Christmas Eve

We woke the kids this morning for our family devotional and we have been singing Christmas hymns this whole month. Well, we try to get matt to sing but he just sits there sucking his thumb, (yes he is still doing that) and I asked him to day why he won't sing with us. His response..."it hurts to sing mom! I don't sing good and so it makes my throat hurt!" Joe of course being loving and kind said, "If you sing more, it won't hurt." Then we proceeded to read from Alma chapter 60. Landon read vs. 1-3 and Matthew read vs 4, then Mommy read the next three verses and then Daddy read the next three verses. We don't read a whole lot because of attention spans, but everyday we go through the same hassle. Matthew won't read unless it's the shortest verse and Landon gets mad if he doesn't get to read the longest verses. Trying to figure out who should read and when is a tricky business. Today it all worked out though. After scriptures we ask them what happened and before we get the question out Landon is answering it. (Matt is sitting there trying to sleep and sucking his thumb) then we kneel down and say our family prayer in which Matthew wakes up (miraculously) and demands to say the prayer. Landon willingly enough consents and we get a short but sincere and sweet prayer. Then the hugs and kisses go around and the wrestling and tickle torture begins. Then the ever forboding question comes out of Matt's mouth..."Can I play computer now?" to which we answer "No. You need to eat breakfast, get dressed and clean up your room." to which Matt starts in on his little temper tantrum and Landon says, "Yeah Matt. If you do what Mom says, you get your way!" and that my friends is the beginning of our day! Matthew is such a cute little stinker and Landon is so funny and all knowing. We have a great time with our daily banter I think it will be this way for years to come. I did happen to ask the kids what today was and Landon answered "It's Wednesday Mom." and then I asked them what was so cool about today and they just stared at me. I prompted them by asking what was happening tomorrow and then the light's turned on the wheels started working in their cute little heads. In unison they yelled, not very softly might I add, "IT'S CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!" Then all sorts of craziness happened. It was awesome! We are getting excited and we hope everyone else is too. I get to finish my cookie making and goodie concocting to deliver to our friends tonight. We love you all and hope you have a very merry Christmas!!!

Christmas Corner

Okay, so with having a new baby and two rambunctious big kids and a husband who is super busy we didn't get too much of our Christmas up this year so here is the extent of our holiday decor! (oh, and the lack of space to do much with adds to the lack luster appearance)

Just a quick thankful note:

I am so grateful to my hunny. He had an EQ Football game today and he woke up the two older boys and took them with him so I could get some alone time while Ian slept. It's been a grat moring! I feel so blessed to have him. He is so thoughtful and helpful. (It could be he's trying to get on Santa's Nice List, or it could be just that he love me!)

Christmas is Coming!!

So with Christmas just around the corner, things are getting busy. Tonight is our branch party!!! The boys are going to sing and so am I. I felt bad that no one wanted to participate when the committee chair cornered me. I love to sing ... at home. We'll see what happens since I was asked this morning. But it will be fun. This next week we have two polar express parties for the boys and we are going to be making our neighborhood goodie plates! (cookies for everyone!) Our tree is up and no presents yet, since when we put them there, they get opened before the big day. We love having wonderful feelings of helping others and spreading joy. All is well in Okinawa!!!

only a few more hours

Joe is in Taiwan!!! He will be arriving home in just a short time. We are so excited to have him back. Things are looking great! All will be perfect as soon as we have him home with us! Happy Day!!!!!!!

there goes the savings!

So Joe has been off to the states for his youngest brother's wedding. (Congrats to Max and Natalie) He had no problem taking the "Freedom Bird" or "Patriot Express" (free flight for military) there, but he was one person away from making on the flight back!!!! I stayed up until 3:45 am to get him a flight home. It used up a HUGE chunk of our savings to do so, but he will be home tomorrow night. Even though we had to pay for a flight home, it is worth it to have him here with us as soon as possible! We love him and are happy to see him come back!!!

Itchy

Have you ever had a mental itch? Something nagging at your brain that you just can't figure out? Over the passed few months I have felt like there is just something I need to do that I couldn't figure out. Well, I finally figured it out. But before I let you in on what it is, I have to tell you about my little quirk. I would love to be an interior designer! Not that I think I am great at decorating or anything, but I love to fix things up and make old things new. Okay, now we get to my quirk. When I finally figured out what my itch was Joe was already out of town. I just had to re-arrange! So we live in military housing and we can't do a whole lot of house hold fixing up like laying tile or knocking down walls and things get old when you can't make things better. I don't know why but every time Joe leaves I end up re-arranging. All day I have been trying to figure out the best way to make our little house look new and better. I don't know how much better it looks but it's different and that makes it feel a little better. With Christmas fastly aproaching, and decorations needing to go up, I also had to plan for that. I don't know if Joe will like it, or if when he gets back he will change it all up or put it back to the way it was. But oh well, I got the itch out of my brain, and felt accomplished by dinner-time.

