Brandon Graduates from War College....Kids End School Year

The beginning of summer was marked with many graduations. Brandon received his masters in War from the Air Command and Staff College and the kids graduated from the 3rd and 5th grades.

I just want to say that being a spouse while Brandon went to school was really a great experience. I was able to see/experience how joint military from all over the world work together, learn from each other, and share the dream of a world coming together as one. There are people I will never forget, food I never want to try again, and a unique experience living in the deep south that has increased my love for this country.

Alabama was a true test and challenge to me to see if this western girl could let loose and relax for a year. It was very hard, but I made it! I lived in a great community full of wonderful members of the LDS faith that really took my family in and made us feel welcome. It was hard to say good-bye but knowing I was headed to San Diego didn't make it that hard :). As for the kids... they had a hard time in Alabama. They missed there life in Virginia so much that Alabama really had no chance to win their little hearts over. They seem optimistic about San Diego and are excited to live in one place for three years. It's a hard knock life, I tell them it makes them strong.

Here is Brandon with his good friends. One from the U.S. Army and one from Pakistan.

Kids School



Isabel and her 3rd grade teacher Mrs. Burke



Computer is being slow more pics to come.

Pregnancy Woes Post #1

WARNING! PREGNANTCY HORMONES IN FULL FORCE!

I am having a rough time lately. This body of mine is too old to deal with carrying a child. I am so tired all the time! Is it possible to feel hung over all day with out a lick of alcohol? I have no energy and want to be in PJ's all day. I feel so bad because Talen just sits by my playing video games or watching TV. I have enjoyed Alabama but I really miss my friends in Virginia. I know they would be calling me to hang out or go to the Lion park. I took Talen out of school here because I didn't really need him to go (nor did I like it). He wasn't enjoying it either so he's been my sidekick for the past 4 months. I am now regretting that decision. I think he needs to get out and play, too bad our neighbors don't have any kids his age. All I've been able to do is go on the trampoline and lay there like a dead person. Other than feeling hung over all day I am ok. I don't have morning sickness. I usually always suffer what's known as PPZS (psycho pregnant zombie syndrome.) My back is killing me still and I am having trouble cooking for my family since nothing sounds good right now. Saturday I went on a 3 mile run. The rest of the day I felt like I was hit by a truck. Later that night I was watching TV dazzed, possibley even sleeping with eyes open, and I'm not going to lie, there might have been drool involved. I mean seriously? Can I not even go for a run anymore! URG!

We found out today that a house we applied for went to another family. I am not too bummed about it since there are alot of options in So Cal for us. I am really stressed about moving ourselves with a boat and a dog this time. So much more baggage! (I am not liking my dog much right now since she puked in the house twice this morning, which almost made me puke. I had to wait for Brandon to come home for lunch so he could clean it up.) Can you tell I'm also totally emotional? I took Isabel to see Disney's Prom on Saturday and cried through the whole thing! I'm such a baby right now! I want to punch myself and say 'suck it up lady!' OK- enough of my complaining. I'll suck it up, I must. A minute ago Talen just asked if we could go on a walk to a poor excuse of a park near bye. Wish me happy thoughts!! I sure as hell need them. Yes, I've even started to use profane language.

I blame it on vanity!

Most of my people already know via Facebook that this month I had quite a surprise. I found out I am pregnant for the FOURTH time. I have very mixed feelings about this. I really had it in my head that I was done. I have been trying to talk someone (we won't say names) into getting the "snip" for years. I have also been super busy working on a nursing degree. This fall my youngest child is headed kindergarten (thank you Jesus!) and I was going to enroll again full time in school. A good plan right?

 I blame it on vanity.  I had gone to the doctor last month due to some unwelcome skin problems and we talked about how birth control pills help with acne. I had never taken a birth control pill in my life and thought I would give it a try. I was happy with the results after just three weeks using the meds when for some stupid reason I thought after your pill pack was finished you take a week long break before you start the next pill pack. I gave it no thought whatsoever and just went on with my week - no birth control (dah!)

I remember the very night it happened . After the "rendezvous" Brandon asked me if my birth control was good to go. AFTERWARDS he asks! I thought about it for maybe ten minutes and then sat upright in bed, took a deep breath and held it in knowing at that moment something wasn't right. And then I figured it out. I am super fertile at all times, all it has ever taken me was once. And then I knew at that moment I was soon to be pregnant.

Looking back we conceived on the right night, at the right time I was ovulating, and ! was anything but ready for implantation. (TMI? Sorry.)  Over the course of the next week I felt my body changing. YES! I actually felt the egg implant in the uterus on the sixth day of fertilization. (They say it happens from 6-14 days after conception.) I had cramping and felt a little tired. I waited a very long 14 days and took the test at the doctors office before my appointment for a very painful and frustrating sinus infection. I knew if I was pregnant my options for antibiotics was slim. I had already gone off all my allergy meds ( I took 3 of them!)  14 days earlier - so I was hurting. The doctor checked all my sinuses and did a whole check up to inform me that it was in fact a sinus infection. He then went to his computer and started typing away looking for my lab results. He grabbed the screen and lifted it off the table in my direction to show the me bright red letters that said the test was positive. I then cried. He hugged me and said I really can't give you any meds right now. I cried more. I had not been sleeping for a few nights at that point. I was an emotional mess. My baby is due Christmas day. I am really hoping for a girl, boys are simply not being accepted at this time. I guess I was done with babies, they just weren't done with me.

