Seattle or Bust!

Our last 24 hours have certainly been a roller coaster. Patrick passed the bar. YAY! Then we were found out our base assignment would be chosen from one of the leftovers since many others had already received their assignments. BOO! After a long day of waiting, we heard we will be moving to Ft. Lewis in Tacoma, Washington summer of 2009. YAY! But not to be outdone, Patrick was told not to show up for work on Monday as his project was terminated and he had been laid off. Definite BOO! Granted, he had just told them Thursday of next week would be his last day.

We got the news earlier this afternoon, but we've already been researching the Tacoma area. It's about 40 miles south of Seattle, right on Puget Sound. Based on our early online house search (yes, we're that excited), there are truly some beautiful areas. Ft. Lewis is home to the 1st Corps and home to the Stryker Brigade, so Patrick is happy to be surrounded by what sounds like a strong group of soldiers.

Next up, where will Katy go for student teaching in January?

It's always something, isn't it?

Virginia State Fair

Last night we went to the Virginia State Fair and saw  little bit of everything from albino sheep getting "haircuts", an elpaca that looked like it wanted to snack on Hayden, mini horses, racing ducks, the biggest slide you've ever seen, a Demolition Derby (we are in Virginia), and monkeys riding ponies.  We had heard rumors of monkeys riding motorcycles and Hayden had been talking about them all day, but he certainly didn't seem disappointed.  We didn't expect Hayden to want to participate in any of the rides (certainly not one of the three Ferris Wheels), but he had other ideas.  First, he wanted to go down the giant slide, then he wanted to ride in a racecar, and finally we decided to try on of the kiddie truck rides.   Patrick and Hayden patiently waited in line and Hayden picked out his shiny purple truck, but when Patrick buckled him in and walked away the giant bottom lip came out.  So, the rides didn't exactly work out!

          

Our favorites? Hayden liked the monkeys who danced around a small stage wearing ridiculous costumes and rode ponies.  And of course, he loves his new Spiderman balloon!  Patrick reverted back to a 5 yr old when he saw The Great American Duck Race straight from New Mexico... those birds are fast!!!  Katy liked the funnel cakes, the animals - smell and all, the funnel cakes, watching Hayden's confused face trying to figure out what those crazy chimps were doing, and um... funnel cakes.   

Spiderman, Batman, and Ironman.... Oh My!

It's my favorite time of year... decorating for Halloween, simmering mulling spices, and picking our pumpkins (but mostly the decorating part).   For past Halloweens, Hayden has dressed as a lion and a pirate, so we have naturally been thinking about this year's costume.  After a recent visit to historic Williamsburg - no we weren't sightseeing - we at least know Hayden's ideas.

Last weekend, we met some of the New Jersey Regans (Danny, Kathy, Haley, Kerry, and Grace) who were enjoying a little vacation at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg.  As usual, we all got tremendous enjoyment watching Hayden and company run around the restaurant so we did what any parent would do after a long day and decided to add sugar to the equation!  While sitting outside Friendly's and enjoying our ice cream sundaes, cones, milkshakes, and banana splits, Hayden began to tell everyone what they were going to be for Halloween.  Grace was to be a butterfly, but the rest of us were some variation of superhero with Hayden rotating between Spiderman, Batman, or Ironman.  The only constant?  Danny was the Joker.