Well, today is the day that the boys and I leave for Texas. We have nice, non-stop flight so it should go fairly smoothly. I still haven't packed yet, and I still haven't gone to the store to get the little one some pants (he has outgrown all his pants and only wears shorts now), so I am going to be frantic trying to get all the things done that I need to complete (and yet I am taking the time to sit and write this blog. It makes a lot of sense, doesn't it?). I'm not really into flyi...

An interesting (and I suppose very useful) lesson I've learned from Army life is this: I'm not in charge. I've learned to relinquish any imagined bit of control I've thought I had over the places where real life intersects with the life my family has fashioned. Some things are going to happen, and I'm not going to like them, and there's nothing I can do about it. I can complain. No one will care. I can refuse. No one will ask me. "Tough titties said the kitties, but the milk...

The alarm woke me up at 6:40 this morning. I was having an angry dream. I was cooking breakfast for some jerk I didn't even know. He wanted French Fries covered in gravy with some sort of Sherry glaze on top (ugh!). I was slinging things around. I even broke a dish making that unknown bastard his breakfast. And then I was awake, listening to the bantering of the radio personalities. I heard the garage door open, and I walked downstairs in a groggy haze. I curled up on the couch an...

Is it cold where you are? Snowing? Raining? The grass is yellow and crispy and the trees are bare? Are you lips chapped? Your skin dry? Well, then you'll love to see some photos from our family outing yesterday, right? Hehe. We stuffed our big black backpack with towels and sunscreen and snacks and books and other must-have beach items and headed out to Hanauma Bay. The bay can be really crowded, so much so that the parking lot is full and no new visitors are allowed in unt...

Ever had a flawless Christmas? I don't think I have. Not as an adult, anyways. It's always something. Since Adrian's been home, I've put on a bit of weight. I've gone from healthfully voluptuous to voluptuous with a vengeance (read: chubby). This hasn't kept Adrian from buying me clothes. Last night after spending all day cooking (a great big breakfast in the morning, fudge, deviled eggs, cheese ball, green chili cresent roll appetizers, chocolate chip cookies, 2 pumpkin pies, an...

We had a terrific Halloween this year. It's so great to have Adrian home. Xavier and I spent half an hour getting him done up as a zombie. I cut up a different t-shirt for him because a kid in his class pulled on the one he wore Friday and stretched it out. Then, in a stroke of pure genius, I decided to rub his jeans and t-shirts in dirt from the back yard. Hehe. We used Adrian's camo for make up this time (and fake blood) and I think it was an improvement. It'll probably never ...

There's an article in me that I just haven't seemed to be able to write, although I think about writing it most everyday.  I don't know if it's going to come out the way I want it to.  Actually I have the distinct feeling it won't.  But I'm going to try. I feel like in some ways I've gone through a transformation. My life, or my outlook on life, hasn't really changed, but I have changed my view about something very special and important to me, and it has filled me with exc...

Just some pics from today (and yeah, the house is messy; it almost always is):   Daddy was helping her dance (not that she NEEDS any help!  She is a dancing machine!): Orian after a hard day at school: Xavier and Izzy bonding after school(she loves that boy!):      

We took the boys to see Iron Man at the PX today.  We got there at least 30 minutes early but the line was already long and reached all the way through the food court and out the door.  Iron Man was about 30 minutes late, so we were standing outside for close to an hour.  My boobies got sunburned and Isabella had a fun time trying to escape, haha.    Once we got inside the line moved pretty quickly, but after only 20 minutes of meet and greet Iron Man took a 30 min...

I have never been a particularly beautiful woman.  Unfortunately, I am stuck with what genetics dealt me.  Over the past few years, but especially most recently, I am noticing a marked decline in my aesthetics.  I am way too young for all this to be happening! A few years ago I developed a nice double chin.  This is the most stubborn double chin in the history of mankind.  Its prominence is reduced by weight loss (and I could definitely use some of that), but it ...

Ok, so I covered the electricty bill.  I will update that when I get my next bill (I could go look at the meter, but honestly, I haven't taken the time to understand and read it yet; shame on me).  The water bill is today's issue though. For the past month my bill (actually, it only covers 20 days) for water usage is $17 ($16.85, specifically).  The actual bill is about $65 due to fees, sewer, garbage collection, etc.  The part we actually have influence over is $17. ...

I don't have a whole lot since the camera has been acting so funny.  I need to take more pics!   Isabella being silly back in the hotel:     The boys at Billy Buzzards restaurant:   First day in the new house:     Smashing eggs with Grandma, Uncle Jeremy, & Aunt Amanda:         Easter Egg Hunt (camera was acting screwy, so this is the only pic I got): &nbs...

How cool is this?  I'm writing this blog laying down on my couch.  I love not being tethered to a desk when I want to use the computer.  I'm really excited about my new toy.  We should have bought a laptop years ago. Today was a crazy day.  As usual. This morning we went into the PX to check on my laptop order, to pick up some items, and to get some cash.  We went into the comic book store inside the PX "mall" since Xavier has been begging to go ther...