We hold hands. And we like it

Love him. He's growing so fast. Tiny perfect baby fingers. Love him.

Did I mention how cute his little hand is? Love him more.

I know, I know. But I'm his mom and I'm supposed to embarrass him with over coddling and mushy, lovey stuff.
Soo..I love him more.

Phew. We made it.

It's official.
Jet Pilot is done with flight school and is now deemed ready to go out into a real Navy fleet squadron and do what he does best.
Fghter Pilot-y stuff.
He had his "patching" ceremony (when all the newly finished pilots stand in front of family and fellow jet pilot friends, get an embarrassing bio read about them and their time at the training squadron then the Commanding Officer politely asks...does anyone want to claim THIS ONE? To which an actual FLEET Squadron Pilot who just happens to be there speaks up and says...we'll take em! The fleet guy comes up to the newbie fleet pilot (aka my husband) rips off his old squadron patch from his flight suit and puts his new "home" squadron patch on.
It was great. I cried. But I always cry, I'm a sap.
There were embarrassing comments, references to his call sign, and other hilarity through out the whole
process.

And as it turns we are like one of seven pilot folks who are going to this new squadron together. We got into VFA-41 Black Aces out of Lemoore, CA. Which means we are staying here for a few more years!! Yay!! We are excited!

To top it off the Black Aces just got home from deployment this weekend so we went out there to watch all the families of the pilots be reunited with one another. It was so amazing to see kids run to their daddies who they've missed for so long and jump into their arms-priceless. And tear evoking. There wasn't a dry eye on the flight line.
And somber at the same time. It made me realize I'm going to have to bring the helpmeet heat over these next few years in ways I never imagined I would. Let's do it.
I'm always up for a challenge to be better tomorrow than I was today.

Plus, we are going into a good squadron with good people and I am looking forward to meeting other women who truly get the load on my
plate. It will be refreshing. Not to mention a very dear, sweet friend of mine also had a husband who is going into the Black Aces and I am hoping we can spend more time together. I love Mrs. S!

I never thought this day would come. It seemed at times like we (I say we like I actually SET foot in ANY aircraft platform since 2008 when this whole process started) were meant to be in flight school forever. But Jet Pilot did like he always does and worked hard, did well, and owned that flight school business. I'm like, proud-normous of him.
Yeah, that's a word. A compound word. I made it up. Right now.

Jet Pilot, God's plan for you (and us) has been more awesome and amazing than I could ever imagined. Our children are always striving to emulate your intelligence and humor, our friends value your thoughtful opinions and I am so blessed every day to have you as my eternal best friend and soulmate. There is a fantastic plan that has been laid out for us, and I look forward to walking that path with you and our littles.

Now angle bank left, call the ball, and max throttle your spunky, motivated, self into the inner workings of your new "home".

I love you. Good job honey face. Only took 7 years. Lol. **shrugs**

Happy Buurrthday Shubee!

She's getting old on me.
Today we celebrated in giant bounce house style the birth of my first born.
She turned eight earlier this week but we waited until this weekend to celebrate her birthday. It was a smashing success.

And as I watched her jump as bounce and giggle, I got a little nostalgic and sad. I remember when she was just a tiny baby ball of sweetness and snuggly joy. Now she's blossoming into a young lady who's concern and caring for everyone around her makes me question what I did to deserve a kid so awesome.
She is gentle and patient with her little brothers even though it seems like their personal mission in life is to take her things and hide them. Or chew on them.
She makes me laugh with her wry sense of humor and makes me cry with how spiritual she is.
Her brain works just like her dad's but everyone tells her she is a mini me.
I love her with every cell in my body and I am excited and anxious to see the wonderful lady she is to grow into.
She surprises me in a good way and is always attentive to her parents teachings. She lends an ear to a friend and starts to cry when someone she cares about has been wronged or hurt.

She loves ice cream, chocolate, and sleeping in my room when dad is out of town. She hates brussels sprouts and combing her hair. I call her my little hippie because she loves the stars, organic food, and recycling.

Baby girl, you make everything in this life better. You are a light and amazing role model to your little siblings, and an inspiration to your parents to be better. We are so blessed to have you in our lives and I pray for you to always put God first, love without abandon and find joy in all things. I hope you enjoyed this birthday party and always remain humble and gracious.

Thanks for being my kid. We love you.
And we love your wild, crazy, "I just combed it but it still looks like bed head" hair.

Happy Birthday darling baby! May your 8th year be the best one yet!!


P.S. "Shubee" is one of her nicknames. It was one of her first gibberish words that she said as a baby and she always used to yell it at her dad when he held her. And it stuck. We love it.
And her.

