End of the year...

I have a 2nd grader and Kindergartener, now! Wow! Insert everything cliche about how they grow up so fast, here!

All I want for 2nd grade is my two front teeth! Ava lost her 4th tooth at school yesterday!

My Kindergartener and my 2nd Grader! 

I spent the day with the girls at their schools. First was Ava, she had a game day! Twister, Chutes and Ladders, Heads up 7up (that was always my favorite!), and so on! Ava LOVED that I was there! She still likes me coming up to school and having lunch with her as well as coming to volunteer in the classroom. Hopefully that lasts for a while. The only thing I don't like...how all the little kids try to huddle around me during lunch. My lunch was coughed on at least 15 times and then a boy from her class threw up! If I end up sick, again...we'll see if I ever volunteer in the classroom again! Kidding, maybe!

Layla had her Preschool graduation, today. Insert next cliche remark, now. But she's my baby! I have to, she's growing up way too freakin fast! We weren't going to start her in Kindergarten next year, we didn't think she was ready. But, her teacher thinks she is ready and will surprise us, so we registered her and decided it would be better for her to repeat Kindergarten than another year of pre-k. I'm just so protective over her, mostly I don't think I'm ready for her to start "real" school...but she is so excited! She's not a baby anymore!

Layla's PreK class...it was "dress like your favorite character" day!

I wish I could go back a few years and do it all over again, that or wish I would have never tied my tubes so I could do it all over again!

I get so emotional about the girls. Walking out of Layla's classroom, I told her "this is the last time you will walk out of here, you are now in kindergarten." And then I started crying. And then the same with Ava...walking out of her school, "this is the last time you will walk out this door as a first grader!" And I started choking back the tears. My babies. Ugh, stupid cliches but it's so true. I don't like it!

My big girl!

I warned their teachers they would be getting something homemade from pinterest and the girls and I settled on these! I think they turned out great! Their teachers loved them! I'm sure they would have loved a pedicure more, but I don't have that kind of money to spend on 4 teachers!

It's summer, but no rest for us for at least 5 days! Tomorrow Mabel has a vet appt...she gets her rabies shot and microchipped...on Monday, I get to take those records to base housing and we will get our actual number on the waiting list. So, as long as they don't offer us a house on Monday, very unlikely...we are leaving for Texas early Tuesday morning and will be there early Wednesday morning. Moving to the East Coast doesn't cut down on any time driving...and of course, we are driving straight through...it's just what we do! Hopefully Mabel is up for that!

Notice how BIG Mabel's paw is!

So yeah, on Wednesday, we will be "home"!

And in other big news! Jason has an estimated date that he will be HOME BY! It is in September but I'm not going to share it publicly, obviously! It will probably change, but it's still 2 months earlier than expected! We are two months into the deployment and so far it has flown by. Being busy and on the go really helps! Too bad it's not the same for Jason, his days are dragging and he's having a hard time sleeping...he says it's just too hot! I wish there was a way I could make it better for him...but I can't.

So, maybe I will write on Monday, maybe I won't! ha ha. Maybe I'll write once we are in Rockport. We shall see! I'll leave you with a picture of Jason and I our Senior year in high school. An old friend found this...it was at least a year before we even started dating...he liked me sometimes...most of the time, back then...he just tolerated me! There will be many more pictures like this to come, soon! We have our high school reunion at the end of this month!

I wish I appreciated eyebrows back then. Cringe!

Nicole Does the Happy Dance!

I have been bad about writing! Once dinner is over and the kitchen is cleaned, our bedtime routine starts. Yes, OUR bedtime routine. I find myself going to bed when the girls do these days. So at 7, when the girls are brushing their teeth, I am washing my face. While the girls are in bed reading, I am getting coffee ready for the morning and thinking about what I'm going to make for breakfast. (I am proud to say I get up every morning and make the girls something different for breakfast, everyday. I have not bought a box of cereal or pop tarts in 2 months! All homemade!) Then, I put the girls to bed at 7:30, I usually make myself popcorn and get into bed myself. Pitiful, I know. I just have no reason to stay up! Especially with summer programming on TV, it sucks!

But last night, I have not done this since I was in college, well, I am in college right now, but I haven't done it since I was in college the first time, you know...the time that I flunked out. ha ha!

