Go, Bucky, Go

Wahhhh!

2012-02-11T10:48:00.003-06:00

I really need to get my camera out! I realized today that I don't think I have taken any pictures with my camera since the Christmas and New Year's holidays. What in the world have I been thinking?! The days are passing very quickly and my little boy is getting bigger and bigger. He put his bathroom stool in the Goodwill pile the other day because he can now reach the sink to wash his hands without standing on it. (SN: He took it out a couple of days later because he decided he can reach it better with the stool :) ). Either way, this little act showed me how big our little boy is getting and how fast time has gone. Note to self: Must get camera out soon and often!

Welcome...

2012-02-02T11:03:00.002-06:00

...to the world, Caitlyn Thi Kirkland! My 2nd niece was born on Dec 17, 2011. She weighed in at 7 lbs, 3.8 oz and was 21 in long. And she is gorgeous! She is a wonderful baby and has a very loving big sister. Here are a few pictures I took while there over the holidays.

Military Life

2012-01-22T16:42:00.001-06:00

Veteran spouses of soldiers have learned somewhere along the way that deep friendships at your current duty station are not necessarily a good thing. While I took to the Army life quite well in my opinion, I don't take to leaving friends behind too well. In Colorado, I learned that it is nice to have a close circle of friends, some wives will talk behind my back, some wives never seem to have a good day, and too many people post too much about their lives on Facebook and are then surprised when something is taken the wrong way. Since moving to Georgia, I have learned who my true friends were and are. And I was right about most, if not all, of them. While I miss a lot of the wives I had grown to love while our husbands were deployed, there are a select few that I find myself constantly thinking about and wondering if they are ok and where their lives are going to take them. Even with the heartache that comes with leaving some very good friends behind, I wouldn't change any of it. After all, the more people I know, the more places I get to visit :).

It's soooooo not happening...

2012-01-16T15:26:00.002-06:00

I've failed again at blogging daily but such is life. If that's the worst thing I fail at than I am doing just fine.

Over the Christmas break, we all headed down to PC for some family time with my folks. And I got to meet Caitlyn for the first time. She was only 4 days old. I gotta say, my bro and sis-in-law make some really, REALLY cute babies! We hung out at the house, played, visited some friends, enjoyed no one having the stomach flu this year, and even took time for some extra activities, such as fishing and going to the park. We did make it over to Ft Walton for a few hours to visit there too. Nothing too exciting happened, which is just the way we like it. And for those who were wondering, I could've worn shorts on Christmas Day :)!

Buck and I went to a friend's friend's house (because that's what we do in the South) for the FSU bowl game against Notre Dame. Though we were all worried at first, all I have to say is "Go NOLES!"

We also went to a "family-friendly" New Year's Eve party. Bucky was the only kiddo to survive until midnight - what a champ! The kids roasted marshmallows, did sparklers, and played Wii most of the night while the adults watched football and just had a great time. Thanks Trey!

And then we headed home...

The Struggles of Life

2012-01-09T17:28:00.003-06:00

I am posting this shortly after reading a friend's blog about her precious little bundle. The bundle is still preparing to come into this world and already his parents are faced with a struggle. His big brother has SMA, a rare degenerative genetic disorder that affects the spinal cord and nerves, resulting in muscle wasting and weakness. In layman's terms, he will not be able to walk, run, or participate in many of the activities we outsiders consider "normal." In order for a child to have SMA both parents must carry the gene. If they do, they have a one in four chance of their child having it. Recently the parents had their current bundle tested so they know what to expect. Unfortunately he has tested positive for the disorder as well. Please pray for them as they make the adjustments to bring another child with SMA into their loving home. While I don't think there are two more faithful and capable parents in the world, it is still a struggle for them. Even though these parents are more than able to care for their new little precious one, they are still deserving of prayers. Thanks.

Update on the Kiddo

2012-01-08T11:30:00.002-06:00

After a few days of up and down fever but no more throwing up, he seems to be much better. Since his temp was fine one minute and shot up to 103 suddenly a couple of times, I am still keeping a pretty close eye on him but he is definitely acting more like himself now. So yay for that!

In other news, we got the garage cleaned yesterday...we can now fit one car into our two car garage. At least it's progress :). We know what we need to do to organize it but it's gonna cost money for all the shelving or storage units so we'll have to get them one at a time. We also have some boxes for recycling and stuff for Goodwill so that will empty some space too. The rest just needs to be sorted and organized. Definitely a step in the right direction!

I'm Trying

2012-01-05T21:05:00.002-06:00

I am going to give a really good effort this year to blog daily. It may only contain one or two words that happened to pop into my head but it is what it is. I missed the first few days so owe an additional one after this to "catch up" but after that, I'll keep up...that's my New Year's promise. (and we all know how much people stick to those). I still have some previous events to blog about but just don't feel like it tonight.

Today started off ok but rapidly went down, up, down. It was a normal school day so I took Bucky to school this morning, which was not quite as cold as it was yesterday AM. I got a call about 1100 telling me that my kiddo had just thrown up "all over" the bathroom. I said, "I'll be there in a few", hung up my phone, grabbed my keys and went to get him. He looked pitiful. It was obvious that this was not a random event. When I got him home, I took his temp, a whopping 101.6, gave him some tylenol and let him watch cartoons on the couch. He fell asleep and woke up feeling better. He even ate a little. I didn't give him any more Tylenol since he was acting like himself. During his nap, my purse arrived...oh, did I forget to mention that I left it in Florida when we were visiting over the holidays?? Of all the things I could have forgotten, I forgot my purse...but my wonderful parents FedEx'd it to me and I got it today. I felt lost without it.

When we sat down for dinner, Bucky was starting to act tired and sickly again. He didn't eat much at all and barely ate the ice cream his daddy got for him so we knew something was not right. I took his temp again...now at 103.6. More tylenol and a warm bath while he was screaming. He just didn't feel good. After the bath, his temp was still around 103 but he went right to bed. I have been periodically checking his temp and it seems to be slowly going down but we have the alarm set for his next dose of meds. Poor little guy...

Happy Halloween!!

2012-01-04T09:17:00.002-06:00

After we made it through the rest of our trip, including the never-ending state, and seeing a few more sites from the road, we made it to Panama City for Halloween festivities. Bucky decided to be Luigi this year...saved me money since I had purchased it for $2 the prior year after Halloween. We went to the mall for him to go store to store. He really enjoyed it and then he got to ride some ride and play in the balloons. I carved him a jack-o-lantern since it was so much fun last year (not really) but I knew he would like it.

Grand Canyon

2012-01-04T08:44:00.004-06:00

Our next touristy stop was the Grand Canyon. A very good friend of mine had suggested that we go to sunrise at the canyon. We didn't get to a hotel until late the night before and there are not many things I will get up early for but I thought this might be worth it. It was about 35 degrees the next morning when we headed out but still we went ahead with it. When we got there, we were quickly reminded of the stereotypical vacation when you are surrounded by Asian folks talking 90mph and clicking away. We both started laughing when we turned around and saw nothing but that because three or four tour buses had just pulled up. We waited it out and let me tell you it was definitely a wonderfully splendid view! I didn't think we were going to make it the whole time because the kiddo was very cold and almost miserable but he hung in there like a champ. We even got to see some deer on the pathway right in front of us as we headed back to the car.

After sunrise we went back to the hotel for breakfast and some more sleep before viewing the canyon during the day and heading out for another day of travel.

