Kick Off to Summer

We've enjoyed a nice family weekend even though the weather has been cool & rainy. Paul left with two of the boys last Thursday to go on a camping & fishing trip. It was a belated birthday trip now that he is home. They came home Saturday night soaking wet & cold but with huge smiles on their faces. They where just happy to have dad's undivided attention for a couple days.

On Sunday we woke up & held our breath as we looked outside to see if the rain was gone. We had a Welcome Home Bar-b-que planned as well as the first lake day of summer. Thankfully it was only partly cloudy with a few sunbreaks here & there. We got all the food together and headed to the lake. 

We took Banyan along for the first two hours so he could play & swim in his new custom vest that Ommie made . He loved it! As soon as he realized we where going to let him swim with his vest on he had so much fun! He still is not the best swimmer so we laughed, but he could care less. He listened to Jeremy really well and came almost every time Jeremy called for him in the water. He actually listened to Jeremy's commands better then mine. I wonder if it was because I was on shore watching & not in the lake with him like the younger boys  ? 

Banyan was also  taken on his first boat ride. Jeremy goes on the boat some in the summers to fish with his dad. We wanted to see how Banyan would respond to being in a small boat out on the lake. At first he was a little anxious to be away from shore.

Soon he settled down & enjoyed the short boat ride with Jeremy. We only kept him out for about 10 minutes so he wouldn't be to frightened. We will repeat this again in a few days so he can continue to get use to the boat & lake.

After awhile we enjoyed some great food & the kids played all afternoon into the early evening. They even swam in the still cold lake while us parents hung out. Paul enjoyed visiting with old friends as well as meeting a couple new friends.

By early evening the kids where tired & cold so it was time for me to head back to the house. Paul stayed down at the lake with a few of his fishing guys . I made it home with one extra teen but Matthew went to stay with a friend so it all evened out. We all enjoyed a quiet evening watching movies and fell fast asleep from all the activity. Now we can't wait for July 3rd when Paul can sign out on leave for a month. We have some camping trips planned, a visit from my parents who are flying out , as well as Hawaii for Paul & I. It looks to be shaping up to be a good start to summer for our clan & I can't wait to share it with my whole family.

Enjoying the Past,Present, & Future

I finally arrive in Tennessee after a long day of travel on Tuesday. I have been going non-stop catching up with my boys, my parents, my brother, & my best friend from college. It has been a lot of fun packed into two long days so far. I love waking up to 80 degrees & sunshine so much! I was at the pool on the first day by 10AM!! That would never happen in WA! My brother & his wife arrived for dinner on Wednesday evening along with an old college friend. We all enjoyed catching up & then Paula spent the night. We had an old fashioned slumber party with pictures we pulled out from almost 15 years ago.It is nice to just fall back into conversation with a good friend like no time had past when it had actually been almost four years. We laughed & giggled like we where back in college- staying up until 2AM! Then we crashed woke up & started all over again today. We went shopping, ate an amazing lunch,oh & I took her to get her first tattoo! YES- I said Tattoo! It looks great and was so much fun!

 

One of my favorite people in the world 

The kids have also been having fun & enjoying their time with my parents. They stay super busy all day every day! Their favorite thing so far was the White Water rafting they took them on one day.

 

Here are all my boys with my parents who are in their late sixties in Gatlinburg on a river! My parents are AMAZING! The boys & are so blessed by having them in our life.

I didn't forget about linking up with Amber today over at Goodnight Moon, just running a little behind. While in Southern Drawn Tattoo shop with Paula they had a great classic 80's & 90's radio station on playing heavy metal classics. We heard a lot we loved, but an oldie came on & I started singing along while Paula got her ink. Go link up with amber from Goodnight Moon to share your favorite song of the week I did!

Loving me some old Motley Crue reminding me of my High school days which makes sense as I head to my Reunion this weekend.

 

 Have a great weekend everyone & I'll check back in with more from my Tennessee adventures as soon as I can. I have my reunion this weekend & the Hard Rock Cafe on Monday with my older boys- GOOD TIMES!

Headn' Down South

Just so no one thinks something is wrong because I don't post much in the up coming week. I wanted to let you all know I am heading home to visit with my parents & pick up the boys. My momma-time is over & I have really enjoyed it even though at times I felt I was at loose ends. I always have something going on in the house with four boys. When you take them out of the mix it's at times blissfully quiet & at other times boring. On Tuesday I head to Tennessee for the first time in three years & I can't wait! I get to see where my parents chose to retire & visit with old friends from High School. My twenty-year reunion is next weekend & is sure to be full of laughter. So no worries if you don't see my usual posts because even though I will have my laptop time with me, I may not be posting much. I have only a week to visit so I will be spending my time with family & friends. I'll post all the details when I return. I hope everyone has a great couple of weeks ahead & ends their summer on a good note! Be back shortly folks~

1 More Day....

Just incse you have missed any of my posts lately (gasp) I have only 1 MORE DAY until I head to Portland, OR to see this amazingly cute guy in concert.