Artsy craftsy in the best kinda way

My oldest is my creative artist. Always knee deep in a craft, project or just daydreaming these outrageous ideas that are just waiting to come to fruition.

I try to encourage it and be patient when we are surrounded by glitter, felt, markers, tissue paper, foam etc but honestly; sometimes I just don't get it.
She takes creative to a whole 'nother level.

And then she goes and makes these masterpieces:


Aren't they awesome? She called them "cool cards" or "personality cards" (she's really not into labels and doesn't let them hinder her creativity :)
But basically they are little cards that Bonnie has drawn that highlight and describe each person in our family.

Each person in the family got one but since the kids cards have their names on them I am not going to post them until I can blur them out-yes I am a weirdo like that. Now naturally since Jet Pilot IS a Jet Pilot his card is awesome and sleek looking with a man "plane surfing" on a jet (cuz that could happen ya know?)

The baby's card says he is a milk monster and it has the word "Sleerrrp" on it...she says that's the sound your straw makes when you suck up the last of a drink from you cup. Yet, my baby is a nursing baby--so he doesn't drink from a cup...but she says that's the sound I should make when he is done nursing.
Twisted sense of humor, this kid.

Clyde's picture has him hitting a home run at a packed stadium because we love all things baseball in this house. His caricature also has a huge bat that if it were actually really would be very disproportionate to the ACTUAL size my 4 year old is. But whatever. In ink drawings you can skew reality like that. It's cool.

When we got the little cards there was a small part of me that was like "really another project to hang on the wall?". But since they have been taped up on our walls I find myself going about my daily life stopping occasionally to gaze at one of these drawings and my heart melts.

She is so kind to take time out of her day and highlight something special about all of the members of her family. I also find it endearing the perceptions she has of us and our roles in this house. And I secretly wish I was doing a "cool trick" on my card. But in reality I guess no one can do a cool trick while folding laundry or nursing a baby or a organizing a hall closet. It would be nice though.

My kid is artsy and I DO LOVE IT.
Now I just need to repeat to self again and again.
Like 829568261 more times.

Heavy heart

As of late I have had the comings and goings of a heavy heart. Unless you have been under a rock recently you know that 2 F/A-18 Pilots died recently. There was a shooting in Coronado (the small resorty islandish city off the coast of San Diego) on New Years Day.

Now when you get to where we are in Aviation training it soon becomes apparent that everyone knows everyone. Mainly because all these pilots have been stationed together at one point or another.

And it is with a heavy heart that I say we knew one of those pilots affected by this incident in San Diego. Bob Reeves. He went through training in Mississippi with us. He was actually in Jet Pilot's class and went to the Aircraft Carrier to get qualified on the boat with him.

I happened to find out about the story because I read it on the Internet (without all the names initially) and being that the Aviator pool is so small and the fact that we actually know several pilots who live in San Diego I texted Jet Pilot and asked him to call Bob and make sure he was ok. I'm really not sure why I was so adamant that Jet Pilot do this I just felt this weird sense of urgency. When Jet Pilot finally called me back he told me the news, Bob was one of the people who was dead and all the details were still sketchy but it didn't look good.

I'm not going to rehash the details of the story, that's what Google
Is for, and honestly it's so sad I don't want to dredge it up again.

The authorities are saying Bob committed this horrible act, for that I have no words- he was a friend and nice guy and always seemed happy around us.

I do not know how to take all this...so I am giving it over to the Lord and asking for His hands to touch the minds and hearts affected by all this senseless tragedy.

I pray for the three families who's loved ones are gone, and I pray tonight for all the pilots who knew one or both of these Aviators. As a friend and co-worker I'm sure there are a multitude of questions or concerns that have rolled around in their heads and I pray for their peace of mind. God's plan is always at work.

I went back and forth as to whether or not I should publish this post but thanks to a good friend I decided I should. And honestly, I'm glad I did. It's like a load has been lifted-closure, or something.

So tonight hug your littles, kiss your spouse and never take it all for granted.
Because it could all be gone in a flash.

Against the grain. The flushing of the toilet grain.

Alright--please tell me I am not the only mother out there who is constantly going behind her children and....
FLUSHING.THE.TOLIET.

It's like my kids shun flushing. It's taboo or something.

I am all for being green, shrinking your carbon footprint, waste less, reuse more but personally I have to draw the line somewhere. And using that shiny silver handle is that somewhere.

Its driving me bonkers!!
(now to the credit of my children--lately I have been a little stressed, under slept and sluggish, but still!)

Tell me to get over it, tell me it's not that big of a deal. It's a menial task that takes .00047 of a microsecond to complete.

So do tell, do your kids also FIGHT THE FLUSH tooth and nail?

Hellloooo 2012!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!