Spring Break 2009!!

So, I had no real plans for us this year. Justin was in school, so we couldn't take a trip anywhere. I had to make the best of it....so day one was spent at the Birch Aquarium. And being that it was the week before Easter, it was "Eggstravaganza Week"...we got to see all kinds of interesting "fish eggs".

Baby Zoe!

My crew!

Day 2, a scavenger hunt in Balboa park. I spent a good 3 hours scouring the internet to find interesting things for the kids to find...and I knew we'd be spending the week with Tracy and her kids, so I had to make it, across the board, something that all ages could have fun with. I think I did rather well, and it ate up a good part of the day....and the kids (and moms) really enjoyed it! :) We learned a LOT about the park, and it's surroundings, as well as discovered some new hidden "surprises". Fun day!










Wednesday is "McDonald's Day" (early release day every week in school)...Tracy and I pack up our crew and "invade" McD's! LOL We show up, kids screaming and they KNOW we have arrived!! It's GREAT! But they have a huge play area, and we can sit and have adult conversation while they burn up some pent up energy!

Thursday & Friday it was rather cold, gloomy and rainy, so we spent time at home and did some little Easter fun crafts! (bad mommy, no pics!)

The Jog-a-Thon

It was HOT but the girls kicked booty!! I was so proud of them! They never compeltely gave up. Took a few breaks, but never gave up! Falyn ran 14, and Faith ran 22...and in Falyn's defense....her track was a soccer field and Faith's was the infield of a baseball diamond...so a distinct difference. They were both very excited about the amount of $$ they raised and have loved checking the mail everyday to see if anymore has shown up....SO from the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU for helping me teach my children this valuable lesson about the "good of giving".

Here are some photos from the day! (Chandler ran 4 of Falyn's laps!)

10 Years.....is just....

....amazing to me. Seems like forever ago, yet it seems like yesterday. Add it all up this far...4 different cities, countless different addresses, 5 deployments, 4 dogs, 2 cats, a few gold fish....and the most precious gift of 3 children...all squeezed into 10 "short" years. (Indulge me if you will..if not, you can stop reading now, I get kinda mushy! LOL)

Not many of our friends or family have even made it this far, with "normal" marriages (i.e. not military). Justin thanks me all the time for "putting up with it", but in all reality, I can't imagine my life being "normal". This is all I know, and as bad as I have wanted it, as hard as I have prayed for it, I can't even imagine what it would really be like, and I am not sure that I want to. A dear friend of mine, Moriah, once said to me...that we get the chance to miss each other and always be excited to see each other. To be honest, I think that's what has brought us to where we are today. If you haven't ever noticed, at the top of this blog is a quote from Sex in the City (ha! Jen!)...I believe that to my core. Every day....yes, EVERY DAY when I know I get to see him, I get butterflies...that's it right? I mean, if you don't have that, that excitement, then what else do you have? Ok, I am sure there are plenty of other reasons why marriages work...but that's probably one of the LARGEST points of mine. I get to miss him! I get to always need him. Oh please, it has not always been peaches and creme (my sister told me that), there have been occasions when I have WANTED him to get on a ship and leave for 6 months! GO AWAY PLEASE!! (Ang? Byrd? Can I get a "hell yea"?!)! LOL But, he's my best friend, my soft place to fall, and my biggest fan. I know that no matter what I say or do, he's on my side.

Justin, yea, I am saying this for the world to see....Thank YOU for everything that you have done for me and this family. I know that it hasn't always been easy on so many levels, but that what doesn't kill us.... God knew what he was doing. I love you more than YOU know, and I may not always be good at it, but to my core, there is no one else that I would rather go thru life with. Thank you. I love you. I can't wait to see what's in store for the next 10 years and beyond!

Lastly, Thank You to ALL of our family and friends....a few of you have been there since day one, and for you love and support we could not be more gracious. I'm sure plenty of you thought we were young and dumb, and were making a huge mistake. But something I have told Justin's mom before...I knew from "go" that I wanted to spend my life with Justin. That was never a doubt. When he said "leaving for the Navy"...I said "I love you! I'll be right here when you get back!" Cheesy? Yea of course, but hey...I was 20!! LOL Though the miles are long, you are never far from our thoughts. I only wish that you were all here with us today to celebrate this day with us!!

March 21, 1999 @ the JOP


Today

Happy Anniversary Babe!
xoxox

Amen Sista!!!

Why I love My Love....

Justin,
I really could go on and on listing the many reasons why I love you, but for today I'm going to limit myself to just 14 :)

1. I love that you are completely self motivated- you see something that needs to be done and just do it
2. I love that you make me laugh....yes honey, you are funny even if I deny it sometimes :)
3. I love that when Chandler crawls into bed with us in the middle of the night you let him cuddle on your side of the bed, so that I can still sleep!
4. I love your smile, I'm a complete sucker for those dimples!
5. I love your passion for life.
6. I love the way you play with the kids and let them beat the crud out of you!
7. I love the fact that you work so hard for our family, even tho it's a heartbreaking job.
8. I love how you try and put on the tough guy face, when I know how sensitive you really are.
9. I love that you say what you mean and mean what you say.
10. I love how ticklish your feet are!
11. I love that you have made up nicknames for each of our kids!
12. I love that I feel so safe with you!
13. I love the fact that you don't care what people think about you!
14. and Best of All.......I love the way you love me :)

More than all the stars in the sky...... I LOVE YOU!
Happy Valentine's Day Babe!

(and you've seen it already, but I love this photo of us!)

The Happiest Place on Earth!!

Disney is (finally) offering free admission to the military with a 3-day park hopper ticket. So, being that it's only an hour and a half north of us, we figured we'd take the kids up for a fun-filled weekend. Tracy & Rich (our neighbors) decided that it was a good idea, so 830am and we were on our way!! The kids and I were not free, but the Disneyland Hotel is also offering BIG discounts for military, so for less than $400....we got 2-fer tickets and a night at the Resort! Can't beat that!!!

Here's a HUGE display of the fun!!

Tracy and Zoe

Ben and Falyn

Faith and Savannah

Savannah, Falyn & Faith in Pixie Hollow

Day 2 - California Adventure



The highlight of Chandler's LIFE!!

Yes ladies and gentlemen....THIS is the father of my children!! LOL

And the ever adorable Zoe, pimpin the Mickey ears!