Algebra...

I am in my final class before I complete my associate degree... This class just happens to be Algebra... I took Algebra in high school and college (the first go round), but my goodness it has been a long time and this stuff is HARD...

Not to mention we are on what seems like a speed pace. We hardly have time to learn one set of skills until we are doing 5 more.

Seems sort of silly to me that I am majoring in psychology but I have to know how to graph number equations, solve inequalities, and find the slope of a line. I just do not see the point....

Sorta random... but my brain hurts and I needed to vent.

Remembering...

Two years ago I received a phone call that would forever change my life. On January 29,2007 my Mom passed away. I had AMAZING friends by my side who although may not have understood, they stood by me when I needed it (as they always have/do). I remember the day like it was yesterday.

Death is never easy and it is even more difficult when it is someone you rely on. It is weird but looking back I think I felt more at peace with her death right after the fact then I do now. It seems to me that as days pass and opportunities are missed with that loved one that we miss them more. Losing both my parents by the age of 23 is/was hard, but I have two more people in Heaven watching over us and protecting us.

I know that my Mom loved me probably more than I could ever realize, I know my Mom had her faults and even contributed to her own death, but now that I am a Mother I know that it does not matter to our children what we do or who we are, to them we are always their heroes and role models. My Mom was FAR from normal, and not always a great person but she was my Mom and my superhero, and I will always remember her that way.

It is hard to believe that it has been two years, it is hard to believe that I still reach for her phone, and that I half expect her to be in Ohio when I come home. But time has passed, and she is gone. On days like these, the anniversary of her death, her birthday, my birthday, etc. I just like remembering her.

Today is sad and happy in the same. Luke melted my heart this AM when he came to me and gave me a big hug and kiss and when I asked him what that was for he said "It was from Grandma in Heaven" :)
Rest In Peace Mom... October 11, 1954- January 29, 2007.

Stimulating the Economy

Well we splurged WAY more than we needed to but.... We are excited and happy the announce our newest addition...




Haha not many words are needed. We finally have three rows and a first BRAND new car for both J and I. We will be spending MANY years in this new addition. Altho I have to admit I am a little concerned about keeping the black clean, but we will survive and The Skips said they'd give me some tips! ;)

Thank You Marine Corps...

We went to church the other day for the first time in a long time. I love Church and always feel a sense of clarity after listening to the priest and the sermon. This sermon discussed living in the moment, how by nature we dwell on our past and plan for our future, the sad part is because of this we often loose sight of the present. I thought the sermon hit home, and reminded me to make the most of each day.

Well who would have thought the next day when we went to try and get everything situated for our pack out and move that everything we have planned, and were counting on would be completely taken away from us. We were informed by one department that their was no issue putting our HHG in storage and shipping our car. Just to find out from another dept that their is no possible way... Best part is the funding has already been approved so we cannot even opt to ship our own car or apply for a ERD. We are stuck.

Now I realize that we are fortunate, we live in a beautiful house minutes from the beach in Hawaii, but I also realize it has been two long years since we have been home (mostly my fault), hardly anyone has met Liem, and I was banking on a few months to spend with them and now it looks like it will only be weeks. (I still haven't broken the news to family yet I don't think I can get through the talk yet.)

However I will do what I always do when everything crumbles around me. I will be mad, cry a lot, get up and figure a way to make this ok. This is a perfect picture of what happens when you plan.... Life happens. I know in the end it will all work out.

So long...

Well we have been searching new cameras but had not really decided what and if we were going to buy... This morning we were saddened to find that our beloved Kodak Easy share took it's last picture at the Dole Plantation yesterday. I am glad we finally upgraded but a little sad that the Kodak only lasted 2 years.

I'm hoping to get more life out of our new purchase... Unfortunately Momma did not have time to investigate the Camera purchase like I did our washer and dryer, but I played with a few and found this one to be the most suiting...
We ended up with the one below, but I choose Brown. Something different.

Dole Plantation

We opted for some sightseeing today. We have been to the Dole Plantation but it never gets old, not to mention J had never ridden the train with Luke. Figured a easy day with the boys, and after I could finally eat at Cholo's!!!


The boys posing as pineapples.

