Long Overdue

It seems like most of my posts lately are titled like this one. Sorry I've been so lax at updating!

Let's see, what has happened lately? There have been some fun things and lots of routine things. Of course, I spend a lot of time chauffeuring our young 'uns to school and back. Grace and Davis are still loving school. Jasen is busy at work, with a job change within The Citadel ROTC department looming. He finished his first graduate class and really enjoyed it.

Last week, Grace came home from school sick. For a day or so, I was concerned she had one of the dreaded versions of flu. She had a high fever, sore throat, and vomited, too. Yuck. So I got her into the doctor. Her tonsils were so swollen by then, I wondered if it wasn't strep throat. Surprise, surprise, it was! We got her some antibiotics and, within a day or two, she was feeling much, much better.

Which was good because we had a weekend visitor. My aunt, Pattie, came from TX to visit. We had such a good time! Pattie is so much fun to spend time with. We took her to Charles Towne Landing, Angel Oak, and Magnolia Plantation. At Magnolia, we took the "Nature Boat Tour" and got an idea of just how many alligators live in the marsh less than five miles from our house. It was a little alarming, really! Jasen and I had a lot of long chats with Pattie and loved every minute of them. We are so glad she came to see us!

Aunt Pattie in front of the house at Magnolia Plantation.
The kids cheesing for the camera with Aunt Pattie at Angel Oak.

Can you see the huge alligator in the marsh grass??? Yes, this would be a huge one, about 10 feet long. I am not kidding.

As if there is such a thing...here is a "small" 4 foot alligator.

By the way, the day before we were on this boat tour of the marsh, a golfer near Hilton Head, lost half of his arm when he bent down to pick up his golf ball from a pond on the golf course and a 'gator attacked him. I was a nervous wreck on this tour, because neither of our kids were happy unless they were hanging onto the rail. I kept asking them if they WANTED to fall in!!

This past Wednesday was the Grandparent's Day celebration at Davis' school. As much as I love those things, I hate it when they come around. Usually, they are smack-dab in the middle of the week with little chance of my kid's grandparents being able to make it. I have to watch myself from sliding into self-pity. (Mama Marlene's warning to my friend, Renee, that self-pity is a sin is quite helpful!)

Anyway, since neither Grandmama nor Grandad would be able to make it (I didn't even ask), I invited Miss Kathy from St. Andrew's Family Fitness Plus to come as Davis' special guest. Miss Kathy is one of the childcare workers there and has kept the kids for us at home, too. She has no kids of her own, but is very close to her nephew here in Chuck-Town. When I asked her if she'd be interested in coming, she was delighted and even left work to come. I was proud to escort her around and glad Davis had someone to wave at in the crowd. I was asked to help usher Davis' class into the sanctuary and then got to crouch on the stage to help with any escapees, shirt-raisers, criers, etc. My knees are still cursing me.

Here is Davis performing "Dial 9-1-1" which his class did in their classroom.


Davis showing Miss Kathy around his classroom.


Kathy and I got so tickled at Davis when he picked up this mop. He went crazy pretending to mop the floor. We decided he was showing off for us because Mrs. Clendaniel (Davis' teacher) said he is never that hyper.

Yesterday (Friday), I accompanied Grace's class on a field trip to downtown Charleston. I forgot just how fun those bus rides with 40+ kids and chaperones can be. I told Grace I might have to start feigning motion sickness (hey, I've had it in the past!) to get out of having to ride the bus!

Once we got downtown, we had a great time. Our tour guide was awesome and I even learned a few new things about Charleston. The weather was overcast and a little cooler than it had been recently, which was nice. It drizzled on us a little, but waited to start pouring rain until the tour was over. YEA! We got on the crowded, stuffy bus and headed back to Drayton Hall, where we ate our lunch in the classroom, then I brought Grace home with me.

We picked Davis up at his friend, Sophia's house. I had asked Sophia's mom, Allison, to keep him after school for a couple of hours, while I finished up the field trip with Grace. I am so grateful for her help! I was slightly concerned about Davis going to Sophia's house because he's never been really fond of Sophia. I am pretty sure I know why: Sophia is kind of like I was as a kid, she plays with the boys and can be a little rough. You would think Davis would be used to that because that's how Grace is, but I think Davis has trouble reconciling a girl his size being bossy and rough! When I told Sophia that Davis was coming to her house to eat and play, she said "Davis doesn't really like to play with me." Uh-oh!

