My Duty Night

I began my duty night watching 'Basic Instinct' (how and why did it take me so long to see that movie??), followed up by 'Bachelorette' (good movie, I was entertained...think 'The Hangover' but a girl version), and I am ending with 'Blue Hawaii' (Elvis in a uniform surely shall give me some sweet sweet dreams.)

No Greater Love...

Happy Easter!

Mark had duty today so the girls and I hung out, made Jello Jigglers, had mani/pedi's, and just generally had a good day. Lunch turned out exceptional! I didn't have all of the fixings for a traditional Easter ham but I did have Dr Pepper!!! Some Dr Pepper, a little brown sugar, and a crock pot and my ham turned out INCREDIBLE!! We had ham, green bean casserole, macaroni and cheese, and deviled eggs. We may have eaten on the kitchen floor on paper plates but the only thing that could have made it even more perfect would have been if Mark were here. It was a great day!

New Furniture!

Today we went and picked up the girls' new-to-them bedroom set. We got it off of Craigslist and the asking price was $600, we offered $450 and they accepted!! And, get this, they also threw in a 32" LCD TV!! Turns out, it was another military family and they were moving, he was deploying, and loading the U-haul as we pulled up. They were very nice. When we got there he told us that as soon as we got off the phone with him they got a call from someone offering the full asking price. He said he would rather sell is to another military family anyway. :) All in all, a very good day!

It's My Birthday!!

So today is my 29th birthday, Mark has duty and Maisie has been throwing up since last night. It just came out of no where! When she woke up this morning I thought she was going to be ok but then she threw up her toast I made her and it was all downhill from there. She threw everything up until about 2-3pm; toast, apple sauce, water, everything. It was terrible. She literally slept all day long until 5:30pm. She would open her eyes, look at me, and then her eyes would roll back into her head and she'd be out.  Every time she woke up she asked for her drink she I wasn't really worried about dehydration until the later it got during the day and she was just sleeping, opening her eyes, and then rolling them back in her head and going back to sleep. 

She hasn't thrown up anymore tonight so I hope that we are over it and not only is she back to herself tomorrow but no one else gets it!!! *crosses fingers*

McKenna on the other hand was a pill today; here, there, everywhere! haha At one point I said, "Stop or I'm gonna beat you senseless!" To which she replied, "How could you beat your child??" Well played, child, well played. haha 

And here is my birthday in pictures!!

How I spent my birthday, cuddling a sick baby.

My birthday dinner!!

Just in case you are wondering, the George Foreman makes great toast!

How I spent my birthday night. :)

My Birthday Eve

My Birthday Eve did not start out so great. To begin with, Mark and I overslept by 45 minutes (I didn't have to get up but I make sure he is up), I melted a bowl in the microwave and got grits all over the microwave, then I burnt the next batch of grits on the stove. I remember thinking, "Gosh, I hope this isn't the tone for the day" and yet here I am...up late washing pukey germ infested clothing. My poor little Maisie Eve, herself, has been throwing up all evening. :( Prayers are appreciated. 

My Executive Decision

I've made an executive decision. From now on, I will do the building and putting together of things. Or at least be head foreman. I just finished putting Maisie's toddler bed together and had to go back and fix things Mark didn't realize that he did. haha Let me give examples...

#1. I remember him saying something about this the other night but did not understand at the time. He was trying to put on that round bar thing and using what screws it said but then said that the screws weren't catching and he was going to use the longer ones. Me: "Um...won't we need those for something else?" Him: "It should be fine." *facepalm* It was not. So, in order to get the bed actually TOGETHER I had to go back and try and remember what piece he was working on when that convo occurred and switch out all of the screws.

#2. I finished getting the bed all together and was getting ready to put on the rails when I notice...
Please note that that is the side the rail goes on. See that screw hole on the right? Now see where the rail ends? Yep, he put the frame together backwards. I had to take it all apart (he already had one side attached and I went ahead and attached the other side, trusting him...haha) and turn it all around; foot board where he had the headboard and vice versa.

#3. This is the finished product. See the warning sticker and all at the bottom where it is supposed to be? He had it on the outside and upside down. I had to take the headboard apart carefully since I didn't notice this until I already had the bed put together and flip that piece and put it back together.

In the end, it is done...correctly. LOL

The Boogie Man

So we're watching 'Rise of the Guardians' for the first time and as a character comes on Mark was telling the girls who they were, most of which they already knew. Well, he comes to the Boogie Man and says, "There's the Boogie Man" to which McKenna responds, "The Boogie Man?? He comes and takes your boogies?!" Her logic, if the Tooth Fairy comes to take your teeth than the Boogie Man must come to take your boogies. Brilliant! 

