Before Joe left, we celebrated his 34th birthday! Joseph helped me bake his cake and also helped Daddy blow out the candles! His real birthday was July 28th and he was in Key West to celebrate! 
We took a few trips to the beach while Joe has been home. It's tough for me to take the kids by myself, so we usually only go to the beach when all of us can go. The kids love the sand and water and have so much fun running around and playing in it!
Joe bought a body board for Joseph and helped him ride a few waves. They both had big smiles and a great time.
Maddy caught a few waves too! She didn't cry, but didn't have a big smile either. She just wasn't too sure about body boarding. :)
When did our baby girl get so big??? She looks so much like a toddler to me in this pic.....
Joseph likes to practice the skills he's been learning at swim lessons with Pop...
Although it looks like Joseph is doing the choke hold on Maddy, this is how he gives her a hug sometimes. :)
Joseph had a fudge popsicle and he shared some with his sister. Both of them LOVE chocolate. What can I say?! They certainly got their love for chocolate from their momma! :)
Joseph is really into "monster trucks" these days. He has a video about monster trucks and wants to watch it constantly. He also has monster truck underwear that he is so proud of. :)
Joseph and Landon both loved the barbie power wheels at a friend's birthday party. I think they both rode it until the battery died.
I found this cool dragonfly outside our house. It landed on the rope of the baby swing we have in the backyard and allowed me to get super close to capture this....
Madelyn loves to climb in and out of the pool on the stairs over and over again! Here she is hanging out with Nana and Nemo.
Both Joseph and Maddy LOVE splashing. Lately when Joseph is doing something that makes him laugh, or he sees that it makes Maddy laugh, he runs around yelling "Having Fun, Having Fun". I think he was saying that in this picture.
And I was trying hard not to lose my contact lenses with all the splashing water....
We ventured out a couple of weekends ago to go ride the new Tide Light Rail in Norfolk. Unfortunately when we got there, it wasn't running yet, and the grand opening of it was the following weekend. We decided to go to downtown Norfolk and ride the ferry boat across the water to Portsmouth. This made Joseph's day! We had a lot of fun. Here are the guys sitting outside of Joe's crab shack...
The base had a family festival with bounce houses, a hay ride, and lots of characters dressed up. It was really hot that afternoon, but the kids had a ton of fun.
Madelyn wanted to touch the cake!
Happy Birthday Joe!
We took a few trips to the beach while Joe has been home. It's tough for me to take the kids by myself, so we usually only go to the beach when all of us can go. The kids love the sand and water and have so much fun running around and playing in it!
Joe bought a body board for Joseph and helped him ride a few waves. They both had big smiles and a great time.
Maddy caught a few waves too! She didn't cry, but didn't have a big smile either. She just wasn't too sure about body boarding. :)
She prefers to stand on it. Maybe a future surfer like her daddy?!!
And then she took a little rest on it....
Joseph ran in circles around the board and made his own fun!
Look who got buried in the sand....
We've also been having some fun at home.....
When did our baby girl get so big??? She looks so much like a toddler to me in this pic.....
We've really enjoying swimming in my parents' pool this summer.......
Joseph likes to practice the skills he's been learning at swim lessons with Pop...
And he loves to go under the water with Mommy.....
Our sweet boy all dressed and ready for church.....
Maddy's ready for church too....
I love them.....
Although it looks like Joseph is doing the choke hold on Maddy, this is how he gives her a hug sometimes. :)
Fun indoor play area at the Sportsplex....
Joseph had a fudge popsicle and he shared some with his sister. Both of them LOVE chocolate. What can I say?! They certainly got their love for chocolate from their momma! :)
YUM!!!
Joseph is really into "monster trucks" these days. He has a video about monster trucks and wants to watch it constantly. He also has monster truck underwear that he is so proud of. :)
Joseph and Landon both loved the barbie power wheels at a friend's birthday party. I think they both rode it until the battery died.
Joseph's 1st time hitting a pinata.
Joseph and his best bud Logan at another birthday party.....
I found this cool dragonfly outside our house. It landed on the rope of the baby swing we have in the backyard and allowed me to get super close to capture this....
Madelyn loves to climb in and out of the pool on the stairs over and over again! Here she is hanging out with Nana and Nemo.
Both Joseph and Maddy LOVE splashing. Lately when Joseph is doing something that makes him laugh, or he sees that it makes Maddy laugh, he runs around yelling "Having Fun, Having Fun". I think he was saying that in this picture.
And I was trying hard not to lose my contact lenses with all the splashing water....
Practicing his floating skills....
We ventured out a couple of weekends ago to go ride the new Tide Light Rail in Norfolk. Unfortunately when we got there, it wasn't running yet, and the grand opening of it was the following weekend. We decided to go to downtown Norfolk and ride the ferry boat across the water to Portsmouth. This made Joseph's day! We had a lot of fun. Here are the guys sitting outside of Joe's crab shack...
And here is the ferry....
All ready to get on board....
J and M are on the ferry and looking out....
Riding on the bench with a nice breeze blowing as the ferry headed towards Portsmouth...
I've had these Big Brother/Little Sister shirts since the spring and finally put them on the kids. It was near impossible to get them both to sit and smile, so these are the best I got.
My kids LOVE bubbles.....
Where is Madelyn?
Outside play time in our inflatable water park....
The base had a family festival with bounce houses, a hay ride, and lots of characters dressed up. It was really hot that afternoon, but the kids had a ton of fun.
Joseph and Jackson with the Admirals Hockey Mascot....
And the Geico Insurance guy....
Spider-Man or as Joseph calls him "Spider Guy".
High fives for Elmo!
Maddy saw Elmo too, although she didn't know! I think she would have screamed if she knew. :)
Sponge Bob was there too. Joseph doesn't know who Sponge Bob is and we hope to keep it that way for a long time.
They opened up the fire truck and let the kids climb inside....
They also got in the back of the fire truck.
Silly boy...
I think Maddy's incisors are trying to come in as she constantly has her hands in her mouth.
Another week of swim lesson......
Joseph had the front and back floating down. Looking forward to him learning the different strokes soon.
He loves when it's time to kick....
No running at the pool buddy...