However, when I went to pick up our boy, Allison said they had a great time. Davis even admitted it! woo-hoo!

Here is a picture of our little Bam-Bam. Davis can't ever remember that, so he calls himself Boom-Boom or Bom-Bom. Too funny!

After that, the kids and I went downtown to the big library, then headed home with an armful of books and DVDs. Jasen is at Fort Jackson this weekend with cadets, so it's just me and the kids this weekend. We watched "Homeward Bound" last night and will try to go see "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs" today. That's IF the kids can drag me away from the t.u./OU game! :)

Mommy Weekend

I guess, technically, it wasn't a "real" Mommy weekend. I mean, it was a weekend away from being a mommy, which was great for me!

It was actually a birthday weekend. A few months ago, Amy told me that, to celebrate our friend, Connie's 40th birthday, Connie's hubby, Shane, had invited Amy and me to surprise her when they went on vacation to Ft. Walton Beach, FL. Connie's family was also asked to come for the surprise. After asking just once and checking airfare, Jasen said yes. Have I mentioned how much I love him? But I digress.... Here is a picture of Connie opening the door to a surprise that was Amy and me! You know me, always with the camera ready!


As if anyone needs more background on my friends, I am going to give it to you! First off, my first best friend. Now, I know we all think our relationships with our siblings are special, but I have to tell you, mine with my big sister really is special. All my life, I have heard the story about how Amy held me all the way home from the hospital in Lubbock to our home in Morton, right after I was born. That was and is only the tip of the iceberg. My sister has been so many things to me: adviser, protector, confidant, you name it. But the one thing she has ALWAYS been to me was a friend. I can't imagine how many times she wanted to tell me to "Scram, get lost" but she never did. Never. I can't remember one time she told me to leave. I do remember a couple of secrets that she let me in on. Do you want to make your seven years younger sibling feel special? Tell them a secret!

The background on Connie: if she wasn't Amy's first friend at A&M, then she was in the first 5 friends Amy made there. And definitely the most enduring friendships Amy has from there. They are best friends. I remember the first time I met Connie. She came to the 'ville with Amy from Aggieland for Valentine's Day. They picked me up from my basketball practice at the Rec Hall. When I saw them in the entry, I went running off the court to greet my big sister. I do remember Amy being slightly embarrased (this was the first time Connie had met us, of course) as I mobbed her. I also seem to remember Amy and Connie making cookies that weekend.

That was the first time I met Connie and she's been in my life since that time. In the beginning, it was sporadic. We saw each other at Amy's wedding, perhaps a baby shower, etc. Connie fast became a Thomas family favorite. My grandad always loved her and my dad does, too. In fact the whole Thomas family knows her! My kids call her Aunt Connie and I consider her a bonus sister. She sure has been good to me and mine.

When Jasen and I were at Ft. Sill, OK, we knew he would be leaving for Korea about six months after we got there. I spent a lot of that time worrying. Worrying about what this meant to our marriage, how I would survive, where I would live, etc. I knew two things: I wasn't going to Korea and I didn't want to go back to the 'ville! The Christmas after we were married, we went to Kingwood, to see Amy, Jeff, Randall, and brand-new baby Reagan. Connie was there for the tail end of our visit. When we were in TX that Christmas/New Year's of 1998, Connie told me I should apply at State Farm. They had a newly created position at the Farm called a claims processor and Connie said I was qualified for it. I went to Dallas, interviewed and got the position. I owe my short time in insurance to Connie!

During the time I lived in Dallas, Connie and I were together quite a bit. It was like having an additional sister just two miles up the road. Because Shane hunts and fishes a lot, that meant Connie was free to do the things I was able to do because Jasen was in Korea. I really believe her presence kept me out of trouble and out of the loony bin. I had someone to hang with when times were tough (Jasen was gone that year, but also my uncle was terribly ill and passed away, my grandmother died, and my mom had a cancer recurrence) and Connie has always been up to that task. AND she introduced me to Brighton and Vera Bradley. Gotta love a friend who can cry with you and shop!

Since that time, I have been blessed to call Connie my friend. And blessed that I have sister who will share her best friend with me.

Me and a couple of the best friends God has blessed me with!

Here are Shane and Connie, before Connie opened up her presents!

