We're back!

So, I realize my blog posting (or lack thereof) has been pretty pathetic for the last several months. We ran out of image space on our blog and the task of going back to delete all the old photos was just too daunting, or annoying, really. So, I just decided to start a new blog! Woohoo, here we go...

Most of you may probably already be up to speed with where we currently reside, but since we move around so often (as you can see from our list on the right side of our page) I'll give the update. We moved to Honolulu, Hawaii in the beginning of November 2012.  The weather is fabulous! The island is beautiful. We love our new home.  We're settling in.  The only thing missing is Mike.  He is currently deployed.  He serves as a submarine officer in the Navy.  He deployed just 3 short weeks after our arrival on the island.  We sure miss him, but we're having some good fun, too.  Anabelle is making a lot of new friends.  I was thinking the other day about how impossible it is for her to keep track of all the friends she has had in the last year.  We move around so much that sometimes I even can't remember everyone's names after only a few months' absence. She's a trooper.  Anabelle is a smart, stubborn, ACTIVE, determined little stinkerpants and I love her guts!  She's a load of fun and has quite the imagination.  I love watching her play and create worlds and scenarios.  Making new friends seems to come pretty easily to her.  She views every other child as a friend (even those who certainly aren't acting friendly toward her).  Her endless energy keeps me going throughout the entire day.  Even on those afternoons when all I want is a nap, my little energizer bunny won't allow it. She wants me to play with her instead.  And as soon as one activity is over, she immediately comes up with another.  There are no pauses or breaks in Anabelle-world.  She is such an intelligent little girl and likes to be the boss.  She's a natural leader, with a caring, nurturing heart.  I even catch myself wanting to do what she does a lot of the time ;) We are currently working on learning to write her letters more proficiently, sounding out words, taking on more responsibilities in the home, and being a better listener.  Although she gives me a run for my money on many days, she truly is a big helper and I can trust her to carry out a lot of responsibilities. I'm so proud of her! She has an impeccable memory and is very organized.  She knows where almost everything belongs and can find almost anything when it is lost.  She has always been that way.  This works out well now that I have a second child who acts as a tornado and likes to completely disrupt order.  Declan will tear apart cupboards and knock down block towers while Anabelle just goes behind him putting things back away or rebuilding her fallen tower.  They're both happy.

Declan is my sweetheart.  He melts my heart. When he's in the mood, which thankfully is fairly often, he'll give me big hugs where he wraps his arms tightly around me, sometimes patting me on the back.  He'll pause to look up at me and giggle, but then lunge forward for another hug.  He likes to do this when we're at the store and he's sitting in the shopping cart.  I often push the cart around as I'm hugging him, with a big smile on my face.  I get some pretty sweet looks from others, too.  Declan loves to play peek-a-boo, climb on anything, chase his sister around, eat, and laugh.  He loves any type of ball and can already catch better than Anabelle.  He's got a pretty good throwing arm, too.  Whenever I'm in the kitchen preparing meals, Declan has to be in there too.  I can set up an entire room full of toys for him, but he will always join me after about 30 seconds.  He has never cared much for toys.  The environment has always fascinated him more.  This is great, except when he tears apart my kitchen while I'm trying to cook, all the while pacing around whining for food. Declan is a very pleasant and easy-going boy, always has been.  He also remembers Mike very well.  I was worried he would have trouble with that, Mike having left just before his first birthday.  But every time Declan sees a picture of Mike, watches a video of him, sees my phone, or even hears the word "Daddy", he will brighten up and say "Dadda. Dadda." He is talking quite a bit now and will repeat many of the words that I say.  Some if his everyday words are: Arcee (our dog), hi, bye, more, bite, yeah, Anabelle, ball, banana ("nana"), milk, book, diaper, bath, and more.  He understands everything I say and can follow directions very well. He's very good at retrieving things for me, or putting them away :) Declan LOVES water, just like his sister and is also pretty fearless (although maybe not quite as much).

As for me, I'm still working on having the house completely unpacked.  I'll get there.  On most days, I'm so exhausted by the time I get the kids into bed that I can't muster the motivation to get any more work done and I just relax for the rest of the evening.  I have started watching a new series on Netflix, called Once Upon a Time.  I love it and have a lot of fun watching that.  I've been working on a few random projects, too.  I repainted a patio set that I was given for free.  I'm painting the metal frame of a mirror I found at the thrift store, and have some others in mind.  I also started a Stroller Strides exercise program.  I go 3 days a week with my kiddos in the double jogger.  The class combines running with strength training exercises. I am LOVING it!  I have really missed exercising and haven't been able to do much these last several months.  I can always take the kids and go running, but I need more than that. I need to get stronger.  This class has been great all-around. I'm meeting more friends, getting out with the kids, spending time outside, sweating like crazy, and feeling better about myself.  I also signed myself up for a 5k next month to run while pushing the stroller.  I'm feeling very positive about these things.  Having Mike gone is definitely difficult and some days are hard to get through.  I miss him very much.  I know that he really misses me and the kids in return. But we're making it through and I know that we grow closer to each other through these separations.  Our family grows stronger and better as we go through these experiences and I know that we are doing what the Lord would have us do.  We will be better for it.

Mike is working hard out there.  We are able to email while he is underway, usually receiving messages every 1-5 days.  When he's in port, we can talk and video chat.  He was able to be in port over Christmas, so that was great!  Mike is so smart, determined, organized, and has an amazing work ethic.  He's doing a great job and has received the praise of his superiors.  He's progressing well through his qualifications, which does not surprise me at all. I married an amazing man.  He is the best man I have ever known, a great example to me of faith, love, progression, integrity, compassion, loyalty, and more. I am so blessed to be his wife.  He is so good to me and I always know he loves me with all of his heart.  He has been very sweet and thoughtful during this deployment as well, sending me flowers here and there, leaving notes for me to read on difficult days, favorite memories, and things he loves about me.  He's a wonderful Daddy and our kids just love him to pieces. Mike recorded himself reading stories to the kids and playing peek-a-boo with Declan.  All are major hits.  He is so thoughtful.

Well, I suppose this is a pretty good update after such a long lapse.  I'll do my best to keep up.  Thanks for following our adventures :)