Grrrrrr

I just love the military! Well, not so much. Only smiling for the camera. This is me in my Chemical gear, loads of fun. At least the new version of this doesn't have charcoal in it anymore. Technology has advanced. Yah, every time we had to wear this stuff you would look like you just jumped down a chimney. So I got to play war which was actually pretty cool. Sounds stupid I know but who gets to "play" like this as an adult. War is a very intricate process, rules, processes and pure craziness.

A C5 Galaxy the largest aircraft in the US military and KC135 Stratotanker, refueling aircraft (the same one that I flew on to Japan that caught on fire ) yah, love these old airplanes!!! came to our base to pick us up and transport all of our stuff to a training base to play war with Scott AFB and Puerto Rico. They were very long days and horrible food which included MRE's which I didn't eat. YUCK! I pretty much starved to a certain extent. Well, I brought quite a bit of my own food since I was going to be stuck in my room on crew rest for quite a bit of the time and thank goodness I did too! So the only time I flew was in the middle of the night at 2am and that flight only lasted 30mins because we had to make an emergency landing. So we were on a C130 from Puerto Rico, a very old model. These guys don't usually do AE (aeromedical evacuation) so they were not use to what our mission was or for that matter having someone else on head set listening to their conversation. I was MCD, in charge of the mission so I was on head set and I heard them say they lost engine #3. I'm like okay, not a big deal I suppose we'll be fine with the other three, just going to be a little bit longer flight. Well, then they start talking about the heating system on the wing that they can turn on to de-ice the wing if needed and then turn it off. Well, they turned it on cause it was snowing but it wouldn't turn off so the wing was way over heated. Their conversation got heated and then they started talking in Spanish really fast and I was like WHAT THE HECK!!!! SO I got on and said, GENTLEMEN! I can't understand what you're saying! And since they were talking in Spanish now I'm a bit nervous. But they reassured me that they were working on the issue and that we were going to be landing. So I yell to the rest of my crew to get ready for an emergency landing and we were on the ground in no time. I don't think I've ever landed that fast before! I guess the issue was they couldn't get the wing to cool down and were at risk of the wing starting of fire. But right before we were going to land they got it to shut off but didn't want to risk flying more because they didn't have a way to de-ice the wing in flight. The pilots came back to talk with us and they felt bad that we couldn't do our mission but I was like, Hey, I'm just glad to be on the ground and not running from a burning aircraft!!! They laughed. So I finally got back to my room at 6am and crashed. From that night on I never knew if it was day or night. Well we won the war and were able to come home on Sunday. Imagine that, our flight home was at 7am which meant a 3am wake up call so yet again a sleepless night. The military loves very early mornings and I'm so not a morning person!

PowWow 2009

marceah went to her first PowWow a couple of weeks ago. she LOVED it. The second they started the drums she was bouncing away to the beat. She only got scared once but otherwise I could hardly contain her. She would scoot right up to the dancers and want to jump right in. It was open to the public so anyone could go out and dance for like the first hour. Then they did separate dances such as the Mens Fancy dance, and the Feather dance and the Shall dance and Woman's Fancy dance and one called the Chicken dance. It was so entertaining to watch and listen to the men beat the drums.

Some of the dress was just gorgeous. I loved the fur coming off the ends of the braids.


These girls did the shall dance. They all had these beautiful beaded barrettes in their hair. I bought Marceah one. Next time we're going to make Marceah a dress and decorate her walker. She walked all the way around the gym with me barely holding her up, that's how much she enjoyed it. She doesn't like to walk usually but that day she was like, oh, okay, this is fun!


This little girl had Dora on her dress! Super cute


This guys dress was amazing. So many feathers! I want to know how he stores it.



All in all it was a great day and I'm so glad that we went. Marceah had a blast and I learned so much about PowWows. We are definitely looking forward to the next one!

November 7th 2009

The day my brother got married the sun was shining and warming our hearts with joy in anticipation of the moment Megan would forever become Mrs. Plante!!!


Of course the majority of my pictures are of Annastasia as she was a little ham! And looked so cute in the dress I made. I was so afraid that it was going to be too big but it fit perfect. Marilyn helped a lot and put all the finishing touches on it and boy Annastasia looked adorable.


If you want a 2 year old to do something, just offer her a sucker! This kid will do just about anything for a sucker except go potty on the potty chair (surprise surprise). Her little shoes had huge diamonds on them and were so cute BUT she had those things off at any chance she got. Must have squeezed her toes or something.


MY NEW SISTER IN LAW!!!!! Megan was and is obviously so beautiful. The caplet shall my mom made in anticipation that it was going to be chilly. Little did we know it was going to be 60degrees that day! It really looked beautiful though.


Oooooh La La! The happy couple at the reception kissing the night away. I don't think I've ever sat that close to the bride and groom at a wedding before! It was so much fun. Adam and I started probably half of the kiss requests! I did get the look from Casey but honestly, I hardly got to eat my dinner at my wedding! I remember my plate being taken away from me with food still on it.


Annie and her Papa dancin the night away. both of Annie's Papas were at the wedding and she had a hard time trying to decide which one she wanted to be with. Papa Bob and Annie ate dinner together and the Papa Dave danced with her. She was in Little Girl Heaven!


