Our Soldier!

James' Uncle Larry is the soldier on the right saluting the flag on Memorial Day. He and U.S. Army Sgt Eric Sprang were on flag detail that day and this picture was featured as the Department of Defense's Picture of the Day (link to picture through Facebook). So very proud of our soldier -- can't wait for him to be home again! Thank you to all the soldiers, past and present, who have helped in defending our freedom!
Much love, The Montalbano Family
The picture description from FB :: DoD In Action - Photo of the Day: U.S. Army Sgt. Eric Sprang and Spc. Larry Motes salute the American flag during a Memorial Day ceremony at Camp Phoenix in Kabul, Afghanistan, May, 31, 2010. They serve with Task Force Cyclone, 38th Infantry Division, Indiana Army National Guard. (U.S. Navy photo by Master Chief Petty Officer Kevin Elliot, mass communication specialist)

Weekend Pictures

Above :: James was not happy that I went outside to try and take his picture in the morning...he was being so cute playing on the door and watching Easton while basking in the warm sun, I had to try
Below :: Aunt Kristen came for a long President's Weekend visit -- it was great to see her and Callie and Dutch (Easton was so happy to see them after his 2 week hiatus from playing post-stomach surgery)

James climbed up into Jimmy's lap to watch some of the Olympics -- I think it was the intense Snowboarding Cross

I love James' hair! It has curled up so nicely and it's super cute -- I think it drives Daddy crazy though. I just can't get myself to get it cut it yet -- I think I'm gonna go with Sheryl's approach and wait until someone (not family) asks me if I have a boy or girl (she just cut Ollie's hair and he's 5 months older than JamesE) -- unless it just gets out of control, of course.

Indy!

We went to Indy last weekend to attend Larry's going away open house as he was heading off on Tuesday to serve our country in Afghanistan. His orders are for 400 days* but we hope to see him again this time next year at a Welcome Home Uncle Larry party :) As an added bonus, we got to meet Ms. Avery Mae Folzenlogel -- the 2nd daughter of my friends from college, Toni and Eric. She was born August 5th and was adapting well to home life!
Kasey came over on Sunday to take photos for us as a Christmas present for GG and Pops. We had the whole gang there -- it was a bit hot (95 degrees) but there was a nice breeze and she got some awesome shots from what I saw (keep an eye on her website, http://www.kaseywalkerphotography.com/ for when she uploads some of the pictures). She took the big 10 people shots and then broke us down by family too...what a trooper! So, if you are in the Indy area and need a wonderful photographer, give her a shout out, she's fantastic!!!


James played a lot with Aunt Kris (KiKi) during our trip -- James ate up every second of it!


James actually napped in his Pack 'n Play for about 10 minutes one day last week -- I guess he naps better while holding on to both feet? :-)

*subject to governmental change

Family & Canines

This weekend Aunt Kristen and Uncle Larry came to visit James! It was sooo good to see them and have them around for the extra sets of hands. Larry is a master "swaddle swinger" (we are working on the patent on that one) and Kristen loved to hold her nephew -- which meant Mom & Dad got some much needed extra zzz's :-) Thanks you two!!! Larry is going overseas to Afghanistan in July, so we need to get some more QT in soon with them!One of the many "James" faces we've come to love...usually his lips are a bit more together, but it's so funny, he can get a perfect circle almost...it's one of his "thinking" faces I believe.

Kris and Larry brought their two dogs, Callie and Dutch, with them this weekend, which made Easton EXTREMELY happy -- finally someone here to play with him! The three of them had a ball chasing/pouncing/smelling each other all weekend and Easton slept all day Sunday and Monday after they left from all the hard work of entertaining his canine friends!

Corey and Jenny also visited James on Sunday. I didn't get a picture of Jenny holding him (who had baby custody most of the time) but I did get a good one of Corey *maybe* practicing for herself one day (*maybe*). It was great to see some friends from work and hear about my students (for the first time in 5 yrs of teaching, I thoroughly enjoyed all 3 of my classes I taught -- maybe that's bc I usually teach 5 classes/day, but I like to think it's because of the smaller class sizes and that I've changed as a teacher -- hopefully for the better)! Sorry about the run-on sentences, I do teach Physical Education, not English, so I just go with the flow as I type and use lots of "...."s to continue thoughts ;-)