Keepin' Up With The Rutledge's: Do you remember me?

There is so much to cover, I will not be able to sit down long enough to write it all out in one blog post! I think my last post was in August (Gasp!). I have been ~~lazy~~ busy and just not had the time to commit to updating!

Let's start with what has happened since Brandon's birthday (8/13)

1. Chloe started 2nd grade on 8/30! Where has the time gone and can someone make it slow down, please! She is loving school and has a ton of friends. She just got her first report card (12/10- they only get three per school year.) and it was nothing but good things. Except in handwriting. They give numbers at this school (1 is worse, 5 is best sort of thing) Chloe received a three in that category! You don't know how many times her teacher and I have preached to her to sloooowww down! She is always in such a rush! I just don't understand it. And I parrish the thought of her having awful handwriting because honestly, I have great handwriting. I'm a handwriting nazi, didn't you know?!

2. Chloe also started her 4th season of soccer on 8/31! Yay! This year she was on team Grizzlies! :) Can I just tell you that MCCS Camp Pendleton does EVERYTHING backwards! It's insane. And to be honest, we were REALLY spoiled by Parris Island, so it's probably just us, not them! But that will be our little secret! ha ha!

We were so proud of her this season! We're pretty sure if she keeps playing, she's already found her position- Defender! She's great at going after the ball and protecting the goalie! Only time will tell!

3. Our nephew Aidan Joseph was born 9/15! He weighed in at 7 pounds (mommy's biggest baby!) and is as handsome as ever!

Isn't he a doll?!

At first, big sister Ella didn't know what to think of him!

Halloween 2010

Brandon had to take pre-deployment leave the last 2 weeks of September. At the time, he wasn't deploying but no one else was going to be working, so they made him take the 2 weeks off. It was well deserved as he needed a break from the guys and to catch up on sleep! I loved having him home! We ran errands, had lunch dates and just enjoyed being together! I'm still in love after all these years! :) Aww!

October was a hectic month. Soccer and school were in full swing and Brandon was back at work. I also had to have my gallbladder removed. I had a couple of attacks back in the summer and after a few doc visits/consults, the sate was set: Oct. 5 I was going to have surgery. It's no big deal to me. It wasn't my first time obviously, and it probably won't be my last! Brandon took a few days off work to help with my recovery and he was wonderful! Mainly he did it to help Chloe. It was hard for me to get out of bed with any speed, so I would have been slow moving trying to help her get ready for the day! My doctor was wonderful as well. Explained everything and if I had any questions, was happy to answer them. The surgery only lasted about 40 or so minutes. I have 3 incisions on my stomach and one in my belly button! It was laproscopic, so pain was minimal, just really uncomfortable for a couple of days!

I must have still been loopy from the pain meds, because FOUR days after my surgery, we planned an overnight trip to San Diego! Crazy, I know! But in my defense, the San Diego Zoo was having a huge promotion! Kids get in free for the whole month of October (they do this every year in honor of the month the Zoo opened!) and Active Duty gets in free all year, so that left just me that would have to pay admission! It saved us a bunch of money! The Zoo is ginormous! The largest in the country (if not the world)! Of course because I had just had surgery, Brandon was sweet enough to push me around in a wheelchair. Gold love is heart! The zoo also offers tours on buses so we did that first to get acquainted with the place. They also have this "ride" called the Skyfari Aerial Tram. It takes you up about the zoo and it's beautiful to look down at everything! We rode it a couple of times, per Chloe's request! She loved it! We also found a great hotel that didn't break the bank. On Sunday, we went to our fave restaurant, Cafe 222 where we had yummy breakfast! A couple blocks down from 222 there is the San Diego Children's Museum. Once a month they get sponsored and allow everyone to enter for free! Our lucky day! We had a wonderful weekend and made plenty of memories! It was also a great way to celebrate our anniversary, which was that Monday, 10/11. Brandon had duty on our anniversary! :(

Our view from the Skyfari :)

The water was so warm in San Diego. Warmer than it has ever been in San Clemente!

7 years married! Love him more every day!

No fall season is complete without a trip to the pumpkin patch. Actually, I have to be honest! We've never taken Chloe to the pumpkin patch! I know, we're horrible parents! LOL! She's been one time and it was on a field trip with her school in South Carolina! It was my mission to find the perfect one! And I think I did just that! he Irvine Park Railroad in Orange, Ca. It was about 45 minutes away but well worth the drive! We had lunch, played games, took pictures and went on a hay ride and a train ride! It was a great day!