FYI

So I keep trying to post some new pics but every time I try to (and when I have a free second) I have my laptop and camera in separate and inaccessible areas!! Ug!! Anyway, so as I have not really had an interesting post in a while, this pictureless post will just have to appease ya'll! So We are having Roarkes' big 1 year old bash this coming Saturday ; we think Ada might have her 1st UTI; Perry, Ciera and Bobby are showing up here in the next few days; Britt is coming into the States (followed soon by Alicia and the kids- hopefully next week!!); and we still have no new news about the whole this-situation-is-starting-to-really-get-to-me navy thing!! People keep telling me to just stop whining and get used to it 'cause it's the military, but I just wish that the recruiter would give us some updates. We called him today and since he has no news and he's on vacation he told US to call HIM on Monday (sorry, perhaps I am a little astounded but I thought that professionalism was something parents-and the military- tried to teach people! But apparently...I am mistaken). But I know this has to be completed one day...just wish it were say...a month ago? Anyway, any extra prayers would be gladly appreciated!

So...thanks for reading my litany and my blogranting...so to help stem your grief for no pics if you go to YouTube under greenfighter3 you'll see some great videos of Ada singing!

Green Smoothies

Hello All!

Still no big news yet but we do have some small stuff: green smoothies! Just tried them today and they are great and the kids loved it! Here's the recipe I got from a friend.

2-3 cups spinach (I used fresh but I am sure you could use frozen too)

1/2 to 1 cup apple juice

1-2 bananas

1 cup fresh or frozen berries (if you use fresh you will need to add ice)

Add the spinach and apple juice to the blender and blend until...well, well blended! Then add the rest and puree until you get the desired consistency. I plan on playing around a little with the ingredients, like maybe adding yogurt but try it and see how you (and your kids if you have them) like it!!

Enjoy!!

Birthdays, celebrfations and new pics

So Blogger and I have been having some minor altercations and as such, I am sorry for not posting for a bit! My birthday has passed, Adas' has as well and her party, Fourth of July and new family/kids pictures...so where to begin! I suppose I should start chronologically rather than alphabetically (sorry cue Sherlock Holmes quoting here...)

Adas' party was a hit! We loved having family and friends there and I think I planned some pretty good activities for the kids taking into account their collective ages and attention spans. As promised, it was horrifically Princess and the Frog themed and Ada loved her gifts!! I am just glad Ada didn't have any boys show up, that would have been interesting with the tiara crafting...

My birthday was great! I got lots of great stuff, including the run tone ( and easy tone) shoes I have been ogling for forever! Thanks to my great hubby and Dad! Books, jewelery, flowers, all stuff I love! Josh and I went on Monday, my birthday, in the morning to Mondauk park near our ward where we used to run pre-kids so we thought it would be great to do again and follow it up with Panera breakfast just like old times. It went great but it was a bit too hot for the kids...even in the morning! Tuesday Josh had off from work and we went that night out to our new favorite restaurant The Melting Pot! We loved it and I don't know how but we got a really cool out of the way (they called it Lovers Lane) table where we could be by ourselves. Don't know if it was luck or not so I am giving the hubby the credit! Wednesday night Eclipse came out so we went to see it and luckily it wasn't as bad (in terms of no throngs of teenagers screaming for whoever they thought was hot) as we thought it would be on opening night and so it was a great movie and no lines, so Josh was happy too!

4th of July- went on a picnic where I used to run all our home meets for HS xc. It was very nostalgic and nice to have Josh see it! The womens' Cheltenham XC team is holding their 1st alumni race in Aug so I need to really start ramping up my running workouts or I will not be pleased with myself!!

Family pics- just got new ones taken so enjoy! Ada was giving us the Josh look the whole time, like "this is so not worth my time" and Roarke loves making people laugh and having fun so he was much better.

Even though my eyes are closed, Adas pose it awesome!!

All she kept doing was playing with this chair and then she didn't really want to stay in it! She would if we asked her, but only for a short time...

Just posted this pic in the gerber photo contest so vote if you want to, I have been told by so many people to enter him so I thought why not...

Some more 'tude

One of the few pics where she wasn't choking him...accidentally

Awww, even some cute pics of us!

This was the only pics Josh would let me post. He was doing a super manly Mr. Universe pose, but he would only let me take it if I promised to not subject our bloggers to him being a goof...good thing I love him so much!!

Roarke enjoying the grass

Ada and Suzie: they've become really good friends!

