Better out than in

and a haircut! She is too grown up looking. The contacts were not supposed to get here until Tuesday.. They came early. She has BEGGED to wear them for graduation tomorrow.. I think I will let her. So my baby girl started out the day looking like this.. and by the end of the day, she had aged 5 years...

This is my life, or more specifically life with my kids. Nothing is dull, and rarely as it seems, and generally quite amusing! The following are all things overheard being said in this house.... "It doesn't hurt if it doesn't leave a mark, that's the rule" "Are you printing your own money again?" "We need a man cave." "STOP PRINTING MONEY!" "Ryan knows how to fly" "Mom, what would happen if we filled up the pool in our room?" "SERIOUSLY TRADE HER TO ANGIE!, we'll take Zachary" "I only ate the parts that you cooked right, someone else can have the rest" "Mom, tell Connor he isn't allowed to print money!" "SWIM, Ryan knows how to SWIM!!"

Tis the season for graduating and moving on. Perhaps not moving on so much, as moving up, or moving in general. Here in our little nest we are on the cusp of several graduations. (promotions whatever!) After Monday comes and goes Garrett will no longer be my little Kindergarten cutie, but a full fledged first grader. Tanner will be leaving behind the childish ways of all things that are second grade, and rolling into the third. (One step closer to becoming a math professor at Harvey Mud college, just ask him!) Very non-ceremoniously and with little pomp and circumstance Connor will move from the 7th grade into the 8th. However the biggest buzz and ensuing chaos has been created by Paige's rise from the ranks of one of the tiniest 5th graders at Green Elementary, to be one of the tiniest 6th graders at Pershing Middle School. Paige will "graduate" at 11:00 on Monday morning. There will be commencement speeches, procession up the red carpet. They will be called across t...

Right before Daniel deployed we went on a little hike with the kids, and decided to pack a picnic lunch. As luck would have it, I was out of most things I needed for a fore mentioned picnic lunch, so off I went to the store. I ran through quickly gathered my items and headed to check out with my lunch meat, mayo and pickles. I got up to the counter and had the following exchange with the cashier.. After scanning my items, he looked at me and asked ... "So, whatcha makin'??" Me - "Smoothies"

My brother inspires me, even if he's a little odd sometimes. I cry more lately. My current medicinal therapy consists of tea and yoga, and I have no plans to change that anytime soon. I don't watch T.V much, I have a hard time keeping up with series. I have never excelled in any one thing, but there are a few things I fake well. I truly, truly LOVE bacon! One of the biggest regrets I have, is not keeping in better touch with my cousins and extended family. I dye my blonde hair blonde. Mark Brunetz might be the coolest person on the planet. (quite possibly) Sports have become much more central in my life, much more so than I ever expected they could be. Donnie Wahlberg touched me. (It was kinda a big deal) :) *currently trying to plot out my next NKOTB concert* MUST .... GET .... IN FIRST.... ROW!!! I bought Saturn of the planet men today. I already have one for my nephew.. but it was on sale for 3 $, so now I have 2. I wish I had roses growing in my yard, but am afraid my d...

We spend 4 hours with our husbands in a uniform shop, followed by two hours looking for the right size of boot, because any time together right before a deployment is still time together. We try not to take the little things for granted for they become the biggest things when we don't have them any more. We stand in tears on piers, and are comforted and comfort women we've never met, because we all are feeling the same way. We cringe a little when people say "your so strong" because inside we are dying. We put on a strong face for our kids, so we can dry their tears, and calm their fears, and hide away that we have the same ones. We sleep alone most of the time, we worry, we cry, and we get up the next day and face life head on. We try to smile and brush it off, when people who don't know any better tell us how lucky we are because of all the "benefits."Medical, housing et al.. Not having to pay for a physical really doesn't make up for all the mi...

It never seems to fail. I go shopping.. doesn't matter where.. just out shopping. Having myself a grand ol' time, whether it be shopping for groceries or things a lot more fun than that, shopping. Shopping is great, until.... I leave the confines of the store/mall etc, and head to the parking lot only to have NO clue WHAT-SO-EVER where my fricken frackin car is!! NONE! No idea at all, good thing I have a green mini-van, cause THOSE aren't common! So then I embark on the mission of trying to find my car. I try the nonchalant approach at first, strolling with purpose down an isle as if I know exactly where I am going. This process is generally complicated by a car following me to get "my spot", so then I have to feign forgetfulness, "OOPS, (looking around frantically) must have left something in the store." It's back to the store to "retrieve" non-existent lost item, and try the car finding ruse once more. This time I try the more distract...