Four Corners

2012-01-04T08:28:00.006-06:00

On October 26, we headed out from Colorado towards Georgia during the day of the first snow and boy was it a rough day of travelling! We only had a couple of hours behind us from the first day of travelling because we left late but decided that we did want to start the trip no matter what. When we woke up the following morning, our car was covered with snow. We knew snow was expected but had no idea that it was going to be that crazy. Buck did a great job driving up and down and around the mountains but I think I held my breath the whole time.

That afternoon we arrived at our first touristy stopping point, Four Corners. This is a very unique area in that Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, and Arizona all meet at this one location and join together at the same spot. You can actually jump from one state to another to another to another without taking any steps in between. It is quite amazing!

Denver Aquarium

2011-12-01T08:34:00.004-06:00

One of the things on our "Before we leave Colorado bucket list" was to visit the Denver Aquarium. Since we love all things water, we thought this was a must-do. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit even though we noticed we were constantly comparing it to the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta (which, by the way, is soooo much better). We all had a good time in the aquarium and even sprung for the 4D roller coaster simulation. It was great watching Bucky enjoy it since we are still uncertain about what he'll like and won't like as far as adventurous activities go. So, check that one off the list.

Last Day of Dragons

2011-12-01T08:30:00.005-06:00

Even though Bucky earned his yellow belt a couple of weeks prior, his last class was on 5 Oct. After class, we took some pictures at home before he took his uniform off for the last time...until we find a place in GA for him to continue martial arts.

Venetucci Farms

2011-11-30T19:10:00.002-06:00

On Oct 3, Bucky's KKP class went to Venetucci Farms to pick a pumpkin again. After picking up and putting back several pumpkins, he finally decided on a smaller one. Then the class went to look at all the animals on the farm, including the world's biggest pig again. Bucky was tired most of the trip so he wasn't too into it but that's ok...he made it through anyway.

Fall Colors

2011-11-30T19:04:00.002-06:00

I realize I have not blogged in, well, a while so here is yet another effort on my part to catch up and keep up. Here goes...

Before we left Colorado, Buck and I took Bucky down the same route I took with a friend last year...except we diverted a little into Cripple Creek. We were able to see lots of fall colors scattered throughout the forest and hills. At first it was "oohhh - look at the yellow leaves" and ended up being "wow, that was beautiful!" It was definitely worth another trip this year.

Lil Dragons - Yellow Belt

2011-09-26T21:12:00.004-05:00

Bucky had another parent's day today for his Lil Dragons class. This was Buck's first time attending so it was extra special, especially since Bucky was getting tested for his yellow belt at this class. I took a lot of pictures but the videos allow the sounds to come through. The clicking noise you hear is my camera :). And, by the way, he GOT IT!! We are so very proud of how great he did during his testing :).

Strong Bonds

2011-09-26T20:57:00.003-05:00

Every once in a while the military comes up with a good idea. The most recent that we were able to participate in was the Strong Bonds Retreat. This is the Army's version of marriage counseling. We have been to one before and it was ok but this one was much better. The chaplain was very informative and down to earth. This was actually a shocker for me because I was expecting a bunch of blah-blah and a little bit of free time. Instead we got about 3 hours of very informative lecture/session and a lot of free time (with all day childcare). We went and got the kiddo for a few minutes after lunch but then he was ready to go back and play with his new friends. There was even childcare until 9 PM so we could have a romantic dinner of tacos. Yep, tacos...that's it. I mentioned this as a negative on the After Action Report because, well, tacos aren't very romantic. We had a really good time (except the beds were horrible) and learned some very useful information that should help us communicate better. Here's a picture of "date night"...we thought it was good so wanted to share.

Last Trip to the Zoo

2011-09-26T20:43:00.005-05:00

Since we will be heading out of Colorado Springs soon, we decided to take one more trip to the zoo since we have enjoyed many, many trips there.

Buying lettuce for the giraffes and feeding them

Meerkat

Bucky playing

Feeding the birds

Riding the train

Tiger

Bears fighting

Family Pic

The "Thinker"

Posing on the statue

Big Ol' Hippo

Rock Climbing and playing on the jungle gym at the top of the Sky Ride

Splash Park

2011-09-26T20:21:00.003-05:00

Bucky's KKP class had a field trip to the Splash Park on the 6th of September. I was only able to stay for about 20 minutes of it but I did get some pictures. Jackie, one of the other boy's mom, took some more for me after I left. He had a great time!

Anxiously awaiting the opening

Playing at the Splash Park

Playing at the park beside the Splash Park

I let him roll down the hill on the way to the car

35th Balloon Classic

2011-09-07T15:01:00.011-05:00

I am not a morning person. In fact, there are very few things I will get out of my bed for when the sun has not even risen. Apparently one of them is to see hot air balloons. Last year I saw a bunch of balloons in the air as Bucky and I were travelling around town but I had no idea where they came from or what they were doing up there. It peaked my curiosity. Fast forward a year and I heard through the grapevine about the Balloon Classic. To get a good seat you have to be there around 615 AM. Yes, I said AM!! B & I discussed it and decided that this would be a good thing to check out. So at 0515 on Saturday morning, we rolled out of bed, drank some coffee, got the little guy up and dressed, finished getting ready, and headed to Memorial Park. It was chilly but we were determined to see some balloons. So we arrived along with many other people, paid our $5 for parking and got out of the car. Then I overheard someone saying, "sorry." I asked our car neighbors what was going on and they said it had apparently been cancelled because of wind. So here we were at 0630 in the morning...awake. I called our friends who were on their way to the park and we all diverted to IHOP for breakfast instead. That night B & I discussed our plans again. We again decided to get up at the a$$ crack of dawn to see some balloons. So we did. We were more careful about checking the weather before we woke the boy up and it was actually not windy at all. We found free parking when we got there (bonus) and we had our chairs and an extra blanket this time. We walked to the park, set up our chairs and looked around in absolute amazement at what we thought were "just" balloons.

Then we had a truck pull up in front of us and we quickly realized we were going to have a front row seat to the inner workings of a hot air balloon.

It was obvious the excitement the day brought with it when the pathfinder balloon started to rise. There was yelling and cheering and we knew at that point that we were in for quite a show.

I believe there were a total of 64 balloons registered for this year's classic and it was wonderful to watch all of them blow up and take off into the beautiful clear blue sky.

These are pictures of the process of getting a balloon inflated.

And one final picture of the entrance to Memorial Park.

Overall, we were more than pleased after we saw all the beautiful colors and balloons. Even Bucky said "I'm so glad we saw all the balloons."

Block Leave

2011-09-06T19:07:00.007-05:00

At the end of July, we went on yet another cross country road trip. You'd think we would've learned our lesson the first time, but when you have several places to visit and are on an Army budget, driving is the most economical choice. We left and headed toward Georgia first to visit B's grandmother and some very good friends of ours. We also got to visit with his cousin while we were there so that was a bonus. We were there for a few days and then went to Crawfordville, FL for B to recertify for his SCUBA Instructor card. We met up with Gregg Stanton at Wakulla Diving Center to catch up with him and his family and so B could complete his in-pool and open water training. From there we headed to PC for the open water portion. This is where I became involved in the training because I got to do some diving also. We saw our friend Trey and were able to catch up with him . That was awesome because we haven't seen or heard from him in quite a long time. He was the captain for the dives in the gulf. After the diving was completed we headed back in and stopped in a bay to see some dolphins. If I had not been behind the camera, I would've jumped in with them just like the boys did. Still kinda upset I didn't but such is life. We stayed with my parents and it was nice spending some time chilling out with them and my bro's family. During this time, we trekked over to ValP to visit with B's aunt and uncle. B and I left the kiddo with my parents so we could take a cruise with just the two of us. It was nice to be able to stay up late and do whatever we wanted whenever we wanted. We went diving in Cozumel and visited the Mayan Ruins from Calica. The water was so clear and our tour guide was so great. Wonderful excursions! We also met a couple at dinner that were great company during some of the shows and entertainment. We are now FB friends with them :). After we got back to PC, we headed home. The trip was long and hard at times but we were all glad to be back home.

