G&G Shaw's Present

Grammy and Grampy Shaw got the girls a new outdoor picnic table to enjoy for their birthdays. The girls had a blast helping Daddy put it together. It is a WONDERFUL table and we're getting lots of use out of it (inside and out). Thanks Grammy and Grampy! We love it!

Meeting Chuck E. Cheese

One of their favorite hangouts!

Lily's Birthday Pictures

Here are all the pics from Lily's actual birthday. I have a few videos of her riding her new big girl bike, but can't seem to get them to load (I'll keep working on it). We had a great family day...breakfast at IHOP, shopping for the perfect princess bike, learning to ride a big girl bike and playing with Daddy in the yard! What more can a 4 year old want! Enjoy...

LILY TURNS 4!

Happy Birthday to our beautiful, little girl! We love you Lilybug!

Jeff and the Girls Meet Cole

Spent a few hours with Kim, Larry and Cole today. Jeff was so excited to meet Cole. The girls thought he was so sweet. They just wanted to touch his little nose and give him lots of kisses. Kim, Larry and Cole are all doing great! Cole is getting bigger every day! I know, I know...I'll keep hounding them to update their blog! ;)

Belated Easter 2009

We waited a few extra days to celebrate Easter with Daddy. Here are some pics of our egg hunt. The girls were so excited to be with Daddy! I was thrilled to actually have Jeff home to enjoy a holiday as a family of four! Lots of more pics to come....

BACK TOGETHER AGAIN!

Homecoming Day April 13, 2009!!

An amazing day...couldn't have been more perfect. The girls and I are enjoying EVERY MINUTE with Jeff. I'll blog more soon, just wanted to share ALL the pics from our wonderful reunion! Thanks for all the love and support from everyone. It means the world to us!

Enjoy...

Happy Easter DD 187

Well, with less than 48 hours to go, the girls and I are doing everything to keep busy!! Today was no exception. We had gymnastics first thing this morning and then we headed straight to Hunt Club Farms for an Easter Festival. Erin, Jack and Sylvia met us there and the six of us had a blast. We jammed packed the morning with an egg hunt, meeting the Easter Bunny and lots of other characters, a hay ride, carnival games, inflatables, a petting zoo, a busy playground and a sack race....can you say HAPPY EASTER!! It was truly a fun day!! Can't believe Daddy will be home Monday to help eat all our Easter goodies...time is REALLY flying now!! Happy Easter!

Cole Update

I was able to get over to the hospital again on Thursday for another visit. I could just hold Cole for hours, he is the SWEETEST baby!! Kim and Larry are doing well. They are adjusting to the difficulty of being first time parents, but seem to be handing it like pros! Talked to them again tonight and the three of them are home resting. They had to stay an extra night in the hospital to get Cole's weight up a bit, but everything is going well now. He's eating like a champ! Kim's mom is in town, so they are hoping to get some much needed rest. Again, congratulations Kim and Larry! Can't wait for Jeff to meet the little guy!

Lily's Spring Concert

April 7th

Mother's Day Out Preschool

Lily's Spring Concert

We were sad Daddy missed seeing it by a few days, but we video taped the entire concert. The kids did such a great job singing their little hearts out. I have posted a video below of one of the songs they sang. At one point during the concert, Lily was singing so loud I could hear her above all the other students. Even a few other parents told me they could hear her. I guess she is our little "American Idol" in the making.

*Be sure to pause my music on the right to hear Lily singing.

He's HERE!!!

Introducing...

Cole Thomas McElvain

born April 8th 7:56 a.m.

7lbs, 4oz, 19 1/4 inches

He is PERFECT!! Mom and Dad are beaming. 8 years in the making, what a true blessing! Mom and baby are both doing well and recovering. Congratulations Kim and Larry, so happy all your dreams are coming true!

A Fun Weekend

A really warm weekend spent enjoying lots of fun activities together!

Enjoy the pictures Daddy!

DD 180: 6 MONTHS!

Well, it's official, Jeff has been gone 180 days! It's hard to believe that he has been gone 6 months and we have just 7 days (and a wake up) until he is back at home with us.

