Week 2, Round 2

This past week went by really fast, but we were graced with some awesome weather to bring in the New Year!  Unfortunately the week before my family came to visit it was in the 60s and I told them to leave all their shorts at home.  I was layering the kids up like lasagna and was just about ready to buy Lincoln a winter coat.  Then we were suddenly hit with temps in the 80s and my mom was stuck in the long shirts and jeans she had packed.  Lucikly my dad didn't listen to me (he never does) and Linda brought half her closet, so she was prepared to soak up some sun.  They still enjoyed the warmth while they could and did a lot of reading in the backyard while the kids played. 

I also lost my title as "Mom" this week to Corinne.  She now regularly calls me Snow White and constantly reminds me that she is Sleeping Beauty.  She will say "Can I have some more milk please Snow White?" and I am to respond "Yes, here you go Sleeping Beauty."  I don't mind being labeled a princess, but I am not sure where the resemblance lies.  I think Cinderealla might have been more fitting with the blonde hair--not to mention the fact that I act as a general slave to both Lincoln and Corinne these days.  But, whatever, I'll take Snow White any day over "Best, best Mean Mama"--my other nickname as of late. 

We also got to talk to Nathan a lot this week.  He is now at his final destination and working hard to settle in and get things set up to make everything run smoothly.  The good news is that he is an armslength away from a civilian contractor's phone and can call us from time to time.  The bad news is that the internet connection there is horrible and Skyping is now out of the picture for this deployment.  Oh well, I will take what I can get.  He now calls me "Miss Spoiled" since I get regular phone calls.  I am totally comfortable with that nickname. 

Hopefully Nathan can get into a more regular routine soon and cut his work hours down from 18 to 12 a day.  He has a bad cold and is overworking himself quite a bit.  He is happy to have work to do versus being bored, but a bit overwhelmed that he is a one man team and has so many units depending on him.  He is enjoying having a first hand look at the direct impact his job has on the Marines and "gets to do the fun stuff".  Whatever that means---I am sure he will tell me when we are old and gray.  If he keeps working those crazy hourse with such little sleep, he might be completely gray sooner rather than later!

Email me if you want his address.

Grandpa Jinks and the kids got one last round of pirates in before the clock ticked down and we sunk the ship to prepare for New Year's Eve.  I am so glad to have my staircase back to normal.

Then we enjoyed a night of snacking on horderves with Jenn, Warren, and baby Hunter.

The kids loved that we were having snacks for dinner.

And loved standing on the cooler to munch at the island even more.

They knew the night was special and it was time to party!

Corinne got in some snuggle time with Hunter.

And Uncle Warren broke out the Rock Band for Linc.  He has been waiting over a year to play and was over the moon to rock out.  None of the kids made it until midnight, but it was still a good time.  We played one last song around 10 pm and Lincoln got to throw his "party sprinkles" (homemade confetti)that he had spent hours making in preparation for the ball drop.

The next day Lincoln practiced his casting skills in his "boat".

That night we did a few puzzles as a family.

On Monday, it was warm enough to break out the pool.  What began as a calm dip into the water quickly turned into a construction zone for "Gold Rush".  Have you ever seen that show on the Discovery Channel?  Well, my kids love it and have caught a bit of gold fever.  Lincoln made his own wash plant complete with a sleuthe box ramp out of plywood.  They used their snack bowls to "pan" the gold and then Lincoln started to lay towels out to use as "miners moss" until I intervened and saved my towels from being caked with mud.   Thus far, I have managed to save Nathan's other baby (aka the yard) from becoming a victim to their "fever".

Apparently they struck it rich and found quite a few nuggets, but Corinne was insistent that her container held tons of "gold specks" that could be salvaged after they dried in the sun.

A Sassy Pirate paid us a visit more than once.

I snuck off to the mall with Linny and got Linc a new pair of sweat pants and shiny, pink shoes for Sleeping Beauty. 

We stayed up and played a few games of Euchre.  I can't say that I came out the "Ultimate Champion", but I did win a few rounds and had fun all the same.