Georgia

Diving

Cousins

Cruise

Bucky Swimming Underwater

Fishing

Playing with Grandaddy

Bucky's First Day at KKP

2011-08-23T19:49:00.005-05:00

New haircut + new shoes + new backpack = First Day of KKP :)

Bucky was very excited to go back to school and we were both very excited for him! He really enjoyed this school last year so I am quite confident that he will enjoy it this year too. Even though Buck had to explain that he has a new room and new teacher, he just takes everything in stride. He's such a wonderful little boy who is very rapidly becoming a wonderful big boy and young man.

TBall Season

2011-07-23T09:04:00.000-05:00

I haven't posted in a while for very good reasons. I will spare you all most of the reasons and leave it to just one...my hubby came home!! That post will come soon but for now I'll start with where I left off.

While the season has come and gone, I still wanted to post a few pictures of our little boy playing TBall. He loved playing and did very well overall. His coaches were much better than for soccer as they actually tried to teach all the kiddos how to run the bases, catch, throw, and, Bucky's favorite, hitting.

Hubby's Home!!!

2011-07-02T15:33:00.001-05:00

On July 1, Bucky and I got what we had been waiting a year for...My hubby and his daddy came HOME!!! Longest morning...EVER!!!

I was up at about O'Dark thirty decorating the front yard and hanging the signs.

The ceremony was at 1230 so we got there around 1030. There were snacks for everyone and a bouncy house for the kiddos. We received periodic updates over the loud speaker of the soldiers' location and it was more nerve wracking than I can describe because our hubbies were a 15 minute drive from us but it took them hours to get to the Special Events Center. While waiting, the Alpha Company wives talked and laughed and paced and giggled with nervousness and watched a video of our hubbies landing and getting off the plane.

And then the moment arrived...The patriotic music started, the doors opened, the smoke machine was turned on, and they all marched into the building. And they kept coming and coming and coming. The excitement was unbelievable and the screaming was eardrum shattering. All of a sudden, I was unaware of anything around me while trying to find my husband. I never saw him and found out later that he was one of the last ones in and at the back of his row...

But we did finally find him once they were dismissed.

Baby Birds

2011-06-25T15:18:00.001-05:00

We had some unexpected visitors this year. The day before my parents left, we heard some tiny little noises from our trellis out front. We saw some itty bitty birds that were very new to this world. I took some pictures over the coming days/weeks to document their growth. It was amazing watching the mama and daddy birds bringing food to their little ones and watching them open their mouths to accept the food. Eventually, they all just disappeared :(. Such is life...

Happy Father's Day 2011

2011-06-19T14:40:00.005-05:00

Happy Father's Day to all the dads and dad-to-be's out there! Here is a pic of my wonderful dad from their recent visit to Colorado. Happy Father's Day Dad!

This is also one of many days where I am reminded of my status as an Army Wife. So a very special Happy Father's Day to my hubby who will be home with us soon! Love you babe!

Another Happy Father's Day to my brother who is celebrating his very first Father's Day this year! Love you bro!

Gamma and Grandaddy's Visit

2011-06-14T09:40:00.000-05:00

Gamma and Grandaddy came to visit us in the beginning of June. We were so excited to finally get to show them our side of the US :). The first night we went to a Sky Sox game. Even though they were exhausted and it rained for the first time in about 40 years, it was a very pleasant night. I was very excited for them to meet some of the wonderful ladies that we have come to know and love during our stint at Fort Carson.

The next day was Bucky's first TBall game and the circus.

One day we went to Pikes Peak. My dad was talking about that before they even got here so I knew that was going on the list of things to do. However...after warning my mom to wear jeans and a jacket, my dad and I both wore shorts. Stupid Floridians!! :) We muscled through it and did get to enjoy some time at the peak.

The last day we visited Garden of the Gods. This was my mom's favorite. It was a beautiful day to go and explore this wonderful outdoor park.

Bucky and I were both sad to see them go but thoroughly enjoyed their visit.

I Finally Started

2011-06-08T23:24:00.003-05:00

...using my Wii Active. I've had it for so long that I can't even remember when I bought it. I wasn't able to go to the gym today but needed something active to break up my chores so I started the 30 day challenge. I set up my profile, set the level to Intermediate (stupid move), and did the Day 1 activity. It was only 20 mins so I thought "No problem." Right now, as I sit here typing this entry, my thighs are screaming "What the hell did you do to us?!" And to top that off, I'm going to boot camp tomorrow before heading to Denver to pick up Gamma and Grandaddy (YAY!). I am, apparently, a glutton for punishment. In all actuality I love the feeling after the workout, including the pain.

First Dentist Visit

2011-06-08T23:08:00.005-05:00

Bucky had his first dentist visit this week. He did soooooo good...especially considering that I had a filling done after his visit and he had to sit down during it. Good News: He was wonderful and I got him a slushie after for behaving. Bad News: He apparently has his daddy's teeth and has 4 cavities. They are small but still need to be corrected. Good thing they have a better way than needles to use on small kiddos.

Another Ending

2011-06-08T23:04:00.004-05:00

Bucky's soccer season ended with a party at Memorial Park with cupcakes, playtime, and trophies.

That's MRS Staff Sergeant to You!

2011-06-04T09:41:00.004-05:00

Someone finally realized that Buck has more than earned a rocker. On June 1, SSG Warren pinned one on him. Congrats hubs! We are so proud of you! SN: Now I get to redo all the signs that we made for homecoming ;).

Always Remember

2011-05-30T22:44:00.005-05:00

There are men and women who have died to give us the freedoms we usually take for granted. They and the families they left behind deserve our prayers and gratitude every day...not JUST today. Thank a soldier.

"Look Mom!...

2011-05-30T22:42:00.000-05:00

...I can see my nose!"

Big Boy's 4th B'day Party

2011-05-29T20:09:00.003-05:00

After much deliberation, I decided to have Bucky's party at the house. I don't know why I worried about it so much because just like last year, it was wonderful. The weather was great and all but one of the people invited were able to make it. The kiddos were playing outside for most of the party. I think the only reason they came in was for the cake/ice cream and for Bucky to open his presents. He loved everything he received. Thanks to Lisa for video taping and to Julie for taking pictures so I could enjoy my little boy's day. And Big Thanks to everyone who came to celebrate this wonderful day with us!

Family Day #2

2011-05-28T10:10:00.006-05:00

On May 18, Bucky's Lil Dragon class had another Family Day. I took my good camera this time because I wanted better pictures than the first time. This time he broke two boards and received a red stripe on his belt to go with his green stripe. Normally this would be ok. However, his Sensei had told me prior to the class that Bucky would be getting a patch as well. Bucky came to me after getting his stripe, very upset, and said "I want one of those." I told him not to worry about it. Being the mother that I am I asked the Sensei about it after most of the other parents had left. He informed me that he completely forgot to get the patch out of his case but that Bucky was supposed to get a patch. He did go get the correct one and gave it to Bucky. Talk about a proud little boy! Any guesses about which pass he got?? If you guessed "Top Puncher" you are correct. Imagine that!

Baby Boy Turns 4!