So much has happened the last half year. Here are a few things that Jeff has missed out on while he's been gone:
-The girls have grown and changed so much ( Em was just 16 months when he left) and has changed from baby to full grown toddler
-We've battled sickness after sickness (several colds, several rounds of the flu and pneumonia)
-We've celebrated several big holidays/birthdays (Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, My 31st birthday, Valentine's Day and Easter this Sunday)
- My new found appreciation for running and my first 2 races (5K and an 8K)
-Housing and vehicle repairs X 10!
-180 nights of reading and tucking the girls into bed
-Kim and Larry having a new baby (this Wednesday)
-Several visitors (April & Cailyn, Kelly, Cindy & Lucas, Karen, Mom and Linda) and a 3 week trip to Maine
-Lily learning to write her name, cut with scissors, color in the lines and so much more at school. She is so smart and has become so independent these last 6 months
-Em growing long hair, getting her last 4 baby teeth and learning to talk and sing
-A new year and a new president!
-The change of two seasons
-A new sport for the girls, Gymnastics. They LOVE it!
-180 hugs and kisses from your three girls!

We are so excited...just need to keep busy to help pass these last 7 days!! We love you sweetie!!

Grammy Prager's Visit

March 28th-April 2nd
Grammy Prager came for a visit and we had a wonderful week. There was a great balance of work and play. Thanks so much for spending the week with us Grammy, we had a blast! You really helped pass these last few weeks, we miss you already!

Here are some highlights of our special time with Grammy:
-Lots of reading, crafts and games with Grammy
-2 long relaxing runs for me (that I didn't have to pay a sitter for)
-Lots of yard work accomplished
-A haircut, manicure and pedicure for me :)
-A relaxing lunch and shopping with Kim
-A fun filled afternoon at Chuck E. Cheese's
-Lots of walks around the neighborhood
-A beautifully groomed doggie
-Some shopping and lunch together for Grammy and I
-LOTS of help with meals, baths, dinner and laundry (THANK YOU!!)
-The girls cuddling in bed with Grammy and Mommy sleeping in
-Beautiful 80 weather and a trip to the Skinny Dip for yummy frozen yogurt

Thanks for all your help Linda! The girls had so much fun being with you and I loved our quality time in the evenings. We love you!!

Puddle Jumping DD 171

Just trying to pass the time until Daddy gets home!

My Pity Party DD 170

(Warning....may be TMI for some readers!)

Usually I'm a glass half full kind of gal, but I'm struggling to stay positive these last few weeks of deployment! I've been having a very big pity party for myself, especially these last few days (which I think I deserve). For starters, I managed to blog/speak WAY too soon on Saturday. As I wrote a few days ago in my "Round 3" post, " Lets hope the flu is gone for good and Lily and I can avoid it!!" Well, I absolutely jinxed myself. Rounds 4 and 5 were on the way!!

The night after the race (which I was exhausted and in a dead sleep), I awoke at 3:30 a.m. to Lily screaming in her bedroom. I ran in to find her cover in vomit (sorry TMI). Yes, she too had caught the horrible flu bug Emma had last week. Before I could change the bedding and give her a bath, she was already getting sick again. The poor thing was at it until 6 a.m. and then on and off again for the next 24 hours.

Here comes the "pity me" part... I started feeling really bad the same afternoon Lily was sick. I was very nauseous and had all the symptoms (minus the vomiting), but knew I had to take care of Lily. However, I was a wreck. After no sleep, a full night and day of cleaning up after Lily and taking care of Em, I called in re-enforcements. Erin and Bea each came over to help with dinner and bedtime and then I was off to bed early. Lily and I both slept well and woke up feeling a little better. It was short lived. Lily managed to get sick ALL OVER MY BED!!!! I was mortified. Again...what did I do to deserve this (insert more pity for me here)? At least that was Lily's last time being sick.

So, Monday was yet again, another low key day resting on the couch and eating chicken soup. Em was back to herself and just running circles around Lily and I. By the end of the day Lily seemed back to herself and we all took a walk to get out of house. Cabin fever was eating at all of us and the fresh air felt good. I decided everyone HAD to be better on Tuesday. BOY DID I THINK TOO SOON!!!

The next morning I woke up and felt nauseous again. I refused to believe I still had this horrible bug and tried to ignore it. I showered, fed and dressed the girls and brought them to school. By the time I got back to the house I was hurting. Most the the 2.5 hours the girls were at school, I spent in the bathroom getting sick. Not only was I sick as ever, I was REALLY mad!! I only have 3 weeks left of this deployment and this is how it ends??!! I tried to pull myself together enough to go get the girls at school, but it was a VERY rough drive. Thanks to Erin (and her Mom) for driving the girls and I home from school. I literally couldn't stop getting sick. That afternoon Bea took care of the girls and then Michelle came to usher in the night shift. She even stayed the night to take care of us. I LOVE YOU LADIES!! THANKS FOR ALL THE HELP!!

