Trip to KS … 1st part

The first week in KS resulted in all of us with the stomach flu & recovering from it. Nothing worse than trying to care for 2 kids, and not vomit along side them. My heart went out to both of them, because they were so exhausted & worn out.
My parents packed for the trip to see Yanni and Jayden, as well as Cate & Eric. It was a horrid start for a trip, 1st day the flight was CANCELLED. Mom was all prepared to leave, and was so upset when they cancelled the flight after they had been sitting there for a few hours. Dad was simply disappointed in the fact they could have let the passengers know the flight was going to be delayed or cancelled … but the positive thing is my SIL is their travel agent & she had it fixed in no time at all.

1st Trip to AirPort VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

The worst part, is I went to Hobby Lobby to get fabric to make my boys PJ’s. Then we stopped by Subway for Lunch. It was nice until we got back to Hutch & I had to make a trip back to Wichita.   Logan watched Athenah, instead of dragging them back to the airport.
The 2nd trip was successful, such a relief to me. Of course this time I did not leave Wichita until Dad told me that they were boarding. The day before I ended up making two trips to Wichita … not what I wanted to do again.
I stopped by to replace my shoes, which even as comfortable as they were, they were to the point of replacing. Found a pair of comfy boots, got some stocking stuffers for my boys. Then went back to Mom’s & Dad’s. Logan was amazing because he watch Athenah the entire time I was gone. But I am just happy, because it made the trip easier. She likes to go places, but does not like being “trapped” in a car seat or stroller … can you blame her?
The next couple weeks we (Logan, Athenah & me) relaxed, baked, played games & after dark drove around to look at Christmas Lights. Logan about had a cow because most of the lights we found were simply white/clear. He listens to his GrandPa too much on that topic, as well as a few others But I have to agree with him, when you decorate for the holidays you want cheerful. Using only one color, can be a bit depressing. And white/clear lights don’t do so well when it snows. But if you use a variety of colors, it really makes it cheerful and seems more like the holidays. Basically, go from “bland” to “cheerful.” Then again, each person has an idea how they want to decorate. (feel for my sons, because the next holiday season, my home will get decorated as I prefer)
The games were ok, Logan loves to play a large variety. He is good with strategic options.

Games, Lights, Baking VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

After a while, my husband & sons arrived. Then it was a more baking, games, and getting ready for the holidays. Plus during this time, my husband & I celebrated our 14th anniversary. Out to dinner, which was nice. Then we check out the theater, which we opted out of because there was nothing playing we really wanted to see. Then we picked up some last minutes gifts, for the boys & him.
I was really excited about this holiday because for the 1st time in my life, 39 years, I was suppose see my GrandPa on Christmas, as well as the Lamb’s. Usually it is celebrated with the McAllister’s on Christmas Eve, and Lamb’s on Christmas Day. Lunch was with my GrandPa, which we did enjoy. But sadly we missed “dinner” with the Lamb’s because they let me know on Christmas Eve that it will began at 1pm on Christmas. Which it was pointed out that “From one of the Lambs who never let you know”, as well as “We are happy you are here after all these years” … I was rather insulted. I have been back for the holidays. But sadly I do not come back every year, I do not live in KS. Plus I have a family of my own, which does now include an extended family that lives in NC, GA & FL. Yet, I have traveled to KS several times to be here for the holidays. Yea, I am a bit unhappy over this holiday season … but in the end, I has my husband, sons & granddaughter to celebrate it with. That is the most important part, MY FAMILY was together. Seeing that in the past my husband has missed the holidays because he was deployed. So, regardless of what happened I had an amazing holiday’s because my family was together. My husband was not deployed, and it was our 1st holiday season as a RETIRED military family!!!! There is nothing more important than having the person you love with you, and now there is no more worries of him having to deploy over the holidays. For me, that made this the BEST holiday, ever.
So accepting all the negative & positive of the holidays, is just something I will just learn to handle. But will always know the holiday season of 2011 was the best. Plus it will start off the rest of our lives, outside of the military.

Enjoying the Holidays VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

After the holidays, hubby & sons went home. Logan & I took Athenah to the Zoo, as well Carey Park to play and feed the ducks. Logan has been working hard on school work, so he can play League of Legends.  Which it has been suggested that I learn to play by Logan & Mike … LOL so not gonna happen. But it was a cute request . He is working hard because he has to take a test so he can start high school next year. Which I have discussed it with him several times, and although I am not found of public schools, I think that he will learn a bit more than we can teach him, or K12 can teach him.

