After spending six weeks away at training in 29 Palms, the kids and I were more than a little anxious to get our hands on Daddy again!  Corey and I were unsure of how Brockton would react to Corey's return.  We didn't know if he would pull his shy bit and run away or if he would run to him like the girls.  It was soooo cute...Brockton went right into Corey's arms and just snuggled right up to him and wouldn't let go.  Melted my heart!  As hard as military life can be with always saying goodbye, it really is a blessing at the same time.  When you are constantly faced with the reality of forced separation, the time that you DO get to spend together is that much more precious.  Corey and I never take for granted the days that we get to be together and I know that through every deployment, work up and underway, our relationship and our love for each other has only grown stronger and stronger.

In New England, there is a Dunkin Donuts on every corner.  Literally every corner.  In California, they don't exist.  Weird.  I blame Starbucks.  However, when Corey transferred up to Camp Pendleton, he was greeted with a lovely site.  A Dunkin Donuts...attached to the Exchange.  Lovely.  So, naturally, once the kids and I moved up there we made it a point to spend many a Family Home Evening enjoying stuffing our faces with sprinkles and donuts.  It really is a must.

The kids and I were super excited to get the chance to spend the day with "Auntie" Aimee and her adorable kiddos, Oliver and Cosette!  The kids all had a blast playing together and didn't want to go home.  It's so fun that we live close enough to each other to get together every few months.

The girls love to make "fairy houses" pretty much anytime they are outside.  They will gather together sticks, rocks, grass clippings, feathers and any other "treasures" (aka pieces of shiny trash) that they can find and will arrange said treasures into a house for the fairies to come home to.  I just love watching their little minds being so creative!




I love, love, love Brockton's red hues in his hair!  I'm pretty sure that it will go away as he gets older and Corey starts insisting on cutting his hair super short.  I'm trying to prepare myself to say goodbye to his lovely locks...but man I secretly hope they stick around forever!

Azure is so into riding her bike and it is simply adorable to watch her zoom around the culdesac (and basketball court).  She has learned how to stand up while riding and how to "jump" her bike (and can actually get her front wheel several inches off of the ground while doing it).  Every night when Corey gets home, Azure can be found at the end of our driveway and as soon as she has gotten in her hug, she begs him to ride bikes with her.  So cute!

Sooooo many awesome moments happened in January and several were caught on my phone.  Here's a peek at some of my very favorites throughout the month...