The BIG 30!

My wonderful husband turned 30 this year! I wish we could have had a huge family filled birthday bash for him but unfortunately we are still living overseas and far away. David's birthday fun was spread out across many weeks and sadly was littered with car repair bills and long work shifts but we tried to make it fun. I put together this small photo time line of his past 30 years and it makes me laugh just looking at it. I tell Dave all the time that I wish I knew him growing up, I feel like I missed out on a huge part of his "character building years."

I love you so much, Happy 30th Birthday!

This last picture is of Ava delivering Davids birthday balloon and present to him while at work, but because Dave works in a classified area we can't take pictures of him opening it. He requested coconut chicken curry and a cheesecake for his birthday meal which we shared over a hole punch and stapler on his desk, very memorable.

The Royal International Air Tattoo

This air show is held at RAF Fairford and is expensive (around 35 pounds a person) Dave really wanted to go but felt bad about buying such an expensive ticket. I said it would be a fun birthday present for him and a buddy to go together. A couple of days later we found out that it was free for all military ID card holders if we went on Sunday 18 of July. We decided to go as a family and made a weekend of it. The amount of people was unreal, it's so big that it's deemed "the worlds largest military air show." Most of our pictures aren't very good, but it is hard to capture a great shot with a low quality camera on a fast moving airplane and 2000 people in your way.

F22

Vulcan

French Demonstration team

A400M

B52 Bomber

Miller Goofy Shots

The planes were loud, really loud especially because we were so close to the runway; however Ava managed to fall asleep during the F22 demo. Go figure?

It hurts to wait

This is a way for me to type out my feelings straight from my heart. I know of friends and family who have waited longer and are still waiting to have their little miracles come from heaven. These are my personal feelings that I want to express.

Have you ever wanted something so bad that it hurts? Praying, fasting and of course trying trying trying haven't worked. Never did I ever think this would be me. I want a second baby so bad. I waited until I thought it was the "perfect time" when I was completely ready, and that everything was planned out so well. Well time was perfect for me but not the Lord. I can't help but feel like maybe I'm being punished for not constantly saying my prayers or for privately groaning when I'm asked to serve in another high intensity calling at church. The couple that lives behind us, who always fight and curse and don't even look like they like each other let alone love one another seem to be blessed with 3 children, why not me? It was all so easy with Ava, a surprise pregnancy, flawless 9 months, long but uncomplicated labor, and a perfectly healthy baby. Maybe that's just it maybe the next one won't be such a breeze, maybe I need the time and distance between children to recharge my system for a more complicated situation. My thoughts can get pretty random and completely irrational, but don't these thoughts sit at the back of every mothers mind? I know one day I will have another little angel to hold and love and teach but obviously not today or 9 months from today but hopefully it won't take years. Every month that goes by and every test that comes back negative means Ava is one month closer to 3 years, 4 years. . . I want my family to grow and it hurts to wait!

I would love your comments but for personal privacy I won't publish any comments under this post.

Oh No Mom

Oh no Mom, you have all these pictures that no one has ever seen! Lets do a crazy blog.

This is what happens when Ava decides Jessie needs more food.

This is what happens when I try to go for a bike ride with a child who hasn't had a nap!

This is princess Ava in the Disney Store, with Sleeping Booty! (that's what Ava says)

Goofing around in the Mildenhall BX fitness section.

listening to her first set of headphones, listening to Papa's Ipod

A while back I blogged about this Oreo cake pan and Mom Miller bought it for me for Christmas. This was the first time I made it and it was delicious. I went the ice cream cake route,adding mint chocolate chip ice cream in the center.

Dave calls this picture "Nerd Ava"

Waiting for Dave in the car. Ava put Lamby in her car seat and buckled her in.

Be Bopping around Bury

Bury St Edmunds is a fun little city. It's only 15 minutes away so It's a great place for day outings roaming around the Cathedral and Abby ruins. Tiny shops and family run businesses are common place in Europe. Bury city center has a farmers/garden market every Wednesday and Saturday where you can find deals on almost everything. Last week we decided to picnic and play at the park. Ava had a blast feeding the ducks and climbing over the flint stone ruins.

I had no idea Dave was even taking this picture.

Look at me off in my own world.

A Month of Birthdays!