I stayed up last night, drinking coffee (that was always a staple before, although I never actually turned in my assignments because I never went to class!), writing an outline for a research paper! When I put the girls to bed at 730, I sat at the table and started to research sources and started taking notes. ME! Granted I have been back in school for a year and a half now...I have never stayed up LATE doing school...I always get it done during the day. But I had a busy day yesterday and I was just going to accept a late grade and do it today. But I didn't...I stayed up until 1130 last night, it was due at midnight...I turned in my 10 page outline and rocked it...at least I hope. I went to bed so accomplished but then reality hit when I realized I wasn't going to sleep any time soon...too much coffee. My body can't handle late nights anymore because I'm an early riser! My alarm goes off at 5 every morning!

Did I mention I have the crud, too! You know...the ickiness that the girls had before...I have it now. So accomplishing last night, while being sick...that was a big thing. My nature is to put off school when I'm tired...I have to keep up my Dean's List appearance! After all, Buppa said hell froze over when I made it for the first time...better keep freezing hell!

Big news...well not to everyone else, but to us. Although Jason doesn't know yet...but he's going to be so excited! We are FINALLY moving out of this rental house nightmare! I went to base yesterday and we are now on the wait list for base housing. Single family houses...not attached townhouses like before! We will have a backyard...600 more sq ft than we have now...a huge kitchen, family room AND living room AND a screened in porch...oh and a two car garage. Goodbye shitty ass house we live in now.

I could not be more excited! Well I could...if we were moving back home to OUR house! I don't know when we will be moving, the wait list for the houses we want is a 1-3 month wait. Ideally, I would like to be in by the end of August so that the girls can start school in the new school, but I will take what I can get. I never really thought I would be excited about moving back onto base, but we are going to be in SNCO housing, so we don't have to mess with the Jr. Marines and their families which is a big plus, they like to play beer pong in their garages until all hours! ha.

The best part about moving onto base is that we will only be 10 minutes from Jason's work and 5 minutes from the girl's school! Instead of Jason driving 45 minutes to an hour to work...and driving the girls to school takes 20 minutes one way! I am sad to leave the area we are in now...kind of. I like being in the rural area...but I HATE having to drive so far to get to anything! We are going to save at least 200 bucks a month moving on to base and being in town! Not to mention lawn care is free...so that's another 80 bucks a month we will save! The savings just keep adding up and I don't know why we didn't go there in the first place!

Not to mention, the beach, the beautiful beach that reminds me of Port A is just 15 minutes down the street from us. It's not as close as the beach when we lived on Pendleton...but in my opinion, this beach is much better. Much more family friendly and kid friendly. The girls aren't scared to go in the water and it's not freezing cold! They even have a pet beach...something Pendleton didn't have! I can't wait to take the dogs! Although that's something I will have to tackle once Jason comes home! Two girls, two great danes at the beach with one mommy...disaster waiting to happen!

We enjoyed our first beach day this past weekend and I was very impressed, while we were driving through base going to the beach, the girls and I talked about moving there and essentially made up our minds. More on that after the beach pics!

Back to moving to base...the girls (mainly Ava) has to change schools again! Bless her heart, this will be her 5th school! She will only be in 2nd grade! But I wanted to know what she thought about it and starting or transferring to a new school, yet again. Surprisingly, she is all in. Aside from being disappointed she won't be able to be a peer mediator, she is very excited! (She was chosen to be a peer mediator, since 2nd grade is the highest grade in her primary school here, her job is to teach other students how to resolve problems without fighting and getting upset, she has been in training for this for the past 2 months.) I'm sad to have to take her away from that special role, but all around, I know we will all be happier. The girls are excited that the school is within walking distance...so that means they get to ride their bikes to school! No more driving 20 minutes there and then 20 minutes back! Happy girls and happy mom equals a happy family!

Finally, we are leaving for Texas in just a little over a week. We will be "home" for at least six weeks, unless we have to come home early because there is a house ready for us. The girls are so excited about coming "home" and seeing everyone! Ava is already making her own plans! Sha'Ma, watch out...McDonald's and Chuck E Cheese are on her list for you!

Heck Yes!

I have something great to write about since the last time I wrote...two days ago.

