Family Pictures at the beach

This is a picture of all of us in a Banyon Tree.  There are banyons all over the island, just loved this one

The Family at Ferry Lnading Beach, I have hair that is a throw back to the 80's punk rock movement, but there isn't much I can do with the little amount I have.   And it is still falling out.  Aren't we perfect?

Our angels being all sweet, we have pics of them splashing each other later

My husband and I looking all romatic

You can't tell, but this skirt is about five sizes too big for me and I had to pin it on the other side. 

And one last pic at the banyon tree.  The tree itself had a ton of termites crawling all over it, but here at the tire swing all is well.  Adam had gotten to the breaking point and was done.  Poor kid got yelled at by momma..

Okay that is all for now, uploading these took two hours, love our connections.  I send you all my love

Christmas Week

So much to tell you all and I have no idea where to begin or what to tell you.  So I will just begin by telling you some things, and pardon me if I lose you in all my ramblings.

First, just a quick update.  I have had a horrible week here as far as eating and pain are concerned.  I have either overeaten or ate the wrong things all week.  My body is on protest and I am now rationing myself to soups for the next few days so that I can "cleanse" my system.  I really think making cookies, pies, potatoes, caramel rolls....all those things got me.  I don't know how to cook without tasting it, so i over did it.  I thought I was doing okay, not too too bad, but then last night I went over the edge.   We were invited to a post Christmas party at the Bosts and can I just say, I should have known better.  Chris, God bless her had cranberry margaritas.  CRANBERRY MARGARITAS!!!!  I can't drink much mind you.  I shouldn't drink at all, seeing as that one sip usually results in instant drunkeness and the shakes from my metabolism turning the alcohol into sugar.  At any rate I had about half a cup.  So not only did I drink far more than I usually do, but I drank something that had sugar, three different alcohols and well, DANG IT is was so good....Then Bryan, God bless him.  He made brisket, smoked brisket and smoked pork shoulder.  My mouth is watering again just thinking about it.  The brisket didn't sit well with me, but the pig, YUMMO...Alas I stood up to leave my merry friends, and a good time we were having too, when the a headache set in and my stomachs started yelling.  BOTH OF THEM....So I fought off a migrane all night last night and today my "old" large stomach is not very happy.  Needless to say, SOUP!!

Oh and so for the update.  I am down to 215lbs.  When I first started this whole process, I was 344lbs.  So for all those who are not math wizards, that is 129lbs.  If you got a chance to see our Christmas wishes on tv, I weighed a good twenty pounds more.  My top is so flippin' small that I fit in XL fitted shirts and L knit shirts.  And just the other day I wore a pair of L sweat pants.. I don't think I am quite a 16 pants yet, but I haven't tried any pants on as I am a skirt wearing hippie now a days...

Okay now for kid info. No wait, I am going to fill you in on my hadsome husband Alan.  Right now is chaos at work for him.  His CO (commanding officer) who just got here in Sept. is leaving.  His wife, who battled breast cancer almost five years ago was rediagnosed with it.  It has spread all over her body.  I got a chance to spend time with her, before we found out about the new cancer, and she is a wonderful person.  Keep her in your prayers if you are so inclined.  At any rate, the island here can not support her medical needs, so they are PCSing(moving) at the end of the month.  So a new CO is on board and that alone entails lots of changes of course.  Add to that, Joint Commision is coming.  JaCo for short.  JaCo is the governing force for military hospitals, sort of like having Medicare coming in.  They will be here the week of Jan 11.  This means that the hospital staff is in uproar.  Everyone who works at our itty bitty hospital is being run ragged and doing their jobs and cleaning the hospital and well it is nuts.  So Alan is a busy beaver.  Add to that JTF what that equals is Alan at work non-stop.

So that takes care of me and Alan, now for the kids.  First Maegan.  She is a mess.  She is in the middle of huge growth sprut, complete with eating non-stop and the cranks.  She has a ton of clothes she could fit in just last week, that now won't even come close to fitting her.  She is so cranky and frustrated poor girl.  Christmas was rough on her.  She tried to be patient while we took turns opening presents, but after doing that for about an hour she had had it.  So with the family's blessing she opened all her gifts.  It bit her in the butt.  SHe was convinced that Madie had more presents than she did. She went so far as to tell me that Madie had a "Crap Load".  Yea, good language...That Alan....hahaha.  She did have a great Christmas Eve though.  She played an angel in the Nativity Play the kids did for the children's mass.  She was adorable sitting up in the sancurary.  She spent time up there shaking her finger at the other kids and waving to me and Alan.  She was cute as a bug.  The pictures I took with my camera, well lets just say, they blew.  So there are none as of now.  I have a mom who promised to get me a copy, but who knows if that will happen.

Now for Aders.  He is growing into such a kidder.  He loves jokes and playing pranks.  He also loves dirt, running, playing and right now he is so into science it is bordering wierd....He got a microscope from Santa and a science lab from Alan and me.  He has been playing all day with it, and now is asking for a telescope for his birthday.  He got to play a lamb in the church play and can I just say, my son is destined to be a priest.  He sat up on that altar with a sweet little face and never talked to anyone and in general was excellent.  The boy didn't even wiggle.  Chruching is serious to my boy....

And Madie.  She got a potters wheel for her birthday and today we finally had a chance to get to it.  She made five different things and I think she may be a little artist in the making.  She was so happy out there shaping her clay, she was singing and just in hog heaven...As for the christmas play, she got to play Mary.  I must clarify here real quick.  the kids just acted the parts, there were no lines to say.  That said, of course Madie was the best darn Mary in the world.  She was so cute.  She did tell me she was nervous though right before we got to church, I think that went away quickly though.  I think it must be hard to be nervous when everyone in the audience are the people you interact with day in and out.  For Christmas Madie got a Whoopsie Poopsie Baby Alive from Santa.  The child went ape ^&%$ crazy when she torn into it.  She was so happy and now I have a DOLL pooping all over.  Arg....

