Update Complete

OK, again I need to apologize for the delay in posting. It has been quite busy here since Spring Break. I will say that I won't promise to be better anymore, because that seems to jinx me and then I'm way late updating again! Ugh!!

Latest news here (not shown by the pictures in the update) -

Richard had his first set of training dates and leaves in about a week... yup that's right the US AF has given him so much notice that he leaves in less than 2 weeks to train for a month. We're hoping that he then gets his second round of training right after that so that it can be done. It would also be nice to get the majority of it knocked out while I'm off so that we don't have to stress about taking care of the kiddos and such too, though we will miss him even more knowing that we are off and he's not here.

Jansen picked up some kind of tummy bug in our travels and is now recovering. He is as busy as ever and is now stringing words together to make phrases. "Mamma Move!" is one of his favorites because he likes to help me cook or do dishes and feels he must do so at the EXACT location I am working. He has "Thank you" down pat, and please most of the time. We are working on getting those manners better so we are emphasizing "pleases" and have started on "excuse me's." He has also developed a fondness for throwing things, hitting when he's mad, and biting when he's frustrated. We are really working on those Quickly and Firmly. Day care is very good for him MOST of the time. These behaviors though we could have done without picking up.

Jonathan has taken the rest of his standardized tests for this school year and now we are on the wait for the results. Our district doesn't anticipate the results until the second to last day of school so I'm guessing his doesn't either. Sheesh! Nothing like making the kids wait when they have so much riding on these darn things. He is looking forward to the ending of his 4th grade year though!

I am so ready to get this school year done. I don't know why but this spring semester has seemed even busier that the previous years and I'm tired of running around frantic for weeks at a time. I'm thinking that we'll head to Wisconsin to see Auntie Baby & the kids and Oscar & G-Pop for while Richard is gone. I'm ready for an un-rushed visit with my family and look forward to having some relaxed fun this summer with everyone! Since I'm on entertainment duty for the boys for the summer if Richard is going to be gone for much of it, then I need to start getting some activities together!

We had a splendid time in Chicago and it was so wonderful to see everyone and get to know new family and friends. As is often the case, the visit was much too short but delightful. Richard and I now need to get going on our planning so that we can all get together again soon!! Just give me a couple of weeks to get the info together and sorted and we will have some details soon for you all! Much love until next time!

De Plane, De Plane

On the plane ride home the boys enjoyed looking out the window together. Actually I think Jansen just wanted to be right up on his brother doing whatever he was doing, but it's pretty sweet no less!

Jansen was all wrapped up on Jonathan's head!

From my seat behind them I got a nice view of them heads together peering out! I love these moments!!

Mother's Day Brunch

On Mother's Day we went to a brunch before everyone had to get on with their travel plans.

Here we are waiting for the shuttle bus to take us from the hotel to the restaurant.

Jansen was about done in with all the activity by Sunday brunch and was.... well... a bit of a monster. He dumped his juice on my lap (aka new dress), pulled my hair with syrup on his hands, threw food, and so on. Needless to say my Mother's Day was more about harnessing a brat than enjoying a leisurely meal in a great restaurant. I ended up just having to take him into the atrium and waiting for everyone to finish.

Kisha at brunch. She and Stephan had to spend her Mother's Day away from Kye, but we know that he was thinking of her!!

They did get to hang out with us though for brunch! Jonathan and Stephan are chilling out waiting for brunch to start.

Sadly here is the only picture of me on my second Mother's Day. I wish I could say that I was blissfully resting, but I'm more than certain I was taking a mental sigh before having to wrangle my toddler yet again that day.

Rhet and Valarie at brunch

Reception

The reception was wonderful. Dinner was a Trini buffet and then dancing was a mixture of American and Trini Fun!!

Jansen started out crashed.

Richard and his friends got to reconnect while we were all in Chicago.

Richard, Kevin, Miguel, and Stephan

Rhet and Burnie making the rounds during the reception.

So Happy!!

Rhet and Burnie with the guys!

Jansen woke up and Stephan was getting him to high five and bump fists!