Who Is She Talking To??

Oh my goodness, I am watching Maisie walk through the apartment talking on her phone, she is talking about everything she sees! I hear, "thank you, yeah, yeah.." and she walks into the kitchen, "eat? Yeah. Yeah." She turns to walk out and I hear, "pretty? Thank you." And then she turns the corner and she says, "yeah.." and starts laughing..like cracking up. Then she walks into the living room and says, "Kenna, Sissy, yeah, yeah..oh!" and starts laughing again. LOL She needs to take a nap but I hate to interrupt her conversation. :)

All You Need Is Love

Mark and I were laughing last night saying that it was like we were in college again except we have money because we had our air mattress bed set up, TV on the floor, sitting on the couch eating ramen from a red Solo cup. haha It was incredible though, it's like they say, all you need is love. :)

Oh my 4-year-old...

Things are going well in VA, however, I think that the girls think that we are on vacation. haha The other day McKenna heard a dog barking a couple of doors down as we passed by and she looked up at me with this look of surprise on her face and goes, "They allow dogs on this trip??" LOL Yep, she thinks we're on vacation. haha 

McKenna and I also had the following conversation today...

McKenna: Can we go out on the balcony?

Me: If you get some clothes on.

McKenna: Duuhh.. 

Me: (a bit shocked and humored) Duuhh?? Did you really just say that?

McKenna: Yes, I did. I really did.

What am I going to do with her?? LOL

SNOW!

Oh how I have missed the snow! It has only been off and on all day but that is great for me!

It's official...

I miss my Keurig. :( Mine is packed up with the rest of my house and mom said I could borrow her mini but I didn't have room in the truck. So for now, I am drinking Starbucks Via Instant Coffee. Not the best but it works.

Now This is Living

You haven't truly lived until you've eaten cheese grit from a red Solo cup. :)

The Truth About Texas

*I did not write this but it brings a tear to my eye every time*

Have you ever looked at a map of the world? 

Look at Texas with me just for a second. That picture, with the Panhandle and the Gulf Coast, and the Red River and the Rio Grande is as much a part of you as anything ever will be. As soon as anyone anywhere in the world looks at it, they know what it is. It's Texas. Pick any kid off the street in Japan and draw him a picture of Texas in the dirt, and he'll know what it is. What happens if I show you a picture of any other state? You might get it maybe after a second or two, but who else would? And even if you do, does it ever stir any feelings in you? In every man, woman and child on this planet, there is a person who wishes just once he could be a real live Texan and get up on a horse or ride off in a pickup. There is a little bit of Texas in everyone.

Texas is the Alamo. Texas is 183 men standing in a church, facing thousands of Mexican nationals, fighting for freedom, who had the chance to walk out and save themselves, but stayed instead to fight and die for the cause of freedom.

We send our kids to schools named William B. Travis and James Bowie and Davy Crockett, and do you know why? Because those men saw a line in the sand and they decided to cross it and be heroes.

John Wayne paid to do the movie The Alamo himself. That is the Spirit of Texas.

Texas is Sam Houston capturing Antonio Lopez de Santa Ana at San Jacinto.

Texas has huge forests of Piney Woods like the Davy Crockett and Sam Houston National Forests.

Texas is breathtaking mountains in the Big Bend .

Texas is the unparalleled beauty of bluebonnet fields in the Texas Hill Country. 

Texas is floating the rivers of the Hill Country on a hot summer day. 

Texas is the beautiful, warm beaches of the Gulf Coast of South Texas . 

Texas is beaches you can drive on and have many memorable bonfires with close friends. 

Texas is that warm feeling you get when someone asks where you're from.

Texas is the shiny skyscrapers in Houston and Dallas.

Texas is world record bass from places like Lake Fork . 

Texas is Mexican foods like nowhere else, not even Mexico .

Texas is chicken fried steak and world famous Bar-B-Q. 

Texas is the Fort Worth Stockyards, Bass Hall, the Mort Myerson in Dallas, The Ballpark in Arlington, the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, the American Airlines Center in Dallas, and the Astrodome (the Reliant Stadium now) in Houston.

Texas is larger-than-life legends like Michael DeBakey, Ann Richards, Denton Cooley, Willie Nelson, Buddy Holly, Gene Autry, Audie Murphy, Tommy Lee Jones, Waylon Jennings, Farrah Fawcett, Janis Joplin, Sandra Bullock, Kris Kristofferson, Tom Landry, Eva Longoria Parker, Darrell Royal, ZZ Top, Roger Staubach, Eric Dickerson, Earl Campbell, Nolan Ryan, Sam Rayburn, Howard Hughes, George H. W. Bush, Lyndon B. Johnson, George W . Bush, and let's not forget GEORGE STRAIT, the Big Bopper, Tex Ritter, George Jones, Clay Walker, Mark Chestnut, and Tracy Byrd to name ONLY a few.

