Almost did not make it!

That is right. We almost did not make it ... to my Grandmother's 80th Birthday on a cruise ship! How you may ask? Easy ... we forgot our passports! It only took a call from the pilot to the flight tower who called my dad (may I mention he thought we went down in a crash) to grab our passports and get them to us "by any means possible." There were 3 trips on his part to our house, 1 call from our ADT alarm company (happy to see it worked) and a fax of all our birth certificates and BOOM, we were on the ship with 30 minutes to spare. God help us! I think I almost lost a year off my life!

Nani and Grandpa enjoying the boys playing 

Eric waited 4 long years to enjoy all you can eat Strawberry Ice Cream. At least he did not break his record of 11 in 1 day.

Fun in the sun at the pool

Taber loved to steal toys from other kids. 

"Good Morning Beautiful, I missed you" ... and then he proceeded to kiss himself for over 10 min in the mirror. HA!

As good as it gets (T's face is hilarious)

Bumpa and GG with their boys

The big moment we almost missed

Future Captain? That boat was freaking huge!!!

Deegan stealing my raft

Oh yes we did! Worlds longest zipline over open water!

Mini-golf on the ship

The boy's liked their ice cream too.

Deegan kissing the Dolphin ... he LOVED it. So brave!

Shaking hands ... kinda

Swim lessons

Aunti Kiss and Taber

Nani, GG and T-dog

Hello Stranger

 Hello. Long time-no-talk! Yes, we are still all alive and well. It has been a busy summer with so many vacations, birthdays and work travels. Somewhere in the middle we were able to take our family photo's. Could be my favorite time of the year. I know that my Christmas cards are virtually complete, I love seeing the changes in my boys over a year and I get to update all the frames in my house. I love my photographer as well so I am giving her a plug: artisticimagesbyheather.com (in case you want fabulous photo's as well). Here are just a few of my many favorites!

Florida

Over Memorial Day weekend we took a trip with the whole "Schillinger" crew to Tampa, Fl. It was a blast! We had our own beach house (blessing), ton's of extra hands and great weather. Pictures say it all :) 

Love that we hear the boys playing together but find it hilarious when I turn the corner to see what they are laughing about and this is what I see. OMG! Funny!

 Beach Hunks!

 My grandmother enjoying the beach and a little T-Diz time.

 Maybe just a little excited

 Water Boy

 Evie-poo-poo

 Great location for a playground!

 Nanny and her boy

 Waves were a little rough and when my dad took Deegan alone they both panicked and Deegan scurried up my Dad's head so that he would not be swept away. Hilarious picture!!!!

 HA!

 Heim Family vacation # 2 for 2012 ... up next Cruise!

 This is a picture of my future. 2 Boys raiding my fridge.

 Baby turtle

 Great Family Photo's

Something has to Give

I clearly have not blogged in ages. Not for a lack of trying. I have struggled lately to be all things to all people and in this battle I keep forgetting someone important ... myself. I truly love my job and get validation through my work but there have been some changes within the organization.  During this time of flux, I have been asked to do a lot more work on top of my normal duties. I thought I could keep up, but even my supreme time management skills cannot hold up to this test. 

On top of that, I am a mother (in case you didn't already know). I come home, cook, clean, play and love. It is my favorite time of day. But when those little monkey's go to bed its back to work. Did I mention I am a wife? Well that duty has gone off to the waste side. A date night is definitely needed because we do not even have time to talk between our travels and late night work duties. Thank god I have the most supporting and understanding husband because I have been going 100 miles/minute and I could drive most men nuts with this act. 

I need to find time for myself. I need to find time to go grocery shopping, maybe to a store or work out. I see light at the end of the tunnel but until then I plan to give, give, give. 

Deegan and Bumpa at breakfast. Silly smile.

I found my old doll in the basement with a bunch of staff my dad brought over. We dressed it up and Taber thought it was great to have another baby in the house.  

 Showing a little love

 All smiles. Taber is always up for a laugh

My boys turned 3 and 1 in the last month as well. It was the fastest year of my life and frankly, the best. 

Deegan and I on his 3rd birthday. So handsome 

Chalk on hands plus an itch = the Joker 

 I am behind ... her is 11 months ... forgot about 10 months

 Heim

For Father's Day weekend we went to the cabin. It was beautiful and the boys had a great time. I sent Eric off on a 2 hour kayak ride (by himself ... he needed some dadda time) and I took the boys on the boat. It was AWESOME! 

I am in trouble

Introducing ... Ca Ba

As noted in the prior blog, Tabor was honored with his Indian name. Typically you pass down names within the family but there was not a name available as Eric's uncle had passed less then a year ago (need a full year before the name is open). So Eric's grandmother used a distant relatives name; Ca Ba. Now all you white people are probably asking yourselves, "what does that mean?" Well, drum roll ..... we have no freaking clue. Eric's grandmother forgot to get the interpretation. I am certain it means Mama's boy but I could be wrong. It has happened once in the past. 

Eric's family made his little shirt and moccasins as they had with Deegan when he got his name. Eric actually wore his uncle's shirt and grandfather vest and let our nephew Brenden wear his shirt (blue). It was a good ceremony and extra special as Eric's cousin's kiddos received their names as well. Talk about a big family reunion. 

 They look related! PS - the baby on the right was just 1 week old. No way in freaking hell would I have been able to make it out to the reservation had the timing worked like that for our boys. Good thing I am not an Indian because I would have been a sad excuse.

 This was also special ceremony for Eric and Brenden as Eric's sister's name was passed to the wee baby. Now I have no idea how to say it much less spell it out but I do know it means pretty french lady. She may not have been french but she was pretty. It was a little emotional but very special to be there when the name was passed. 

So handsome 

By some miracle we actually squeezed Deegan into his ribbon shirt (may I add it was made for him when he was 11 months old). Thank goodness my kids are skinny! He was awesome on the trip and had fun playing with the other kids on some big nasty dirt hill. I had to breathe and remember: When in Rome ... or on the reservation (same thing?)

All kids, including Donna (my mother-n-law) have a picture on this rocking chair at Eric's grandmother's house. Not sure why but it is a family tradition and I was not about to break that one. So, here is Taber and the chair.