So that sums up Christmas and Christmas Eve.  This week Alan is supposed to have half days at the office, but I think he will be working late everyday getting things ready for JaCo.  The kids get to go to work with me tomorrow and Wed, but now that they have things to take up there we should be doing good.  There are no New Years plans as of now, but we are going to go play Family Kickball on Wed afternoon and then having some friends over for games that night...Social Butterflies are we.....

So my friends, know that I thought of you and prayed for you this week and I send you all my love

Lost Tooth

My beautiful son has finally lost his front tooth.  After four years of struggling to keep the tooth in his head, I pulled it out today.  For those who don't know, Adam was tripped viciously by my yogroundngest sister Llaurel when he was a mere two years old.  She threw him down on the ground at my parents home.  If that wasn't enough, Mom was renovating the house and had pulled all the carpet up, so when my small little toddler was tripped and thrown onto the ground his face met concrete.  He had a huge gapping hole in his lip, we could see the fatty tissue and his tounge was a mess.  There was a rush to the ER and we were told to go home, not any thing they could do for mouth wounds.  Three months later we had an emergancy visit to the dentist who promptly removed his front right tooth.  He had developed an abcess. 

It gets better, a week later he tripped himself coming down the stairs and smacked his face once more, this time on the tile of our kitchen floor.  Again we had the bloody pulpy mess of a mouth and his left tooth was hanging by a thread.  I promptly shoved that tooth back into his head and again we rushed to the dentist.  They gave antibiotics and we prayed for the best.  The tooth got firm again and we saved his tooth!!!  It took work though.  Numerous times that dang tooth has gotten loose and he has stopped messing with it and it has firmed back up.  Last year at the dentist when they took his exrays, we discovered that he had no root to the tooth and only tissue was holding it firmly in place.

Now four years have past since we lost his baby tooth to the concrete...it was a bittersweet loss.  He messed and messed with the darn thing, and I was once again asked by my child to help pull the tooth.  Now this is the cool part.  We got the tooth out and upon inspection discovered that it was hollow.  Very cool.  And Ader's mouth, there is a pretty prominent piece of gum tissue hanging down.  It is the tissue that had grown into the tooth to keep it in place.  Now my son is toothless, but he has a weird gum thing hanging down where a tooth should be.  

*Incidently, Llaurel swears Adam tripped over his too big boots, but we all know what really happend.....

Just a quickie.  Got Cheer banquet tonight, making decorations for Santa and Pizza tomorrow as well as hosting our cooking and book club holiday party at the house.  Then decorating the gym for Santa and pizza and then attending on Wed.  Thurs Adam's holiday party.  Fri is Madie's holiday party and finally Saturday I have yet another cookie exchange.  Whew.  After that, I will finally be done with these weeks of activity...So, until Saturday I am out my friends, but after that I promise to post the pics I promised last week.  Much love to you all

parades and things

Okay so this weekend and week have been quiet the Christmas Extravaganza....First we had our first Gtmo Parade...It was so much like Pioneer Reunion in the fact that everyone can be in the parade.  So there was a great veriety of people.  However, here in Gtmo we have the Electric Light Parade...Yes my friends, Pioneer Reunion at night with lights...Imagine.  There were golf carts and mules all decked out with tinsel and lights, trucks and even boats.  Yep BOATS.  We had all our fire trucks out as well.  And the best part, all the "floats" came complete with music and people chunking candy at us.  I got pletted in the head at least twice.  We even had a gaggle of nutty ladies, ours were the Latinio Club, dancing and singing.  Made me miss Mrs.Graves.

Madie did get to walk and cheer in the parade.  Mind you the route was a good two miles.  She was so flippin' cute, but a real crank after it was done.  Her feet hurt, her throat hurt and she was all sweaty hot.  I tell you she was a mess.  But after she cooled off and got a drink she was better.  I have pictures but as I am writing to you all on my hubby's laptop, I have yet to download the pics....So again you must wait.

This week has been Winter Wonderland week up at the school.  Winter Wonderland is a kids shopping area that was set up and stocked with stuff for the kids to buy their families.  I know we did it in FtWorth when I was a kid and I think I even got a few things from Llaurel and Jesse from their shopping at the school.  At any rate I volunteered to help on Tuesday.  Lots of fun. Nothing like helping kindergardners to shop.  Lots of interesting things were bought.  My favorite is that some of the kids bought their moms tools.  Reminds me of mom....

Tonight we have the school concert.  The kids are going to sing some more and there is an art show before the concert.  Can I just say, whew.  I am so tired, I have been making sure to take the B12 for energy.  My little ones don't seem very excited about the concert, so I am hoping it goes well. 

Then tomorrow, REST DAY.  Maegan and I actually will be home ALL day.  Nothing is planned for tomorrow.  I do have to make a gift for a party Alan and I are going to on Friday, but that is it.  YIPPEE.  Of course that means I will be doing laundry all day, but shoot I am all for vegging in front of the tv and doing laundry. 

Friday is date night.  At 4 Alan and I will be heading to a hospital party then we will be off to Rick's Lounge to drink and celebrate the holidays with the spouses club.  Lots to do, but we are having fun...At least I think we are

So there is the update. I hope to get the pictures from the parade and the concert tonight loaded tomorrow.  Know that I miss you all and I send you my love

Bummed

I'm so BLUE!!  This Christmas season has made me a real scrooge.  I am missing our families back in the states so much right now.  Apparently I am not the only one.  A lot of people have told me that Christmas is done up so much here to help counter act the sorrow we all suffer at being away from family and friends.

And I am telling you I am BLUE!

At any rate I am trying to suck it up, and get over it in my mom's famous words, but today I got a big old blow.

Madie got her package from her Nana and Papa for her birthday.  In it was this...

Just look at how beautiful and happy they all look.  Chy and her smile, Llaurel and her grin, my handsome little brother and that hair.  Not to mention my absolutely gorgeous parents.

Only thing missing is me.  I miss them so freakin' much.  And I know, Alan and I are the ones that

left, none of them said join the Navy you freaks, move thousands of miles away, lose all your money and never be able to visit us....Well POOP...

