Summer is officially over and it hit me in the face today, while it was nice and sunny outside it was also incredibly windy and cool. My yard is starting to look more and more like a gigantic pile of leaves and for the life of me I cannot find our rake!
Noelle started preschool at the beginning of September, she absolutely loves it. It is a faith based preschool in Bremerton and so far none of us could be happier, well except for Bry who wishes she could stay and paint with Sissy! (That is the first thing Noelle does once she gets to school, well after picking out her name tag and washing her hands of course!) It's only two days a week but I basically have to force her to hug and kiss me goodbye and drag her out of there when it's time to leave. She loves her friends and her teachers, as well as painting, snack time and outdoor play! She can draw people really well, I love it when she draws me! I love my big girl and I am so proud of her! I can't believe she is going to be four years old in February. It kills me how fast she is growing up. I remember back to the night we found out we were pregnant with her, to the day she was born, to her first smile, first steps and the development of her insanely funny personality. She is forever going to be my baby no matter how much she argues with me when I tell her that!
Brylee is growing like a weed, she is getting taller and taller but hasn't caught up with Sissy yet! She is potty training and doing wonderfully, she loves to put her pull ups or big girl panties on and loves to flush the toilet and wash her hands! I am not pushing her like I pushed Noelle, I decided I would let her show me when she was ready and I think she will be potty trained very soon at the rate she is going now. She knows most of her ABC's and she can count to 10 on her own, I love listening to her sing all of her favorite songs, right now it's: "A,B,C,D,E,F,G,X,Y,Z" She sings that super fast over and over! She loves to draw and paint but the most entertaining thing she does is rides her bike like a crazy person, she can seriously fly through the house on that thing!
On another note we decided awhile ago to take our house off of the market because we were burnt out from the two bad experiences we have had with selling. We don't have to move because we are expecting orders to stay here. October 1st we should actually have the orders, but Ben is out to sea so I am just waiting for an email to let me know what's up!
My sister and her boyfriend are engaged, so a BIG CONGRATS to Rachel and Chad! They are getting married in August 2010. I am so excited for my sister, she found a man she is extremely happy with and they just click wonderfully. I cannot wait to share this special day with my sister, she means the world to me and I can't wait to watch her walk down the aisle. Which reminds me, next week I am going to start allowing the gym to kick my butt, or tummy and arms rather, into shape, I want to look smokin' in my bridesmaids dress!
I guess that's it for now. I am super busy with school, ths semester (only in week 6 out of 15) is already showing me the last few courses I'm going to have to take are super serious stuff that requires a lot of attention and studying, so I better get to it!
Peace. Love. And Happiness to you all!
Nicole
Monday, September 28, 2009
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Summer
This has been a wonderful summer, granted we didn't do anything big or amazing, we were able to spend lots of time together as a family. I can't believe we are just two weeks away from September. Noelle starts preschool in 3 1/2 weeks and she is so incredibly excited. I hope she absolutely loves it! Brylee and I will get 4 hours of bonding time a week, I am happy about that, but I wish I was able to get Sissy and Momma bonding time too.
I have so many plans for the upcoming year and I am anxiously awaiting the fun to begin. Ben will be going on his very last patrol next month. Once that is over he will be detaching from the command and moving on to his new command. We are both thrilled about that!
I hope you are all doing well and enjoying these last few weeks of summer!
I have so many plans for the upcoming year and I am anxiously awaiting the fun to begin. Ben will be going on his very last patrol next month. Once that is over he will be detaching from the command and moving on to his new command. We are both thrilled about that!
I hope you are all doing well and enjoying these last few weeks of summer!
Friday, July 31, 2009
August
Well tomorrow is officially August, I can't believe how fast this summer has gone, it's been full of ups and downs but overall it has been wonderful. We have spent a ton of family time together and we will continue to do so until the day the boat leaves. This will be Ben's last patrol on the USS Louisiana or any other submarine for that matter! I am not going to lie, I am absolutely thrilled and can't wait to say peace out to the command and the big tin can that steals my husband.
