I didn't post last week because I had no pictures and couldn't think of anything to say.  This week was the opposite.

Last Sunday afternoon, we had birthday cake for Ben.  That is a chocolate fudge cake with raspberry filling, homemade cream cheese frosting, and fresh raspberries.  Yes, it was a good as it sounds.

Monday was Ben's actual birthday.  Because a couple of people had leave that day, Ben was super busy and didn't even get a lunch break.  We made him a sign before he got home.  The kids started panicking when the garage started opening because the sign was on it.  I assured them that he had seen it.

We had homemade turkey burgers (so yummy), then presents and more cake.

On Tuesday, Sydney had her first coach pitch game.  Because of rain, they had only practiced twice.  Sydney is the youngest on the team.  She turned 7 just three days before practice started, and she is in the 7-9 age group.  She spent the first half dancing in the outfield.  Each kid got one time at bat, and Sydney was the last one of the whole game.  Each kid gets five pitches then they can take a base if they don't get a hit.  Sydney was a little confused about where she was supposed to be when it was her turn at bat.

Her coach got her situated, and I got a few shots of her first couple of pitches.

Being the great mom that I am, I didn't expect Sydney to actually hit the ball.  So after half a dozen pictures, I turned off the camera and put it away.  On her fifth pitch, she got a hit!  She was so surprised, she just stood there.  I started shouting, "Run, Sydney!  Run!"  She took off for first base, and I realized that I didn't have the camera out.  Since she was the last batter, they had all the kids run home.  So here is a terrible picture of Syd running in to home once I managed to fumble the camera back out of my purse.

On Friday, Ben pinned on 1st Lieutenant.  I was planning on bringing food for a small party after the ceremony, so on Friday morning, I packed up the kids to go to the commissary before the storm we were expecting hit.  When we left for the store, it was sunny and dry.  About halfway through my shopping, I looked out the window and it looked really dark.  I finished quickly, but by the time we left, it was raining buckets with lightning and thunder.  They have baggers at the commissary who also take your groceries to your car.  One of them gave me an umbrella, which I held over the kids, but once I got to the car, I couldn't hold it and get kids in the car.  The kids were screaming because they were so scared.  I drove home at 10 mph because I couldn't see where I was going through the rain.  Here is how Zack looked when we got home:

And this is me.  My back was soaked.  My hair and pants were still dripping when we got home.

Things cleared up, and it was raining a lot less Friday afternoon.  We picked Sydney up from school an hour early and headed to Ben's office.  This is him taking the oath.

I helped the kids pin on the new ranks.

When an airman is promoted, it is a tradition to punch them in the arm, which is where the enlisted people wear their ranks.  Ben's boss, Col Kmon, punched Ben after he had his new ranks on.  Tansy looked at me in horror and said, "That man just hit Daddy right on his arm!"  They all got a kick out of it.

On Saturday, I had my first 5K.  This is us before the race.  The people behind me are Marae and Adam Foster.  We pretty much do everything together, including working out three times a week.

The start of the race.  I'm way back there.

Ben kept the kids and let them watch a movie while I ran.

You'll have to excuse my weird faces.  This is as I am coming to the finish line, and I'm trying to run as fast as I can.

I came in with a time of 40:40.  Not bad for a fat girl's first try!

Afterward, I got cleaned up, and Ben and I went on a date.  We started by hitting the base wide garage sale. We like that kind of stuff, okay!  We got a lot of boy clothes, a swimsuit for Syd for next year, new jewelry, kids' books, a game for Zack's birthday, brand new toys, wrapping paper, a bike with training wheels for Zack, and more.  It was great.

We then drove to Independence to eat at Red Lobster.  So yummy.  It's our favorite place.

We picked up Sydney's portraits at JCPenney, then picked up some stuff we needed at Target.  I know.  Our dates are super exciting.  We had only hired the babysitter for five hours.  We live an hour away from everything so that eats up a lot of time.  It was nice just to be together.

I picked up both of these vests at a garage sale.  My boys looked so handsome today!

Ben was called as the Executive Secretary at church.  We will not longer enjoy lazy Sunday afternoons around this house.  At least I can prepare delicious meals for my Sunday Warrior to come home to though!