Totally cute story!

     Cody sent our little one a birthday card. Inside she found a $20 bill (which let me tell you...tickled her something big), and a Dinar and Half-Dinar which is the currency in Bahrain.
     Well, she loves the Bahrain money because it's colorful! And, then she noticed that the Half-Dinar had horses on it!!!!
     Her response to that, "Mom, look! Cody found me horse money! He's the best brother ever!" Too cute!!
     Our little one is a giant-sized horse lover! We have everything horses (including her room), and, of course, our own horses that she rides, so she was SURE that Cody had sought out this horse money! TOO CUTE!

In perspective

     I have a cold, or maybe it's allergies, or maybe both. Anyhoot, I haven't felt up to par since last week.
     I am definitely ran down and tired. My body is saying, "ENOUGH, you do way TOO much!"
     I was thinking about how miserable I was feeling, and then I received an email from my son Cody, a US Marine who is currently deployed. He just made it all come back into perspective for me.


     Here is an excerpt of what Cody wrote to me:

     So anyways, we just got back from working with the French in Africa…. And let me tell u, that there is really no god in Africa. That place is by far the most horrible place I have ever been to. I thought I was going to melt, oh my god it was so bad mom. Haha. I hope I never have to go back there. We had a few heat casualties in the platoon, and a couple guys in Bravo Company got blown up from a mortar round getting too hot or something, and then guys rushing to the scene rolled a Humvee! So there was like two serious air medivacs going on at the same time. The guys in bravo got shrapnel in their chest and neck and were like gonna die if it hadn’t have been for the field corpsman and the other marines there. Pretty crazy news.
     And before that we were driving around in the oceans with our tracks (like I showed u in those videos) so we were in this heat, in 90* water, in an enclosed metal box. It was the hottest I've ever been in my life. And on top of that there was a leak in the gas line so the gas fumes was leaking into the sealed track. We had a two guys pass out, and the rest of us got sick. We ended up opening the top of the track while we were out at sea (which is like a big no no). and we got to shore right at the medical station and we had to rush guys everywhere that were all passed out and seizing up and stuff. Anyways, I know u don’t prolly like to here of that stuff, but that was my week. Lol. But I did meet some cool French guys (even tho most aren’t even French) and we met a lot of the African natives. So yea, I got to get going for now but I am back on ship and should be just heading home now. We are stopping in Kuwait, Thailand, and Japan and then back to Hawaii. So I am pretty excited! I love u ma! And I miss u!

     I am so proud of my son! I can't wait until he is home, and I am not looking forward to his next deployment, which won't be a Military Expeditionary Unit (MEU), but rather a standard deployment, probably to Afghanistan.
     I told him that I was glad that he told me everything because it reminds me that we shouldn't complain about and take for granted the things in our lives.
     I have a feeling that most of those soldiers would've happily traded me for my week!

Something to make ya smle ;)

     So, I am 37 years old, almost 38 (next month!). And, I had a first time experience just a couple of weeks ago.
     Ready for this? I was in a hurry, heading out early in the morning, and I grabbed my hoody sweatshirt.
     I pulled on, and wouldn't ya know, I put it on backwards. NOW, let me tell you that putting on a hoody backwards is a VERY strange experience!!!
     All of a sudden when you are expecting to pull your head through, instead your face is completely covered, and you feel like you might suffocate.
     Then you feel SUPER STUPID!!! But, it is funny!
     I can't believe that this has never happened to me before, but definitely an odd moment. LOL

Sorry I have been quiet.

     So, this past few weeks have felt like a year. I do feel physically and emotionally exhausted.
     The hardest part was losing one of our students. I have only ever been to three funerals (just don't do them), and those were two of my students, and one fellow teacher.
     I haven't felt much like talking or writing. Been feeling kinda empty.
     Such a loss to lose a young person. Jose certainly inspires us all. He will be so missed.
     Then when you couple the heartbreak with just doing too much, let me tell ya, I AM WORN OUT!!!
     Things look busy this next week, too, so right now I am looking most forward to the first week of June, as that seems to mellow out a bit (YEAH RIGHT).
     Before we know it, school will be out, and life will SLOW down!!
     For now, hanging in there, and I am feeling like I am returning back to me.

Suuuuuuuuuuuuuuurprise!!!

