So it has been, like, awhile.

I should know better. I start this thing, I know I am supposed to write (you know, Journaling?), but I have not kept up with it. So I am going to give it my all and try to do better. With 4 kids and an ADD Hubby, I can do it, right?

So catch up time....
We are now in Land O Lakes, Florida. No there is no butter here. People in the area actually call it LOL. I am not making that up.
David is stationed at Macdill AFB to finish his project that he has been working on for about 3 years. Because of this project, he will not get promoted. It stinks, but he is fine with it. He has less then 3 years until retirement. Can you believe that he already has 23 1/2 years in the Army?!? It sounds so crazy.

We did add to our Family. Jonah Triton was born on September 30, 2009. He is such a joy to the family. Natalie will be 14 next week and driving me crazy. Chloe is 10 and wants to save the world. Jonathon will be 9 in September and wishes that he could play video games forever.

Florida is really hot. It is just after 10 in the morning and it is 87 outside. The real feel is 98. And it just gets hotter from there. We have had many 100 days and the real feel was well over that. The nice thing is that we live around the most beautiful beaches. We have to stay for 2-3 hours max at a time because of Jonathon and Chloe being true redheads and burn to a crisp. I lather them constantly and still they will burn. Natalie tans. David and I burn. Jonah so far has gotten a little red on one arm. I have a feeling he will take after Natalie.

I have decided to take on the task of homeschooling the kids this year. Florida is really big on their state testing. Jonathon and Chloe basically learned how to take test last year. So we will be playing catchup this year. Plus, since we are 30 minutes away from our church, Natalie will be able to go to seminary now. I was really worried about that.

Okay... I am going to close for now... I promise to get back on here again soon. A daily blog is what I am aiming for. We will see how that goes.

So it has been, like, awhile.

I should know better. I start this thing, I know I am supposed to write (you know, Journaling?), but I have not kept up with it. So I am going to give it my all and try to do better. With 4 kids and an ADD Hubby, I can do it, right?

So catch up time....
We are now in Land O Lakes, Florida. No there is no butter here. People in the area actually call it LOL. I am not making that up.
David is stationed at Macdill AFB to finish his project that he has been working on for about 3 years. Because of this project, he will not get promoted. It stinks, but he is fine with it. He has less then 3 years until retirement. Can you believe that he already has 23 1/2 years in the Army?!? It sounds so crazy.

We did add to our Family. Jonah Triton was born on September 30, 2009. He is such a joy to the family. Natalie will be 14 next week and driving me crazy. Chloe is 10 and wants to save the world. Jonathon will be 9 in September and wishes that he could play video games forever.

Florida is really hot. It is just after 10 in the morning and it is 87 outside. The real feel is 98. And it just gets hotter from there. We have had many 100 days and the real feel was well over that. The nice thing is that we live around the most beautiful beaches. We have to stay for 2-3 hours max at a time because of Jonathon and Chloe being true redheads and burn to a crisp. I lather them constantly and still they will burn. Natalie tans. David and I burn. Jonah so far has gotten a little red on one arm. I have a feeling he will take after Natalie.

I have decided to take on the task of homeschooling the kids this year. Florida is really big on their state testing. Jonathon and Chloe basically learned how to take test last year. So we will be playing catchup this year. Plus, since we are 30 minutes away from our church, Natalie will be able to go to seminary now. I was really worried about that.

Okay... I am going to close for now... I promise to get back on here again soon. A daily blog is what I am aiming for. We will see how that goes.

I got this from my favorite VT Nicole. SO please post and do the same. Love you all!!




1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before?
Visited with all parents during Thanksgiving and Christmas. I need a vacation from traveling!

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I did not make any last year, but this year I am.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Amy..and that baby is way cute!!

4. Did anyone close to you die?
no, thankfully.

5. What countries did you visit?
Just this one.

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
I would like to be more healthy.

7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Too many sad ones

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Getting through this year as a "single" parent. We had visitations on the weekend.

9. What was your biggest failure?
none, really

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
nope.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
I did not buy it, David gave me an iTouch for my birthday. I LOVE IT!!

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
David, for his project being chosen on a national level. Now if we could only get orders.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
the judicial system, ATF, and the NRA

14. Where did most of your money go?
Texas and West Virginia.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
When David got the news that his project got approved.

