, Souq Waqif has been undergoing a major makeover. Buying and selling has been taking place on the grounds of the market for centuries, and the shops have been remodeled to look like a 19th-century souq, with mud-rendered storefronts. "Whether its Souq Waqif, Villagio - Doha's best mall, or the wholesale markets, there is something for everyone," said Lindsey Wallace, a travel agent at Linara Travel, which specializes in the United Arab Emirates. Don't forget to bargain. Souq Waqif is one of the most traditional marketplaces in the city. Here, you can purchase spices, perfumes and garments, as well as handicrafts and local coffee.

Al-Khor

Located up the coast from Doha, Al-Khor is a former pearl-fishing village and is much smaller than Qatar's capital city. There is a fish market in front of the harbor, and the beaches are pristine. Visitors to Al-Khor can also go birdwatching in the mangroves and gardens of the city.

Bir Zekreet

On the opposite coast of Qatar, Bir Zekreet is a great beach destination for those who like camping. The city is also surrounded by desert, which is where you'll find sand dunes and desert mushrooms. Nearby are a wild deer reserve and an old movie set that looks like a deserted village.

Khor al-Adaid

Surrounded by crescent-shaped sand dunes, Khor al-Adaid is known as the Inland Sea. Lonely Planet recommends spending a night there, and local tour operators organize both overnight camps and day trips. You can drive along the dunes, ride camels or sand ski in this popular desert area.

Shamelessly stolen from CNN.COM. But thought it was an interesting article. I have been to the first two, Corniche and Souq Waqif. Now I have some ideas of where else to go when I can leave base again.

6 hours into a 24hr bug...

2010-12-05T08:40:00.001-06:00

The worst part about being sick when you are deployed is that there is no one to give you sympathy...but it gives me some time to catch up on some posts. The other day I got the awesome opportunity to see some Falcons perform...yes falcons, the live performing kind. here is a picture...

Why the crazy face you ask, about 2 hours earlier this is what I saw this Falcon do...

Seriously, can you imagine if this is what the Falcons at the Academy games had done? The second best part of this video is seeing all the Land Cruisers racing across the desert.

Night out

2010-11-16T11:38:00.002-06:00

Dinner at an awesome Lebanese restaurant, an EID, festival and watching John McEnroe and Bjorn Borg play an exhibition tennis match. And oh yeah it Ellie's birthday. What a full day.

Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Rain in the desert

2010-11-09T05:43:00.000-06:00

it stopped before i could get out there, but it was raining here today. you can kind of see in the photos the clouds and the sand kicked up into the clouds. it did rain here today and it is actually pretty cool outside.weird...

Trip off base

2010-11-09T05:33:00.000-06:00

I was able to travel off base for the first time a few days back. I was actually doing my off-base drivers training. Before we are able to drive off-base we have to get training (during daylight and night time). Anyway, we went to this mall called "villagio" I know, sounds just like bellagio, and it seems like they were definitely trying to make it feel like a las vegas casino...not that there was any gambling, but it did feel just like walking around the forum shops at Caesars Palace. Here are some pictures that I took

when you walk in, notice the sky ceiling and the comparison of the westerner and local dress

you know, because every mall needs a canal and a gondola

another must for a shopping mall in the middle of the desert...ice skating

in addition to everything else, there was a pretty full-up carnival inside the mall

as you can see it is a pretty amazing place. for me the most eye-opening things were all of the kid activities, you could really see how family/kid oriented the locals are. it made me very homesick for my little homies, i know they would have loved all the things for them at the mall. it is also an extremely weird feeling going from on-base and all that goes along with that and driving 20 minutes away and feeling like you are back in the "real" world.

365 Countdown

2010-11-09T05:19:00.000-06:00

For those of you who check out the blog may have noticed the 365 countdown on the right column. For those of you paying attention you will notice that the 365 countdown has dropped dramatically. I found out that I got picked up for some intermediate developmental education...what does that mean....that now i should now be leaving here in the middle\end of June. While I don't know what day exactly I will be leaving, I do know that I wont have to be here a whole year, which is pretty friggin' awesome.

What it looks like on the outside

2010-11-09T05:13:00.000-06:00

I have shown some pictures of the inside of my room. But here is one of the outside of the building. As you can see gone are the days of tents and trailers, they are finally building structures that they plan on having here for a while.

