Happy Easter!

The night before we colored eggs.






The "hunt"













We had planned on spending Saturday at Sea World, but it was still cold and gloomy, and just wouldn't have been much fun...but Sunday was GORGEOUS....so that's how we spent our Easter Day...playing at Sea World! The day really couldn't have been more beautiful!

Let's back up a bit....

Ok, so I have so mega picture catching up to do! LOL Starting on March 21st...out 10th anniversary...we had celebrated two weekends before, b/c Justin's ship was supposed to be out to sea (also the reason we didn't have our wedding), so on the day we took a harbor cruise in San Diego harbor. GORGEOUS day and a really neat trip!






A few days later, Faith's school Kindergarten classes took a field trip to Legoland....well, Justin and I didn't pass up the opportunity to spend an "educational" day with her!! ;)







Next up....Spring Break...

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!!!