Today we had a fashion show. :)
Not the best quality of picture because I took them on my cell phone. But you get the idea. :)
Our life as an Air Force Family *Retired*, in words and photos.
Friday, November 30, 2007
Nik's Duck Jammies
Last night Nik and I went to Big Lots to explore, as Nik had never been before. They had some very cute flannel pjs for big girls.
Today we had a fashion show. :)
Not the best quality of picture because I took them on my cell phone. But you get the idea. :)
Today we had a fashion show. :)
Not the best quality of picture because I took them on my cell phone. But you get the idea. :)
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Stanley's ride
The big kids today got the idea to see if Stanley would ride in DJ's tractor trailer. Um that would be a yes.
DJ giving Stanley a ride
Another longer one of DJ giving Stanley a ride[/url] but this one has Jerry saying that he is getting the H#ll out of the way. :lol:
You have to have quick time too view them though. So just in case you don't have it here are a couple of the 36
pictures that Kelsey took of the big event.
And better late than never. Kelsey's concert. The video isnt all that great, and it is upside down because the camera phone was acting up.
Kelsey's concert
Today at work we got in another 300 Christmas Trees.
I am not sure where they think we are going to sell all of these trees, but sure I will believe them. I got to count as they came off the truck, and then argue with the jerky truck driver that never got out of the cab until they were all off the truck when they came up 6 short. Um if you don't belive me mister you recount them, your self!
Oh and I put in my notice for this store, along with my availabilty date for the store in Georgia. My last day here will be the 27th of December :( . I figured that if I worked after Christmas then I will get paid for Christmas day. ;) Plus who really wants to move the weekend before the holiday and spend the holiday in a hotel? So we will stay here an extra week, and get to see the Bear when she is here. So we will all be living camping style. Ah the good old days of Team Redneck Camping, anyone else want to come join us?
DJ giving Stanley a ride
Another longer one of DJ giving Stanley a ride[/url] but this one has Jerry saying that he is getting the H#ll out of the way. :lol:
You have to have quick time too view them though. So just in case you don't have it here are a couple of the 36
pictures that Kelsey took of the big event. And better late than never. Kelsey's concert. The video isnt all that great, and it is upside down because the camera phone was acting up.
Kelsey's concert
Today at work we got in another 300 Christmas Trees.
I am not sure where they think we are going to sell all of these trees, but sure I will believe them. I got to count as they came off the truck, and then argue with the jerky truck driver that never got out of the cab until they were all off the truck when they came up 6 short. Um if you don't belive me mister you recount them, your self! Oh and I put in my notice for this store, along with my availabilty date for the store in Georgia. My last day here will be the 27th of December :( . I figured that if I worked after Christmas then I will get paid for Christmas day. ;) Plus who really wants to move the weekend before the holiday and spend the holiday in a hotel? So we will stay here an extra week, and get to see the Bear when she is here. So we will all be living camping style. Ah the good old days of Team Redneck Camping, anyone else want to come join us?
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Matt is out of the hospital
My brother Matt is out of the hospital. I have not talked to him since he got out, but I am sure he is relieved.
Its been a long day, so I am going to eat my dinner and go to bed.
Its been a long day, so I am going to eat my dinner and go to bed.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
What a day
My brother Matt is in the hospital in Phoenix. He was bit by a cat on Friday, and by Saturday had to go to the ER from the bites being infected. When I talked to him this morning he was waiting to go for an MRI, but I have heard from Angela that he is STILL waiting to go in for surgery. So not impressed. Since at about 5 our time he was supposedly on his way in to surgery. The poor guy hasnt eaten since yesterday because of the wait, so I am sure he is grumpy. So if you can spare a thought or two for him, I would appreciate it.
I went to a Lowes movie night tonight with two of the guys from work, the one's fiancee, and the other one's son. We watched Jeff Dunham's second comedy central special. Watching that sooooo explains so much about the guys that I work with. They quote him on a daily basis. I was laughing so hard at points I was crying. And some times it seemed timed perfect that I would take a drink and he would say something so over the top I had to keep from spitting water all over the place.
I went to a Lowes movie night tonight with two of the guys from work, the one's fiancee, and the other one's son. We watched Jeff Dunham's second comedy central special. Watching that sooooo explains so much about the guys that I work with. They quote him on a daily basis. I was laughing so hard at points I was crying. And some times it seemed timed perfect that I would take a drink and he would say something so over the top I had to keep from spitting water all over the place.