Notice the complete lack of green everywhere...i think that is the most depressing part of around here. Everything is that same desert sand color.

Everyday is Tuesday

2010-10-29T14:09:00.000-05:00

My boss asked today what day it was, I said, "Its Friday." He said, "No, Dubs, it is Tuesday. I will tell you why:

Saturday and Sunday are weekends; we don’t have weekends at this undisclosed location in Southwest Asia, so it can't be Saturday or Sunday. Friday is the day before the weekend; there are no weekends here, so there is no Friday. Monday is the day after the weekend; there are no weekends here, so there is no Monday. Wednesday is hump day, never over the hump because there are no weekends here, so there is no Wednesday. Thursday is the big college night, the big pre-Friday night, there are no Fridays here, so there is no Thursday. Therefore, everyday here is Tuesday."

He wasn't lying. It was Friday, but we didnt leave work until 700 pm and we plan on being to work at 0700 am tomorrow morning. Oh well...I guess I will get used to it. But as promised, here are some pictures of my room.

Here is the view of my bed, desk, and entrance to my room.

Here is looking from the entrance at the tv. Notice game 2 of the world series on the armed forces network.

Here is my desk from the room entrance. You can see my sink and the entrance to my shared kitchen.

This is the shared kitchen

The shared kitchen looking the other way and you can see the bathroom.

So all in all not bad at all.

My first post from downrange

2010-10-27T14:42:00.002-05:00

I have been here for two days now, sorry for not writing sooner...but things have been a little busy. I landed here from my flight from Baltimore approximately 30 hours after I left. We stopped in Ramstein for 6 hours; left Ramstein flew to Aviano for a three hour layover, and then onto Qatar. We landed at 0100 in the morning local time, 30 hours after I left Baltimore. We then spent 4.5 hours doing our initial in-processing. I cleared customs and walked out of the air terminal at 0445. My new boss was there waiting for me, apparently he had been there since 0200 in the morning, despite it all, he was very accommodating and had everything set up for me. He took me straight to my room and told me that I could just give him a call when I was ready to come into work. I took a little nap and decided that I didn’t have anything else to do so I called up my boss and went in.
Not very exciting from then on…just did a whole bunch more in processing and started to meet everyone who I will be working with over the next year. I know that the most interesting part of this blog will be the pictures and interesting experiences along the way. I am not sure what I can/cant take pictures so I don’t have any yet. And I really haven’t done anything the last two days other then in process so not may interesting experiences.
I will say that the internet here is awesome, way better then I expected…so if you want to skype or FaceTime let me know, I haven’t had any problems getting it to work.
I will try to take some pictures tomorrow so you can see what this place looks like. But until then here is an awesome picture of Kate and I at the Buckeyes game last Saturday.

It begins

2010-10-25T04:44:00.001-05:00

I am on my first leg of my journey, i think the hardest wart is already over, leaving Kate and the kids. It was pretty awesome, we started the morning with an awesome brunch at Easton and then Rappa, Sasa, Mike, Austin, and kate and the kids all went to the airport. Some of Sasa's friends, the Scherners, met us at the airport. Kate had a big banner (Kate should be able to post some pictures) and flags for the kids. They all waved their flags and held up the banner, while all the other people in the Columbus airport looked at us like we are crazy people. I am not wearing a uniform and there aren't too many bases near Columbus so it was understandably a little different then what people are used to seeing in Ohio.

The flight from Ohio to Baltimore is only an hour. Once i get to Baltimore i will have to get all my luggage (my two massive duffle bags that were well over the 50 lb weight limit, but southwest airlines hooked it up, didn't even try to charge me extra. Maybe it was the crazy family waving flags or the 33 year old man balling his eyes out, whatever it was, it was enough to convince them that my overweight bags were justified). We were also able to get passes for Kate and the kids to go through security with me and hang out at the Kate. The kids, thankfully don't really seem to understand what is going on, so they were content to stuff their faces with Buckeyes from Rappa, and color.

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The journey begins

2010-10-24T19:05:00.002-05:00

My posts will be a little out of order. Had a really awesome post that wrote about leaving Columbus, but I didn't get a chance to send it because I couldn't find any wifi in Baltimore, but it is 2000L and my 365 day countdown pretty much starts officially now. Had an awesome surprise... meeting one of my best friends from the Academy, Peter, in line checking in for the flight downrange. We decided that instead of feeling sorry for ourselves in the BWI terminal that we would take a cab down to the Baltimore downtown and have an awesome steak dinner at "the capital grill". Pete actually already had plans and invited me along with him and one of his family friends, Graham. Graham was a great guy and picked up the tab for all of us. It was a great last meal before we leave and I was very grateful. Here's a picture from the dinner.

