Merry Christmas

Thank you Uncle Mitch

Who needs a Christmas gift

When you have this...

Christmas eve dinner

We usually go to Outback Steak house for Christmas eve dinner but this year it's just the 4 of us. It's pizza on the grill! Yummy! The adults are already in their pj's and the kids are on their way!

Gingerbread decorating party

Quick visit

We had a quick visit today from Grandma and Grandpa Ike and Uncle Tim and Aunt Kay. They are on their way to visit Uncle Dick up in Clarkesville Ga.  It was a short but sweet visit with dinner at Steak and Shake.

Gingerbread Man here we come

Next up in the cookie making, gingerbread men. Look Walker is wearing the same clothes!

Uncle Mitch

Uncle Mitch left on the 2nd of December aboard the Carl Vinson.  We miss him but we are proud of him for continuing to protect our freedom.

Busy last few weeks

Things have been busy around here since Thanksgiving, typical.


We had Walker's softball team over  for dinner on the 8th. That started it all.

On Saturday the kids headed up to the Veterans cemetery in Canton. Jay helped build the cemetery a few years back.  They all participated in wreaths across america where they lay wreaths on the veterans graves.

We also had our traditional Army Navy Party that Saturday. Congratulations to the Midshipmen for another victory.  10 years in a row!

Sunday we got our tree, a real one!  This is the first real tree we have ever had. The kids were so excited.  It is now decorated and ready for Santa!

The kids winter break began today, Monday.  We plan on relaxing and enjoying ourselves, oh and staying in our pj's!

Next round

Sugar cookies in the shape of candy canes.  They don't even need my help!  Walker is in charge of cookie making this year. I suggest what to make and she makes it!

Let the cookie making begin

First batch, no bake peanut butter cookies, Matt's favorite

Notice the one missing...I could not resist.  

Go Navy

The elves are ready for the big game. Go Navy! Beat Army!

How do you take down a basketball goal?

This is how we do it in the South...attach it to your car and hit reverse!  Surprisingly quite easy.  It took almost 2 years for it to happen but its done just in time for basketball season, which both kids are playing.

then and now

Visitors

Luke, Kristi, and Oz stopped by for a quick visit on their way back to DC.

Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving was a day of relaxation, yummy food, and shopping! Mary and I headed to Walmart at 9:45pm on Thursday to do some Black Friday shopping. It was my first time and I got a ton of deals and a lot of Christmas shopping out of the way.

Waiting for the turkey to finish frying.

My little baker finishing the apple pie.

The potato masher

Family

Aunt Sue Ike

While we were in California my Aunt Sue from Minnesota passed away.  She was my Mom's sister.  When the kids and Jay flew home I flew to Minnesota for the funeral.  I was lucky enough to be able to see a lot of family on my Mom's side that I had not seen in a while, especially my Grandparents.  You will be missed Aunt Sue.

Our visit to California

We had a great visit with Mitch, Laine, and Eli.  We went to In-n-Out, The Fresno Zoo, and visited Mitch's squadron.  Walker enjoyed bathing Eli and changing his diaper.We cannot wait to see you again!

Gpa Ike

Modeling the latest fashion in scarves.

A visit to the motherland

On our way to LAX airport we swung by "the motherland" where Walker was born. We drove by Pt.Hueneme, drove down the PCH, and had lunch at Neptune's Net. The best of all was seeing the Hollywood sign from miles away.

A visit with Eli

We had a great time visiting Eli!

Uncle Mitch bought me ice cream

So I had to jump in the pool. Air temp, 55, water temp 50.

VFA-113

We are visiting Uncle Mitch, Aunt Laine, and Eli. We got to go and see Uncle Mitch's jets.

It's a single scoop

Winning run!!

Walker's game winning triple yesterday at the "It's Almost Over" softball tournament.  They played 5 games, starting at 9am and the last game ended at 10:15. The team came in 2nd.  Not bad for only their 3rd tournament!  last weekend they came in 2nd also at the "Miracle in Marietta".  This weekend was by far their best tournament.   It will only get better in the Spring.

Thanks Aunt Suz for the video!

Rest in peace Grandma

Below is my Grandma Koch's obituary.  She passed away on Thursday morning.  

