Dear Friends and Family,

  We hope you all had a Great Christmas, we sure did! The kids were happy that Santa stopped by and left some really cool presents.  Vangie's favorite gift was a Bubble Gum Machine! Sophie got some makeup and a dolly that she can do its hair and Makeup and Joey got a DS! They were all happy and very, very excited.
  We also had a visit from Grandma Tuy, Aunt Sherry and Uncle Brian. It was really nice to see them and to get the chance to hang out for a couple days. We got to show them around the base and downtown Charleston. Aunt Sherry and Uncle Brian even went to the Gym with Chris and I to work out on Saturday morning.
  

Today all the kids are home because it's Christmas Vacation! I am hoping they will sleep in for once. And actually Evangeline IS sleeping in- nit is 6:45 am and she is usually up by now, demanding breakfast.

Today I have a Christmas "Craft" for us to do. We will probably also play some video games together. The high is only 45 degrees here today, so it is too cold to play outside!

Yesterday Chris took Stella for a 4 mile jog around the base! She kept up the whole way. She  NEEDS a 4 mile jog everyday- even though she is so tiny and weighs under 10 pounds she is a ball of energy and if she does notget her exercise she runs around the house and drives me crazy.

Also last night the kids and I decorated our Gingerbread Houses! This is a Christmas tradition we have done the last 3 years. This year Joey and Sophie got there own little house, own bag of icing and their own candy to decorate with (and they ate quite a bit of it too!) The did a really GREAT job and I was impressed! Vangie was not allowed her own house and candy because she would only EAT IT ALL! She helped me with mine and still managed to eat 5 suckers and various other candy she managed to steal from me.

Well, I finally got my new camera battery so I have uploaded a bunch of new pictures! Please check the New Pics page as it has been updated!

Last night we took the kids to the Festival of Lights here in Charleston. It was at a county park and was basically thousands and thousands of lights and light displays. I tried to take pictures of some of the displays but unfortunately Christmas lights do not photograph well at all! However, it was beautiful and very Christmasey  and the we all loved it and had a good time. We also took a "train ride" through some of the displays. We also drove through more of the bigger displays. 
 
Sophie had her Christmas Program today, she dressed up and looked very beautiful. Her class sang some songs on stage and they were very cute- with the exception of one of her classmates who screamed, kicked and acted HORRIBLE, making a scene and just taking the attention away from the rest of the good behaving children.  Her mom just sat there at watched. If MY child had acted that way I would have walked up on that stage and walked her out of the building, but this mother seemed to think it was funny and acceptable behavior. I let Sophie know afterwards that is was NOT okay to behave that way- and she said she knew that. 

I am writing this post for all my Northern friends and family. While you are all experiencing the cold and snow- it will be a balmy 77 degrees here today. I guess the kids will not be needing a jacket.

The kids like the warm weather, althrough  they do ask me nopw and then when its going to snow--- and I have to tell them that is does not snow here and then they get a little upset-- until they want to go play outside in the park barefoot and in a T-shirt and then they arenot upset anymore.

An earthquake hit Goose Creek this morning. I personally did not feel it, but I guess we live about 3 miles from the epicenter- The Epicenter was right outside of the base. I saw a news crew there on my way home from running errands and didn't know why they were there- but now I do!  I am attatching a link of information to the RIGHT- click on it!.

Dear Friends and Family,
   I haven't been able to post new pictures lately as we are waiting on a new battery for our camera.  I hope it gets here soon because I would like to post a pic of Sophie at her Christmas Program on Friday.
   Joey had his program last Thursday Night. It was SO CUTE! All the kindergartners got on stage and sung a couple really neat Christmas Songs. Joey did not sing very enthusiastically NOR did he do any hand motions! What?   I asked him why and he said because he "didn't feel like it"!!  He must get that from his father!
    The girls and I went to Wal-mart today to buy a couple "Angel Tree" gifts- basically a some presents for less fortunate kids. I try to explain to Joey and Sophie how there are many, many people out there who do not have as much as they have and how important it is to GIVE. 
     Joey and Sophie have their weekly gymnastics class tonight. I have a chicken in the oven roasting and it smells really good! I hope everyone is in the Christmas Spirit! Happy Holidays!

Sunday was a really fun day. First we went to the early service at Church. It starts at 8:30am so we have to be up and about pretty early but we like it. Then when church was over we told the kids that we had a surprise for them. They tried to guess what it was but were unsuccessful. Is it going to the toy store? Is it going to Orlando? 
  
Then we pulled into Chuck-e-Cheese and they screamed with joy.  Yeah, Chuck-e-Cheeses!!!
It was about 10am right now so Chuck-e-Cheese was totally NOT crowded. We ate a peperoni pizza and played the games. Then after all our tokens ran out we went to the mall to see Santa!

   Vangie was very enthralled with Santa and kept pointing at him. Howver; when it came time for her to sit on his lap she screamed (just like last year!) It was still a good picture.

Hi everyone, Sorry that I have not posted in a while! Things have been really good here. No more sick kids! Yeah! Everyone is healthy and happy and full of Christmas Spirit.
    Evangeline's tests came back all normal, so we still don't know WHY she has been constipated and vomiting, but at least she is not doing it anymore. She is sticking to her diet (no dairy, red meat or high fat foods) And she is taking laxative medication daily. Her Doctor said she is still very bloated and it will probably take about 6 months to get her colon healthy, but we are happy because we are on our way to health!
    Chris has been working long hours but is doing very well. The days go by fast so I don not feel lonely or bored at all. The kids have Gymnastics tonight- they love their gymnastics class and are doing really well at it. Sophie has especially improved both with the physical aspect of it and the social aspect. She has made friends and really enjoys going.
     All our Christmas decorations are up and we are really into the Holiday spirit. Chris and I got all our Christmas Shopping done, all we need to do now is wrap! I plan on making a huge gingerbread house with the kids this coming weekend.