Madelyn

I was a bit behind so sorry about a double posting today.....

Writing about Conner earlier made me realize how little time we actually have with our children and that counts double right now because Maddie is 15 today.  Fifteen years goes by in the blink of an eye.  I will never forget the day this beautiful little creature came into my life.  She was in a big hurry....she didn't even let me wait for the doctor to walk in the room, she came into the world with bright eyes and an extreme amount of determination.

She is my fighter.  She doesn't take no for an answer (even when she should).  She is a risk taker!  She knows how to live life.  I have learned more from her than I think she has from me.  She is funny, sweet, talented, smart, and beautiful.  She is the complete package.  My most current wish for her is to learn how to deal with other girls.  Drama, unfortunately, is something she has to learn to deal with, something I can only offer advice on, but it will always be there.  Girls are, excuse the language, bitches.  It's sad that we don't learn until we are in our 20s how to treat each other, how to weed out the bad ones, and how to treasure the good ones.  I can only hope that she goes through these difficult years without too many scars. 

I am blessed to have this little one in my life!  I love our relationship, even when it is difficult. 

Happy Birthday to my amazing daughter, you are magnificent!

Thanks,

from Heather

Graduation

18 years ago, my husband handed me our son.  He was beautiful, helpless, and full of potential.  I had expectations, dreams, and a bit of fear as I thought about his future and the life he was just starting.  I watched him grow, crawl, walk, talk, and discover new things on a daily basis...I was proud.
This amazing little boy taught me what love is.  My heart swelled. 
Over the years, there have been arguements, tears, and extreme frustration, he didn't realize his potential but I did, and still do.
We have been very lucky to have great teachers help him on his path, teachers that have talked with me at great lengths and helped me understand the difference between a teenager today and what life was like when I was a teenager.  They coached him, prodded him, helped him, and most importantly, believed in him.  They gave him the power to make choices and helped me deal with those choices, especially when I thought they were the wrong ones.  As I look back, Conner didn't make bad choices, he made choices that taught him lessons and isn't that the purpose of those teenage years?  To make mistakes and learn from them? 
Now, he is a high school graduate and I look at him today as I did some 18 years ago, he is beautiful, not so helpless and still full of potential.  I still have expectations, dreams, and a lot more fear as he is, now, ready to take his first steps into his "real" life.  He will leave home and I can only hope that I have armed him with the tools necessary to navigate in the scary world of adulthood.  I know he will make some more mistakes but, he will be fine.  He will accomplish great things and have wonderful journies, I'm just sad that I will not be there for all the new "firsts" but I am still very, very proud.
Conner, go experience life, have fun, be safe, love with your whole heart, but call your mother every once in a while!

Thanks,

from Heather

Children

My kids drive me crazy, they make me angry, they make me cry, they make me want to bash my head against a wall but, they also make me laugh daily, they entertain me constantly, they love me unconditionally (even when they hate me), and they make me feel accomplished. 

I wish I had written down all the things my children have said and done over the years that have been note worthy because I know it would be a great read one day, perhaps excerpts in a slide show for a wedding, I have some things stored in memory, mostly because I've told the story over and over again or because it was so damn funny I'll never forget it but, I really do wish I had kept better track of stuff like that.....I have a friend that does this, she writes down all the things her very busy 3 year old son says and does and while I know he keeps her on her toes and some days she just looks at him and wonders if he will ever calm down he is a great kid.  They are an amazing family and they are moving soon, I will miss them.

I thought I would share some of the things she tells her son, just in case you need a laugh today...and if you are a mother, I guarantee you will relate to some of these things.


Stop putting your noodles up your nose.
We do not put our heads in the toilet!
Don't poke yourself in the eye.
The table is not for jumping!
Are you supposed to pee on the toilet lid?
You do not put your head in the toilet water!
Quit scratching your butt cheek with your tooth brush.
Please don't put your butt thermometer in your ear.
Don't touch the dog's eyeball.
Quit playing with the gas tank.
Get out of the sink!
Your sister is not a chair or trampoline.
We pour our drinks in cups not on the floor.
Quit hanging from the door knobs.
Where are your clothes?!
Stop licking things!
We use our hands to hold spoons, not our toes.
Take mommy's bra off right now.
Get your head out of the dryer please.
Puzzle boxes are not to pee in, they are to put puzzles in.
Please put the dish rack back in the dish washer.
Just because you have a coat and your sisters shoes on does not make it ok to go outside without parents or pants.
You don't feed the dog the WHOLE bag of Beggin' Strips, only one.
Don't stab people with pretzels.
Stop licking people!
When I said go get on the toilet, I didn't mean stand on it and then pee.
Don't pull your pants down until you are in the bathroom!
Keep your hands, feet, and man junk to yourself!!!
We use the sink to rinse our tooth brush not the toilet.
Don't put rocks in the tail pipe!
Just because the dog licks you to kiss you does not mean you lick him back.
Don't pick up and play with the mice you find outside, they are not pets.
You can not put your hand over the baby's mouth to make him quiet!!!!
Never yell "we're going down! we're going down" while you are on an airplane sitting next to a girl who has never flown before...
The airport is not a good place to play pretend, please quit barking at people and get up and walk like a big boy.
DO NOT JUMP OFF THE STEPS when you just fell down them last night!
Just because you peed outside once doesn't mean you can pee outside anywhere you want.


Thanks,

from Heather

Whew!!!