Connie modeling her Pandora charm bracelet that so many of her family/friends made complete for her. She certainly is loved and for good reason!
Earlier in the day, we donned our "Team Connie" t-shirts. Those were the brain-child of Connie's sister, Lisa, who is in the front. I was glad to meet Lisa for the first time. She's a lot like Connie. Those are Connie's parents on the ends and they are such good paople. Oh, and the t-shirts had the number 40 on the back! Too funny! Aren't they obnoxious? I'll be wearing mine again and again!

Labor Day

This past Labor Day weekend, our friends, Chris, Ellin, and Natalie Heidgerken and Pete and Mary Charbonneau came to visit. Let me provide the background, again!

After Jasen and I got married, we moved to Fort Sill, OK. Once we got there, there were three groups of new lieutenants: ROTC alum, West Pointers, and OCS grads. Because Jasen had gone to OCS, we naturally fell into that group. Newly married and green to the Army, I had a lot to learn from those ladies, who had been Army wives and just plain wives for a little bit longer than me! Truly, Chris Heidgerken, Mary Charbonneau, Sarah Kyle, and Maeve Dougherty were the first Army wives I had ever known and taught me a lot in our six short months together. One of the things I learned is to have a tougher skin! Another thing I learned is that the older you get, the better it is to be the youngest in the group. :) The BEST thing I learned is that, despite the miles or the years, my first Army friends will always be around. NEVER in my life did I think I would be friends with a schoolteacher from Iowa, a naturalist/animal lover from Seattle, a book editor from Philly nor a Maeve from Ireland!

Once we all left Fort Sill, we were scattered to the four winds. Jasen went to Korea, as did Shawn Kyle and Bill Dougherty. Those three wives (me, included!) went to be nearer to family. Sean Heidgerken went to Ranger school, then he and Chris went to the end of the earth, Fort Wainwright, Alaska. Pete and Mary Charbonneau stayed at Fort Sill. I can't tell you how many letters/cards/notes I received from Chris in the time Jasen was gone. I know she was pregnant, without Sean and bored quite a bit of that time, but she wrote me at least twice a month, sometimes more. I can't tell you what those correspondences meant to me.

From that time, we've been blessed to cross paths, some more than others. Between the five of us Army OCS/OBC families, we've had ten kids (Anna and Liam were already here then), been through at least 8 deployments between the five families, and moved countless times. It truly is a miracle we've been able to keep up with each other! Thank you, God, for email!

On the Friday before Labor Day, the 'Gerk girls and the Charbs arrived. Sean, sadly, had already left for his third deployment. But we were glad to provide his girls some distractions! The two families rented a house on Kiawah Island and we spent most of our time with them that weekend. We went to the beach two times, the pool three times and ate all of our meals, minus breakfast, together. It was a fabulous reunion, only incomplete with Sean's and the Kyles/Doughertys absence. Once we were together, it was like no time had passed. There's just something about "old" friends, the ones who know your junk, know who you really are, and fall right into that friendship despite the time you have spent apart!

Here are Pete and Mary. Can you see the rainbow over Mary's shoulder? It was so pretty!


Ellin, Chris, and Natalie Heidgerken. Just missing their man/soldier/hubby/dad!Me and my buds!


The 'Gerk girls and Graham kids

Aren't they bathing beauties??
Poor Pete got suckered into helping the kids dig a canal to a "tidal pool." By the time we left, water was finally starting to seep in. Pete was Uncle Pete all weekend. It's part of the role you play as a man with kids whose Dad is deployed! And I am thankful for all the men who are willing to step up and take on that role, if only for a weekend!

Davis' First Day

So, our boy started 3 year old preschool yesterday. After the ruckus he's been throwing about going to school, you'd think he'd be all excited and bouncy, right? Well, that's not our boy's personality. He was Mr. Calm, Cool and Collected. I don't know where he gets that. Maybe from Jasen, because I don't think I was ever like that.

I tried not to be annoyed because he wasn't excited. We got to his class and his teacher, Mrs. Clendaniel, had set out Play-Do for everyone to play with. YEA, right? Not for Davis. He told me calmly he didn't want to play Play-Do. I informed him he had to do what Mrs. Clendaniel wanted him to do, so he flopped himself down in his chair (yes, I did say "flopped") and started to play. You can imagine my dismay to see that his idea of playing was the Play-Do was to put it back in the jar. UGH!! What is up with that? I decided I needed to leave then!

After school, he was glad to see me but more concerned because he hadn't gotten the blocks strung on the shoelace like he was working on. I helped him do a couple, he finished the rest, and we were off. He said he had a good time. Like all good mommies, I then treated him to a first-day meal at Mickey D's. He played for a bit, then we came home.