Fun Fun Fun

Here are some more pictures.

Family Pics

So over the weekend we were able to have a friend take some family pictures for us. She got some really good ones. We will of course save the best for our Christmas cards but we will share with you just a few. Enjoy!

We tried to keep them out of the water without much success

Ya I know, He's a keeper

Don't they look so cute!

Before the beach

Before the beach

Missing Family

As we approach the holiday season my thoughts turn to family more than usual. I love having loved ones around me. My "boys" are my life. (joe is included in the "boys") I love knowing that I have an Eternal Family! It brings so much comfort to my heart. I do not regret anything. I would be crazy to change anything about my family. My extended family is the best! I could not ask for better brothers and sisters - in-law. I am edified and uplifted by each one of them. Although I have no regrets, I do have wishes in my heart. I do wish we lived closer to our extended family and by this time next year, my wish will come true! (how close is still to be determined) I am excited to live close enough that we can make it home for Thanksgiving or Christmas or for all the many Birthdays and special events they all have going on in their lives. I am grateful to have them along with all the nieces and nephews, in my family. I miss them all so very much. I can't wait to be back among them.

Mom and Dad Abbott, Mom and Dad Dummar, Nate, Crystal, Jamie, Scott, Ben, April, Dan, Beth, Rik, Christena, Ron, Hillary, Abe, Jessica, Cortney, Sonnet, Max, and Natalie, and all the kids, I love you all very much and look forward to the day I can be closer to you again. Happy holiday season!

The end of visitors

Well today was Mom and Dad Dummar's final day. We took them to the airport and sent them home. It has been really fun and we have been able to do a lot of fun things. Of course like doe-doe heads we didn't use our camera very much and I am still looking for our adaptor to extract the pictures we did take. Sorry for not being better at all this crazy Technology stuff. Someday I will be up to speed, or at least my kids will be.

Here is a picture of Mom and Dad getting ready to go to the Marine Corps Ball with Joe! (I stayed home with the boys and had a fun night watching movies and eating popcorn)

I want to give shout out to our little brother Max, who's getting married in two weeks! We hope Joe will be able to get a flight out of here and will be there for him.

We miss everyone so very much and look forward to possibly getting out there to see you in January/February? (If we get Ian's passport and birth certificate back by then) We love you all and hope you are all doing well!

2008 trunk-or-treat

Our branch has a trunk-or-treat at Halloween time so that the families that don't live on base have the opportunity to let their kids get some candy too. (Japanese don't do the trick-or-treating thing) So here are some of the pics...

Landon was so busy running around this was the best picture we could get of him!

Matthew and his buddy, Oliver. They are even in the same class at school.

I don't think I've ever looked better, what do you think???

Wow isn't Joe sexy? I was Hollywood and Joe was RockStar!

We had a lot of fun and we are excited for Halloween and all the lovely candy!!! (Okay the boys are mom and dad are looking forward to throwing it all away)

1st Visitors

Well, Grandma and Grandpa Abbott were our first visitors since our little Ian was born. We had a great visit with them and had a lot of fun. We of course didn't remember to take pictures of all the stuff we did, but we did get a few taken. We took them to one of our favorite places, Wago Land. I think Grandpa had fun, but you be the judge... Enjoy the pics!

More Picks of Ian

Okay so we just can't help it. He's just so cute!





He's starting to sleep more in the day but he loves to up at night. We just need to switch his schedule a little. Ian is growing and doing so well.




We have nick-named him "GRUNT". No not because we are in the Marine Corps, but that is what he does most of the time, He grunts. It's pretty funny.

We love you all and hope to see you all soon!

Here's Ian!!

IAN STEWART DUMMAR!!!!

Here are some of the first pics of our wonderful new arrival!

First pic upclose!

Great pic of dad, but doesn't Ian just look too cute?

Yeah! Ian is finally here!

We will post more when we get the chance!

Just Days...

Well, I decided to post some pics of me so everyone can see just how HUGE! I've gotten and so you see why I am more than excited to have this little guy!

It's not everyday you get to see pics of me, and this will be the last one of me being Preggers ever again!!! So enjoy it while you can!

ONLY 2 DAYS LEFT!!!!!!! YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!

(do you think we are getting a little excited?)

Waiting....

