Easter 2013

 We have a really good Coast Guard group here in that they like to throw parties for the holidays.  They had an Easter Egg Hunt on the Saturday before the Saturday before Easter.  The kids loved seeing the Bunny, in fact Charlotte probably loved him the most, she kept going up to him and getting in other people's shots!  Another Coast Guard friend took this picture for us, isn't the helicopter a cool back drop?!

The Ward Primary Easter party almost didn't happen.  They usually have the YW put on a Spring Fling party that includes an egg hunt, but for some reason this year it's 2 weeks after Easter, so instead of canceling the Primary egg hunt I stepped up and volunteered to plan it.  It was a lot of work, but I have awesome help from the Primary President, 2nd Counselor, Secretary and other very eager volunteers.  If it wasn't for all these people there would have been no way I could have created something so much fun!

 This is the spot for the Easter Bunny to sit.  Not as cool as the helicopter, but I couldn't fit that into the gym.

 We had a cookie station for the kids so they could decorate Easter themed cookies.  I made all the icing, but I had lots of help with people donating cookies.

 This was another station where they did all kinds of crafts.  They made a funny bunny hat (scroll down to see Miriam modeling her creation), a hanging Easter accordion egg, a cute chicky plate and coloring pages.

 This is actually where we had the hunt.  At our church building there is no back yard area, it's just all parking area.  Then in the front is a busy road, so no outside area for a decent egg hunt.  So I just created one in the hallway of our church.  This is before the eggs were placed, but imagine a ton of eggs on chairs, on door handles, in the hallway...everywhere!!

 We also had a guess how many jelly beans are in the jar contest.  Can you believe that there was actually a girl who got the exact number right!!  The prize was the jelly bean jar!

 We did the hunt in waves.  First the Sunbeams and Nursery got to go, then we reset and let the Valiants go, then reset for the last time and let the CTR's go. 

 Charlotte wasn't really getting the concept yet, she kept grabbing the eggs and putting them in other peoples baskets!  She was content with the ones she could hold, but didn't concern herself with filling up her own basket.

 This is down the other side of the hall.  Hannah with her friend Lilia are combing the place to make sure they got them all.

 This is the funny bunny hat I went with.  I think it's hilarious!  And it's different than the plain bunny ears one, thanks Pinterest!

 That is one happy Bunny!!  I wonder who that could be?

 Oh right, it's Theo!  LOL!!  Of course since I'm in charge of it I assigned the costume wearing to my husband.  He loved it though, and did an awesome jig for the kids, seriously it was so funny I almost wet myself...

Our lovely family photo, except Charlotte had already had her fill of Mister Bunny so she wasn't cooperating.  But it was a super fun day and I was so happy I got to head it up.

 Of course I had to include a picture of the kids in their Easter Sunday best.  Aren't they just too adorable!

I had to include this one also, I have no idea what was so funny but they are so cute.  I really was a great Easter season, I hope everyone else had a good Easter as well!

Coast Guard Santa

 Santa came and visited us at Theo's work.  He came in on a helicopter, he's got style!

I think they are a little excited, Ha!

 Coming in for a landing!

 It's Him!  It's really him!!!

 I had to keep calling my kids back so they wouldn't run out onto the tarmac.

 Charlotte was impressed!

They filled a helicopter with gifts for the kids and Santa's helper passed them out while the kids got to sit on Santa's lap and tell him if they have been bad or good.

 Charlotte isn't impressed anymore, she didn't want to have anything to do with him.

 My shy Miriam.

 Emma had to really think of what the right answer would be.

 Hannah waited the longest, so she was like, just give me my present fat man! LOL!

Tobie didn't get left out either, he said he wasn't going to sit on his lap, but we see who won out in the end.

It was a fun afternoon, and the kids were super excited that they got to see Santa and even more happy that they got gifts! 

Our Coast Guard Story

Back in 2000 Theo and I thought we were the luckiest couple because we were both employed at the same company.  A new up and coming phone company opened up in Mobile, and we both got us a job.  It was awesome, we drove to work together, we went to lunch together and then we got off work together.  We were making mad bank and enjoying all our time together.

Then in 2001 the phone company tanked.  Theo and I were both without a job.  We had just bought a house, but because of the money we were making and unemployment we were financially secure for a few months.  We lived it up that summer!  We went to the beach, the gym and spent every moment together just being bums.

When money started to get tight Theo got him a job at a car dealership.  He showed real promise and was the top seller of the new guys his first month.  In 3 short months he would get put on Insurance and we thought things were starting to look up for us again.

A month before Theo was eligible for insurance I got pregnant.

We thought, "What great timing! You have a good job, and soon we'll be covered.".  But the dealership had other ideas.  Apparently they have a system that once their new employees reach 3 months they fire them instead of paying for their insurance coverage.

I was pregnant and now we were both jobless with no means of insurance.  Theo had mentioned several times since we had been dating that he was really interested in the Coast Guard.  I always put an end to that dream because I was not going to be a military wife whose husband was gone all the time.  But now with a kid on the way the security of the Coast Guard was looking really good.

We went to a recruiter and talked to them, they assured me that Theo could get stationed in plenty of places without having to go on a boat.  His word cinched the deal and Theo signed his life away to the United States Coast Guard.  Before I knew it he was heading out to boot camp for 4 months.

They say that Coast Guard boot camp is "mentally" the hardest boot camp you could go through.  This is Theo after a week of hardly any sleep and working through a bug he caught while there.  He just looks drained to me.  But he did it, and I had no doubt that he would make it through.  He's really calm and laid back, but he's also really competitive, especially with himself.

It was a long 4 months, but it was the last few hours during the graduation ceremony that was the hardest.  I hadn't seen him for months and he had to stay at attention in line and couldn't speak or move.  I spotted him in line, but even though he was just a few feet away from me I couldn't go to him.  Our friend Mark Romesburg, who also was a Master Chief in the CG took this picture of our first embrace after 4 long months!

This picture cracks me up, and softens my heart at the same time.  I barely had a baby bump when Theo left, now I'm a huge 7 month pregnant behemoth!  Theo couldn't believe it.  What I couldn't believe is how skinny he is here.  I think he just transferred all his weight to me! 

So that is the story of our Coast Guard conversion.  Other than having some deployment time when we were stationed in CA, which wasn't at sea, Theo hasn't been on a boat.  10 years of land billets.  I know my luck has to be running out and that it is only a matter of time before he might be forced to do some sea time, but it sure has been a fun 10 years traveling the country and having kids all along the way.  The security the Coast Guard gives has more than made this military life worth it. I hope I'll still be saying that after the next 10.