Swann Family

SAHM for now

2009-06-26T05:32:00.000-07:00

School's out for summer! That means I get to be the SAHM!! Hunter and I are wrapping up our first week together and we have been busy! Monday we went to see my dad for Father's Day and his birthday! We had a yummy lunch at 5 Guys Burgers and Fries and then we just hung out! Tuesday we say a magician at the library, Wednesday we went to Busch Gardens with daddy, Thursday we chilled at the house and today we are going to Yorktown Beach with friends! Woo thats a lot!

A Day Out With Thomas

2009-05-05T17:10:00.000-07:00

Ok so we are not Thomas fanatics, but Hunter enjoys trains and I thought this would be a great experience for him. He had a blast and I enjoyed watching him do fun things!

For You Mel

2009-05-05T17:05:00.000-07:00

Can you see his head peaking out?

yeah fun!

Where is my maid when I need one?

Ok so I have been doing some major slacking on the blog home front. Sorry but I have a full time job, I am mother/father/cook/maid...the list can go on and on...Here is what I have to look forward to at the end of a day from you know where....Daddy please hurry home!!!

Spring Weather

2009-03-08T16:50:00.001-07:00

Hunter playin ball like daddy!

We really enjoyed the weather!

Hunter and his walking stick!!

Snow Day

2009-03-02T12:16:00.001-08:00

snow angels

love this pic

Cousins on a snow day

our backyard

We finally got the snow they have been calling for. No school for me today or tomorrow! Here are some pics from today.

Updates

2009-03-01T12:53:00.000-08:00

playing at the water table

hoola hoopin

how cute is that!

At the dino slide at the children's museum

jumping on the chimes outside!

Hunter and I are making it, doing this one parent thing! We are both busy during the week with school and we come home to play and eat dinner and watch his favorite show before bed. The Pajanimals. On the weekends we have been keeping busy!! Hunter has been playing with his cousin, going to the children's museum, dance parties and we went to Target today to hear them read Dr. Seuss stories!! We are missing daddy, but know he is missing us too and can't wait for him to get home!!

Potty Training

2009-02-01T17:48:00.000-08:00

So this weekend we decided to go all out and start potty training the little man. Well he did great yesterday! We went out to Williamsburg to get some last minute things for Rusty and he peed in Target and then at CheeBurger CheeBurger!! He was dry all day and only wet himself once! Now since I dont have man parts and all I am having a hard time holding Hunter to stand up and pee, cause thats the way big boys do it! Well I took him to the bathroom at lunch and he wanted to touch EVERYTHING..including the toliet seat. So I am straddling the toliet pulling Hunters pants down and trying to aim his manness in the toliet! So hard to do in a public bathroom that only has room enough for tiny woman!!!! Today he peed twice and pooped once in his pants....AHHH but we are getting there!

Being a Military Wife

2009-01-21T18:36:00.000-08:00

I was sent this email the other day, and it reflects what it feels like to be a military wife. Rusty will be leaving for his first deployment in a few weeks and this is the first time we have been away longer than a week and a half.

The Truth Military Wives Face
I would like to recognize these often underestimated, unseen, and unheard heroes.This is for the sad military wives, the angry military wives,and the strong military wives.
This is for the young women that are waking up at 6 a.m. every morning, laying out clothes and packing three lunches for those small precious children that they have been left alone to care for.

This is for the pregnant military wife wondering if her husband will make it home in time to watch their miracle happen.

This is for the childless military wife, living in a town or on a base alone where she is a complete stranger to her surroundings.

This is for the women that feel like a third leg when they go out with their friends and their husbands.

This is for the military wife that cancelled all her plans to wait by the phone, and even though the phone broke up and cut off every time you spoke to him you waited anyway.

This is a pledge to the women that cry themselves to sleep in an empty bed.This is to recognize the woman that felt like she was dying inside when he said he had to go, but smiled for him anyway.

This is for those of you that are faithfully in that long line at the post office once a month, handling 2 large boxes and 2 small children like a pro.

This is for that woman that decided to remodel the house to pass time, and then realized that she had no idea what she was doing and sighed and wished she had a little help.