The only family picture we got besides the 15$ one they took of us. Ill have to scan that one later because it turned out cute!


J and the boys.


Liem and I.

Afterwards we shared some dole whip... FYI heard through the grape vine that they use a powder and not real pineapples. Interesting info if it is true. Here I thought it was healthy... So after our impostor ice cream we headed to North Shore. The boys were pretty wiped at this point so we rushed through lunch... Cholo's was delish, altho it has been AWHILE since I have had real Mexican. Still it was worth the drive and the money.

After we stuffed ourselves we headed home Exhausted!!!

Nothing Exciting...

We have not been up to much. Trying to get some family time in and enjoy one anothers company.

J has been great with the boys and they both seem to love all the extra attention. We shopped most of the weekend away since J needed some new stuff. This weekend we are going to try and doing something a little more fun for the kiddos.

We are also planning our trip to the big island in a few weeks. Any recommendations??? We are only going for a few days but I didn't want to leave Hawaii without seeing at least one other island...

Anyone who knows me knows I DREAD flying... I'm starting to get nervous about the flight. I know it is like 5seconds long but it still scares me. I think I am more worried about the 6hr flight we have to take in two months. I just need some positive thinking, or some strong DRUGS... I will not miss flying looming in the future.

Ill try to get some exciting pictures to post since this post is blah.

Daddy is HOME

J got home early Wens AM. It is nice to finally put another deployment behind us and grow together as a family. It is nice to have help to and to finally feel like I am being a GREAT Mother. When J is gone I feel like I do what needs to be done to get me through, I am more or less keeping my head above water... With him home I feel complete, I feel like we are in this together and that we support one another. It is nice to watch us as a family of four playing, laughing, and enjoying one another. In this moment I can say my life is content, full, and perfect... If only for a moment or day, I will take it.


The boys and I waiting for J to get off the plane.


All of us lost in the moment.


Family photo... Luke is excited beyond words... He missed his Daddy so much. Liem will need some time to warm up but will in time.

My lil Fashionist

Luke is rough and tough and 100% boy, lately he has been a lil fashion man. The other day he insisted on combing his hair... Even better he did it in his Monday undies... I have to admit I am glad he is showing some interest in fixing his hair.

In this picture Luke decided to put a belt over his shirt, with his gray undies(at least he is finally wearing undies).

And one of Liem man because he is so stinking adorable... My lil cuddle bug who LOVES the slide. Up it or down it, HE LOVES IT....

The EVIL flu

Talk about ironic... J is due home in a matter of days and I get hit with the all loving wrath (as Genny would call it)... Evil pure and uter EVIL!!!
Thank God Bobi was near and helped me otherwise I might not have made it through the day... Between Liem shutting the toilet lid on my head, and Luke getting himself dressed because as he would say "Momma you gottah goto the opital?" (hospital).

I felt as though I could die throughout much of the day. J textd me a few times and I told him I would rather be giving birth. I knew I should have gotten the damn flu shot when I had the chance... So if you have not gotten it indulge yourself... :)

FYI This was not a side affect of wine night! ;)

PS Soon a certain someone will be HOME!!!

Wine Night

"Barefoot wine was created by two bohemian Californians with the philosophy that wine should not be too serious, it just has to taste great! Their vision was clear - get Barefoot and have a great time!

Our passionate team of Barefooters spread the word about our wines. You might see them on the streets of Manchester in their quest to make Barefoot available to as many people as possible, so give them a wave!" RRG, Barefoot.



There is nothing better then wine with just the girls... I have had many wine nights throughout the endless deployments and as our time winds down I find sad to see them go. With children involved it is not often we let loose with the good ole' barefoot or Franzia, but when it happens we always laugh...

Makes me sad to think about the next time I will share a cheap bottle of wine with my dearest friends. The beginning it was Angela and Riva, maybe a bottle or two with Genny at some point (altho we usually stuck to beer), I believe one here or there with L squared, I have had MANY bottles with Bobi, and my sister and I usually share a bottle over the phone.

It is during those few hours of girl only time we have a minute to let down our gaurd, overthink, and overreact on our lives... We always laugh the next morning remembering what we talked about and who we called... So thanks girls for the bottles, and memories shared!!!

