Who are these handsome boys?!

Randy and Riley got haircuts yesterday.

Short on the sides with a little length on the top so they can "spike" it. I think they look pretty handsome. I wish I had taken a "before" picture so you could see the transformation! I can't wait that long again before they get haircuts!

60 + 7

I'm a sucker for Hallmark Movies!

This week was "Sweet Nothings in my Ear." The struggle between a deaf mother and hearing father struggling over the challenges their deaf son will face. Last week it was a movie about a little girl with Down Syndrome. Never fails to make me cry!

And the commericals... THOSE are the real tear-jerkers!!!

Brodie the Big Girl

This is Brodie.

She is now an official "Big Girl."

Why, do you ask?

She no longer wears diapers or pull-ups!!!

She has graduated to Dora/Hello Kitty and Princess "panties."

She is so proud of them, she will show ANYONE!

We even went to a mall today and she made it the WHOLE day dry!

YEAH!! Brodie the Big Girl!!!

This is a picture Riley took of Brodie. Not bad, huh?

Colt is 3 months!

Colt Jesse is 3 months today.

Despite having a 104.3 fever this afternoon and making a trip to the ER you can see he still was able to smile a bit.

I'm still cute even when I'm hot... literally!!! :-)
These were taken a few weeks ago, but I forgot about them until I went to download his pictures of today. I thought they were too cute and I wanted to share them!

His bouncy seat has a little frog that pops up from the toy rack and a monkey that swings in the tree. When he is first put in it, he always gets this shocked expression when he first sees them. We call it the "did you see what that frog just did?" look.
And this is the "that monkey is SO funny" look.
I'm trying to take some serious 3 month pictures, but today was not the day to try. Fevers and cameras apparently do not go hand in hand. I'll keep trying, though.

Pope in motion

DISCLAIMER: Ok... I KNOW I'm going to offend someone reading this, so right off the top I will apoligize. Blame it on ignorance, I don't know, but after all this is the USA and I have the right to freedom of speech. I don't mean to offend...not at all.

:::Now, on to my blog:::

So, the Pope is visiting the United States. Ok. I'm not Catholic, so I'm sure I'm not grasping the all importance of this vist, but there must be something earth shattering about his visit to break in every 15 minutes to every channel to announce where he is and what he's doing. I understand he's a high-up dude in the Catholic church, but I guarantee YOUR shows would not be interupted every 15 min if the head of the Methodist Church landed at the airport. The way everyone is fussing over him is mind boggling. They are taking more precautions in New York City for his visit than they do for the President. In a way, they are making the Catholic religion more important than the others here in the US. What happened to equality and fairness? He is just a man after all.

Now, if God was visiting, that would be totally different and I'd be in the crowd as quick as the next person. But until I see the Pope perform a miracle, I won't understand. My Salvation doesn't rest in the hands of a mortal. I take my sins directly to God and He forgives me. Between the two of us.... the way it was meant to be. Until I face Him, though, I will be patient while my shows are interrupted. After all, it's only for 3 days. I have God's attention for the rest of my life.

Frustration!!

I'm so frustrated at how the military works right now. I know I knew what to expect, but it's still frustrating!!!

See, we have orders to Ft. Hood, finally! We will be there by the end of year, hopefully, but it's WHEN we will get there that's the frustrating part! His orders say he is to report in December, meaning we would leave here in November. He's trying to get an early report date so he can train with his new Soldiers. At first we were trying for August so we could get the boys enrolled in school so they wouldn't have to move after it's started, again! Now we find out that Jason's replacement is due here at the end of the summer and so Jason is now opting to stay here to break the new guy in, meaning we will leave here probably in October. AUGH!!! Right now, I'm almost to the point of not wanting to move at all. My emotions are so up and down from excietment to moving back this summer to dissapointment to not going back till the end of the year. We made the mistake of telling the boys we were going "home" this summer and so it's harder to tell them we aren't moving that early after all. I've stopped telling them anything and I've built up walls around anything that Jason tells me because it's more than likely going to change. So goes the life of a military family. I didn't realize how lucky I was growing up that I didn't have to move in the middle of the school year.

facto sixty sixty

Chris LeDoux is my favorite Country singer.

He not only sang about the rodeo, but he was a National's Final winner in Bareback in 1976.

He knew what he was singing about, which made his song ring true.

Sadly, he passed away on 09 March 2005 from a rare form of cancer.

He will always be loved.

Bad Day...another reason to live OFF base!