Standby for updates from Germany and the post about leaving Columbus. Kate, please email some of the pictures from today.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

GO BUCKS!

2010-10-23T09:45:00.000-05:00

On our way to the game

On the road

2010-10-20T16:15:00.001-05:00

Two hours into the trip. Will stop in Franklin, TN tonight.

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Last Florida Sunrise

2010-10-20T07:18:00.002-05:00

What a beautiful site for our last morning in Florida. The house is all packed up and we are staying at the TLF (temporary lodging facility) on base. The room, or should I say three bedroom house isn't much to look at, but the view out back is pretty spectacular. The plan is to meet the renters at the house, do a walk thru, and then hit the road to make it somewhere around Nashville tonight.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Postl Rd,Eglin AFB,United States

It finally seems real...

2010-10-19T10:19:00.001-05:00

I don't know if it is the fact that next Tuesday I will actually be gone or if it is because the house is finally getting emptied out, but it just hit me that I will be gone for a year before I know it.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Parkwood Ct W,Niceville,United States

Toddlers Favorite Toy: The iPhone

2010-10-17T23:20:00.004-05:00

It has only been a day but I am now obsessed with blogging. I can see how it has been so addictive for Kate.

Anyway, i was just reading an article in the NY Times and anyone who has spent anytime with us lately knows that this is definitely the case in our house. So enjoy, but don't judge until you have spent a whole day with the little devil and demon otherwise known as Jack and Ellie, the five minutes of quiet time, at the time, seems worth the possible educational stunting. Check it out

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Bowling Fun

2010-10-17T11:34:00.001-05:00

First Real Post for the New Blog

2010-10-17T07:48:00.006-05:00

I figure I should start learning how to work on the blog while I am still here with the blog expert---Kate. So I will begin the first new series of post with my last event in my old squadron. Here are some pictures of my "fini-flight". But on the new blog instead of a bunch of pictures in the post, my plan is to have one picture and then a link to a gallery of the pictures that the post is about. By clicking the "fini-flight" link or the picture within the post it will take you to the MobileMe gallery of that post. Let me know what you think about the MobileMe galleries and if you would rather just see all the photos within the post...but back to the post. For all the non-Air Force people, a fini-flight is a tradition that after your last flight in a squadron, everyone meets you at the jet and they hose you down with water. If you have kids, they usually let the kids do the spraying. As you can see, Jack really enjoyed it.

A new twist...

2010-10-16T15:03:00.002-05:00

I am not sure if anyone still reads this, but as you know this blog has been nearly abandoned as theshoppingmama.com has blossomed and taken more and more of Kate's time. But as I prepare to deploy for a year my plan is to use this blog as my journal throughout my deployment. So keep checking in to check up on what i am doing.

Test

2010-10-16T14:56:00.001-05:00

Mobile post test

The Buzz Heard 'Round the World

2010-03-14T19:22:00.005-05:00

In case you haven't seen it yet...

(There's something wacky about editing the video from my Flip camera so we sound like chipmunks. Sorry!)

Porterhouse Steak

2010-02-28T18:56:00.002-06:00

She is definitely daddy's girl.

Jack doing the twist.

2010-02-16T07:19:00.000-06:00

Jack and Friends at Epcot

2010-02-12T22:02:00.004-06:00

Jack with his BFF Nemo.

And with "Nemo's dad", Marlin.

And with Dori.

And with a random seahorse he liked (holding his new plush Dori).

Disney Dance Party

2010-02-11T20:45:00.000-06:00

Check out Ellie's moves...and pay close attention as the camera zooms
to Disney's youngest breakdancer trying to do head spins. Disney is
awesome!

UFC 109

2010-02-06T20:56:00.000-06:00

Staying an extra weekend in Vega before we fly home on Monday, but got
some free tickets to UFC. Yes, it as ridiculous as you think.

Big Day Out

2010-01-16T13:08:00.001-06:00

... At the mall in Pensacola. Sigh.

A New Project

2010-01-14T16:01:00.003-06:00

As if I needed another obligation... but this one is fun. It's part of the 365 Project Challenge.

