4 Years Ago....

It's been 4 years....since our life changed...the day we landed in England. For some reason it's a major moment of change for me. I was 20 weeks pregnant with Philip and we set off to be in another country for 3 years. Which seemed like FOREVER!! But we landed with high hopes for the future and lots of adventure. Got a whirlwind 'back roads' ride to Alconbury. (NEVER did that again too many roundabouts!!) Arrived at the base, met our sponsor and went to lunch. We were there a day before we found out that a good friend of ours from Scott was stationed there as well!! The 1st night was interesting, found out that there is a magial place called Tesco and KFC isn't worth eating!! But fate there was a McDonald's on the other side of the roundabout. Monday came, and I discovered that I could walk the entire base in 20 minutes!! Where was I?! The Commissary and BX were closed! And that the housing office wouldn't let me look at the house they wanted to give me....so we went off base. We looked at 2 houses, so did another family the exact 2 houses. They took the 1st one and we took the 2nd one we looked at. I think we instantly fell in love with 7! It had a space under the stairs (Like in Harry Potter!) a consevertory, 4 bedrooms (1 was a glorified closet, but it worked for an office and scrapbook room) a garage, a really nice (small) back garden with an apple tree, and the second I saw the room over the garage I saw my nursery!! I think so did Claire (the landlady) and Brent. It was great!! I missed my family everyday. I didn't have a way to get around, Brent worked 12 hour shifts and the fall in England the sun comes up at 8or so and goes down at 6, so not too much sun. That was hard, but when he came home it was just us and that was nice. I did manage to get in on the ESC meeting and meet some great girls!! Most of who are friends on myspace now!! And so, we would go to the Ford's house for football in the middle of the night on Sunday. And Thanksgiving came and went, Christmas, New Years, and then the big day when I woke up with the urge to pee and my water broke...Philip came. Mom was visiting for the birth. He came into our home with love and joy. Months passed, I got to know the neighbors and created a family. Then we got another wild hair and Michael came along. We lived life and didn't realize that time was passing. We went to London, Paris, Rome, all over England, saw wonderful theater! All of the joys babies were enjoyed in true slow motion. Little did I know that time was about to expire in England of us. We packed up and headed to Maryland. The bubble that I had lived in was about to pop. I think that's why I still miss it. It was a safe bubble for me, where my life really changed, I became a mommy there, I got used to the English way of rearing babies!! I miss the lack of choice and having to find something that will work just as well. And realizing that it's better. I missed being near family, but I found one there military and 'native'. Life there is just slower and not so commercial, it's great to not have all of the commercial places that we have here. Sure I missed going to a 'real' mall, but after 3 years of not living at one I don't even miss it. I know it's there but I don't have to go. I think England or the little crappy BX on base cured me of my shopping bug!! Don't get me wrong I still LOVE to get a good deal, I just realized that I don't NEED everything that I think I do. Just to enjoy the little things, like playing with a baby all day and hanging out with friends. So anyways.....we've been here for a year and I still miss it every day...I know that it wouldn't be the same if I went back because it was a moment in time that I cherished and look back on with longing.....and I can't get it back....I do have my 2 gifts from England that remind me every day of the wonderful time that we had there, Philip and Michael! I think it's so hard for me to let it go and move on because in way everything that I ever wanted to be happened there and I can't be there now. That's why I'm in turmoil now, I think. But I need to look at it with a happy heart and be thankful for having that experience. Take it and enjoy the pages that have been made and quit being sad for what was and love what is now. Not worry about what tommrow will be but be happy about today.

So, 4 years ago was the start of a journey that hasn't ended but will continue as long as the good Lord will let me! It won't always be in the same place (thank you Air Force) but I will always have the memories and people that I love along with me!

And Now I Have A Boyfriend!

So, with the FIOS (it's awesome) installation I couldn't blog about the latest and greatest in my life!