Monday, November 26, 2007
Happy Birthday to Jerry
Today is Jerry's birthday, and what a way for him to wake up, it started off this morning with he and Kelsey arguing. :yawn: Ahhh fun the adjustments that we have to make back to a normal life with Jerry home. I think that everyone forgot what it is like to be a family. And then you add in the extra fun and stress of having an extra family living under the same roof as we are, and the extra stress and fun of the upcoming move, and the extra stress of money being tight and life is just a little bit crazy aroud here.
Ok so a little bit crazy is an understatement if I have ever said one. It is a lot crazy around here. All 5 kids are on a different set of schedules, with different things going on at all times (thank goodness I only have 3 kids of my own). Plus the kids all fight enough to make the sanest person on the planet slightly crazy. They all dont understand that they need to do a lot of give and take, and the extras don't understand that my three gave up a lot to have them move into the house with us, and my three don't quite get why we did it, and why they have to be the ones to give up so much. Part of the time I want to just scream at all of them to go to their rooms and not come out until they have to leave for school. But I don't. I control myself rather nicely I think. Except for last night when J was making obnoxious noises with his mouth and even after being asked to stop he didn't, so I put him out in the backyard for a few minutes until I was ready to not kill him (P and N had gone to the Evil Empire for shopping, but I called and told them that I had done it, they laughed).
There is the stress of my not having a job lined up here or there that pays enough money. There is the stress of not having a job even lined up with Lowes, and they cant promise that I will walk into a job as soon as we get there. I think we need to call the mortgage company about what we should do finacially to keep from completely loosing our hindends. Right now we are ok on the house payments, and car payments, but that is about all we are ok on. We are however, behind on everything else I think.
I wish we could go back in time to when I was making good money in England and slap ourselves around. I wish that we would have thought ahead and saved money, instead of spending it all on others. I loved that we had the money to help out friends, to feed the masses, to go out and do things. But when I look at some of the things we spent money on (I saw we, but I mean me for a big chunk of it), I want to go back in time and slap myself. I see now how I was being used for a ride from Alconbury to Lakenheath (at 100 miles per round trip, with two round trips per weekend)and back every weekend, and how I was being used for a place to stay at Lakenheath, and food to eat. And for what? What did I get out of it? I have one positive thing that came out of that particuliar friendship, that I would not give up for anything, but for the majority it was give give give, and I got hurt. I was hurt and lied to, and in the end lost the ability to trust.
Ok on to more positive thoughts to end this post. I don't want to end it on a downer, and I will worry about the money situation later.
At work today we found our mascot. We have this gray frog that has been around forever, or else one that looks like this one. I took pictures on my camera phone today, because well, he is our mascot. I remember seeing him the first time I worked in the nursery, and now he is still around.
Today in the mail I got a big box thanks to my sister in law Angela. She sent me an email a few weeks ago asking about Christmas presents for everyone. For myself I asked if she had read any good books lately, and that she could send me a good book to read. Today in the mail I got this:
Its a box of about 50 books that she ordered for me, and had sent here. :)
Niki bought Jerry a birthday cake for his birthday. More for the kids than for him, as Jerry does not do sweets. But we all enjoyed it. :)
Ok so a little bit crazy is an understatement if I have ever said one. It is a lot crazy around here. All 5 kids are on a different set of schedules, with different things going on at all times (thank goodness I only have 3 kids of my own). Plus the kids all fight enough to make the sanest person on the planet slightly crazy. They all dont understand that they need to do a lot of give and take, and the extras don't understand that my three gave up a lot to have them move into the house with us, and my three don't quite get why we did it, and why they have to be the ones to give up so much. Part of the time I want to just scream at all of them to go to their rooms and not come out until they have to leave for school. But I don't. I control myself rather nicely I think. Except for last night when J was making obnoxious noises with his mouth and even after being asked to stop he didn't, so I put him out in the backyard for a few minutes until I was ready to not kill him (P and N had gone to the Evil Empire for shopping, but I called and told them that I had done it, they laughed).
There is the stress of my not having a job lined up here or there that pays enough money. There is the stress of not having a job even lined up with Lowes, and they cant promise that I will walk into a job as soon as we get there. I think we need to call the mortgage company about what we should do finacially to keep from completely loosing our hindends. Right now we are ok on the house payments, and car payments, but that is about all we are ok on. We are however, behind on everything else I think.
