Red, white and black

Selene, AM and her friend with Ayleen.

Alex has a new friend, Jenine that is staying for a month or so, he's so happy to have somebody to play with. They hit it off right away.

During dinner, I think the kids must have had a bit of a sugar high... they just couldn't sit still.


Dress in red, white and black, give little appreciation notes and chocolate away and have a nice dinner.
That's one way to celebrate love... and friendship.

Feliz Dia del Amor y la Amistad.

Why friends are better then chocolate?

They aren't fattening.
They can hug and be hugged ,without melting.
You don't feel guilty for having to many friends.

They don't cause cavities, no matter how sweet they are.
You can stay in on a Friday night with a friend, and not feel pathetic.
Laughing with a friend is more fun then a sugar buzz.
True friends last forever.

Happy Valentine's

Legends will be legends, with some elements of truth and mostly fantasies. But I was a little curious about this memorable day worldwide, and came upon this version of the history of Valentine's :

"One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men -- his crop of potential soldiers. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine's actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death."

Benji's Birthday

That's Benji turning three.
Since daddy isn't home we decided to just do a special breakfasts and celebrate when we are all together. He's a real character. He's an Aquarius. The most stubborned baby I have yet seen.
This morning everyone in the home went up to my bedroom to sing him "Happy Birthday " while he got his traditional breakfast in bed. Other years we've done it just our little family, but this time, I was quite surprised at his reaction. He curled up in a corner between the pillows and didn't even want to blow out his candle, his dear brother didn't mind helping with that.
I'm positive that if it wasn't because there was people all around he would have tried to hide somewhere.
I was quite disappointed myself since his "birthday" was turning out rather different then the perfect replay I had envisioned in my head.
Once every one left he was himself again and happily open his gifts.
I guess the moral of the story is things don't alway play out the way you imagined them, and in those times when you want everything to be perfect, sometimes it doesn't happen that way, but it can still be special; it doesn't have to be perfect to be special.

Later on, I was feeling a bit bummed out about it, thinking that the only special thing I was gonna do for him on his birthday, breakfast, was a flop, and the Lord reminded me of that story in LOG #2 , when he's turning 9 or 8 and his friends get together and organize a surprise BD party. His reaction to the lights turning on and the cheering and Happy Birthday song is to run away and hide for the rest of the day. I'm sure glad Benji didn't do that. :D

11 months

Four Men and a Trailer

I was reading the blog the other day and thinking how much the Internet has changed our lives.

I wooed Ali through the Internet. (or was it the other way around?) lol And now when I travel, through the blog I get to see the kids, what there up to, how they're growing, the cute things they're doing and saying. It helps me fill connected with my family while I'm away.

Thanks sweetheart for taking the time , normally late at night after a long day, to post.

Well now that Alis let me into the blog :D I thought I'd do a small post on this job.

We're in Richmond, Virginia. A very pretty city in a very pretty state. It's only about three hours south of DC so it's COLD!!!!!!!! When we First got here the average temperature was 35 degrees Fahrenheit that's 2 degrees Celsius for those of you who never learned the right way tell temperatures. lol

This was a week or so after we got up here. Disclaimer about this picture. When our wifes saw this picture they all freaked out saying we'd all gained weight. NOT SO! We're all wearing like three layers. lol

Here's a few pictures of our lovely home away from home. It's a little tight with four big guys in it but it's home for now. lol

And this is the Hotel

No there hasn't been a toxic spill. This is just what I look like when I spray!