Christmas 2009

Christmas was fun this year. It was the first year ava really cared about what was going on and the first year Evan got really excited about Santa. He didn't even sleep and finally at 5 AM he cam in our room crying because he was so excited. James was still awake becuase he was staying on his work schedule and Ava was awake in her room so we just all got down there and did our thing.
Evan helped me hand out presents and he was sooooo excited to see that the milk and cookies were gone. We made out like bandits and I love the presents that James chose for me. I got my traditional new blanket and the icing on the cake was a plum colored sweater jacket. It looks great on and I have been wearing it everywhere.
Santa brought Evan the Devestator Track and Ava Yo Gabba Gabba blocks.

Decorating the tree

This was the first year that I had both my kids helping decorate the tree. It was awesome and special. I'm glad we got to do it. James, of course put on the star and we all have our own letter ornaments and I made sure each got to put on their own letter. That's something I did growing up, so I have kept that tradition. Evan enjoys it. Here are a few pics from that night.

A Couple of "Accident's"

So we had a couple things happen a short period of time that I don't know if we should qualify as accident's, especially since they were done on purpose!
First it was Evan deciding that he needed to cut his hair. I thought we had gotten through the age where Evan would do this, but I guess not! He said to me, "I was just looking in the mirror and my mind just told me,'You need a haircut.' and so I did." Here are a before and after.

The second was Ava deciding she needed to look like those blue creatures on that nes movie Avatar. No, this wasn't the real reason. The girl just likes to color on herself and does it ALL THE TIME!!! I didn't get picks before the bath, but I got them during the bath. Just take a look at that blue water.
Enjoy!

Halloween

We actually made it to Halloween this year without snow. But it was still 14 degrees. Our ward Halloween Trunk or Treat was on the 31st so we went there instead of Trick or Treating in bthe neighbor hood. Lots of kids beacuse all three wards were there, but it was fun.
During the day we went to a fun activity on base and Evan got to play games and they both got candy there.

Ava's first Sledding

I'm baaaaaaack!!!!!

So at the beginning of this winter, Ava decided she didn't like gloves. So when we went sledding she didn't put them on. Poor baby's hands were freezing after 3 turns down the hill and cried.

Easter Weekend

So Easter weekend was really great!! I can't tell you how much energy I have again, now that all this diabetes stuff is being taken care of. Things are going pretty good with that by the way.
There is still snow on the ground here at Easter, so the base does an indoor egg hunt for the kids in one of the hangars. We went to that yesterday and had a blast. The 1-4 year olds went first and Ava thought it was cool. Then the people spread out more eggs and the next age group gets to go. Evan was in that group and he just ran and got a whole bunch of eggs including one that had a piece of paper with a number on it. That meant that he got a prize. It was an 8 pack of bubbles. So when we got back from the hunt, I parked in the driveway so that he could blow bubbles in the garage. It was still too chilly for him at 10 in the morning.
Today, the kids loved their baskets and then we got ready to go to church. Ava was a little toot and was not happy about her picture being taken. Hence, the new picture in the heading. I got to sing "His Hands" in sacrament meeting and that was cool. It felt very nostalgic. Like being back in Seguin where I got to sing every year.
This has been a great weekend.

