Luke Days - brings back memories

I've been going through all my pictures of the kids and our "little" family. :) And I found these from when we went to Luke Days in March. Luke is an Air Force Base here by us and they have Luke Days once a year. We LOVE to go and see the Air Show and walk around looking at the different planes and vehicles. Here are some of the photos from this past year:

Luke Days - 3/07

Just click on the photo to see the whole album.

I think that I'M the one who has the most fun. As soon as we walk onto the Base, a rush of memories come flooding into my mind. Growing up, we lived on Air Force Bases and often went to the Air Shows. I'm sure all my siblings remember being so excited to see the Blue Angels or just walk around with our friends, feeling so grown up. I want to share that feeling with my own kids, but then I realize, its not the Air Shows that bring back all the memories, its living on the Base.

I remember how cute all the men in "pickles" were! Or playing with a large group of friends after dark in the streets. I remember going to the BX and the Commisary. The swimming pool in the summer. I remember feeling so priviledged when we went through the gate and were saluted in. Like I belonged to a unique group. We even had ID's so that we could get into the Base, or the stores. The Base was a close community! Everyone understood everyone else because we all had the same background. We all knew what it was like to move, make friends, move again (repeat often). At first it was sad, but then you looked forward to the fresh start every few years.

There is a large part of my heart that is still connected to the Air Force. I get choked up when I say the Pledge of Alliegance or sing the National Anthem. Its embarrasing when I visit my childrens classes and they do the Pledge in the mornings. I'm the only Mom crying. :) I love, admire, respect the men and women serving because we were once there too.

In Honor of Heidi

Ok, one of my close friends is pregnant and just had a real horrible story about her weekend to Newport Beach. Short story - Puke on Marble in fancy hotel lobby! I felt so bad for her that I had to start a little blog thing. Everyone post a comment about your worst prego experience!
For me it was when I was very pregnant. I can't remember what child it was with - take your pick. We were visiting my parents and we were all up late playing games, Skipbo (the Devil's game). I hate that game. If you haven't played, you've gotta play it. Everyone needs to feel eternal frustration. It is the game that never ends, and it goes on and on my friends. Some people started playing it not knowing what it was and they'll continue playing it forever just because, it is the game that never ends. And it goes on and on my friends..........
ANYWAY - Bret took his turn just before me. and before he discards his discard (redundant) he tells me, " Sweetie, I know that this is the card you need to go out for this hand. If I play it you have to promise that you'll wait one more round before you go out. Ok?"
Well, sure - I can do that no skin off my back.
So I start to get all excited. I'm the one that never wins at games. I come from a trashtalking, loser harrasing family and I NEVER win. I'm some sort of anomoly in my family. So needless to say, so I'm gonna say it - I got REAL excited!!! I forgot every word that had just come out of my Hubby's mouth and I went out.
Bret looked at me and opened his mouth (will they EVER learn to keep that thing shut when around a pregnant woman?), "I TOLD you not to go out!!! Why did you go out??!!"
By the way, did I mention that I was VERY emotional?!
My response - gush of tears.
Everyone just stopped what they were doing and stared at me. All eyes on Fatty with the leak! I felt SO stupid and SOOOO pregnant!
So that's my story. I know, I know - it's no Fancy Pancy Barf (Heidi that's what I'm calling your experience), but it's all I got.

Ok, everyone! Now its your turn. Tell me YOUR worst prego stories! Have your friends come to my blog and post theirs too.

Hey, side note. How many of you are still singing the On and On song that I quoted?! :)

Pics from our trip!

"Little" Bit of Heaven

Just click on the picture to see the whole album!

And that was just a glimpse into our very fun trip to Utah! We LOVE visitng our families there and doing things with them - big or small. It means a lot to us that we have the opportunity to make trips and grow closer to our loved ones. Not everyone has that chance.
I lost my favorite Grandma and Grandpa a couple of years ago. It really hit me hard and I wished that I had more time to be with them. I don't want my kids to ever feel distant from their Grandparents (in miles or heart)!
Thanks for all you do, my family! And remember that I treasure it all up in my heart! :)
I love and miss you all so much!

Collective Sigh all around Buckeye

Today if you listened carefully, you could hear a great sigh of relief from many parents in Buckeye School District. Today was the first day of school.

The Little kids went to their new school and really enjoyed their first day!
Elizabeth is in 4th Grade and is glad that there are 3 kids from her old class that got transfered too. But she WILL say she's not glad that Oscar was transfered too, but I think she really is glad to have even his familiar face.
Elijah is in 3rd. I am glad to see some of his classmates transfered over too, I'm friends with their mothers.
Jacob is now attending all day in 1st grade. His teacher is really cute and young and eager! I think he'll love her.

And just so you know, I was one of the sighs of relief! This morning I think the powers that be were trying to get me to be glad to send them to school. All 4 kids fought over everything, even something so trivial as to where Mommy was picking them up after school. Elizabeth even dumped a whole bowl of cereal on her new school clothes. Had to change and she wasn't too happy about having to change. Lap full of milk; or clothes that aren't as "cute" as the first set - make a choice.
I finally got them out the door and to school. We were a few minutes later than I'd have liked to be. I walked them to the back of the school and helped them to line up with their classes. I got Jake in the wrong line, but quickly fixed that. And they all got in ok.
Yes, I let a few tears leak out. Not much though! Lets all pretend they were tears of joy! :)

My day without big kids was nice!!! Bret, LIvvy and I went to the new Walmart by us and we wandered around for a little while. Then we came home. Bret went to a movie and Livvy and I took a nap on my bed together. Now some of you are thinking, "No big deal - I nap with my kid all the time." Well, I don't. Naptime is so sacred to me and I put them in their own beds and I do my thing. In the past I haven't really been alone during naptime. I have 3 big kids that don't nap anymore.
But today was so special for Livvy and me. She cuddled right up to me and we crashed. When the big kids got home, she bragged to them that she got to nap with Mommy "in her own big bed."

I have one thing to complain about today though - I have to wait till Monday for a bit more of Heaven! :)

We Are Home!!!

Ok, for those of you waiting with baited breath (where DID that phrase come from?) for me to post a new blog, here you are!

We had an AMAZING time in Utah visiting both sides of our family! We went camping and 4-wheeling; we had Elijah's baptism; and Bret and I even had a few days alone while Grandma and Grandpa watched the kids. Which was the first time we have ever been away from the kids together overnight. The only other time I'VE been away from the kids overnight was when Elijah was a baby and sick in the hospital, I stayed with him so does that really count... and when I went overnight to girls camp. BUT I was pregnant with Livvy so I really wasn't away from her! :)

We got back late Tuesday night and as I lay in my own bed I grinned to myself. HOME! What a sweet thing! I actually stayed up a little bit and thought about what I had missed while in UT.

a little thing called central air! Thank You Mom & Dad for the bit of "Home/Heaven" in our room!
our dog - dork that he is, we've missed him!
the kids in their rooms and beds
being able to wear jammies and no bra
our routines
the DVR :)
my kitchen
my COUPONS!!!!
my sales and my stores (Albertsons, Bashas, Frys, and Safeway - oh, and Walgreens too)
my friends
yes, even my calling

I missed home. I loved being with family, but - no offense - it's so good to be back!

I'll post pictures and more info on our trip in the next few days!