Camping Trip!

Emily has been begging us to go camping. She loves to build forts or get under our bed blankets with a flashlight. So we aquiessed, and were lucky to score a beach spot on Camp Pendleton (love those military bennies!) Many campers stopped by and said we had the best spot in the campground!

We had a great time. Emily kept laying in her sleeping bag just because she could! We played cards, played in the surf and cooked some yummy meals (after all, camping IS all about EATING!) The smores were so yummy too! It was pretty funny when the pancake batter exploded on Daddy and Emily!

We enjoyed playing in the surf. Emily had fun building sandcastles and digging holes.



And we had fun helping our little mermaid!

Warrior Princess

This is a true warrior princess. As Chris was sorting through the Army gear to return, Emily decided to model some of the battle dress for us!
This is her warrior face!

We're in the Navy now!

I went to bed an Army wife and woke up a Navy wife! (It wasn't long ago that I went to bed a Navy wife and woke up an Army wife!) Chris has left his Army boots behind and gone back to his sea legs! Chris was commissioned in the US Navy Reserves on the 4th of July on the USS Midway! (A retired aircraft carrier turned floating museum in San Diego Bay). Why you ask? Better carreer options and shorter deployments if we have to do that again! Praying we won't!!!

It was a wonderful ceremony, and thanks to all our friends and family who turned out to help us celebrate!

Chris' uncle Eric gave him the sword that he received at his Navy Commissioning in 1965!!!

We took the tour of the USS Midway and for one day only there was the original copy of the Declaration of Independence! Awesome!

Emily's 5th Birthday Safari Party!

Today Emily celebrated her 5th birthday party - Safari Style! We had quite an adventure with over 20 of her adventurous friends taking part in the festivities! Safari Guy came and led the party in fun games - water balloon toss, tug of war, potato sack races and three-legged races. Emily looked fabulous in her Jr. Zookeeper uniform she secured from her latest trek to the zoo!

To see all the pictures, go to http://picasaweb.google.com/gustafsonfamily1/EmilyS5thBirthdayPartySwinginSafari