The Toy Box Years: Fall Break

The Creators of the Toy Box Years

The creators of the Toy Box Years are my two beautiful daughters and wonderful, handsome soldier husband.

"Nani" (our oldest) is a 11 year old 6th grader who loves Taylor Swift, ballet, books, fashion designing and sewing. Ask her what she wants to be when she grows up and it changes daily to anything from "an artist" to "a teacher" to "a singer/dancer". Nani is also currently fighting a battle against brain cancer -- recently diagnosed in June 2016.

"Nudgie" (our youngest) is a very smiley, very happy, very giggly, very spirited 8 year old 3rd Grader who's favorite toys are anything that gives mommy an anxiety attack - ladders, stepstools, the climbing wall at the playground. Like her sister, she has a love of reading and coloring, loves gymnastics and still provides mommy lots of snuggle time!

"My Marine" is my high school sweetheart. We've been married over 20 years and met when we were 17. (You do the math....) His favorite toys are Blackhawk helicopters, the lawnmower, our steam cleaner, and microbrew beer bottles. My husband is also my hero in that he proudly serves his country as a Blackhawk crew chief (hence his favorite toy!). And need I say that there is nothing hotter than my man in uniform!

All About Me......

Once upon a time I had a career and worked in the corporate world. Once upon a time, I dreamed about leaving that all behind to follow my true calling -- being a wife and mommy.

The first part of my calling was fulfilled in 1995 when I married my Marine (now soldier) and my love. Little did I know that being a military wife would change me in so many ways and that because of that, I would have an extended family all over the world from Japan, to California, to North Carolina.

The second part of my calling took a little doing, but I finally achieved that dream in 2004 with the birth of our first child, followed 4 years later by her baby sister.

So now, when someone asks me what I do for a living - I simply smile and say proudly that I'm following my calling - I'm a mommy and a wife -- and I couldn't be HAPPIER -- I'm living in the Toy Box Years!!

On Sunday, we had plans to take the girls Trick or Treating at the local nature preserve. But after much thought (and reflecting on the busy weekend the week before and another busy weekend coming up) we decided to skip that and just stay home and hang out as a family.

And I'm so glad we did.....because then I would have missed such awesome moments like these....

Sharing a banana snack

A rare moment when I can get them both to smile at the same time!

So after our snack, we put on coats and went outside to play in the crisp fall air! Now, I have to preface this and say that there are a lot of trees on our street. But somehow, our house is the only one that has a Charlie Brown tree. So the leaves that we do get are courtesy of the neighbors and the wind.

Raking up what little leaves we have in our yard

She's trying so hard

Nani's grossed out because she swallowed a bug!

My Marine got this brilliant idea to set up a "balance beam" in the yard for the kids to play on. Nani got the hang of it pretty quickly. Nudgie - always wanting to do what sissy does - tried too, with some help. Then she got her own "balance beam" in the form of My Marine's car ramp.

And some random goofiness!

Already a daddy's girl!

Mommy's "almost-have-a-heart-attack" moment!

Oh how I love this girl and her "Muppet" smile!

And I just love my baby girl's sweet, sweet smile!

Have I mentioned how much I just adore my family?!

5 comments:

Stacie October 30, 2010 at 9:40 AM: Loved the pictures! Looks like you guys had a great day.
Semalee October 30, 2010 at 9:58 AM: OMGosh I just LOVE LOVE LOVE the first picture with Nani's hands up in the air!!!
Gen October 30, 2010 at 12:11 PM: looks like fun!
Connie October 30, 2010 at 3:28 PM: Great pictures! I love fall!
Jenny November 1, 2010 at 2:52 PM: First picture=awesome!!!!
I also LOVE the pic of Nani's feet on the balance beam.