The girls are doing wonderful. Noelle is 3 1/2 years old and she starts preschool in September, she will be going two hours a day two days a week. She is so excited for kindergarten and riding the school bus, I have to keep reminding her that we have a couple years before it's time for that. She loves to learn and play so I am sure she will have a wonderful time at school. Brylee is surprising me more and more everyday with how her personality is forming. She is such a little copy cat (just copying her big sister) but she has such an attitude, she knows she's the baby and expects to be treated like a princess, Lord help us all!
School is out, I took summer semester and now I have about three weeks before fall semester starts. Unfortunately I miscalculated how many courses I have left so I will have to take spring semester to finish up my last two courses. I am so happy to finally see the light at the end of this never ending tunnel that is college!
It looks like we will most likely being staying here in Washington for shore duty, which means Ben got incredibly lucky! He ended up getting the best possible job out there for his rate, I am so happy for him and so happy that he will only be working Monday-Friday no more than eight hour days for the last three years he owes to the Navy!
I hope you all are having a wonderful summer and try to keep cool, this weather has been insane lately!
The girls are doing wonderful. Noelle is 3 1/2 years old and she starts preschool in September, she will be going two hours a day two days a week. She is so excited for kindergarten and riding the school bus, I have to keep reminding her that we have a couple years before it's time for that. She loves to learn and play so I am sure she will have a wonderful time at school. Brylee is surprising me more and more everyday with how her personality is forming. She is such a little copy cat (just copying her big sister) but she has such an attitude, she knows she's the baby and expects to be treated like a princess, Lord help us all!
School is out, I took summer semester and now I have about three weeks before fall semester starts. Unfortunately I miscalculated how many courses I have left so I will have to take spring semester to finish up my last two courses. I am so happy to finally see the light at the end of this never ending tunnel that is college!
It looks like we will most likely being staying here in Washington for shore duty, which means Ben got incredibly lucky! He ended up getting the best possible job out there for his rate, I am so happy for him and so happy that he will only be working Monday-Friday no more than eight hour days for the last three years he owes to the Navy!
I hope you all are having a wonderful summer and try to keep cool, this weather has been insane lately!
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
I'm Alive
I haven't posted in a very long time, things have been really busy.
Ben has been home for about a month now, we are back in our normal routine of daily life. Surgery went well I am fully recovered and everything is fine. I am in my 5th week of summer semester, almost halfway done! The girls are great, we just celebrated Brylee's 2nd birthday with friends and family, it was a wonderful day!
For some disappointing news our house deal fell through yet again. The people basically disappeared, it's been about 4 weeks since anybody has heard from them. So we are back on the market and just waiting for things to turn around and trying not to get too scared! Thankfully we shouldn't be moving until December or January.... possibly even February depending on the boats schedule. Ben thinks he might have a chance to get shore duty up here instead of New York or Charleston, we would defiantly pick Charleston though if it comes down to those two options.
We are taking the girls on their first camping trip this weekend, I think Ben and I are much more anxious and excited than the girls, just because they don't realize what fun will be had! We got them little barbie fishing poles and little camping chairs! It will be wonderful. Next month we are going to Ocean Shores for the weekend with my family to celebrate my parent's 17th wedding anniversary, that will be fun as well. Speaking of anniversaries, in April Ben and I passed our 9 year anniversary, I can't believe we have been together for so long, I think back of all we have been through together, much more ups than downs. He is a wonderful husband and an amazing father, I couldn't have found a better match. This October we will have been married for 5 years!
That's it for now, I will have to post some pictures later!
Nicole
Oh yeah, a few of my friends got me hooked on twitter, so if you are on there look me up! NGianacakos
Ben has been home for about a month now, we are back in our normal routine of daily life. Surgery went well I am fully recovered and everything is fine. I am in my 5th week of summer semester, almost halfway done! The girls are great, we just celebrated Brylee's 2nd birthday with friends and family, it was a wonderful day!
