I wish I...

I wish I had measure the boys a couple of weeks back. I am pretty sure our food is contaminated with fertilizer. These kids are growing. Rapidly!

Last week Ian did not make it home from swimming awake. Not once. Monday he was sound asleep by 5:00. Sadly, he woke at 4:45 the next morning...

Wednesday, he made it a bit longer. But, by 5:15, he looked like this:




He woke up the next morning. At 7:30... And was ready for a nap.

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Eighteen

Eighteen!!!  Ian, Dougie, Stefan, Lindsey and Gavin all got off to school today - dressed, fed and clean!  

While everyone else was "keeping the Peace," Ian was "Number 1"...

They were a small crowd that attracted some attention!

This, however, is a much more realistic shot of these kids... (notice Stefan's sly wink and rabbit ears?!?)  Yup - keeping it real, folks!

Were they well rested?!?

Lindsey and Dougie wanted to sleep in the same room - so they occupied the mattresses in the newly-founded playroom/guest room (which we now have reason to use!!!).  The first night, they chatted 10, maybe 15 SECONDS.  Tonight, it was more like three to four minutes...

Lindsey reported that Dougie is loud... uh-huh...

Stefan got to be on top of the three-year-old crowd!  In the top-bunk, at least!

He said that Ian and Gavin woke him up the first morning with, "Stefan!  Stefan!!!  Are you AWAKE?!?  Stefan!  Wake up!!!"  He seemed a bit flattered by the whole thing...

Those two have taken a bit of a shine to Stefan - unless, of course, Stefan is attempting to help dress his brother...  Let the tantrums begin!

Gavin "noticed" the picture taking - thus the hand over his face.  He promptly turned his head and I did not attempt a clearer pic...  That boy faithfully wore his duckie blankie all night.  And barely moved!

Ian - Mr. Restless and "No sleepsack tomorrow!" woke up C-C-C-C-OO-O-O-L-L-L-D-D-D-D!!! more than once.  Harumph! Nana - your blankie started out on top...  only to warm the bottom (and be a drool catcher)!

This morning, the early risers did just that - Dougie at 4:45 and Gavin at 5:10.  Dougie got the flakoti and Gavin got to hot-rack in Eric's recently vacated spot.  They laid down quietly until just past 6 when the others awoke.

Eric was my hero, making steel-cut oats and brining me a coffee (thank you, Leah!!!).  All five kids were in their formal uniforms and...

On their way...

22 - Backwards and Forwards

It is Veterans Day, observed, here.  That also means Eric had a day off!

Good thing, too.  I had English lessons today and Ian is still home and feeling puny.  At 10:00 this morning, he told me, "I need to go to bed."

Well, OK!  And he did!!!  Eric said he went up to his room, shut all three curtains, climbed into bed and pulled his blankie over himself.  I went up, snapped this picture:

Right as he had finished coughing (thus, the silly look).  He opened one eye, looked me over and then rolled his head over and pulled his blankie over it.

A few minutes later, he was snoring peacefully.  And continued to do so for the next 2+ hours!

Seemed appropo that Dougie wrote 22 backwards - it was a backward kind of day: I went to work, Eric stayed home... Ian put himself to bed - and stayed there...  Eric had a holiday and the kids all went to school...

And I had many things to be thankful for regarding that holiday...


Working for a forward deployed ship in a foreign country gives a perspective in military life we would not otherwise be exposed to. This is not military life in the shipyard or in Kitsap county. Extended families and lifelong friends are not just available to help out when spouses are deployed. Housing is institutional and under-available. School choices are few.

But, people make fast friends and activities are plentiful. Japan is beautiful and completely inviting. It is also geographically near countries that have a history, some fairly recent, of being hostile towards the United States and/or its allies.

These ships, their crew and those that maintain them, have to get them all underway in a matter of days if they are called to duty. Not many days - a couple.  It adds to the respect I have had for our military and their technical support.  Being here, however, has given me a new-found respect for the support teams/families behind those military personnel.

So, thank you to all of the members of our military.  Thank you to all of you husbands, wives, mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters.  Thank you to the government employees/contractors keeping things in proper working order.  Thank you for your sacrifice for our freedom.  Thank you for putting your life on the line.  Every.  Single.  Day...


But, just like today, it did not matter what got put first, it still stays the same: "22".

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