The Caverns

Family fun at Desoto Caverns

 Childersburg, Alabama

Day at the Zoo

Out of all the zoo's I have been to around the country I have to say the Montgomery, Alabama zoo is my favorite. It has a playground, train, and the animals are pretty active. The layout and exhibits are really well thought out and easily accessible. It is a very peaceful place to go. I bought an annual pass so that Talen and I can go any time we want since it is so close to us. It is a vast improvement from the zoo in DC, my least favorite zoo. Talk about a hike to see nothing at all!

Talen's favorite exhibit is the Rhinos. He loves how strong they are and says they look like they have built in shields to protect them and they look just like dinosaurs. One day Talen and I brought a lunch with us. Talen said he wanted to eat lunch right on the bench in front of the Rhino. I thought it was weird to eat in front of a Rhino, something about it freaked me out, we were kind of close with only a few feet between us and the gigantic creature. I mean how strong could the enclosure really be? My pb and j was really good that day, and if Mr. Rhino got a whiff of it who knows what would happen, so we compromised. I said we could eat at the top of the highest lookout over the elephants and then try to see the Rhino from there. Talen took the bait. 

The weather was clear skies and 70.... perfect. We climbed up to the lookout (and were the only ones up there) and could see the baby elephant rolling in the mud, throwing all it over her little body. She is quite an active little thing. Last time we were there she went in the water swimming and splashing about squirting water all over. Talen feels a special connection to the baby since it is the same age as him. It was so fun to eat right at the window watching the mom and baby play together. I think that memory might be a favorite. After seeing all of Talen's favorite animals we went on the train. We rode past some beautiful horses that are being trained for kids to ride.

This was a baby monkey about 6 months old. We saw her a three months ago and she couldn't even walk. SO CUTE! She clung onto her mom as she swung through the enclosure. We even watched her breastfeeding! 

Talen is obsessed with Turtles so we had to stop every time we saw them. 

We had to take pictures of every turtle we saw.

I was trying out my new camera and had him strike a few poses.

Pinewood Derby 2011

Spencer's last year in Cub Scouts has been tough. Moving away from his cub pack in Virginia was something he was very sad about. He loved his leader and scout master and new them well. It has taken some adjusting for him in Alabama to feel a part of the pack. One thing that always cheers him up is getting ready for the Pinewood Derby.

Like in previous years Brandon let Spencer draw up his own design and make it the way he wants. This being his last year, he really put effort into it.  I was amazed at the creative process Spencer went through to come out with his final product. He drew up a sketch of what he wanted his car to look like and then went to his dad for suggestions. Spencer took some of the feedback to tweak a few things here and there.

 After school I would catch Spencer in the garage with his sketch pad drawing and then looking at the block of wood and then drawing again.  I was fascinated with his determination to form this block of wood into a race-able little mini car. After the design was final I took him to the craft store so he could pick out his chosen colors and particular brushes that would make the smallest of details noticeable.  He then had Brandon cut out the car and began the rigorous process of sanding the perfect points and rounded curves all the while wearing home depot eye goggles. Priceless right? When it came time to put the weights on he took his time gluing each one. We didn't have a scale so he was very careful not to put too much or too little.

It took Spencer three weeks to prepare for the race. He was a bit nervous because instead of competing with his troop of 15 cubs he would be racing the whole Montgomery Alabama Stake of cubs. It turned out that he had nothing to worry about. He won third place (one of his weights fell off without him knowing in the last round or he believes he would have ranked better).

Here are the pics...

By the way I was in charge of getting the trophies for the boys that day and ordered them by phone through a local company. Well, I didn't notice until race day morning that they spelled stake like "STEAK"! I thought it was hilarious. We didn't have time to make any changes. I found comfort in my favorite, most used saying... it is what it is.

WAX Muesum 2011

This year in one of Isabel's classes they are learning about the Oregon Trail. Along that "journey" she is also exploring the great American inventors who made the biggest difference in our country during that time. Each child in her class was to make a model and poster of their chosen invention and create a WAX museum similar to the famous Madame Tussuad's museums around the globe. They had to dress like, talk like, and act like the inventor BUT only when they heard a certain cue from the teacher was the WAX museum to come to life. As soon as the next cue came from the the teacher they were to freeze until the next group of kids came through. It was so fun!




One of my all time favorite inventions!!





I thought the whole idea was priceless. I was so impressed by the amount of information and creativity these cute little kids had! I wanted to post some of the amazing creations, including Isabel's. She chose the Wright Brothers, inventors of many things but most famous for the airplane. I am pretty sure Isabel was suppose to make the model on her own from scratch, but if any of you know our family we are all about what can be done efficiently, effectively, and with minimal amount of work as possible.... so- YES! Our plane was not hand made! Non the less Isabel's plane was fabulous (thanks to the local Hobby Lobby store.) She did great impersonating Orville Wright (she had to choose to be just one of the brothers).