Evan's Asthma and Allergies

So Evan has asthma and allergies, including exzema, and has had them since he was around 18 months. His asthma is triggered by his allergies, which are everything that they test for. All 42 of them at the highest level or the second to highest level. No surprise, I just feel bad for him. His asthma is also triggered by exercise, mostly when he is already feeling bad, and the cold, and when he is sick and everything else under the sun. That's what it feels like anyway.
They were bad in Texas off and on and seemed to peak at its worse the summer of 2006. He had to be hospitalized overnight in July that summer. The picture is of him playing in the playroom on the peds floor at Wilford Hall in San Antonio. James was gone to Qatar. Thank goodness we still lived in Texas and I didn't have Ava yet. Ryker had come to stay the night with Evan and so I called Mom and Dad and they came. Mom came with me to the hospital and Dad stayed at the house with Ryker. That was an experiance.
Then when we got here to Alaska, the first week we were here, Evan's exzema cleared up. The only places it was bad was behind his knees where he sweats the most and it flares a little when he gets overheated from blankets and such. So we thought maybe things would be better. We were wrong. Last summer was the first time we had to call the ambulance to take him to the ER. The attack just creeped up and we couldn't get it under control fast enough to get him there ourselves. This was not the first ER visit by any means and every time we have been, he gets breathing treatments and a round of steroids (prednisone) to take for 5 days to help his lungs not be inflamed. Those are not fun days, let me tell you!!! We have worked with his pediatrician and results have been ok. We now see a pulmonologist and he is good too. But things just aren't getting better.
He misses so much school and if I thought that he would be better off taught by me than in public school, I would totally and immediately home school him. But I feel like he would fight me every step of the way and that he needs that socialization he gets from school. He loves it there and all the kids and his friends. He is not behind and he has a wonderful teacher who I keep in touch with and we make up all his work.
Tuesday we were in the ER twice and he is taking his steroids now. Usually he can be back to school within a day or two, but this time it is really bad. It just really worries me and I hate for him to not be able to be a normal little boy. Prayers and research about homeschooling are definately in abundance these days.

Twilight...again!

Well, the movie came out on Saturday and I sure did go and get it. I've watched it three times since then and I still just love it. James even watched it with me lastnight and asked questions about it!!
Now, I want to read it again and remember all the differences and such. I started lastnight and got through chapter one before I was tired at 1am. I think I'm even more excited about reading it this time than the first time.

The playhouse

When I was a kid, like 7 or 8, Dad built a playhouse out of wooden pallets for us to play in. It was painted white and then Mom painted "Home Sweet Home" on the front and we loved it. Well it has taken a beating over the years but has stood the test of time. Repainted, it is now at Mom and Dad's in Kerrville for all the grandkids to play in when they go out there. The new tradition is to write your name on it for all to see. Here's Ava playing in it while we were out there over Christmas break.

Christmas 2008

So, last august, we bought tickets to go down to Texas for Christmas and at first we thought James wasn't going to be able to come, but then he did and that was cool. We spent the whole break down there and it was awesome. I didn't get as many pics as I thought but here are some from Christmas Eve and Morning.
Evan had woken up at like 4 am and the crashed again. That blanket he is covering with is his Spiderman quilt Mom crocheted for him in the shape of a web. Pretty awesome huh?
Ava loves "Yo Gabba Gabba" and so we got her a dvd with 4 episodes on it. She hasn't stopped watching since and I know all the songs and silly things they say and do. Evan got a SpongeBob lego set and a Ben 10 dvd.
No we didn't bring those all with us, I had sent all the presents early so we didn't have to bring them on the plane.

I know, I know...

So! Here's the big explanation. We went to Texas for Christmas. (Which was wonderful, by the way and there will be photos posted soon of that on here and on facebook.) After we got back I started feeling really bad all the time. I felt like I had the flu and I couldn't shake it to save my life. I was sleeping as much as the kids and James would allow me to. I would sleep throughout the whole day and in between voice and piano lessons. Some of those would even get cancelled because I felt so bad sometimes. Anyway, about 2 weeks ago I had a check-up for my thyroid condition and did some blood work that morning prior to the appointment. Low and behold, I have Diabetes and have had it for at least 3 months. That is why I had been feeling so bad. All the things I was feeling are symptoms of high blood sugar and Type II diabetes. It wasn't a big surprise. Both Mom and Dad have Type II and there is a long line in my dad's side who have it too. But it was a shock. I'm not quite 30 yet and I already got it. However, I have been saying for about 10 years that I get everything Mom has, just 10 to 15 years before she got it.
So there we are. I am taking meds, exercising and eating differently and better. No insulin shots so far and hopefully I won't have to. The medicine seems to help and I totally know what it feels like when I eat the wrong things and my blood sugar gets too high. It almost puts me out of commision now. I will not be doing that very often if ever. I have already started to lose weight and that is REALLY nice. Thanks for everyone's concern. Love y'all very much.

