Bonded

In between crying and smiling...

these two have bonded far deeper than I ever thought possible.

The Pirate Queen

What a great book that shows that a woman can over look her broken heart to help the ones that she loves. Saphora Warren blossomed into the kind of woman you want to be on your side. She stood up to and for the people in her life while becoming a woman who is better than who she was.

I loved that even with the temptation to point out her husband's fault's, Saphora took the high road and kept those negative thoughts to herself. She showered grace on her family like a true southern lady.

Good Morning Girls

I am participating in this.
And is it awesome.
You still have a chance to participate.
Click on the picture to visit the Good Morning Girls website.

I want to live intentionally with my kids. I want them to know how much I love and cherish them. I completely blew it as they were walking out the door to school. I need to apologize and ask forgiveness. They should know every moment of the day that I love them. They also should know that holes in their shoes are not important.

Menu Planning

I finally feel like I can put my best effort into being a mom and homemaker again. I am doing my best to help myself by planning ahead and trying to stay organized.

Monday: Pork Chops, mashed potatoes

Tuesday: French Toast Casserole, eggs, & fruit

Wednesday: Carne Asade burritos, rice,

Thursday: Daddy's choice

Friday: Grilled chicken, corn on the cob

Visit Organized Junkie to get more ideas.

Big Events

There are times in my life when I can remember where I was and what I was doing.

• Beginning of the 1st Gulf War - eating dinner at church


• USS Cole bombing - driving to work in Maryland


• Sept 11, 2001 - nursing my 2 week old 1st child in Maryland


• Beginning of the war in Iraq - at home in North Carolina, we were the guardians for 3 kids whose mother was in that convoy out of Kuwait into Iraq.


• Saddam Hussein is captured - just moved in Florida


• Usama Bin Laden is confirmed dead - nursing my 10 week old 3rd child in California.

I know that there are many other significant events out there, but none that hit so close to this military family as these. Its amazing what has shaped our lives and the lives of our children.

I don't rejoice in the fact that there is a person who is dead. I rejoice that his rule over people is over. I hope that the people that were following his lead will see that there is a better life than the one they are leading.

Sweet baby girl!

Our sweet girl is here.

Scarlett

She is already 6 weeks old and opinionated,

but we love her all the same.

The Countdown Has Begun

Six months from now we will be moving on to our next duty station. The moves are getting harder for us. The emotions are more intense, but there is hope that we will bump into some friends in out next adventure. We hope that the next move will be the last move. From there we can finish our military career. That is scary and exciting all at the same time.

In the time between now and then we will:

welcome a baby girl to our lives

finish basaketball and baseball season

complete 4th grade and Kindergarten

enjoy visits from family

finish our 2nd year of Girl Scouts

and so much more.

While we look forward to being closer to grandparents, we are a bit bittersweet about leaving a place that has become home.

In Action

He stays on the move.

And

He's getting braver.

And

He won his 1st basketball game today
(not that we were keeping score)

Socks and Dyslexia

Socks and dyslexia is a combination that I never thought about before. but there is a link. At least in my house there is a link.

This is a face of dyslexia.

Funny, drama, and attitude all rolled into my daughter.
She doesn't quite get what she is struggling with or that others don't struggle the same way that she does. That's ok, we want normal in all aspects of her life.

Socks, lately I have noticed that she never has on matching socks. Maybe I should say that I have not been matching the socks, but simply throwing all of our socks into a big container. Each day we sort through and find matching socks for all those that need socks. It is what it is for now.

Last night, it hit me right in the head. If a dyslexic child cannot unscramble letters or do word searches without stress then why am I expecting her to match socks in a pile that must look enormous and unstructured.

DUH

Today is a new plan and someone is going to sort socks. My sweet girl has even come up with ideas for how we can sort our socks.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas!!

Baby Names

We are having an incredibly difficult time picking out a name for this sweet baby girl. I am a southern girl through and through and love to give my kids southern names.

So, who wants to give me some ideas?

Here is what we have come up with so far:

Olivia Jillian

Savannah

Julie Anna

Addison

Ainsleigh

Sara Beth

Faith

Lauren

We can mix and match these to create first and middle name combos.

What do you think? Any ideas?

Thanksgiving Day

Only one of us participated in the Turkey Trot. Look closely at that face, he did not like it at all.

One lap down and I think I will just watch for the others.

My crafty girl made a thanksgiving banner for us.

Making Fall Trees

The kids are out for the Thanksgiving holidays and I am in a crafty mood. I may get over that quickly depending on how messy things get.

We don't get many fall colors in Southern Cali, but I am doing my part to make sure my southern kids know what fall is all about.

Hopefully this time next year we will be in the Carolinas enjoying Fall in all its glory.

Isn't he cute. Messy hair, SpongeBob shirt and all

30 Days of Giveaways

I love giveaways. If for no other reason, since I rarely win, we get so see some wonderful ideas for Christmas. Join Ni Hao Y'all for her 30 Days of Giveaways that begins on Thursday.

Surfing Lessons

Very First Surfing Lesson

Check out other "orange" entries over at iheartfaces.com

Halloween Costumes!

We are ready for the Halloween festivities, but one is sick

and one is "super excited!"

Busy Fall

I have to say that I am ready for October to be over with. It has been a long, hard, busy month.
I'm 22 weeks pregnant and feel great, but I run out of steam by about 7:00 every night. Compund that with some yucky hours from hubby's work and I am give out.

We have had soccer

Cheerleading

Girl Scouts and the school Fall Festival.

They Really Do Love Each Other

She came home from a sleepover very tired.

And he just had to be in the same room with her.

My room to be exact.

It doesn't look like she minds to much (and she never got her nap).

Rainy Days

Today is a rainy, rainy day. Day #3 of rain in California and I am a bit sick of it.

Yesterday I made:

Sloppy Joe's

and

Toasted Pumpkin Seeds

They were both yummy.

I'm on the lookout for something equally delicious today.

Can He Really Be 6?

I cannot believe that my boy is 6 years old.

He is:

compassionate

serious

funny

athletic

smart

and a

ROCK STAR