A Collection and some Prayers

So Michael has been entertaining himself with the most random things lately. For the past 2 or 3 days he has been carrying a small blue bucket with his "collection". This collection consists of a small American Flag, a McDonald's happy meal toy, a small sand shovel, a small flashlight, a magnet, 2-3 dupblo toys and some random toys that I'm not sure about. Most of these things are things I have at one point almost thrown away, or aren't really intended as a toy. So, tell me, why do we buy toys again? Maybe we should all just pass around the junk we would throw away and that could keep our kids happy right? Or maybe a Rent-a-Toy center would be nice. Yep, that makes more sense to me.

Now a note on prayers. Michael has been learning how to say his prayers at night. For a while we would just have him repeat what we say and call that good. But after a Family Night lesson on prayers, we decided that he was old enough to come up with his own ideas. Since then we have noticed a pattern arising. A typical night time prayer for Michael would go as follows:

Mom: Say, 'Heavenly Father'...
Michael: Father
Mom: Say, 'thank thee for'...
Michael: GO!
Mom: Ok, that we could go out today. Thank thee for....
Michael: Papa car...
Mom: Yep
Michael: and Mama car...
Mom: Uh huh
Michael: and Me!...
Mom: Yeah. Say, 'Please bless'...
Michael: Mama
Mom: Ok
Michael: and Papa
Mom: Yep
Michael: and Baby
Mom: Yeah. Say 'In the name'...
Michael: No! and Papa's baby... and Mama's baby... and My baby.
Mom: Right. Say 'In the name'...
Michael: No! and Lizzy's baby (my brother's wife)... and airplanes... and bear...
Mom: That's right. Now say 'In the name'...
Michael: Jesus, Amen (said while cheering with his hands over his head)!
Mom: Alright! (cheering on the inside that we finally finished his prayer)

All of this is said while kneeling by his bed. Well, I guess we start by kneeling, but Michael wiggles, and turns around, and then back again, and climbs up on his bed. Then I pull him down and tell him to fold his arms, which he does for 0.453 seconds, and then he's off again-not to mention the distraction of a nearby book or toy. Wow, and to think I expect him to just lay in bed and sleep after this! Yep, that's why bedtime is always at least a 45 min event. But hey, we're on the right track right?

Uhhh Hmmm... Well, you know.

You may wonder why I have not posted in over a year... Well, due mainly to my neglect, the blog has become sort of on back burner for a while. And then, of course, having not logged in for SOOO many months, I forgot my username and password. Awkward. And then of course, this discouraged me from doing anything on it for a while because it takes enough to even motivate me to post, let alone reset my password and then post.

But enough with the excuses. I have figured it out, and now alll is well. So wanna know what's been going on in our lives for the past... year and a half.... WELL, let me explain. No NO, it's too long. Let me sum up:

I'm pregnant. Need I say anymore. (Due Sept. 11)
Ok. Just kidding, I will:

-Jonathon completed his Master's Degree at AFIT (late March)
-We moved to Eglin AFB in Florida (April)
-Michael turned 2 years old (April 30)
-First "East Coast Runion" with all my family on the East Coast (May)
-Jonathon did Tech Warrior training in NY (June)
-I did an ENTIRE online course in 4 weeks. Yeah, I'm proud! (June)
-First COMPLETE Baird Family Reunion in 3 years (July 4)
-Jonathon did FAM training in OH (July)
-Finally back in Florida at our house! (Aug)
-Expect our baby in T-5 Weeks

Meanwhile, Michael is the sweetest boy I could ever have hoped for. He is obedient, kind, gentle, and confusing me into having another child. What have we got ourselves into?

I have to say, we LOVE it here in Florida. Life is beautiful, and so are the BEACHES. Can you say white sugar sand? Yeah, pretty nice. To bad it is so dang hot outside. I think I'm gonna die. And anyway, Beach+2 year old= alot of work. So we mainly stay inside. But once baby is born, weather is cooler, and I feel more up to it--watch out world, here we come.

I can't even tell you how nice it is for Jonathon to have a normal job. He goes to work, comes home, and DOESN'T have SCHOOL WORK! Yep, this is the life. Couldn't ask for a thing more.

So now that you have the basic gist of our life, enjoy some pictures of some of our adventures. They may, or may not be in chronological order, but at least you have them! :)

All Michael Plays with are rocks... even when there is so much else to see.
Notice Jonathon is SO patient with Michael. I get bored too fast.

Playing with Sidewalk Chalk

Homemade Ice cream the old fashioned way.

Crazy "kids" at the East Coast Reunion

East Coast Reunion: Climer family, Brandt Family, McCarther Family, and Vilburn Family

Michael discovered what is in an Easter Basket....

Candy Candy Candy!!
(He is saying it and using sign language)

As always, a reunion isn't complete without games.

ROAD TRIP! Our happy family on the way to Florida

Last goodbyes to our house in Florida. We were all really exhausted.

Grandma and Grandpa come to visit for AFIT graduation.

AFIT's graduating class.

Graduation pictures with our good friends Devin and Melissa Dalton. We miss you guys!

Well, there should be more to come! Hopefully I won't be too lazy to post. Stay tuned for the arrival of another Climer!