The month starts off with a bang on July 1st because that is CANADA DAY! I always hang my flag proudly over my front door for everyone to see but this year I sadly couldn't find it. Dave and I looked everywhere,but no luck. I guess that's what happens when you move to a new country and everything gets stacked on top of each other in a tiny garage. Instead I decided to make a fruit pizza, but in true flag fashion I made it rectangle and we sang the Canadian anthem before diving in. I've never made fruit pizza before but it was so easy, I took pre-made sugar cookie dough and rolled it out then baked it until golden. Iced it with cream cheese frosting (made by me) and decorated with strawberries. Sure it could have used a little more fruit in the bare parts but the cream cheese icing made up the difference.

July 1st is also my cousin Nell's birthday

Then July 2nd is my brother Jim and my Aunt Julie's birthdays

Now to July 4th INDEPENDENCE DAY, a holiday I have adopted and absolutely love to celebrate.

As I was looking through other blogs I came across this darling American Flag shirt made from gathered ribbon and buttons. I thought it was so cute that I had to try it. I really wanted to sew it onto a t-shirt instead of a polo but in true BX style they don't have what you really need. I also spontaneously made Ava's cut off shorts in about 10 minutes flat. I hadn't done the laundry in a couple of days and realized she had no shorts left to wear (and it was hot) so I took a pair of old jeans and viola, Bermuda Shorts!

We enjoyed a church BBQ with our friends the Nelsons on Saturday and then on Sunday drove to Feltwell to watch the fireworks. We have been prepping Ava for fireworks ever since last year she screamed and hid under a blanket. She was nervous at first and didn't want to be put down but then realized that they look like the opening credits to a Disney movie and kept looking for tinker bell to pop out and dot the" i " in Disney. Getting off the base was a hectic mess. They made everyone leave from 1 exit and it took and hour and a half to finally make it on to the road. Seriously, we need to think about doing things differently next year.

July 14 was my 28th Birthday! The day was a really nice, Dave came home from the night shift and made me French Toast with Strawberries then he went to sleep. Ava got up and was a sweetheart all day. We went for a bike ride, played at the park and bought ice cream. Then Dave woke up and took over Ava duty while I went to the salon. I asked for a little more "sunshine blonde" on top and layers. She cut off a little more then I had planned but I like it. I always feel funny walking out of a salon though because they flat iron my hair and I never do that. It stayed stick straight for 2 days! That night we dropped Ava off at the Tatton's house and went for supper. We decided to try out a place that lots of people had recommended, Nando's. It wasn't what I expected, a little Hippy, earth loving style restaurant. Come on, who has hummus and pita, assorted nuts, or mixed olives as starters? At least the chicken was good.

Friday the 16th was my BIRTHDAY PARTY! I decided to throw myself a little party and thought the best way to keep the kids entertained was to have a bouncy castle! I made salads and cake and my friends brought their own meat to BBQ. I was nervous all day because it had been really windy that I thought the castle would be a bust, but Dave staked it down and the fence helped break the wind. Dave played the famous "Miller Balloon Dart" game, and everyone won a prize. Ava would wined up and chuck the dart at the balloons and most of the time it she would hit one. She was so proud! I had a blast and I think my friends did too.

The Happy Birthday banner was made for David's 25th birthday during our first months as husband and wife. I have put it up every year for both our birthdays. This year I added the pennant banners. I took left over fabric and sewed the triangles onto string.

Wavin' Flag

I heard this song for the first time while driving our rental car in Ireland. Dave had heard it many times on the radio at work and was already familiar with the words, he was even singing it. I thought the song was simple but completely inspiring, the words are basic and the beat is catchy and it leaves me with a feeling of patriotism that I haven't felt in a while. When I listen to this song I picture elementary kids singing the Canadian anthem and American kids repeating the pledge of allegiance. I see my little nephew Gage learning to skate and wanting to play hockey someday. I imagine Dave as a small boy looking at his bedroom walls all filled with airplane posters and dreaming of joining the Air force. This song was created for the FIFA World Cup soccer championship and even though Canada wasn't involved I still watched a few minutes of a couple games. Having lived in 2 counties (Germany and England) where "football" is such a worshiped sport, I have witnessed the amount of patriotism each have in their own teams. Having just celebrated both the Canadian and American birthdays I can say “I wave my flags!”