It all started with a little phone call from Jason today! Guess who is now part of the troop draw down! YES, YES, YES! I don't want to give exact dates, and obviously, things will change...but the one thing that won't change...the FOB that Jason is on will be shut down and deactivated soon, very soon. By July, he will be back at a big base, just hanging out...waiting to come home! Waiting! That's it! They don't expect to start heading home until the middle of August and his battalion is going to be coming home in cycles. They all won't be coming home at once. So at this point, we are hoping for September, because they all will be gone by October. (That's over a month earlier than originally plan they were supposed to be home at the end of November, early December...so either way...he's coming home early!). Of course, this is the military and things will change but Jason has talked to his Lt. Col and his CO and everyone is telling him the same things. Talk about a shocker! After everything we have been through the past two years...it is such a GREAT FEELING to get good news! So in terms of his deployment, instead of 7+ months (since he was the advanced party), we are looking at 5...6 months top! I'll take whatever I can get! Soooo....for everyone that is sending packages...he only needs food and wipes for the next month, nothing else after the first two weeks of June, since he will be going back to the large base. He will have everything he needs there...showers, food, a PX and chow hall and INTERNET!  He said that his guys are all disappointed and upset that they are shutting down their FOB and going back to the big base...all the youngins are loving their first deployment, Jason on the other hand...his 5th deployment and today he was on cloud 9! So, for the next 3 months...we all just need to hope and pray that they stay on the new schedule and he will be home SOON!

Ava typing a MotoMail to Daddy.

Layla pressing a bunch of letter trying to write to Daddy! So cute! 

Her first time EVER using the computer!

And finally, Mabel had her 12 week check-up yesterday and she is a monster...37 pounds! She is now almost half the size of Stella...Stella is 82 pounds! Mabel is going to pass her by the time Jason is home!

Wanted y'all to see Mabel's size against Stella!

Today was a great day...no one mess that up for me with comments about how things change with the military...let me have my moment of hope, that for once...something will go our way! ha ha! (That wasn't supposed to sound mean!)

Gross, Icky and Yuck!

I have started to write so many times in the past two weeks but have never been able to finish. On top of being insanely busy, something I'm not used to, both girls have been sick...and at different times.

This is what sick girls do...Make beds in the playroom, with a "nightstand" between them and watch movies all day! 

Layla had a Dr. appt last Thursday, it was a follow up to check her weight. My little one is only 32 pounds and will be 5 in 2 months. But according to her Dr...I am doing everything right, her only suggestion was adding more peanut butter to her snacks, since she loves it. That's easy enough. She is growing like a weed, just not weight wise. Anyways, at that appt, Ava started crying, I knew she didn't feel well but just figured it was allergies. The Dr checked her, even though it wasn't her appt...turns out she had a double ear infection and an upper respiratory infection. Well, good thing we were there. The antibiotics really did her good...but then on Sunday (Mother's Day), Layla started running a fever. It was brief, but she had this mucous ickiness coming out of her eyes. I thought it was pink eye, but my neighbor said no...it would look different. She didn't go to school on Monday and Tuesday, her eyes were worse. I took her in and she had the allergy conjunctivas. So it wasn't the pink eye that you get from other people and is contagious...it was just a reaction to her allergies and her sinuses were draining out of her eyes. Fun times in this house! So fast forward to today...my neighbor was taking the girls to school...I was meeting Ava at school this morning to go on her field trip with her. I was about to walk out of the house when Jana called in a panic and said Ava threw up in her car as they were pulling into the school...NNNNNNOOOOOOO! For one, I knew she didn't have a bug, she is still really congested and when she doesn't eat and has that ickiness in her belly, she throws it up. Guess who refused to eat breakfast this morning because she was so ready to leave to go on her field trip? Yeah! So Jana gets home with Ava, I clean the backseat of her jeep as best as I can...I refused to let her clean up my child's puke. And it was awful because she only had milk and icky congestion in her belly. After Ava got out of the shower, I decided she wasn't going to school. Like I said, I knew she wasn't sick, sick...but her eyes just looked tired and exhausted...she still has not recovered from her infections fully. So I broke the news to her and all hell broke loose. For an hour and a half I listened to her sob and scream. My heart broke for her, I know how badly she wanted to go on her field trip...but I knew she would throw up again, as soon as she got on the bus...and then they would have sent her home anyway. I am just so ready for all sickness to be out of my house! Between heating pads, kleenexes, medicine, snot, mucous pouring out of the eyes, peeling Layla's eyes open in the morning and puke...I am done! DONE! Natalie...aren't you looking forward to being a Mom!

Happy Mother's Day...they look well...but oh boy can they fool you. They were sick, sick, sick! 

