Grandma W and Christine are here!

Grandma Wilmes and Aunt Christine came to visit.


We celebrated both of their birthdays with a cake that the girls made them :)

Julie and the boys come to visit

About a month ago, Julie and the boys came to visit us!


We had a wonderful weekend together...crazy, but awesome! Here are some of the pictures!

All 5 grandkids in the car!

All of us in front of the F16


Bedtime stories courtesy of Uncle Ryan :)

I'm sorry...

I apologize to my husband. He is the manliest man I have ever met. He is not and never should have been a male cheerleader. He grunts and grows chest hair with the best of them.


(Is this better Ryan?)

My husband should have been a cheerleader.

For years in high school, I desperately tried to get Ryan to become a male cheerleader...he refused, over and over and over again. But tonight as I watched him toss our children into the air, I couldn't help but think of how great he would have been :)


Camryn's turn!
And now for Morgan!

Girlies

Just a quick update on the girlies:




Morgan is absolutely loving school. She loves all of her new friends and she comes home with lots of stories and information that she overloads us with :) Just ask Aunt Jenny~ Jenny and her friends learned all about Noah!

Morgan has also figured out how to dive!


Camryn is enjoying having some quality alone time with me and RJ while Morgan is at school. She talks a whole lot more when big sis isn't around...and she is able to love on little brother all by herself! She is definitely loving being a big sister.

Junior

It's official...my little baby boy is on the move! He has been trying to scoot for the last couple of weeks. 4 days ago he figured out how to scoot backwards ~ which got him into all sorts of trouble. He got stuck underneath the coffee table and the dining room chairs.


Last night he gave one good push and that was it...he was army crawling across the floor! I grabbed Ryan's phone and took a quick video. Enjoy!

Just in case you didn't see it...

I asked the girls to entertain RJ while I finished dinner...

Descriptions

As the kids get older, their personalities really start to shine through. I think they're giving us a taste of what life will be like in the future...


"the performer"

Morgan is constantly singing and/or dancing around the house. She just might be our next American Idol.

"the rebel"


Camryn is always getting into something. It is never anything dangerous; it is just something she knows she shouldn't be doing or playing with. I believe she is really going to give us a run for our money as she gets older.

"the flirt/ladies man"


RJ is probably the happiest baby I have ever met. He is usually all smiles...especially when a pretty girl comes his way.

Morgan's 1st Day

Our Morgan started preschool last week! In preparation for the big day I took the girls shopping to pick out a new outfit...Morgan of course picked a pink dress and a new pair of shoes (just like her mama) Camryn picked a purple dress and a new shoes (yes!) My poor little man was along for the ride...


She was so excited and so ready for the big day.





RJ, Camryn, and I picked her up after a long 3 hours without her. I asked how her day was and she replied "I want to go to school everyday. I love it. I really, really wish I could go all the time." I replied, "but we will miss you if you are gone everyday...Camryn and RJ were looking for you all day." Morgan calmly said, "but mommy, it'll be fine...I will only be gone for a little bit."

My husband, the F16 pilot

I know that it's been a really long time since we've last updated the blog...I have lots of news to share, just not enough time to share it all. Over the next few days I'll try and get all of the new info to you.


Ryan had his first solo flight in the F16 this morning. I was able to take the kids down to the flight line and get tons of pictures. We are so proud of him!!








Here is a link to the album...there are tons of pictures!

http://picasaweb.google.com/lisawilmes/MyHusbandTheF16Pilot?authkey=Gv1sRgCOTQycOi6cSuNQ&feat=directlink

mmmm...7-Up Cake

The girls and I made a delicious cake last weekend...a 7-UP Cake!



Cake:
3/4 lb butter, softened

3 cups sugar
5 eggs
3 cups flour
2 tablespoons lemon extract
3/4 cup 7-Up soda

Lemon glaze:
2/3 cup powdered sugar
1 tablespoon lemon juice

1. Cream butter and sugar
2. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating after each addition.
3. Add flour and lemon extract.
4. Fold in 7-Up.
5. Pour into well-greased 12-cup Bundt pan or tube pan.
6. Bake at 325 degrees for 1 to 1 1/4 hours.
7. Make Lemon Glaze - mix powdered sugar and lemon juice together
8. When cake is cooled, dribble with Lemon Glaze.

