Save the Chicken!

Avery: MOMMY, MOMMY, my chicken! HELP
Me: Your chicken? Don't you mean kitchen?

Fodder

So it's obvious I haven't updated the blog since October...Sorry. I'll give you the 30 second version of the past 6 weeks:

Went Trick or Treating...Avery was a Cheerleader. University of Texas, of Course!




Went to a fabulous wedding...Congrats Brandon and Sarah!



Celebrated Avery's second birthday...I can't believe it either!

Had a GINORMOUS inspection at work--Wing got an Outstanding.

Went to Orlando for a Week. Visited with Jason and Paige, Brooke and Peighton. Also went to Disney World, Sea World and Universal Studios.






Had Thanksgiving with the Lewandowski's...Best.Fried.Turkey.Ever!

Went to our first Christmas Party of the season last weekend. Party number 2 next weekend...party number 3 on the 16th.

So we have been busy. Just a little bit.

What a good life.

Late for Prom

Dear Ford Motor Company,

I recieved your notification in the mail today telling me there has been a recall on my 1998 Ford Explorer for "a component in the speed control system that could malfunction at any time, even if the speed control system is in the off position."

VERBATIM:

" A fire could occur at anytime, even if the key is not in the ignition. Until your vehicle is repaired, please park your vehicle away from structures to prevent a potential underhood fire from spreading."

Are you kidding me?

No Place Like Home

Scott Kyriss, Me, Alyson Ramirez, Jungu Shin

I imagine that hell is a lot like the NCO (Non-Commissioned Officer) Academy. There is a nightmare I am sure to have one day, of me getting a sentenced to hell, and I show up at the NCO Academy. It makes me queasy thinking about it.

The people were great. I met lots of people that made the 6 weeks bearable. I tried to remind myself everyday that it was just 6 weeks...It could be worse, I could be in Afghanistan or Iraq...for 4 months, or 6 months or a year....

By the end of the 6 weeks, my brain was bleeding. The curriculum was difficult to say the least. I had @195 people in my class, which is broken down into 13 flights of 15 people (give or take.) Everyone in my flight of 16 graduated, however, as a class, we only graduated 183. The curriculum is that tough.

My flight nominated me for the Commandant's Award, because they thought I was a good leader. Like the blind leading the blind! I wasn't leading anyone anywhere, except maybe to the bathroom.

I did recieve an award. I was a Distinguished Graduate. The top 10% (17) receive the award. Small price to pay...I am pretty sure I left half my brain in Texas. Who needs to find their way to the bathroom when they're 70?! At least i got that DG award back in '09 from NCOA.

I couldn't believe how much Avery had changed in the 6 weeks I was gone. She was a little skittish at first when she saw me. I was making myself believe it's becasue her brain isn't fully developed...but when she ran down the jet-bridge to her Daddy, that pretty much squashed that.

She has grown so much and changed so much, she was almost unrecognizable. I am so glad we are home. She does something new and funny everyday. Her favorite thing is to yell at me that she loves me. She thinks it's going to save her from taking a nap or going to bed. And she asks for knuckles, just like Kadin. Shes' pretty much potty trained. She won't tell me she has to go, but when I ask her, she says yes and holds it until we make a bathroom trip. Her pull ups are dry except after naps and in the morning.



look at all that hair!

We are in the new house and relaxing today. I am exhausted. Like I was on an airplane for 12 hours and changed 15 time zones. Billy is outside mowing the grass, Avery is taking a nap. Life can not possibly be much better. There really is no place like home...even though this is not where we lived when I left, my family and life fills up this house. My heart is full.

Potty Princess

And I aint talking about Avery.

So I am in TX. I have to go to school for the next 40 odd days or so.

And I am in a one-plus-one room. For all you who are not fluent in Air Force speak, that means I gotta share my potty with my neighbor.

And I HATE it. Seriously.

Is there a such thing as bathroom-fright?

And the search continues....

WHY do people put carpet in bathrooms?

It is disturbing.

More proof that Californians are weirdos

Air Force Snapshot

For the most part, I LOVE being in the Air Force. I could go on and on about Service to Country and the warm fuzzy's but it's really not necessary, right? Everyone gets the general idea....

On most days, I am so pro Air Force that it can get annoying. Ask my Airmen.

Today was not one of those days.

I have been in for almost 14 years. I am pretty sure I know how the system works. I know what my options are. I know what I want to do for the last 6 yers of MY career. READ: MY

I had someone tell me today what my goals should be.

REALLY?

SERIOUSLY??

I am pretty sure he is allergic to common sense and rational thought. I was okay with a "business decision" to deny my request to leave due to manning issues. But to tell me that I have already done enough of a job that I ABSOLUTELY LOVE is nothing short of taking a stethescope from a doctor.

SERIOUSLY??

I am not sure what happens from here. But I can tell you for certain that this is the first time in 14 years that I have felt this way.

Seriously.

Training Update

He's been working so hard and we are so proud of him! He is up to 13 miles now...He's battling injury but sticking with it. Unfortunately I will be in TX for school and won't be able to be there for him when he crosses the finish line on October 4th.

Here he is with Avery after his run 2 weeks ago. He ran 12 miles...in 1:47:00. Billy still needs $340.00 to even participate in the marathon. If you want to donate, please cut and paste the following link: http://pages.teamintraining.org/sac/cow09/wgazzaway. I know many of you have already donated, and Billy is VERY grateful and thanks all of you for supporting him.

We waited for him in the driveway with water. Avery chased him down the street, then helped him stretch...

The more things change....

The more they stay the same......

Sunday in the Park

Little Miss and her Daddy went to the park a few weeks back.

Here's my loot.


I swear I just gave birth last week...and now she's this little, independent, sassy pants.

