Woo Hoo!

Congratulations Dr. Robert!

The day is soon approaching

Graduation day is coming up very soon. Rob is already in Memphis awaiting his last section of boards, followed by a few *preparatory classes and then the BIG DAY! I fly out there this Sunday, to relax and visit some fabulous friends. For those who don't know, Rob is graduating from The Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, TN.





I am not only proud of Rob but pretty amazed at what he has accomplished. He completed three years of stressful classes and one year of externships all the while being a fantastic husband and father to three kids, two of which were born during those stressful years.Sean was technically born in UT but, Rob was in Memphis because school had already started.



Our Miss Savanna Mei



After graduation is complete he will be commissioned an Officer in the United States Air Force. In May, he'll attend Officers Training and then we are off to our first assignment in the Azores. Here is a bio of the man who is commissioning Rob.A native of Long Beach, N.Y., Rear Adm. Mittelman earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Jacksonville University in 1975. He was awarded his Doctor of Optometry degree from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry in May, 1980 and earned a Master of Public Health degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 1990. He graduated from the Naval War College non-resident program in 1991. In 2009 Mittelman was awarded an honorary Doctorate degree from Salus University.

Mittelman was commissioned in the Navy Medical Service Corps in 1980. His first clinical assignment was at Naval Hospital Cherry Point, Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point from July 1980 to September 1984, serving as a staff optometrist and later as head of the Optometry Department. From September 1984 to August 1987 Mittelman served as head, Optometry Department, U.S. Naval Hospital, Rota, Spain. Mittelman then transferred to the Naval Aerospace Medical Institute, Pensacola, Fla., where he served as head, Optometry Department and became the first optometrist designated as an aerospace optometrist in 1989. In 1993, Mittelman assumed the duties of deputy director of research at the Naval Aerospace Medical Research Laboratory, Pensacola, Fla. He then reported to Naval Hospital Great Lakes in October 1995 where he held the position of head, Recruit Medicine Department and also served as the commanding officer of Fleet Hospital 3. In July 1997, Mittelman assumed command of the Naval Ophthalmic Support and Training Activity, Yorktown, Va. While there, he facilitated the establishment of the Department of Defense Optical Fabrication Enterprise. In July 2000, Mittelman assumed command of U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa, Japan. Following this assignment, Mittelman served as the executive assistant to the surgeon general of the Navy until August 2004 after which he was assigned as a special assistant to the surgeon general at Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps. He then served as the deputy chief of staff, Human Resources, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery. Prior to reporting to his current assignment, Mittelman served as the director, Medical Resources, Plans and Policy Division (N931) Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. Mittelman served as the 15^th director of the Medical Service Corps from 2006 thru October 2009.

Mittelman is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and a diplomate of the American Academy of Optometry. He also is an active member of the American Optometric Association and associate fellow of the Aerospace Medical Association. He is past president of the Armed Forces Optometric Society and a member of the National Academies of Practice. In February 2009, Mittelman was nominated to receive his second star.

Mittelman’s awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit (5 awards), Meritorious Service Medal (3 awards), Navy Commendation Medal (2 awards), Navy Achievement Medal, Meritorious Unit Commendation (2 awards), National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon (five awards), and the Navy Expert Pistol Ribbon.




We Love You Daddy!

Art time

A friend of mine has a designated art time every day for her and her daughter. It might be coloring, painting, or a craft of some kind. I thought it would be a great idea. It might be harder with three kids instead of one but I can do it. Broaden their horizons, right? Kaelin is already an art lover and now Savanna has found a love for Caw-caw (coloring). Sean is not so much into this area.

All set up to paint some little wooden animals that Gaga sent. Aprons on and all seated!




Kaelin taking time to get it just right. Do you see the new chair we got from Rob's aunt Tanya. The steps rotate up under the seat. Her feet are kind of blocking them. Step stool and chair in one. Love it!



Sean painting his dinosaur. I couldn't get him to hold the paint brush any other way. I think he might need some extra help.



I thought, to help with the mess I would hold the paint while she dipped. She told me "No!" and pointed her finger towards the kitchen and said "Go!"



This is what resulted in her independence. Luckily it washes off real easy.





And when all was said and done...
Kaelin was still painting her dog.



Here are their finished art projects.

Another monkey see, monkey do moment

At least it wasn't me this time that these monkeys were copying.

