Small World!

It is a small world.  I have grown to recognize that more and more over the years. Being in the military community we move around so much and always find someone that knows someone you know. The whole 7 degrees of separation experiment would be perfect in this world, but I am sure it would be more like 3 or 4 degrees.  When I moved here to San Antonio I knew two people from when we lived in Abilene.  It is actually pretty comforting to have a big family of sorts to belong to in this crazy world.  The fun of getting to see old friends when we travel and move and knowing that you can go many places in the country and find a familiar face.
When I moved here I placed Erin in a Kids Day Out program and her best friend in that class was Alyssa.  I finally met her mom toward the end of the year and we got to talking in the parking lot.  Ironically she had been station in Utah with a friend of mine about 6 years before.  They were best friends then and Amy was one of my best friends in CA.  She and I hit it off and are now friends.  So funny that our girls would wind up in the same class and become friends.
Well Friday the world got really small again.  I have been selling on ebay since Zach was a newborn. I don't sell to make a lot of money or as a job, but as a way to clean out the house and to earn some spending money.  It is fun to me. Well I got a payment from on the items that sold and an email to follow...it was from Erin...Erin in CA that basically became part of our family when Brandon was gone.  Yes, that Erin.  How funny is that?  Of all the people on ebay, what are the chances?  It made me smile and then made me miss her.  But it reminds me of how small this world is and that our paths might cross again soon. More importantly on this month of being thankful, I am reminded of how thankful I am to have her in my life and for her friendship.
Small world...

Gratitude

Gratitude.

This word doesn't begin to sum up the emotions I have and feel about the brave men and women that serve our great nation. It is simply too small to describe the magnitude of their unselfish sacrifice.

I consider myself very lucky that I know from an up close and personal point of view the life of a military person. I say that in all sincerity. I am glad I know what this world is really about and in fact I don't know much compared to many military wives. What I do know is hundreds of faces of men and women who serve this great country. I have so many friends who are in the military. Some who are currently deployed, about to go, or just got home. I am fortunate enough to not live in a bubble that doesn't let me see the reality of a country at war, the sacrifices made and the heart of soldier, a patriotic American.

My father served in the Army. He was in the 82nd Airborne. He served in Vietnam. I admire him so much and I hope he knows it.

I admire my husband. He has deployed 4 times in service of our country, leaving behind the comfort of home, his family and especially his children. I hope he knows how proud I am of him and thankful for what he does.

To all of the veterans, service members past and present, I thank you. Simply said their love of country and willingness to put their life on the line to ensure the freedom of millions of people they don't know, is remarkable.

"Courage is almost a contradiction in terms. It means a strong desire to live taking the form of readiness to die." GK Chesterton.

This country will remain the land of the free as long as it is the home of the brave...that is a fact. We all should take time to thank our veterans and our service members, today and throughout the year. We are all so lucky to have such brave people defending us and keeping us safe. I love this country and the people that help keep it great.

Wordless Wednesday -

Sweet Sally lounging in bed...it is hard not to love this face.

Night Sky

Zach got a telescope last year for Christmas and due to a million reasons has had little time to really enjoy it. The summer it is light out until past his bedtime (yes I am a mean mommy and had bedtimes still in the summer, and yes it is still before the sun goes down). We had so much rain last year...a lot...so many nights of cloudy skies. So last night was a rare chance with daylight savings time to have a clear night on a weekend with dad home...all key elements. He was so good and enjoyed it a lot. I hope now that the sun goes down earlier we will have many more opportunities for him to gaze at the night sky.

Oreos

Erin is our sweet tooth. Hands down she loves all things sweet. I am pretty sure the unhealthy amount of Lofthouse cookies I ate while pregnant with her might be a factor (those nasty lard filled, frosting covered cookies you can get in a pack of 12 at Walmart for like $2). Either way, she loves sweets. So Brandon decided one night to show her how great oreoes and milk are together...Lots of cool points for Daddy.

Here she is learning the dunk move. :)

She is into it now...
Happy Girl!

Erin's school pumpkin patch day...

At one of Erin's preschools they have one of the best pumpkin patches in town...the one we go to as a family in fact...They do a little "field" trip to it as a class too. I chose to go with her that day and help out...it was a lot of fun, but most of all fun to watch Erin in her element of school, interacting with her teachers and friends and just being Erin.