Fun times for All … VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

But I really have to say that I am so thrilled that my parents are truly enjoying their trip out to see Yanni & Jayden (Cate & Eric, too). They really needed the break from stress, and the day to day life here. They are getting to make precious memories with their grandsons, daughter-in-law, sons, and the extended family they have over there!! Going to horse races, parks, malls, salons, family dinners … and so much more. (Hopefully soon they will come visit us here in the states.)
Now off to spend time with my son & granddaughter

Outside fun …

Giggling, and enjoying swinging

Athenah LOVES to be outside. Going for walks with us in the evening, playing with all her toys outback, and going to the park. She just loves it, and in those times, you can simply enjoy the simple things that just makes people happy. After all, we were once those children playing and enjoying life.

Just enjoying a walk

I think the most fun we have is when she is at the playground or with the toys in our back yard. She is so active, and enjoys the time outside.

Play Time VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

All I can say, is that she keeps all of us busy. From her Uncles, to Pa and MeMa … and always has us with smiles, laughing & simply enjoying how much fun the simplest and silliest things can be.

Add Music, and it still makes it fun

I think the vids and pictures pretty much sum it up! But what you should really keep in mind, is how much fun they have … and sometimes it’s a good idea for adults to relax a little and find that fun time in themselves.

“Beautiful Girls”

I just go done watching the rest of this movie. How everyone gets back around their reunion. It’s a decent movie, from a few years after I graduated. I have watched this before, and find it interesting that some people believe it takes so long to change. (according to this movie)
NHS has a 20 year reunion coming up this August. 20 years since I left high school, yet it seems like it happened bit longer. People I am to know, which is depressing because I honestly don’t remember much about them. Yes there are a few events that come to mind. But 3 years I went to that high school, I know I have changed since then … LMAO I have 4 kids & am raising my grand daughter with the amazing help of my sons. I have added those who went to school the times around the same time. Some people I have slight memories of, but not much.
I know someone was insane enough to sit on a car while it was being driven. She got hurt, & he felt like horrid. 2 of my friends dated, LOL but the worse part. One girl dropped out of high school & was supposedly a stripper to earn money. (hey I know a lawyer who used it to help pay for school & live off of … if it works, then you cannot bitched about it) Someone I graduated with married a soldier, but never heard who it was or what happened. (I hope it went well, it’s hard when you are a military wife.)
From what I have seen, most everyone has built really great lives for themselves, which is so unlike the movie “Beautiful Girls.” I think when they create movies like this, someone is reaching for what they had, or what they think others want to have. Who honestly knows what is behind the mind of the writer.
Behind my mind is simply, go back and meet the people you once knew if you can, enjoy that reunion. After all, you can never get another chance at a 20th year reunion. From what I have seen, many people have a ton of events to enjoy. As well as silly stories they had from high school …. of course that would make a pretty lame movie!  

NHS c/o ‘91 is having it’s 20th reunion in August. The only question I have is “how do you attend a 20th reunion for a time frame where you don’t remember the individuals or time?”
I like movies like this, but it can be pretty depressing … such is life. Which just what happens & we enjoy what we have.

“IT’S NOT FAIR”

original post date: 12/28/10

Fair??? There is no freaking FAIR in this world. We try to be decent people, and do the correct thing. Well, that is some of us do.
Yet there is always that one person who expects you to do it all for them. And when you say NO they start begging, and saying “it’s not fair.” I had to stop & really figure out what I should say and how I wanted to say it.

Not Fair … not when you have to watch a person bury their child. Not fair … when you watch soldiers deploy to a country with a high chance of dying. Not fair … when you see a young child living in a car, or on the streets. Not fair … when you watch the news over a child who’s supposed family killed them. Not fair … is simply what you will find when you look around life. Not fair … Not fair … Not fair … is something all of us are tired of hearing.
Yes you can find “fair” when you get off your butts and start making it happen. Learning to understand that religions are differently, not forcing yours on others, and finding a way to accept them. Learning to know that some people should not be allowed to raise children, to understand when they start reaching out for help. Learning to accept when you can do something & not feel worthless because of it. Learning to control rage, and know when to stop … and find someone when you know you need help to prevent it.
There is so much more to create “fair” but does the list have to keep going? After all that is just the simple start of the list. Watch the news, read the paper, listen to the talks of adults … because you will hear so much that is considered “not fair”. But the most amazing part? Is how they many handle it. When it’s done with out harming another, you will see more “fair” than you would ever expect.
Remember: Life is not fair, it is not some freaking fairy tale. There is no “happily ever after” unless each of us makes the steps to find it. You will still have your ups & downs, but it will be the choice you made.