The Goings-On

Yesterday, Davis FINALLY got to go to his school for Meet The Teacher. I really like his teacher this year, Mrs. Clendaniel. Davis seemed excited too, if for nothing else, but to play on the playground! His friend, Ryan, will be in his class again this year, as will Sophia and Emma Ruth from last year. I am glad he'll know a couple of people in his class, as he doesn't get why he has a different teacher, classroom, and new kids in his class. He's not upset about all of that, just extra curious. I hope he won't ever be upset about that. It's the life he's going to lead!

Grace was named 2-4's Citizen of the Month for displaying the trait for September, wisdom. I asked her what she did to show wisdom and she couldn't remember. We've been very diligent about homework in these first three weeks. Practice spelling tests, math flash cards, you name it. When Grace brought home a low B on a grammar worksheet, we practiced that. Sadly, she has her mommy's desire to finish stuff like that QUICK. So I am trying to help her slow down. Oh, and yes, I know I make grammatical/spelling errors on here all the time. I really do proofread, I promise!

One area she is not fast is on her math flashcards. It's hard not to get frustrated because I'll show her 5 + 1 and she has to think about it. I've been assured by my older sister that they will become second nature with time and practice, but it's hard not to get worried! I believe Grace is smarter than the average kid (does everyone feel that way? Really?), but I have to remember that not everyone picks stuff up quick and I've been doing this simple addition stuff for, oh, 27 years. I need to give her a little time.

I've been fighting a combo sinus/chest congestion. I am currently not talking above a whisper and it's really annoying. Davis has said over and over, "Mom, you don't have to whisper." Poor guy doesn't get that Mommy's voice is pretty much gone!

I am really looking forward to this weekend. We are having a mini-OCS/OBC reunion at Kiawah Island! For those of you who don't know what that means, OCS is how Jasen got commissioned in the Army. That's why he was gone the summer before we got married. Then after we got married we went to Fort Sill for Jasen's Officer Basic Course (OBC), where we fell into the group of OCS'ers and their wives. They are literally the first Army friends I ever had.

Anyway, we had wanted ALL of us to get together, but alas, it's only the Grahams, Charbonneaus, and Heidgerkens, minus their soldier who is deployed. The Kyles and Doughertys couldn't make it. We'll miss them, but I am uber excited about the two families who ARE coming. It'll be a good time.

Person by Person

Here is a person by person update on the Graham family:

Grace -- loving 2nd grade, as we knew she would. She likes her teacher, Ms. Bullock, and is making new friends in her new class, as well as playing with "old" ones at recess. The homework seems harder this year, heavier at the very least. This week, I made a deal with her that IF she makes up her bed and delivers her dirty clothes to the hamper for 30 days straight, she can have a hamster. No, I do not want a hamster. Yes, I am praying for my child to fail. Is that so wrong?

Davis -- from the day Grace started school, Davis has been convinced that I am refusing to take him to school. This is heard at least once in our house everyday: "I'm never going to get to go to school." Next week, we have his Open House/Meet The Teacher. Won't he be surprised? He is currently running fever and not feeling well.

Jasen -- his Master's program began two weeks ago and he has been swamped since then. Cadets came back to school this week, which means he is teaching again, which means he is double-swamped! Good news: he's 5 lbs. from his goal weight after beginning his weight loss at Fort Lewis. He's down about 25 lbs. at this point.

Sara -- Despite eating the same way as Jasen and exercising at least as much, I have not lost any weight. Although I had been on synthroid to help my thyroid, recent blood tests show it messed me up more than I was before going on the medicine. I will have more tests next week and it looks like I have a thyroid issue that won't be as easy as just popping a pill. I am looking into more holistic medicines. UGH!

And Pictures, too!

Here are some pictures from our last day in S'ville, then some from our trip to Aggieland.


Davis is being all boy, putting his head under the water coming off of the gutter. He was dripping yet and loved it!

Picking blackberries with Grandad
Going down the rows to find more peas. FYI -- did you know here in the lowcountry they don't have what we would call black-eyed peas? They have pink-eyes and silver crowder peas, but no true black-eyes. The silver crowders are more like black-eyes, and the pink eyes to me are a cross between black-eyes and pintos. Kind of crazy! I asked a lady at our favorite farmer's market and she told me that all of those peas are considered crowders (even black-eyes), just different variations.
Let the pea pickin' begin!
Follow the man with the experience...

