A Bribe. I mean, A Giveaway.

I've tried to start a couple posts today and none of them have gotten past the first line.
I'm experiencing some serious bloggy-block.

I haven't had much going on lately that hasn't involve the feeding and entertainment of children, and it would appear that I'm fresh out of funny.

So queue up the random!

-- Remember that time I went on a date in college and he ate himself sick at the Olive Garden?
No?
Read here.

--Let's revisit one of my favorite pictures ever of Alex. We put this on our cards for her first Christmas.

My grumpy little stuffed Santa.
She still has the grumpy face perfected.

--One of my friends here recently had twins. I took some pictures for her, and although there were others that better displayed their sweet little faces, I can't help but love this one.

I find the concept of twins to be fascinating. It's so hard to believe that they were both smooshed up together inside their mama.

--I have always enjoyed Q&A posts on other people's blogs.
They have the folks who read their blog leave a question in the comments, and then in another post they answer them.
(You probably didn't need that explanation, did you?)
I have oft wanted to do one of those posts here on my lil 'ol blog. I never have, because I've been too afraid that no one would ask me any questions and then I would look silly.

I've decided that I don't want to live in fear, and I'm obviously not that afraid of looking silly...

... so I'm going to try it out.

-- I thought I would help you help me not to look silly. So I will bribe you to ask me a question! Whoever leaves me a question on this post will be entered in a random drawing to win your choice of one of the following items:

A Seeds Family Worship CD.

I love these kids CDs. They are scripture verses set to super-catchy tunes. Sometimes I listen to them when the kids aren't even in the car with me.
Finally a kids CD that I can stand, and it is so cool that the kids are learning scripture in a fun way.

Or

You can choose this Coach coin purse.

It doesn't play music, but darn it, it will hold your coins.
(And it's not Korea Coach, if you know what I mean.)


-- So leave me a comment, and ask me anything you ever wanted to know.
Topics including, but not limited to: my favorite things, what I want to be when I grow up, Air Force life, keeping a home that looks lived-in, keeping a van that looks lived-in (by a messy hobo), researching a Disney trip until you log more hours on the computer than you will at the parks, aggravating your mother-in-law (It's a two step process involving growing out your son's hair and threatening to homeschool her granddaughter through high school), skydiving, streaking, pancake ballin', sharing TMI on your blog, and how not to garden.

The possibilities are limitless.

So go win yourself a CD, or a place to store your quarters.
Or just comment out of pity.
I'll take what I can get.




 

Picture Fix

Josh is requesting a picture fix of his babies.
I am happy to oblige, because they are my favorite things of which to take pictures.

I like this one because you can't hear Alex correcting her brother for whatever he is doing that is incorrect.

And I assure you that according to her, he cannot exhale without doing it incorrectly.

I suppose it is because Alex is full of herself after completing her last day of kindergarten.
She is so accomplished.

 Here she is this morning, ready for her final day.

There was a little ceremony in her classroom the other day to mark their promotion to first grade.

They sang several songs of which my daughter refused to do any of the motions.
But they let her graduate anyway.
Where have the standards gone?




This boy:

 Is handsome.

And has come a long way, wouldn't you say?

Poor big-headed chubby baby with no neck.

Will that do, Daddy?

Ten

One decade ago I married the love of my life while wearing my sister's wedding dress that was apparently about an inch too short.

We were both 22 years old, but only one of us looked like it.

This is my husband on our honeymoon. The bed & breakfast folks brought a candlelit tray of dessert to the room each night. We ate it in the tub.

I almost feel pervy just looking at that picture.
He was a baby.

We started our new lives together in Texas, because the Air Force told us to.

This was our first home.

Well, at least half of it was. It was a duplex, as you can tell.

Fact: I am still writing checks from this address.
Another Fact: We are still driving the Corolla.

Our first year of marriage was tough.

On top of the adjustment of being newly married and far from home, Josh's year was spent in undergraduate pilot training-- a demanding and stressful course.

I lived in a hotel in Mississippi for 3 months doing my Air Force nurse's training, and then spent the rest of the year trying to balance my first full time job with my new role as a wife.

My domestic skills left quite a bit to be desired.
(Some things haven't changed.)

Josh was always at work or studying, I was working shifts, and neither of us were blown away by what was supposed to be the "honeymoon season" of life.

Turns out that instead of being all roses and sunshine, figuring out how to meld two separate people into one unit was not as automatic as we'd thought it would be.
Learning to put each other first was a learning process, but a worthwhile one.

Thinking back to that time in our lives seems like forever ago. Yet in the same breath I wonder if it's possible that it's truly been ten years.

During those years we've lived in 5 homes, made multiple cross country moves, have been blessed with two beautiful children, and have shared happiness and heartache.

I know it sounds cliche, but I think Josh and I would both say that our love for each other has grown deeper every year. 
I am so grateful to be married to a man of God who strives to love his family sacrificially.
I'm proud to support him as he serves our country.

Even when he has to leave town as our son gets a stomach virus and our daughter clogs the toilet.
And if you know how I feel about puke, that's saying a lot.

I love you Josh! I wish we could be together today to celebrate!

And so you could give the kids their baths tonight.

But mostly to celebrate.

Here's to an amazing 10 years! I can't wait to see what the Lord has planned for us in the next ten.

Overheard.

Alex: "I wish I could have a little sister named Lily."