The 365 project aims to collect photos documenting 1 year of your life. We want to build a picture of the little day to day things that make your life so special and unique. Everyone can take part and join in! All you need is a camera.

I've put The Shopping Mama spin on the project and am documenting 365 Days of Children's Clothes. So if you're looking to get your Jack and Ellie fix, pop on over to the Children's Clothing Blog and see what they're wearing every day.

Open Gym

2010-01-08T12:52:00.001-06:00

Self-Fulfilling Prophecy?

2010-01-03T16:57:00.001-06:00

His shirt says "bad hair day." Nap did a number on his 'do.

Go Buckeyes!

2010-01-01T20:43:00.002-06:00

Finally a big win! It's probably because the kids look so damn cute.

What happens when you eat applesauce with your hands?

2009-12-29T17:03:00.000-06:00

Christmas 09

2009-12-25T12:45:00.000-06:00

Spike the dinosaur was a big hit. Merry Christmas to everyone and best
wishes for the New Year.

Santa Pictures!

2009-12-19T23:12:00.005-06:00

Why do we think that kids like Santa?

Happy Birthday, Jack!

2009-12-19T20:57:00.002-06:00

We can hardly believe our little man is 3!

Three years ago today we were enjoying our tiny baby boy in a hospital in Bitburg, Germany. And now he's a rambunctious, moody, talkative, hilarious, lovable boy.

Jack is trying very hard to prove the old wives tale that three is actually worse than "terrible two." To put it mildly, he's been very difficult lately. But, in the midst of testing boundaries and working our nerves, he remains charming and sweet. (Thank god, or we might give him away. Just kidding!)

Jack loves "school" two days a week and talks my ear off on the drive home about his friends and "craps" (crafts). When we're playing at home, he likes to drive his Lightning McQueen car (an early birthday and Christmas present from Memere and Papa Lou), play with puzzles, crash matchbox cars and read books. He continues to have mixed emotions about Ellie - in one moment annoyed that she is trying to play along with him but the next saying "I wuvs zhu, Ewwie" and giving her a hug.

In true birthday spirit, Jack sang to himself all day. Here's one performance for your enjoyment.

Happy Birthday, Jack! We love you!

An Official Announcement. Sort of.

2009-12-10T20:45:00.003-06:00

As if it wasn't already clear, I suck at maintaining this blog. The Shopping Mama just takes all the computer time I have. And more, actually. I'd love to update this as often as I used to, but at this point it's not realistic. I have deadlines and responsibilities on the other blog (and Twitter and Facebook and the ShopAtHome.com blog) so all that usually takes priority.

The good news is that I often post about the kids - like Jack's soccer photos, Ellie's birthday party and funny things toddlers say - so when you want an Adventures of the Lord Family fix, check out The Shopping Mama. You never know, you might discover some awesome kids' toys, find something fun to buy or win something. Cheyenne did!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-26T17:16:00.006-06:00

Happy Thanksgiving from Jack & Ellie!

Away we go!!!

2009-11-22T13:44:00.000-06:00

Five Fat Turkeys - a Thanksgiving Production

2009-11-19T22:32:00.002-06:00

Jack's pre-school class "performed" a song at today's Thanksgiving Luncheon. It's hysterical. Jack was very eager to sing, as evidenced by his announcement he's ready to sing and the fact that he started singing before the music started.

Enjoy!

And, Saturday is Ellie's first birthday party! She turned one on Monday and I've been so busy since that I haven't updated this blog. The other has totally taken over. So, if you'd like to see how she spent her big day, check out this post on The Shopping Mama. And then Sunday Kevin and I hit the waters for a "media" preview cruise on The Oasis of the Seas. It's the new Royal Carribean boat and it's the largest cruise ship ever. We only have to pay for Kevin's flight there and everything else is covered. Ca-razy! I'll update when we get home.

More football

2009-11-08T13:32:00.000-06:00

Watching the Tampa-Green Bay game. Tampa is 0-8, but the tickets
were free

Tampa Bay Football Game

2009-11-08T12:11:00.000-06:00

More Ellie Walking!

2009-10-29T20:04:00.004-05:00

Ellie is walking more and more every day. It's pretty amazing, actually. Here's some video from tonight of our little one strutting her stuff!

Just a little warning to the grandmothers - there are a couple spills. But, she's fine. She falls all the time.