I opened the envelope and just started crying.  Then I started thinking about all my family, my mother and father-in-law, GG, Dad and Steph, Peyton and Chris, Tammie, George and Dan, Papa Jim and Grandma Carla, Patty and Dave.  The list is endless.  So just as a shout out to all of you that are reading, and well only my family and friends read this, so just know that I miss you all.  I send you my love

And now for the much awaited, long promised

PICTURES 

We begin with Madie's birthday Luau.  Like I told you all before, it was a huge success for Moo, a learning curve for us.  But even with the learning curve, we had a great time getting it ready and coming up with games for the party and the cake.  Alan is in charge of the cakes, everyone should know that right from the start.  I always try to manipulate my way into the cake design, Alan and I always get bent out of shape because he won't listen to me and I end up having to give up the control of ONE thing.  I don't take it well.  You would think eight years into this we would, okay I would get the picture and let the poor man have this one itty bitty thing.  NOPE.  This year same thing.  I just can't get over how much more I know than Alan....It is a shame I mean if he would just give me total control OVER ALL...I had to stop myself there, I felt an evil cackle coming on.

Now, this year was a huge turning point for us.  I really did just let Alan go with the cake.  He and Madie talked about the cake for a good two weeks and I left my opinion out of it.  They asked questions, I told them what I would do, and they ignored me only to ask the same blessed questions again.

So the week of Moo's party came and Alan still had no idea what to make.  He ended up making the famous strawberry cake he is famous for and he tried to make a coconut cake, but it never came cleanly out of the pan.  So he switched to a pineapple cake for the second tier.  Both were delicioso...He began the decorating process, covering teh bottom cake with blue to look like the ocean and the round coconut cake he iced and then covered with a brown sugar/graham cracker mixture that looked a lot like sand.  That was as far as he could go.  He was stumped this year.  Of course throw in there the fact that he has been swamped at work and getting time to plan decorating the cake was impossible.  Now I step in.  Here is where we both learned the terrific life of being perfectly suited.  He handed the cake over to me after we talked about what we could do.  He really was at a loss and I had some vague idea of some sort.  So he stepped back and started to clean the house while I was given free reign.  Did I mention that I love this man of mine. 

As you can see we already had the island in the water theme, but I went from there.  The rocks around the cake are fondant and that little purple thing in front is an octopus.  The bushes by the volcano are leaves from a pineapple and the leaves on the table, Banana leaves from the front yard.  The "waves," the white around the rocks really did look like crashing waves up close.  The best part?  Not that Alan and I finally got our act together and worked as a team.  No, the best part for me was seeing Madie's face.  She loved this cake.  She helped Alan bake it, helped me decorate it and she says it was exactly what she wanted...A success...

When each guest came into the house we greeted them with a lei.  The girls got grass skirts and a flowered braclet, the boys got a grass bracelet.  This is a picture of our friend Katie.  She went home and told her mom and dad that it was the best party she had ever been to.  GO TEAM C

This is a picture of our friends Gail and Lori.  Gail's daughter Rachel is Madie's closest friend, sort of her Alana here in Cuba, and Lori's girls love Maegan and Me.  Lori is our local photographer and you will be seeing her talent here soon.  She took our family portaits, both wonderful women.  Oh and the other part of this picture, the fruit.  We had the guests make fruit kabobs.  I saw some very interesting creations.  One little girl came walking in with a kabob that had pineapple, star fruit, chesse, and pepperoni.  Um Yumm I guess.

Maegers looking adorable.  See that shirt in the back ground.  Not Alan but close to what I made him wear.  We all had Hawaiian shirts on.  Alan shed his as soon as he could.  Weeny..

Moo getting ready to open gifts.  She had such a good time.  We truly are blessed here, well we have been blessed everywhere we have lived.  Thank you God for providing us with love...

Brownie Patch

I know I mentioned Madie getting an Emergancy Preparedness Patch, well now here are the pictures.  The entire troop, from Daisy's on up participated in an emergancy preparedness patch.  Apparently President Obama on Sept. 11 challenged all Girl/Boy Scouts to get involved in their communtiy by learning about being prepared for emergancies in memorium of our fallen.  So, our Girl Scout troop got on the ball and had our ducks in a row by the end of that week.  We are one of the first troops to get their patches, go Gtmo...

Each girl had to demonstrate her ability to be prepared.  Whether that meant having a disaster kit, an escape plan or what have you.  Then the girls presented their projects to the emergancy corrdinator here on base.  He, along with our Command Master Cheif then held this special ceremony for the girls.  Of course this is not a picture of Madie getting her patch, nope this is a picture of two proud parents loving their exceptional girl, she is just dealing with us...

Awww isn't she cute?  She is the only Brownie that has her full uniform and knows how to wear it.  Thank you Daisy's...

Madie shaking hands with Jan Chilson, the emergancy corrdinator on base.  GO MADIE,

Oh what's that, you want to know what her project was?  She made five contact cards- cards that we each have to carry in our backpacks or purses that tell us who to call in case of an emergancy and where to meet each other in case we get seperated during an emergancy.  She helped us come up with good meeting places, and even an evacuation plan for how to leave the house in an emergancy...

Tree Lighting and All That

The following pictures are the best I could do.  I told you I have a horrible camera, and well I am not that talented when it comes to picture taking.  So please bear with me.  I am still working on getting the Flip videos up loaded to the computer.  We have given up on my computer and are about to try Alan's laptop.  I am keeping my fingers crossed.  At any rate...

This is the sign welcoming visitors to Holiday Hill.  I know you can't see it well, but under Seasons Greetings is the island of Cuba complete with saying Guantanamo Bay. And in the back ground is our brand new lighted tree.  It is huge and you can see it just about anywhere on base.  We love it...

No spirit fingers but she is still so tickled about being a cheerleader.

Madie's squad.  They are the GOLDEN SPIRITS....Whoo Hooo

Maegan lookin cute as a button

I swear this is the best picture I got of our boy singing.  He was too too cute, but I mean we all think he is adorable, my little bowling ball head..In case you have forgotten what the little man looks like he is third from the right

And you thought that picture of the lights was bad.  Madie is the tall one in back.  Yep, that is the only picture of her. 