With all the sickness...I have had to cancel and reschedule several appts. BUT...I was able to register Layla for KINDERGARTEN on Tuesday! KINDERGARTEN! She is so excited. I am still wary about it and if she is ready. Our plan was to hold her back one more year so that she was not one of the youngest, especially with her hearing loss. But, her Pre-K teacher said she thought she was ready and thinks Layla will really surprise us. I'm still not sold, but Jason and I decided that if she has to be held back...she may as well spend two years in Kindergarten instead of Pre-K...so that's when we decided she would go! I'm cautiously optimistic...I just don't want her to "slide" by and then get lost in the mix of all the politics of public school. I want her to succeed and excel. So I'm going to really work with her this summer and prepare her for what is to come. I have my flashcards and dry erase board ready.

Jason is doing really well. He finally is sounding normal as opposed to sounding down every time we get to talk. He has a satellite phone like last time, but this time, I can't call him...he can only call out. So it's a little different and we can't talk as often...so we set days that he will call to make sure I'm not busy. Last week he called at 830 in the morning and I was at the gym...on the elliptical...I literally fell off of it trying to run out of the room...my phone only works on speaker since I dropped it in the pool last summer! I talked to him Monday...and our next call is scheduled for Sunday! Funny how we have to schedule calls.

Tomorrow night...I'm rocking an 80's prom dress and hair! Bunco is 80's theme...and instead of doing the tight mini skirts, aerobic get up or madonna look alikes...I went to the thrift store and bought a 10 dollar prom dress. ha ha ha ha ha ha! It is absolutely hideous! Hideous...it is complete with a big bow in the front and puff shoulders! No shoulder pads, though! I even bought some 50 cent big weird 80's earings to go with it. Oh...tomorrow night is going to be a lot of fun...and embarrassing! We even have a crimper!

Ok, so now me again! I joined a gym 11 days ago. I absolutely love it. I don't care for the treadmill or the elliptical...the only reason I was on it before was because I was waiting for my class to start! I LOVE PILATES! Any class that has to do with Pilates. They have great mixes that add cardio and strength to Pilates. Love those classes, too! Tabalates, PiYo and Pilates Strength. I never thought I would enjoy working out, again. For the last 4 years, anytime I tried to do anything that remotely resembled working out...my stomach would start spasming and I would have to stop. I didn't have high hopes for the surgery...but by golly...detaching my colon from all those things really worked. I have had no spasms...no pain, well, yes...I have had a lot of pain from being sore...but that's good pain. I gained 20 pounds in the past 4 years and I will lose it all before Jason comes home...and at this rate, it won't take long. I started out on day 1 of the gym at 138...as of yesterday, day 10...I weighed in at 131. 7 pounds in 10 days...this weight really wants to come off! I have realized though, it's just not the weight, just knowing I am finally doing something, I feel better...I feel better about myself and I actually like getting ready for the day after I workout. Weird. But I love it and I am really proud of myself.

Alright, I'm done...here's a Mabel update...well not really...because I had to cancel her appt on Tuesday because of all the ickiness...but she is going in tomorrow, so I will finally have a weight check for my big ass baby! She is 12 weeks old now and still just as great as she has always been!

Here is hoping all ickiness, mucous and puke is gone from my house! Cause if it comes back...I'm checking out.

Awesome Day!

Thank goodness, the rest of my week has been pretty uneventful. I got worked up so much on Tuesday to last a month!

Let me start with Ava, today. When I picked her up from school, she was carrying a trophy...her VERY FIRST EVER trophy! She got 2nd place in a coloring contest sponsored by the local Piggly Wiggly! (It's a hillbilly grocery store! But in their defense...all their produce is local and fresh...and they have a great selection of meat cuts.) Anyways, I didn't even know they were doing a contest at the school...but she got 2nd place! She was so proud and excited! So was I...even though I haven't even seen the picture!

Happy Girl! We are keeping this trophy forever!

Layla wanted her picture taken, too.

Today I had my post op follow up appointment and I finally found out what they found on my insides! It was completely different than what was dictated to me after the surgery. Although it is highly plausible that I was so doped up on pain meds that I made up things from the 3 big words they told me...colon, ovary and fallopian tube. ha ha.

