Walking on Sunshine

Waverley bouncing

Happy Father's Day

Our kids have the best dad. He knows how to have fun, he doesn't forget stuff when we go out (like Mama does,) and his father's love shines as he cares for them. After being apart from his family so often while in the Army, he revels in his fatherly duties and he's so stinkin' good at them!

Brian, I am so proud of you and the father you've become. Happy Father's Day, Darling. We LOVE having you home.

Red, White & Blue

I promise, it was an accident. I dressed the kids this morning and magically they ended up in red, white and blue. Of COURSE I had to take advantage of the opportunity and snap some photos to share. Naturally I did my best to get a group sibling shot, but Wilder wasn't having it. Not one bit. I got him to do a drive-by, though, so you're able to see that -yes- they do indeed match side by side. He discovered how much fun the vacuum extensions are and is obsessed with finding new uses for them -a magic wand, a spyglass, a sword -TWO swords. Oh boy, who knew cleaning was so much fun!

Here are the kids!

Feels Like Home

I took a few shots while we were getting set up last week in our RV, but didn't take anymore because I was having TOO much fun (and I was working all day) to stop and document it.

Check out the Man of Order. How can such a wild and crazy guy be so precise?
Wilder loved bouncing from the kitchen table area to the couch. Over and over and over. Brian liked that there was really only one place for Wilder and Waverley to be, making managing the kiddos a piece of cake.
Bubbots, as Wilder calls them. Uncle Bear, these are winners! Great gifting.
I like the snack on wheels. Clever.
Brian hard at work, leveling the RV and getting her settled.
Tada!
Wilder's bunk. I still can't believe he did such an awesome job going to bed without being in his crib and being in such a new place.
Waverley konked out while I settle in.
Me in the bathroom. For being a long, hot shower addict, I not only didn't mind taking efficient showers -I had fun!

Everything was fun. Yeah, I know, it was a new experience and even camping is fun for a few days, but we've been back at our house for 5 days or so and as each one passes we keep longing to be back in our little piece of heaven (on wheels.)

It suits us, and we're so stinkin' happy.

Trial by Lightning

Tuesday evening we took our RV for its virgin run. Storm clouds filled the sky, forecasts bode news of ill weather, but we were determined to test our new trailer out. I had three days booked with a corporate job, but what the hay, we decided to simulate life as planned, work and all.

We arrived at Berry Springs RV Park just before check-in time ended. Brian unhitched, leveled the trailer and set the hook-ups while I bounced around the RV with the kids (like a kid) exploring our new abode. After getting settled and somewhat unpacked, we loaded back up in the truck and headed to WalMart for a grocery run while the fridge and freezer started powering up. We leisurely rambled through the store looking for our necessary food and equipment, arriving home well past Wilder's bedtime and right before the storm clouds ripped open, pounding the earth (and our RV) with thunder and rain.

Finally getting the kiddlets off to bed at 10:30pm. we settled into our stubby queen sized bed -note: RV queen sized beds are distinctly shorter. Also, we had been sleeping on a full sized bed for quite awhile back at the house and the extra width was LUXURIOUS! (end of note.)

Around 3am I awoke to ridiculously loud thunder and bright lightning flashing all around, sure we were going to be hit at any second. I listened for Wilder. Nothing.

I lay awake for awhile, trying my best to get back to sleep, when my maternal instincts (or perpetual worry) kicked in and I decided to check on our little crazy man. Another note: Wilder has never slept outside of an enclosed area -aka crib or port-a-crib. This time he was sleeping 2 feet off the ground in a totally new environment. I was certain I would here a loud "THUNK!" and then a wail. Still, amongst a massive storm in an RV (read cardboard box) I heard not a peep.

Around 3:30am I slid open our door and peeked into the main living area. The baby lay peacefully sleeping in her port-a-crib, and Wilder? Well, he sat alertly on the couch, Ba and Blanket clutched in his arms while his head jolted from side-to-side, witnessing the lighting and thunder from behind the draped windows.