I love it!

Deal of the Century

In all it's fabulous glory.



We finally agreed on this 08 Accord LX-P. It was a steal. Heelllo gorgeous!

REALLY?

This is the part of my blog that I call "REALLY?"

"SERIOUSLY!"


"REALLY?"


"COME ON!"


"NO WAY!"


"UNBELIEVABLE!!!"


No one was hurt...except the Lexus parked next to the "Exploder". It got a little melted from the heat.

Why it spontaneously combusted is a mystery...

Looks like we're gettin' a new car.

Big Trees and Stuff

We went to San Francisco for the 4th of July.

Again.

We went last year for Sarah's Birthday. Then Nancy was in town this year. It was a blast, though an entirely different experience since we were in the city for 4 full days this year.

Billy and Avery came up for the day on Saturday. Billy went to the ballpark to helplessly watch the Astros get spanked by the Giants...it was pretty bad. The Astros didn't even score. While Billy was at the game, I went to the Airport to pick up Nancy and we went to the Farmers Market on the Embarcadero and then to Fisherman's Wharf. After visitng for a few hours and a quick nap, Billy and Avery headed home to Marysville late Saturday and Nancy and I ran the city streets for 4 full days.



Bye Bye Nancy

We went to Muir Woods and Sausalito, Golden Gate Park and Crissy Field, Ghiradelli Square, Chinatown, and Little Italy. We visited Haight and Ashburry...and drove on Lombard Street. We drove south outside the city along the Pacific Coast Highway...There isn't much that we didn't visit or do. Nancy said no museums, so we steered clear. Mostly, we just wanted to explore without having to stick to a schedule....



A stop along Pacific Coast Highway...



Freezing at the Bridge

All in all it was a fun 4 days. We slept until 1000, ate breakfast at 1100, lunch at 4pm and dinner at 9 or 10pm. We stayed up late, We talked a lot and drank alot at dinner. We wandered around and took tons of ridiculous pictures. I am so glad she came up for a visit. It has been since Kadin's funeral that we had seen eachother...and I think 2004 since she last visited us in Florida.




Buena Serra!



Billy was an awesome husband and took care of the princess in grand style while I was gone. When I saw her today, she seemed so much older and bigger. I just saw her on Saturday. How could she have grown so much in 4 days?

I just got a text from Nancy. She made it home to Dallas. Guess I should get ready for bed...I have to get back to being responsible and grown-up and go to work tomorrow....ewwww.

End of an Era

We went to the allergist this week.

We have both good news and bad news....

Avery is no longer allergic to wheat or eggs. YAY! She has pigged out on spagetti and ramen noodles already!! But, she is still allergic to milk and peanuts.

AND THE CAT...

So I reluctantly dropped Bevo off at an animal rescue this afternoon. I tried to find a home for him for a few days, but no luck, so I called Pet Smart and they told me who to call. He will NEVER be euthanized. They promised to find a good home for him. And I can call and get updates and they will let me know when he is placed with a family. And I paid them to get him his shots and to get neutered, since we hadn't gotten that far with him, yet.





Bye Bye Bevo.
Silly cat.
I will miss you.

TMI

Someone used the potty today.....


Seriously.
She's a Genius.

What to do?

So, Billy is in Texas right now. He's in a class in Austin. I want to blieve he is crying himself to sleep every night in agony over how much he misses us, but let's be real...we are talking about Billy, and we are talking about Texas.

So in the meantime, Avery and I have been trying to keep ourselves busy. I called all my girlfriends so we could all get together and take our kids to the Aquatic Park, but I forgot it was Father's Day and that they would probably want to spend time with their husbands and children. OOps. So me and Avery decided to go anyway.



I was surprised. It was kind of nice. I have to be careful here. I don't want to give off the impression that I may have found soemthing here that I like....





Avery had a blast. It was tough keeping up with her. She has no fear. At some point, she decided that lifeguarding was her second calling and started to copy everything they were doing, including blowing her imaginary whistle and telling people to walk. Ms. Bossy. I can't wait 'til she's a teenager.



About 2 hours after we got there, I realized she had lost one of her earplugs, so I had to find a way for us to leave, but make it her idea. So I started to ask her about our cat and maybe he was hungry and lonely. She hasn't yet learned to see through my manipulation, and so we were able to leave with our dignity and no disruption of the entire water park. WHEW!

Happy Father's Day, Billy...

To the best Daddy and Husband ever!!
We love you and miss you....

Too Close to Call...

We'll let you decide....

Mystery Solved

So, I went to Panama City for 5 days. It was weird. The trip was planned forever ago when Billy asked me what I wanted for Christmas. I told him I wanted to go "home"....and everyone that knows us, knows that home is where Kadin is.

I visited with lots of friends. I never realized how many friends I really had until I actually tried to fit seeing all of them into 5 days.

The vacation was nice. Getting away from work was pure joy. I visited with some friends from my old job, and was asked about my job out here. I gave the "good NCO response" and talked about the "challenges of the program" and the "sense of satisfaction" I have at the end of each day. I also learned a new word:

HORNSWOGGLE.

And in my best Forrest Gump voice "Sometimes, there just aren't enough rocks. That's all I have to say about that."

And so I went to all the places I love and did all the things there that I can not do here...including Hunt's Oyster Bar. I have always believed that every person has their own idea of heaven. If I get to pick, I hope that my heaven has a Target with GREAT CLEARANCE, and a Hunt's Oyster Bar...and of course, Kadin!









So here's to going home and seeing my girls...hanging out by the pool and being completely irresponsible for 5 full days. And to my amazing husband who stayed in California and took care of Avery and listened to me talk on the phone about all of our favorite hang-outs and all of our friends, and the beach, and the great weather.









I don't think that life gets any better....