Sophie is going to be "Snow White" for Halloween this year- If I have anything to do about it. She looks so ADORABLE in her costume! But Sophie, for some reason, wants to wear her pink Power Ranger costume from LAST YEAR! I told her that it was against the rules to wear last years costume. She is wearing Snow White to school tomorrow for a Costume Parade and Class Party. Chris, Evangeline and I will go watch the costume parade.
     Sophie was in a real grumpy mood this morning and screamed/cried all the way home from the gym. I put her in bed for a nap at 10:30am. At 12:30 she came downstairs, but I could tell that she never slept- she still looked tired and was a bit short-tempered. She did end up finally falling asleep in the Bike cart on the way home from getting Joey from School.
      Evangeline was a big help to Daddy today as he fixed the roof liner in his car, actually I believe Chris called her his "un-helper" as she seemed to be fascinated by his container of nuts and screws. 
       Also I am including a picture taken a couple nights ago of Chris and Joey playing Mario Cart on the game that Aunt Diana gave him. (Thanks Aunt Diana!) Joey actually does so well that he can beat Chris now! At 5 years old! They played intensely for about 2 hours, is this what I have to look forward too? Chris and Joey taking over  my TV  to play video games??   

We had a really great time in Orlando. It was so nice to see all of the family. The kids had such a great time and already miss all their Grandmas and Grandpas, and Aunt Sherry and Uncle Brian too! 
     There is nothing like getting back to your own home after being away for a while, it is so nice! The kids were reunited with all of their toys and their own rooms once again. I slept wonderful in my own super soft bed. We are so lucky to love our house so much!
     Today I got an interesting call from the Attendance woman from Joey's School- I sent a note in to school with him for being absent 4 days while we were in Orlando. However; I put the wrong date on the note and it looked like we were gone for 12 days. Apparently had that been the case we would have been in trouble because you are only allowed 10 unexcused  (not excused by a Dr's note) days away from school. Once we both realised I had written down the wrong days (hey, it was early!) everything was fine. Whew! I'm glad they didn't take Joey away for being THAT kid who misses too much school! No more skipping school, Joey!
    Sophie also missed one day while we were gone and all her friends and her teacher were happy to have her back. Her teacher told me today that she had m,ade good friends with two other gils in her class and has really "come into herslef" at school. That makes me soo happy to know she is having such a good time there.
    Evangeline is talking more and more. She now says all sorts of words and says the craziest sentences. She is definitely our clown and handful!
    We forgot our camera when we went to Orlando so I do not have any new pictures to post today.

Today was Me and Chris's 7 year anniversary!  Its amazing how the time flies. However, we have accomplished SO MUCH in there past 7 years sometimes it feels like we have been married more like 20 years. ( three kids, 5 moves, a major career upgrade, buying and selling a house....) 
      We definitely had a great day. After Church (where I helped out int he nursery) we loaded up our Bikes and all of us biked over a very large Bridge. This bridge is about 5 miles total  over and back with a 6% grade. I didn't think Joey would be able to bike the whole thing, but he did GREAT! The weather was perfect!
    Chris had his graduation ceremony on Friday and is now officially on Leave. It is as if the clouds parted and the sun finally came out, that is how bright everything feels now that Nuclear Power school is behind us.

Chris took his Comprehensive exam and passed! on Tuesday. (We all knew he would.) Tomorrow is his Graduation from Nuclear Power School. Joey and Sophie both have school so I will only have Vangie with me at the graduation. Hopefully she behaves and does not run screaming on stage! ( I wouldn't put it past her!) 
   I will update more on the graduation tomorrow.....

What a Beautiful fall day today here in Goose Creek. The high is 73 and it is overcast and a bit windy with scattered showers. The kind of weather where you want to curl up in your chair by the fireplace with a good book and a warm cup of tea!  Speaking of FIREPLACES.... look at what we just got!!!!!! (picture at left). We have purchased an amazing electric fireplace- looks so real! And has a heat option (so you can either have heat on or off for four-season enjoyment!)  It is a Fireplace/TV mantel so our old humongous 300 pound TV would not fit... Chris was finally able to buy the TV he has been wanting for years. This is our Christmas/Anniversary present to each other and we are very happy with it. The fireplace really brightens up the living room and the Tv is nice too- even I must admit that, and I am really not a TV person.
   In other news..... I went for a 17 mile run today, I am still training for my upcoming Marathon on December 6th. This time around I am doing all of my running on the Treadmill at the gym during the week and on Saturdays when Chris is home I do my long run outside on the pavement to get my legs and joints used to running on such a hard surface because my Marathon will be on the road- quite different than the trail marathons I am used too.
   Joey had Strep and after a week of vomiting nearly every night in the middle of the night we think he is on the road to recovery. I am not joking about the puke.... every night for about 7 days SOMEONE would puke in their bed and on the floor down the hallway to leave a large puddle of vomit on the side of our bed.  Sophie puked on two different nights and Joey puked on 5 nights... most recently last night when he fell asleep on the couch and woke up as he puked on the couch, the floor and all over the back of the toilet!!! (He was trying to puke in the toilet but missed). Chris and I had to laugh as we were cleaning up the massive mess. We have never seen so much puke as this past couple weeks! I am hoping we are done being sick and will now be healthy all winter!

Grandma Perkins and Aunt Krysti along with cousins Jake and Ayden were here visiting last week. We had such a fun time! It was so nice to see them again. The kids played so well togeather- they just picked up right where they left off last time they saw each other.  We got to show the family around Charleston. We joked about how cousin Jake is the "country mouse" and Joey is the "City Mouse". 
    We are very excited that Chris is almost done with Power School! It has been a long 6 months and we will be happy to be moving on! We are so proud that he has done so well in the toughest school in the Navy (and with a non-technical major at that!).