We will miss you Grandma!

Pauline D. Koch  October 28, 1928 - November 3, 2011

Pauline (Smith) Koch, 83, made her transition peacefully at her home on Thursday, November 3. Pauline was born in Akron,Indiana to George L. and Bernice (Creakbaum) Smith. Pauline was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.She is survived by her husband of 62 years, William; her children Dr. George (Terri) Koch of Durham, NC; Mark (Pat) Koch; Julie (Steve) Boese of Indianapolis; and Susan (Uldis) of Bloomington. Her joy and passion were knowing and loving her 14grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Pauline was preceded in death by her daughter Ann Koch Bassitt in 2004, her daughterin-law, Judith (Ike) Koch in 1997, her parents, and her only sibling, George L. Smith II. Pursuant to her wishes, a Celebration of Lifewill be held at a later date. G.H. Herrmann Funeral Home , 5141 Madison Ave, is handling the arrangements and cremation.

Happy Birthday Jay

Hope you had a great 37th birthday!

Trading day

Time to trade the candy to get why you want. Lots of bargaining going on.

Happy Halloween from Windhaven ct

Pumpkin carving

The kids are old enough to do it all on their own!

Our St. John trip

Jay surprised me with a trip to St. John last Wednesday. He had the kids give me my boarding pass when I came home from my meeting on Wednesday. Thank goodness I got to pack for myself.  We left early Thursday morning.  Thanks to Bridget and Mary for taking great care of our kids!  We landed in San Juan to catch a puddle jumper to St. Thomas and then drive over to the barge and then over to St. John.

We had a blast on St. John.  Drinks at the Tap Room, dinner at the Majettes' and boating to the BVI's.  It does not get much better than that!  Thanks to the Majette's and Eric for planning such a wonderful 40th birthday weekend for me!

On our way home is when the trouble started.  Our flight out of San Juan had some mechanical problems.  After boarding the plane they had us deplane to try to fix the problem.  We waited and then tried to get out on a flight to Charlotte with a connection to Atlanta. We were 2 minutes away from getting our seats when they said problem had been fixed and we were good to go.  We got our tickets switched back expecting to leave minutes later.  No such luck. The cancelled the flight due to mechanical issues and it was too late to get on the Charlotte flight.  That meant we got to spend the night in the "airport hotel" also known as the Best Western.  When Jay checked in they told him not to use the toilet because the water was not working!  We had met another couple who were also travelling back to Atlanta so we all headed to Outback Steak house to celebrate my birthday!

We went to bed early in anticipation of our 7am flight to Atlanta.  At 4:30 Jay got a call saying our flight was delayed till noon.  He asked me what I thought we should do and I said "get me off of that plane"  We ended up working with the couple we had met, Trey and Julie, to get out on an American flight to Miami with a connection to Atlanta.  Departure time, 6:15.  It didn't matter, we were up and the hotel was awful!  All of those flights ended up going off without a hitch.  It turns out they ended up cancelling the Delta flight we were supposed to be on, again.  All that travelling Jay does paid off.  He had a direct number to Delta and they were so helpful and accommodating.

It was a great birthday!  

Happy 40th

From the San Juan airport. Our plane was cancelled so we are stuck here untill tomorrow am.

Happy birthday to me

Currently stuck in San Juan

Greetings from paradise

Jay surprised me with a trip to St.John for my birthday. Thanks to Bridget and Mary for watching the kids!

19th company

A fine day for Navy football at the 19th company reunion!!

Hello baby Oz!

We are in DC/Annapolis for the weekend. We are visiting with baby Oz Norris and having a 14 year 19th company reunion. The kids are spending the weekend with Mawmaw and Pawpaw.

Hanging with Uncle Mitch

Mitch came to visit for the weekend and we quickly broke him into the baseball/softball life. Quinn is in a tournament in Austell and Walker has Flames practice back at Murphey Candler. Who has time to move back into our house?!

Preparing for the maiden meal

We still are not finished with the house but parts are usable(not many parts). We are having our first meal at the bar. Jay has spent the past 2 hours putting together the bar stools. We did get to use our new microwave drawer!