Proof that Roarke needs a brother...or even that Ada needs a sister...either way...

Trying to stay cool on the 4th and chase butterflies with a badminton racket

Happy Fathers' Day Everyone!!

This post is entirely devoted to Fathers on this great day. I love my husband more than words can express but I will spend eternity trying! I love all of the fathers and fathers in law in my life and I am forever thankful for all they have done to either raise me or my husband. Please enjoy the pics!

Wow Skye, such a great sister pic

Freddy Kruger

Pops' "I am so happy" smile

Mee-wow

priceless

Roarke LOVES playing with balloons!

Me in my luau get up

I really like this picture

And he loves the Lei

Ada has a serious shoe fetish and I know she didn't get it from me!!

Blueberry pie. We also had a homemade key lime pie which we didn't get a picture of as it was eaten way too fast! Any of you who know my mom know she is a master key lime pie maker so it was fantastic!!

We had steak AND lobster! What a meal!

These are the lobsters. I was so surprised that Ada actually ate them this time!! She also ate some edamame (soybeans) and corn as long as we let her dip them in BBQ sauce so...we let her of course! I also gave in and let her have a bite of pie, but after that she closed her mouth and turned her head and resolutely asked for her berries! I love that she eats good things!!

Awww, the one time where they aren't fighting!

The pie being made

Yeah ain't we cute...?

The decorations

Ada will actually let me put hair clips in her hair for a few hours which makes me so happy!

P.S.- we have a video of surprising Pop with his Fathers' Day extravaganza if you want to check it out!

Walking

Roarke is walking now (well he's been stumbling along for quite some time now but he's now at the stage where he's really doing it alone and without falling; he actually will choose to walk much more often!!). Ada loves playing in the sand and someone at church recently gave us a free turtle sandbox so we just had to go out and buy more sand! Ada loves it and now so does Roarke! This is Ada playing at the park near us before we had our own sandbox.

Playing with the sand
Posing for the camera

Roarke loves to chase Ada around; she doesn't like it when he catches her and tackles her to the ground though...

When Meemaw comes home and takes her shoes off, Ada will go find them and try them on!

She loves having her picture taken!

Roarke will stick anything in his mouth! We actually had to leave church early today (right after sacrament) as he was screaming bloody murder even though he had his taggie blanket!! When we got home I gave him some childrens' motrin and about 10 seconds later he was out cold! Poor little guy, he had a tough hour and a half of screaming so I'd be exhausted too!

Also, we have a new video up of Roarke walking around the kitchen so that's been uploaded to You tube! I know I used to have them all easily on the blog, but that gadget no longer works so if you want to watch our videos, click on the you tube link on the side of the page or go to You Tube and look up greenfighter3 and it'll bring up all of the videos.

Another note: Ada is having a party on June 26th at 10 am so if you want to come just let me know! We let her pick the decorations so she chose her favorite movie: Disneys' Princess and the Frog!!

Mothers' Day and other assorted happenings

Hello Family and Friends!!

Well it's been a long time since you've had an update, so here I am obliging you all!!

The Beard Familys' new dog Snickers!! She's a King Charles Cavalier spaniel and about 13 weeks old. Yes, she was the runt of the litter as she is sooo tiny!
Before Ada new she shouldn't be in the crate, as it is supposed to be the dogs' alone place!!

Awww, holding her. Had to teach Ada not to lift her up by her hind legs or her neck...

Can't believe I never posted these!! This was the spread created for my mom and I on Mothers' Day. The boys and Skye did EVERYTHING! Not helping with the kids and dinner was tough (not that they didn't do a wonderful job) but it was hard not to help when they didn't know where something was or the like...just means my mom and I will have to pull out all the stops for Fathers' Day!

Skye put all of our names at our places!

My mom is lactose intolerant and fat intolerant (as she is always trying to be super healthy) so Skye made angels food cake!

We have a birthday bag, and this is it's cousin the mothers' day bag!

What we walked into

randomly cute pictures of Ada; it is easier to get pictures of her as she stands still!

My little bookworms! We also take the kids on Tuesday mornings to the library where they have reading time and crafts for kids 1-2, so Roarke tags along! Adas' favorite part is the computer time though...guess we'll have to eventually spring for KidSpiration or something!! Guess she inherited her mothers' love for computers!

Here Daddy! Read to me!

Roarke doesn't quite get the idea yet, that's why all of his books are board books and we don't let him check out library books yet...

Check out our new videos on YouTube too!