Where is the common sense these days?!

We are on our way to Atlantic City and I am reading the news, passing the time, when I come across the picture of a beautiful little girl who is missing. As the drive goes on and the day progresses it comes out that this little girl is dead. She was kidnapped, raped, and strangled. She was 8. Her name was Cherish. What a terrible situation!!! But then we find out that the man who took her had recently gotten out of jail for impersonating an officer and trying to take another little girl. That was bad, But THEN we find out that this "mother" basically handed over this child to this monster!!! So, Reader's Digest Version, mommy and childREN are at Dollar General, I think it was, where they are met by this gentlemen who told them that if they went with him to Walmart that he would buy them clothes. He would buy a dress for Cherish to go visit her dad in the next day. SO THEY WENT! This mother loaded up her 3 little girls and got into a VAN with a creepy old man! So they go, they get to Walmart and this man says that he is going to go to the front to the McDonald's to get hamburgers or ice cream of something and asks the 8 year old to go with him. Wait for it...THE MOTHER LET'S HER GO!!! This mother WILLINGLY ALLOWS her 8 year old DAUGHTER to go with this STRANGER!!!  I can't fathom. CanNOT fathom!!! Where is this mother's common sense?! I don't let my daughters out of my sight for any reason!! How can this "mother", this woman who is supposed to do whatever it takes to raise the girls up and keep these babies safe and she handed her daughter over to a stranger, a monster!! I just...have no words. I wish I had something profound to say but I do not. I really can't even think of anything nice to say. I am just sick to my stomach and my heart hurts for this little girl and her two other sisters. And for that father!! He was all looking forward to seeing his daughter in so many hours and now he will never get to see her smile, hear her laugh, or tell her he loves her again. It's just heartbreaking.

Our last hurrah before deployment!

We're here!! We are at the Showboat in Atlantic City waiting on our room to be ready!!! I am loving it already!!! Here's to a good week, lots of laughs, and great luck to Lover at the poker tables!!!!

Command Picnic with Daddy!

Yep, you got it, we're back in Virginia!! haha Today we had a command picnic to go to and it was such a great time!! They had EVERYTHING! I don't remember how much Mark said that they spent on it but they went all out and it showed! There was face painting, inflatables, a petting zoo, paint ball, snow cones, food, a car show, a great time!!

I just want to point out that she schooled that boy!! He had already been through once and when it was his turn to race McKenna she flew up that ladder while his dad was standing beside me yelling, "Come on! You can do it! Use the rope this time!!" LOL

Reason 1,298,473 why I don't like people

Dear person in the minivan who tried to brake check me and then gave me the stink-eye as I passed you, 

First off, thank you for FINALLY getting over so I could pass you. However, you did not have to jerk your precious beat up minivan back over into the fast lane only to slow back down. Those poor people behind you. smh
Second, I didn't even have to take my foot off the gas when you began to ride your brakes trying to brake-check me. I was not that close to you. Guess the joke was on you on that one.
Next, had you just set your cruise control or been in the proper lane and not going 60mph (in a 70, mind you) one minute to 80mph the very next, and then back to 65mph, we would not have been in the predicament that we were in because I did, in fact, have my cruise control set until you began not paying attention and changing speeds until you realized someone was just trying to pass you so you sped up only to drop below speed limit again once they were blocked in.
And lastly, the stink-eye as well as the flippant hand gesture (he didn't flip me off, he just waved his hands around as he jerked his van back over) were really just unnecessary. Please see previous point.

Sincerely,
The beast Chevy 4x4 that passed you on I95 this afternoon.

Uncle Tims is here!!!!

Yay! Uncle Tim is here!! *My* Uncle Time, let me make that known. He and Becca and Trevor are here and I am so so excited!! It has been far too long since I have seen them. Today was Joe's Crab Shack and the beach day. Eek!!

Happy Father's Day!!

The girls and I are back in Jacksonville for a little bit so at this moment I want to thank my husband for being so amazing, both as a man, a husband, and a father, and wish him a Happy Father's Day aboard the USS Harry S. Truman.

Saturday's with Grandma

Saturday's have turned out to be Abe and Grandma days. Every Saturday we go over there and handout for the day. Rose and Ron usually come over, too. Making memories for everyone. :) These are just a few pictures from today...

Playing with poppers!

McKenna brought home a hydrangea bloom. And, yes, she can tell you exactly what it is. haha

Mom's Family Wall

My parent's have done an amazing job with their house! It looks so good! They have done so much have so much more planned. Once they get it all done it is going to look incredible!! One of my favorite parts of the house so far is the Family Wall. 

Starting left to right we have...

The clocks are set at the times that each of us children were born. I am going to do this once I get my forever house!

Next is just pictures of all of us growing up.

This is the middle of wall. Where it all started, per se. My mom cross stitched the "Families are Forever" picture, I think for my Biggie but I could be wrong.

Next are family pictures. The bottom right picture is the last picture that we had with Papaw. Who knew?

And it ends with this amazing picture. This is my Mimi. She walks every day around the pool with her walker and, as the picture says, "pinned to her walker is her prayer list...as she walks, she prays by name for her family."

One day I will have one of these walls. 

My Favorite McDonald's EVER!!

Today I took the girls to eat lunch at McDonald's while we picked up Seth. He works at the McDonald's at the beach so as you can imagine the atmosphere is incredible! They have a jukebox!! A real jukebox that works!!! I love that. But the one thing about that McDonald's that I love the MOST??

ELVIS RESIDES HERE!!!

The booths are cars!

It is just an all around great McDonald's. And I am a bit partial to the one of the managers (my brother). :)

There are also a few other little people who are quite partial to Manager Uncle Seth...

And they love McDonald's, too. This McDonald's is now known as "Uncle Seth's McDonald's."

Friday's = Shopping with Mymy!!

On Friday's when my mom is off of work we spend the day with her going out to lunch and, here so far, shopping. haha Today we went to Hobby Lobby and then to Target. As on many of our errands and trips, Big Baby came along. And why would she not?! :)

The only way to shop at Target! 

Mother's Day Out

Today was our first day back at Mother's Day Out!! The big girls' went with Mymy but I was able to snap this gem before I took Maisie.

What a beauty is she??

We're Back Again

We're back in Jacksonville while Mark is out to sea and I think that the girls are glad to be back to all of their toys...

This was as soon as we got in. McKenna ran straight back to her room and put on her gloves and wings, and grabbed Big Baby's carseat. :)

Pool Day!

What a full day this has been! It is so nice to be back up here with Daddy. Today we went to the pool and the girls had a blast!! Honestly, these apartments are so wonderful. They are just beautiful! The pool overlooking the river...gorgeous!

I was still in the apartment getting the towels and all while Lover went ahead and took the girls to the pool.