busy blogger

I have been so busy with getting the three boys ready for school. Supplies, clothes, shoes, sports equipment, etc. It's been crazy so no blogging for awhile. Also there has been an injury in my husbands unit so prayer's are needed. The soldier is doing well so that is the good news. We have been set up to make meals for the family. Any good ideas. I am going to make a chicken cordon bleu casserole!

Christian Cinema

There is a wonderful Christian movie rental web site that rents out only Christian movies and shows. It is called Christiancinema.com. Years ago it fell under a different name, but it is still an awesome company. If you like to rent Christian movies from new realeases like Soul Surfer and Grace Card, or Christian documentaries, Animated, Biblical drama, family, holiday, home school, this is the place for you. I am a member and it works exactly like Netflix yet everything on the site is Christian, period. No garbage. Check it out.

Getting ready for school

It's soon time for the kids to go back to school. They will go back by Sept. 7. They are used to Hawaii school's that have a year round modified approach so this has been the longest break they have had. They are ready to begin the year. I can't believe all the school supplies we have needed and all the physicals for sports. It's just crazy but slowly we are getting things done. I am looking forward to our lives back in Hawaii where it seems the year runs more smoothly with frequent breaks every 3 months. This schedule I just can't get used too. How about you all. What is your school year like? How about supplies, do you need many?

Sonic...what can I say....Yumm-O!!!

Going to go here tonight for a chili dog. I have not been to a Sonic since 1996. I have not lived anywhere near one since then. I was so excited to find out we had Sonic here. I guess that's Army life...even a Sonic can excite you....when you haven't been to one in 15 years !!!!!!!

I am trying to learn to speak Spanish from this book. Don't ask me how that's going!

Hillsboro fair

We spent this past weekend with my daughter Kira and her family at the Washington County fair in Hillsboro OR. We had fun and the kids got their fill of rides and deep fried foods....twinkies, snickers, oreos, etc. One night we all had dinner at PF Changs. It was so good. They have family style food so you get to share and try all the dishes. The younger kids chowed down on the lo mein. If you have one of these restaurants nearby you should try it. It was inexpensive, classy, and best of all YUMMY!!!!

Vacation time...

Darrian playing magic quest hotel interactive game

Water park
In room bunk beds
We went to this great indoor water park hotel called Great Wolf Lodge last weekend. The kids had a blast and it took their minds off of their dad going back to Afghanistan. The water park was amazing, the room with the separate bunk bed kids area was amazing, and even the magic quest hotel interactive game was amazing. All in all we had a great time. There are a few of these hotels in the US so if you ever get the chance to go to one it is a great experience. I can tell you though after that I was totally worn out. I have recovered and now will be headed to my daughter's house in Oregon to go to the Hillsboro carnival. I will let you all know how that turns out. The only one getting worn out this summer seems to be mom.

Faith Deployed Again

I am reading a wonderful book that one of my new blog friend's Tonya is featured in. It is becoming my favorite morning read with a cup of coffee in hand and a moment of time devoted to God. It is a book of devotions and I can tell you it is something really special. I think you could use this book even if your husband was not deployed, but since mine is, and this is the focus of the book, it has been a God send to me. I hope you will go over to Tonya's blog, which is awesome too, and check out the post she wrote about Faith Deployed Again. I know many people that this book could be a comfort too. I am even going to recommend it to my FRG at the meeting next month. I wish you the best with this book Tonya and I know it will do well and that God will use it to help many.

Busy

Since Dominic has been home for 2 weeks R&R, Vanessa has been in from Hawaii, and Brandon is home for the summer from college, we have been pretty busy. By Next week everyone will be gone except Brandon and the other 3 boys. I will be able to relax and get back to blogging and reading. For now, things are crazy, but fun. Hope everyone else is enjoying their summer.

Northwest Trek

Last week we visited a place called Northwest Trek. It was pretty cool. We got to ride on a tram that cruises you through a wildlife park that contains animals from the North West. We had a good day and got to see many animals. The kids loves it because the animals came right up to the windows of the Tram so we could get a good look at them. After our day we enjoyed dinner at Olive Garden, which was awesome, as always.

Darrin is very technical. He likes to fix things and do things like this (see pic above). I think he was a little bored the other day, with school just ending on the 27th, and waiting for summer school to begin on July 5th, he found something to occupy his time...this was it.

Dominic is due into the SeaTac tonight at 8:45pm and my son is due in from Hawaii tonight at 8:45pm, nice coincidence for them. They will take the shuttle home and be here around 10:45. Hopefully there are not glitches and Dominic will finally be able to start his leave.

Homecoming

Well Dominic is supposed to be home by July 1 for 2 weeks R&R but he and 2 other guys have not been able to get flights out of Afghanistan for the past 5 days because of weather, sand storms and all that. He was supposed to get a flight out last night for the first leg of his trip but so far I am not sure how that went. He won't make it home by July 1st but luckily his leave won't start until the day he signs in here. I am praying he gets home soon. It is hard for the guys to be waiting for flights all the time.