So my surgery was an exploratory laparoscopy to look for endometriosis. For 4 years now I have been being treated for it. I did a drug induced menopause and have tried handfuls of hormone therapy (even though I had a tubal ligation, I have tried every birth control under the sun and finally started Aygestin two months ago. It's a progesterone pill) to stop me from ovulating to reduce the pain I have constantly. Anyways...so what they found.

I have no signs of endometriosis. He said that that didn't mean I don't have it, it could be so imbedded in tissue that he can't see...BUT what HAS been causing my pain...my colon attached itself to my abdominal wall and my left ovary and fallopian tube. He thinks this happened after my c-section with Layla. That makes complete sense since this is when all my pain started, my pain has always been on my left side and I constantly get spasms there.

So he detached my colon from my abdominal wall, ovary and fallopian tube and removed the scar tissue that had formed as a result. Bad news is, now that this has happened, odds are, it will happen again.

But I COULD CARE LESS! After 4 long years of hurting all the time and a lot of guesses and treatments that took me no where...I HAVE AN ANSWER! The sense of relief I felt when I was walking out of his office was obvious...I hugged him! And I felt like I was walking on a cloud! I was so used to being in pain, I didn't think I would ever be "normal" again.

He wants me to stay on the Ajgestin I'm on now because he still isn't convinced that I don't have endometriosis... I won't complain. Other than a little water weight, I have been responding really well to it.

So today was a GREAT day! I feel a sense of relief and this weird type of peace...like a peace of mind that I'm fixed when I thought I was doomed to always be in pain! I just can't wait to tell Jason. He has been so great the past 4 years with all my problems and pain and so supportive of every treatment I have tried. I will tell you, it's not easy living with a menopausal woman who was only 26!

Tomorrow Jana and I are taking the kids to the Cherry Point Air Show. I'm so excited for the girls to watch all the planes doing their craziness. I love air shows! Even if we will be torturing ourselves in 90 degree heat and humidity. Sunblock! Sunblock! Sunblock! (That's for you, Dina!)

Alright, I'm going to leave it there...but add a few pictures of Miss Mabel. She is starting to take on the demeanor of a Great Dane...the stature. Every day she is starting to look more like Stella did as a puppy. Other than color of course!

OH! And if you didn't get Jason's address and you would like it, please let me know! Love you all! It was a GREAT day! If I haven't already expressed that enough!

I love her black and gray patched eyes! 

She is starting to look like a Great Dane!

Look at those paws! They are already as big as Stella's!

If I get up, she steals my spot on the couch. Stella is next door playing, she always goes over when the girls do. She can't stand to be away from them when they are close enough to hear. She is such a great protector! 

Murphy Came Knocking Today.

Anytime a deployment is looming, we are always warned, "watch out, Murphy will come a knocking!" Well, for the first time, in all our deployments, he came to visit today and at the worst time possible.

Layla and I were leaving the house this afternoon to go pick up Ava and our next door neighbor, Joseph. Jana, Joseph's mom was out having a fun shopping day and I told her I would pick him up so she didn't have to be home at a certain time. Well, almost every time I walk out the door, I make sure I have my keys. Our stupid rental house doesn't even have a deadbolt on the front door. So in a normal house, you walk out the door, close the door, turn around and then lock the door. Not here...and today, I freakin locked myself out of the house. And of course, my car key is on that key ring and of course, Jason's keys are in the house. Why wouldn't they be. 

Normally, I don't lock the back door when I leave to pick up the kids...I know I shouldn't be saying this ONLINE! But it's part of the story. Before I left, both dogs went outside and refused to come in, so I said, "fine, stay outside, it's hot and I have to leave NOW!" Yes, I talk to the dogs. So I walked back in, shut the door and locked it. I freakin locked the back door and I never do! (Other than at night and when I am gone for more than 15 minutes.) Again, too much information. 

I check all the windows. Locked. It's 5 minutes until school gets out. I am at least 10 minutes away. I call Jana, tell her what's happening in my panic and then we both panic together. You may say, easy...call the school and have them ride the bus, well this Mom...I have never given permission for Ava to ride the bus. I said no at the beginning of the year and have always dropped her off and picked her up! 

Next, I call our property manager. She lives 5 minutes away. I told her what happened, I was locked out of the house, my car keys are in the house and Jason is deployed and obviously can't help. Her response, yes, I do have a key, but my kids are sleeping, you are going to have to come and get the key. I reminded her that my car keys were locked in the house. She said "oh, I'm sorry, I have my car, but I don't have the kids carseats, so I can't bring the key." Wait, what...so I have a key, 5 minutes away and she can't bring it to me because her kids are sleeping and she "doesn't" have carseats. I'm sorry...I don't believe her for one minute. Her freakin brother lives with her...she could have helped me out somehow. So she told me to call a locksmith. 