On Tuesday we dropped my parents off at a winery and hit up a local park.  Lincoln fine-tuned his excavating skills to prep for more work on the mine.

Corinne took a few trips down the slide while we were there.

And Linda pretended to be a biker chick.

Lincoln was pumped that he is finally tall enough to do this weird crank the gears exercise.  We wrapped up the night with a trip to Olive Garden--thanks Nana.

Grandpa Jinks also found time to install my new knobs in the master bath! 

As Nathan would put it "When the cat's away, the mice will...do whatever they want!".  It does have some truth to it.  We have had these knobs for months and Nathan refused to put them on, saying that they were too fancy for our house.  But I know the reality is that he has no vision and has trouble picturing the end product.  I am sure he will grow to love them as much as I do! 

On Wednesday we dropped the fam off in San Diego and headed up to base so Lincoln could get a haircut.  Then we made our way to Brittnay's house to have a playdate with Ethan and Ellie while we planned our camping trip.  (That's right, I said camping--I am going to give it a whirl next Saturday. Wish me luck!)  It was super warm and the kids had a great time playing in the kiddie pool and the park behind their house.

They topped playtime off with a few munches of goldfish on the couch.  It was a great time, with only one minor incident.  (See Quotes of the Week for more details).

QUOTES OF THE WEEK

Quote 1: 

While talking to dad on the phone. (He called on the way home from dinner and the bluetooth failed to connect, so I gave Linc the phone to avoid another traffic ticket.  I am not really sure what Nathan was saying on the other end.)

Lincoln:  "Do you have tools like me? I have a tool belt, gloves, work goggles, a hammer--you can use mine since you threw your old one away, a square, special pencils and a sharpener that makes zig zags, and a hard hat. I keep them nice and organized, but I will share with you since you don't have all that I have.

...Are you fighting the bad guys now? Do you have your map? Well, you know bad guys like to mess them up. Did you follow the long path or the short path? Okay, well follow the path to get you home. ...When you come home can you sneak up the stairs and come get me out of bed like you did the last time?

....You know I fight bad guys too. I protect mom and sissy while you are away."

Yep, some of this conversation just about broke my heart. 

 Quote 2:  Upon arriving home, after his lively conversation with Nathan in the truck.

Lincoln:  "Everyone follow me, I will go in first because I am the bravest--even braver than dad."

 Quote 3:  While stuck behind a stalled car.

Corinne:  "Psychopath! Psychopath means go! Go Mom!"

She apparently listens to everything I say! 

Quote 4:  I was unable to see the boys while at Brittnay's but could hear them having fun at the park behind their house, so I stepped out on the patio to check in on them.  And that is when I saw Ethan butt naked and Lincoln with his pants down playing near the slide. 

Me:  "What are you guys doing?  Ethan, get dressed.  Lincoln, pull your pants up.  Get up here, we need to talk."

Did I mention that the park is nicely fenced in, but backs up to a major road on base???  The boys come up the hill from the park.

Me:  "What were you guys doing?"

Ethan:  "Lincoln was peeing."

Brittnay steps out to investigate.
Me:  "Lincoln that is disgusting.  We don't just whip it out wherever we are and pee.  If you are wet and need to pee outside you need to ask me where a good place to go is.  We don't act like that.  Where did you pee."
Ethan:  "Oh on the slide."
Me:  "What?  On the slide!"  Lincoln nods with a devilish smile.  "That is beyond gross.  Don't ever, ever do that again."  I try to sound serious and hide my laughter.  Brittnay retreats to the kitchen to save face.
Brittnay:  "That doesn't surprise me.  Boys are so gross.  All the neighborhood boys pee back there."
Me:  "Yeah, that is about as gross as it gets.  Gross, but kind of funny and you are probably going to get mad about me when you get the full story."
Brittnay:  "What?"
Me:  "Well, when I first walked out there Ethan was sliding down the slide--naked!"
Oh, boys will be boys!  When you're stuck in a tough spot with no slip and slide in sight---make your own with urine!  Don't worry, everyone took a nice dip in the pool after that and then we went home for a good scrub in the tub.