Happy Birthday Stephanie

I just wanted to wish my little sister a Happy Birthday. she blogs at: Stephanie's written word. Her blog is a book blog and she does a good job with it, so if you are a reader you might want to check it out.

Darrian fooling around in his older brother's hat, doesn't he think he's the big shot!
So what is everyone doing for the 4th of July? My daughter wants me to come down to Oregon for a picnic but since falling down the stairs and cracking my tail bone (butt!!!) I have not found driving very comfortable, so unless it starts healing quickly then I don't think I will be making any big trips for the 4th of July. I have been using a dohnut, you know those things they give you after you have a baby to sit on, but after awhile even that doesn't seem to cut the mustard. My Dr. says it takes about 6 weeks. 6 weeks, it he nuts? It's not his fault, but for one tiny crack you'd think it would heal a little faster or maybe feel a little better a little sooner. So far though that hasn't happened.

Church Day

Off to the house of the Lord soon and am happy for it. I always love starting off my week by going to church on Sunday and then going out for an inexpensive bite to eat. Whenever I miss church it makes me sad and somehow I don't feel like the week has a good beginning. It helps that I love my church. We have been blessed since coming to WA that God has led us to the perfect church for our family. I miss my church in Hawaii but since we will most likely retire there I will be able to go back so for every season there is a time. Hope you all have a great week out there and enjoy it.

Well the Army ditches the beret for the patrol cap. I'm glad. My hubby says the beret was a pain in the you know what. I think the patrol cap is sexy. Personally the beret did nothing for me. I can't wait to see my soldier back in his cap next month. Seems like someone has been away too long. lol! Here is the story

We saw Soul Surfer last Saturday and it was really good. I remember when this happened to Bethany because I lived on Oahu at the time and it was all over the news. My daughter told me that the movie people wanted to take some of the Christian parts out of the film, but her dad said "no" so they went ahead with it the way the story actually unfolded. For once, a clean, Christian, movie the whole family can enjoy. Even my 7 year old, who loves to refill my coke for me, would not leave his seat, not even for 1 moment. He was glued to the screen and so were the rest of us.

Thanks to my dear friend Mikki, and also the writer of one of my favorite blogs, The Not So Perfect Housewife, I am bestowed with this fun award. If you have not read Mikki's blog, I can assure you that you do not know what you are missing. So go on over and check her blog out, it's awesome. Anyway here goes, I have to share 7 things about myself and then pass the award on to 15 bloggers. I think I am pretty much an open book but here goes.

1. Like Mikki I grew up on the upper East coast, but in NJ not Maryland, and I absolutely do not like the cold, no not one bit. I wish I lived in Florida like her, but for now we are stuck going wherever the military sends us. We are going to try for a tour back to Hawaii so that will surely fit the bill.

2. I have Bieber Fever. My grandaughter Kai'lie gave it to me. I can't help it, I love his music and have 3 CD's. Of course it was going to Justin's movie with the grandkids that really hooked me.

3. I have ADHD. Anyone who is around me can tell you that this is true. I sleep maybe 4 hours a night and am as hyperactive as can be, but if you give me 16 oz of coffee 20 minutes before bed I will be out like a light in no time.

4. I always have a house full of kids. It sounds crazy but most of the time it is fun getting to know them all, even the crazy teenagers and I wouldn't have it any other way. In fact the other day I was watching ice road truckers on line with my son's 7 year old friend while my son and his other friend were off in the living room playing Quibits. I think there was another kid playing Wii upstairs but I am not completely sure because me and Ellie were so engrossed in truckers sliding off the road. Like Mikki and her show I am not sure why I love this one so much, but I do.

5. I like beer. I don't drink but once in a blue moon I will have a few glasses when out to eat with my husband. I mean very few so basically I don't drink.

6. I love Hot Buffalo Wing pretzels, which I hide from the kids, and am never found without. Same with French Vanilla creamer.

7. I love tv. I read a lot but I also watch a lot of mindless tv late at night when the kids are in bed. I practically watch anything. Love crazy haunted shows, and I can't help myself. Ghost Adventures is a pleasure of mine that I just can't resist.

Well that's it so I am just going to say that any of my blog friends who read this can participate if they want to. I hope some of you will because it was great fun. Maybe that will make 15 but I'm not sure.

The boys are really enjoying having their older brother home from college. They shoot hoops every day....Oh my, what will they do in August when he goes back to Greenville?

Just got finished reading Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks. Another amazing book with an ending that blew me away. If you are believers in romance and everything happens for a reason, then this book is for you. It's about a woman named Katie who moves to North Carolina to hide from her past. She then meets a very sweet friend and a man with two kids whom she can see spending her future with. All I can say is there are many surprises in this story. I totally enjoyed this book, as I do all of Nicholas Sparks books, who didn't love "A Walk to Remember?" So chalk up another one for Nicholas Sparks and let's hope he never quits his day job.