Lazy Saturday

I know we have not posted anything in a while. We have just been busy with all of the normal day to day stuff. Believe it or not, we actually did not have any plans today. Xavier and I played outside, swam, and even watched a few movies. Here are a few pictures of my cutie swimming today...

The best part of the day was our video talk with Michael!! It was the 1st time we were able to get it all set up and working. The biggest obstacle is actually that Michael is 7 hours ahead of us so we really can only do the video talks on the weekends. Xavier was so cute. He just kept on saying "That's my Daddy!" He also got car after car to show Daddy. "Daddy this is my green hummer, this is my red fire truck, this is my..." I think that went on for a solid 10 minutes.

Michael is doing well. Now that he is settling in, I have been getting on him to make a post. I will keep on him because I know you all would like to hear from him!

Gangsta

There are 3 kids at Xavier's sitter's (Ms Paula's). Xavier is the oldest, Gavin just turned 2 in April, and Keira turns 1 at the end of August. Xavier LOVES going to Ms. Paula's. He has so much fun there!! Here is a recent picture of the 3 of them. Keira is totally throwing some gang signs!! (Or for any of the Gamma Phi's reading this, she is

giving the Gamma. Do we have a future Gamma Phi on our hands?) Isn't that hilarious? As Ms. Paula says...Keira is saying "Word up Home Skillet!"

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to all of the Fathers out there!

This will be an odd day for Xavier and I since Michael is gone and my dad is in Florida visiting his brothers. I guess we will just have to spend the day in the pool! :)

Michael did get his care package jammed packed with goodies for Father's Day. He got a message frame where when you push the button it will replay a message that was recorded. After about 8 days of chasing Xavier around the house with the frame and lots of bribes of Skittles and chocolate, we finally got a good message on there. Xavier says "Happy Father's Day! I love you Daddy!" Michael said she replays it a lot! One of the other things in there was a new video that I made. I figured I would upload this one too so everyone can enjoy!

Michael -- you are a wonderful father and husband! I know today is hard for you but know we are VERY proud of you!! We love and miss you lots!!! XOXO

FRG Day

Saturday the FGR (Family Readiness Group) hosted an Ice Cream Social and Packing Day. We ate some yummy ice cream and packed up goody bags and various stuff to send over to our soldiers. Since they will be just settling into Kosovo for the 4th of July holiday...we are sending over 4th of July in a box. Lots of patriotic items, etc so they can still celebrate. (My favorite item is the red, white and blue lays, so they can have a lay from home...hee hee)
It was a fun afternoon and since the Kelly's were in town, they came up too!! Up above, Dani, Erin and Judy...then below Josh all making something special for Uncle Michael.

Part of the playground at the park where we had this at had sprinklers and stuff. Judy took the kids over there while I was setting stuff up, etc. She said the kids had a BLAST!! I mention this so when you see the below picture you do not think I just forgot to dress Xavier for the day. It is hard with Michael being away, but I have not totally lost it. :)

Xavier LOVES his candy!!!

Wet & Wild Weekend

The word for this weekend was pool!! Just as the storms were clearing out of the area on Friday, we were getting home so we were in the pool Friday night and most of Saturday and Sunday. Xavier gets his swim buddy on and in another small ring and he is off. He has his freedom and he is all over the pool!! One of his favorite toys is a battery powered Finding Nemo. It swims all over the pool and Xavier chases it. That was at least 1 1/2 hours of our Saturday.

Sunday we went to Ms. Sue's to swim in her pool with her 4 dogs. It was one of the funniest things I have ever seen. Those dogs swam for hours! When they were not actually swimming, they were laying on the rafts.

After a full day of fun in the sun, what could be better than a yellow sucker?

On a side note, I have talked to Michael a few times. He is in Germany and doing pretty well. He said the living conditions are not the best, so he is looking forward to getting to Kosovo where he can settle in. He said he has taken several pictures but has not had a chance to get to a place with Internet to upload them. Well...he had a choice the other day...take a nap or upload pictures. Since you do not see a post on here, we all know what he chose. Ohh well...maybe soon. :)

Grant's Farm

On Saturday Xavier and I met Ms. Julie and Hannah at Grant's Farm! The weather was beautiful and the kids had a great time! Of course Xavier's favorite part was the train ride, but he talked about the goats and big horses all weekend too.
I am actually surprised Xavier warmed up to the goats because pretty much as soon as we went in with a bottle to feed them, 4 goats trampled Xavier to the ground. He was scared for a while (wouldn't we all be), but as soon as we got rid of the bottle and away from the large group of goats, Xavier was off chasing them.

The camels were being very gentile. They were letting Xavier feed them 1 pellet at a time.

Here is Ms. Julie and Hannah with the camel! I swear that camel is smiling for the picture!

Ok...I think this is one of my new favorite pictures! Here is Xavier throwing a huge fit because he is not getting his way. Xavier is happy about 95% of the time, but when he doesn't get his way...watch out. Just look at this face. Too funny.

We go from him throwing a fit and me knowing why some parents hit their children to him being just as cute as can be! He is just so peaceful. With all of the fun stuff we did at Grant's Farm, he was fast asleep in the car 5 minutes into the ride.

Happy Anniversary Kim & Mike!

Kim and I have been friends since our Freshman year of High School and I was lucky enough to be her Matron of Honor at her wedding in Florida. It was a lovely wedding & Kim was a gorgeous bride! Happy 3rd Anniversary!!!

p.s. Xavier is in the picture also. Can you see him? I was 21 weeks pregnant and had just found out I was having a boy! :)

A Fun Hoynacki Family Weekend

What a busy, but very fun weekend. On Saturday Xavier and I packed up and went South for a day with Aunt Tina. We went to her parish picnic and Xavier loved the rides! He went on these cars at least 8 times. The blue car was his favorite. Towards the end, Aunt Tina just stayed in line to ensure we got the blue car each time. Now that's what I call a good Aunt! This is just total Yates blood running through him right now.

There also was a train...so you know Xavier was all over this. We spent most of the day going between the train and the cars.

On a funny note, we went on the Carousel and Xavier hated it!! He clung onto me and cried the entire ride. Needless to say, we only rode that one once.

Xavier also had fun playing some of the games. His favorite "prize" was a red sucker which was a consolation prize for actually loosing the game. I never knew loosing could make Xavier so happy. All in all, it was a very fun day with Aunt Tina!!

Then, Sunday most of the family went over to my Dad's for a Bar-B-Q since my Aunt Jane (my Dad's sister) is in town. After the rain stopped, it turned out to be a beautiful day!!

Here is Dad cooking up some yummy eats for all of us!!!

Here is a great picture of my 3 nieces; Michelle, Kaila and Angela. Then there is my brother Kent in the background. This is a little game we like to play called "Let's see how many pictures you can get into" which all started about 14 years ago at Disney World when we were trying to get into as many people's pictures as possible standing in the background smiling away like we were supposed to be there. Some things never change...

Here is Kate, Xavier and Paul on the swing...

What a great day!! I love my family!! They are so fun to be around. I sure am a lucky girl! The only thing that could have made it better was if the whole family could have made it! We missed my brother Mark and family and my sister Judy and crew. Maybe next time...

On a side note...Michael leaves for Germany early Monday morning. He said it is about an 8 hour flight. I will write more as I know it!

Michael's an American Soldier

This is a video that I made for Michael before he left that I thought I would share with everyone. I hope you enjoy!!

On the roll again...

Mommies friend, Nicole, gave me this bike since her nephews out grew it! It makes all sorts of noises and sounds. It's so cool!! I had so much fun tonight having mom push me around the backyard. Thanks Ms. Nicole...I love it!!!!