16. What song will always remind you of 2008?
hmmmm

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? happy to finally get out of Bragg, but sadder because I will be leaving friends.
b) thinner or fatter? I would say fatter, but I am still the same size.
c) richer or poorer? the same, I think. But tithing has been paid.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of? spent more time with the kids.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
being down

20. How did you spend Christmas?
My sister and her family had flown in to WV for Christmas, so it was awesome.

21. Did you fall in love in 2008?
All the time with David

22. What was your favorite TV program?
Snapped...come on, it is like the lifetime movies!

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
nope

24. What was the best book you read?
I read so much this year. So it would be hard for me to pick just one.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
That I have such a broad range of music taste. I am now getting into Indian music, and I love it.

26. What did you want and get?
david not being deployed. But he is gone almost every week.

27. What did you want and not get?
I wanted to be more active.

28. What was your favorite film of this year?
PS I Love You

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
David brought home take out, and the kids made me a cake. I turned 33

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Orders

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
the same as usual.

32. What kept you sane?
David, I went through alot this year.

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
none

34. What political issue stirred you the most?
Prop 8. But not in the way it bothered others I know.

35. Who did you miss?
I miss my friend Rachel who moved away. :( (I miss her too)

36. Who was the best new person you met?


37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
save for a rainy day

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
sorry for this, but it came to my head. "It's a bitch of living" from Spring Awakening, the Broadway musical.

Okay - your turn! How was your year?

I am trying not to be a Scrooge.

Well Christmas time is here. But according to all the stores around us, it has been here since August. I am to the point of hating Christmas, not the true meaning, but the meaning that society has given it. I make a point now to do most of my Christmas shopping online, and yes, I typically wait until December. I really do not care for risking my life on Black Friday to get the best deals. The biggest gift we did purchase, I did in October, only because of this "move" that still has yet to happen.
But to me, the true meaning of Christmas gets more lost every year. This is so depressing for me. The true meaning of Christmas is to celebrate Jesus Christ's birth. We are to share this with our families. We are to come together as families to celebrate this. This is when people are to be the nicest and giving (why can't that be year round?!) Anyways, let me share a story that happened to me. On November 29, this year..a couple of weeks ago, the kids and I had driven back into Fayetteville after our long journey from Texas. We had to seperate from David in Fort Jackson, SC, so I was all ready down from that. I knew we had no milk or eggs in the house, so we stop at the IGA that was on the way home. It was around 9:30 pm. They closed at 10 pm, so we rushed in. Sadie, our cat who loves to travel was in the van sleeping. I of course locked the doors, and we were on our way. As we checked out, I realized that I locked the keys in the van (again!!!) We all go back to the van with our groceries, and try to see if we could get in. The kids and I did not have our coats on, and I am sure it was around 40 degrees at the time. So the kids and I go back inside. I was trying to figure out what to do. I knew a locksmith would cost a fortune, and I knew that I have unlocked my van before with a wire hanger. It was around 10 at this time. I asked one of the employees if there was a wire hanger I could use. He went to get me one, and we both went outside to try to unlock my car. Of course, it did not work. He called his security team for IGA, and they could not help. I let him know that my cat was in there. He remembered that the Fire Department would open cars up in the summer if an animal was inside. He called them for me. While we were waiting for them (only took them 10 minutes to get there) he stayed with us. This is someone who was off, and had his own family, but he stayed to make sure that we were able to get in our van. He stayed with my kids while I was signing papers for the Fire Department, and as soon as my van was open, he brought my kids and our groceries to the van. I told him that I wish I had something to give him, but he said that there was no need to. The kids and I were soon on our way.
This man, who did not know us, truely showed me what it was to have the Christmas spirit. Here in Fayetteville, I don't see that alot. But he took time to make sure my family was okay. That has made my season, just that simple act of charity.

As for other things... We will be heading up to West Virginia for Christmas. It will be full of family, but all of us are poor. I really hoping for a Charlie Brown Christmas. I am excited to see my parents, who have suffered so much this year. I hope that in some way, we can make their season brighter.

So all and all, I will try not to be a Scrooge this year.