Life is full of disappointments.

A long day.

A long day, it has been.

Type like Yoda, I shall.

So we're down a parent, but have gained a fever and some pukes.
Unfair trade, I say.

The boy is ill.
Started out of the blue on Saturday with a fever.
So to the couch he went for some TLC. Bland food, motrin, aminal friends, and a show.

As of Sunday afternoon, we had long since traded the bland food for a vomit holding receptacle. No food. Small sips of drink. No aminals-- they add to the laundry when they get puked on. Movies last longer than shows.

A motrin/tylenol regimen is no match for the monster fever which has turned my son into a human fireball of heat.

This is not atypical. The boy does not do mild fevers. He's an all or nothing kind of kid when it comes to illness. Also, his potty routine.

I haven't left the house in two days. Going a little batty, even for my own hermit-like tendencies.
Bedtime could not come soon enough tonight.
So I met it halfway and started the teeth-brushing and potty routine at 6:30.

In other news, tomorrow begins Alex's last week of Kindergarten. (Unless of course, she wakes up puking.) How can this be? She still thinks that "aminals" is the correct pronunciation. And her calculus is a little fuzzy.
Maybe she needs summer school.

Ah, but she will be in summer school.
School of Mom.
And mom does not tolerate any carpet-poop-smearing. I have eyes everywhere.

(And a general rule that if you have to poop, you can speak up.)

Oh, and my calculus is a little fuzzy too.

Or a lot fuzzy.
Good thing I married a mathlete.

And you know what else? He's actually a really good teacher.
He's been instructing in the aviation world for years now. Plus Pat the Bunny is a teacher, so he comes by it honestly.

Know who has two thumbs and no teaching experience?

(Picture me pointing at myself with my thumbs)

This girl.

Recital

The costume-- $65

The tickets-- $20

The gas to drive back and forth two nights in a row-- $20

The look on her face when her Daddy gave her flowers--

Um, hello?
I just told you-- $105.00


ha!

As you can see, Alex had her dance recital earlier this week.
She loved it-- the lights, being on stage, looking like a streetwalker wearing makeup, everything!

I admit that I wasn't thrilled about the whole recital process, but it ended up being a fun experience.

We were only allowed to film during dress rehearsal, and Josh used the video camera up close to the stage. I took this clip with our little camera from farther back. So it's not good quality, but it should do for the grandparents.
If you're not related to Alex, this is three minutes of your life you'll never get back.
Don't say I didn't warn you!

I need a date for my anniversary, and other randomness.

It's that time again-- the Wednesday Hodgepodge! Join up at Joyce's site. 

 

 

1. Have you ever been to the US capital-Washington DC? If so, what's your favorite site? If not, what would you most like to see on a visit to that city someday in the future? Is it even on your list of places to visit?

Yep. From ages 3-18 I lived about 10 miles from DC. 

 It's one of those things that you take for granted when you're a kid, but I started to appreciate it more as I got into high school. Being able to take the Metro into DC to go to the all the "free" entertainment was neat. Things like the National Zoo, the museums, fireworks on the 4th of July, etc.

You can imagine that we had many a school field trip to the Mall. 

I think my favorite event was when I got to see Les Miserables at the National Theater. I was sure I wouldn't like to see a musical, but I loved it. 

I'd like to take the kids to DC when they get older. The would not appreciate it now, of that I am certain. After all, they've been a little spoiled with kidcentric vacations lately.

2. When did you last attend a wedding? Are there any weddings on your summer calendar? Were you a summer bride? If you're single, is summer the season of your dream wedding?

 

No weddings on my agenda this summer. 

The last one I went to was Josh's sister's wedding, almost two years ago.

Alex was the flower girl. 

 

 

Wasn't she so cute?!

She thought so too--

 

She totally disrupted the wedding because she thought it was her job to kill ants with her basket. 

 

I like to think she was trying to protect her Aunt Jessie on her big day. 

Our tenth anniversary is next week! 

Josh has planned a celebration in Vegas. 

Only I'm not invited. 

So if anyone wants to celebrate my anniversary with me, you're more than welcome! :)

 

3. What is your favorite way to eat strawberries?

 

In the field while picking them. Something about the warmth of the sun on the berries makes them even sweeter. 

4. What is one thing you are especially looking forward to this summer? 

 

Lazy days at the pool with picnic lunches and friends!

5. Do you use/like the self checker at the grocery store?

 

Only if it speaks to me with a British accent. Then it's more tolerable to be told that I need to "Place your item in the bagging area" even when it's already there. 

6. Share a favorite piece of common sense advice.

If you sprinkle when you tinkle, be a sweetie, wipe the seatie.

7. Barefoot, flip flops, tennis shoes, sassy sandals-your first choice for summertime?

 

Barefoot or flip flops. I usually run Alex to the bus with no shoes on, but I realized yesterday that when I go out to pick her up, I should wear some. It's in the upper 90's here and that driveway is HOT!

(And seriously, upper 90's at the end of May/beginning of June? Good grief!)

8. Insert your own random thought here.

 

McDonald's iced coffees are $1.08 with tax. Even the large.

May I suggest the sugar-free vanilla? 

It make me feel better about my indulgence.

Also, my son whipped it out at his doctor's appointment yesterday. 

Yes, it.

And no, it was not necessary for the appointment. 

 

Boys.