I really can't wait!! It is going ot be the highlight of my summer I am sure.  He puts on an AMAZING show that last for hours! Plus I get to spend it singing along with my good friend Bekah. We love us some Kenny,ahhhhhh I know there are more important things going on in the world for sure. But at this moment I am taking a mental break. I am going to enjoy the road trip singing loud silly songs, while taking cell phone pictures as we speed down I5 towards Portland. No worries Bekah will take the pictures as I drive along. I will enjoy the eating out, laughter,good music, & friendship of the weekend as it takes away my constant worry if only for a few hours. As a military wife with a deployed husband I know how rare these moments of complete happiness are during the year. I am going to let Kenny sing to ME & take away the stress if only for one night!! Here is another one of my favorites songs from Kenny- check back on Sunday for pictures from our Roadtrip. Have a great weekend everyone!

Okay just one more incase you can't get enough Kenny...

How Much I'd Forgotten

As I am laying around trying this new thing called relaxation while the husband is gone as well as the kiddos, I had forgotten a few things about the "single" life.

1. Sleep is AMAZING!!!! I can barely remember the last time I could go to bed WHENEVER I wanted because I could wake up WHENEVER I wanted!! Even the dogs have figured out I am NOT going to get up before 6:30AM anymore to let them out- LOVE IT! Thanks to new allergy medication & pure exhaustion the last two night I have crashed hard & slept through the night!!

2. What do I want to eat & when? Anything my heart desires is what I can choose!! No chicken nuggets, no hot dogs, no macaroni, no peanut butter & jelly- NO KID FOOD!! It's so GREAT!! Plus I can eat whenever I feel like it not right on the clock that the boy's seem to have set for meals.

3. Read a good book WITH OUT interruptions! I started a new book & never had to stop reading to stop fighting over toys or TV. Do not have to help with anything! It's so great! I forgot what it was like to actually get through a whole book in three or four hours! Not Three or four days or even weeks!

4. POOL TIME ALONE!! As I went with a good friend to lay out in the sunshine yesterday to soak up some vitamin D I realized as I was laying out watching the kids swim they are not my responsibility at all! I would have jumped into to help if they ever needed it but I didn't have to! No watching the pool 24/7 to make sure the boys don't drown eachother. Instead I reapplied sunscreen several times ,laid around, & chatted with my friend- AMAZING!! I did get a little pink in spots where I must have missed with the sunscreen but its already gone & I so didn't care!

5. Dishes in the sink- there aren't ANY!! When I do decide to eat something I wash the one fork, spoon, or plate immediately . It is then put away & therefore my sink is shiny & clean!

6. Laundry time- NOPE!! There is hardly any dirty laundry & what little there is is mine! No arguing with the boys to pick up their clothes off their floors & not wait until they run out of clean underwear to tell me! Love not having to wash two loads a day & fold- how I'd forgotten the relaxation that comes from just not doing laundry all the time.

7. Messy rooms- nope no yelling about picking up their rooms.! I just shut my teenagers doors & walked away! Normally I would be in there with gloves, trash bags, & lysol but not this time! They are old enough to deal with that pig sty themselves! I will strip the beds at some point so they have clean sheets when they come home but that's it! They will be shocked to realize mommy went on a "mini" strike while they where away & they now are forced to clean it themselves upon their return!

These are just a few things I have loved rediscovering while I have the house to myself. I am finally getting into the swing of this whole relaxation thing. It may be rather hard to let it go in a couple of weeks. But at least I'll be recharged for the rest of the deployment & that is really what this all about. I tend to forget tot take time for myself when Paul is deployed so this is some much needed time for just me. Do I feel guilty- not even a little! All four boys have been calling & checking in with me. They are having a BLAST doing all kinds of fun things with their ommie & pawpaw. So I am relishing this mommy time A LOT!

 Just a little snapshot of how I spent my Saturday-ahhhh My legs are the white pale legs. Us red-heads tend not to tan very much- but oh-how I love laying in the hot sun!

Fun Facts about Flags,Fireworks,& America

 

May everyone have a Safe & Happy 4th Of July.