This is for all the lonely nights, all the one-person dinners, and all of the wondering thoughts because you haven't heard from him in days.A toast to you for falling apart, and putting yourselves back together. Because a pay check isn't enough, a body pillow in your bed is no consolation, and a web cam can never compare.

This is for all of you no matter how easy or hard this was for you. Our Marines/soldiers/airmen/sailors/coasties are brave, they are heroes, but so are we.So the next time someone tells you that they would never marry a military guy, don't bother explaining to them that you can't control who you fall in love with. Just think of this and nod your head, know that you are the stronger woman.Hold your heads up high, hang that flag in your front yard, stick 100 magnets on your car, and then give yourself a pat on the back.

5:00 shadow anyone?

2009-01-08T18:20:00.000-08:00

my little hunk shaving for the ladies!!!

myface..I mean facebook

2009-01-04T16:13:00.000-08:00

So I finally joined facebook. I have been so out to date I figured it might give me something to do when Rusty is deployed!! Look for me!! I need to have more friends than Rusty does :)

Christmas pics FINALLY!! and our Chuck E Cheese Trip

2009-01-04T16:08:00.000-08:00

Hunter riding in Gloucester style!!

Can we fix it? Yes we can!!

Hunter with his cousins, Hayley and Megan in Williamsburg

My sweet family on Christmas morning

Kota!!!

We had a great Christmas! Hunter got lots of goodies and we got to spend time with all of our family members!! We are so blessed to have such great family near us! We are excited to see what 2009 will bring!!!

Can't Keep Up

2008-12-28T18:09:00.000-08:00

So my friend who has like a million kids can keep up with blogging but me and my uno child can't seem to find time. Actually I am exhausted! We have been doing so much lately, plus our desktop hard drive crashed and I lost all my pics! So I am on the laptop downstairs trying to update my post! We had a great Xmas and I will certainly be sharing pics soon! My friend Kern got engaged!! WOO HOO about daggone time!! So I will have to drink in her honor!

Hunter was really spoiled this Christmas he got so much! Kota the triceratops, a sit and spin, clothes, view finder, 3, yes 3 pirate ships, 2 memory games, an easel, cars, cars and more cars, a leapfrog alphabet toy, movies, books, did I mention a pirate ship???? I will post pics later!!

Christmas with the Swanns

2008-12-13T15:15:00.000-08:00

Who you looking at?

Santa at Yankee Candle Williamsburg

Yankee Candle Williamsburg-the snowy room, it actually snows!

Christmas Party!

2008-12-13T15:10:00.000-08:00

Hunter and his little girlfriend Brooklyn!

Gloucester kids visiting Santa!!

Hunter opening his gifts from Santa!

Hunter and Santa. He just walked right up and sat on his lap!

Hunter and I joined our friends for a Christmas Party today! We had a blast. Hunter visited Santa and got a book and a monster truck from Santa! We (I) ate yummy food and then we did crafts and had an ornament exchange. I had my ornament stolen a few times, but got a great on in the end. (we did like a chinese christmas, where you can steal others ornaments!) We had some yummy dessert and then headed home. Hunter graced me with a small one hour nap, I guess its better than nothing!

Our 5th Wedding Anniversary

2008-12-07T10:08:00.000-08:00

Rusty and I celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary yesterday! We cleaned the house and then headed over to Williamsburg to take Hunter to see Santa at the Yankee Candle store! We met my MIL there and she took Hunter back to our house. We went to Target and then to Red Lobster for dinner. For dessert we hit up Dairy Queen and got what Rusty calls a dip top! We are so ritzy!!
Anyway we have experienced so much in these past 5 years some good and some bad. Here is a recap our our first 5 years together!
1st year-we moved to Charleston ,SC! What a huge change! We also lost Rusty's father that year. It was hard being newlyweds, living 6 hrs from family and having your father pass away.
2nd year-found out we were expecting our baby boy!
3rd year- Hunter graced our lives!
4th year- bought our first house!!! and moved back to VA
5th year- we are getting ready to face our first deployment!
What will the next 5 years bring?????

Thanksgiving

2008-11-30T06:49:00.000-08:00

Hunter playing cards by himself.