I wish we could go back in time to when I was making good money in England and slap ourselves around. I wish that we would have thought ahead and saved money, instead of spending it all on others. I loved that we had the money to help out friends, to feed the masses, to go out and do things. But when I look at some of the things we spent money on (I saw we, but I mean me for a big chunk of it), I want to go back in time and slap myself. I see now how I was being used for a ride from Alconbury to Lakenheath (at 100 miles per round trip, with two round trips per weekend)and back every weekend, and how I was being used for a place to stay at Lakenheath, and food to eat. And for what? What did I get out of it? I have one positive thing that came out of that particuliar friendship, that I would not give up for anything, but for the majority it was give give give, and I got hurt. I was hurt and lied to, and in the end lost the ability to trust.
Ok on to more positive thoughts to end this post. I don't want to end it on a downer, and I will worry about the money situation later.
At work today we found our mascot. We have this gray frog that has been around forever, or else one that looks like this one. I took pictures on my camera phone today, because well, he is our mascot. I remember seeing him the first time I worked in the nursery, and now he is still around.
Today in the mail I got a big box thanks to my sister in law Angela. She sent me an email a few weeks ago asking about Christmas presents for everyone. For myself I asked if she had read any good books lately, and that she could send me a good book to read. Today in the mail I got this:
Its a box of about 50 books that she ordered for me, and had sent here. :)
Niki bought Jerry a birthday cake for his birthday. More for the kids than for him, as Jerry does not do sweets. But we all enjoyed it. :)
Tip for all of the crafty type people out there
At our Lowes, and I am guessing most Lowes you can take the tree trimmings for free. For example off of most of the trees that I have cut in the last 3 days I have had to cut off anywhere from 3-6 branches on the bottom of the tree. We just take these branches and put them into a boxed pallet. You can take these trimmings for free to decorate your house, or turn into your own handmade wreath, if you are so inclined.
You can also collect the stumps that we have cut off the trees, if you are so inclined. I gathered all of them from Friday and Saturday to take to the preschool. When I taught 2nd grade, and when I taught preschool we used the stumps to make snowmen (lots more work on my part with the preschool group, than the 2nd grade group obviously). You can also make ornaments out of them with the little kids. :)
All you have to do is ask the garden center when you go in if you can get them. In our case we are encouraging people to take them, because waste not want not.
I don't think I will be cutting very many trees today, it is POURING down rain here. And has been since about midnight, I think Jerry said we had 4 inches of rain when he went out to check the rain gauge about an hour ago. Winter hurricane is what it looks like out my front window right now. It is raining hard enough that it is hard enough that it is hard to see the neighbor house across the street.
I woke up this morning to Jerry and Kelsey arguing over her cleaning up a mess before she left for the bus, and then he ended up driving her to school anyway. (insert rolling eyes here). What a way to start Jerry's birthday. The kids had gotten used to him not being home and are not sure how to act exactally with him home again, for a long period of time. And just about the time that they will get used to having him around he will be off to Georgia to house hunt, then about the time that we get used to living just as a family in one place how much do you want to bet that he will be off to parts unknown with the military?
I just saw an ad for a movie that I want to see, like actually see in the movie theater, it looks that funny. P.S. I love you.
The name of the movie has too many memories in it for me, to many other things that it means, to many statements made by people that ended in disappointment. It is one of those things that will always be hard to hear, or see in writing. It has been a while but the hurt is still fresh enough to have that statement hurt. Weird, you think you are over something, and a statement like that opens it back up. The mind does strange things, now doesn't it?
You can also collect the stumps that we have cut off the trees, if you are so inclined. I gathered all of them from Friday and Saturday to take to the preschool. When I taught 2nd grade, and when I taught preschool we used the stumps to make snowmen (lots more work on my part with the preschool group, than the 2nd grade group obviously). You can also make ornaments out of them with the little kids. :)
All you have to do is ask the garden center when you go in if you can get them. In our case we are encouraging people to take them, because waste not want not.
I don't think I will be cutting very many trees today, it is POURING down rain here. And has been since about midnight, I think Jerry said we had 4 inches of rain when he went out to check the rain gauge about an hour ago. Winter hurricane is what it looks like out my front window right now. It is raining hard enough that it is hard enough that it is hard to see the neighbor house across the street.
