Just for Laughs...

Jake's got talent, what can I say?!

F-18 .... Jets!

Last Saturday afternoon when Chris got home from work, we had the awesome opportunity to go check out the jets that fly over our house all the time at the air station! Not only did we get to check them out, but we got our own personal "tour", which was outstanding! Our good friend Thayer flies these (and just got back from deployment a couple of months ago), so we had such a good time being able to sit in the jets and get the scoop on everything! Jake was a little overwhelmed with all of the buttons, but he has been talking about them a lot since Saturday. Chris and I have never been in one, so that was really cool for both of us. We appreciate Thayer and Ashleigh showing us the F-18 .... on a day when he didn't have to be on base or at work! We had such a good time!

It was a beautiful day! This is Jake on the way to the air station....

Mr. Thayer putting the helmet on Jake.
LOVE his face. That helmet probably weighed almost as much as he does :-)
Jake was up first.

He did want to make sure that he wasn't going to fly away, but I think he could potentially be a pilot in the making .... :-)
"Iceman"
As we were driving home later on, Jake said "That was so much fun. That plane has so many buttons!!"
Chris getting a turn....
Being in the jet was making Chris a little excited to get back on a tank, too!

Daddy and Jake :-)
Cole, OF COURSE, needed a turn!! He just wanted to be sitting in there, too, so I couldn't get a really good picture of him.
There is no way in this world that I would survive in one of these - waaaaay too claustrophobic for that. However, I asked Thayer a ton of questions, b/c I just think it's so fascinating that he flies these every week - multiple times ... and for a living!!!
I had Ashleigh (aka the pro) helping me out ....
Yep, we're acting like we know what we are doing up there!
FUN day!



Flying the F-18 is no joke. There is so much to learn and know. It's just absolutely amazing to me ... so so awesome! Thanks for a FUN day Thayer and Ashleigh!!

THE DENTIST

Jake had his FIRST trip to the Dentist this week. Going to the dentist for the first time (or any time, for that matter) is one of those moments as a parent where you really don't know how it's going to go. I mean, sure.... we've talked to Jake about the dentist and how they will count his teeth and he will sit in the chair and they will shine a light, etc., but he's 3, so even with some preparation, you never quite know how it will turn out. Thankfully, it was a huge success, and because of the success factor, I was THAT Mom who took like 25 pictures - ha! Sounds funny after the fact, but while we were there, I was just so happy that not only was he doing such a good job, but he LOVED it, too!

Here we are waiting to be called back....

Sitting right up in the chair....
Laid back and everything!
Opening WIDE!

The hygienist was explaining that she calls that thing "Mr. Thirsty". Jake was very interested....




LOOK - he's loving it!! :-)
So BIG. I realized at this appointment how OLD AND BIG Jake really is getting....
They normally don't do the fluoride for 3-year olds, b/c most do not like it, but since Jake had done pretty well, the hygienist thought he would be fine .... Jake thought it was cool that he looked like a football player :-)


He made it the WHOLE minute!!!!!!

Waiting for the Dentist....
Opening big and good for Dr. Smith, too!



And what dentist appointment would be complete without a little video ;-)

Jake got a good report, and they told us that the MAIN thing we really needed to work on was ditching the pacifier. Both the hygienist and dentist could tell right away that he used a pacifier. Apparently, it is already changing his bite, so they said he needed to give it up asap. Currently, we are on our 2nd day or "Operation ditch the Pacifier" .... more on that in another post on another day....

LAST Initial Drill

Chris had his LAST initial drill on Monday. After 8 cycles, this is our LAST cycle. I don't think I've ever posted pictures of initial drill.... we never really stay that long, b/c the boys can only make it a little while, but basically it is practice drill for the NEW recruits. These guys look like babies out there :-) Each platoon gets graded on how they did. Drill is obviously a big deal at Parris Island (aka The Drill Field). It's truly amazing seeing the progress recruits make when you watch initial drill (the 4 week mark) and then final drill (the 11 week mark), and finally graduation! It's also so impressive and noticeable with how hard the drill instructors have worked over the past 12 weeks to turn the recruits into marines. BUT - we aren't there in this cycle yet.... only on week 5! Still trucking along, though.....

A Little Less Talk...

and a lot more action IS NEEDED when it comes to blogging these days! It makes no sense why I can't find the time - ha! So, I'm hoping to sit here tonight and get some pictures uploaded....

Here is Mr. "I can do everything Jake does" :-)

He is definitely all about the straw sippy cups these days....

The boys are doing head stands ....
Pretty impressive, Chris! Jake is trying to join in - and Cole is staring in awe....
Cole is trying to figure it all out....
still very impressed with Chris!
AND now Cole is trying to do one ....

So, when Cole isn't climbing on the tables or on the TV stand or in the window sills, he is finding OTHER places to climb. The other day, Jake and Cole were reading in their bedroom and Ashleigh and I were out in the living room - and once Jake walked into the living room, we went to check on Cole..... who was STANDING on top of the bookshelf! So, then I had Ashleigh "spot" while I took a quick picture, but seriously - this boy is a MONKEY!
Then later, I found both of them like this. It's obviously NOT allowed, so we immediately picked up all of the books and put them back on the bookshelf. Nice try boys!
Trying to get a brother picture....
BUT Jake just wanted to make funny faces....
Lots of easel drawing these days, too!