***I doubled the lemon glaze...extra delicious! The cake was super moist and extremely addicting!***

Slacker

These last few weeks have been extremely busy and I haven't been able to keep up with the blog...I apologize :) In the last 3 weeks we have thrown a Princess Birthday Party, packed up the Enid house, and moved to Arizona! It has been crazy. Trying to unpack a house with 3 little ones running around is completely nuts...I don't know what we were thinking. I have a thousand things to tell everyone and a million pictures to share...so please be patient with me and I will catch you all up :)

We threw Morgan and Princess and Knight theme birthday party 1 week before we left Enid. She invited a bunch of friends from school, the squadron, and the neighborhood. We had quite a turnout...15 kids! She really wanted a Sleeping Beauty cake, so that is exactly what I gave her :)




Grandma and Grandpa Wilmes were there to help us celebrate...and help with the kids! It ended up being a great time and I know that it'll be a day Morgan will always remember.



Tomorrow is Morgan's actual birthday. I can't believe she is going to be 4! We are taking her to the World Wildlife Zoo and Aquarium here in Surprise (pictures and stories to follow later in the week)

Well I really do have lots of stories to share, and I hope one day to have them all recorded...but now I am tired and I have a little one who will be up in about 1 1/2 hours to eat again...so I am off to bed :)

really?!?!

So on Sunday I took Camryn and RJ to the market with me. We decided to try a new store here in Surprise, Sprouts! I love, love, love this store! It is alot like Trader Joes. Anyway, half way through the produce department Camryn looks up at me and tells me she has to pee~we are trying to potty train her without much success~ I was so excited. So picture this...I am pushing RJ in the cart, pulling Camryn along behind me as quickly as possible and trying not to run into any of the "old people" and Camryn just stops. She drops my hand and pulls off her diaper (she was wearing a dress) and says "all done momma". Ugh! I was mortified, did that really just happen?...she just took off her diaper in the middle of the store. I didn't know what to do...Morgan never did things like that when she was potty training! My only hope is that none of the "old people" saw...



Camryn and Morgan's baby Sarah...when life was a little easier :)

The BIG day!

March 20, 2009~

Today is the day...
Ryan and I woke up a little after 6 am this morning. We needed to be at the hospital by 7 to be admitted and briefed on the c-section. The nurses were great and so helpful, but man, I was nervous. Luckily everything went really well...

Ryan Edward Wilmes, Jr was born at 9:15 am and weighed 8lbs, 4.4oz. The nurse measured him at 19 1/4 inches, but Ryan being Ryan didn't believe it so he remeasured RJ himself. Ryan Sr (ha, that's weird) measured RJ at just over 20 inches...anyway, Rj made his big debut screaming and peeing :)



I finally got back to my room around 11 am...just in time for my mom to bring the girls up for a visit. They instantly fell in love with him...

March 19, 2009

March 19, 2009~

My mom flew to help with the girls while Ryan and I are are the hospital...she convinced me to let her take my picture before the little guy's arrival.


So there I am at 38 1/2 weeks pregnant...less than 24 hours before RJ's birth! And as usual, the girls wanted to be in on the all of the fun :)

Mustache March...ugh!

I dread the month of March...every year. For some reason, the boys of the Air Force find it amusing to grow (or attempt to grow) a mustache for the entire month. Apparently this is Ryan's year. Every other year he has had a difficult time, but of course, this year it's coming in nice and strong! So in celebration of Mustache March the girls and I made cupcakes today. That is a lie...I'm just using that as an excuse to eat a bunch of cupcakes before RJ gets here :)

Here are a few pictures of the Wilmes household tonight...




***yes, I drew a mustache on Ryan's cupake :) Oh, and if he decides not to shave it off before RJ gets here I have decided to bring a waxing strip to the hospital and remove it myself...or participate in Armpit April (we'll see how much he enjoys looking at hairy armpits in the hot, Arizona weather...)