For some disappointing news our house deal fell through yet again. The people basically disappeared, it's been about 4 weeks since anybody has heard from them. So we are back on the market and just waiting for things to turn around and trying not to get too scared! Thankfully we shouldn't be moving until December or January.... possibly even February depending on the boats schedule. Ben thinks he might have a chance to get shore duty up here instead of New York or Charleston, we would defiantly pick Charleston though if it comes down to those two options.
We are taking the girls on their first camping trip this weekend, I think Ben and I are much more anxious and excited than the girls, just because they don't realize what fun will be had! We got them little barbie fishing poles and little camping chairs! It will be wonderful. Next month we are going to Ocean Shores for the weekend with my family to celebrate my parent's 17th wedding anniversary, that will be fun as well. Speaking of anniversaries, in April Ben and I passed our 9 year anniversary, I can't believe we have been together for so long, I think back of all we have been through together, much more ups than downs. He is a wonderful husband and an amazing father, I couldn't have found a better match. This October we will have been married for 5 years!
That's it for now, I will have to post some pictures later!
Nicole
Oh yeah, a few of my friends got me hooked on twitter, so if you are on there look me up! NGianacakos
Monday, April 6, 2009
Crazy Busy
The past few weeks and the next month or so I won't be updating much. We should close on the house any day now. I say a little prayer before bed every night that everything will go smoothly and work out soon! As it is now we are set to close on or before April 10th which is Friday. I am so hoping we don't have to extend again. I have three weeks left in the semester, this was my first semester going full time and it was easier than I expected! Thankfully only two semesters left then I will officially be a college graduate. Ben will be home in a matter of weeks and I am so thankful for that! Only one more of these patrols left then we are on our way to shore duty. I am having surgery May 1st and I should be out of commission for a couple of weeks, luckily that falls during my break between semesters, because I decided to go to school year round to get done with my degree faster!
Take care and enjoy this beautiful spring weather we've been having!
Take care and enjoy this beautiful spring weather we've been having!
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Some New Pictures
Noelle loves to swing
Maleah, Brylee and Noelle
Eating at Kara's House
Brylee Reading
Me and Noelle
Me and Brylee
Nicole's White Lasagna
I threw this recipe together on the fly today.
Nicole's White Lasagna
6 Lasagna noodles cooked according to package directions
1 8oz. container ricotta cheese
1 can Italian seasoned diced tomatoes drained
1 egg
1/4 Cup Parmesan cheese
1/2 Cup chopped cooked spinach drained
4-6 button mushrooms sliced
Mozzarella cheese
1. Cook lasagna noodles, preheat oven to 400 degrees, spray a baking pan with non stick spray.
2. Mix ricotta, tomatoes, egg, Parmesan cheese, and spinach.
3. Spray a small frying pan with non stick spray and cook mushrooms until softened, add to filling mixture.
4. Layer noodles, filling, noodles and filling and top with mozzarella.
5. Bake covered for 35 minutes. Continue baking uncovered for 15 more minutes. Remove from oven, let sit for 5 minutes. Serve and enjoy!
This turned out great, both my daughters ate a whole serving, they are not usually such big eaters, this is definitely something I will make again!
Nicole's White Lasagna
6 Lasagna noodles cooked according to package directions
1 8oz. container ricotta cheese
1 can Italian seasoned diced tomatoes drained
1 egg
1/4 Cup Parmesan cheese
1/2 Cup chopped cooked spinach drained
4-6 button mushrooms sliced
Mozzarella cheese
1. Cook lasagna noodles, preheat oven to 400 degrees, spray a baking pan with non stick spray.
2. Mix ricotta, tomatoes, egg, Parmesan cheese, and spinach.
3. Spray a small frying pan with non stick spray and cook mushrooms until softened, add to filling mixture.
4. Layer noodles, filling, noodles and filling and top with mozzarella.
5. Bake covered for 35 minutes. Continue baking uncovered for 15 more minutes. Remove from oven, let sit for 5 minutes. Serve and enjoy!
This turned out great, both my daughters ate a whole serving, they are not usually such big eaters, this is definitely something I will make again!
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