Twilight...The MOVIE!!!

So........I really liked it.
My favorite scenes were when Rosalie smashed the salad bowl in her hands because Bella had already eaten and when Edward jumped across the room when he was kissing Bella because he was trying not to bite her and suck out her blood.
I am, however, a little annoyed with Kristen Stewart's performance at the end when Bella is in the hospital and freaks out on Edward when he tells her she should go to Jacksonville. I felt like it wasn't pointed enough, targeted enough, concentrated enough. I felt like it was all over the place and she should have like...I don't know...freaked out but maybe grabbed him at the same time so he couldn't get away. I think it would have gotten the point across better. I guess that's what I'm saying. I feel that way about all the scenes where she had to be frantic in some way.
I want to see it again so I can better like her perfomance throughout the movie, I guess.
All in all, I think it was a great adaptation and I can't wait for NEW MOON!!!

Quick updates

Halloween was fun.
Our Ward had a Trunk or Treat the weekend before and so we went.
Good Food. Good Dessert. The activity part was watching some families play a kind of "Fear Factor" game. It was funny.
Then we went out and Trunk or Treated in the 17 degree weather.
Evan was Bumblebee from Transformers and Ava was a butterfly.(bottom two pics)
On Halloween: The base Trick or Treating started at 6pm. It was 14 degrees that day. So Evan's Bumbleebee costume wasn't going to be warm enough and he had also worn it out from wearing all week while he was home sick from school. So he wore his shark costume from last year because he could wear clothes under that and the his coat. I bundled Ava up with an extra hat underneath her hood and mittens and blanket in a wagon and headed out. (top two pics) Evan wouldn't listen and didn't put socks on and only wore his rain boots instead of snow boots and so we were only out for 30 minutes and then came home. Ate candy and handed out what we had. Evan liked that part the best, I think.

The Military Wife

They may look different and each is wonderfully unique

But this is what they have in common:lots of moving---
moving far from home,moving two cars, three kids and one dog----all riding with HER, of course
moving sofas to basements because they won't go in THIS housemoving curtains that won't fit
moving jobs and certifications and professional development hours
moving away from friends moving toward new friends
moving or storing her most important luggage: her trunk full of memories

often waiting---
waiting for housing
waiting for orders
waiting for deployment
waiting for reunion
waiting for phone calls
waiting for the new curtains to arrive
waiting for him to come home dinner.

They call her 'military dependent', but she knows better:

She can balance a checkbook,handle the yard work, and fix a noisy toilet.
She is intimately familiar with drywall, anchors,and toggle bolts.
She can file the taxes, sell a house, buy a car, or set up a move--all with ONE Power of Attorney.
She welcomes neighbors that don't welcome her.
Reinvents her career with every PCS;
locates a house in the desert, the arctic, the deep south or overseas and learns to call all 'home.' She MAKES them all home.She is fiercely IN-dependent.

Military Wives are somewhat hasty---
They leap into decorating, leadership, volunteering, career alternatives, churches and friendships.
They don't have 15 years to get to know people.Their roots are short but flexible.
They plant annuals for themselves and perennials for those who come after them.
Military Wives quickly learn to value each other.
They connect over coffee, rely on the spouse-network, and accept offers of friendship and favors and record addresses in pencil.

Military Wives have a common bond---
The Military Wife has a husband unlike other husbands.
His commitment is unique. He doesn't have a job, he has a 'mission,' he can't just decide to quit.
He's on-call for his country 24/7 but for you, he's the most...
Unreliable guy in town...
His language is foreign: TDY, PCS, OPR, ACC, BDU
And so, a Military Wife is a translator for her family and his.
She is the long-distance link to keep them informed; the glue that holds them together.

Military Wife has her moments---

She wants to wring his neck, dye his uniform pink, and refuse to move to Siberia.
But she pulls herself together.Give her a few days, a travel brochure, a long hot bath, a pledge to the flag, and a wedding picture.
And she goes.
She packs.She moves.
She follows.