Yesterday was not a very good day in my book. I haven't had many good days lately, but yesterday hit the "bad day" button full force.
I was on my way to WalMart... my once a month trip. I got about 1/4 of the way there and realized I didn't have my wallet in my purse. Now, for most of you, it's not a big deal. You turn around, get your wallet and carry on with your day. Not so when you live on a secure base that has police checking ID's at the gates. So, here I am stuck, outside the gate, no ID, no driver's license, Colt is screaming, Brodie is fussing and Jason isn't answering his phone. I can't get on base, I can't get my wallet and I'm stuck. I finally decide to pull up to the gate to see what I can do. The lady there is very understanding, but I have to pull over so she can call the MP's. (Military Police.) It's the only thing she can do. Still no answer from Jason. As I was waiting, the MP was telling me what would happen if I didn't have anyone that could save me.
First, he would have to impound the vehicle because I can't drive. Then he would have to call the local police or state troopers because I had been driving without a drivers license. Then they would cite me, ticket me and THEN the MP's would have to escort me to the MP station where I would have to sit and patiently wait for someone to bring me my wallet. Fun day, huh? LUCKILY, by some wierd turn of fate, I had just programmed my friend Cindy's phone number into my phone the night before. Not sure what prompted me to do so... but I called. She came to my rescue, got my wallet and brought me my salvation!
ONE more BIG reason NOT to live on base at our next duty station! Something SO simple made into a HUGE hassle!
I don't dare say "Can it get any worse" because with my luck, it can!

65 and some change

I don't like to shop.

Believe it or not, I don't like to shop. I don't like crowds. I really don't like to shop during the holidays and will do ANYTHING to avoid it. I think that's why I make most of my gifts. No crowds! Sometimes, when I'm in the right "frame of mind" I will try on clothes and be really "girly" but I try to avoid it if I can. I guess it has to do with having kids in tow, it kinda takes the fun away of shopping. I just want to go in, get what I need and get out. Quick and simple.

And yes, I really AM a girl! :-)

64

I love thunderstorms.

I haven't been through a good one here, yet.

Even better when the lights go out.

I can't wait to get back to Texas!

Remembering our Fallen Soldiers

On 11 April 2006, 2 years ago, we lost 3 of our brave Soldiers while they were serving in Iraq. They were driving in a convoy of Bradley Vehicles and HUMVEE's when they were hit by several IED's. 3 were lost from the Bradley while 2 were severely wounded, 1 of which would later pass from his wounds. This was the first hard hit of our unit, B Troop, 7/10 CAV, 4th ID, Fort Hood, TX, but unfortunately not the last. These were sons, brothers, fathers, friends, Soldiers. Americans. They will never be forgotten.

Roll Call:

SPC James Costello, III

SGT Joseph Blanco
PFC George Roehl, Jr
In the search for pictures of our heros, I came across this website:

Iraq War Heros

If there is EVER a doubt that this war has cost the US too much... take a few moments, look at some of the faces of our Soldiers. And Remember. Always.

If you don't stand behind our troops, feel free to stand IN FRONT of them!

Colt has lots to say

I finally got the camera going WHILE Colt was talking!

The picture isn't the best, but at least you can hear him. It takes a while for him to "warm up" to the camera, but he does start talking, I promise!

(and the screaming in the background at first, is Spongebob... that's why Brodie is so mesmerized!)

Fact 63

I love to take pictures!

I don't think I need to post anymore since I've filled the other posts with them today!

But... I LOVE documenting what we do. Even more than that, I love looking back through them playing the "remember when" game!

Pictures...LOTS of pictures

Ok.. bear with me. I am trying to get caught up on my pictures and decided to put them all in one post. If you don't want to see pictures of the kids, then skip this post! :-)

Riley doing the thing he loves most! LEGOS!!!

Colt at 2 months. Quite a charmer!

The following pictures of Colt are his typical look.. always smiling.

You just look at him and he smiles.

But he doesn't just smile... his WHOLE face and body gets involved!

Here he is actually laughing. He thinks he's so funny!

And as always, when the camera comes out, Brodie wants to be involved!

Nothing like a "cheesey pose" picture!
Sisterly Love! At least she's not "honk honking" his nose!
Randy, doing HIS favorite thing, too!Brodie, doing HER favorite thing...

whatever the boys are doing! Usually, it's just annoying them!

Brodie got these Princess gloves at McDonald's...yes, gloves.
But you can see, she had OTHER ideas for them!Ok.. I spoke too soon. Here she is "honk honking" Colt's nose!

Thank you for walking down my photo journey with me! I am trying to take more picutres, but it takes me a while to get them posted sometimes!!!

We have Giggles!!!

Colt started laughing the other day and has continued at least once a day! I guess I'm funny more some days than others! (I just tried to take a picture, but my camera decided to die on me! I'll post one after it charges! It's such a cute belly laugh, too. SO pure. It's really a shame we have to lose that pureness and learn the "forced" or fake laugh. Why can't we continue to laugh at whatever makes us giggle? Anyway... I will continue to make the faces, the sounds and do the funny little dances that make my little boy laugh. I will sing the songs, no matter how off-key, no matter where we are that makes my children smile. And I will ALWAYS say "I Love You" no matter how big and "too old for that" they think they get! They are my past, my present and my future and I am enjoying every moment of it. After all, I know some day "I'm gonna miss this!"

