Splash Park!

Smyrna has this really cool "splash park"...We went last year when my mom had just moved here, and Alana was pretty hesitant to really get into the action...Not so today! She got right in and had a blast! It was in the upper 90s today, so it was refreshing!

So happy (and a little wet)...

The bucket had just dumped on her and she was running to tell me how brave she was :)

And yep, I even got the bucket dumped on me...

Peace, Love and Water!

Alana's Hello Kitty Party!

Today was Alana's 5th birthday party! It was so much fun! I am posting a million pictures...and they say a picture's worth a thousand words...or something like that. So here's a few thousand words to share our day! And thanks to everyone who came and helped make it so amazing!

Taylor and Alana "blowing up balloons"!

Alana's Hello Kitty Cake!

...and Hello Kitty cupcakes!

Goodie bags for all her friends to take home...

Me and Alana

The almost birthday girl!

Alana and Grammy

Britain, Taylor, Anna Ruth, Caitlyn, Rebecca and Elizabeth
(and of course, Alana!)

Vicki, Felicia and Macie

Elizabeth, Mary and Logan with my mom

Jonathan and Lindsay

Chowing down on cake and ice cream!!!

Madison, Anna Ruth, Britain, Alana, Caitlyn and Taylor
Showing off their Hello Kitty rings (off the cupcakes)

Liam trying out Alana's new Barbie scooter

Ok, Alana's turn!

Showing off his soccer skillz

Alana get it from Grammy!!!

Ok, the day is done...we are tired...no more posing!

This is all you're gonna get!

I will close with Alana's Happy Birthday and blowing out her candles...




Peace, Love and My Sugar High is gone...

The Sweetest Surprise

Alana got a letter in the mail today...from Justin! Since he's not going to be here for her birthday party this weekend (or for her actual birthday), he sent her a letter with birthday wishes. It was soooo sweet! He even drew little pictures throughout the letter, to help her read it herself...and trust me, she has been reading it ever since she got it :) It warms my heart.



The first time I read the letter to her, she smiled the biggest smile ever and said "Daddy really loves me that much!!!" Then when she showed it to my mom a little later on, she told her "Daddy really loves me a lot more than that, but he didn't have enough paper to write how much he loves me on"...Sooo true, Alana! We said he couldn't have that much paper on the ship or it would sink ;)

Justin called again today, too! I miss him so much...

Peace, Love and Daddy Love

Got my Hairs Cut.

I don't really have too much to say...other than I got my hair cut today. I went for some shaggy layers and bangs...I like it, but the dude cut a little more length than I wanted him to...

But I can still put it in a ponytail so that's all the matters :)

It's super hard to take pictures of the back of your own hair...

I'm hoping the length grows out a little more and quickly! But I like the layers. I'm gonna rock it :) Anyone who knows me, knows how crazy my boring hair has been making me haha...

Peace, Love and Shag-a-riffic.

Slippin' and Slidin'

Alana had her first Slip n' Slide experience today :) The neighbors were out playing on theirs, and I told Alana to go ask if she could play too. They said yes, so we put her swimsuit on and voila! I managed to get a few pics of her trying it out in the beginning...and then Justin called. And being as I've only talked to him for like 10 minutes in 3 1/2 months, his call took precedence. And now he is emailing me (yes, he is up already and I'm not even close to going to bed)...So if this blog is crazy, I'm sorry!

Whoa, this is crazy!

Alana and Caitlyn colliding :)

Jeremy spraying down the slip n slide
(not Alana, even though it appears that way)

I'll try it this way and see if I get farther...

Ok...so that didn't work!

And, I made it!

I love slippin' and slidin'!

Peace, Love and Bruises

Tootsie Roll Countdown

It started with a jar...

...and some Tootsie Rolls

...and a crazy pile of stickers.

So we sorted out some letters.

And carefully applied them one by one...

Exactly where we wanted them.

And voila!

"Count the Days"

"Til Daddy"

"Comes Home"

Our project is complete!

Now let me explain...The jar contains 2 Tootsies Rolls for every day Justin has left out to sea. I can't tell you exactly how many that is because that would go against OPSEC and from what I hear loose lips sink ships :) It seems like a lot, but we are on the home stretch! We will each take out one and eat it (or wait to eat 7 every free day if you are me, per Alana)...when the Tootsie Rolls are gone, Justin will be home! And we will be two very happy girls! We had a lot of fun decorating our jar, and I think it turned out really cute. For the record, the hearts glow in the dark!

Also...

Alana got a haircut!
The back is all one-length now...
Yay! (from me who has had to deal with the growing out stage)

I think she's happy about it, don't you?

Peace, Love and Midgees...Lots of Midgees.