Dayton has learned to make a new face. When he makes it he also stares you down until you crack. He never cracks. Never.
Bradens teacher i doing some sort of project on families and took pictures of brothers and sisters. After 10 tries this was the best she got of Dayton.
Today is Keegan's 8th birthday. 8 years ago at this exact moment I was checking into the hospital to deliver him. One of the most frightening and most exciting days of my life.
It is hard to believe 8 years have passed since then.
My little boy who was once in love with all things John Deere, now only has eyes for Star Wars, Legos and Bionicles.
My little boy who loved to sit and listen to me read his Little Golden Books now independently reads chapter books.
Where did the eight year old boy who is almost to my shoulders, has big teeth and is fiercely independent come from?
We celebrated with a surprise party. Not knowing if Thomas would be home or not I had to make last minute plans. I invited six of his closest friends with their families and we all surprised him this afternoon. After a few hours of Pizza, Yoda Soda, Light Saber cake and homemade ice cream I am left with 9 kids. 
If we make it 'til morning we will go play at Family Land for a few hours before returning the friends to their homes and taking a long nap.
Did I really do that? Did I bring an already expired can of chicken soup which my family (obviously) doesn't eat all the way from Mississippi to Okinawa. Did I really pack it and unpack it without noticing? Have I really moved it to clean out my pantry at least a dozen times since we have lived here?
Did I do that?
By the way, we moved here in July 2006.
Last weekend the boys participated in Skoshi Warrior. It was a mock deployment activity to help the kids understand what Dad (or Mom) go through when they outprocess for a deployment.
The first stop was to have their gear issued to them. They all got green bags with camo hats, bandanas, and dog tags.
Braden enjoyed the Ammo tent the most. He has said he wants to be in the Army for a long time.
This backpack weighed at least 60lbs.
A little gas mask fit test..
and some face painting.
by four feet :)
Introducing Dog. We will name her soon, for now Dayton just calls her Dog, or more accurately "daawwwwwwwwwg" so the rest of us have followed suit.
She is really good and the boys just love her. The first day Dayton would freak out if she got close to him. Then it was only if her wet nose touched him or she licked him that he would start this whole body convulsion thing until she stopped. As you can see, Dayton spent a couple days hanging out on the sofa, the only safe spot where dog couldn't get him.
Yesterday though, Dayton was eating a sucker, and decided to share it with dog. They bonded over the sucker, and are now bestest of friends. Thank goodness, if that shrieking every time she touched him would have continued, Dayton would have gotten a muzzle, not the dog of course.
Any suggestions for a name? I want something Japanese-ish.