I gave up trying to get pictures of him singing, but here is a great one of him up close, maybe too close

Birthday Gifts

And last but not least, a quick look at the kids enjoying the gifts.  We haven't baked yet, so none of those with Moo, only this one in an outfit Gamma got her along with a pompom pen.

And this is a picture of all three kids playing the Vtech games Dad has bought Maegan.  He bought her this Vtech last year I think.  She played it twice.  He got her another game for her birthday, the kids play it all the time. Go figure

And that my friends are the pictures for now.  As soon as Mom's box gets here we will pull out the camera and get pics of that.  Did we remember to take pics of her opening our gifts?  Nope....did we take pics of our Thanksgiving? Nope.  Ah well there is always next year.  I send you all my love

Thanksgiving, Tree Lighting and Advent

Alas the pictures.  When in the world am I going to post pictures???  Tuesday at the latest.  I just downloaded them from the camera and will get them organized and downloaded by Tuesday I promise....

On to the real topic tonight...

THANKSGIVING

So it is Thanksgiving day.  It also happens to be our oldest daughter's birthday.  Who could imagine that our little wall flower Madie would turn into the confident out going girl she has become. 

And can she only be 8?  And at the same time, 8 all ready??

How in the world does this happen?  How can you struggle day to day with just life in general and miss that your kids are growing at alarming rates?  Mystifing...

So we had Madie's birthday breakfast first and foremost when we awakened on Thursday.  She got to open all her gifts, minus Nana's which hasn't made it as of yet.  But seriously she had a ton of gifts to open.

She got a great haul.  Alan and I went with the Baker theme..A Girl Gourmet cake decorating kit, cook books and a mom and me matching apron set that I whipped together Wed night.

We ate German Pancakes and sausage and had a good old time talking about the day Moo was born.  We do this every year for each child.  Tell them all about their birth and how we were beside our selves with joy at their coming.

Then it was clean up time. 

The kids ran and cleaned their rooms and mom cooked.  However, I was still reeling from my disasterous fall on Wed night.  So my right knee had to take breaks every now and then for some ice and elevation.  But in between the whinning about my knee I managed to cook a huge feast.

We had a 25lbs turkey, homemade stuffing ( complete with spinach mom), green bean casserole, broccoli rice caserole, yeast rolls, cranberry salad, mashed potatoes and roasted sweet taters.  Oh and for Adam chicken nuggets and french fries.  I was a cooking all day long, but I did get a nap in of course, and it was so much fun cooking for people I had no clue what they would like.  Our guests arrived promptly at 6pm bearing gifts.  One of Alan's collegues hunts for bottles.  Apparently there are a ton on old glass bottles here on base and they are all Cuban made, a huge market is out there for Cuban collectibles.  Not something I knew about.  I have just wanted a bottle that has Cuba stamped on the bottom just because we live here.  Not for any other reason.  Anyway, Alan's collegue, Tony, collects them.  He is the preemmenitt bottle collector here and he brought me a beautiful Cuban Coke bottle.  He also came bearing a gift from another of our friends who was suffering pregnancy sickness.  She painted her bottle with a cute scene of a Cuban couple dancing.  Just wonderful gifts.  But I digress..

So our guests came, we talked, we learned tons about each other and we celebrated Thanksgiving the best we could without our families.  Four of our guests have spouses living back in the states so having a family even for one night was great.  Then we played Apples to Apples and I discovered a handfull of people who are closet game lovers.  So come the new year we will be having game night once a month at our house, as we are the only ones with a house.  That and the kids can sleep while we play it up.

YIPPEE.

That was Thanksgiving..

FRIDAY, SATURDAY &

THE TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY

So Firday comes bright and early and we have decided to decorate for Christmas.  Side story here, when we asked our sponsors about the holidays here they down played it saying that it isn't done very big here.  So Alan and I decided with the kids to leave our ornaments in storage to bring just a few things.  Yea..we screwed up.  We brought almost nothing.  We sent almost all of our Christmas decorations on to storage.  What were we thinking?  I have not a clue.  All I can say is that we did manage to bring both our trees, the large family one and the small one the kids decorate and the lights for the large family tree.  We also managed to bring one tote full of decorations.  Esentially a Christmas bowl and an angel.  That is it.  So...come Friday all ready seeing that we didn't bring much we started to decorate.  Madie and I made a run to the NEX for some lights for the kids tree and some stockings.  Yep we left those too. 

Can I just say, I was a Scrooge.  I was cranky that we had nothing to decorate with, I was cranky because my knee hurt and dang it all I was missing my family.  Can I just say, I am tired of having the holidays thousands of miles away from my family.

Anyway, that was Friday.  Madie had a long cheer practice again Friday night and the rest of us just chilled.  Then came Saturday.  Madie had practice once again at in the afternoon for the tree lighting ceremony.  And I did the grocery shopping.  Then back home to shove some food in her face and get her all dressed up in her cheer uniform complete with a high pony tail.  Had to get Adam to change his clothes three times because he really didn't want to have to wear his dark pants to the ceremony, and off we went.

The Tree Lighting Ceremony was slated to begin at 6pm, but we had to be there at 5pm for cheer pictures.  What time did the coaches show to take said pictures, 5:30.  In the mean time I am getting Madie and Maegan food from Subway and telling Adam he can eat at McDonald's once everything was over.  Little did I know that it wouldn't be over until 7:30pm and by then he would be ready to eat me. .

So we are sitting in the NEX parking lot in front of the stage that both our children will be preforming on, did I mention the elementary school had a concert to give as well? And what should happen?  It begins to sprinkle.  Then it begins to rain a bit and before we know it, it is pouring.  So...we moved the whole ceremony into the atrium.  Not a huge space and we had to leave enough room for people to come in and out of the store.  Imagine if you will, sitting in front of a grocery store in the parking lot, the "stage" on one side of the doors, and your seating area across the lot on the other side of the doors.  And to top it off, people coming in and out with their groceries.  Comical to say the least.