     Everyone who knows me knows that I love, love, love surprises! I love being on both the giving and receiving end of them!
     I am not the best with surprises. In fact, if someone has a surpise for me, often s/he won't tell me because they know I will drive them nuts about it!!!!
     In short, I love surprises, but I am too impatient to wait for them, LOL!
     This goes for giving them, too. I sooooo want to spill the beans. It's so hard for me to wait.
     OK, so for our little one's birthday, and also for Ricky Roo's (the day after our daughter's), and I had something HUGE planned for quite some time!
     We first headed down to Wenatchee and stayed at a hotel. This was fun because staying at a hotel = jumping on bed and swimming until we prune up!
     And, extra special, our little one modeled her new swimsuit and fancy flip flops from her Grandpa Bob and Grandma Judy!!! Too cute!
     Well, to make a long story short, they had no idea what or where we were going, and the next day started early...4:30 p.m. because we took a train to Seattle!!!!
     This was so much fun! It was a trip of firsts :) First train ride for Ricky and our little one. First time for them to go to the Pacific Science Center. First Imax movie (and 3-D at that!). First time in a taxi for our little one. We hung out at the fountain, which she loved!!!!! And, of course, the obligatory Space Needle pic! LOL. We didn't go up because we ended up spending too much time at the Science Center, but that will make for a fun trip this summer!!

Papa and sister!


She's a budding photographer!!


Making the Paddle Wheel work!


Drawing a cool pic!


We loved the bugs!


We loved the butterflies, especially! Yeah, for the butterfly house!






Mouthful of popcorn and ready for the movie!


Gi-normous chair!



     On the train we ate breakfast in the dining car, and we met really cool people on the train! Our waitress gave our little one the cutest wolf paper pad for her birthday; that was so sweet!
     I'm not sure what was the biggest highlight of the train trip...the 7 1/2 mile tunnel (longest in the US), which our little one decided the lights were "tunnel fairies" or that it was a blizzard on top of Stevens Pass!
     It was just an all-around super fun day!
     When I talked to my son, who is twenty, on Mother's Day, I told him what I had planned as far as the birthday trip to Seattle on the train.
     You see, I did the same for him when he was a wee little tyke. And, it turns out it was his 7th birthday, too!! How crazy is that!?!
     He told me that his train birthday to Seattle was one of his all-time favorite birthdays, one of his best memories!!
     Like I said, I LOVE SURPRISES!

One of the best weekends ever!

     It started with dinner at the Peacock Lounge at the Davenport. Let me just say...I don't even want to know the calories. YIKES!




     And, I had ice cream and then some mushroom appetizer as my dinner! For real, LOL!
     We stayed in the Tower (I had stayed in the original hotel before, and I wanted to try out the new one), which is a Safari theme! Very fun, modern and just plain NICE.





     The beds are so soft. I love the turn down service, and the soft peanut brittle :)
     The concert...AMAZING! I have watched MANY concerts in my lifetime, probably been to close to 70 (really, should do a list sometime!).
     Celtic Woman was ONE OF THE BEST shows I have ever been to!!!!
     Everything was good. The singing was absolutely incredible!!!!! What a range. It almost seems impossible for people to have such voices.
     The instruments rocked! From the drums, to the guitars, piano, and OF COURSE the violin!!!!!!!
     The lights, the set, the everything.
     When I left the concert, I just felt like my heart was FILLED TO THE BRIM!!!!! Talk about the power of music.
     I had such a great time with great company (my mother-in-law).
     Then we hurried home, so I could catch Jordan's second game against Omak. I missed the first one Friday night, and Omak won that one.
     We did end up winning the game on Saturday, and it was intense and exciting. Jordan was hit around from second and he slid into home on a close play to win the game in the bottom of the 7th inning! I was VERY proud of him!!
     Then Saturday night we attended the Okanogan Athletic Boosters Club auction. That was a good time, and good food!!
     I kept track of the live auction, and they made over $8500 on that, so I imagine they must be up to close to $10,000 counting the slient auction and raffles. What a fun and SUCCESSFUL night :)
     Today was Mother's Day! I got to talk to my mom, and my son, who are both so far away! I spent time with my family and friends, and I just laughed and laughed!!!
     We got our baby girl back this evening, so my day is complete!!!
     We have a HUGE week ahead of us! Stay tuned :)

Birthdays continued!

     Here are the ice cream cone cupcakes I made for our little one's class for her birthday!! YUMMY!!!
     I had the stand made by one of my students! Perfect!!

Celtic Woman here we COME!!!

     So for Christmas last year, we bought G-Ma Pat (Rick's mom) the DVD of Celtic Woman. Then on the back, there were tickets to the concert that is happening tonight in Spokane!!!!!      I am so excited to go! I love Celtic Woman, and I love my mother-in-law!      She is so much more than a mother-in-law! First off, she is the BEST grandma ever!!! She loves our kids so much!! All of them...bio or not! As a matter of fact, you would never know that my kids are not her bio-grandsons!      Patti is a mother to me. My mom is far away, and we are not super close, so often Patti falls into that role in my life, and I VERY much appreciate and LOVE her for that!!      We are staying at the Davenport, and I am SOOOOO excited about that, too :) It is for sure my most favorite place to stay!!

Red Shirt Friday!!!

     So, every Friday I wear red! Why? Because it's a show of support for our troops!
     It's not supporting the war or any of that...It's just about saying I love you to my son and his friends, and all of the other men and women out there!
     So, Happy Friday :)
     P.S. I have my lei on that my little bear gave me last night!!

