Catching up with folks at west point

On Monday I packed up the boys and headed to West Point to catch up with two more families. We first linked up with Steph, Alexa and Jack in hopes of watching the smelly cadets walking in from their several weeks in the field - yup, that's why they are smelly! Bummer that due to traffic and GPS we missed them by 10 minutes.....

So we packed up and headed to Delafield Pond. It was actually the sight of our rehearsal dinner!! (I am starting to think I was on our anniversary tour) Margaret and Steph were the two bridesmaids to-be that couldn't make it to the wedding, Margaret was due to have her twins a month later and Steph was caught in the Army transition time. These two ladies are very dear to me and I love knowing we can pick up where we left off whether its in Germany, NY, CT - they may never stop traveling!)

Here is Shane and Elizabeth playing in the sand together. Margaret's children are truly some of the sweetest I have ever met. Elizabeth grabbed Shane as soon as she spotted us.


Brigid - Margaret's youngest was chilling in the little part.


Can you see any of them out there?


Now I can see Alexa, Nick, Elizabeth, Allison, Benjamin and I bet Jacob and Jack are out there too.


If you can believe it, 15 minutes after I took this photo serious clouds came in. SERIOUS. We didn't want to leave (I will admit, not only did I not want to leave, but I wasn't ready to deal with the sand yet!) so we stalled until mother nature said - get the heck out!! We had to rush to our cars putting everything inside and cross our fingers that trees didn't fall on us as we drove to take refuge at Margaret's house. Once everyone was bathed, we ordered pizzas and had a great outdoor picnic.

Patrick her hubby is also serving in Afghanistan currently. He will most likely be gone for over 18 months. I cannot believe that length of time - why is that o.k.? Thankfully it sounds like Margaret has a wonderful support network - but nothing replaces having your husband come home at night.


Margaret just completed her teaching certificate and is constantly going with her 5 munchkins. Again, I love how simple she makes it feel as I know that's not always the case. Spending time with her is so refreshing which might be shocking to hear. But I love being part of their lives and every time I leave I remind myself that family really is the most important thing.


Thanks for a great day Margaret and Steph!

Future Pilots

While we were in Newport, my folks joined the local Air Museum. It was a blast for the dudes as you can see! So awesome that they got a Grandparent pass.






Future pilots?? Lets see where their sense of direction takes them! They surely have a bit of military circulating their system =)





Apparently Nick was a natural when operating this pedal plane


Shane's legs need to get a bit longer =)



Here is the true pilot in the Leadbetter family! Wyland is serving off the Horn of Africa flying countless missions off a boat. His family, Wyland, Robbie and Shannon are missing him back in Wilmington NC. He will most likely have a 9 month deployment taking him through February of 2012 which is unusually long for the Marines.


This is just a reminder that so many of our men and women are on foreign shores fighting battles for our freedom and families are constantly stretched and separated. Thank you to all those serving today and if you know someone who has a family member deployed, any action you can do will make a difference.

Newport adventure

I am trying to catch up on some fun events that i don't want to pass by on as I am so lucky to have such filled days! Friday Chelcy fly bringing her texas flare and good friend time that I have been missing since I saw her in Tuscany in September.

Spending time with my best buddy really makes it seem like I saw her yesterday - I am so that the miles can just disappear! We spent friday chilling in the pool (literally since she is used to water 88 and high and my dad's pool is a balmy 78 - yikes!!)

On Saturday, I was saving my trip to Sephora to go with a true expert. Little did I know, she was also a VIP! Funny as we were checking out and I offered to add points to her account (as i surely don't have nor need one) the lady behind the counter actually blushed and asked Chelcy if she was receiving emails from Sephora - she just achieved VIP status. Honestly, I thought the ceiling would open up and balloons would start falling =) Instead we got some chocolates and fun samples =)



Saturday afternoon we picked Sherry up at the airport and headed for a night in Newport, RI. Sherry is a college roomie, super close buddie and one of my bridesmaids (amazing that I managed to catch up with 5 of my 7 bridesmaids during my trip, and that is hard work since they are EVERYWHERE, michigan, west point, boston, you name it! we are all travelers) Here is the photo in our hotel before we headed out for the night.


We opted to have Chelcy (or I should say Johnny Dep) do our make up for the evening. Sherry and Chelcy are both 'only children' but that might be where their similarities end as Sherry packed a backpack for the weekend and I am quite certain, only Chelcy's make up could have fit in Sherry's back pack - not sure how she would have packed her 4 pair of shoes and outfits!! But Chelcy will be the first to tell you, she doesn't travel light!! Chelcy about fell over when Sherry mentioned she purchased her first hair dryer this winter for the sole purpose of sealing the cellophane around her windows. Honestly, I wanted to write all this as I love how different folks from the different places in my life can come together and have a great weekend!!


Here we are in front of our jailhouse hotel. Our window was the one on the left (on the porch). It was also the hangout place at 2AM when a bachelor party decided the porch was the next best bar. We decided the most frustrating part of their loud partying was the fact that they kept us up. We were too old, tired and pregnant to go out and join them!!