Why?
What for?
How come?
You may think it is because she has lost her mind.
But actually it is because she has lost her heart.
It was stolen from her by a man who puts duty first,who salutes the flag,
whose boots in the doorway remind her that as long as he is her Military husband,
She will remain his Military wife.

First Snow

So, Today, I was playing with the kids in the afternoon after conference and Evan looked up and said, "Mom, It's snowing outside!!" And sure enough it was. Not just sleety snow and then it disappeared, but real snow and it was sticking.
So we got in our snow gear and went outside. Evan made some snow angels and his first snowman of the season. :D Ava liked it and wasn't scared at all, except when her mitten came off one hand and then she didn't want to touch it. I guess we are really in for it and it will be snowing on Halloween. We shall see. Maybe because it started earlier this year it won't last through April like last year.
Cross your fingers!!!

Autumn.....

*Big Breath In*
*Hold*
*Let it out*
I absolutely love the Fall. In Texas, Fall is later than normal and it doesn't get that cold. Here in Alaska, it is right where it should be, but only lasts for a few weeks and is cooler than most. The last couple of weeks and 25 degrees at 9 o'clock in the morning, to be precise. BUT, the season brings with it a certain feel, smell, look; very nostalgic somehow and I LOVE IT!!!!
The trees are very gold, orange, yellow and red right now and leaves are piling up on the ground underneath them. Kids running around with lite jackets on throwing those leaves in the air reminds me of school and then I think about all those Friday night football games down there in Texas and it makes me want nachos, a hot dog and rootbeer. :D Hee hee!!!

No, I did not take this picture, but it is a very accurate... no pretty much exactly what it looks like about 10 miles down the road toward our chapel in Eagle River. It is absolutely breath taking to come up over the hill and see that right in front of you. Oh the works of our Heavenly Father.
*Big Breath In*
*Hold It*
*And sigh*

Husband Tag

1. Where did you meet?
We met at a party that was thrown by one of the guys from the singles ward. It was actually my first anything back in the singles ward after a long while. I went with my sisters friend who was back from school for the summer. We were running really late and when we got there only James and his friend Shelby were there and were fixin' to leave. But when we came in and were introduced, James and I shook hands and we both had the thought that we needed to get to know the other. Needless to say, he didn't leave and we hung out and talked to whole rest of the night.
2. How long did you date before you got married?
We Met on July 6, 2001.
We were engaged on July 20th.
We were married on October 19th.
3. How long have you been married?
Almost 7 years
4. What does he do that surprises you?
He takes care of the kids a great deal so that I can do whatever. Even if it is just me getting out of the house.
5. What is you favorite feature of his?
His smile. It lights his whole face up and his eyes twinkle.
6. What is your favorite quality of his?
I love his absolute and unconditional love for his children. He is a wonderful dad.
7. Does he have a nickname for you?
He mostly calls me sweetheart. Or sweetie when he's about to ask me for something.
8. What's his favorite color? He really doesn't have one, but he likes to wear a lot of black and I like him to wear blue and green.
9. What's his favorite food? It depends on his mood.
10. What is his favorite sport? Doesn't have one, though he played football a little in highschool.
11. When and where was your first kiss? It was after institute one night when he took me back to my apartment.
12. What is your favorite thing to do as a couple?
We love to sit and watch movies, old and new and everything in between, after the kids go to sleep. I usually eat popcorn and something chocolate and we have something to drink and just watch.
13. Do you have any children?
Yes. Evan is 6 and Ava is 17 months and boy is he wrapped around her little tiny finger.
14. Does he have a hidden talent?
He is extermely talented at learning languages and he can sing like nobody's business.
15. How hold is he?
He is 32.
16. Who said I love you first?
I think he did, but I said it right after.
17. What is his favorite type of music?
He likes hard rock. The head banging kind.
18. What do you admire the most about him?
His ability to be calm and a peacemaker. I'm totally the opposite. I like to scream and yell. He hates it.
19. Do you think he will read this?
Nope
20. Who will you Tag?I will tag Kara.