2011-05-20T11:18:00.004-05:00

Why is it that sometimes time flies and sometimes you can hear the seconds ticking away? Either way at least you know it's moving forward. This time of year is when I realize how fast it really does seem to fly. After all, it was 4 years ago when our precious little boy joined us and he has taken us on a wonderful, crazy ride since then.

Even though his party was not until the weekend after his actual birthday, I wanted to do some things for him on his birthday so he knows how special he is and that day is his. He opened his sports gifts after waking up. After going to the gym (for me), the rest of the day was his. He chose chicken nuggets for lunch (I know, What a Shock!) and then wanted to go home and play with his basketball goal. When we got home, there was a package for him so he opened it. It was from gamma and grandaddy and contained tons of goodies. We went outside to play and then came in for quiet time. After quiet time, I surprised him with a trip to the Sky Sox game. After the guard searched my bag, he gave Bucky a ball. Perfect since it was his birthday! We had fun but it was much colder than we were prepared for so we only stayed for half the game. It was ok though because he enjoyed it. I got him a new red bat and a Sox the Fox souvenir...his choice. He told me later that he had a good birthday so all was well :).

Terrific Tots Program

2011-05-14T08:58:00.006-05:00

WARNING: Lots of cuteness to follow!

Bucky had his TTP Program yesterday morning. The Theme was "Down On The Farm." They sang several songs and did several "dances" with the motions and sounds for the songs. It was absolutely adorable!! What surprised all of the parents was that every kid stayed on the stage and participated without getting upset and without being forced to be there. I have to admit, I teared up a little when I realized (yet again) how big our little boy is getting and how mature he looks now compared to the beginning of the school year. But I sucked it up, blinked real fast and went on about my business :). Bucky had a great time singing the songs and I could definitely pick out his voice - not because I'm his mom but b/c he was louder through parts of the songs :). Video to follow if I can figure out how to load it...

Happy Mother's Day 2011

2011-05-10T19:30:00.003-05:00

Happy Mother's Day to all mothers out there!

For Mother's Day this year, sans hubbies, my military sister and I grilled out...hamburgers and hot dogs all around. While it is certainly not the most ideal form of celebration, you learn to adapt and overcome when you are an Army Wife. This is also the stage in the deployment when you realize just how many holidays there are in a year and how many you missed spending together. Back to the festivities - while the meat was cooking, the kiddos played in the sprinkler. All in all it was an enjoyable afternoon and cookout.

And this is my Mother's Day present from the hubs. It may not mean much to most people, but he knows I would never spend money on something nice for myself so he did it for me :). It's a Diane von Furstenberg 21" Expandable Rolling Suitcase...and it's GORGEOUS!! I am very impressed with my hubby's "style" choice on this one! In case you are able to read this - Love You Babe!! and Thanks!!

Just Thinking...

2011-05-04T15:30:00.003-05:00

I think it's normal for a parent of a young child to start pondering everything their child has learned and has done over the past year as their next birthday rapidly approaches. So here I sit thinking about the joys that I get from taking care of our son. They range from him still saying "goo" rather than glue, "lellow" rather than yellow, and "sdune" rather than spoon to being so much more coordinated this year that he can actually kick the soccer ball down a field and into the goal. While there are still bad moments like being told "I don't like you mom" or even "I hate you" and just recently "I wish you were at work and daddy was here", the good definitely outweighs the bad...I must be doing something right! I think that means we should keep him :).

Brrrrr

2011-05-01T14:21:00.002-05:00

So as I stood at Bucky's game yesterday and he played in his thickest coat, hat and gloves, all I could think was WTH?!?! It was the last day of April and it was about 30 degrees outside with a 20+ MPH wind. The game ended up being much shorter than planned because we only had the minimum amount of players and the other team's players on the field slowly dwindled until there were only 2 players left. When they ended the game, let's just say that none of the parents (or kids) put up a fuss. I don't have any pictures to show - Did I mention it was freezing?? I kept my hands in my pockets the entire time. There was a dad there that takes pictures at all the games. When he uploads them to the team site, I'll share some with you.

The Cutest Bunny

2011-04-29T17:57:00.004-05:00

I talked Bucky into putting on these bunny ears for about 5 minutes so I could get some pictures. What a good sport!

And then he got to play with his bubble gun :)

Easter Morning

2011-04-29T17:41:00.003-05:00

Since the weather was so yucky on Easter morning, Bucky enjoyed doing some painting and egg coloring inside. He painted a little pot that has a butterfly on it and actually stayed on the butterfly this time. After his nap, he colored some eggs and put stickers and wraps on them. All in all he had a great time!

Harlem Ambassadors

2011-04-25T15:49:00.004-05:00

I took the kiddo to a basketball game/show Saturday night. It started snowing when we pulled into the parking lot but I braved the weather and went in anyway. The Harlem Ambassadors are an entertaining basketball group that puts on a show while shooting hoops. Bucky was a little too young to enjoy the show part of it but he liked watching the "game." When it was over I had to buy Bucky a headband "just like those guys." He even got to play a pretend game of basketball before we left :).

Happy Easter!

2011-04-24T13:56:00.004-05:00

Happy Easter to everyone! Today we were gong to dye Easter eggs and take some pictures outside and let him hunt the eggs. But then we looked outside...

So instead he has been playing with all of his Easter goodies :).

Here are some pics of him with the Easter bunny. The first is the "official" picture. The rest I took with my phone because he was so comfortable and it was too cute :).

Class Picture

2011-04-23T12:59:00.002-05:00

The moms at Bucky's school were talking Wednesday morning about how we never thought we'd be so excited to see a school picture...but just look at it and tell me it's not the cutest thing ever :)

Fun With The FRG

2011-04-18T22:19:00.005-05:00

Our meeting this month was absolutely wonderful...nearly perfect, in fact. We threw a huge birthday party for everyone who graced us with their presence(s). There were many games for the kids and even a couple for the adults. Pizza and cupcakes for dinner. Great company and great conversation were had by most. {Begin Rant} There was a "new" member who shall remain nameless. This person really pissed me off very quickly with his/her better-than-thou attitude and condescending behavior and comments. I did, however, fight the urge to throw some words and actions his/her way -(yay for adult, grown-up me!) Later I found out that this person had irritated pretty much everyone (this actually made me feel better). Usually we would have tried to include this person and find out what's going on and why he/she acted that way...but this person actually belongs to another company so they can deal with it now :). We are a very strong FRG and are not going to let someone ruin what we have worked very hard to build and maintain throughout this entire deployment. It's too close to the end to

let it all fizzle. I love our FRG!! ♥

Pointy Hair

2011-04-18T21:59:00.004-05:00

After Bucky's game on Saturday, we went to Great Clips (with a coupon) to get him a haircut. After she was done cutting, he said he wanted it "pointy." She asked me if it was okay to do that. I said, "Why not? Go for it." (with a smile of course)

He also enjoyed a blueberry lollipop because he was so good. :)

2011-04-18T15:33:00.004-05:00

On 16 April Bucky's team, the Tornadoes, won another challenging match against the Sharks. The game ending score was 5-2 (I think we actually scored 6 though). The main thing I care about is that Bucky scored his first goal ever! Talk about one proud mama and one proud kiddo! The other team was pushing and shoving a LOT but we still managed to come out ahead. Bucky was even pushed out of his shoe at one point.

Bucky started the game playing goalie but that ended rather abruptly when he stood there and let the other team score. He crossed his arms and walked off the field, pouting. When he went back in to where he wanted to play (running around and kicking the ball), it didn't take him long to score his first and only goal. I think I kinda got it on video. I realized that even though I had the video camera, I wasn't actually watching the game through the screen :). He had a wonderful game! We still need to work on team play and sportsmanship, along with getting back up after a fall but we'll get there eventually :).