"Pooooooor Baaaaaaaby!"

I swooped him up and walked to his room. He managed to pull open his sliding door during the night. There was a VERY warm spot on the floor next to his door where he was obviously bundled up during the storm. We never heard a peep. How IS THAT?! I felt terrible -his first night out of a crib-like setting and he's huddled in a strange place during a massive thunderstorm. Cuddled in my arms, he seemed more fascinated than terrified. I brought him to our bed and spooned him until he decided his favorite spot was the foot of our bed, where he slept for several hours until it was time for me to get up and prepare for work. He napped hard that day, as Brian will attest to, and since then (as tonight will be our 3rd night) he has loved the RV. He slept like a rock last night and woke at his usual time, not once falling off the bed.

Amazing.

This week has simulated life as (sort of) usual. I've been working and Brian's been taking care of the family. So how's living in the RV while being "normal"? AWESOME! We LOVE IT! We got up this morning and explored a fabulous park we're next to with tons of trail systems, wild flowers and pecan groves. It was heaven hearing the birds and the crickets, seeing the sun rise, walking out in the fresh air and all of it being right outside our doorstep. I've been working a corporate gig the past two days from AM to PM, but coming "home" and being with the kiddos -sigh- it's amazing. Brian finds it's much easier to manage both the kids in a smaller environment and Wilder loves RV life.

So the trial run has been a great success. I've got to tell ya, I was pretty nervous about it. We've been talking up the RV life and were so excited about living it, but testing it out would let us know if we were made for it or not. I know, it's only been three nights, but living in a work-sort of way (me being gone all day while Brian has the kids) was a trail by fire approach. We've come out the otherside with great enthusiasm and -don't know how this happened- with the feeling of more space than we began with. It's like living in a cabin and when we're together in the RV, all we want to do is have family time. It's GREAT!

I'm up again for a work day tomorrow, so I better sign off, but I wanted to share what we've learned so far. We're happy here. Wilder's happy here. Waverley's happy anywhere, and we can't wait until we get to do this again.

*sigh!* I love "Us."

New Lens

I just got a new lens...and I tricked Brian into being my test subject. Yippee, I've got awesome pictures of my hubby now! Happy unbirthday to me!

Turning Red

Taking a few shots to update the photography website and a few of the social networking profiles I've got -turning red has been pretty fun! Here's a couple clicks of the new look.

Hiding in the Closet

I get an email. A voice over audition is needed ASAP. I have to record it from home. On my rinky-dink laptop with my 1995 headset with mic -'cause I'm that old school.

I print off the script (since my laptop can never get our own wireless connection,) grab the laptop and headset/mic and go hide in our master closet upstairs. Once I tried recording an audition in Brian's office, but Mary Poppins was a bit too strong in the background and sounded awfully funny when I did a playback. Now I hide in the closet. But I am not immune to the Wild One who often suspects where I'm holed up and bangs relentlessly on the various doors I have closed. A gauntlet of doors, yet no match for Wilder.

Today's audition had me running around the house trying to elude him. In one hilarious take I actually had him yelling at/for me and without missing a beat interjected at the end that the small child was not part of the audition, with my matter-of-fact apologies. What's a mom to do, huh?

We'll see if this latest acting effort pans out. Last week I was on hold as voice over talent for a commercial. Maybe this is the magic one. We'll see... And if you want to find me and I'm not in my regular places, check the closet.

Shake It!

What's Going ON?!

Is this blog layout driving you nuts? Maybe it's just me... But if you're bothered by it, speak up -I want to know! Currently I am blessed to have a 21" monitor, but my blog doesn't realize it's that honkin' big and -kinda cool- the page stretches to fill up my browser window (or whatever it's called.) Those of you with large screens, if you shrink your browser window the page will magically adjust to your viewable space. Tada! That means you have the power ("Ah-HA!," you cry victoriously) to see this crazy blog however you want -stretched out, super thing, smooshed, whatever. The choice is yours. Use your power wisely.