Never forget Freedom isn't Free. We owe all our freedom to those who fought for us to enjoy all our bar-b-ques & fireworks tonight. Thank you to those brave men & women who are still fighting for us today.

Fun Facts:

On this day in 1776, the Declaration of Independence was approved by the Continental Congress, setting the 13 colonies on the road to freedom as a sovereign nation. As always, this most American of holidays will be marked by parades, fireworks and backyard barbecues across the country.

 

Flags

$3.2 million

In 2010, the dollar value of U.S. imports of American flags. The vast majority of this amount ($2.8 million) was for U.S. flags made in China. (COME ON PEOPLE- Buy MADE IN AMERICA!!)

 

$486,026

Dollar value of U.S. flags exported in 2010. Mexico was the leading customer, purchasing $256,407 worth.

$302.7 million

Annual dollar value of shipments of fabricated flags, banners and similar emblems by the nation's manufacturers, according to the latest published economic census data.

Fireworks

$190.7 million

The value of fireworks imported from China in 2010, representing the bulk of all U.S. fireworks imported ($197.3 million). U.S. exports of fireworks, by comparison, came to just $37.0 million in 2010, with Japan purchasing more than any other country ($6.3 million).

$231.8 million

The value of U.S. manufacturers' shipments of fireworks and pyrotechnics (including flares, igniters, etc.) in 2007.


Fireworks were first invented in China over 2000 years ago. The first firecrackers were chunks of green bamboo which when put with fire which causes them to make a loud cracking sound. Because of the way Bamboo grows, it allows for air pockets to form inside the plant's segments. Once heated up, the air inside the bamboo expands which causes it to crack through the sides which produces the cracking sound.
For more Fun Facts go to : Newsroom Facts

 

More Summertime Fun

We where blessed with one more Saturday together as a family yesterday - God is GREAT!! We decided to have over a couple of friends whom Paul hasn't been able to connect with to say his  "See you later's" too yet. It turned out to be a beautiful sunny hot Washington day on the lake for all of us to play! We all laid around at the lake soaking up the sun while the kids swam all day. It was so relaxing & the best time we had all had in awhile. Our one friend who is the "camp chef" made some amazing hamburgers for us to enjoy which Mike our other friend couldn't get enough !! I am pretty sure Mike ate at least a pound of hamburger patties all on his own! But that was what the day was made for- relaxing, over indulging, & laughter. Below are just a few snapshots of our day. They only capture a few moments of the fun we all shared. I am so thankful that Paul was able to have one more Saturday with his family & close friends to carry with him on his journey.I hope everyone continues to have a safe & fun Holiday weekend.

Last picture with a couple that has become like family over the past two years. They will have changed duty stations by the time Paul returns from his deployment. Who knew when we met them two years ago the friendship that would form. We will be sad to see them go, but look forward to "Seeing them later".

All the children except Jeremy swam out to the lake docks to goof off . They had so much fun we had to drag them out of the lake when it was time to end the day.

 Jeremy was busy flying his new kite most of the morning.

 Mike & Tricia the love birds out on the lake in our boat together.

It was an amazing day filled with all the laughter & joy. 

Did someone say July already??

I can hardly believe it's July already! Where did the time go? It seems just like yesterday Paul was coming home to say he had deployment orders again & I blinked now it's almost time to say goodbye. I ran around like crazy yesterday getting things done with Jeremy & Hunter. We got the ALL CLEAR on Jeremy- he finally has NO more air bubbles around his heart or in his neck! He laid super still for his EKG & ultra sound of his heart after I explained there would be no trip to Ommie's if he didn't pass all the doctor's test. He PASSED!! Plus he thought it was so cool to see his heart beating & inside his tummy!

 We did Hunter's last Orthodontist appointment until August as well. He had broken some bands & needed them adjusted. I was a little frustrated with him when the dentist told him for the third time he wasn't brushing good enough! If we pay the thousand's of dollars for his teeth to get straightened & he ruins them with stains- I will not be held responsible if I physically smack his butt!! I don't care that he is now 3 inches taller then me & out weighs me! I am still mom & in charge!! Hopefully when I explained he would be paying for the teeth bleaching if it happens- that helped. But who knows?? He is after all a teenage boy!