First, I had to figure out the school situation. I called the school, in a panic...school was already out. Thank GOD, they worked with me and said they would put Ava on the bus with Joseph since he has rode the bus before and luckily, Jana was on the other phone and was calling to corroborate my "story". The stars aligned because the busses had not left yet and they were able to stop them and find Joseph and Ava and get them on the bus. Joseph actually told me that the principal told him that I locked myself out of the house and car...so I'm glad the message was passed, not matter how many people know. 

So, as I was looking up locksmiths to get back in the house, my property manager called and she said, "why don't you try a credit card before you call a locksmith." I guess I was naive, because I totally thought that she was calling to tell me she was on her way here with the key. ha. Silly me. 

But, the credit card worked and I got in, pissed off at the world and swearing up and down that I am moving out of this house as soon as we get home from Texas this summer, I don't care if I have to do it alone. 

The kids made it home and two hours later, Jana got here...bless her heart, she was just as stressed and panicked as I was! Her husband is gone as well, so we rely on each other for almost everything! Thank goodness the school knows her better than they know me...or I don't think they would have let Ava ride the bus from just a phone call. I think it's time for me to start volunteering up there more! 

But, I did spend the day making cookies, seriously...what perfect timing! 

So, to thank the office staff for letting paperwork slip through the cracks today and let Ava ride the bus anyway, I made a cookie basket for them. They are sticklers for sticking to the rules and I am still in shock that they allowed Ava to ride the bus home!

After all that...today is Mabel's 10 week birthday! She weighed in at 27 pounds yesterday and got her first ear piercing and black eye! My poor baby...but she so deserved it. 

Can you see her swollen eye! It's on her gray side.

Bruno came over to hang out, he's my adopted son...he's 12 years old. Mabel pushed him over the edge by chasing him under the bed and then following him under there. I'm pretty sure she learned her lesson...don't mess with the old fogies!

This is her hole, it's clean through to the other side. 

She is just fine...she was just being a puppy and Bruno was just being old. I say she learned her lesson...but really, she probably didn't. ha ha. She is out playing with the kids now...she doesn't even remember what happened. Although, I think Stella laughing at her saying "I told you so"...that probably makes her feel a little deflated. ha ha!

Alright...that's all...and I thought I didn't have anything to write for my next blog. I thought that this morning...and then Murphy came knocking! 

Maybe I'm Back...Maybe!

Our crazy family right before Jason left.

Apparently I can't stay away from writing with Jason gone. It feels good to write, but it's even nicer to keep everyone up to date with us and Jason.

It has been a few days since I have heard from Jason. He is on his security outpost now, I assume. I talked to him right before he left Leatherneck...that was on Monday night. It's different not being able to talk to him. The last deployment he had the satellite phone and I was able to call him every night. I miss that. And I miss being in the loop. Jason wanted me to hold out sending out his address until it was activated. It was activated yesterday, but the addresses have changed and now I don't know which one is his. I have emailed our Family Readiness Officer to figure it out, but of course, have not heard back from him. It's frustrating, especially since it's a Friday!

The girls and I have been doing good. They took really good care of me after my surgery. Yesterday and today...I have felt normal. And it feels great! But of course, I didn't stay down today and thought I could rearrange a little...I'm paying the price right now. I just want to be a busy body. I feel like I should be nesting, I'm obviously not pregnant...but I want to be busy doing things. I really dislike the evenings when I don't have anything to do. I would much rather be watching Swamp People with Jason.

Changing gears, as most of you know, we got a new addition on Easter. Miss Mabel Mae, she's a Great Dane.

Miss Mabel Mae at 2 weeks old.

Miss Mabel Mae the day we brought her home. 6 weeks, 5 days.

Miss Mabel Mae, 7 weeks.

Taking Jason to the busses.

Mabel thinks Stella is her Mom. And boy does she have the best role model in Stella!

She is such a cuddler. It's like having a baby to cuddle with in the house again. She did nothing but cuddle with me for days after my surgery.