Gig 'Em Aggies! Whoop! Yes, we teach them young in the Thomas/Graham family!That's a different Kyle Field than the one I grew up with! We're standing on the drill field over on the north side of campus, near the dorm I lived in, Albritton Tower, and the old Administration building.

We went inside the Corps of Cadets center and they had guide-ons (flags, for you non-regs!) from all the "units" in the Corps at A&M. D-1, Spider D, was the unit my dad was in.

Some friends of my uncle Stan's, bought a memorial brick in front of the Corps Center in honor of my grandad, Willard Thomas. The kids and I found it and took a picture of our toesies with it. I miss my grandad very much. Have I mentioned that before??
This picture was Grace's idea. She's pretty sentimental for a 7 year old
Here are Grace and Davis with Kyle McCall. Can you tell my camera is on the fritz and I am tired of trying to make Davis look at me and smile??
Me 'n' Amber. We had Grace stand on a chair to get a picture. Can you tell by my puffy eyes that I am operating on very little sleep??

Grace had a moment of reflection at the Bonfire Memorial. I've never been more proud or sad to be an Aggie as when I was at the memorial. The Ags did a great job on the memorial, but it pains me it was ever necessary. Anyone who has been there knows what a great memorial it is to the kids who died there.

Back to the TX Vacation

I don't think I finished telling you all about our TX trip.

One of the funnest things we did the whole time we were there was going to a farm near Proctor, TX, to pick black-eyed peas and blackberries. My dad took us early, early one morning (we left my mom's about 6!) and we had a great time. Pickin' peas is no easy task. I mean, you know which ones to pick, but if I had to do it for more than a hour or so, it would break my back. Then we moved onto the blackberries. Um, I didn't know the bushes had thorns! Yes, I got stuck a couple of times. We ended up with about 10 lbs. of peas and about a pound of blackberries.

Then we went to my dad's Proctor house and sat outside, shelling peas. I really should say "shellin'" because heaven knows we don't pronounce the "g!" We went to my dad's house because he needed to water his tomatoes. He no longer started the water on them, then it started to rain. Davis had a ball putting his head under where the water was running off the roof, soaking his head and his shirt! I have to tell you what a great time I had, sitting under the shelter, shellin' peas while the rain came down and a breeze blew. Shellin' peas will always remind me of being at my grandparents, where we would shell peas in the afternoon, in front of Rangers game on the TV. Ah, memories.

That day, we had a great lunch. Dad made peas, fried okra, ham, and we have fresh tomatoes. Yum!

Later on that same day, we went to Granbury with my mom to eat The Jalapeno Tree. Grace and Davis were dressed in their S'ville finery, to make up for the T-ball game where we cheered on Braden and his team. The kids both fell asleep on the way. I attributed it to being up so early. Notice the drool mark on Davis' shirt.




Then we took off for College Station. When we were there, we visited my sister, Angie, and our friends, Amber, Brian, and Kyle McCall. Angie is the college girl, getting ready to get her Senior Ring at A&M, which is AWESOME!! She has worked hard at school and, at that time, was working at her apartment complex and taking a class. We shared a few meals with her, but didn't spend the night at her place. The girl has a social life!

Our time with the McCalls was really nice. Grace and Davis played with Kyle just like always. Davis used to call Kyle "Kyles" but I noticed while we were there, he doesn't do that so much anymore, so I better stop, too! We had a couple of pitchers of margaritas (Angie was there, too) and Papa Murphy's the first night. It was so nice to spend time with people that we share a long, sometimes parallel, history with. Some of you know that we were in Germany at the same time the McCalls were and, while we were friendly, the guys weren't in the same unit so we didn't do a lot of things together. Fast forward to Fort Riley, where Brian and Jasen were some of the first soldiers in 4IBCT and we were connected. We now consider them dear friends.

Anyway, it was great to catch up with them, see Angie, and visit Aggieland, too! We got some great pictures while we were there. I'll post them soon!

The Grahams Go To School

Can you imagine I am the only Graham not going to school this semester? Yep, even Jasen is getting into the swing of things. Last night, he had his first class toward a Masters in Education. He really likes his professor, who told her "kids" that before the next class, they needed to read the first seven chapters of their book. She encouraged them all to read an hour a day and not to stress about specifics. She said if they saw something that interested them or they had dealt with before, to mark if for class discussion. Jasen was very encouraged and excited.