All restaurants were packed from the Jazz fest AND the NAVY has a school in Newport, Saturday was the first night for the ODS officers to go out and have a drink.The ladies eating at the bar at the Red Parrot - best Lobster BLT I have ever had! I almost took a photo of it, but I see too much of that crap on FB and I didn't want to join in=)


Sunday morning was rainy and disgusting (Chelcy brought that weather from draught ridden Texas) Thankfully our only plans were to board the trolley and check out the mansions of newport.


Jackie-O and JFK were wed here!


The Red Parrot during the day


The rain surely impaired our on board trolley picture taking efforts!


Lobsters at the water and right off the truck!


America's oldest consistently operated tavern and a MUST stop for some of the best clam chowder on a rainy day!





Cheers!


We hit a few more fun shops along the way


Than packed it up and headed back to the airport to drop Chelcy off for her trip back to Austin. Sherry was headed out first thing in the morning.


Look what Sherry and I came home too! Apparently my oldest was transformed into Spider man!! Thanks Oma Sue and Goomba for taking such good care of the dudes!


Sherry and I had a chill evening continuing to catch up on life. Her next big trip is to new Zealand and Austrailia!! Gotta love our traveling bunch =)

Relaxing days at camp Carlson

I've been here for about a week now and I am trying not to count the days as i fear they will go by too quickly. The boys settled in quickly, found all their toys (Nick's memory in the toy department will knock your socks off - he went to the Brinkerhoffs and asked her about a car mat that she brought for him last year.... once we figured out what he was talking about - she went digging absolutely floored that he remembered it!)

The weather is hot, but perfect for the pool as i hope to spend a good portion of each day in it, my goal is my boys learn to swim - maybe to even include the little one in my bellie.

But what I enjoy most is my boys getting to know their grandparents and the time they will spend with them. My folks have spent so much time making the house kid friendly (again) whether its finding the scooter in the attic (that I rode) or putting up a fence around the pool, or buying the latest superhero towels - the boys appreciate every effort. it makes being a parent so enjoyable for me because I can happily entertain the kids while someone else is making dinner!! How amazing is that!! As mom's we often have to do everything and right now - my parents are happy to share the load and for that I am forever grateful - especially at 31 weeks pregnant!!









Don't they look like they love it!! Yup they do!

All the grandkids together!

We have arrived!! and BOY does it feel good. I love being with my family and having so many folks around for entertainment (for both me and the boys!) My sister joined us for a few days and that made for a loving but hectic home. Riley is about the same age as Shane. Both love to use the MINE word so we heard that A LOT. Madison is a sweety and Nick feel in love with her! We spent most of our time in the pool (wouldn't you??) Nick is getting constant exposure and I hope to have a little fish when we head home.






He is very comfortable using the noodle as a horse or in front. He loves floating on the 'boat' too. I put a few swim belts on order. One that my sister-in-law Shannon recommends and I know her boys are good swimmers!


Gomba loves a good nap


Dinner time on the deck.


Followed by some ice cream sandwhiches.








Maddy, just milk for you


Currently Riley's turn. Can you hear Shane shouting 'my turn' in the back round, I can!


Nightly story time - Riley insists on reading 'this nest is best' every night.


Nick was enrolled in a 3 day fireman's camp with his summer time buddy Charlie. I love they are only a month apart and get along so well only linking up every so often.








Here's Nick and his new love Madison. I have never seen him be so patient. He would bring her a toy, play with it in front of her, take it back (careful not to pile it up on her) and grab another one. Madison would talk and just light up every time she saw her cousin. When I laid down at night with Nick talking about what we are thankful for, he told me how much he loved spending time with Maddy (the baby) and how she would talk to him but he couldn't understand what she was saying. I said, he would understand one day. So sweet!


Here they are chatting again. Honestly, he couldn't get enough!


I honestly cannot believe my mom is feeding the fish by herself!! Where are the 3 helpful grand kids??! Geesh!


O.k, they were in the pool and now its snack time. Totally understandable!

Chris traveling solo to Chamois France

Love my husband's sense of adventure even when we aren't there to pack for him. I understood my value as he called me from the camp ground Friday night. He barely arrived before the camps cut off time of 11pm. He was thrilled to make it. After the long 6 hour drive he was excited to unpack and put up his tent (that he has been dying to use - but I resist for MANY reasons) only to find out he forgot the tent, yup, in putting his bike and golf clubs in he figured he must have removed the tent to make room. Guess it never made it back in the trunk. Looks like a late night hotel search for sweet Chris. He took it in stride and had a wonderful weekend.

Here he is in Chamios France. He is on his bike at this point headed up a 16km climb


Here is his bike at the top. I am guessing his legs were on fire at this point (as I understand his brakes were during the return trip) but it was a windy ride up a constant incline.


Yes, my husband is amazing, but he didn't hike or bike this one (Mount Blanc) He took a gondola. I think the gondola stopped 1/2 way down and he hiked the remainder. It was a bit chilly up there. Makes me wonder what he was wearing as again, I didn't pack, so I am thinking shorts and his Austin T. hehehehe


Next up, Golf! Another fabulous solo dad event! Not a bad location choice Chris!


He made it home Sunday night to a quiet house and packed his bags for England for a few days. We missed him and cannot wait to see him out here - but he sure is making the most of his solo weekends.

Love you!