Busy last couple of days...

May was definitely busy for the Callender household. After Mike's surprise bday party and Mother's Day, we spent a day on a boat with some of Mike's co-workers and friends, we spent Memorial Day with the Less and Noto's, attended our neighbor's Tom' promotion to Lt Colonel for which I made a cake, joined the neighborhood pool as well as see Emilie graduate from pre-school.

Our day out in Crab Island was awesome. It was a little windy and the water was a little chilly but we had a great time. The highlight for the girls was not the 4 doplhins we saw but the jetskis. They LOVED it!!! and Emilie did not want to get off it. She loved the speed and was asking Sean to drive faster and faster. I have to admit, I was more scared than she was. Those jet-skis were top of the line ones. They were hundreds of boat. Crab island is an underwater island off the coast of Destin where people hang out during the weekend. It is anywhere between 10 and 3 feet deep depending on where you anchor. They play volleyball, swim, dance ... There even is a 'restaurant', an ice cream guy, a big trampoline...

For Memorial Day, we went to the Less' house for a BBQ with the Noto's. Very relaxing afternoon even though we got eaten by mosquitoes :-(

I then made a cake for Tom Cantilina's promotion to Lt Colonel. He is our neighbor and a military doctor (remember when Emilie fell and cracked her head on our neighbor's patio, he is the one who 'stapled' her). It was a very nice ceremony and everybody loved the cake.

We have joined our neighborhood pool (I should say pools, there a 4 in our area but we like the one in our subdivision the best). The girls love to be in the water. Emilie is starting to swim and does pretty good. Claire just discovered she liked to put her head in the water so that is her new thing. They are both really comfortable in the water which is great. THey will take some swimming lessons in June.

On the way to the pool though a path in the 'jungle'

We also still enjoy going to the beach.

Friday 30th May was the girls' last day of school and Emilie graduated from pre-school which believe me was a big deal. The parents were invited to the school for the 'ceremony' and brunch. She was so proud and happy.

The girls made crafts for their teachers

That night, we were invited to meet the Doolitle Raiders. http://www.doolittletokyoraiders.com/ Mike has been organizing an event here for them. Emilie showed a lot of interest for it and their manager invited us to join them for dinner.

Happy Mother's Day

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The paintings the girls made in school for Mother's Day

For Mother’s Day, we went to the Officer’s Club on base for brunch with Nana. Since I had made reservations for 7 (in case John and Marife would make it), we invited Mike’s Boss, Jim Less, his wife Kim and their 2 year-old, Madeline.

As we got to the club, we got a phone call from ADT, our alarm cie, telling us the sensor in the living room went off. Mike met the police at home for … a false alert. It was … the mylar balloons from his birthday party that flew by the sensor and activated the alarm!!! At least, now we know that it works…

Our table with a view on the Bay

Nana and her son

the 3 girls, Claire, Emilie and Madeline

After brunch, we walked by the water where we took some pictures and then headed back home for a quiet afternoon.

It was a wonderful Mother’s Day!

Happy 40th Daddy!

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I surprised Mike by flying his Mom over for Mother's Day and his birthday and I also had organized a surprise 40th Birthday party for him.

I had planned everything with Mike's co-workers to have him out of the house for the afternoon so I could prepare the party. He went on Kenny Ready's boat with his wife Kitty, Jim Less, his boss and Steve Micelli, another co-worker.

When Jim brought Mike home, we were all waiting in the driveway. There were about 20 adults and 10-15 kids. With the help of the neighbors, I managed to hide food and other supplies during the week and I also got a bouncy castle for the kids.

Mike was really surprised and we all had a great time!


Mike comes home with Jim; they get 'attacked' by the kids throwing water balloons...


The bouncy castle ----------------------------Kim, Jim, Kathleen and Karl






Mike and Kenny ----------------------------------- Nana, Candy and Larry (Mike's co-worker)