Super Date Night

This weekend we got to get away, get all fancy, and have some adult conversation!!! We got to go to the Marine Corps Birthday Ball!!! Richmond or Bust, Baby!!!

 What a great night we had! I think this is actually the first ball I have been to that I actually knew the people we sat with!

I got to meet several of J's Marines and listen to their stories and experiences, got to meet some of there lovely wives/girlfriends, and put names with faces!

The night was long... but I think I heard someone say there were 2900 people at the Ball. So we had some waiting to do while people got drinks or took bathroom breaks! The guest of honor gave a good speech and by the time that was all done we were ready to EAT!!!

It was really a lot of fun! And because I was having such a good time I forgot about my camera... oops! I got two pictures, it is what it is!

I am not totally in love with that picture though ->
Bad lighting + crappy camera + awkward pose = ick! Oh well!

I would like to say how lucky I am to be able to stand next to this man and call him mine! I am so proud of all he does for us and our country. He is an amazing Father, Husband, and Marine!

I am also thankful for wonderful friends who allowed us to enjoy this evening worry free!




This world of the military has been an eye-opening experience for me! I was not raised in a military family and didn't even know anyone who served except for my grandpa during WWII but he never talked about that! I can say that it has changed my views on several issues and made me feel pride I have not ever experienced (watching J come off those buses, giving birth without my partner, just a few examples) and it has taught me to enjoy EVERY single moment we are given on this earth. I am thankful for the sacrifices these men and women make everyday without even thinking twice. I am proud to be apart of such an amazing group of spouses, they have taught me so much. And finally just a few days early...

Happy Birthday Marines!!! 

Let's play catch...

Up that is!!! Its been awhile since I actually have written anything so today is a catch up day! (I actually have written a couple of post but they are just sitting there unpublished b/c I am worried it will hurt someone very dear to me)

Anyway, I would first like to say Happy Birthday to my wonderful Maw-Maw!!! She is the best grandma a girl could ask for and I hope she has an amazing day because she deserves the best!!!

It has been a cRaZy couple of months and it doesn't feel like it should be November already, I think September and October just melded into one month this year!!! We had a few weeks in there with nothing but sickness running through our house.. M first with Strep throat and then N had a double ear infection and then J got Strep throat! J had to defer the Marathon until next year and was super bummed about that but he needed to recover! He did get to run the Tough Mudder and had an absolute blast!!!

This is BORING... so maybe lets do some pics!!!

I joined a softball team... that's me getting in some batting practice!

We went to a local pumpkin patch and it poured on us... didn't even get to go to the pumpkin patch, just grabbed some pumpkins from the pile and ran for cover :) But we had a great time! 

Tough Mudder "Team Tank" 10 Miles through obstacles and up ski slopes and they are still smiling... they actually jumped into a tank of ice water!!! 

Can you see his smile? This right after getting electrocuted!!! 

And finally Halloween!!! A great night for all involved! We went through 5 large bags of candy in less than 2 hours and my kids brought back their  fair share!!! 

In uniform, not because he wanted to be but because he had to go back to work... THANK YOU Major R for letting J come be with us  for a bit!!! 

M really wasn't feeling the whole picture time so thats why there isn't one with her and J and we just happened to get her looking in the last one but the 10 he took before this she had her "beak" buried in my shoulder!!! 

And since it is Thursday... 

What's your song??

Because I am in love with Bruno Mars and I cant WAIT for Breaking Dawn to come out ( I know I'm like 12) my song for this weeks link up is his new song for the sound track...



Head over to Goodnight Moon and freshen up your playlist!!!

Grow Up!

We all can act childish, its really very easy to find yourself throwing a tantrum like a two year old. Stomping our feet and yelling and tears, refusing to use your words and sometimes it even works... you get your way because lets face it who wants to deal with a grown up acting this way?!?!

BUT and this is a big but,

Tantrums are the way a child acts because they don't have the ability to tell you what they want. As an adult you should know how to speak to someone with respect and still be able to communicate your point... well at least most adults! Another problem with adult tantrums is that the words that are screamed usually cut like a knife and we all know that once the words are out you cant take them back!  

I guess I am not sure where I am heading with all this... Some one very dear to me was hurt and I am at a loss for what happened. Words hurt, PERIOD.  

"So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; fro the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God." James 1: 19-20

Can adults be put in a time-out? 

What's Your Song???

Wow! Can it really be Thursday already??  It has been a cRaZy couple of weeks and so in honor of just needing a day off, here is my song this week!!



What is really funny is that N gets so excited when we hear this song and can pretty much sing all the words!!!  Does that make me a bad mom... letting them listen to "real" music?!?  Oh well!

Enjoy and here's to a LaZy day!!! (but before you settled in head over to Goodnight Moon and link up)

Scaredie Cat

This weekend we got the pleasure to experience Hurricane Irene!!! I actually don't think she was still a hurricane when we met her but it rained for a LONG time and there was some wind but overall we got really lucky!!! The kids enjoyed playing in the rain...

When it first started

Coming down harder now but still fun... 

BUT then the power went out and we thought "okay, we will be fine they will have it back on by morning"! Well, we were wrong!!! We went almost 27 hours without power and I know that is just a small amount of time compared to the others affected and my prayers are still with those families, but it SuCkED!  I kept trying to remind myself that people used to live this way and survived but (this is embarrassing) I am afraid of the dark and hate HATE it!!! I couldn't sleep because I kept thinking about someone or something coming through my window and then I worried about the kids getting to hot but I didn't want to open their window because I wouldn't hear if something happened because the baby monitor doesn't work without electricity!!! (What a nutcase, bet you are feeling for J right about now)

ANYWAY

We are very blessed and our neighbors let us borrow an extension cord that was connected to their generator and it really lifted our spirits... we were able to run a fan and my laptop! So we decided to camp out in our room and watch a movie!

Another benefit of a Hurricane barreling down on the East Coast is that our friends from NC came to ride out the storm with us... YAY!!! Don't get me wrong, four kids under one roof and not being able to get O.U.T can get a little crazy BUT it was great to catch up!!!

So we started the week with an earthquake and ended with a hurricane and I am hoping that Mother Nature is done for awhile!!!

What's your song???

So here we are again, I cant believe it is already Thursday!!! This has been a big week for us, N started school and we have been getting used to his new schedule, changing around nap time for M, and just adjusting!!!

We are so proud for him and he is really enjoying it!!! 

I am sorry that I haven't been better at blogging in between the link up with Goodnight Moon, but it is what it is! I am pretty sure its all about to change and you all will be hearing from me a lot more because I just canceled cable!!! Its time to shake some things up!!! Anyway... 

I actually heard this song coming home from visiting J at work yesterday and it really struck me, I don't think I have heard it before! I kinda stopped listening to Country a few years back but seem to be slowly transitioning back to it because the radio stations up here seem to have the top 40 on repeat and you can only hear a song so many times before it starts getting on your nerves! 

Back to this song... 

While I was listening to it my thoughts immediately turned to J, as they normally do when I hear a love song, and how he is at such a cross-roads right now and how I hope and pray he knows that no matter what he or we are going through I will be there.  How I wish I could help him find peace in his job now and comfort and patience in our future! I hope he knows what an amazing job he does as a husband and father and how grateful I will always be! 

Then I started thinking about N and what a big day he had just had (the 1st day of school and the day we had an earthquake in VA) and how much I want him to know that he can ALWAYS count on me, that I will always be there!!!  I loved him the moment I found out we were pregnant, he was my dream come true!  

So todays song is dedicated to my boys!!! I love you!