It’s all downhill from here….

Yeah, so I had a birthday last week.  It is official.  I am middle aged.  Unless of course, I live to be 100. 

A special shout out to Airman Wood who, lucky for him, was standing on the other side of the room when he guessed that I was turning 45.  Hope you don’t need anything from me for your out-processing.  Because NEWS FLASH!  I can’t sign your papers with my arthritic 45 year old hands.  BLEH!

And a special thank you to Carol Wright Gifts… I was overjoyed to receive 2 of your magnificent magazines in my mailbox this week.  It is a retail conspiracy…or I just have really funny friends.

A few excerpts from Carol Wrights Gifts…I am 35, but does this really scream 35 to you??? I am pretty sure Billy would think he had a Granny stalker if I showed up to the bedside with one of these gems on…..

 

Or how about these??

SOOO Comfy.  

It’s just what I was looking for to help me get ready for my marathon….

And the reviews for these lights were pretty unbelievable…”Pleasant compliments from the neighbors”  Where do you live, guy?  Prison?  Because I am pretty sure these atrocious lights can not possibly improve any other type living situation on the planet.

I admit, I did get some Ponds (wrinkle cream)…and I have noticed, especially in my hands, that my skin is spotty and saggy…but all the lines in my face are from all the smiles and laughter in my life. 

And I am completely okay with that

Test

 

This is a silly test of Windows 7 live writer

 

 

Honda Accord Idol

So we have the Pilot, still...albeit, with almost 90,000 miles on it. EEEKS right? So when the Exploder really did explode, we got the Accord to match. I will admit I did settle on the Accord. It wasn't exactly what I wanted, but the deal was too good to pass up. So what I settled for was a car without a DVD player...which means Avery has to listen to music on the way to and from school when I drive the Accord. Which is pretty much all the time since we are trying to get the mileage for the Pilot under control.

She is blessed to get her music appreciation from her Dad. She hears the first few notes of the songs on her Disney Princess CD and knows which princess movie each song comes from. For a 2 year old, I really think it is spectacular.

So today, she requested her Ariel song. And don't we all know the words? Of course. HEEELLLLOOO...It's Ariel.

Me: "Look at this stuff. Isn't it neat? Wouldn't you think my..."

Avery: "MOM! You're KILLING me!"


Did I mention she's only 2?

Life according to Avery

Billy: What do you want for breakfast, Avery?

Avery: Oak Milk

Me: HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Who else is excited about the Olympics? I haven't missed much this year so far. I fell asleep last night during the pair short program...thank you to the person that invented DVR...I got all caught up over breakfast!

Billy and I did some yard work this morning...he is still out there working. Spring is coming so we needed to get the overgrowth trimmed back. So much rain this season...it's going to get really green here over the next month or so. Then *sigh* the nice weather will turn into 100+ days of dry, hot hell and everything will turn brown. Have I mentioned lately how much I love this place? I am really working on it. I got this great book about all the fun stuff to do in California. Now we just have to win the lottery so we can afford to do it.

I got my hair done. So far I am loving it. It is pretty dark...I wanted to go back to my natural color...and it has been light or some variation of light for so long that it was pretty shocking.

But here I am....In all my natural glory.

Smartest 2 year old ever...

So here she is...helping Billy with his Algebra homework.

Look out Harvard!

Don't Drink the Water

Avery: [pointing to her fingers] Look Mom! I'm pickling!

Me: Don't you mean wrinkling?

First Snow

Went to Tahoe this weekend. What a blast...Avery got to get out in the snow for the first time...we got to stay in an amazing house...went sledding...I got to drive with chains on...And we all survived.

We hope this is the first of many more trips up the mountain....

Randomness

So as many have guessed, I have not been faithful to my blogger account.

Facebook is so much easier. I can't believe I waited so long to go to facebook.

Anyway, Avery's terrible twos are definitely upon us. I spoke with her teacher this morning re: an incident over the weekend at Big 5 Sports that went something like this:

Me: "Where's Avery?"

Billy: "I thought she was with you!"

Me: [expletive]* "AVERY! AVERY!"

I am frantic now, running through the store when I hear:

Avery: [laughing] "Momma...Momma...Find me"

Me: "Avery...Please don't run off from Momma and Daddy. Something could happen to you. You could get lost and that would make me very sad."

Avery: "STOP HITTING ME!!!"

What the???

According to her teachers, it is great that she is using her words.

NOT.

Another recent favorite:

Avery:[whining] "LEAVE. ME. AH-LONE!" This is my favorite at 630am when we are late and she doesn't want to get out of bed.

So much angst. So moody. And she's barely 2.

Give me strength.

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.