My Hahahaha Moment

2011-04-14T17:15:00.003-05:00

Buck and I like Bucky's Lil Dragon sensei. Well, yesterday sealed the deal for me. About halfway through the class, the door opened. When that happens we all look because that means someone has to pee. Not yesterday. The sensei brought a child to his mother and said "it's just not working today." He then went back into the classroom sans child. It was AWESOME! The kid was kicked out of class because he was distracting the others. Now the sensei has been very patient with this child but apparently yesterday was the straw. After class, he gave me a report of Bucky's abilities. Apparently Bucky is doing very well. "He talks too much when he's next to (kid's name)" but once they were separated he did great. I don't know where he gets excessive talking from *cough* but I'm thrilled that he is doing so well and enjoys it. They are apparently learning new moves because he stopped in the middle of the parking lot to show me :). After moving him to the side, I watched and appropriately Oooh-ed and Aaahhh-ed.

Yummy Dinner

2011-04-12T21:37:00.003-05:00

Living a million miles from the Gulf and having a picky hubby (at least when it comes to cooking and variety), I find it very difficult sometimes to come up with seafood dishes. Did I mention that he doesn't like onions but hasn't ever tried them since I've been with him? I've tried to explain that tastes change but he thinks I'm tricking him. Have you ever seen a recipe that doesn't involve some kind of onion? Anyway, onion powder is substituted most of the time but it just doesn't taste the same. Rant Over...

So I tried a recipe from my Italian cookbook called Spicy Shrimp Puttanesca. OMG! It was delicious!! Shrimp, tomatoes, onion, garlic, red pepper flakes, capers (never used before) and olives (not my fav but I tried them anyway) all on top of angel hair pasta. This is definitely one of those dishes that I KNOW he will love if he'll just try it. It's got some heat behind it that he likes and all the flavors meld together very well. Definitely a keeper!

Our Little Soccer Player

2011-04-11T19:16:00.002-05:00

Bucky started soccer last Saturday. Apparently it started Thursday but we did not get that memo so he did not have the proper equipment. He was not in a good mood that day so, needless to say, it was not a good start. I had him up way too late the night before (see previous post) and it was very windy and cold on his little legs. I have determined that he is like his mama when it comes to being cold. Neither one of us is a happy camper when chilled. I did bribe him to go play (such a good mama). I told him that if he would try to play we would go after the game and get him some soccer shoes and soccer socks. He played the bare minimum but I didn't expect any more from him considering how miserable he was. He fell asleep a few minutes after leaving the game and slept all the way to the store (about 30 minutes). We got him the tiniest cleats in the world to go with the tiniest shin guards in the world which also goes with a ball about 2 sizes too big for him :). So far, he has kicked the ball all over the house. I'm hoping he enjoys it more in the week coming up since he will be well rested and warmer (hopefully).

Lt Dan Band

2011-04-11T19:06:00.003-05:00

Round 2

Buck and I were able to enjoy the Lt Dan Band during the few months we were at Ft Hood. This time around, Bucky and I went with Lisa and her kiddos. It was still just as much fun (minus the hubbies). We arrived about an hour early but still had to wait in a very long line. We were able, however, to get at the front of the standing crowd. This was good for the view but even better because the boys eventually decided to lay down and fall asleep. Lisa and I had a wonderful time singing and "dancing" to the songs. We also enjoyed laughing at some of the random people that ended up on stage...mainly the ones who thought they were God's gift and could actually dance. It was quite hilarious. We did decide that next time we'll try to get a babysitter since it ended up being past all the tiny humans' bedtimes.

Beautiful Weather

2011-04-05T18:56:00.003-05:00

has finally arrived! We actually had a whole day of gorgeous weather today and boy were we soooooo excited! Mother Nature has been a bit of a tease lately. for example, Sunday started off with the sun shining and cool breeze and then quickly became dark and snowy...yep...SNOW!

So I was a little skeptical today based on that. But I figured we could always come inside if needed. Started our day dropping JB off at the vet to get declawed. Now we (I) get to sand and repaint everywhere he has scratched. The other cats will follow but one at a time since it's so expensive. We went straight to the gym from there for my 900 bootcamp class with my good friend, Lisa. We bitch and moan the whole time but we both enjoy feeling like we are actually accomplishing something.

When we got home after that I cleaned the kitchen and straightened the living room. Bucky, by now, was asking if he could go outside. I said "sure" thinking he would last only a few minutes. Then I saw how beautiful it looked outside. I say "looked" because in Colorado it can look beautiful and be only 20 degrees. I have to get my mind out of winter and into spring now. So, anyway, I changed my shirt to a tank and we went outside. The grass was watered, Bucky enjoyed his water guns, we did some weeding in the garden, I've started edging some of the walkways in the back, and I even laid out and got some sun while he was napping. After nap, he planted two of his tiny plants (pics to follow) and a small garden stone (all from the Target $1 area). He enjoyed painting so much that I gave him some plain white paper to paint on also. I went to check on him and asked what he was painting. He told me "It's a bootiful picture for my daddy. It's a rainbow." (pic below) So that one is definitely making it in the next box. All in all, we thoroughly enjoyed our day, mostly outside.

St. Patty's Day

2011-03-19T23:39:00.003-05:00

For St Patty's Day pics, I had to bribe Bucky with some outside play if he would smile for me. He certainly knows how to turn on the charm just like his daddy. Little does he know he would've been playing outside anyway because it was such a gorgeous day :).

Bowling Field Trip

2011-03-19T23:30:00.003-05:00

We had Bucky's last field trip as a Terrific Tot on the 16th. He had a great time, as usual, and we even got to go behind the scenes to see how things work. Everyone enjoyed the trip. Now for Spring Break.

A Full Day

2011-03-13T17:33:00.004-05:00

Yesterday was a very full day for us. We were out of the house most of the day. And when we were home, we were busy. The morning started with a pancake breakfast supporting one of my friend's sons' soccer team. It was very yummy and Bucky ate 4 pancakes! We came home after that to bake some cookies for the FRG cookie exchange. While I was baking, he was enjoying playing in the bathtub. For those of you who are not saying "Why were you not in the bathroom?", the bathroom and kitchen share a wall and I can hear him the entire time. No worries. And I did share the beaters with him so all's good. Anyway, we had our cookie exchange and that, too, was very yummy. I love those girls! Lots of comic relief and stories to share. All in all a very good time! After that we ate at Outback with Lisa and her kiddos because I needed a good steak. Then we headed back to my house for chill out time. It's great because the kiddos can watch something upstairs and we can watch something downstairs. Everyone's happy - win-win :).

Canvas People

2011-03-13T11:29:00.002-05:00

I don't know if the deal is still going on but Canvas People was having a special on their canvases. They were having a free 8x10 canvas...all you pay is shipping. Or you can buy a bigger canvas and get a $50 discount. I ordered the 11x11 canvas and paid around $35 after all was said and done. Here is the picture I chose. I love all the pictures I took that day but this one fit best on the square canvas.

Just for Fun

2011-03-13T11:14:00.002-05:00

I realized the other day that I haven't used my "good" camera in over a month...A MONTH! I couldn't believe that. I am, after all, the person that was taking way TOO many pictures every day for months and months. So...I picked it up and I immediate regretted not picking it up sooner. I love taking pictures and it allows me to focus on something through the lens rather than real life. It's my break and I plan on taking advantage of it much more in the upcoming months. But, anywho, here are some pics I took in the backyard because I felt like it...