Angel made MY day

My wonderful friend, Angel, tagged me with this...

You Make My Day

Here are the rules: In order to display this "You Make My Day Award" proudly on your blog you must re-present it to 10 people whose blogs bring you happiness and inspiration and make you feel happy about Blogland. Let them know through email or by posting a comment on their blog so they can pass it on. Beware, you may get the award several times yourself, and if you do, consider yourself really, really loved.
My choices...
Angel. I know she sent it to me, but she does make my day!
Elaine. My "Tech" buddy!" She is my inspiration in MANY, MANY ways!
Michele. My only sister, even if it is by another mother!
Lori. Her creations are always inspiration.. something I am always in need of!!

I think I need to get some more people on my blog!!

Tagged and more facts

For those of you that noticed I hadn't been on, I'm back. I've had a pinched nerve in my back that caused severe muscle spasms down my left leg. It continued to get worse and I could do nothing but sit, uncomfortably, on the couch and cry. I finally got an appointment yesterday and they gave me some stronger drugs.. but now I have to "pump and dump" and give Colt formula, which KILLS me!! I have another appointment Thursday, but so far things haven't improved too much. I haven't been in this much pain in a LONG time! I was even crying at the dr appointment yesterday, something I hate to do in public! But, pain is just a part of life and I continue on.. here's my catch-up post!

I was tagged! My friend Angel tagged me and I'm trying to keep it going. However, I don't know 7 people on the blog, so I'll only be tagging 2. Sad, I know!

Okay, here are the rules.

1. Link to the person that tagged you and leave a comment on their Blog.

2. Post the rules on your Blog.

3. Share 7 random facts about yourself on your Blog

4. Tag 7 random people, linking to their Blog.

Michele and Elaine... tag... you're it!

So here are my 7 random facts... good thing since I've been away from the computer for the last few days.

Facts 56-62...

56. I hate crying in public! It brings too much attention to me and that's another thing I don't like. :-)

57. I knew all of my grandparents and 3 of my great-grandparents. I was completely blessed to know so many extended family members. Sadly, only my grandmothers are still alive, but even in that I am fortunate.

58. I can curl my tongue. I'm a pretty "recessive" person when it comes to genes. Blue eyes, tongue curling, free lobed ears... yeah, sounds wierd, huh?

59. I love to try new things. I'll pretty much try anything once and if I like it, will continue it.

60. I've never done drugs or smoked. And this, I am very proud of! NEVER once have I smoked a cigarette or taken illegal drugs. I'll be proud to tell my kids this one day!

61. I've only dyed my hair once... and I didn't like it. I think I'm going to have to start looking at something to hide my grey that is FINALLY making an appearence and I have to admit, I have NO idea how to do it!

62. I can read a road-map... and fold them too!

пятьдесят пять

I am a "list-a-holic."

I even makes lists for my lists! I've always done this. I think I take after my Dad. He always has lists for things he's working on, what needs to be done.. and I always wanted to be like him, so I copied what he did! I make lists to help me figure out when to make more lists... for example: We are preparing to move in June.. and I've already begun making lists. What I need to do. What I plan to take. What I need to get. What needs to have addresses changed. It's kinda pathetic, actually. I've gone from individual sheets to little notebooks to hold all of my lists! Do they have a LA? (list-a-holic annonymous)

Can you tell I'm trying to get creative with my titles??? That is 55 in Russian!

Heinz 54

I hate the smell of "wet" ketchup.

I don't know what it is about it, but when ketchup gets wet, I can't stand the smell! If the kids put their dishes in the sink and then the water is turned on... I have to hold my breath to rinse them off! I don't know where it came from, what tragic event happened with ketchup and water in my childhood, but it really grosses me out! There isn't much I can't stand... but this is the TOP!

Military Wives' Prayer

I wrote this when Jason was deployed to Iraq in OIF 05-07 and I thought I would send it out to those I know going through it again.

Deployment Prayer

May God look down upon you

And hold you in His arms.

May He keep you close beside Him

And protect you from all harm.

May he bring you back to me

When your job there is through.

May you always know I love you

And that I miss you, too.

-Tracy Hale

LIII

This is my favorite sight at Texas Tech.

This is Will Rogers and Soapsuds. They wrap him in red crepe paper before games. When you can get a glimpse of him before the wind shreds the paper, it's an awesome sight. I LOVED walking across campus on Fridays and seeing Will doned in Red. They also wrap him in black crepe paper for national tragedies.

I love the fact that as Will and Soapsuds canters off into the sunset, Soapsuds backside is facing Texas A&M! How fitting!