It could have been worse, we could have been some of the poor smucks who had to stand in the back.  Us, well of course I have learned from the greatest seat saver in the world.  I got us front and center.  Adam, Maegan and I grabbed four folding chairs from out in the rain and brought them into the atrium.  We listened to what the dude said about where to sit and plopped our butts down.  People tried sitting in front of us, they got moved.  It was terrific.  I tell you.  It felt like I was at Pioneer Runion....Thanks mom!!

So the kids started.  Adam's class was third in line and unfortuntely I missed the whole darn thing trying to get a good picture to post.  So, needless to say when Madie came on with her class next to sing, I put down our pathetic camera and listened.  It was horrible.  We couldn't hear the kids at all.  All we heard was the music.  And all we saw was the music teacher's derrier.  He stood in front of the kids almost the entire time.  It was so silly.  But we clapped through all the preformances and I am sure he will hear all about his nether region being in front of all of it, and how not a single parent could hear their kids because the music was so loud.  Me, I'll just wait for next year and hope for the best.

Then came Madie's cheer squad.  Can I just say...

I may be at the end of my rope with all the practices and all the cheering going on in my house, but these girls were rocking.  They were the best part of the evening.  Everyone yelled and cheered and it was absolutely wonderful.  The highlight.  Then came a mom and her six year old daughter.  They did a baton rutine.  It was so freakin' sweet.  She had a flaming baton that just wouldn't light and her daughter tried so hard.  They wore matching outfits and everything.  It was so heart warming. 

The night helped thaw my heart a bit.

The big tree lighting itself was cancelled due to the amount of rain.  We have the trees in the atrium of the NEX, there is one large on and about a dozen smaller ones that different groups decorated.  So we lit those and then the big BIG tree up on Holiday Hill was lit but not in a huge ceremony.  Just a flip the switch kinda thing.  But it was still a success. 

After all that fun, we headed to McDonald's got the boy and dad some dinner and went to the theater.  They showed "Planet 51" last night.  The kids loved it and I, well by that time my knee was throbbing so bad, and it had sprinkled thoughout the entire movie and I was cold and basically  I was just ready to get home. 

So today, Sunday, the first day of Advent, I have spent the day with my leg propped up and taking the ever lacking in strength Tylenol.  I can't take Ibprofen ever again since the surgery so my hardest hitting pain killer is Tylenol.  It usually works but we are talking serious amounts of pain.  My knee is hurting now when even touched slightly.  I know, I know..time to see a doctor, which is on the list for tomorrow.

But for tonight I have printed off some Advent prayers and off to say them before the kids fall asleep.  I wish you all good sleep and I promise pictures by Tuesday.  I send you all my love

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving

Just a quick note to tell wish you all a

Happy Thanksgiving

May your turkey be plump and juicy,

May your stuffing be moist,

May your Green Bean Casserole have yummy onion crunchies

And may your Pumpkin Pie be pumpkiny perfection.

We love you all and you will be in our thoughts and prayers today...

I send you all my love

No pictures yet

Well I was all set to download pics and send them out into the world-

alas, Alan has the camera.

Today Adam had a skit to do at school and we took pictures of him.  So, the camera is with the man.

Oh well, tomorrow.  See it just makes sure you keep coming back...

Okay so I told you all we are busier than a bee colony right now.  Well yesterday I was a afflicted with a killer headache, I have been getting them quite a lot lately, and was kinda out of it.  So I stayed home from work and slept and tried to make the pounding stop.  Of course by about four it was gone and I was doing fine.  So I made dinner, played with kids, helped them do their homework.  Good times I must say.  Then it happened...

My friends I am telling you, I have been a klutz lately.  Dropping things, tripping, falling down. I really think it is the dizziness brought on by the sinuses, brought on by the flora and fauna here.  So last night I am walking out the door with Madie on our way to cheer practice and the NEX, when I fell.  Somehow I tripped or missed the teeny tiny step we have on our walkway.  However it happened.  I landed hard on my knees.  Almost identical to the time I tripped when I was pregnant with Maegan and I was talking to Chy on the cell phone.  Not as embarassing as it was dark out and only Madie was there.  But the same position and everything.  Whack, down on both knees like God wanted me to kneel and pray right then.  I rolled onto my butt and wailed.  It hurt so flippin' bad.  Took my breath away and made me send for Alan.  But I got up and headed onto cheer practice and the NEX.  Mind you I haven't looked at the knees, I am afraid to see them actually.

So I go about my business, do my last minute shopping and then head home.  By this point I am starting to stiffen up and I know it is bad as I am starting to shake a bit.  So we get home and Madie asks to see my knees.  I am not ready to.  Alan gets the kids in bed and I get two ice packs for the knees and settle onto the couch for Dancing with the Stars, Donnie Osmond should win by the way.  And then I finally pulled up the pant legs and looked.  HOLY COW!!!!  There is a goose egg on my right knee so big I am a bit worried, and the purple bruising is all over.  The left knee has a nice set of scratches to go over the newly healed scratches from my last fall.  But no bruising and not a lot of swelling.  But my right knee, scared me a bit.  So I applied the ice and laid still for the two hour long show.  By the time I was ready to get up and head up the stairs I was limping.  It hurt to bend, it hurt to straighten.  It just hurt.  The worst part.  No Mortin.  Nope I can only take Tylenol. 

I made it through a ruff night of tossing and turning gently, and today I talked to my girlfriend who is a physical therapist.  She suggested I ice it some more and elevate it.  Other than that...not much I can do.  If it still is killing me tomorrow I will head into the doctors .  In the mean time I plan on icing and resting it. 

The thing that amazes me is this.  Before, when I was good and fat, this kind of fall would have hurt, but not to the point it is now.  Believe me I know.  I have had my falls.  This time, I swear it is worse because my knees aren't padded by the fat.  I have these knobby knees now and the fall smacked the poop out of them.  So this my friends has been the only disadvantage to the weight loss, knobby knees that get hurt when I fall...