The best part? Jasen said he feels like this is where God wants him and what God wants him to do after the Army. Quite exciting for all of us!

Today, we go to Grace's school to find out who her teacher will be and meet said teacher. We are very excited. I am certainly praying for another diamond like Mrs. Branch. We'll go by and see her today, too. Oh, and look at Grace's garden from last year.

Next Tuesday, Grace will begin her 2nd grade year. I can't believe it. Where did the time go?

Davis' school won't start until after Labor Day, but he's ready to go NOW. The boy loves going to school and I think it's because his sister goes. This year, he'll go for three days a week, which I am hoping to put to good use around this unorganized house.

Truly, I feel like I ought to be taking some kind of class! Oh wait, I still haven't used the cooking class gift certificate Jasen gave me. Guess I'll go to cooking school! :)

What We Learned On Summer Vacation

I asked each member if they learned anything while we were on vacation. Here is what they had to offer:

Davis
"I learned something on summer vacation. I learned dinner. " (???) Then I asked him if there was anything that was his favorite thing on vacation. He said "Um, I don't know. Maybe getting breakfast?" Okay, that's all Davis had to say on the matter.

Grace
"A Time to Bead was new. I learned if I talk back I get mouthwash. (a.k.a. hand soap in mouth) Black-eyed peas are easy to pick and blackberries have thorns on their vines." When I asked her what her favorite things were on vacation she said "I have a lot: swimming in the lake at Granny and Papaw's (then Davis piped up with 'Oh, me too, that was my favorite part!') ; playing with Ella and Vivi. Can I add that I love getting back home? I loved going out to pick with Grandad, sitting at the bar at Grandmama's. (then Davis piped up with 'My favorite part at Granny and Papaw's was getting cookies' to which Grace said 'Me, too!') It was fun having sleepovers, too! Oh, I also liked going to Lauren's wedding and Grandad's family reunion."

Jasen

• 41 days away from your family isn't 15 months, but it still sucks.
• People like coffee in Seattle. No, they REALLY do!
• The Waterfront in Seattle is awesome
• Atlanta to Seattle is a long flight when all you get is peanuts and coffee
• You need to throw away your boots after walking 50+ miles in the woods
• There's no place like home
• I don't like to be gone from home for more than 10-14 days

Sara

• Even a month isn't long enough to see everyone
• LA drivers are the worst. And so are their roads
• Next time, I will take the Interstate to Augusta
• There is a GREAT tire store in Greensboro, GA
• Driving through Atlanta was not that bad. They make the 18 wheelers go around on the loop so downtown was smooth sailing.
• I knew I would love spending time with the Wades!
• Katie and Clancey will put up with a lot from their family
• Katie's in-laws ROCK!
• I love the Thomases because there is almost no drama
• I want Mark and Rissa's view!
• I could sit and listen to the Thomas family talk all day about the old days!
• I can sleep until 10 on Tommy and Pattie's Murphy bed. When I need a respite/sabbatical, I am going there!
• Old Denton Road is not the same and never will be.
• Change never stops.
• Some friendships will never end.
• Christine will go anywhere to see a friend. I am sorry it didn't work out to see each other. Next time, I promise!
  
• I am thankful for the people who help me make sure my kids' know their kids'.
• I love watching my kids play with my friends' kids.
• Windows open in 100+ degree weather will not keep a house comfy
• APS really has no authority.
• I love a country wedding.
• I hate visiting TX without my dance partner
• My kids are GREAT travellers
• There are limits to what even a Honda can take!
• I wish I were a "real" member of StoneWater
• My sisters are the best
• Family/parenting must be intentional
• Davis misses his home on day 1 of vacation
• Charleston Post and Courier won't hold your papers even when you tell them to!
• A closed up house takes 3+ hours to cool back down to comfortable
• I WILL NOT BE A HOARDER!! (Yes, you can hold me to that!)
• Mary's Chicken-Friend Steak is still the best
• I miss my Thomas grandparents and Ma very much
• Nothing beats a cold, large margarita after a day of hard work
• Check the movie listings the day you are going to go
• A month of TX eating is very, very bad for the waistline!
• 2 trips to Sam Moon is probably 2 trips too many
• Compass Trading Rocks!
• I love that my kids know Mimi and love her house as much as I once did and do!
  