Well, We are still waiting for this baby to join us. I started having some contractions the other day and I got really excited, but then I fell asleep and have felt more than fine ever since. So it looks like this little guys is holding out on us for a few more days. This might be the first one to last until the scheduled date!! Only four more days!!! We are so ready and yet it's been so long that we feel totally unprepared. I am sure everything will be great and once we get home we will fall back into the swing of things. But it's a little intimidating to think about. Last night the whole family got into our big bed and Matt laid next to me and fell asleep rubbing my belly. It was so sweet. He is really excited to be a big brother. As soon as we know what's up, we'll post it for all to see!
(although I wouldn't mind it if our little can a few days early...)

Mt. Fuji

Here are some pictures of Mt. Fuji. Joe had a great time! We hope you all have a great weekend!

Scheduled!

Well, I went to the Doctor's yesterday and was able to schedule the c-section! Yes Grandma Abbott you will be happy to hear that unless Ian decides to come early, you will share your birthday with him! October the 3rd will be date! We are super excited and things are going well. Joe MIGHT get to come home early due to a Typhoon headed our way. They don't know for sure but I know he wants to be here just incase something happens and I end up in labor. (typhoon tid-bit: Typhoons are known to send women into labor) We hope he is able to join us, but if not, we understand and hope he will be home soon! Just thought we'd give you all the update!

Little Update

Sorry no new pics to show, but Joe has our good camera with him while he is in Fuji. Landon started 1st grade last week and Matthew started Kindergarten this week. The first day of Kindergarten was a little scary for Matt but he wanted to walk to school all by himself today. (don't worry, I followed close behind him) Landon LOVES the idea of being the big brother and the fact he gets to drop Matt off in the morning and pick him up in the afternoon. He will get to do this in a few weeks. Until then, I get to follow them to school and make sure they make it on time. They are growing up so fast!!
I love to hear how they are doing at school even though I miss them terribly during the day. Joe will get back from Fuji next weekend and we are very excited. We miss having him here to help get the kids up and ready in the morning and to put them to bed at night. Soon he will be able to be a part of it all again.
The baby is doing well and soon (4 weeks) our little Ian will join our family!!!!! I don't get a whole lot of sleep, but I am sure my body is preparing me for what is to come. We love you all, Have a great week!

The BEACH one last time before school starts

Well, the boys and mom made a day of Monday. We went to the beach and played for hours. Don't worry we applied the sunblock...once. So now we are all nice and crispy! We played with our friends and had a great time. School starts in a week for Landon and in Two for Matthew so we are getting everything ready and the boys are getting excited! Daddy will be leaving us Tomorrow (Wednesday) for three or four weeks while he goes up to Fuji on mainland Japan for an excercise. (And little recreation...He gets to hike Mt. Fuji!!) We will miss him. We also had Family night last night and had a lesson on the Priesthood and the blessings that those who hold the Priesthood can give. Then we played "Hookey Dookey" and ate some lemon cake for family night treat. When we got the boys ready for bed and Joe gave them their Father's blessings a little early since he won't be here for the start of school. Landon was very excited to get one, but Matt was a little more hesitant, but in the end he told us if we read him a shark book, he would let daddy do it. (sneaky little booger, isn't he) That was our Monday! We hope you all had a great weekend! We love you!

Daddy's Home!

Well, Joe is Finally home! and the boys made a great cake and sign just to welcome him home. To celebrate his return, we all went to bed! (he got home around 10 pm) Today the boys are going to the beach with some friends while we go run errands and go out to eat!

Puppy? no, Pappy!

We have been having some fun with dad gone. On Saturday we went to see Kung Fu Panda for the the second time and we went to dinner afterward at the food court next door. the boys had a ton of fun. We went with our good friend Kaylyn. She has been a big help with the boys since daddy hads been gone. then when we got home, Our friends asked us to watch thier dog, Pappy, while they went on a little get-a-way trip to one of the outer islands for a few days. The pour dog is probably going to be traumatized when this is all done, but the boys have loved it! I'm glad he's a little dog, I don't think I could handle one much bigger than Pappy. Pappy will be leaving us Wednesday afternoon, just in time for daddy to come back on Friday.

(I unfortunately am a little electronically handicaped and can't get the pictures I've taken of the kids and Pappy off the other computer due to some "firewall" that Joe has set up and I don't know how to get around it. Once I get it figured out, I will start posting pictures too! Sorry for the inconvenience)

Good bye daddy!

Today we said good bye to daddy for the next ten days. He will be going to help another country with their military efforts. We will miss him and we hope he will be safe. As a treat to the boys daddy even bought them Donuts for breakfast!

Finally

So I decided it would be a little easier for family to remember this site than our other one. We will still have the other one, but this site will become our main one. I am not going to make any promises that we will keep this one up any better, but we will try. Welcome to our Blog!