The "F" in February stands for FUN!

Whoo! What a whirlwind of a past few weeks, especially these past few days. Valerie has had the croup and there were a few scary moments. A few times Caleb and I thought we might have to take her to the ER because she was gasping for air and couldn’t get any. Other than that, the month of February was a lot of traveling and fun for our family. The first week in February Caleb went to New York, New York to visit his two best friends and watch the Super Bowl. I don’t think these boys have missed watching a Super Bowl together since they were in grade school (except when they were on their missions). A week after Caleb came home Valerie and I went to Rochester to visit my family for 10 days. It was cold but it was fun. Valerie especially had lots of fun playing with her uncle’s Phillip and David, and my cousin Jenna. Valerie fell in love with Jenna. The entire time we were there Valerie was Jenna’s little shadow doing everything, or trying to day everything Jenna was doing. It was so cute! We did lots of things. One day we went to a Mennonite store. I had lots of fun there and came home with tons of spices and other really cool/interesting thing for cheap. I even brought home 3 lbs of real maple syrup for Caleb. It only cost us $15. . . what a steal! Another day we went to the mall and rode the beautiful 2 story carousel and found tons of steals. One store was having a 75% off sale on their clothes. Needless to say I got lots of steals there for Valerie and I. We then went and spent a few day’s with my Auntie Marion and her family in Scranton , PA. Yes I said Scranton. If you are an “Office” fan this is the place it takes place in, even though none of the places you see in the show are from Scranton. While we were there I got to ride in my Auntie Marion’s Smart car. It was so cute and little, but very zippy at the same time. Once back in Rochester we went to a Children’s museum and a pet store that had tons of interesting and weird animals. We also went through a car wash. It was no big deal until we remembered it was Valerie's first time! Poor little girl. Needless to say she survived it and we had a blast visiting our family but were glad to get home to the nice warm weather.

Valerie and Jenna. Valerie is wearing a dress my mom and I found at the 75% sale and got it for a steal!

Me in the Smart Car. Isn't it cute?!

Jenna and Valerie on the beautiful 2 story carousel

Valerie and GramE

Valerie, Jenna, David, and Phillip on their way to the Museum.

Phillip, Valerie, and David in the Dizzy Room. The room was put just at the right slant that when you walked through it it made you feel dizzy and that you were going to fall down. It was crazy!

David, Jenna and Valerie Reading a book.

Valerie and Jenna shopping in the Children's Museum.



Valeries First Car Wash :) Taken on my cell phone.

Be a Tourist in Your Own Town

The month of January we as a family got to go and see lots of fun things located in Charleston, thanks to “Be a Tourist in Your Own Town”. We had tons of fun. First we went to The Center for Birds of Prey. That was lots of fun. We were able to see lots of different birds of prey, owls and also were able to see a few of the birds do a flight demonstration until a few wild bald eagles started to circle the demonstration area. Valerie’s favorite part was the owls. Every time we would go past an owl she would make us stop and she would start hooting like an owl. A few times they would hoot back and she thought that was the best thing ever. (sorry no pictures)

Next we went to the H.L Hunley. The H.L Hunley was one of the first submarines built and was used during the Civil War. The Hunley sank 2 times and they were able to recover it and reuse it. Finally the 3 time it sank no one was able to find it for a long time. We weren’t able to take pictures of the sub its self because of preservation reason. (This picture is from the internet.)

Our next adventure was to Fort Sumter. That was lots of fun. We had to take a boat to get to the fort. While on the boat we got to see lots of dolpons. Between the boat ride and the dolphins I don't know Valerie’s had a blast.

The following week we went to the Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry. Valerie had a blast, and we had a blast watching her have so much fun. Her favorite part of the museum was the children’s slide and the ball room.

Next on our list of adventures was Cypress Gardens. This was lots of fun. We got to go in a butterfly house, see alligators (which seeing one of these in your back yard here, in the South, is a COMMON occurrence), and take a boat ride around the wet/marsh lands (thanks daddy for rowing). The boat ride was the best part. We got to see so much wild life.

Last on our list was Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum. This was Caleb’s favorite and I will have to admit I found it really cool too. This is where the USS Yorktown (aircraft carrier), USS Laffey (destroyer), USS Clamagore (submarine), and USCG Ingham (coast guard ship) are all located. They have been turned into museums that you can walk around and in.

Daddy's Certified

Caleb finished all the qualifying he needed to do for his job about 2 weeks ago and is now a certified Nuclear Power School instructor teaching nuclear physics for the Navy. Right now he is teaching a one week remedial physics class, but Feb 23 he will get to start teaching his first class. We are so proud of him!

Lets Get Sick, It's the Cool Thing To Do

The reason why I haven't posted anything good in a little while is because we all have been sick. Nothing to bad, but just enough to put me behind on my list of things to do. We all caught chest colds and from there our colds have morphed into new ickieness. Poor Caleb still is coughing and and is congested. Valerie has bronchitis, and I have and ear infection with a bulging ear drum(getting ready to erupt). Needless to say we all are on meds now and as soon as I/we feel better I will post the most super duper post ever seen!!!