9 Weeks, staring out the window!

Mabel is amazing, although, amazing, I think, is an understatement. She is freakin awesome! She is growing like a weed and already potty trained like a champ...at 9 weeks! She sleeps through the night and pretty much all day long. When she goes outside to play with the girls after school, you can count on her passing out and not moving until the next day. Stella lets her cuddle with her, they sleep together, and they play really good outside together...but when Stella is sleeping and Mabel wakes her up by biting her tail...it's on. They are a lot of fun to watch. I think half the reason Mabel is so awesome is because she has such a great role model in Stella...and she wants to do as Stella does. Finally, we found another dog match for our family. After many trials and errors, we finally got it right. I'm taking weekly pictures of her to do a time lapse video eventually. When she was born, she weighed 1.8Ibs...at 8 weeks, she weighed 20 Ibs. I take her back to the vet on Monday, She will be a day shy of 10 weeks, I'm guessing she will at least be 30. She's pushing Layla's weight! 

I  will end this with Ava's art project, her self portrait! 

It Feels Great to Write, Again!

I'm going to start writing again, especially since my "sounding board" is gone again. Jason left for California a week ago and will be gone until February 20ish. A week flew by, but that scares me since he will be deploying again in April. I just wish time wouldn't fly when he is home.

Speaking of time, today is our 7 year anniversary. Man, that flew by really quickly. Seriously, I think I blinked 3 times and all of a sudden we are here. Cliche, yes, but the best 7 years. I couldn't imagine my life any other way. Getting to spend my life with my best friend is a gift. God gave me Jason and I thank God everyday that we get to live this life, together. We were talking about our "30 year" plan a few weeks ago. In ten years, he will be done with the Marine Corps, with a retirement. (I swear, if congress puts an end to the 20 year retirement and puts this bullshit plan in place that they are considering, I will go "crazy military wife" on them.) Anyways, we have so much time. Time to enjoy our kids while we are young, time to have fun once they are out of the house and plenty of time to have lots of fun after we are 58. ha ha. 58 is our retirement goal. Yadda, yadda, it will be fun to hopefully reach that goal! RVing the U.S. at 58, not a bad plan. Of course, it will be in a Land Yacht 5000 (I hope I got that right...I think it's a quote from the movie RV, one of Jason's favorites and he always reminds me he will have a land yacht).

So, as many of you know, North Carolina has not been nice to us. Jason is gone training or at work until all hours of the night more times than he is home. It has been really hard to get used to. When he got back at the end of May, we started planning for the move, moved in August and then in September, he disappeared. It hasn't been easy since we haven't really had a lot of time to be a family since the last deployment, and now we won't have much time before April.

Add to that, this tiny house we rented. It's awful. The only good thing I can say about it, the wood floors are pretty. That's all I got. But, we finally found our "out" and are going to use Jason's deployment orders to get into a new house. I'm going to look at one on Tuesday, although we can't get into one until March. I HAVE to have a larger kitchen. The kitchen here is smaller than my bathroom in California. It's awful.

Alright, enough complaining. Such is life, we have dealt with the punches and now I can find a better rental. I have that to look forward to and I can't wait!

Jason gave me a Kindle for our anniversary and I am in love. I have read 4 books in the past 2 weeks. I love this thing! I looked up covers for my kindle and was baffled by the prices. Especially since the one I fell in love with was this Kate Spade cover.

I'm sorry, but who can afford $69 bucks for a Kindle Cover? I would like to say I can, but I would be lying! So, I decided to make my own. I had some extra fabric hanging around the house so I thought I would use it! I had NO plan as to how I was going to do this. I just started. Through trial and error...I don't think I did that bad of a job. Especially since it cost me NOTHING to make, compared to buying it for $69 bucks. (Yes, I know there are cheaper ones!)

Basically all I did was cut cardboard from a box and then I tried to figure out how to sew it into a cover. My method was not pretty.

I screwed up quite a few times and had to "regroup" my vision, but in the end, I think it turned out just great. It's pretty, it's for me and it serves it's purpose!

Not bad, for no plan!

It's freezing cold and dreary, today. It looks like it should be snowing! I think we scared off all the snow with our move here. The news keeps saying how uncharacteristically warm this winter has been. Yea, go figure...it's because we jinxed the weather hoping for snow when we moved. I have potato soup simmering on the stove and fresh mozzarella slices marinating in the fridge that later I will fry! I have to have some kind of indulgence on our anniversary! Well, aside from football and beer!

Welcome back from the dead blog...so I say to myself. It felt great to write!