Texas has great companies like Valero, Dell Computer, Texas Instruments, EDS and Compaq, Whataburger, Southwest Airlines, Bell Helicopter, and LOCKHEED MARTIN AEROSPACE, Home of the F-16Jet Fighter and the SF Fighter. And Texas is NASA. 

Texas is huge herds of cattle, beautiful horses and miles of crops.

Texas is home to the world famous King Ranch. 

Texas is home to the most amazing sunsets of gold over an empty field. 

Texas is skies blackened with doves and fields full of deer.

Texas is a place where towns and cities shut down to watch the local high school football game on Friday nights and for the Cowboys on Monday Night Football at the new Cowboy Stadium, and for the Night In Old San Antonio River Parade in San Antonio.

To drive across Texas is to drive 1/3 the way across the United States. Texas has ocean beaches, deserts, lakes and rivers, mountains and prairies, and modern cities.

If it isn't already in Texas, we probably don't need it. No one does anything bigger or better than it's done in Texas. By federal law, Texas is the only state in the U.S. That can fly its flag at the same height as the U.S. Flag. Think about that for a second. You fly the Stars and Stripes at 20 feet in Maryland , California, or Maine , and your state flag, whatever it is, goes at 17 feet. You fly the Stars and Stripes in front of Klein Oak High or anyplace else at 20 feet, the Lone Star flies at the same height - 20 feet. You know why? Because its the only state that was a Republic before it became a state. Also, being a Texan is as high as being an American down here. Our capitol is the only one in the country that is taller than the capitol building in Washington, DC. And we can divide our state into five states at any time if we wanted to! We can become a republic again at any time the voters of Texas choose, and we included these things as part of the deal when we came on. That's the best part, right there.

Texas even has its own power grid!! And don't even lie to yourself. Did I mention the LIVE music capitol of the world? 

GOD BLESS TEXAS

Our Adventure

We are in Virginia now, made it safely, but not without some adventure. We left a bit later than I wanted but not that much later. It would still be ok. We made it almost to the Georgia line, 30 minutes into our trip) when the girls told me that they needed to go to the bathroom. *deep breath* Ok. So I stopped at the rest stop right inside Georgia and we got out and went to the bathroom. Getting everyone out, into the bathroom, back into the truck, and settled it took 10 minutes. Goodness. We get back on the road and we are going when at about 3 hours in McKaela starts just throwing up everywhere. So she's back there throwing up, McKenna's crying because she hates to see her sister getting sick and she is afraid she is going to be sick as well, Maisie is crying because McKenna and McKaela are both crying. And I am up front going, "It's ok, not a big deal! We got this! Hang on, it's ok." I had to drive about a mile or so before there was a place to pull off. So I pull off and luckily had all of our clothes and towels and such in the back of the truck in boxes so I start digging through boxes, find a towel to clean up with, a towel for her to sit on, and another set of clothes. I get McKaela all cleaned up, everyone settled, and we get back on the road. After that I don't think there were too many stops. I think maybe 3 times for gas and then maybe another 3 for bathrooms? I was kind of bad mommy and just had the two big girls put on pull-ups so I wouldn't have to stop for the last few hours. :/ I kind of felt bad about that but I was just so ready to get here. 

We finally made it in 11 hours, I think, and it was SO amazing to finally all be back together again!! We didn't have any furniture other than one air mattress that we gave to the girls. But you know, I wouldn't change it. I wouldn't change a thing. We are in the process of scouring Craigslist for furniture and all but we are happy and blissful.

Divine Intervention

So since Mark did not deploy the girls and I are moving up to VA with him. Yay! We decided that since we don't know how long we will be here it would be better just to rent an apartment as opposed to buying a house. Mark had told me to give him my list and he would go check them out so that is just what I did. The apartments that I really liked wound up being not so great because not only were they a bit out of our price range but there was only street side parking unless we paid extra per vehicle for a spot in the garage. Nope. Then the other one that I had on my list wound up being ok but very very basic in everything and no in apartment washer/drying. We would have been on the 19th/20th floor and the washers and dryers were on the 2. o_O Uh...no. Not to mention, the apartments didn't allow college kids and majority of the people there were elderly. Oh and the parking lot floods when it rains. Again I say, o_O. 