• I could watch "The Hangover" again and again and again....
• I can eat almost a whole bag of mini-Chips Ahoy in one sitting without even knowing it.
• A special thank you to all the Mexican eateries that contributed to my weight gain: Anamia's, Pulido's, Mi Familia, The Jalapeno Tree, Mi Cocina, Joe T. Garcia's, Antonio's, Don Nico's, Abuelos, and everyone's favorite fast food Mexican eatery, Santa Fe.
• We are incredibly blessed to have so many people willing to: house us (the Wades, the Kilcoynes, the Thomases, MOM, the Gees, the Karneses, the Ditores, the McCalls, Angie, the Graves), feed us (see previous list AND add the Reddings, the Roberts, Great-Grandad Graham, the Cooks, DAD, Grandma, the Cravatts, Mimi, Emily, the Gillilands) and drive to see us (see all the above to some degree, and add Jamie, Jakob, Misti, Jenna, and Hudson) If I left someone out, I am sorry!
• There is no place like home with my family of four!

Thank you to everyone who made our trip home such a blast.

Now, COME TO CHARLESTON!!!

Back to SC!

Just a quick little blog to let you all know that we are back on Evening Shade Drive in Charleston! Our two day drive was uneventful, unless you count the numerous storms we drove through. We are glad to be home!!

More blogging later, I promise!

Means So Much

Hello again from my mom's living room in Stephenville, TX. I have to tell you, although this trip has been long and I definitely miss my bed and hubby, it will be very hard for me to leave. Because we have had such a long time here, we've spent a lot of time with people we normally have a short visit with. (Misti, I know I've made many a grammatical error in this post. Please forgive me!)

Case in point, the Karnes. Jen is one of my oldest friends and she's a "real" one. My Jasen and her Jason are equally fond of each other and I think are pretty good influences on each other, minus a bottle of wine here or there! Our kids, Braden, Landry, Grace, Davis, and Tripp play so well with each other, it's amazing. Usually when we come to TX, we see them once or twice, maybe for an extended afternoon or meal. I always leave TX feeling like we were short-changed as far as time with them. This time, although it's not enough, we spent quite a bit of time with the Karnes. Davis even had his first non-family sleep over at their house.

You know, I never thought I'd leave TX. My dad never thought I'd get more than 60 miles away from S'ville. Living this nomadic, Army life is still a surprise for me, even a shock to my system. You all know how much I love it and I don't think I'd trade it for the life I would have had if I had married someone who helped me stay around here. However, there are times like this prolonged visit, where I get a taste of what our life would be like: lots of visits with great- and grandparents, extended family reunions and weddings, spending time roaming around family land, visiting with old friends, etc. When people ask how long we've been in TX on this vacation, I want to smack them when they gasp. They just don't understand that #1 we haven't been home in over a year #2 even 5 weeks isn't enough to see all the people we want to see and #3 yes, we do have friends where we live, but they've known us for just a little while; our friends in TX are lifetime friends or family, which is a lifetime commitment!

Anyway, these long visits mean so much to me and the kids. Thanks for all of you who have hosted us for dinner, or let us spend the night, etc. I only wish we could have visited longer.

And Christine, I am sorry we didn't get together this time. I promise next time!

Summer Vacation -- Part Sest

There is supposed to be a thing over the top of the "s." It's Czech, you know. I've decided I will use numbers from languages of countries we have visited. I might even use some Iraqi. :)

Last Friday morning, we went to Fossil Rim with my dad. Fossil Rim is a wildlife place, where you drive through and feed the animals. The first animal we saw was an emu. When that emu came near our car on my side, the kids squeezed as far as they could on the other side! Grace even started to cry a little. That scared me that Fossil Rim might not be the best place for us! They ended up getting in the swing of things, throwing food out and laughing at the way Dad and I would let the animals eat out of our hand.

Here is Grace laughing at me feeding a zebra by hand. I didn't do that again because, apparently, they'll bite!
Grace was a little timid about feeding the animals at first.
Unless Davis stuck his whole arm out, most of his landed in the car.
This would be Grace looking at the freaky emu.Notice the emu is now at Grace's window and Grace has moved as far away as she can. That darn thing nearly scared my kids to death!

Grace gets into the hang of things with a deer.Of course, we must put our head here and have a picture made because that's what it is there for!
And Davis, too!
In the petting area with the tamer animals!
Davis finally petted a goat.


Dad fed a giraffe. Thankfully, the giraffe kept his tongue in his mouth! Their long, black tongues are more than a little freaky!
Then this deer decided to take almost the whole bag!