Making Memories

Shopping for the dining room table (which we were able to order!!) Isaac decided that he needed a recliner break!

Dinner at Hakata's with friends. Kendall ate her first sushi (tuna) and loved it! Kendall loves her friend Hannah.

Mike's Farm with our Sunday School class

Friday Fill-ins

And...here we go!

1. So are we going to Texas over Thanksgiving? We sure are!

2. The Marine Corp ball next weekend is what's up ahead.

3. I love to be with great friends and family.

4. This dining room table ruckus must be a mistake of some sort.

5. I walk a mile or two without problems!

6. A child is the true elixir of life!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to relazing with Benny & the kids, tomorrow my plans include Ben's final triathlon of the season at Emerald Isle, the Fall festival at our church, and possibly more pumpkin picking and Sunday, I want to get the mountains of laundry put away after church!

Dining room set

I have been a blog slacker lately except for a lot of scheduled posts. We have been actively shopping for a dining room set on top of the normal routine. The one that we want has been discontinued so we are trying with 2 different places to fight for it. Here are some pics of it for y'all!

Friday Flashback

Oh yeah I went back to the big bangs days....junior year of high school Christmas dance circa 1993.

Head over to http://minyards7.blogspot.com/

Video city

Rolling around fun


Jumping like a "horsie"


Enjoying Daddy


Making Isaac laugh


Watching Penn State Football

More questions answered

#1. Laura from http://laurablogsagain.blogspot.com/ asked What is your most embarrassing memory?? :) Oh my gosh....from which era of my life? Hee,hee. I have to say that it probably was during childbirth of my daughter. My husband was in Iraq so I decided that if he wasn't going to be there then I wanted everyone in there. (I just didn't quite realize I would have an extra visitor....) I had my mom (who drove 10+ hours and still got there in plenty of time) and 4 very close friends there. To make a long story short, things were not going very well so the midwife decided to put me in an interesting position pulling on a sheet that was tied to the end of my bed (to give me more leverage to push.) I heard an unfamiliar male voice asking for some other woman that I had never heard of....my friends emphatically told him I was not the person he was looking for but he stood there for a long time looking at me....I was not pleased and SUPER embarrassed to have anyone see me like that!

#2. Kari from http://karinewsom.blogspot.com/ asked Have you or your husband ever been confronted with a US citizen that is rude over the fact that your husband serves in the military? Hmmm....yes and no. When we were in California, we had people try to give us anti-war protest junk even though you can readily tell that my husband and friends are in the military. I have also overheard local people complain about the military presence here in Jacksonville because we do "nothing but ruin the town and it's reputation." (Kind of laughable if you have ever been here or know anything about it!) I have had several close friends that have had more serious run-ins. I count my lucky blessings that has never happened to me because I would probably come unglued!
Kari also said.....
I've seen people do this when they see a man or woman in uniform and it sickens me. I was wondering if it has ever happened to you.Growing up my parents, especially my dad taught us to respect and honor those who serve our country. To this day I'll shake the hand of any person I come across in uniform and thank them for their service. If I see them eating in the same restaurant as me, we will pay their bill anonymously. My dad leaves premade business cards thanking our service men/women on people's windshields if they have any indication on their car (bumper stickers, plates, etc) that tie them or anyone in their family to the military. I sure hope you all are treated with respect.Thank-you for all you and your family do to show your appreciation! It is an awesome blessing when people give their thanks for my husband's service!

Week 4 of 52

These pictures were taken this past weekend when we went with our Sunday School class to a place called Mike's Farm here in Jacksonville, NC. It is a fun place that has LOTS for the family to do, a resturant, gift shop, and most of all pumpkin picking! Stay tuned for more pics from this outing :-)

*****************52 Weeks*****************
52 Weeks is a year long challenge for YOU to be in a picture once a week for 52 weeks. We are always the ones behind the camera, this is YOUR chance to get out in front and be in the pictures with our family. We are glad you are joining this challenge. More importantly your family will really enjoy having you in the picture. Thanks for playing along! Oh, you can just jump in now with 1 of 52, you're not getting off that easy! Now go take a picture!http://wyomingbarnetts.blogspot.com/

Riding in Jeeps with little boys

Happy Birthday Dadoo! One guess who picked out the graphics!

Your questions answered.....