Rant

2011-03-03T13:00:00.002-06:00

Here is an email I sent to Dollar Tree Stores today after heading straight home from their store because I did not want to make someone else's day miserable due to this one person.

"I went to store #2572 in Fountain, CO today. The Sales Associate, Kenyatta, made a comment to me that was very rude and inappropriate. My 3 1/2 yo kiddo was not behaving through the line and began taking things out of the bag so I tapped his hand and turned him forward. During this I didn't realize that I needed to push a button on the keypad. She did it, I apologized. She responded, "It's much more important to beat your child." Being the non-abusive parent that I am, I was greatly offended and found it hard to be the bigger person and not say anything right at that moment. However, I did want to let you all know the attitude being portrayed by this store."

I am not one to take things to heart but this woman just pissed me off and I couldn't help but think this was not the first time nor the last time. Whether anything happens or not is not the issue...I just needed to voice what happened to me.

Yuck...

2011-03-01T14:00:00.003-06:00

I have not been feeling well and finally went to the dr this morning when I woke up feeling pressure in my chest. The doctor said I have an upper respiratory infection along with acute bronchitis. I'm really hoping the four medications he gave me help clear it up because I don't have time to be sick right now. Of course, that could be why I'm sick also. Little down time...Now I have to make myself sit down so I can get better so I can start going again. I've been very fortunate this year as this is the first real sickness I've had. Bucky has been on and off sick so I've apparently been doing a pretty good job steering clear of the nastiness. Oh well...time to rest and drink water...

Retreat

2011-03-01T13:44:00.003-06:00

We had a "marriage" retreat this weekend except everyone's hubby is working far, far away at the moment so it ended up being a wives retreat. While the retreat part wasn't the best, the time with friends was wonderful. We were able to leave our kiddos with the childcare folks for some much needed adult time. The first night we hung out in the May's room drinking and talking the night away. The following night a few of us went to Breckenridge for some women time and then hung out in our room so our kiddos could get to bed at a decent hour since we had paid all day for keeping them up so late the previous night. They did wonderful considering but we just didn't want to push them anymore. In fact, when Julie got back to her room, all of her kids had already sacked out :). All in all it was a good free vacation but was not like any retreat I had ever been to before.

Lil Dragons

2011-03-01T13:35:00.004-06:00

Family Day at Lil Dragons was last Thursday. Parents were allowed to enter the classroom and film/take pictures of the class and all the activities. Bucky was very excited that his mama was watching. He kept looking at me with the biggest grin on his face. Sometimes he just melts my heart. Here are some pics I took to show what he has learned.

Here he is getting his green stripe put on his belt by Sensei Mark, his teacher. He was very excited and has sense mentioned this stripe several times. All I know is that he has two very proud parents!

Come and Gone

2011-02-22T21:58:00.000-06:00

Well, R&R has come and gone...and now I am alone again. Don't get me wrong, I love spending time with my kiddo but it's just not the same after 800 pm when he goes to bed. I like settling in and watching my missed shows or catching up on laundry or dishes or whatever was pushed to the side while he was awake. However, I miss knowing my hubby is here and knowing he'll be here in the morning. It sucks! I have several friends and a couple of really good friends in the area that I talk to or with or listen to but it's just not the same. I'm not undermining these relationships and what's great is that these women know that because they, too, are in the same situation. We laugh, bitch, cry, talk about everything...or nothing. It's the Army way of life.

Back to R&R - he arrived on Jan. 31 in the late afternoon after several days and delays but none of that mattered once he came through the doorway. I'm sure there were other people coming off the plane but quite frankly he's the only one I remember. We did my usual day to day stuff until that weekend when we went into the mountains to go skiing. Well, one of us went skiing. Bucky got sick so I stayed with him while Buck enjoyed the slopes. We figured out the next day that Keystone is not small child friendly. After getting off the 2nd shuttle (yes 2nd), we realized it was another 15 minute walk...in the snow...wearing ski boots...carrying Bucky...and our equipment. Needless to say that Buck turned to me and said "I'm exhausted"...to which I replied "Then let's go home." I wanted to try to ski again after my big catastrophe last year but there was no way I was going to kill myself or torture my kiddo to get there. Bucky was upset later that he didn't get to ski but while there he decided "I don't like see-in (skiing)."

We continued to enjoy some activities around town and dinners out so that he could enjoy eating whatever he wanted while he was here. We (hubs and I) even got to enjoy a couple of nights by ourselves. My good friend Lisa was kind enough to watch Bucky for a couple of nights while we enjoyed a bed & breakfast. Her kiddos and mine enjoy playing together and everything turned out fine. All in all we had a good, relaxing time...until the reality that it was quickly coming to an end started to catch up to us. We both saw ourselves pulling apart but we couldn't do anything about it. We are just the type of couple who push away when imminent separation is rapidly approaching. It doesn't mean that we love each other any less...it just means that's how we cope with it. We made the best of our time together and can't wait until he is home for good.

We Have An Awesome FRG

2011-01-16T10:12:00.000-06:00

When you are an Army Wife you hear some horrible stories about FRGs. It's definitely one of those situations where you only hear the bad, never the good. A Co, however, is definitely the exception. We have a wonderful FRG. No drama, good talks, good venting without being looked down upon, and a variety of personalities that mesh well. Everyone is very willing to help out a fellow wife if needed or help us laugh if that is what is necessary. I am very thankful for all the ladies and what they have to offer and bring to the group. They make it so much easier to get through very difficult times. We truly are a big, dysfunctional, loving, supportive family and I love it!

Bring it On!

2011-01-13T19:15:00.000-06:00

So...less than 12 hours after arriving in CO, it started snowing. Less than 24 hours after arriving in CO, it looked like this. As much as I would like to whole-heartedly say that it sucked, it really kinda didn't. Granted, I would much rather be in a bikini on a nice warm beach somewhere sipping on a cocktail...but it is what it is. I don't want Bucky to have such an aversion to the cold and snow so we played and threw snowballs and ate some snow and played some more. While we both had "fun" we were really missing daddy. He was here last year to play with in the snow. Bucky is really looking forward to throwing some snow balls at his daddy when he does come home.

Visit with Great-Grandmother

2011-01-13T18:59:00.002-06:00

We stayed with Buck's grandmother the first night in Atlanta. We were so happy to be able to visit with her before heading back to CO.

We stayed with our friend Cam and her brood for the remainder of our GA time. Cam and I got to have our typical dinner out that we do every time we are able to get together.

We were missing Shea for our Rainbow Coalition picture but had a great time nonetheless. We ate at Carrabba's and it was delicious! I will definitely have to take the hubs there.

Headed Out

2011-01-05T19:25:00.000-06:00

Left PC today to head to Atlanta for a couple of days to visit with Buck's grandmother and a friend and then fly back to CO. The trip was long but actually went rather quickly. I thought we would have to make more stops but after we stopped in Dothan we didn't stop anymore. Bucky did great! We picked up some food in Dothan, ate quickly, and then went on our merry way. He fell asleep for a little while and woke up just south of Atlanta. I asked if he needed to go potty and he said, "no." He was just ready to get there :). I'm so glad that he does so well in the car!

Pier Parker

2011-01-04T14:14:00.001-06:00

Took Bucky to Pier Park yesterday and for some reason he couldn't leave the "er" off the end of it :). Anyway, he had a lot of fun riding the carousel and hot air balloons. Then we walked around and did some window shopping before heading back to the bouncy houses for him to run and jump and climb and slide. All in all, he had a really good, fun day.