So Melissa and I went to our favorire haunt to celebrate our fasting ending....ah the sun also sets! We waited, there is always a crowd...So we get seated at a table, not our favorite spot. We like the booth in the corner. So we get some totally awsome queso fundido!! TRY IT!! YUM! And our dinners, and traditional drink. And right in the middle of dinner we decide that we are moving, and ask if we can go to our booth, they even help us move all of our stuff. Now I have been going here with Melissa for about 10 months, they know her (her hubby worked there) and are starting to know get to know my face. So, we are at our booth and the host comes over to bring us something and calls me his love. We laugh and he walks away this proceeds a 'will you be my girlfriend' and a marriage proposal. All with the same anwser, "I'm married (happily) with babies. Thank you but, no" Always with a red face and giggles. I don't know what to think. My self esteem is all but non-existant and this throws me for a loop. He even brings extra large fried ice creams with a smile and a "I don't care you are married" Gotta love the persistance! So here I am to him beautiful! So I have to call my hubby and let him know about my proposal of marriage and he asks how much I've had to drink!! I'm laughing Melissa is cracking up! So, we get ready to leave and he tells Melissa (oh, yeah she is my translator, he speaks only a tiny bit of English) to tell me that he hopes to see me a lot because it will make him happy. With that we get the check and had free fried ice cream and more smiles! I love it! Just when I think that I'm the ugliest thing that walks the world. Someone tells me otherwise.

And YES my husband tells me all the time and reguardless that he has to tell me that or he really believes it are 2 different things. I know he loves me and wants to be with me because he thinks I'm beautiful and all of that. It's just really nice to hear it from another person (ie. male)
So, for now I have a 'admirer' and a free ice cream (every now & then) and the pick booth! And Melissa likes that! (the pick booth and ice cream) :0)
That's the excitement in my life! Ah, gotta love Mexican restaraunts! I was serious about the Queso Fundido! It's cheese dip with chorrizo!!

You Know What Sucks?

Going along and washing your hands and realizing that you have a paper cut in the underneath of your nail!!! OUCH!!! And that's how you find out you have a paper cut! Gotta love secretary work!

The Croc Hunter

Steve, the Croc Hunter has now been gone from us for a year now. And yet he seems still with us, showing us beauty in animals and that they are truly just as much a part of this world as we are. We were checking into our hotel about to leave England when the TV in the lounge reported that Steve had died. I had to sit down, I couldn't believe it....even knowing that he put his life on the line all the time. I guess I thought he was ivincible and that animals loved him as much as he loved them....and I know that what happened was an accident but it's just so sad. His wife and children especially Bindi are doing a wonderful job of carrying the torch. What made it worse was that just a few months prior Philip had discovered 'Steve' and started watching his shows. Since they were showing so much of him being only 2 1/2 he kept clapping and saying 'I love Steve' thinking that it was just another show. He still watches the Croc Hunter shows and now we have a family favorite, Bindi the Jungle Girl. It's really neat, the sad part is they started filming before Steve died and he has been in all the ones we have seen so far. His wife, Terri is so strong and wonderfully faithful to him still and his mission in life. I couldn't be so strong. My heart goes out to her and the young son who will only really get to know his dad from shows. But I guess he will know his father well in a since because you could see the heart and soul of that man and the love he had for animals. I have watched the croc hunter for as long as I can remember, Brent still has the action figure I bought him back from the Christmas of 2000. Funny thing, the action figure has been thru some attacks himself, from teething babies to puppy teething! He is now safely and proudly displayed on the top of the computer desk. Smiling always, smiling...That's why I guess we all love him...we felt like he was a friend, the crazy friend we all love who always smiled!
So, to the world (human and animal) we all lost a great friend. But we will always have the shows and specials that will always be on for us to see. he world will never be the same because of him and it hasn't been the same since we lost him but what a blessing to have had him in our time to know or at least get a peek into the mind of a man who loved all creatures.

Crikey! We miss you mate!!

We survived the 1st Day of School!

