Big Boy Room

This is Annie, our viszla's favorite spot once I put the kids down for bed. I find her on top of my bed, ready to snuggle. I put her downstairs in her cage everynight, but before I do, when the kids are away, Annie and I chill and watch my tivo'ed shows together.

She really thinks she's human. Oh, and one more thing. She too, like all the other Toler's has a nickname. There' s Goose, Fritz, Chuck and Cooter. But her name is Eunice. Sometimes it turns into Eukus Pukus. But it's hardly ever Annie, rather it's Eunice, Eukel, Pukus....

Ash will have her princess decorated room probably until she goes to college.

Upon returning from Kenya and Austin was 3 years old, we had the cutest little Sailboat theme in his room. He loved it and we've since expanded with surf decos and Ron Jon and pirate garb. So now at age 6 going on 7, he told me a little while ago he did not want sailboats anymore. Those curtains and quilt are for babies. Sniff sniff. But he is my baby. So much to my dislike, I went to Pottery Barn Outlet and found the perfect skull/pirate duvet and curtains for his room. It's now a big boy room. I'll miss the sailboats.

Soldier Boy-My Hero

Baghdad has been a little crazy recently. Jonathan's doing well. 1 month down. Thanks for all of your support.

Summertime..and the Livin' is Easy....

Halloween...already? We found Austin's Halloween costume (GI Joe's SNAKE EYES Ninja) at Costco--thanks Jen! I wonder if it will even make it till Halloween?

Ash of course is a Princess

Nothing like a haircut from GINO at Great American Barber in Gainesville. Free drink, popcorn and lollipop...what more could a kid want?

We've loved Skyping with Jonathan everyday....(picture compliments of Austin).

Summer Fun Series on the plaza at Gateway Plaza and Fairfax Corner.

Snozzberry? Wasn't that a Willy wonka flavor? I never knew there was such a thing!!! Had to snap a picture!

Demolition Derby

What was this flying creature?

Austin picked out an Eagle to be painted on his face because DADDY was an Eagle on Condoleezza Rice's detail. He was so proud to tell everyone he was just like Dad.

My buddy Erika and I decided to take our kiddos to fill up on funnel cakes and a good ole' demolition derby. The kids even got their faces painted at the Fair. We got as close as we could to the demo derby and the kids had a great time. The firemen came out and sprayed a few of the cars that had caught on fire...the action was great!

Millions of Peaches...Peaches for Me

Rady Park with our buddies the Hucks

Arrgggh! Pirate Ash. They caught Crawfish today!

Towards the end of summer, we always go to Hartland Orchard to pick peaches. My favorite fruit. This particular day we went, it was so HOT and HUMID. This picture above sums up our experience picking peaches. The tears, sweat and bugs....

We picked some HUGE peaches!

Austin loves using the picker-tool.

I even attemped to make my very first batch of freezer peach jam and peach frozen yogurt. Needless to say, 2 weeks later we are peached out.

The Heart Don't Forget Somethin' Like That...

We LOVE the county Fair. Every summer in August, the Prince William County Fair (largest cty fair in VA) comes to town. I like the fair more than the kids. Who can resist the smell of farm animals, funnel cakes, corn dogs, and a demolition derby?

This year we went the opening evening, on half-price day. The kids rode all the little kiddie rides(I don't trust the large carnival rides anywhere) and ate all the fair food they could. We had a great time!

Science Camp

Ash the little Diva loves to shop. That doesn't mean she's great at the stores, as she does like to wander off and look at things on her own. But, she loves to take her time and look at everything. Try things on (including bras) and look at herself in the mirror. I love having a daughter.

Austin did science camp for 2 weeks at the Freedom Center and he LOVED it! If it were year round, he'd do it. He did projects everyday and learned how to make electricity, batteries, a motor, and physics--he even won the construction of the boat that carried the most pennies. Yeah Austin!

Kung Fu panda pose

"Austin's Office-Please knock." Austin set up his own little office in his room. He took all of our downstairs supplies of staper, tape, markers, etc. and had people 'sign in' upon entering his room. He would sell things to us in his room and put them for display. Like his own little store.

Like Father like son. These were the men at the State Dept getting our passports the day Jonathan left. We miss you Daddy.

New additions

So as a 'back to school' gift, the kids have wanted more fish. We do keep fish and plants for a long long time.

We actually had a goldfish in Africa that lived in a glass mixing bowl and lived for 8+ months...in fact we left Kenya and gave it to our neighbor because we definitely built a bond with our fish that Austin named "peas". But we haven't heard what had happened or how long Peas lived.

Then for Austin's 3rd birthday, Pop and Grandma gave Austin a purple Beta fish. He lived for 3 1/2 years until Ashley had "Samurai Sammy" in her hands one day. Murderer!! (He was a Samurai because we left on many 3-5 day vacations without feeding him and he's a warrior and lived). But many a friend and neighbor took Samurai Sammy in, fed him, comforted him while he was lonely...so much thanks for the amor por el pescado.

So today, Austin has another red Beta fish named "LASER" (maybe something named after GI JoE?) and Ash has an African water frog (tiny little water frog) named "Spudnik." What is a spudnik? Wasn't that the name of a bomb that went off in Libya? But the kids take care of their little fishies/reptilian friends and are happy as clams...or fish.

Florida Vacation

Every summer we visit Pop and Grandma in Gainesville, Florida. I know, not the best time to go to Florida, but it's not the theme parks, beaches or alligators that attract us every summer. It's being with Pop and Grandma.

The week began at a water park for a weekend. Then, Aunt Jonny came up to brave all the roller coasters with me at Universal Studios Islands of Adventure! Go Incredible Hulk! Then Pop, Austin and I went to Universal Studios and had a great time seeing the sets and riding mild rides.

We came back to Gainesville to enjoy the Turtle Park, (a park that is in the middle of their gorgeous neighborhood that we frequented on our big wheels every afternoon).

Dad and I hit our Chinese restaurant for our annual daddy/daughter lunch date. And mom and I did tons of shopping!

Mom did so many cute crafts for the kids. They stamped/decorated their own T-shirts with puffy and glow in the dark paints. Then they made necklaces and beaded crafts. We also went to the Gainesville zoo where Brutis the alligator was the hit. We also went to Lake Alice on University of Florida's campus and saw a real Gator! Austin went ballistic as he was running in reverse as fast as he could.

Duane was at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in GA so he drove down to visit for the weekend and enjoy the outings with us. We went fishing in a stocked fishing pond where each of the kids caught 2 fish each. It was a success! And one of my most favorite things about the south? Homemade blue bell ice cream. Mmmmmm.

We had a great time and Pop and Grandma spoiled us. Thanks for a wonderful summer vacay Mom and Dad!