P.S. To clarify the wine sharing is over three years... :) Didn't want to sound like an Alchi!!!

Haircut, Haircut

I took Luke for a haircut on Sunday (A little slow at uploading) to get a haircut...

This is the before shot... I was trying to leave it long but decided to try it shorter again. His hair is SO thick and makes his head HOT and SWEATY. Hard to believe this is the same kid who had hardly any hair until he was 2.



This is the best after shot I could get... Makes him look more like his Daddy, Altho it cannot be denied that I am his Momma.

On a side note Liem had his blood work done today and we are hoping to hear the results and the next step in a week or two... Prayers appreciated for lil man.

Falling into place...

J's orders were FINALLY modified to the correct date... I'm still a little nervous but hoping this time it all works out. Originally we had plans for J to leave for school in January, BUT he got sent off on this mini deployment, totally screwed our plans... However the best part is that NO ONE fixed J's orders so he was still expected in Cali next week while being thousands of miles away...

Luckily we got the orders switched and modified and I finally received a copy stating he has an APRIL date!!! I am so excited to finally have a goal to focus on, although the reality of leaving Hawaii is sad. When we leave this island there is a fairly good chance we will never return. Sad to think I will not have the endless choice of beaches, parks, pools, etc within walking distance. Sad to think we will be heading back to a world that is not always on vacation, and sad that we are leaving our first family home, a place where Luke learned to talk, walk, ride a bike, where Liem was born and reached every milestone. The memories are in our hearts but makes me a little sentimental to find that we have almost reached the end here in Hawaii...

Such is military and such is our story. I will spend the next few months taking Hawaii in and planning for our next chapter...

Luke's Photo Skills

Luke got the kid tough digital camera for Christmas from The Skippers. He absolutely loves this camera and takes pictures of everything and anything, but mostly of himself. LOL. I was scrolling through his pictures and thought they were blog worthy.


We went for a morning run this AM to the Super park. Luke snapped a photo of the trees and a sliver of his sippy... We'll call this one "Random"


Yesterday Terron took Luke fishing for some guy time. Luke had a blast and captured a shot of his catch... We'll call this one "Yucky fish"


Here are some of Luke's many self portraits... Guess he figures he is an interesting subject, that or he is used to the camera in his face...
We will call this one "Model face"


"Sassy Teeth"

"Bedroom Eyes and Mommy's butt"


"Mommy's close up"

"Bobi's close up"

"Terr bears DUI mugshot"

"Baby brother"

I am sure Luke will take many more pictures of randomness. I do not plan on developing these photos (YET), but I have to admit he tends to catch us in the moment.

2009

A few days into the New Year and I wonder what this year will hold. It seems odd that at the beginning of every year people make resolutions and reflect on the past year. It seems to be something I constantly do. Well the reflecting part more than the resolutions. lol. It seems that every January people feel like they have a clean slate and are ready for the new challenges and adventures.We already know some adventures and challenges we will face year.

In a few months the plan (as of now) is for J to travel to SOI West and undergo instructor training course, upon completion we will be stationed at Camp Pendelton. I will return to Ohio while he is in school to spend a few months with our family. I am excited for the chance to be close to home since it has been almost two years since we have been home. Wow two years, I cannot believe it has been that long, it seems to pass so quickly and it is hard for me to think we have not seen some of our family in almost two years. J will meet us after he finishes school for a few more weeks in Ohio and we will travel back to California to begin the next chapter.

California was not our original choice, but again a curve ball that we will accept and make the best of. 2009 will not be all laughs as we will leave Hawaii which has been our home for three years, we will also be moving away from our closest friends, The Skippers. We have moved from friends before but it will be different moving away from them, more so because our family and theirs is more like a large complicated blended family. We often get odd stares in public... lol. We will make the best of it and plan on many travels back and forth to see one another.

I am sure each day, week, and month will present something new. As of now I can only look forward to the next few weeks and that is the arrival of my hubby back home, a small family trip to the big island, and preparing for our move of this gorgeous rock!!



Happy 2009 from the boys and I. (Since J was not here for the picture!)