SO....I am 2 days post sickness and recovering. A little weak today, but went out and ran errands and ate some solid food. Can't believe these final weeks of deployment...I am really working for this homecoming! 5 SEPARATE SPELLS OF THIS BUG IN 3 WEEKS!! I won't say much else, as I ALWAYS seem to put my foot in my mouth. I will say this, Jeff will be home in 17 days and they just can't come fast enough!!

Shamrock 8K 2009

My 2nd Race with super supportive friends!! Thanks Bea, Michelle and Kevin!!

8:ooa.m.
It was a cold morning, but once we got running we warmed up fast. 7300 runners down at the Virginia Beach Boardwalk. We were in the WAY back and didn't start running until 12 minutes after the official start time. My friend, Bea was a trooper!! She literally had a bad stomach bug the night before and still was up bright and early to run. Thanks to all my friends and family that have encouraged me to keep running. I really enjoy it and plan to register for a 10K next week!! Who knows....a half marathon may be in my future some day!!

Enjoy the pics....

Round 3, DD 164

Well, I thought Emma was better!! Tuesday proved to be another long night for Mommy. After 2 previous bugs, Em had another round of all night vomiting. Since this was the third time in three weeks that she was sick, another trip to the clinic was in order. The doc said she most likely caught a bug back at the end of February which weakened her immune system (this causing her to catch the flu). The flu can last up to 2 weeks, so Mommy may just have pushed her back into her routine too quickly (play dates, school). After a few days of rest Em is finally getting back to her silly self. Lets hope the flu is gone for good and Lily and I can avoid it!!

Daddy SO owes me for all the late nights and messy fluids I've been cleaning!

Play Date x 2

Em is feeling better so we're back to being busy as ever. We spent the morning at the new Play Center in the mall and then lunch at our favorite diner with Erin, Jack and Sylvia. It was SO great to get out of the house!!! Between Em being sick and 4 straight days of rain, cabin fever had definitely set in. This afternoon Bea brought by the girls and some homemade chicken soup. The girls played, made crafts and giggled all afternoon. Thanks ladies for a great day!

On the Mend

Another rough night and morning, but by dinner she was feeling a little better. Finally able to keep down some crackers and water. We'll see how tonight goes...
Feel better soon Baby!

Sick Day DD 158

My poor little sweetie!! Today was another crazy day. Emma started dry heaving at 4:30 a.m. and proceeded to vomit every hour or so most of the day. She would perk up between spells, but then would crash minutes later. Mommy has been cleaning up lovely piles of bodily fluids all day....including dog pee! Kastor decided it was too rainy to go outside and used the dinning room instead! The rug doctor is definitely coming next week! Ohh....when is my darling husband going to be home to help me with all this chaos! ;)

Lily's Sleep Chart

Quite the day today....Friday the 13th for sure!!

A new plan to keep our bedtime and morning routines a little less hectic.

4 promises Lily made to me and each day she is succesful, a pick from the treat tin!

Thanks for the great idea Erin!

Birthday # 2

Happy Birthday to you Lucas! We love and miss you Sweetie!

A Wonderful Warm Weekend

DD 152
This weekend started out in the high 60's on Friday and topped at 80 degrees today!! It was SUCH a nice weekend to be outside and get lots of fresh air. Spring is really on it's way. It's hard to believe we received a snow dusting last weekend and this weekend we're in shorts and flip flops!

The girls and I took full advantage of all the nice weather. We were outside all weekend playing, taking walks, spending time with friends and getting caught up on some yard work. I even took my 1st ever 5 mile run Saturday night!! I'm so excited I decided to do a 8k in a few weeks!! Spring just seems to put me in such a good mood. Here are the pics from the weekend, wish you were here with us Daddy!

Note From Me

I have taken a little hiatus from blogging and I'm finally getting caught up. Be sure to click on "Older Posts" when you get to the bottom of the page, as I have been busy back dating posts!
Also, leave a note if you stop by. I love hearing from everyone!

The 5's

5 Months down... 5 weeks to go!!

Deployment Day 151

We are so excited!!!!!!! Daddy will be home in a little over a month. Some months have obviously been easier than others. This deployment has definitely had it's ups and downs. However, I finally feel like the end is near! Jeff actually has a solid return date and time. The girls and I are thrilled, all talk is of Daddy's homecoming. Can't wait to see our beautiful daughters run into Jeff's arms. Here's hoping March screams by... April can't come fast enough!

What's left of our countdowns

A kiss a day from Daddy:

A link every week and then a link every day for the last 7 days:

Grampy Shaw

Happy Birthday Grampy Shaw! We love you! Hope you had a great day!