Savanna climbed in while I was cleaning the laundry room/sewing room/Kaelin's art room.



Next thing I know they were all stuffed in there. I let them stay just long enough for a picture so they didn't end up getting hurt or breaking the drum of the dryer. On Savanna's way out she made sure to shut the door on Kaelin to keep up her "evil little leprechaun" reputation.

What did I do?

Have you ever had a child come to you with hands covered in chocolate/make-up/markers, whatever and they are so stunned that you ask, "Did you play with the _____?" They have no idea how you found out. Well I wonder if the dogs were just as shocked when they got in trouble for this....

BTW: they aren't allowed on the couch




How do I know it was the dogs?
Perfect little paw prints all over. Luckily the couch is amazingly easy to clean.



They are also not allowed up on the counters

Orage-glazed chicken

I pulled this recipe out of a magazine years ago and finally bought the orange marmalade to try it. Sean was actually really excited to try it despite his facial expressions.


It was super easy to make. I especially like that I didn't have to worry about any other sides. Most of us liked it (except Kaelin, which is a big surprise, she eats everything) Savanna and Sean always have trouble with leafy veggies such spinach and lettuce.

If you want to try all you do is spread orange marmalade onto your chicken and then dip in bread crumbs/shake and bake, and then bake until done. Then mix 1 T. of the marmalade with 1/2 C of Italian salad dressing and toss with the spinach. Slice some oranges and plate it. If you like orange and spinach, give it a try.

Volcano!!!

Sean was learning the letter "V" at his preschool and they made their own volcanoes. This would have been the best day of his life if they would have added dinosaurs and bulldozers. Volcanoes are one of Sean's favorite things. You don't even know how excited he is about moving to an island that not only has a volcano but was also formed because of that volcano.





All ready to go, it was sent home already full of baking soda. I put it on the tray to help contain the "Smokin' HOT lava" (to use one of Sean's most common phrases).





I secretly put a couple drops of food coloring on top of the baking soda. I thought the kids would be excited about the authenticity and I was not let down.






The kids supplied the villagers cries of "awww" and "Run!" as the "Smokin' HOT lava" spilled all over.

We repeated this natural disaster at least four times. At least as kids they just think its cool and don't quite get the danger of it all. They understand a little bit more, since we read "Vacation Under the Volcano" where to kids travel in a magic tree house to save an ancient book from the city of Pompeii on the same day that Mount Vesuvius erupts. Volcanoes are still Sean's favorite but now he understand a bit better, and doesn't want to get too close to the "Smokin' HOT lava"

Bundle Up?

Here are my kids all bundled up with red noses, numb fingers and chapped cheeks.

Did I forget to post some pictures from December?

Nope, this is how I dressed the kids for their Easter egg hunt.
And they weren't dressed warm enough!



It was so cold an windy. I wasn't sure if it was going to rain or snow.



You can't see the eggs too well, but they were out there taunting us, while we waiting. I think I have decided that I don't like BIG egg hunts. In my experience it always turns into a greedy, pushing shoving race. Often, the parents are the most guilty of this. We are all just trying to make sure our kid gets his/her fair share of the goodies. I'm not sure how many times another parent snatched an egg right as Sean was about to pick it up. Of a field full of eggs, my two youngest got four each. This was not the average. I guess I'm not aggressive enough for these egg hunts. Kaelin on the other hand got quite a bit more.


You can see how red my hands are, Sean's cheeks and nose and how empty Sean's bucket is.






On to Grandma's house for some colorful fun...

Sean was just a bit too rough with a few eggs. Thank goodness you dye hard boiled eggs, or else we would've had quite a mess.



Kaelin had fun using the crayon to decorate before she dyed the eggs.




Sean showing off a successful egg.




Grandma very patiently helping and teaching the kids.





Then what do we wake up to on Easter morning?


Beautiful, fresh, clean, pure, white, brilliant S N O W !!!!





And some great gifts from grandparents, Mom and Dad and Brandi. Although honestly, the majority was from Gaga.







Happy Easter everyone!

Some of the women, among the most devoted of His followers, came to the place with spices “and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.”

Angels appeared and said simply, “Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen.” (Luke 24: 3-6) Nothing in history equals that dramatic announcement: “He is not here, but is risen.”

-Ezra Taft Benson