I woke up this morning to Jerry and Kelsey arguing over her cleaning up a mess before she left for the bus, and then he ended up driving her to school anyway. (insert rolling eyes here). What a way to start Jerry's birthday. The kids had gotten used to him not being home and are not sure how to act exactally with him home again, for a long period of time. And just about the time that they will get used to having him around he will be off to Georgia to house hunt, then about the time that we get used to living just as a family in one place how much do you want to bet that he will be off to parts unknown with the military?
I just saw an ad for a movie that I want to see, like actually see in the movie theater, it looks that funny. P.S. I love you.
The name of the movie has too many memories in it for me, to many other things that it means, to many statements made by people that ended in disappointment. It is one of those things that will always be hard to hear, or see in writing. It has been a while but the hurt is still fresh enough to have that statement hurt. Weird, you think you are over something, and a statement like that opens it back up. The mind does strange things, now doesn't it?
Sunday, November 25, 2007
oh christmas tree
Oh Christmas Tree!
I have been too tired to post anything the last two days or so. I am so beat from throwing Christmas Trees it isnt even funny.
Hopefully I will be able to think enough to blog tomorrow.
I have been too tired to post anything the last two days or so. I am so beat from throwing Christmas Trees it isnt even funny.
Hopefully I will be able to think enough to blog tomorrow.
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Happy Thanksgiving
Happy Gobble Gobble day to all of you.
I am tired tonight, but it is a good tired. You see yesterday was Jerry's graduation from tech school (and hence the reason why there was no blog yesterday). He is finally done, and we all surived. It has been a long tiring 6 months, and hopeufully it will all be worth it in the end (meaning in 5 years when Jerry retires).
So to start a few pictures from graduation:
At then end of graduation one of the instructors gave all of the guys a form to fill out that will enable them to get something with the FCC, which will help them all after they get out of the military. Also Jerry was thanked by the "kids" for all of his help that he gave them. A few of the instructors joked that his orders were being changed and that we are going to be stationed there at Keesler, because they all enjoyed having him there.
After graduation we helped Jerry clean out his dorm room, then we went with him to outprocess the base. Once that was all done we headed up to Jerry's mom's house. We stopped in Gulf Port for lunch at Raising Cane's, it was pretty yummy.
We got up to Carolyn's middle of the afternoon, long drive, I am glad that I didn't try and do the trip twice in one day. Had dinner with them.
Today we had turkey with the family and then we went to the Lazy-acres Christmas Tree farm.
All of the pictures are here
I have a story to share about CIL (cousin in law). D has recently gotten a divorce, and is now dating a 19 yo guy in the Army. Now D is my age, so 33/34 and dating this guy. Not a bad thing. However her 16 yo daughter is also dating a 19 yo Army kid. Today at lunch D said that she figures that J is her future Son-In-Law. I couldnt help myself, I had to comment on it. I told them that they didn't want to do it. They didn't want to marry a military man. You never have money, and they are always F*cking gone. Both D and C looked at me like I was crazy and didn't know what I am talking about. Um been married into the military for 12 years sweetie, thats what you call BTDT.
I am sure right now it looks like they have pleanty of money, because these guys are either basically living with D and C or living in the barraks and going to Newton to visit on the weekends (I am not sure where these two geniuses work). I remember those days, it seemed like that military paycheck was a great thing, because the only bills Jerry had when we first started dating was his truck and insurance.
I can not even imagine marrying the guy D is dating. Not sure what she is thinking, but maybe she is thinking with her whoha.
Right now I have just turned off the ASU/USC game. ASU never seems to be able to pull out a win if I am watching.
Guess I had better not even attempt to watch the ASU/U of A game next weekend, if I want ASU to win. 
Also just thought i'd let you all know that the show Matt's band had on tuesday is online. all you have to do to see it is go to
www.liveatthegig.com
from there you will see a link to view performances. click there and then click on "carnal Bliss" that will be our show.
hope you enjoy.
I am tired tonight, but it is a good tired. You see yesterday was Jerry's graduation from tech school (and hence the reason why there was no blog yesterday). He is finally done, and we all surived. It has been a long tiring 6 months, and hopeufully it will all be worth it in the end (meaning in 5 years when Jerry retires).