I did want to update you all on my weight loss status since I mentioned it.  I am now weighing in at 220 lbs.  That is right my friends I have lost a whopping 124lbs in seven months.  I have lost a total of 16 lbs since my last docotors visit and he said he would be amazed if I lost 20lbs by my next visit.  That isn't until the end of Jan.  So I figure I am still headed in the right direction.  I still have 80 lbs to go to get to MY goal weight of 140lbs.  The doctor did say that by the time I hit the 18 month mark I would be struggling to lose.  My stomach will have streched enough by that time to accomodate bad habits again.  And I must say I can see it coming.  I have started measuring my servings just to be on the safe side.  I went through the pain and torture of the surgery, I will not let serving sizes stretch out this new stomach of mine...So I am hoping that by May and Jesse's graduation I will be down to 160 lbs.  That is my goal for right now...We shall see...

Okay now I am off, I have my super catholic girls club meeting tonight.  This time Madie and I are the hostesses, as the saint for this month is St.Monica.  She is the partoness of mothers, wives and abused women.  Her virtue is hope.  So we are making hand made beads to make into necklaces.  We are going to hope all our hard work pays off and none of the beads break...Anyway, off to make the clay.  I send you all my love...

Sunday

Whew!!  Saturday is over, one less thing to accomplish.  Madie's party was a big success.  However, we older Chronisters learned a few lessons this go round. 
     #1 Big birthday parties, even with other kids parents, STINK!!
     #2 Big birthday parties without our families are hard, tiring and they STINK!!
     #3 Big birthday parties with boys and girls just mean extra work, in other words they STINK!!
     #4 Birthday parties in Gtmo are not the same as in the US.  What is standard etiquette in the US is not standard here in Gtmo. 
     #5 Did I mention big parties with out our families STINK?

Okay so let me paint the picture.  Madie has been asking for a Luau party since last Dec.  She knew what she wanted and I promised to get it for her.  I did not plan for the Luau party before we moved.  Thank goodness the good Lord has my back, my shop had a huge crate full of luau stuff. Leis, grass skirts and the like.  So that was covered.  Now all we needed was the guest list and we would be golden.  Well being new here, I figured Moo would have a few people to invite. Nope. She invited 11 kids.  All but two showed up, and you know our rule, everyone in the family is invited.  No dropping off unless you really want to.  So what this boils down to is that we had something like 50 people in our house.  Thank goodness we live where we do, because we took advantage of our tropical weather.  Alan and I planned a few relay races for the kids as well as limbo.  All of which was exhausted within the first hour.  Now what.  So the kids and Alan sat on the hill in our back yard and gazed at the stars.  Well that was the plan.  What ensued was chaos.  Poor Alan was beside himself.  We live off of the "other" busy street here on base, our back yard butts up against the road.  Mind you there is a large culvert in between, but still a major road.  Now, cars are only doing 25 mph here but still all we needed was for a kid to get hit by a car at one of our birthday parties....And did I mention the boys?  I swear, boys are crazy and they make girls crazy.  We literally had two hours of nothing but screaming girls and cackling boys.  It was a bit much for me and Alan to handle I must say. But I digress.  We started with food, we had the kids make fruit kabobs complete with star fruit, which I am happy to report my kids love.  I have always wanted to try it and figured a birthday party was a good excuse to buy them. All three kids love it.  Then we had chips, salsa, guac and some kick butt pico de gallo made by me of course.  I was very happy with our treats.  And of course cake.  So the kids came in and each got a lei as well as a flowered bracelet for the girls and a grass bracelet for the boys, then off to make kabobs.  Then we played the games, after which Alan tried to wrangle screaming kids.  Then we looked at the time, realized we still had an hour and half with the monsters that the kids were becoming and fear set in.  Some how we managed to keep the kids occupied sort of until cake.  Then it was another free for all.  At one point I looked over and realized I had kids climbing on my couch!  It was too much, I had to get all MOMMY on them, complete with yelling at everyone to take two steps back.  Anyway, I filled their bellies with cake and ice cream and then sent them outside once more.  After cake we opened presents and then sent the kids home.  Madie did tell me she had a ball, which makes it all worth while, BUT....no more big parties like that. 

    See we have been noticing some things about children here in Gtmo.  We meaning Alan and myself, I haven't shared this with my Gtmo gals...but we have noticed that there are quite a few kiddos out there who are off their rockers.  It is so easy to get complacent here.  The kids have free reign over their parks, and yards.  They get out of control so quick.  I mean I am guilty of this as well.  Adam and Madie come home from school and then out the door they go, only to return for dinner.  What they do outside all day?  Heck if I know...And that although liberating for all of us, I think is the undoing.  We adults are so lazze faire about the kids that we tend to forget that they do need to have manners.  At one point I walked into Madie's room last night to find two girls on her bed with a sword swinging at her light while three others were digging through her stuff.  Madie was outside....I got all kinds of ticked at the kids and did the whole respect our stuff, or you won't be allowed back here speach.  Complete with making them all repeat what I said and telling them that I expected apologies from them.  Yes, things here are different.  Course it could be this way in the rest of the world, I am just more exposed here because we are so much more involved here.  I mean we have never invited more than three friends over for a party and my desire to get the kids interacting with the kids here has become too much.  Can it be that we are too out there??  Too eager to make new friends? 
    I really think I just figured it out.  In my desire to make the kids feel connected and part of something I have over, shoot what's the word?  exposed?? I don't know..I guess what I am trying to say is that my built in filter, the one I am supposed to use to edit what I say to the kids and strangers and what I get us involved in, it must be stuck in the off position.  I think that in my eagerness to feel part of this community I have tuned out the filtering of both myself and what is being presented to me....Hum something to think about surely...

At any rate, Moo had a good time, we learned never to have a big party again and we all went to bed last night with smiles on our faces.  I will post pictures of her cake and some of her tomorrow, I hope.  Here it is 1:30am and I have to be at work as well as two other commitments tomorrow.  So I must get off the computer.  I send you all my love...

What day is it??