She had a lot of fun and despite her comments of liking this school less, she seems to get along fine with everyone. She has one special friend that she adores, Jack. He was in her class for Joy Camp this summer and in her class this year...they are best buddies for sure. God Bless him for allowing her to hug him and bug him all day. He is a sweetie. And he might have won me over, he was wearing a snoopy shirt. :)

Here she is during the parachute time...she loved it!
Erin running a relay...she ate it...but got back up and ran back without a tear...tough girl!
The fact I got when I asked her if she fell...
Erin and Jack...
Looking at the pumpkins with magnifying glasses...
Young Love again...aren't they cute?
On the hayride...she somehow managed to ride twice...sneaky this one!
Group photo of her class...not sure what the deal is with the kid in the glasses, helmet and he had gloves on...strange...
Parachute again...
Going under to meet her teacher...she loved it.
A fun day and so glad I went to spend this time with her...she is such a sweet, fun loving little girl.

Halloween 2010

Here are a few photos from Halloween this year. We were fortunate enough to get to go trick or treat with some friends that live in another neighborhood. Alyssa is Erin's BF from last year and super sweet...her brother Nathan is Zach's age too and a nice boy. Her parents are great...Jan is a friend of mine here and her husband is AF as well...so we have a lot in common with this family and always have fun seeing them. It was a fun night and the kids had a good time...it was just enough time out on a school night. All in all a fun night for us and the kids!

Here is Erin and Alyssa...she was sleeping beauty (and that is a wig!)
Erin and Zach in front of a Snoopy sign...can't pass up that photo op.
Miss Erin...
Zachary...
Zach, Alyssa and Nathan...Erin refused to pose for this one...she had just woken up from a nap...we had no idea she was upstairs sleeping before we left...oh well...we learned. :)
Happy Halloween for us!!

Trick or Treating at Daddy's Work

Yesterday Zach had his big costume parade at school and Erin had picture days at one of her schools...We all decided to meet at his school for the big parade at 2. I had been there most of the day volunteering, so I brought Erin up in her costume and she got to walk hand in hand with her brother through the parade. After they did their round, we chose to leave early and then go to Brandon's work for a trick or treat event there. All the offices decorate and pass out candy to the kids. Zach and Erin loved it and had fun being in Daddy's world for a bit. Here is a photo of them together there. I will post pictures later of Zach's parade and Erin's pumpkin patch day too...I couldn't pass up this cute photo!

Zach the Magician and Erin the Bee. :) Happy Halloween 2010!

Erin's Costume Parade at UCUMP

As always I try to get my pictures on here in the right order and then it comes out like this...all out of whack. Oh well. You get the idea I am sure.

Erin's preschool that she loves had a costume parade this AM...they did a few laps around the bike area and showed off their cute selves to all the moms with their flashing cameras. Erin had a blast and was so smiley. She loved getting to wear her bee costume and especially her antenna. I love that she actually says that. We had planned for her to be a witch, but I found this costume on a fluke about a week ago and showed it to her. She has never mentioned the witch again, so it will go on ebay next year. :) I love the bee and she seems to as well. She got to wear it to dance Monday too, so she has at least gotten some good use out of it. She will get to wear it Friday to Zach's school to watch his parade...last year I didn't dress her up to go watch and she was like the only sibling not in costume...so I can't do that again. Then we will hit up Brandon's work for a parade and trick or treating and then more fun at a party at her other preschool Saturday night. I think it will be a fun filled week of activities and the first year they both can enjoy this "holiday" together. I am excited to head to the party at her preschool since it is a church and will be calm, safe and fun.

Here are the photos of her parade. Her teachers are the pink crayons...all the teachers wore crayon costumes. Her main teacher is Mrs. Maresh. She is the hot pink crayon and honestly the only person I have ever met that could look that cute in a crayon...she is beautiful and Erin loves her. All the kids looked adorable...Especially my little bee. :)

Making their lap around...

Miss Erin...
She loved it!



Coming out of the room, all the kids were so excited to see their moms, but they all stayed with their teacher and walked around. It was so cute.
There she is!
I love that she is the only child waving like the teachers...Mrs. Maresh said she is a CEO in the making...I wonder...

Fun, fun, fun...Such a wonderful age!

Pumpkin Painting....

Our annual tradition (since Zach was 18 months old) we have painted pumpkins. He only recently got into the carving idea...so the painting is always a big hit. Both kids love to paint and do arts and crafts, so this was a fun thing they both could do together. We also painted some pictures after the pumpkins that they hung on their bedroom doors for decorations. So much fun to see them use their imaginations and enjoy creating. Here are some pictures!