On a happier note, the girls are really enjoying spending time together. When they misbehave at nap time or bedtime we threaten them with separating them and making them sleep in different rooms. Apparently they do not want that to happen...

Making Memories

Making Memories From Chicken Soup for the Soul: Moms Know Best

http://www.beliefnet.com/Inspiration/Chicken-Soup-For-The-Soul/2009/02/Making-Memories.aspx

After eating breakfast, my little girl says, “Mommy, will you watch this show with me?” I look at the breakfast dishes in the sink and then at her big brown eyes.

“Okay,” I say, and we snuggle together on the couch and watch her favorite show.


After the show, we put together a puzzle and I head for the kitchen to wash those dirty dishes when the phone rings. “Hi,” my friend says, “What have you been doing?”

“Well,” I say, “watching my little one’s favorite show with her and putting together a puzzle.”

“Oh,” she says, “so you’re not busy today.”

No, I think to myself, just busy making memories.

After lunch, Erica says, “Mommy, please play a game with me.” Now I am looking at not only the breakfast dishes but also the lunch dishes piled in the sink. But again, I look at those big brown eyes and I remember how special it felt when my mom played games with me when I was a little girl.

“Sounds like fun,” I answer, “but just one game.” We play her favorite game, and I can tell she is delighting in every moment.

When the game ends, she says, “Please read me a story.”

“Okay,” I say, “but just one.”

After reading her favorite story, I head for the kitchen to tackle those dishes. With the dishes now done, I start to fix supper. My willing little helper comes eagerly to the kitchen to help me with my task. I’m running behind and thinking about how much faster I could do this if my sweet little one would just go play or watch a video, but her willingness to help and her eagerness to learn how to do what her mommy is doing melts my heart, and I say, “Okay, you can help,” knowing it will probably take twice as long.

As supper is about ready, my husband comes home from work and asks, “What did you do today?”

I answer, “Let’s see, we watched her favorite show and we played a game and read a book. I did the dishes and vacuumed; then with my little helper, I fixed supper.”

“Great,” he says, “I’m glad you didn’t have a busy day today.”

But I was busy, I think to myself, busy making memories.

After supper, Erica says, “Let’s bake cookies.”

“Okay,” I say, “let’s bake cookies.”

After baking cookies, once again I am staring at a mountain of dishes from supper and cookie baking, but with the smell of warm cookies consuming the house, I pour us a glass of cold milk and fill a plate with warm cookies and take them to the table. We gather around the table eating cookies, drinking milk, talking and making memories.

No sooner have I tackled those dishes than my little sweetie comes tugging at my shirt, saying, “Could we take a walk?”

“Okay,” I say, “let’s take a walk.” The second time around the block I’m thinking about the mountain of laundry that I need to get started on and the dust encompassing our home; but I feel the warmth of her hand in mine and the sweetness of our conversation as she enjoys my undivided attention, and I decide at least once more around the block sounds like a good idea.

When we get home, my husband asks, “Where have you been?”

“We’ve been making memories,” I say.

A load in the wash and, my little girl all bathed and in her gown, the tiredness begins to creep in as she says, “Let’s fix each other’s hair.”

I’m so tired! my mind is saying, but I hear my mouth saying, “Okay, let’s brush each other’s hair.” With that task complete, she jumps up excitedly, “Let’s paint each other’s nails! Please!” So she paints my toenails, and I paint her fingernails, and we read a book while waiting for our nails to dry. I have to turn the pages, of course, because her fingernails are still drying.

We put away the book and say our prayers. My husband peeks his head in the door, “What are my girls doing?” he asks.

“Making memories,” I answer.

“Mommy,” she says, “will you lay with me until I fall asleep?”

“Yes,” I say, but inside I’m thinking, I hope she falls asleep quickly so I can get up; I have so much to do.

About that time, two precious little arms encircle my neck as she whispers, “Mommy, nobody but God loves you as much as I do.” I feel the tears roll down my cheeks as I thank God for the day we spent making memories.