Happy Memorial Day!  

I cannot find the words to express my appreciation for all those who have served this great country of ours and paid the ULTIMATE sacrifice..... their lives.  We are all so blessed to have the freedoms that we do in this great country, and it is ALL because of those past and present who protect those freedoms.

We definitely DID NOT forget to THANK those who gave ALL!

I am blessed to be married to one of the greatest MARINE'S around!  Just wish he could've been here with us to celebrate the day. Just NOT the same without him around.  

Proud to be a military wife.  Semper Fi!

I know, I know, it’s been FOR—EVER since I last posted.  Life seems to do that to ya. I cannot believe that we are in MAY already.  Where has 2013 gone????  I don’t know for sure but I feel like I have been crazy busy since New Years.

Life in a military family is ALWAYS busy!  But then you add “normal” everyday stuff on top of that- WOW!  Some days, I am just trying to keep my head ABOVE water!

Well, let me catch up since New Years. “Not that is too long, let me sum up” (name the movie) I am a BAD mom and missed blogging about my 2 oldest girls turning ANOTHER year older!  My oldest daughter turned 15!  And my second daughter turned 13! Seriously, I am NOT ready for these teenage years.  HOLY COW! They are both totally “into” 1 Direction *the music group* Sydney (the 13 yr old) LOVES to draw, paint and read.  

 Haylee (the 15 yr old) loves to listen to music. And that is about it. Of course she IS a teenager! I am REALLY glad they aren't boy crazy.... YET!

Shortly before Spring Break, Sydney was accepted to Endeavor Charter Academy (the charter school Kelsee – my 9 yr old- goes to) so Sydney switched schools.  The transition was a little hard. She felt VERY behind but has done amazing!

Kelsee, has gotten HIGH Honor Roll for 3 quarters so far and it looks like she will be getting it AGAIN for the last quarter J She has worked so hard this year and her teacher is AMAZING!

Haylee has REALLY struggled with HomeSchool this year.  She was actually DROPPED from the 1^st semester due to her grades.  She promised she would do better and bring all her grades up.  So after a lot of heart to heart talks and prayer, I kept her in the K12 program. It isn’t looking too good for her this semester either.  I think the only class she is passing is Spanish (weird)

My “baby girl” was accepted to Young 5’s (it’s basically Kindergarten for the younger 5 year olds)  she will start in the fall.  She is pretty excited about it.

Well, School is just about over… Last day is June 12^th. The girls can’t wait.  (and neither can I….. I am looking forward to NOT waking up at 5:30am)

So my marine left AGAIN to go to ANOTHER course…. Not quite sure what the name of this one is. I just know it’s the last “check in the box” for promotion.  He has been gone since this past Sunday.  He will be in Quantico until almost the end of June. I talked to him today. He said the school is going good.  They are in smalls groups of about 8 1^st Sgts. Funny thing is, in all the class the 1 guy that is also a member of the church, is in his group. He also works at the I and I station in Las Vegas, and is part of the “saints and sinners” battalion from Vegas/ Salt Lake.

So, by the time my marine gets back from Quantico, the girls and I will be out in California for the summer.  We are all so looking forward to getting OUT of Michigan and having a change of scenery.  My marine actually said Saturday before he left, he is afraid we won’t come back. He said he thinks we’ll find a house in Utah when we go out there. Who knows???? Maybe we will. Lol

So now that I have jumped all around….. I think I will end this post. I have said before that I will try to be better at posting and that hasn’t happened. So I won’t say that again.  I will just say, until next time!

Thankful.... for all the Veteran's

Happy Veteran's Day!

 

To all those who served and currently serve.  THANK YOU! From the bottom of my heart.No matter the branch of service.... THANK YOU!

  I am lucky girl.  The 2 special men in my life are both Veterans. My dad served in the US Army, back in the day. He was in the Military Police and served in Italy. He is a HERO to me.  What a great example he is to me. I am THANKFUL for him.

I am also THANKFUL for my marine.... he has now served for 17 years +. Not much longer til we join the "real world" and retire.  It is kind of a scary thought actually.  I am thankful to my marine for his sacrifice and service to this great nation of ours.  He has done his fair share of deployments. He has seen things I would NEVER wish upon ANYONE! He too is a HERO.

(this is the last pic I have of him... he is now a 1st Sgt.  Time to update the pics) 

GOD BLESS OUR MILITARY and THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!

I am PROUD to be an AMERICAN! and to be married to a US MARINE!

Happy 237th Birthday Marines!

Happy 237th Birthday United Stated Marine Corps......

 

I am grateful to be married to a Marine who has served this great nation of ours for 17 years now.

(this is the newest picture in uniform that I have of my husband) 

 

 I am thankful for the sacrifice that all the marines and their families in defending the freedoms of this nation.  We are blessed to live in the greatest country IN THE WORLD!

Happy Birthday Marines.....  Semper Fi!

 

 

Happy 4^th of July ya’ll~

Today didn’t start out great. My hubby was not in the best mood and got up way too early.  He didn’t have to work today and part of me wished he did. When he is in a bad mood…. It rubs off onto others, like me!!!

Anyways, for whatever reason my hubby decided he needed to fix the sprinklers today…. He went to menards bright and early, before anyone else got up. Bought what he was hoping would be the quick fix.  That didn’t work.  Then about 930this morning as I was folding laundry he walks in and says, hey you wanna change and take me to the hospital so I can get some stitches in my finger. I cut it pretty bad. So of course I jump up and go change. He came in asking for gauze and tape. I went and got it and then he says to me, it’s not so bad. I don’t think I need to go to the hospital.  