I have a few questions from bloggy friends and real life friends from my previous post so here goes.....
#1. Kim from http://pairslices.blogspot.com/ asked How/Why did you get start blogging?
Ha....well it started with some of our family members jumping on the "blog wagon." I read their blog and thought it was neat but I had another website that I posted family information and pictures on. That website started getting way too complicated so I checked out my friends blog sites and I was hooked.
I find it a kind of thearpy to "online journal" and I hope that my kids can one day look back at it and see stories about themselves and our life.
#2. Lindsay from http://macmanusfamily.blogspot.com/ asked If you and Ben could live anywhere in the world, where would it be? We have TENTATIVELY decided that our dream spot will be in western North Carolina probably around Ashville. We also very much like Tennesse esp. near Gatlinburg.
How many kids do you want to have? We would like to have 3 if the Lord sees fit to bless us with one more! I prayed so hard for twins when we were trying to get pregnant with Isaac that I am afraid God will use his sense of humor and give us 4!
What do you see yourself doing in ten years? Oh tough one! 10 years from now will see us coming close to our end with the Marine Corps so we will probably be working on our "retriement home & plans." I am seriously considering going back to school for my masters and nurse practicioner but I am not 100% sure.
Also, what is the funniest thing Kendall has said to you or Ben? Oh my gosh....I don't know if I want to post that on here....Hmmm at the risk of seriously offending my husband....I was standing at my bathroom sink getting ready after my shower. Kendall tried to pry my "cheeks" apart. I asked her what she was doing. She very sweetly told me, "I look see if you have hairy bum like my daddy."
#3. Kim from http://kimstrainingjournal.blogspot.com/ asked How do you and your family deal with your husband having to be away so often?hmmmm....well recently we have been luck to only have "training detachments." These are normally only 4-6 weeks long. I pray A LOT & rely on my fellow sisters in crime plus some very giving friends. Our daughter is at a very tough age right now. She has a "daddy doll" which has my husbands picture on it so that she can "hug" him. We "watch" for daddy to fly over our house to say hi. Watch videos and pictures of them together. Our son is young enough to not fully understand yet so that has been a blessing. It is a really hard concept to explain. Fortunately, we haven't done a deployment where they have been old enough to understand what is really going on. (His second deployment is when Kendall was born then his third she was only 7.5 months old.)
Not having read thru the entire blog...How often is he gone for and what countries does he go to? My husband has deployed 3 times to Iraq for 7 months at a time. They have been able to stop in Germany and Ireland but unable to leave the airport. Training is a different story. He has been on 3 detachemnts in the past year for a few weeks at a time. It is all dependent on the needs of his squadron and the needs of the Marine Corps.
Where has your military life taken you? And what place have you liked the best?Military life has taken me from Pennyslvania to Pensacola, Florida to Oceanside, California, and then to Jacksonville, North Carolina. (We are also waiting on our next duty so we might be adding to that list....) I have to say that I really loved Pensacola and Jacksonville. Each for different reasons.
Recently having moved myself to a town where I know no one... How easy/hard do you find it making new friends where you go? My mother- in-law always tells me that it's a shame I don't make friends easy....she is completely joking! I LOVE meeting new people and learning about their life. My problem is once I befriend someone it is very hard for me to let go. We seem to collect A LOT of friends and I count my blessings every day for that! I think it depends on what your interests are Kim. I meet people through the military, work, children's play groups & school, and church. I hope that you are doing well adapting to your new town!

Thanks for those questions girls :-) That was really fun! I don't know why I was so nervous about it! If y'all have anymore questions please shout them out over a comment!

Ask away!!!

I was looking for something new to blog about to spice things up a little bit. I saw someone else do this a while ago and I thought I would give it a try.

Ask me anything. (That's kind of scary!)

Leave a comment with your question.

What do you want to know about me?

My thoughts and opinions? Life? Hobbies? Whatever!

Then I will take your questions and answer them in a new post within the next few days.

Looking forward to your questions!! (Hopefully people actually ask questions so I don't look like a fool!)

Six Word Saturday

GLAD to have my BENNY Home!!!

See http://www.showmyface.com/ for full explantion of the Six word Saturday.

The simple woman's daybook

Out side my window...it is still very spring like.
The time is...3:44
Today I feel...better than what I have been but still not 100% myself.
The weather here... is probably in the 80's.
I am thinking...how happy I am to have Benny home.
At the moment, we are shopping for some dining room furniture.
I am going...to Hakata with JT, Kelly, and family tonight.
I am wearing... capris and a pink top.
I wish... we didn't have to drive anywhere to look for furniture.
I am working on...getting the house back in order.
I am hoping... for an opening at my doctor's office next week.
I am hearing... Wow, wow wubzy
Around the house... I have tons to do.
I bet you didn't know... that I am kind of a redhead now
One of my favorite ...new things is a cheap vaccum cleaner from Walmart that works like a gem!
Today I am... worn out from going furniture shopping with Ben.