Baby Steps

2009-10-24T16:23:00.000-05:00

Southern Boy?

2009-10-24T09:02:00.002-05:00

You know how people say Florida isn't really the south? Well, apparently Jack didn't get the memo. He has been saying a couple words with the most ridiculous southern accent. I think it's exaggerated for our benefit because we crack up and make him repeat words over and over again until we're hysterical.

Here's an example of one of our favorites - "down" - from an interview with Lightning McQueen.

"Uh Oh"

2009-10-22T12:11:00.002-05:00

Ellie says a couple words but never seems to say them on command. What is that about? I did manage to catch her favorite phrase "Uh oh" the other day. Enjoy!

11 Months Old

2009-10-17T15:40:00.008-05:00

Here are some photos of Ellie from yesterday! I can hardly believe she will be a year old in one short month. She's funny and into everything. She literally spends all day long pulling things off shelves and out of drawers. The positive is that she's really good at playing on her own. When she's not in the mood, Jack is always around to "occupy her" as he says.

Ellie now has 3 teeth: her two bottom teeth and one incisor. When that thing grows she's gonna look ridiculous. I think she's just trying to keep up with the times and heard that vampires are in.

Likes: Food, dancing!, taking 5 steps, speed crawling, climbing, the boob, sippy cup, high fives, saying "Uh oh."

Dislikes: Diaper changes, when people take away food, sitting in high chair for too long, sleeping anywhere but her bed.
As you can see, her hair is strawberry blondish light brownish and her eyes are still blue. And the cheeks are remain large and in charge.More pictures!

Not script Ohio, but stil cool.

2009-10-17T12:48:00.000-05:00

We are Lucky

2009-10-17T11:19:00.007-05:00

I have some 11 month photos of Ellie to share, and I will try to edit and upload them during nap this afternoon.

All I can think about at this moment is how completely lucky we are. Our little family is healthy and happy. We have two beautiful children who were born without complication. They grow and amaze us every day.

Others are not so lucky. The small F16 community has had more than its fair share of loss lately. While I don't any of these families personally, I feel like I do. The community is small - each is a friend of a friend. And because of the unique challenges of Kevin's line of work I feel an immediate bond for others in the same position.

Please send love, good thoughts and prayers:
(You can click on the name to read the family's blog or the relevant news article.)

The Sullivan Family: On September 22, 16 days after delivering a healthy baby girl, Sara Sullivan lost her battle with cancer. Brady and baby Chloe are adjusting to life without his wife and her mom. Here's a news story, too: Breast Cancer Claims Young Mom (Thanks for that link, Lesli.)

The Giglio Family: Captain Nicholas Giglio of Shaw Air Force base was involved in a mid-air collision on Thursday. Thankfully, the other pilot involved was able to land safely. Capt Giglio is still missing.

The Friedman Family: Katie died yesterday shortly after delivering a healthy baby boy. Her husband flies F-16s at Aviano (Italy), he went to the Academy with Kevin and now has two young boys to care for alone.

Now that I've thoroughly depressed us all, I'm going to hug my kids.

Future Models?

2009-10-08T00:06:00.004-05:00

Obviously! And their time has arrived.

Like a giant loser, I've entered Jack and Ellie in the Gap Casting Call. But, hell, you get a coupon code just for entering so why not?

So while you're over there entering your own little one, can you throw a vote or two our direction?

CLICK TO VOTE FOR JACK & ELLIE

You can vote once a day until November 17. (That is code for bookmark the page and return every morning to vote for the Lord kids.)

I can submit a couple more photos. Do you have a recent favorite of either kid I should include?

Meet Nemo

2009-10-02T07:36:00.002-05:00

To say that Jack enjoyed Disney World would be a major understatement. But of all the characters we met, rides we rode and shows we saw one is a clear favorite. The Finding Nemo Musical. How do I know it's his favorite, you ask?

Exhibit 1: This video of Jack, I mean "Nemo", singing "Big Blue World" from the musical and then telling me our names.

In case you missed it, Jack goes by the name "Nemo", Ellie is "Dori", I am "Mr. Ray" and Kevin is "Mr. Shark" - all characters from Finding Nemo.

Exhibit 2: School yesterday. Hysterical. Kevin took Jack to school in the morning. When he was preparing to leave the teacher said, "Jack say goodbye to your dad" (because, as usual, Jack had run off to play with not a care in the world). Jack said, "I'm Nemo!" to his teacher and turned to Kevin and said, "Goodbye Mr. Shark!"