Yesterday was Philip's 1st day of school, preschool, but the 1st time someone else will take care of my baby other than Brent or I during the day for an extended period of time. Don't get me wrong he's had babysitters, but these ladies will be helping raise and mold Phil. And for a Christian school I'm grateful! So, we got up, he wanted cereal, Brent was ready to make what ever he wanted for breakfast, and he wanted kix!! Brent took the day off for moral support. So we got ready, and he brushed his teeth. He looked so cute in his new Gap outfit!! Very grown up. He nearly ran to his classroom! I had to hold his hand to keep him from running. Now, for those of you who don't know...in the picture the door to the left of them is the classroom door and the door to the right with the gray box next to it is my office!! So he's not far....but still! I decided to not work during his 1st day but go home. Brent took Michael to the commissary and I took a NAP! I should have cleaned but with not feeling well I rested, it was wonderful! When it was time to get him we went back to pick him up and they checked thier cubbys and got in line to walk to the foyer. As soon as he saw us he smiled so big and ran right to us!

He had a great 1st day. Once he understood that you have to listen....he loves is teachers too!! I have my 1st piece of art from school too! It's an 'all about me book' very cool! And a Scholastic book sales thingy. I had forgotten all about those!! I'm so excited! Books! They are learning about 'me' for now and then about community. Brent and some co-workers may be able to go up in uniform to teach them about military service in the community. That will be really cool and of course there will be pictures! My baby all grown up! Suprisingly I didn't cry, I was a little sad to see him just say 'bye' and run into the room. But the smile he had when he saw us was priceless! We took him to McDonald's for lunch and he told us about his day. He even took a nap that afternoon without a fuss. He's growing so fast!

An Ode to My Camera

Well, since the middle of last month, more like the beginning....my trusty camera had died! I felt like I lost a best friend, more like a baby...that thing caught memories and moments that because of it I will always have. I was behind that thing for the 1st 3 1/2 years of my babies lives. That camera got to see my new born baby hold his daddy's hand before I did. And it got the glimpse of Michael before he was even all the way out. It saw a great grandpa that got to see his grandson who brought his family full circle back to his home land of England before he passed away. I got the joy of a great grandma running to see her baby while her husband proudly held his namesake. And the 1st time an Aunt saw her nephews it caught the smiles and tears. All of the holidays, events, birthdays, weddings, babies....the silly pics and the great pieces of photography, I say thank you old friend.

This thing was bought in England, has gone to Paris, France, Rome Italy, Washington DC, London England and the US all over countless times until it took the last picture of a beautiful evening in London and moved with us to Maryland. All of the landscapes and places that's it documented, thank you old friend.

It's been tried and true. Babied, dropped (only a few times) and went thru tons of batteries. I'm sad that it's gone. But I will always have the images that it took for my family and I and for that I'm thankful. So, today I took my 1st pictures with my new camera, it's a little smaller, has a lot more bells and whistles, and was WAY more cheaper than cameras 4 years ago. But the 1st pic that the new family member took was of the old camera that has done so much for me.

So, I say goodbye to an old friend and welcome a new friend and can't wait for what this one will see and take for our family.

Thank you old friend. That'll do camera, That'll do.

I Got Tagged

Here's how you play:
Once you have been tagged, you have to write a blog with 10 weird, random things, facts, habits, or goals about yourself. At the end choose 10 people to be tagged, listing their names and why you chose them. Don't forget to leave them a comment (you're it) and to read your blog. You can't tag the person who tagged you. Since you can't tag me back, let me know when you've posted your blog so I can see your answers.
Okay, here goes. If you REALLY know me some of these things are obvious but for the rest of you here it is...
1. I once played Snoopy, and had the time of my life

2. I had to take voice lessons when I was little because I had to scream to be heard at the nursery school I was at, It nearly ruined my voice

3. I thought I wanted only girls, until I had boys

4. I am the Queen of Useless Knowledge

5. I actually think I take a good picture

6. I never beat Super Mario Brothers (the orginal one)

7. I honestly can't tell you what 8x7 is with out adding 7+7 is 14 and 14+14=28 and 28+28 is (8+8=16 carry the one) 56

8. I would love to be a professional scrapbooker, that gets to design things and make albums for people, on a grander scale than what I do now.

9. I truly love all of my friends and when I say, "If you ever need anything" or "anytime" I REALLY mean it!! I'm there.

10. I don't think I'll ever get my degree, and really didn't think I would ever not get one, and that's ok. My success isn't going to be measured by a piece of paper but by the Men my boys turn out to be.

I am tagging Melissa A, Ruth, Ashley, Mia, Melissa K, Tina, Bri, Angie, Janie, Daina