(Just like a marine…. A little tape and gauze and you are all good)

So instead of going to the hospital,  we spent a few hours back at menard’s getting more stuff for the sprinklers. Dang that stuff costs and arm **& a leg. We walked outta there spending way more money than I had hoped. And to top it all off, it didn’t fix it. My hubby told me we need to replace them all together! Oh the joys. All I hear is cha-ching. Cha-ching. Every time we turn around this house is costing us more money!

Well, we have spent the afternoon relaxing and watching tv, we bbq'd. oh and we took some pictures. (I made them do it)  

So here are my girls latest pictures, plus a few with daddy and mommy too  

 yummy watermelon

 getting ready to roast some marshmallows (although it didn't work out so well without a flame)

 so we microwaved them instead

 getting some love from my "twin" we both had the same shirts and wearing jean capris :) she loved it.

 

Sadly, this crazy place we live did fireworks last Friday night. so there will not be any fireworks to go to. No parade. No military honor band. (Life is so totally different not living on a military installation)  No bbq at the stake center or family time with gramma, papa and uncle david (like we have done the last few years) it is just our quiet little family at home.

We are so grateful for our independence and for those who have fought for our freedoms. This country is truly the greatest in the world.  I hope all of you had a fabulous day celebrating with family and friends.

Life has definitely been busy, to say the least, since the girls got out of school.  It seems like we have been going NONSTOP.  Something going on EVERYDAY!

Not only does my hubby work, as a Marine, he is also now the 2^nd Counselor in the Young Men’s Presidency AND The Scoutmaster!  Then I am a full time mama and the 1^st Counselor in the Young Women’s Presidency in our ward.  So not only have we been busy with the day in and day out “stuff” of life, but then we have our church callings and responsibilities. But like my hubby said- it’s all been GOOD stuff! (which it has been)

Just a week and a half ago, my hubby and I had the opportunity to go with the youth in our ward to the Detroit, Michigan Temple.  How amazing to be there with 26 youth... 17 young women and 9 young men. It was the 1^st time I have been able to go with my daughters... It was Haylee and Sydney’s 1^st time doing baptisms AND it was the 1^st time Matthew has ever done a baptism period.  My dad has been the one to baptize all three of the girls so far (my hubby has confirmed them all) so it was an amazing experience to see my hubby baptize both Haylee and Sydney. Along with 11 other youth.  We did work for over 300 people. How amazing. 

my sweet girls (Sydney and Haylee) 

After the temple we went and INVADED Wendy’s for dinner.  We basically filled the dining room.  We had a great time visiting and just relaxing before making the 2 hour trek back home.  Just before leaving I went to refill my drink. I was complimented by the staff at Wendy’s. They asked where we had come from. I was able to share with them a little about our church and hopefully planted a seed.  They said that we were the BEST group they had ever had. They were excited we cleaned up after ourselves and they didn’t have too. What a great feeling. Who would have thought that 26 youth plus 10 adults...

      Happy Father’s day to my sweet husband.

 I couldn’t have asked for a better “daddy” for my girls.  He has spent a lot of one on one time with them lately. Teaching them skills like building closets. Building workbenches, and mowing the lawn together.

I am so lucky to have him as my husband. He makes it possible for me to stay HOME and be a MOMMY!   

I am grateful for his sacrifice in serving our country.

 For his example to the young men in our ward. I am proud of him for all that he does!

For Father’s Day he wanted POT PIE’s for dinner… not a BIG FAT steak… Pot pies! Seriously, he is so easy going that he makes my life easier!  After dinner we gave him all our cards and presents.  Here is what I made for him

I got the idea from here.

We also gave him a camo USA hat and lots more CANDY! (the girls picked it out)  He has already gone out saturday and picked out his "other" gifts. He bought himself a gas weedeater and an air compressor. 

Also I want to wish my daddy a Happy Father’s Day!  I am lucky to have him as my daddy.  What an awesome example he is to me.  I know that I can ALWAYS count on him!  Ya know, all my sister’s say they are “daddy’s little girl”… Well I KNOW that I am!  There is not a day that goes by that I don’t talk to him.  I love you daddy!

 now for some FUN things I found for Father's Day.....

 

So after some rearranging of the bedrooms/ who’s sleeping where, our oldest, Haylee is back downstairs.  Problem is, she has NO closet to put her clothes in.  SOOOOO my hubby come up with a BRIGHT idea to BUILD her one!

He worked in construction for YEARS before joining the Marine Corps and has always looked for way to get back into that element. So he chose THIS weekend to do so.

After making a trip (or two) to Menard’s to gather all the supplies, a reluctant teenager started helping her daddy BUILD!  But 1^st they had to remove the countertop/cupboard and moved it into MY laundry room.. I couldn’t be HAPPIER!  More room to store away the goods!

 They are still in the process of building the closet.  Here are a few pictures of the progress they’ve made so far. My hubby says it takes WAY LONGER when you are teaching someone along the way.  But I have never seen that teenager so happy as I did yesterday working along side her dad!

 my hubby at work!

 one teenager NOT happy about getting a picture taken

 the 2 hard workers.  I am so proud of them for working together and for the patience my hubby has had in teaching.  

and the work goes on..... updates to come.