So to start a few pictures from graduation:
At then end of graduation one of the instructors gave all of the guys a form to fill out that will enable them to get something with the FCC, which will help them all after they get out of the military. Also Jerry was thanked by the "kids" for all of his help that he gave them. A few of the instructors joked that his orders were being changed and that we are going to be stationed there at Keesler, because they all enjoyed having him there.
After graduation we helped Jerry clean out his dorm room, then we went with him to outprocess the base. Once that was all done we headed up to Jerry's mom's house. We stopped in Gulf Port for lunch at Raising Cane's, it was pretty yummy.
We got up to Carolyn's middle of the afternoon, long drive, I am glad that I didn't try and do the trip twice in one day. Had dinner with them.
Today we had turkey with the family and then we went to the Lazy-acres Christmas Tree farm.
All of the pictures are here
I have a story to share about CIL (cousin in law). D has recently gotten a divorce, and is now dating a 19 yo guy in the Army. Now D is my age, so 33/34 and dating this guy. Not a bad thing. However her 16 yo daughter is also dating a 19 yo Army kid. Today at lunch D said that she figures that J is her future Son-In-Law. I couldnt help myself, I had to comment on it. I told them that they didn't want to do it. They didn't want to marry a military man. You never have money, and they are always F*cking gone. Both D and C looked at me like I was crazy and didn't know what I am talking about. Um been married into the military for 12 years sweetie, thats what you call BTDT.
I am sure right now it looks like they have pleanty of money, because these guys are either basically living with D and C or living in the barraks and going to Newton to visit on the weekends (I am not sure where these two geniuses work). I remember those days, it seemed like that military paycheck was a great thing, because the only bills Jerry had when we first started dating was his truck and insurance.
I can not even imagine marrying the guy D is dating. Not sure what she is thinking, but maybe she is thinking with her whoha.
Right now I have just turned off the ASU/USC game. ASU never seems to be able to pull out a win if I am watching.
Guess I had better not even attempt to watch the ASU/U of A game next weekend, if I want ASU to win. Also just thought i'd let you all know that the show Matt's band had on tuesday is online. all you have to do to see it is go to
www.liveatthegig.com
from there you will see a link to view performances. click there and then click on "carnal Bliss" that will be our show.
hope you enjoy.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
We survived!
Tomorrow is the big day! Jerry FINALLY Graduates from Tech School. I shouldn't word it quite like that I guess. He is graduating right on time, from day one of his school he was to graduate tomorrow. It just seems like it has been such a long time coming.
Now the real fun begins. We have to find a house in Georgia, we have to get packed up and moved, we have to sort out what to do with the house here in Florida. I have to find a job. A whole new level of stress.
But we survived. I didn't shoot any of the children, we still have a roof over our heads, and we still are surviving. We are flat out broke, and Christmas is going to suck, because we have no money, but we will be back together as a family.
I am thankful this holiday for my family and my friends. I am thankful that Jerry made it through his school. And I am thankful for the chance to move on to the next chapter in our lives.
And I am sure that everyone that knows me is thankful that Jerry is done, because I am sure that they are tired of hearing me go on about how screwed up this process has been, and how the Air Force has just screwed us on it. ;)
Ok a couple of pictures:
These are the two crafts DJ has brought home this week. There is one more that is still at school, but the paint was still wet when I picked him up today.
Then tonight this is how I found Roo
Then so not to leave the other fur balls out:
Stanley
Tigger
And Saggy impersonating Nanna from Peter Pan
Now the real fun begins. We have to find a house in Georgia, we have to get packed up and moved, we have to sort out what to do with the house here in Florida. I have to find a job. A whole new level of stress.
But we survived. I didn't shoot any of the children, we still have a roof over our heads, and we still are surviving. We are flat out broke, and Christmas is going to suck, because we have no money, but we will be back together as a family.
I am thankful this holiday for my family and my friends. I am thankful that Jerry made it through his school. And I am thankful for the chance to move on to the next chapter in our lives.
And I am sure that everyone that knows me is thankful that Jerry is done, because I am sure that they are tired of hearing me go on about how screwed up this process has been, and how the Air Force has just screwed us on it. ;)
Ok a couple of pictures:
These are the two crafts DJ has brought home this week. There is one more that is still at school, but the paint was still wet when I picked him up today.
Then tonight this is how I found Roo
Then so not to leave the other fur balls out:
Stanley
Tigger
And Saggy impersonating Nanna from Peter Pan
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