It was more of the same when I picked him up. As all the other children we squealing "Mom!", my son saw me and yelled "Mr. Ray!" as he came bounding toward me for a hug. His teacher must have been corrected enough throughout the morning because she correctly said, "Goodbye Nemo" as we left.

This isn't the first time we all have to go by character names. For a while, I was always "Sally" to Jack's "Lightning" (Cars). And sometimes he is "Alex the Lion," I am "Gloria," Kevin is "Melman," and Ellie is "Moto Moto" (the fat hippo ha ha!) from Madagascar.

Oh, and when we were at Disney there was one day we were all princesses. Jack was "Aurora," my mom was "Cinderella," I was "Belle," and Kevin was "Prince Charming." Who was Ellie? "Princess Castle Sidewalk." I kid you not. I could not make this stuff up if I tried.

In any event, even with all the imaginary play and names we have had over the past couple months none have stuck quite like Nemo.

Phew, this was long. I'm off to make Nemo's breakfast.

Disney World Pictures

2009-09-26T21:48:00.002-05:00

The trip was awesome, the buffets were even awesomer, and Jacks reactions to all the festivities was the awesomest. We are looking forward to our next family adventure.

Figured a little slide show would be a lot more interesting then just normal pictures.

Boy's Weekend

2009-09-12T17:28:00.000-05:00

Kate is on her way to Vegas. She has only been gone for an hour and I
am already reverting to survival mode... Which means he wants to watch
Cars with his fancy headphones. At least I was able to get my iPhone
out of his hands for three mintues to make this post. Wish me luck to
survive without Kate and wish Kate luck at the big expo.

It's Not Possible...

2009-09-10T14:21:00.005-05:00

for them to be any stinkin' cuter.

And just ignore that little scab on Ellie's face. She, um, had an incident the other day. What else is new? Oh, I'll tell you actually - she took two steps last weekend! I maintain that she is no where near actually walking. She is just brave, has no fear and tries to walk. Sometimes she gets lucky and gets a step or two in and sometimes she lands square on her butt in a second flat.

Jack started school last week and is loving it. I just love our conversations on the car ride home when I pick him up because he has all sorts of stories to tell. My favorite Jack moment recently was last Sunday. We were watching tennis and cheering, saying things like "Hit the ball! Go! Yay!" Well, after a whiff or missed point or something Jack said, "He not hit the ball. Dat's a bad choice. Dat's not a good choice." Clearly he's picked up something I've said when disciplining him and telling him something "is not a good choice."

Go Bucks!

2009-09-05T11:57:00.002-05:00

Ellie's dressed up for the season opener and she's recently started dancing. In other words, this is quite a cute little video.

I think it's important you know that as I type this, Ellie is slurping up spilled juice off of her high chair tray. We're trying to get her used to a sippy cup. Apparently, it is easier to spill the contents of the cup on the tray and press her face into the tray. Always the lady, that Ellie.

Hungry Hippo

2009-08-24T07:29:00.005-05:00

Here's a quick video of Ellie's impression of a hungry, hungry hippo. Or a vaccum cleaner. Yes, she is sucking up pieces of banana off her plate rather than wasting the time on the extra step involving her hands.

(Ignore the background noise - we were having fun with the Krols!)

So lady like. Not. She must be going through a growth spurt because she's been eating more than her father for the past couple days.

9 Months Old!

2009-08-18T13:34:00.004-05:00

Miss Elizabeth turned 9 months old on Saturday! I can't believe she'll be one year old in three short months. She is, well, ridiculous. She continues to adore her big brother and has really started to try to play with him lately. She will just crawl around behind him and grab at the toys he's playing with. Jack alternates between ignoring her and getting utterly annoyed that the "Ellie Monster" is touching his toys.

Ellie weighs about 19 pounds, which might not sound like much, but Jack didn't weigh that until he was nearly a year old. She's a very good eater and has been tasting a lot of our table food if I cut it into small pieces. She still doesn't have any teeth, though. She may need dentures, apparently. She is addicted to those Gerber Puffs and will cruise along the coffee table if you place the Puffs like a trail to bribe her. But, seriously, if she's fussy, she calms the instant she sees the Puffs. It's hysterical in a my-child-is-food-obsessed kind of way.So, here's what you're all waiting for... the photos! Sadly, I really don't have a good picture with the "I'm 9 Months Old Today" sign. Yet. We'll cheat and try again when Kevin is around to help out.