I am rather sick of hearing “not fair” from so many people. Each day my husband & I wake to raising our 3 amazing boys, and our beautiful granddaughter. We wake each day to check on our daughter, who has moved out & on with her life. Each day we wake knowing that the only way we can have that “happy ending” is by enjoying what we have. Yes there are things that we would like, but to be honest, they are things that we may truly not need. We wake each day knowing that life may give us a little twist or a massive one. But each day we work though it. That is how we find out “fair” in life.

Stop looking at the “not’s” in your life, and look at what you have. Because that is the only “fair” you are gonna find. Go build your castle, or our house with a white picket fence, or what ever you want … but do it with a bit more common sense.

Life’s good & bad times

original post date: 10/20/10

There are always good & bad times in all lives. Hey, it can be from the littlest things to the heartbreaking one. Kissing that “boo boo” because it hurts so much. Or holding someone when they cry their eyes out over the loss that just occurred. Helping a person when they have hit rock bottom. Smiling at the cutest little thing your child has done. Swinging around in hugging circles because you are so excited but don't have the words to express it. Laughing so hard you are crying or crying over the most amazing event. That is just simply life. We can say we just can’t take it any more or just aren’t getting enough. Either way, it is what is occurring in the world on a regular basis.

No, I don’t mean we should all be harsh about what is going on in others lives, or that we should compare their lives to ours for more understanding … that would make us all a bit harsh or really over-stressed. No, I am looking at this from an “one person view.” Because to be honest, I quit trying to understand others when I was back in high school. Have this slight memory where I am talking to the counselor and telling her that people are just not worth the effort to completely understand. Oh I have some sight on people, even I am not that self-centered, because otherwise I would be the hobbit (that I once considered becoming).

In some ways, what my really extended family does bothers me. BUT (yep there is always one of those, isn’t there?) when you haven’t had a person directly involved in your life on a regular basis, it pretty much makes it a mute point when you become an adult. Right? I don’t sit down and write everyone a cheery little email or letter about how things are going, but neither do I receive them. I have tried in the past to do the letter writing, let’s just say “what a joke” and move on.
Each of us was raised in a different environment, a different life style, and differently. Yes we were all taught the basics, but other than that … not much else was the same. Do I regret that, nope. Am I angry about it, nope. There are a ton of no’s I could list, but that really doesn’t help too much or make anyone feel all that great. So another move on.

Going from being able to do everything to “*&^*%(&)(*” limited, it really takes a blow to you. When you are use to being able to do something like grocery shop alone, it really sucks when you have to have someone with you to complete it. When you LOVE driving, yet you find yourself limited to short drives here and there, it can be devastating. Moving around with out the fear of getting bruised or hurt, is simply a blessing (more than you can imagine) to being worried because people tend to get the wrong idea when you are really bruised & in pain. Or my favorite, having just one doc and expanding to well over 5 well before you even turn 40 … well, that can really bring you down. Recovering from medical issues in your life, only to have some one use against you … sweet when someone tries to do it. (stupid when they look like a complete a$$!)
It comes down to really not looking like things are going to well for you. Today I told my dad “when I am your age I hope to be as healthy as you are, because you are out doing me now.” He laughed, teased me I have to get there 1st. Sad part is, I do have to get here 1st. Will I be watching my granddaughter and her cousins at that age or will they be wishing I was. Tomorrow is a day I cannot predict, nor do I want to. I enjoy the unpredictability of life. Of how it can surprise us with each twist & turn of the way to the end … yes, even our lives come to an end. But our memories don’t, that is the most interesting part. To be the story told your ever so great grandchildren. I am sure all of us have those tales that will be told, even if we don’t see them … someone does. That really counts, to be a positive memory.
I have taken those good & bad days on with full force. Enjoying the good, and fighting though the bad. Trying to be there for those in my life when they have them, as well. (Not always an easy task … ) I enjoy laughing until I cry, and have done it more than a few times. I enjoy watching my children do the silliest things, and those nerve racking ones as well. I have kissed many “boo boo” and will probably kiss a few more. I try to teach my children that family isn’t just those around you, there are others who are just a phone call, letter, email or text message away.

The one thing I really hope my children understand is that those bad days are just as important as the good. They help shape us. Give us a view on life in a unique, and entirely personal way. The good give us the joy, happiness, and all the emotions that occur. The bad, we know how we feel on those days. That is what keeps us balanced. All 100% cheerful days, and what all would we have learned? All 100% sad days, and were mankind would be won’t be such a great place to live in. A balance between the two is always the best way to go, and hope for.