Our little dare devil, Rusty said we will probably visit the ER before he is 4!

All he ate for Thanksgiving was a piece of ham and Nunu's cake! Hunter is sitting beside his Papa!

Hunter sat at the old folks table!

Oh sorry I forgot he also ate a cookie as his appetizer!

Here are some photos from Thanksgiving. We went up to Richmond to celebrate with my side of the family. We saw most of our cousins and Hunter was the center of attention, go figure.

So much fun.........

2008-11-21T16:23:00.001-08:00

Well my day started off great! NOT, I spilled a frappachino all over my coat and Hunter's this morning, so I had to run back inside to get us new coats. I get to school and find out my class has had a lice epidemic and they all have to get checked for that, THEN some other issues and a screaming/pouting kid to deal with. Gotta love it, on the bright side TGIF. Well we were doing the poem "Mary Had a Little Lamb" and my students morning work was to draw a picture to go with the poem. A little boy came up to me and was about to read his poem, and I asked him what his picture was of and he said a lamp. He thought it was Mary had a little lamp! oh the joys of 5 year olds. I gave him a hug and said you silly boy. He so made my morning. My morning can stink and they will say the cutest thing and nothing seems to matter anymore!

Tis the Season

2008-11-17T05:21:00.000-08:00

Ok, Ok I know its not even Thanksgiving yet, but how cute are these elves?

Hunter is spending the weekend with his Nana and cousin until this afternoon. I have to take Rusty to Langley for his surgery today! Wish him a speedy recovery!

My silly boy

2008-11-09T06:18:00.001-08:00

Look what I bought at Hallmark! This was the only one left!!

Hunter posing in the tub!

Hunter has the best imagination and he is so funny when he isnt being a typical crazy 2 year old.

Cousins

2008-11-09T06:13:00.000-08:00

Hunter loves his cousin Bella. They are about a year and a half apart in age. They play so well together! Here are a few pics from last weekend at church and the others are from yesterday at the Urbanna Oyster Festival.

A Voting We Will Go

2008-11-04T14:06:00.000-08:00

We are so priviledged to have the right to vote! I am happy to say that I voted today and it was not a long wait. I voted at a nearby elementary school. I was going to bring Hunter with me but it was raining and I had not fed him breakfast yet. So I dropped him off at daycare and went to wait in line to vote! the P-Z line went fast! Thanks for giving me the last name of Swann Rusty! My friend was in there before me and I got out before her! I proudly got my free Starbucks today as well. Tonight should be interesting. I told Hunter that mommy voted today and he said, "mommy vote?" and then he said, McCain? Hahaha.

Halloween

2008-11-01T12:23:00.000-07:00

We had such a fun Halloween. Hunter was a pirate!! We trick or treated on Main St and then did a trunk or treat at the library. Hunter also went trick or treating at the Gloucester House (an assisted living facility) at school. He racked up! Here are some pictures of my handsome pirate. Move over Johnny Depp.

Fall Pics

2008-10-29T15:39:00.001-07:00

Yo Ho Yo Ho A Pirate's Life for Me. Hunter runs around the house saying this

Grandma Debbie and Hunter with his pumpkin

Hunter and I at Belmont Farms.

Gotta love my boys

2008-10-29T15:25:00.000-07:00

This past weekend we took Hunter to the Air and Space Museum in Hampton. We checked out all the fun airplanes and go to sit in a real airplane that was in the museum. We got some great news as well. Rusty will be home for the holidays!!!! Unfortunetly he has to have surgery. Last night we watched It's The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown with Hunter for the first time. Rusty set the mood by lighting our pumpkins and we sat in the dark watching the show. Lots of fun!

Pumpkin Pickin Time

2008-10-19T18:35:00.000-07:00

Hunter, my mom and I went to the pumpkin patch today. We had lots of fun despite all the wind. We saw an 8 day old calf! We watched the man feed it with a bottle! Hunter got his face painted for the first time! Good times had by all. I am starting to feel this single mom thing and its not great! Good thing my mom was with me!!