Mother's Day is coming!!!

     I feel like Mother's Day is coming early this year :)
     Last night we attended the Kindergarten/First Grade concert at our little one's elementary school.
     It was so sweet! It had a Hawaiian and Mother's Day theme happening. And, it culminated in our kids bringing a colorful lei to each mom!I am even wearing mine today!
      Then this morning we had Muffins for Moms in my step-daugther's class. And, I had a blast!
     You know, being a step-parent often sucks because the bio parent often feels territorial.
     I'm lucky that my step-daughter, who I truly consider my daughter, loves me so much.
     Here was the conversation I was a part of this morning.
     The little boy across from my little one asked, "Is that your aunt?" The reply, "No, this is my other mom." The boy said, "You have two Mommies?" Reply, "YES I DO!" The boy said, "Your're lucky!" Then another little girl sitting at our table said, "I think so, too!" Our my sweet little one had the biggest smile on her face!
     I was sitting at a table with two kids who didn't have a mom there, and meanwhile our little one had two! She is lucky! If only, everyone saw it that way, right?!
     I left the Muffins for Moms after our little one read a sweet letter to each of her moms :) With that letter and a pink rose in hand, I felt like I was floating on out of the school.
     I am so proud of her. I am so honored to be her second mom! I truly understand how adoptive parents feel. I get that genuine love for another person with whom you have no biological connection.
     Also, I received this super cute little sunflower that my baby girl planted at Daisy Scouts.


     Again, I feel so loved, so appreciated, and I am ever so grateful to the people in our little one's life, who truly understand the dynamics and make sure that she has the opportunity to show her love to me :)     Then I get back to my classroom, and I receive THE most beautiful bouqet of flowers, and they smell SOOO good!




     SO, they are from my son Cody who is a WORLD away!!! He was in cahoots with my youngest son, who got him the number to the local florist.
     His card said, "Mom, Thanks for making me feel at home, even though I'm so far away! I love you! Cody"
     Can you say...emotional moment :)
     I feel soooooooooo loved!!!!!! And, it's not even Mother's Day!!!

Today is Star Wars Day!

     May 4th, National Star Wars Day...May the fourth be with you!! LOL!
     Too funny! I had a good time with that today ;)

The month of birthdays!!!

     My wonderful weekend started out early Friday when Cody called me! We had such a good conversation, and I so love to hear his voice!! I can hardly believe his birthday is in two more days!! He will be twenty. HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE?
     This will be the first year that I won't for sure be able to talk to him on his birthday, although I am hoping he will be able to call.
     So, after talking to my oldest baby, I went and collected my youngest baby and four of her friends (thanks to my best friend for borrowing her suburban), and off we went to start our birthday party adventure!
     First we headed to the dollar store. I let each kid choose five things as their party favors! This was soooo much fun, and it turned out even better than I thought! Each kid had exactly what they wanted!!!!
     It was funny to watch them grab their five items, and then see something new that they wanted and compromise and put something back! Ahhhh...the torture of being a first grader with the world of a dollar store at your hands!!! LOL
     Since they knew we were headed to go swimming, many of them were excited about buying pool toys! Yeah, for noodles, right?!
     We loaded back up with our goodies, and we headed over to the Pepper Tree to really start the fun!
     The kiddos swam for SIX hours! They did stop for mini-breaks of grabbing a snack (again, THANKS KATHY), and pizza (yeah, Hometown delivers to businesses and hotels), or something to drink.
     Of course, when big brother Jordan made an appearance, the kids went ballistic. Talk about a water war!!! LOL! I laughed so hard!!! It was a blast, even for me the observer!
     They tried to talk dad into joining, but he was smart, and played it safe, like me!!!
     We opened presents (man, those kiddos were so generous), and then we took showers, and paraded around in our PJs. We had some birthday ice cream!
     Of course, we also had to have a serious bed jumping time, and then we snuggled in to watch some Nickelodeon.
     The kids were OUT at 10:30, and I had to wake them all up at 8 a.m. to head down to eat some breakfast.
     They even had a blast every time we were in the elevator, and everyone who was around us each different time, always commented on our group. Definite memories made!!!
     So, we made it home, and then had to get our little one ready to go to another sleepover for her good friend! For four of the girls, this was the second sleepover in as many days!!
     I also squeezed in a double-header of baseball in Chelan. Then we spent a kidless evening with our good friends, the Lockwoods, playing PHASE 10 (which I won, LOL)!!
     So, Sunday was definitely the mellow-get-some-stuff-done-and-relax day!!!!!
     Does the birthday fun end there? HECK NO! Like I said, we have Cody's birthday on Wednesday. We have some fun Mother's Day activities this week, and some other special events planned this weekend!!
     Then next week is our baby girl's official birthday, and Rick's birthday is the day after her special day, so WOWSER, do I have a big surprise for the two of them!!!!
     I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE birthdays!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!