I forgot to mention that on the way to Post we had a baby brown bear run across the road in front of us. Yes folks I said bear cub! I swerved to keep from hitting him/her & ran off the side of the paved road into a huge pothole. I heard the car go thunk! We kept driving although my steering wheel was now shaking. I knew something was off & thought it had knocked the alignment out. We went down the road before pulling over to check the tires- they looked fine. But driving around afterwards I knew something wasn't going well with the car so off I go to get it checked out. Those huge flipping potholes had broke the rim on my brand new tires! So we had the tires refitted, rim replaced & paid up, grrrr. That money cut into my July vacation money- so I was really not happy with that bear cub!

When we finally got home I had a huge headache & was exhausted. One would think I would just fall into bed at night to pass out. NOPE my body & brain won't shut off everything that I need to accomplish this weekend. Even after Paul came to bed an hour after me & I listened to him snore away, I was wide awake until after 1:30AM. Hello insomnia my old friend it's NOT good to see you again. You just left me about twelve months ago! It is so NOT FAIR that you have come back so soon! It took me a good two months after Paul returned from Iraq last May to get use to sleeping with him again & his new snoring. Now that I am use to that awful noise, he is leaving- WHAT?? NOT FAIR!! Hopefully I crash at some point this weekend so I am not cranky with the family . The boys fly out on Tuesday to Tennessee for a month to spend some fun time with my parents. At least if I don't get some sleep by then I'll crash & have no responsibility until I fly there at the end of the month to meet up with them.

I have to say how amazing my parents are! Last summer they took all four boys for a month when we thought Paul would still be deployed. He came home early to take a new job but my kids still flew to TN to stay with their grandparents. For the first time in 15 years Paul & I where alone for a WHOLE MONTH! He had to work but we enjoyed every minute of it on the weekends & the evenings.Once again as soon as my parents heard Paul was leaving this summer they jumped up & offered to take all four boys again for three weeks so I could just relax after he leaves. I can't tell you how wonderful it'll be to get all the kinks out by myself with out the kids those first few weeks. I will relax, rejuvenate, & plan for the next year ahead. By the time I meet them in TN for a week at the end of July I will be ready to smile & enjoy the time I have with them alone during this deployment. God is amazing that he knew Paul would leave again so soon & blessed us with that precious alone time last July. Now he has provided once again the precious time I as a mom will need to prepare for the upcoming months with out my partner at home . I thank God every day for blessing me with such wonderful parents & I know my children are blessed as well.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Holiday weekend. Stay safe & remember to hug the ones you love because they may not be around tomorrow. I am off & will check back in later next week when my world will most likely feel like it has collapsed once again - but I will not complain to much as I am Blessed.

 

My greatest Gift's from God, my family.

Summer Time Means Cookouts

Our group of friends we spend most of our summer days with finally was able to do our first cookout last night on Father's Day. Normally by now we would have already had a few cookouts but this summer has been rainy & dreary in WA. The weather has definitely gone along with our moods over the past few weeks. Most of the time summer doesn't even warm up or start in WA until July. But we start bon-fires & cookout around Memorial Day just like the rest of America except this year. 

We where excited to head on over to Sam's new place yesterday to have our first cookout. It was also a little bitter sweet as we had to do the Army thing & say  "see you later" to a family who we have spent the last three summers with. Another family that has three boys whom two of my boys are close friends with theirs. It was fun to eat the brauts, paint some stemless wine glasses, & just goof off until it was time for it to end. I did fine hugging the mom goodbye it wasn't until her youngest who is best friends with my youngest decided to bear hug my legs.

I wasn't going to hug any of the kids because I didn't want them to see me tear up which happens frequently these days. But as I am walking out the door the little red head that has become so close to my Jacob wasn't having any of my quick goodbye. I told him to have a fun safe trip & the next thing I know he is wrapped around me squeezing away. He only reaches my waist but he hugged me tight & said "goodbye I'll miss you guys.". My heart melted & I squeezed him back then had to walk away fast.

I think this is really the first Army move a friend has made that all my boys understand  their friends are leaving. It has been very hard on my oldest & my youngest. They both played with two of our friends children daily every summer & a lot during the school year. Our older boys even share the same birthdate & have celebrated together. We explained that since their dad is Army they could very well end up right back here after they finish the school their dad has for the next year & a half. But it was little comfort for my youngest. Most days I am grateful that the Army provides for my family & we are blessed to have a steady income. But on days we have to say " see you later" it always STINKS!! This is just the first move to happen in my world . Before my summer is over I have to say goodbye to two more families who are like family- those "see you later's" are going to be heart breaking as well. For now I will enjoy the time we have left & I look forward to more fun cookout's through out the summer.

 One last picture to remember all the fun over the past few years we all had together.

I snapped one last picture of the older boys all hanging out down at the park.