As I am on the phone with Mark that day that he was visiting these apartments we were both kind of defeated and he said, "I just wish we could find the perfect place." At that moment he said, "write this number down and call them and see who they are and how much." I wrote the number down and Googled at the same time, the homepage popped up and they had all of these specials specifically for sailors of the Truman. I couldn't believe it. The price with all of those specials was right in our price range! Instead of calling Mark said that he was going to just go in so he turned right around and went in. It was 15 minutes before the office closed so they had already closed the model but they showed him everything else and told quoted him a price and it. It was PERFECT; a gym, in apartment washer/dryer, a pool, GATED. Just perfect. They also told him that if he came back the next day they would show him the apartment but would go ahead and hold it for him. He went back the next day and it really was just perfect. 

There was no reason for us to find this place, it was just a number on the side of a building, it really just had to be God answering our prayers and showing us where we were to live. It was such a great moment. 

So tomorrow is the day, we are all set and ready to move in, and the girls and I will be making the drive from Florida to Virginia!! It is going to be so great to have my family all back together under one roof!!

Myrtle Beach Meet-Up 2013...SUCCESS!

Oh my goodness, we had such a good time together! It was as if we had been friends forever! We talked until we just HAD to get some sleep and laughed until we cried. It was an amazing time that I will never forget!! We did some pretty fun things, too. Some of my most favorite times, however, occurred at the beach house. Just the times that we spent together not doing anything but talking, laughing, and goofing off were enough for me. However, as you saw, we did a long walk on the beach one day, the boardwalk another day, and Ripley's Aquarium another. This trip was definitely a trip for the books full of friends, conversation, and memories that will never be forgotten.

I can't lie though, I am SO glad to be back with my big girls. I missed them dreadfully! As I predicted, they had a great time with the grandparents. I knew they would. ;)

Myrtle Beach Meet-Up - Day 3

Today we went to Ripley's Aquarium and had yet another good time! The aquarium is always fun so couple it with good friends and you've got yourself a wonderful time! After the aquarium we went to Margaritaville and got some lunch before returning to the beach house for some relaxation (aka: naptime for the girls. haha).

Myrtle Beach Meet-Up - Day 2

Today we all got up and hung around the house a bit before getting everyone ready and heading down to the beach for a stroll...which turned into a long hike. LOL It was a lot of fun though. We all had our wraps on and were ready to hit the beach!

Toshua did Maisie's hair.

Yeah, she's a keeper!

Mommy and Maisie

Playing on the stairs...too bad you can't see Tatum or Evelyn. haha

Toshua needed her pants rolled up before our walk. haha

And now it's Brittany's turn!

Nothing like a nap on the beach.

The Mom Squad, as we became known!

Maisie and Isabella playing. So sweet!

It's a Maisie in a platter! haha

Myrtle Beach Meet-Up - Day 1

Well, Maisie and I made it!! We were running a bit behind because I left later than I wanted but it all worked out because Sheena's plane was late getting in. *whew* So Maisie and I got to the Myrtle Beach Airport, parked...ok, we drove around it once because I couldn't find how to get into the short term parking lot...darn construction! THEN we parked, went inside and waited maybe 5 minutes? It was perfect timing! As soon as Sheena and Isabella came around the corner I knew it was them and from there I don't think that there was an awkward moment between us. It was just as it should be. We got loaded and started heading for the house. We got to the address except...there was no beach around and definitely not a resort! Um...ok? So after a bit we met up with Erica who said she was waiting at the gate but couldn't get it. Turns out, she was at the wrong place, too. OMG! We are in a town we don't know and we are not sure where to go. Eventually we figure out, we have the wrong address. Oh man. So once we get the correct address we get to the house. By this time we have figured out that Toshua's plane was delayed as well. Oh my goodness. Sheena, Erica and I decided to go ahead and go grocery shopping and get that out of the way since the other three would not be in until late. I want to say it was 11-1130 before they got in? Basically, we all went to bed because it was so late and it had been an eventful day for everyone. Tomorrow will be the first day getting all of the girls together so that is going to be fun!

Myrtle Beach Meet-Up 2013

We're on our way!! Maisie and I are headed to Myrtle Beach, SC to meet up with some ladies that I met online on a website called CafeMom; we were all in the same September 2011 due date group. I've only ever met one of them in person so far so I am very excited to meet these other ladies with whom I feel so close to! I do feel bad about leaving McKenna and McKaela behind but we decided that this was only for mommies and September (or August in my case but hush) babies. Plus, I am sure that the big girls are going to have so much fun with Mymy and Poppy and Grandma and Grandpa and Great-Grandma and Great-Grandpa. haha