Mr. Attitude

2011-01-03T09:32:00.002-06:00

I dressed Bucky a little preppy/rocker and wanted to get some pictures of his cuteness but he was not really interested in letting me. Don't forget to check out his "cool shoes."

2nd Day of the New Year

2011-01-02T15:31:00.003-06:00

Today was a good day. After a very relaxing, sleepy day yesterday today needed to be a good day. The weather has been rainy and dark which makes it even more difficult to get up and go. However, this morning we did prints of the kiddos, took some pics with my mom and dad and both grandkids, and got some pictures put on the wall for my parents. Bucky and I then went to Sonny's for lunch with Mike and Lynn. Good food, horrible service - enough said. We enjoyed spending time with them after Bucky went through his usual "shyness" whenever he sees someone he kinda knows. They have big plans for the upcoming year and we are hoping everything works out like they plan. Right now, little man is down for a nap while I "pack" for our road trip to ATL followed by our flight to Denver. By "pack" I mean that I am obviously sitting down playing on my computer to avoid the inevitable task of packing our two suitcases, one carry-on, and one backpack with enough activities to keep a three year old busy on a 3 1/2 hour nonstop flight. I can do it; I have before; I just don't want to. So here I sit...But in the meantime, here are some pics from this morning.

New Year's Resolution

2011-01-01T12:36:00.001-06:00

Why is it that we only think about setting goals once a year? I, too, have fallen prey to this way of thinking. Every year I set goals and even though I try my hardest, I inevitably don't reach that goal. So I made it easier this year. My resolution is to have more fun and make more time for myself. Whether it be go back to school or enjoy alone time or read a new book or travel around Colorado, I will enjoy it. I want to visit a new place this year. If I don't, I'll live but I will have fun planning for it. I want to do more crafts and more scrapbooking this year. If I don't, I will survive but I'll have fun buying things for it and thinking about projects to do. I want to take more photos. At this point my hubby is laughing because he is thinking "How in the world can you take MORE pictures than you already take?" By this I mean that I want to do more with my pictures. I have thousands and thousands of pictures scattered here and there and sitting and waiting. Wait no more little pictures - some of you will be put on my wall this year, some will be put into albums. I will also take more pictures of my friends for them to enjoy. I want to do more with my hubby and son - This WILL happen! After all, spending time with family is the most important thing. Hope you all have a wonderfully productive year!

New Year's Eve

2011-01-01T09:28:00.000-06:00

I spent New Year's Eve with my bro and his wifey. Bucky and I watched FSU beat the Gamecocks 26-17. Then DJ and Alisa came home and we started to settle in for the night. Bucky was already in bed and Jazzlyn was on her way. We had a couple of drinks along with some Wii Sports and Fit. And then the countdown came...and went. All in all we made the best of our situations (you know, having to stay home because you have a little one depending on you). We had a great time!

FSU vs USC - Chick-Fil-A Bowl

Mom and Dad heading to Boatyard

Before Bedtime for the Little Man

Got a Smile

Her First New Year's Eve Party

Had Fun :)

Dogs were so excited

Our Only Shot - my Bro made it

Christmas Pics

2010-12-14T11:48:00.001-06:00

I ran out of time to get Christmas cards printed and mailed this year but here are some pics I took just in case.

Finally Feeding the Ducks

2010-12-11T10:04:00.000-06:00

We have been trying to take Bucky to feed the ducks since arriving in PC but they were not cooperating very well. So on this day they were sitting on the banks when we arrived. They enjoyed their bread a lot! And so did Bucky!

Baby Shower

2010-12-11T09:54:00.000-06:00

We had a shower for Alisa and Baby Jazzlyn after her arrival at O'Charley's. The brunch was wonderful, she got lots of nice things, and the cupcakes were delicious. As you can see, Jazzlyn thoroughly enjoyed herself ;).

Random Pictures

2010-12-06T09:47:00.001-06:00

Cute Little Feet

So sweet!

She was trying to eat his hair :)

He Loves His Cousin

Christmas Parade

2010-12-04T09:55:00.001-06:00

We took Bucky to the Christmas Parade again this year. He was very moody at first but quickly warmed up to the idea once he realized candy was involved but you had to work for it (i.e. run out in the road and get it before someone else did). We were about to leave when I spotted Santa rapidly approaching on his fire truck. Bucky waved and said, "Happy Christmas!" He had a really good time so I'm happy we went and stayed the whole time.

Friday Fest?

2010-12-03T09:50:00.001-06:00

Mom and I attempted to take Bucky to the tree lighting downtown but they lit the tree 15 minutes early so we missed it. Then we walked up and down Harrison for the worst Friday Fest ever. Nobody was there so we weren't sure what was going on. We had a good walk but not as much fun as we were expecting. It was a great night to get out though.

Saluting in Front of the Tree

What a Ham!

Baby Jazzlyn meets Buzz

2010-12-01T15:46:00.052-06:00

Buzz Lightyear that is :). I picked up this costume for cheap today while shopping and he just had to wear it all afternoon and night. He also decided he wanted to help feed Jazzlyn so I let him try. He did a wonderful job! And it made him so Happy!

Mom holding Jazzlyn

Hooba Shupple

2010-11-30T19:27:00.000-06:00

My mom has introduced Bucky to the Cupid Shuffle. He asks to do it from the moment she gets home until he gets his way, which he inevitably does.

What's That Spell?

2010-11-10T20:01:00.002-06:00

She's HERE!!

2010-11-10T17:38:00.003-06:00

Jazzlyn Diem Kirkland made her debut early this afternoon. She weighed 6.4 lbs, was 19" long, and has 1" of black hair. Mom and baby are doing great!! And everyone is so excited she is here!

The Many Identities of Bucky

2010-11-10T09:00:00.003-06:00

I bought Bucky a few costumes from Walmart when they went on clearance after Halloween. The kid loves dressing up so I figured it was definitely worth it :).

And of course I have to include one of Rascal :)

Online Shopping

2010-11-09T10:29:00.002-06:00

Here is a link to sign up for rebates when you are doing regular online shopping. With the holiday season rapidly approaching and online purchases inevitable, I wanted to pass this along so everyone can get a little something back :). If you sign up with the link below, I'll get a little something just for spreading the word...

http://www.ebates.com/rf.do?referrerid=To3N22ypjZ0HEiTMKa58gg%3D%3D

God Bless the USA

2010-11-01T17:52:00.002-05:00

"To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day [Veterans Day] will be filled with lots of pride in the heroism of those who died in the country's service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations."

Happy Halloween!!

2010-11-01T17:44:00.004-05:00

Bucky and I joined Katie and Lisa, Angie, and Aiden for trick-or-treating at the mall and then around housing at Fort Carson. They all had a really great time and got a LOT of candy. The cookie place in the mall actually gave out free cookies to the kids. As you can see, when Bucky was done, he was done. He has a habit of just laying down wherever he happens to be when is ready to go home. All in all it was a great time for all!

Pumpkin Carving

2010-11-01T17:34:00.004-05:00

The kids wanted us to carve their pumpkins so Lisa and I finally gave in and did it. We figured out that we really DO love our children. We must. It took a lot of strength, manipulation, and precision to accomplish this task. It seems simple enough to open it up, scoop the goo, and cut the pattern. Our arms began to disagree and our hands hit muscle failure sometime halfway through the first pumpkin - and Lisa did two! I have never carved a pumpkin before but now I know why this activity only occurs once a year. By the way, the kids were playing while the moms were doing the hard work :)

Terrific Tots Fall Party

2010-11-01T17:29:00.003-05:00

Bucky's class had a school trick-or-treating adventure and then a special day with a movie and lots of snacks. Bucky loves his teacher and school and really enjoyed the party.