Jonathan hung out with Jamal all evening. He even sat at Jamals's table instead of being right with us! I kept checking on him but he didn't need us at all!!! Big steps for our shy boy. More evidence that he's growing up so much.

The boys with Grandma Valarie

John with Jamal and Jonathan

Carla, Miguel and Kevin just having fun

Miguel and Kevin posing

Sebastian and Ruan dancing the night away

Grandma Valarie dancing

Auntie Eon (in purple) dancing

More dancing!!!!!!!!!!!

This was a dancing bunch! John even got Jonathan to go out on the dance floor... well, he went out on the dance floor anyway!

After the Wedding

After the wedding we got to sneak in a picture of Grandma and Grandpa with all the Grandkids before they and Jade were needed for more official photos with Rhet and Burnie!

Jade, Sebastian, Grandpa Victor, Jonathan, Grandma Valarie, Jansen

Then we moved on to trying to get a couple shots of the kids. We really wanted a good one of Jansen and Sebby together, but as you can see Jansen was something of a pill...

He threw himself down in a fit on the aisle runner when I tried to set him down for a picture.

Sebby can not figure out what this boy's problem is. I mean... really!

Sebby: "OK, Cousin.... just humor them and it will be over soon."

Probably the best one I could get of the two of them together. They are sooo adorable (well, Jansen CAN be and Sebby just IS).

I thought maybe if we blew on the petals like we do bubbles in the tub maybe Jansen would be distracted and calm down. He wasn't trusting this tactic at first...

Then he got into it with me...

Sebs came to join us...

Jansen wasn't sure if he was OK with Sebby on my lap or not.

Sebby trying to sit on my lap with my slippery dress!

Jansen still undecided, but Sebs is happy!

We went back up to our room to get Jonathan some motrin now that I finally got out of him what was wrong with him during the ceremony and the boys needed a little breather before heading back down for dinner.

Our handsome boys!

Wedding Ceremony

The wedding ceremony was very beautiful. Sadly we have a camera that will not even come close to doing justice to it, but we'll try!

Uncle Rhet seating Grandma Valarie.

Grandma and Grandpa seated and all the brothers standing up for Uncle Rhet.

All the greeomsmen.

All the bridesmaids.

Uncle Rhet waiting patiently now sees Auntie Burnie coming in!!!

Auntie Burnie enters!

Man and Wife!!!

Grandma Valarie and Grandpa Victor leaving.

Daddy leaving.

So beautiful and we were so blessed to be able to share in their special day! We love you Auntie Burnie and Uncle Rhet!!!!!

Wedding Guests

For the ceremony we got to sit by Cousin Kyle, Auntie Ruan and Cousin Sebastian, and Cousin Tennille!

We got to see John and Jamal again too!!

We sat up near the front, so we got a good view of all the people attending. This is the groom's side. Full House!!

Our boys during the Wedding Ceremony

The boys looked sensational, BUT Jonathan was acting REALLY crabby and didn't tell me until AFTER that he had a massive headache. I just thought he was being a toot because his dad was in the wedding party and not sitting with us.

Jonathan definitely didn't want much to do with his little brother during the ceremony, so this is the best I could get of them waiting for it to start. And the ONLY one Jonathan would let me take of him at that time.

Jansen on the other hand decided he was going to be very busy during the ceremony. He of course chose then since I had the camera, a crabby big brother who didn't want to deal with him, and a Daddy up in front. He wasn't BAD, but very busy.

Had enough of the flower on his lapel.

He had to be fenced (with my leg since I was trying to get pics too) so that he didn't pull on the ribbon along the aisle and take out the rows of chairs!

I took a picture, then looked down to check on my delightful tot to see him reaching his tiny little foot under my leg toward the water vase with the floating candle next to me in the aisle. He just had it tipping when I caught it so it didn't fall and soak the aisle runner and the next few rows behind us. In the process a little splash snuffed the candle. GGGrrrrrr!! Sorry Uncle Rhet and Auntie Burnie... your nephew did it!

Jansen wasn't the only tot there. Cousin Sebastian had been giving his mommy a hard time so he got to hold on to a lime, but it got away and rolled into the aisle. Jansen was tattling and wanted to go pick it up soooooo bad!