All dressed up for her big photos and all she got out of it was a knot under her eye. Poor thing was on the losing end of a run in with the coffee table. I was terrified it was going to turn hugely black and blue but thankfully it didn't and actually looks almost normal now.

Dam, that's a big dam.

2009-08-15T15:35:00.000-05:00

Hoover dam chillin with my parents.

Fountains of Fun

2009-08-08T20:53:00.004-05:00

We were in search of something a little different tonight so we hit the fountains at Grand Boulevard in Sandestin. It was awesome! The shopping area itself is super fancy and there are lots of nice restaurants. We looked super classy showing up Saturday night with half naked kids to play in the fountains. But, whatever... it was totally worth it. Both kids had a total blast.

Ellie even got into the fun!
Showing off her new favorite trick - clapping!
Jack brought his new dump truck, that he has creatively named "Dumpy."
I love how totally adventurous he is in the fountains this year. Last year he was a little timid and not so into it. Now, he runs around like a wild man and has a great time.

Sasa's Here!

2009-08-08T16:48:00.004-05:00

Sasa / Mama Lisa / My mom arrived Wednesday and we've been having loads of fun. Jack and Ellie are really enjoying the extra attention and love. We're going to miss her after she goes home tomorrow.

Here are a couple pictures from our trip to Seaside today.

Happy Birthday Kate!

2009-08-07T08:45:00.003-05:00

Happy Birthday Kate! Today is Kate's birthday and for the third year in a row the Air Force has sent me away for her birthday. But I am sure Kate is staying busy with the kids and her mom and she has assured me that she will celebrate her birthday with a shopping spree at the outlet mall. In honor of Kate's birthday here is a picture of her on her very first birthday.

If you have a chance drop a line and wish Kate a Happy Birthday.

Another Project Down

2009-08-03T21:28:00.005-05:00

So I finally had enough with the carpet and decided it was time for a change. So with the help of some friends (Aneel and Jason) I was able to remove all the carpet and tile from a good portion of the house and have Pergo installed. Check it out...

View from the Florida room looking at the dining room and entry way.The entry way from the dining room.

Lastly, the tv mounted on the wall with the wires through the wall...just for Louie.

Help a Mama Out

2009-08-03T12:27:00.005-05:00

If you're not reading The Shopping Mama, now's the time to start. If you're reading The Shopping Mama but not entering giveaways, now's the time to start. I'm participating in a Get Cool for School giveaway bash with 7 other blogs and we have some AMAZING prizes up for grabs.

All the giveaways are open for entrants on all 8 blogs, which does mean your chances of winning aren't as high as usual. But I'm listing 2 new prize packages every single day for the next two weeks!

Here's why I'm ~~begging~~ asking for your support. The giveaway entry form keeps track of who entered from what blog. I am the newest blog participating and while I've obtained some good sponsors (think Stephen Joseph Gifts!) I really want to pull my weight and show them The Shopping Mama is a good, influential blog.

So head over and enter the Get Cool for School GRAND PRIZE Package giveaway today. Valued at over $600, it includes a $400 gift certificate to buy fall/winter coats, See Kai Run shoes, Stephen Joseph rolling backpack or luggage, clothes and MORE! Click here to enter all the Get Cool for School giveaways!

Other upcoming prizes include a PlasmaCar, a Keurig Platinum Brewer (and if you don't win that one, I'm giving one away on The Shopping Mama later this month!), Radio Flyer wagon, gift certificates to The Container Store and The Children's Place and tons more! There's seriously something for everyone.

It's been a while since I've posted about The Shopping Mama blog and things have changed as it's grown way bigger than I imagined. But, ask away if you're curious about anything or about how it works!

Not Sure What to Call This Post

2009-07-31T11:28:00.007-05:00

So we debated whether or not to share this video... It's kind of crazy!

You may remember The Shopping Dada's Drifire review on The Shopping Mama? Well, the PR company for Drifire asked us to take video of each other answering some questions. They sent us a video camera and a list of questions. We recorded one another talking and returned the camera.

Here's the result. Don't make fun of us!

What do you think? I think I could have at least styled my damn hair. I also think my name is funny. Oh well.