Okay so as far as staying on top of my blog, I get the "most pathetic" award.  I have been so busy lately, I haven't had to time to do much.  The computer connection is so super slow and what in the world happend to spell check on this blog?  I can't find it anywhere, and I spell atrociously.   Case in point.  Anyway...

So these last few weeks, months, heck I don't even know what day it is.  But I have been running around like crazy.  Last night was the first time we as a family actually got to eat dinner together, and that is only because I didn't go to the church decorating committiee meeting...Bad christian that I am. 

To fill you in.  All of you know about my trash and trivia shop, well I had just gotten it looking clean and neat and organized, when the HOLIDAYS hit.  I emphaze holidays because once again I underestemated Gtmo.  Again with the huge holidays.  When we leave here the kids will be so disappointed by the real world.  Okay so, today I am in the middle of our "Black Friday".  Yep having a black friday sale a week early.  Why?  I have no desire to work the day after Thanksgiving.  I plan on decorating for Christmas here.  Anyway I am busy as hades...So, this is a very short blog to just say I haven't forgotten to inform you all of what is going on, just been too busy to do it.  I have so much to tell you all too.  But, Madie's birthday party is tomorrow and then I will get a chance to actually blog.  I'll even have some pics of our girl.  Until then I send you all my love

House Pictures

So here are some pictures of our house, only the front mind you, as Alan refuses to let me take pictures of the back yard until he gets the back yard set up.  Like I said Madie's Luau is coming soon so everything will be done by then.  At any rate, here are some house pics....

This is the front of our house.  We of course have the ghost in front.  I took these on Halloween.  We do not water as you can tell.  Our new neighbors do however, so we will forever look like the family that doesn't care.  But really, we live in the desert and what is the point?

A little closer veiw of our side.  We have rocks for our garden, again a nicety, no flowers to water.  We are planning on putting some chairs out soon so that we can be social with the neighborhood.  Everyone has chairs in their front yards.

Thi is the veiw looking out our front door.  We are the only house in the cul de sac and the park is directly across the street.  See that hill in the background?  That is the hill my son and now daughters climb looking for

Big Foot.  There are also drainage ditches back there that the kids play in.

What lives in those hills you ask?  Only the Cuban Boa Constrictor and the Banana Rat. 

Worried at all???

A little closer veiw of the park.  Maegan always leaves her shoes over here, I mean ALWAYS!!

Every day I have to ask her where her shoes are, and everyday she

runs out of the house to the park.

Bikes? Dolls? Legos? Balls?

Apparently the park stores them for free.  Yep no charge to leave your

stuff at the park.  It will be so hard coming back to the states I tell you...

Now of course this isn't our house, but it is God's house, and I think it is so

Caribbean and cute.  I love it.  I will be decorating it here very shortly for Christmas.

At any rate, I thought you would all like to see our place of worship. 

Usually there is a big ole iguana sitting in front gaurding the doors, or prwoling the parking lot. 

Okay that is all for now.  I will have more pics soon and more stories..  I send you all my love

Holy Cow!!

I have heard from one and all that I have not just slacked, but I have in fact left all of you hanging.  I am so flattered that my life's musing have entertained you all so much.  I am hoping to get back on the writing horse here and get you all caught up in the goings on here.  Have I mentioned that for such a small locale and population, it is incredibly busy here? 

Okay, first things first.  Kids update.  Madie:  Our oldest in now a cheerleader.  That is right my friends we have a cheerleader among us.  Does she cheer at any sport in particular.  Heck NO where do you think we are, the US.  Nope here, our cheerleaders are a comodity.  They are by invitaion only cheerleaders.  What is that you may ask.  quite simply it means that she will cheer only at the tree lighting ceremony at the NEX Atrium and at a parade.  Pretty pathetic if you were to ask me last week.  This week however, is a different story.  Apparently the cheer coaches of years past, well let's just say they seriously lacked knowledge, drive or a desire to really teach the girls anything.  But seriously what can you do.  You have to take what you can get here on base.  Not like the Army is asking soldiers that have experiance in cheer to come on down to Gtmo to teach the girls cheer.  But this year we have among our ranks eight professional cheerleaders.  That's right my firends.  PROFESSIONAL CHEERLEADERS!! Six of the eight are actually active duty so that terrified some of the parents.  See, we have huge turnover here.  If you work for the JTF (that means the prisons) then usually you come here unaccompamied and for only six months at a time.  BUT, and this is the big BUT, if you come here with your family, you are here for at least two years.  All but two of our cheer coaches are here for two years.  YIPPEE.  I know seems crazy, but this is big news.  The coaches are treating the cheer squad like it is an actual cheer squad.  That means the matching warm up and work out outifits, matching cheer suits and bloomers, practices twice a week at least.  This was supposed to be a six week camp, but since we have eight ladies that want to send our girls back to the states with real knowledge of cheer and how it works in the real world, it has been extended.  So, if Miss Madie continues to love it as much as she is right now, I may be in big trouble back in the US.  Cheer is expensive back home.  Apparently our $70 investment in the states would equal about $1500.  So, while I am glad Madie has found something she loves, I hope we have enought cash when we get back to the US to support it....Picutres of her will come soon...

Adam:  Oh my Adam.  I just love this little dude so much.  He is just as skinny as ever, but he is getting soo tall.  He looks the same as he did in his two year pictures, I know this becuase we just looked at them, only he is taller and his smile is a but brighter.  Not much to report on him.  He is part of CHaracter Counts at school.  Apparetnly DoD schools have the six pillars of good character.  Adam has learned about Honesty, Trustworthiness.  He is in a play that his club will preform in front of the school this week I belive.  He is loving CCD (Sunday School).  They too are learning about being good soliders of Christ and the benefit of being honest and trustworthy.  He is our concience here in this house.  He is forever asking ALL of us, if we think God would like our actions.  I think he may end up a priest after all.  But, I have to say, his attitude is amazing with his friends.  He is the first to check and make sure someone is okay if they get hurt and he makes sure everyone gets to play.  No leaving anyone out on his watch.  He stands up for the underdog almost all the time.  Again I am amazed by his heart and love.

