Congratulations mom!

After over 25 years of teaching my mother has finally decided to retire. She told the administration few weeks ago and has been showered with hugs cards, and words of true appreciation. Its wonderful to hear about all the celebration that surrounds her years of devotion to a high school system. She enjoyed several retirement parties this weekend with a finale being her closest friends in simsbury on Friday night. She toasted her career. Not only will she wake up Monday morning without school plans to think about, but she will be able to walk the beach on a late august evening with a glass of wine in her hand and be proud of her career.

My sister will be carrying the torch and moms dedication as she returns to the school system, but not as an honors 8th grade math teacher, but as a biology teacher, a position that she set her sights on during her first year of teaching. My sisters love for animals was something we experienced throughout childhood. Whether it was lop eared bunnies (thanks grandpa Roy) gerbil (yes, my sister loved every animal) snakes, butterflies, horses cats, dogs, etc. I thank my parents for their patience and encouragement as that surely influenced and allowed this amazing teacher to continue her own growth. Thank you Stacie for the time you invest in yourself to become a teacher and all your do for the children you will influence.

See, she has always been crazy!

I look forward to my children having wonderful teachers to enhance their lives. Thankfully two of the greatest ones are already apart of their life!!

Cheers mom!

22 weeks and counting

Nick is getting to be a great photographer right?? here's that bellie shot I know you are all looking for. 22 Weeks and feeling rather pregnant in my book. This is me on my way off to teach body pump this morning. The little baby is not totally in my way yet and I hope to teach at least until I head to the states at the end of July. Things are getting a bit cramped on the bike for spin - but other than that, minimal complaints. Just trying to slow down and remind myself to enjoy this final pregnancy.


It is different knowing we will have a boy. We have starting thinking about the room, names etc... I am enjoying the early connection. I am fortunate to have been able to experience it both ways. Now I am excited to meet this little boy and so are my other boys!! Keep praying for a healthy little one!!

The Good Life

As we say goodbye to our wonderful friends - of course we feel that painful void in our bellies.

Thankfully Wednesday morning was the one rainy day we have endured in several months. It gave me validation of my sad emotions.


I am thankful that I was so crushed with their departure. You don't meet many friends in life that can be so indispensable. The kind of friends that make a boring afternoon exciting. The kind of friends that make saying goodbye impossible because you know the moment you travel to a closer location, they will pack their bags and meet up with you. The McCulloughs are headed to California and will be part of our family that now lives there. We are excited to visit them!

It really doesn't look like we are taking them to the airport - maybe to a plumbing job...... But it does look like the dogs are ready to travel




Making that Mini work!


are you ready boys??


We all spent a little extra time at the ticket counter. Originally the agent told them no to flying with dogs. miraculously they were re-routed on KLM through Amsterdam on that same day (and all together - to included another mother who was traveling solo with her 14 month old and 2 year old dog) Sadly it put their arrival in Atlanta much later - their heads did not finally rest on a pillow until 3:30 AM. Surely made for a long day when you woke up at 5AM the previous morning


The KLM agent was able to 'speed' them through the security line - however Ms. Farrah got pulled aside for an extra screening!! Better make that flight!! Run Run!!


It was a very teary eyed goodbye - but hey, that's what we excepted. The rain continued to come down the rest of the day.

Many of Chris's office mates were sick that day and he was feeling a bit under the weather too - so in the early afternoon when I saw the door open to see my husband on the other side it was the greatest gift on a sad day. The four of us quietly curled up on the couch and enjoyed a kids movie together.

I am very much a music person - it motivates me at spin, it brings back memories, it captures a moment in time, it even makes me cry. Lately I haven't been able to stay dry eyed through the song 'good life' by One Republic. Daringly I added it to my recent spin mix. I taught the mix on the Wednesday morning of their departure. I did get a bit choked up, but I can blame that on the endorphins right?

The song reminds me that we are living the good life and really, what is there to complain about?? Sure, our wonderful friend will be miles away - but won't you rather have wonderful friends?? Every time I hear the song I will remember the commotion in my kitchen before dinner (the part that almost makes me lose my mind) I will remember Farrah trying to get Macy to eat one more bite, or hoping Tate will eventually swallow the ten bites of chicken in his mouth. I will remember Brian and Chris coming home exhausted but immediately helping out with the kids and getting the party supplies out. I will remember Nick and Tate playing legos and cover orange at 6AM and I will remember Farrah giving me that one last hug saying - now have that baby and figure out how to get back home. I will also remember quietly watching that afternoon movie together as a family. We surely are living the good life and there is nothing to complain about!

BIrthday girl

I still cannot believe I have known her through her entire live.  Ms. Macy is 2!  We were thrilled to be able to celebrate with her.  Love the bow - but the cute smile is the real treat.