Friday Fill-ins

And...here we go!
1. Sweet dreams & don't let the bed bugs bite!
2. Being quiet is hard, especially for me.
3. Silliness is meant to be shared!
4. I am looking forward to seeing my kids enjoy this Halloween.
5. Outstanding or not this is the life we were meant to live.
6. To be completely healed of this cold is what I want right now!
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to dinner with friends at Hakata, tomorrow my plans include an appreciation dinner for the nursery workers at church & a trip to Mike's Farm with our SS class and Sunday, I want to get some stuff done at the house after church & possibly do some more furniture shopping!

Friday Flashback

I believe that this was the end of my second year of nursing school. So around 1997ish! I can't believe how much I have changed!

Check it out at http://minyards7.blogspot.com/

The final portraits for Isaac's 1st nightmare OOPS birthday shoot

One of my favorites
Whatever makes him happy!

http://www.abeautifulmoment-bymegan.com/

Finally Home!!!

Ben finally made it home about 9 pm last night then we were able to see him by about 10:45. We are definitely looking forward to having our 96 off starting this evening when he gets home from work!

Week 3 of 52

********************52 Weeks********************
52 Weeks is a year long challenge for YOU to be in a picture once a week for 52 weeks. We are always the ones behind the camera, this is YOUR chance to get out in front and be in the pictures with our family. We are glad you are joining this challenge. More importantly your family will really enjoy having you in the picture. Thanks for playing along! Oh, you can just jump in now with 1 of 52, you're not getting off that easy! Now go take a picture!
**************************************
http://wyomingbarnetts.blogspot.com/

What would your children say? Wednesday

I sometimes will put the gate up to the stairs & a get a shower with both kids awake when I am in a pinch....our upstairs is pretty baby proofed and mostly they stay in the bathroom tormenting me anyway. Well I slept through the alarm this week, I needed to get a shower so I got them a snack put up the gate & started getting ready. When I was done with my shower, I could hear Kendall calling for me. I found the kids in Isaac's room....locked in because they shut the gate to his room. I asked Kendall what had happened....

she said, "Well here's the problem mommy. Isaac shut the door & I no heavy enough to open it like you."

me: "So you think mommy is heavy huh?!"

Kendall: "Mom you so silly....you just have a bigger butt!"

I almost left them in there.....

You never get tired of awards....

This one is from Darcie at http://redthread6.blogspot.com/ . I just recently started following her but she has an awesome blog & view on life! Thanks for sharing this Darcie :-)

Along with this award we are to post 10 things about ourselves. Here goes........

1. I should be in bed right now but my stubborn AHEM strong willed children will not lay down for their naps. (I have strep throat and a touch of the flu right now!)
2. I met my husband in May, started dating him in August, he proposed to me Christmas Eve, & we got married on New Year's Eve of the same year. We will be married 6 years in December and I have never regretted a single moment of it.
3. I have a LOVE/HATE relationship with the Marine Corps. Enough said?!!?
4. I am becoming very nervous about our upcoming orders next summer even though I have tried to give it over to God several times.
5. I am welcoming my husband home from a 5 week detachment tomorrow night!! WHOOP!
6. I am hopeful that I will be fit and healthy enough to run a relay triathlon next year with some of my girlfriends. (I also want to do a few 5k's.)
7. As a child/adolescent, I participated in gymnastics, cheerleading, majorettes (truth be told I still enjoy twirling with Kendall!), volleyball, and dance.
8. I have curly hair (that I hated all through high school because everyone had straight hair) that I love. I am also going to see how it looks with a lot of red enhancements in it tomorrow!
9. I used to go hunting and fishing a lot with my dad & male relatives until I turned 15 and it was no longer "cool!"
10. I love the smell of coffee but can't stand the taste unless there is a TON of sugar and creamer in it!

OK...all you might not have known, and maybe never did want to know about me. I want to leave this award open to all those that leave comments on my post...you are all deserving! Yeah it may seem like a cop out but I love to read so many people's blogs it just wouldn't be fair to narrow it down to 10.