And then there is Maegan: My dear baby.  She and I are butting heads right now.  She is experimenting with lies, sneakiness and the constant need to eat.  Growing much??  We have gone round and round with the lying issue.  I am so tired of trying to teach this child not to lie.  For some reason, she just doesn't care...I will get to the bottom of it, just don't know when.  She is bored to tears at the shop now.  I am trying to come up with things for her to do, but the reality is, she is getting to the point where being by herself is making her nuts, and selfish.  I can't wait for her to start school, nor can she.  I would love to do it now, but the money, just stupid.  So instead we work on her letters and numbers at the shop and she plays with the kids after school.  She is my struggle right now, course by next week it will be one of the others.

As for Alan, well he works.  Right now he is busy decorating our house.  He has been going great guns for the last two days and it is really starting to look good here.  Those pictures will be posted as soon as he gets things mostly finished.  We have a deadline of Nov 21.  Madie is having a luau party for her birthday, complete with about thirty guests.  So, we are husteling to get the house decorated.  Or at least close to decorated.  We are also inviting Alan's pharmacy and some of his collueges to Thanksgiving dinner here.  There are about ten people that work around him that are here unaccompanied.  So we are opening our home to them.

As for me....where to begin.  Work has actually been very good lately.  I am making tons of friends out of the TCNs (third country nationals).  They are made up of mostly Filipinos, Jamacians and some Cubans.  The lady who worked before me made it sound like this group of people where the bane of her exsistance.  But I am telling you, they are wonderful.  Kind, genrous and good sources of information.  I have my regulars who come in and visit everyday and then some who only come in once a week.  I just love them all. 
After work comes everything else.  I swear, I haven't been this active in real life outside of my family since college.  This week I stopped by the open parish council meeting, got roped in.  I now am helping with the decorating of the church for the holidays and helping get the kids ready for the Christmas Pagent.  I am organizing the bowling night for the schools, that will be done by next week and well, lets just say I am one busy lady.  Which reminds me, if any of you out there have any ideas on a good dip, my cooking club is having a Dip It night on the 23rd.  I want to make something different.  I imagine crab, artichoke and guacamole will all be present.  I want something different and unique.  Course I need to be able to find all the ingriedants here on the island. 

Okay, so the next time I blog I will tell you all about my frustrations and joys of living on an island....Until then, I send you all my love

OOOHHH POOP!!  I am just looking at this and I know that I have about twenty thousand spelling mistakes and I can't find spell check, yikes.  SO no making fun of the dyslexic spelling chanllenged, got it!!

Maegie's Room

Maegan's canopy is so pretty, the picture

just doesn't do  it justice.

Adam's Room

And here is Adam's Room

Madie's room

Hello All!!

So sorry I have slacked so much,

So without further ado

Madie's Room

Climbing Mountains

I typed the title of this particular blog and all I can think of now is "Landslide" by Stevie Nicks. "I climbed a mountain and turned around..." Anyway....
Okay so I am sure most of you have looked at a mountain or a large hill and thought, " I could climb that, it isn't too bad." We are talking both metaphorical and literal mountains, hills and/or mole hills here. So, I am assuming that most of you out there have looked at said mountain, hill/mole hill and thought, no sweat. Easily done. I too have been that idiot thinking I CAN DO IT!!
I have looked at the mountain from a distance and been all cocky and sure of myself, only to stand at the base and think, HOLY COW! What have I committed myself to?

Yesterday I attempted to climb. I chose to not stand at the bottom any longer. I chose to pull my boot straps up and go for it. I am of course talking about a mountain of such proportions that sitting here in my chair at home, the mountain looks more like a small hillock if you will. I am telling you it is a mountain!!
Yes my friends I demanded myself to get up the MOUNTAIN....

Did I succeed is the question...Sorta! This is the story my friends:
First and foremost I must admit that this is a story of angst and woe. No really this is just my pathetic little story of how I attempted to make it up the highest peak here in Gtmo. Yes, I tried with all my will, might and strength to climb to the top of a real mountain. And like I said, it looks more like a small hill from here in my house. Standing at the base it is entirely different. Sitting here today with aching hips, and calf muscles that refuse to stop the pulsing, I am telling you it is a MOUNTAIN.

I digress, on with the story. So there is a group of terrific ladies here that really work at lifting each other up. Their goal, at least from what I can see, is to make sure everyone is included. These are some of the same ladies I had chick night at the movies with. At any rate, they are a good group of women that, well put out the invites and then wait for people to get out of their houses and join them. Okay, so they have been telling me that three times a week they make the trek up this mountain, and they have been encouraging me to come along. I have been avoiding this, coming up with excuses and what not. Why avoid the climb? I have no good reason, other than I like to be lazy. Plain and simple. I don't like to work because I want to be able to sit on my couch at home and read a book. I like to lay around. Course, laying around for the last ten years have helped make me the very obese woman I am. So, now I have lost a good 115lbs and the truth of the matter is, I need to get my butt in motion, or the surgery will be for not.

So, yesterday I dropped the husband and two older kids off at school. I met the ladies at my shop and off we went. Oh I remember now, one of my reasons for not joining this group before is because I didn't think I could do the climb, therefore why even try. I didn't want to slow anyone down and I sure as spit didn't want to look like a big fat loser in front of these very fit women. Anyway, I had Maegan in a stroller and off we went. A really great friend walked with me and encouraged me the entire way. Not by telling me I could do it, but by keeping me distracted the entire time. Alas, I did not make it to the top. No, but I got darn close and will be trying again on Tuesday. I have convinced the family to try part of the climb with me and they are very excited about going. I am hoping to try tomorrow, but we shall see.
So today, I am sore all over. The surgery while great, has robbed me of a lot of muscle. I don't have nearly as much as I used to. I am hoping to remedy that soon as well, by lifting at the gym twice a week. At any rate, I am pumped up, although sore as can be.

I want to leave you with this. When you stand at the bottom of your mountain, hillock or mole hill, keep telling yourself you can do it, and when your mind and body give out, go for 20 more seconds. It makes all the difference. I send you all my love