Toy Story 3

We finally took the boys to see a movie in the theater for the first time this past week. Ryan took a week off from work so we have been enjoying our 'staycation' and time together as a family. We've also had contractors working in the backyard (again), but that's never fun.


Let me apologize for this awful photograph! I switched to auto mode on the camera and THIS is what I ended up with AFTER brightening the photo in Photoshop. This is why I rarely use auto. Hopefully you can sort of see the boys and their excited faces.


Popcorn was the key to keeping the boys happy as they sat through countless commercials followed by tons of movie previews AND a short. My goodness! It's as though the powers-that-be had no idea this was a children's movie. I had to explain at least 10 times to Nathan that Toy Story was going to come on soon after the many, many previews. I promise.

Toy Story 3 was definitely different than the first two movies, but the boys enjoyed themselves tremendously. I am relieved they have not asked to go and see it again. Yet.

Graduation Day

Can you believe that Ian has already graduated from preschool? I cannot! He is so very excited to start kindergarten in the fall. So excited that he tells virtually everyone who walks through our front door.


All three 4-year-old preschool classes combined to put on a little musical performance. These shows are always so cute and Ryan ALWAYS missed them courtesy of the Navy.


This is Ian's entire class along with his two teachers, Miss Pat and Miss Teddi. Nathan is very much looking forward to being in this same class in the fall.


Sorry for the strange picture of the two boys. They were not being very cooperative and struggle with looking AT the camera at the same time.

Dinner and a Movie

...Peck Family style.


The boys and I took in some live action entertainment the other night...field carrier landing practice! It was awesome! There is nothing like being a few feet, yes, FEET, from an airplane as it is practicing carrier landings. The F-18's startled the boys so they stayed in the van until the E-2's came along.


Wave to Daddy!


The boys enjoying some popcorn in the field. Only our boys find food just as captivating as an airplane speeding past our faces.


This one is for you, Ron. Guess I know where you'll be requesting to go the next time you visit. The pictures don't quite show you just how close we were. We were allowed to go in the shack on the side of the runway, but I couldn't bring myself to put the boys within 5 feet of a moving airplane. Instead we hung out about 10 yards away most of the evening.

In Memory of...

This has been an incredibly tough couple of weeks for all of us in the Naval aviation community. I say this as though I'm a pilot or naval flight officer. Being married to this community makes all of its members family. This has never felt more true than in the last two weeks.

On March 31, we lost a true hero, Lt. Zilberman. A father of an adorable 4-year-old boy and 2-year-old girl. He fell in love with his wife in high school and they married in 1998. He was 31 at the time of his death. He flew the E-2C Hawkeye so that the other 3 crew members--one pilot, 2 naval flight officers--could bailout safely and survive the crash without injury. Had he not been so brave and quick to act, we would have most likely attended a memorial service for four lost aviators last week. Prayers for Katrina and her two young children. May she know that we continue to think of her and her children every day and we will always be here to help in any way that we can.

If you wish to read more, please do so HERE.

Personally, I have struggled every day since the news was released that an E-2 crashed. I know that it's "rare", but that does not make it any easier to sleep at night. It doesn't help that my husband is still 3,000 miles away training on this very plane every day...even as I type this. The memorial last week resulted in some of the most difficult hours of my life. I've always found it difficult to sleep when I know he is flying. I still get dressed every time his plane is scheduled to take off. I am very conscious that hostile fire is not my only concern. Up until now I was able to compartmentalize things to the point where my day-to-day activities were not affected, but that is out the window now. The life of Navy wife is tough enough--moving on command, taken away from our family and friends. I actually plan what I will do if my husband dies! We will stay here in Virginia Beach since this is where my young boys will remember living and playing with their daddy. All of this makes me want to stop going to school and stay home hugging my boys.

Yesterday, a T-39 crashed and all 4 aviators are believed dead. The plane was part of Training Air Wing 6 out of Pensacola, FL, Ryan's former command. One quarter of the fleet's original T-39's have crashed and no one has survived these crashes. Source.

We support our loved ones in their desire to defend our rights and freedom. I have said it before, that if Ryan were not in the Navy, I would join. I do not sit here feeling sorry for myself or my family. We have taken the risks with the rewards. How many people can honestly say they have a job where they fight for a way of life, a cause in which they truly believe? Not too many. I just needed to "write" down a few on my thoughts. My silly little blog is my therapy right now as I don't really have anyone to talk to about all of this.

Happy Easter!

It's been a very busy few weeks for us so I apologize for the lack of blog updates. With Ryan out of town (again) and the end of the semester quickly approaching for me, there just hasn't been any spare time. Oh, we also had our backyard ripped apart and we are putting it all back together again...this means I'm out watering the entire new lawn by hand twice a day. Fun, fun! I promise more updates whenever I have the chance or feel like avoiding my homework.

Vote for Nathan!!!

Help my boys win a photo session with an awesome photographer here in Virginia Beach!!! You can vote two ways, every day until April 2.

#1: Here's the link to the contest on her blog: Cutest Kid Contest. You get one vote per IP address, per day. Nathan is cute kid #22 and the poll is at the end of the photos.



#2: Here's the link to the Facebook Fan Page: Kimberlin Gray. Once you become a Fan of her Facebook Page, leave one comment per day on Nathan's photo found HERE.

Thanks for your help!!! I promise to share photos from this shoot if we win!!!

More Birthday Photos

I had better finish sharing photos from Nathan's party before Ian's party sneaks up on us!


Roar! Dinosaur Nathan was ready for his friends to arrive.


Ian, showing off his quick dinosaur door hanger craft. He was thrilled to be able to make a door hanger using his favorite color - black.


The CAKE! I was not allowed to make a cake or cupcakes for this party since Nathan had been talking about this very specific WalMart dinosaur cake for almost a year. It was delicious!


Blowing out the candles (with a little help from his nearby friends, whether he wanted the help or not).


Happily waiting for his piece of cake. These boys will do anything when they know food is only moments away.


Ian was showing daddy how big of a piece of cake he wanted. He polished off two pieces of cake, but the still didn't add up to his desired amount.


Our two 4-year-olds. They are so goofy and they very rarely look at the camera at the same time.


Nathan was so very excited to receive his Toy Story bike! He immediately climbed onto it and was ready to go!!!


A little bit of instruction from dad and Nathan thought he knew everything about riding bikes.


Both boys ready to explore the neighborhood. Yes, we made it two houses down the block. These kids are a bit slow when it comes to understanding the "art" of riding a bike...and not putting on the brakes constantly.