Fall Fun

2008-10-18T18:25:00.000-07:00

Hunter and I went to a PM Fall Festival. We had fun! We made a spider and a good bag and went Trunk or treating. We hung out with some friends. Hunter likes to laugh at all the baby girls. He is the biggest flirt. We are going to try and go to the pumpkin patch with Grandma Debbie tomorrow if weather permits!
I am also adding a photo of Hunter in his backpack that I meant to post earlier!

We Rock

2008-10-10T19:19:00.000-07:00

Rusty just traded in our playstation2 for Guitar Hero. I ROCK! Apparently so does my son!

Fun Family Fall Weekend

2008-10-05T15:42:00.000-07:00

Well we have had a very busy weekend. Hunter and mommy are suffering from major allergy issues. Hunter has the cough and I have given him every over the counter medicine on the market and nothing works. I have a sore throat! Gotta love it! We went to a bday party on Saturday sans Rusty. He went bow hunting. Lucky me to marry a hunter!!! We just got back from a friends house in Williamsburg. We all sported our Skins jerseys in hopes of another win!! Skins are 4-1 baby!! Hunter will say touchdown and scream for Portis, Campbell and Cooley!!
We started decorating the house for Halloween. We have been teaching Hunter to say Trick or Treat!! I took a pic of myself and will post it later. It is for my friend Christine who loves Napolean Dynamite more than ME!

ugh

2008-09-25T16:39:00.000-07:00

I got a call at school today saying Hunter had a 101.6 degree fever. It is monsooning outside as well today. So I left work and went to pick up my sick child with a nor'easter in full force. We get in the van and I am soaking wet and he poops in his pants and it smells to high heaven. When we got home, we walked through the door and he starts puking! poor baby....at least he saved it for the kitchen floor and not the carpet. luckily my dad came down and is going to watch him tomorrow while I am at work. I dont feel so well either! Why does this happen when Rusty is away!!!!!!! I have so much at school to do, I couldnt take off. I have progress reports and stuff up the wazoo! I hope we get the sick out of this house before Rusty comes home...

Did I just say Rusty is home...?

2008-09-23T18:12:00.000-07:00

Well he is off again. We saw him Saturday and Sunday evening and Monday and then Rusty had to fly to Kansas for some YN stuff. He will be there until Saturday. Gotta love it. I hope things will calm down the month of October. I need some me time. My feet are screaming for a pedi! I just need a day at the spa.
Hunter went to bed like a dream tonight! yay no nap at school! I know it sucks for them, but let me tell ya, bedtime at 7pm is like I won the lottery. God love my son, but I have been feeling really under the weather and when he goes to bed early I get my stuff done. When I say my stuff I mean laying on the couch eating combo's and watching Gilmore Girl reruns.

Rusty is home!!

2008-09-21T04:25:00.001-07:00

Well Hunter and I have been trying to keep ourselves busy while Rusty has been in Cuba this week. Yesterday we went to a GM potluck and had lots of fun. Once Hunter detached himself from my leg he played with his friends. He kept showing off by falling off his bike in the rocks and everyone was like um April Hunter just fell. I just waved my hand and was like he is fine, he is just showing the ladies he is a man, by continuing to fall in the rocks! My son is silly!!

Hunter was so excited to see daddy last night. I finally caught a break! Woo hoo! Unfortunetly Rusty leaves Tuesday to go to Kansas for another week. Oh military life what fun you are!

I will post a pic of Hunter and his new backback. Too cute for words..

2008-09-15T18:01:00.000-07:00

Me and the Mr.

First Blog

2008-09-15T17:53:00.000-07:00

Ok, so welcome to the 21st century April. It is about time I blog. I don't do myspace or facebook, so I will blog.
I am working as a full time Kindergarten teacher/mom/taxi/bath giver/chef/librarian/wife/sister/daughter....you name it. And contrary to popular belief I would'nt have it any other way.
We are currently living in Gloucester, VA..where you say..yeah Gloucester- I tell people its near Newport News and then they get it. I am not a country girl, but it could be worse. I do live in a neighborhood and have a well! Weird to me... Anyway Rusty is currently in Cuba and will go back for numerous months leaving Hunter and I to take care of the homestead. Hunter is currently going to daycare/preschool and finally liking it. He spent the summer with mom, so its been a hard transition....