Another Birthday...

2010-10-27T19:43:00.003-05:00

...came and went. My friends were asking me what I wanted to do and my answer was "nothing." Well, that wasn't going to cut it so we all went to a friend's house and danced to the "Just Dance" game on the Wii. It was so much fun. I even got a few grown-up minutes because the older kids took the younger kids next door to the playground...after the tiniest cake in the world that is. (They made me wear the "happy" hat) They ordered pizza for us all and then sang to me while I held my cake. I ate so much pizza and the cake was so sweet, I only ate one bite at the time. I also got several phone calls and facebook messages wishing me the best. I felt very loved. While the kids were outside we enjoyed our adult beverage. Ok - it was actually just the MOST potent grape juice I have ever tasted. We were all looking at each other and checking the bottle to make sure but it really didn't have any alcohol in it.

Pumpkin Patch

2010-10-16T12:09:00.006-05:00

Oct 4 - Bucky took his first field trip on a bus to the Venetucci Farms to visit the Pumpkin Patch. They allow each child to pick out a free pumpkin as long as the child can carry it. The story behind this generosity is that back in the 50's Mr. Venetucci had a cart full of pumpkins and stopped for some reason. The children were looking at the pumpkins but could not afford any so he told them just to all take one for free. Such a generous man! Bucky loved the bus ride, loved the pumpkin farm, and loved all the animals at the farm. I volunteered to chaperone b/c I figured "why not?" All in all, we both had a good time.

Bucky and Ben

Ben, Bucky and Owen

Looking for the perfect pumpkin

Too Big

Concentrating on Shucking Beans

Class Picture

1st Session Done

2010-10-16T12:06:00.004-05:00

Bucky is really enjoying school this year. He has only been in 6 weeks but he tells me about it everyday and we enjoy our talks on the way home as he excitedly explains what he did and the songs that accompany each activity. I am thrilled that he not only enjoys school but also loves his teacher!

Just a Funny Picture

2010-10-16T12:01:00.002-05:00

And, yes, this is a real sign :)

Fall is Here

2010-10-16T11:49:00.004-05:00

Sept. 25 - Katie and I went on a drive for our 2nd attempt at seeing Fall Colors. Since I am from Florida and she is from Texas this was potentially very exciting for us. We both come from places where the leaves go from green to dead :). We did notice right away that there was more yellow than the weekend before so we could feel our anticipation building from the start. The further we drove, the more yellow we saw. It was absolutely gorgeous! We eventually stumbled on Eleven Mile State Park. We didn't even know there was a park where we were headed. We didn't pay to get into the park because we were running low on time and wouldn't get our money worth. I did pull into the parking lot, though, so we could walk around. We walked up some rocks and we were able to see the mountains, the lake, and the trees. It was very serene and beautiful. We had a great day!

Circus

2010-10-13T16:44:00.003-05:00

On the 24th of September there was a circus in town. Bucky has never been and even though I am not thrilled by them, I took him anyway. Once you get past the smell of you know what and the filth that surrounds you and the hard seats, it actually was tolerable. Bucky had a great time and talked about it for days later - "Mom, I love the circus. It was the best circus EVER!" It made it all worth it. Well...maybe not the 10 ft python they brought out at intermission...but everything else.

Garden Of The Gods

2010-10-13T16:19:00.004-05:00

On the weekend of Sept. 18, my friend, Katie, and I took Bucky and headed West...literally. She had heard that if you head west on Hwy 24 the trees and leaves changing are amazing. Apparently we were too early. We didn't get any pictures of leaves but we did make it to the Garden of the Gods. While we weren't dressed for it (you don't wear light-colored pants), Bucky really enjoyed climbing on the rocks and actually posed for a couple of pictures with me. We didn't stay as long as we would've liked because it was getting late and close to nap time by the time we went to the Park since we had started the day with a drive but it was a nice break from every day life.

For more info and pictures of the Park, see http://www.gardenofgods.com/parkinfo/

How much...

2010-09-10T13:25:00.005-05:00

...to mail a 3 year old? Like so many spouses of deployed soldiers, we have many, many boxes at the house so I can start a package at any given moment. Bucky decided he was ready to get a package together...

...of himself :)

Green Day

2010-09-10T13:22:00.003-05:00

Not the band. Today was green day at Bucky's preschool. When the parents were let in to pick up our kids, all we heard was "Ribbit, ribbit, ribbit...." It was so cute and had me laughing so hard. The kids had made paper bag hand puppet frogs and they were singing a chorus for us.

Salsa Chicken

2010-09-09T19:54:00.003-05:00

I wanted to share a very easy, yet tasty dish that I made tonight for dinner. If you try this and have any suggestions to make it better, please feel free to share.

Salsa Chicken

1 - 1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1 cup Salsa, more if desired

1 can whole kernel corn, drained

Paprika

Rice

1) Preheat oven to 375.

2) Spray 11 x 7 baking dish (or whatever size you want to use) with non-stick cooking spray.

3) Mix corn and salsa and pour into bottom of dish.

4) Place chicken breasts on top, sprinkle with paprika, and cover with aluminum foil.

5) Bake for 40-45 minutes until chicken is done.

6) While chicken is baking, make rice according to directions.

7) Place finished chicken on top of rice and serve.

8) ENJOY!

First Day of Preschool

2010-09-08T17:42:00.006-05:00

This morning was Bucky's first day of preschool. He was supposed to start two weeks ago but unfortunate family events postponed his schooling. We got up this morning for a regular day and then I informed him that we had to get ready to take him to preschool. He immediately jumped off the couch and ran to his room to start getting dressed. He was so excited! It was purple day at school but since he has no purple clothes he picked out an orange shirt. I brushed his hair and finished getting myself ready. Then we went to the front porch to take some pictures (of course). Notice the change of backpacks. By the time we got to the school, he decided he wanted to wear "daddy's backpack" inside. When we got there he saw his "friend", Ben and they followed each other around to play and then head inside. He found his picture to hang his backpack and his name on the table all by himself. Apparently, he knows what his name looks like already :). I signed him in, grabbed his papers, bent to give him hugs and kisses, got denied, he asked me to stay with him, I explained why I couldn't, he pouted, I left, smiling. When I went to pick him up, he said "mommy!" I signed him out, talked with his teacher, and we left to head home. All in all, he did great!

Synopsis

2010-09-08T16:38:00.003-05:00

Unfortunately for my blog, life took over the past couple of weeks so I haven't been able to stay up to date. Synopsis: Last minute flight to ATL to meet up with Buck due to his grandfather's illnesses and unfortunate passing. We were very thankful that Buck was able to get there in time to say his good-byes and attend his funeral. Although there will definitely be a mourning period for all, his grandmother is doing very well through all of it.

Bucky and I have only been back for a few days so we are currently trying to get back into a routine that works for us. We had a Labor Day BBQ with our FRG that was very relaxing and fulfilling in many ways. Tuesday we stayed home all day so he could chill and I could clean and get caught up on housework. Read the next post for Wednesday :)

Sky Sox

2010-08-13T18:03:00.003-05:00

Wednesday night, we went to our first Sky Sox game without daddy and while we did have a good time, he was missed. We got a group of Army wives together to partake in this free even. When we got there one of the wives decided she didn't sit with the "common" people so she paid to upgrade all our seats (thanks!)...actually the benches are uncomfortable and she wanted to sit in individual seats. Bucky had a great time watching the game and flirting with the little girl behind us. The main thing is we all had a really fun time!