I am sitting here not so patiently waiting for my final grade for my Economics class and doing a bit of reflecting.  The last 2 years has been a bit stressful,  being a full time mom, wife, student hasn't been easy and for those that add full time employee, I tip my hat to you because you are a better person than I.  But I did it.  I know I'm not done, I still have a few more years to finish but, I'm done with this leg of the journey. 

The point of this post is to thank those of you that have helped me along the way, whether it be emotionally, mentally, or physically, I appreciate you with all my heart. 

Thanks,
from Heather

Memorial Day

I am sitting here trying to absorb just what Memorial Day means to me and I don't think I can grasp it completely, or at least put it into words.

I have known some wonderful people that have served our country, Granddaddy, Uncle Max, Uncle BB....these are just a few of them that are no longer with us, this list goes on and on as does the list of my friends and family members that are still serving. I wonder if we, as a nation, have lost sight of what today really means.  I see posts on FB "Today isn't just about BBQs, Thank you to all the military men and women" etc but, it makes me wonder if these were passing thoughts posted quickly while running out the door with a cooler in hand to the nearest party.  Do you actually sit down and reflect on today and its meaning?  Whether you agree with the wars of yesterday, today, or tomorrow, these men and women truly do deserve to be respected and honored, everyday........


I still have an immense amount of pride when I see my husband put on his uniform every day.  I love seeing his posture change when he puts on his Blues, it gives me chills.  I love when I see a group of fresh faces at the BX, their excitement is contagious.  I love that our local High School constructed a wonderful memorial on its lawn called "The Arlington Project".  We went to see Avengers today and afterwards, we stopped and walked around the memorial, it was amazing.  I got tears as we were leaving and said just a very simple "Thank you for what you do" to Michael before getting in the car.  After all, that's all I can do, say thank you as sincerely as I possibly can because I mean it with all my heart. 

If you have ever put on a military uniform or plan to one day, I thank you with all that I am. 


"I do not know the dignity of their birth, but I do know the glory of their death. They died unquestioning, uncomplaining, with faith in their hearts, and on their lips the hope that we would go on to victory. Always for them: Duty, Honor, Country. Always their blood, and sweat, and tears, as they saw the way and the light" ~ General Douglas MacArthur



Thanks,

from Heather

Military Spouse Appreciation Day

Today is a special day for military spouses, the appreciation for what we sacrifice, the acknowledgement that our lives are meaningful,  it's our day to sit back and let the love fill us up.  While I appreciate the sentiments, everyday should be "Spouse Appreciation Day", not just military and not one specific day, just as Mother's Day and Father's Day should be a 365 day event, so should today.

I will, however, step on my soap box for just a moment.  I love my job as a military wife!  I love my husband!  I love the United States Air Force!  I love my country!   I love the opportunities the AF has given us.  I love the people I've met, the amazing places I've lived, and the education I have received.  I also realize my family has paid a price for the lives we lead.  My children do not know their extended families very well.  We miss birthdays, Christmases, anniversaries, funerals, and other momentous events but I wouldn't change it for anything.  One day, I will look back and evaluate my life and I don't think I will have any regrets. 

Military spouses are tough!  We are resilient!.  We are fighters!  We worry, we cry, we get scared, we get angry, but we get over it!  We wake up everyday with a determination to protect our children from the pain they face daily in the absence of a parent.  We are proud!  We don't ask why...we know why, it is a calling our husband/wife answered willingly. 

I am proud to be who I am, representing the quiet forces that stand behind our men and women in uniform.  I appreciate the shout out and a day to celebrate and receive a bit of praise but, I don't need it.  Today is just another day, just as yesterday and tomorrow but I am thankful. 

So, to mark today, I would like to let all my military wives/husbands know that I am thinking about you today, I know what you have sacrificed.  I know how you feel.  I love you!

Thanks,

From Heather

Sky Diving (sort of)

I have an irrational fear of heights.  I don't know why or what caused it but, even the thought of going up a ladder sends shivers up my spine, this is why I'm glad I have tall men in my life, they can reach things for me.....but I love roller coasters (even though I am getting a bit too old to ride them because they make me hurt so much the next day) go figure!!!!! 

I know I did not go sky diving, I will save that for the crazy people I know (Marcia) but secretly, I'd love to have the courage to really go one day but in the mean time, I did something else fun today.  It wasn't near as scary as I thought it would be, I went to a sky diving simulator.  My friend Misti wanted to take me to do something for my birthday, first we thought maybe a shopping trip to Ikea but, we can do that any day, then I saw pictures she posted about going to a gun range but, Michael has his heart set on taking me, then... I had it!!!!  After a bit of apprehension back and forth on the phone, she booked our "flight"! 

It helped a lot that we had a little kid in our group, he was probably 6, I couldn't show fear if he just jumped in, literally!!!!  Misit went first... I started to freak out a bit, a minute really isn't that long (I don't know why my kids bitch when I say "In a minute!"  it's really over in a heart beat) and I didn't really pay attention too much to her first flight.  Before I knew it, I was on my feet, arms across my chest, about to go into the wind tunnel.  OMG, it was awesome!  Our instructor, Willo, was awesome.  He was hilarious and very encouraging.  It took a bit of time for us to find my "natural" flight posture but we got there and  I actually remembered it for the second flight and was able to control my body better. 

Misti's second flight was a bit interesting, she crashed  bumped into the wall but Willo was her hero (just for the day, her real hero will be home from his deployment soon enough) and caught her and got her back on her belly.  My second flight was just as fun and I can't wait to go again!

As soon as I figure out how to edit and reformat the video, I will load it up here.  Until then, here are some pics...

Next up, a zip line......
Thanks,

from Heather