We had a simple celebration at the Kleine Gardner park near our home on the Monday or memorial day weekend.  Farrah put together a cooler of goodies ranging from popsicles, to fudge sandwhiches, toasted almond strawberry ice cream bars (that I swear I hadn't seen since high school!) and of course prosecco and wine =)  The perfect Memorial day birthday celebration.

Cassey didn't want to miss a drop - even if it was coming down her hand.  I love her festive dress

Here is the celebrating family - can you find Tate??

even Blake got a little play time

Love the birthday girl mixed in there - the birthday hat fits right in =)

We planned a little munchkin activity, the little ones wrote their names on T-Shirts that said 'with hugs from....' so when their friends are miles away they can always get a hug.  10 shirts!  Nick got some good practice

Seriously blake, 41/2 months old already?!  Don't you want to kiss those cheeks!!

My favorite part of the evening was just sitting around listening to the little ones sing happy birthday to macy.  She just sat in the circle enjoying the song for her.  The sound of the kids voices still resonates with me as it was just simple sweet.

A cupcake for me?

Yum Yum

Eve keeps losing teeth - here's hoping the tooth fairy is finding them!  hehehe

Soaking in the girl time

Macy scored a sweet travel bag for her adventure across the pond (its already stocked with a my little pony!)  How fun to by girl stuff

Love that our boys actually posed for this one!

Brian and Chris golfed all day in the heat of Germany (yes, 85 is now hot for us!)  The kids didn't mind Brian using the slide to rest on for now.

These shirts are perfect together - as is this sweet family

Check out all these beautiful smiles.  I love how Macy snuggled in with Nick.  I can just feel the love - the sweetest bunch of kids.

Macy - thank you for giving us such a wonderful reason to celebrate - we were treated to a beautiful day together all about you!

Communal living

While Chris was slaving away in Afganistan The McCulloughs moved in.  Though this was the final stage of their departure - it was the part that I looked forward to the most.  We are so lucky to be paired up with such a wonderful family.

You may think that Macy is Shane's buddy, but he will quickly tell you its really Farrah!!

Everyone had their chores while living with us!

Even the playground is more fun with buddies

buddies and cocktails of course =)  (that's how you get Farrah to the playground!)

In the evenings Brian would treat us to a gourmet meal.  Thankfully he enjoys cooking - becuase we surely enjoy feasting.

For 10 days we enjoyed the commotion of a full house.  Nick and Tate bunked in together.  One morning Nick work up earlier than Tate and instead of crowling in bed with us - he opted to crawl in bed with Tate.  He just snoozed away until Tate woke up.  We would hear them playing legos at 6:30 - but they were entertained.  They would even fall asleep with minimal talking.  What great kids.  The dogs got along better which was so helpful - they had a few disagreements and the LOVED being on the same team against the cat (who happily stayed upstairs).  The only thing I looked forward to at the end of their stay was putting the cat little back downstairs.  Its the little things right??

Thanks for bunking in with us - it was truly a treasure memory!  We hope to do the same to you guys =)

Touring Afganistan

We have enjoyed so much wonderful excitement these past couple of weeks that i am just trying to keep up.  I don't want to miss anything - so here ya go - bunch of fun stuff all at once!!

Last week Chris headed off to Afganistan as the preliminary survey team for a project that mC Dean will be working on.  It was a well timed trip in my book since the same day he left, the McCulloughs moved it!   How fortunate!

He said there isn't much about the deployed life that has really changed - here are all those temprary buildings all lined up

Everyone bunking in together

The PX - literally everywhere you go.  There is something about buying the simple stuff in the PX that is just exciting - the socks are the same - but they feel different.  Maybe its that plane ticket =)

He didn't so TONS of military vehicles (in the traditional sense)  He was in Kabul - several of the headquaters portions are here.  Guess this is their vehicle of choice

Preliminary visit is complete and off to the airport.  Bet that feels nice!

He tried to get some good photos of how incredibly mountainus the terrian is.  No wonder Osama could hide for so long.

The crew had an 8 hour layover in Dubia.  It was in the late evening so they didn't have time to tour the area, they booked a hotel room in the airport to catch some sleep.  Here's a quick shot of his room

They did a little shopping in the Dubia Airport mall.  This photo was taken at 1 AM - Chris was floored by how many folks were touring around the airport at this time!  Guess its quite the international airport!

You really can fly anywhere - from what I understand AirEmirates is the way to go - at least in Chris's opinion, food, TV etc!!

The worlds biggest plane, right in front of the worlds tallest building (its all the way in the back among the haze)

The final take off to head home - quite the interesting city line.

Some home Chris and join the party at Casa Leadbetter.  We have missed you!!  He joined up on Friday night as Brian had cooked an amazing meal of homemade pasta (I'm sure he could tell you a few things about our rolling pin - the handle was broken - so he used Nicks!!)  Made me laugh as he kept asking for all these specialty kitchen items - am i some kind of cook - guess not!

Glad Chris was able to head away for work while his family was in good hands.