Cousins Brian and Lindsay cutin up the dance floor. My three boy cousins from my mom's side of the family were truly hamming it up with their girlfriend on the dance floor. They were very entertaining. Can't wait until the next wedding to see what they will come up with next!


Well, I DRAGGED Adam out on the dance floor a few times, but this time it was a dance off between Adam, myself, mom, dad, Casey and Megan! It was quite the show and so much fun. Just us 6 were on the dance floor pulling out our best moves. No one really "won" but I think Adam won the most creative dance form :) I love ya hun!


Okay, so Grandma Plante is 80 something and SHE was cutting up the rug like we couldn't believe! I was talking with my dad over by the bar and here comes Grandma prancing around the corner and pointing her finger at my dad like, Come on sunny! They she comes up behind me and slaps me on the tush and says, "Get that out there!" I was like, did my Grandma just tell me to get my butt out on the dance floor?! She danced a lot with my dad and a few songs with my cousins. She was a hoot and boy did we all have fun with her. I'm so glad to see her be silly and really enjoy her night out.


We were so lucky to have the night out without the kids. Bob took Annastasia home with him and one of Marceah's nurses took her home as well. It was great to just have each other to worry about. Although, Annie did make her way around to many of my girl cousin's arms. I think my cousin Sammy held her for an hour straight!


The evening fun as it's getting late and way past Annie's bed time she gets goofy. I have never seem my brother so happy as I have that night. Reality has finally set in that he is married and Megan is Mrs. Plante :) I'm so excited to watch their life unfold, and hopefully a bundle of joy will come sooner than later! ANNIE NEEDS COUSINS!


My BEAUTIFUL girl cousins! Kelcie, Natalie and Lindsay in the back there. Auntie Karen as well. :) These girls have grown up so much and it was so fun to see you. Miss you girls already and can't wait for the Christmas party to catch up again!

Mom and me. She wasn't sure if she should wear the same dress to Casey's wedding that she wore to mine but I am so glad that she did. She was so beautiful! I love that dress on her, so slimming and pretty. Everyone tells me how much I am like my mom and how much I look like her when she was my age so I think it's safe to say that if I age as well as my mom has, I have nothing to be worried about growing old!!!! Except maybe the grey hair. I'm not ready for that!!! Everything else, wonderful.


So the highlight of the dance for me was the performance that my cousin Mike and I performed. We danced to Total Eclipse of the Heart. Very lyrical, and romantic....Very funny in deed. Mike admitted that I lead the whole dance but he held his own pretty well.


A little more back arch Mike and you're good!


Oh my gosh and the lifts were flawless! We were really such a wonderful pair that night! Great partnership. The audience could really feel our connection!


Mike really swept us all off our feet by the end of the performance. I must say, who's ever next in line to get married, be prepared for the next stunning Katie and Mike duo!

Oh so adorable

Mommy dishin out the kisses!

How cute is my little pumpkin! She insisted on having lunch in front of the TV to watch her "puppies" show. Me, not having the energy to argue with a very strong willed little girl (think she got that from her mommy) said okay. Amazingly she ate everything on her plate. Her hair is getting longer and starting to fill in more but is pixi straight just like her Daddy's hair. Her piggy tails stick straight out like bug anntenas so Granny pinned them down with a barrett and she looked like a little Gap Baby model.

Halloween Fun

So the evening started off with a bang and lots of laughs. Papa came to help me take the kids trick-or-treating and Annie was in heaven. Marceah, not so much but we couldn't stop laughing at her! She was the perfect ghost. At first she was angry to have something over her head and face but as we started to walk down the street she started enjoying the ride. The sheets ends were blowing as we were walking so it looked as if she was floating. But the kicker was that she reminded us of E.T.!!!! She kept making these hilarious noises just like E.T. I seriously couldn't stop laughing the whole time we were out.


Annie was being camera shy for some reason but she was an adorable CareBear!


So we got home after going to 4 houses which were plenty of houses in my opinion since her bucket was half full!!! Our neighborhood doesn't get many trick or treaters so each house gave like 3-4 pieces of candy. Anyways, in the bucket she went and fished out her favorites. First smarties, then a crunch bar, then suckers, then a bite from a laffy taffy and a tootsie roll. Today her bucket was finally empty and she comes up to me, "MOM, Where candy! All gone. Where go?" I told her in her tummy and she looked at me like, what?! Halloween night I don't think she went to bed until 10pm from her sugar high. And she decided to take her pj's off for papa and slept on the floor of her room!



Marceah's impersonation of E.T. Listen closely, She's a funny little ghost!

Halloween Fun at the neighbors!

So it was quite the turn out again this year! Lots of fun costumes. I felt like a little kid again checking out who had to best worst and most creative costume. Numerous people asked me if I made mine as I had made last years but unfortunately I couldn't take credit for it. Complements of Target. I've been spending my free time working on the girls' dresses for my brothers wedding this weekend. Can't wait to show them off! They turned out fabulous, thanks to Marilyn for putting the finishing touches on Annie's dress especially!


The neighbor ladies, Jasmine, Tiger lady, and Octo-mom! I was brave and decided to try a new drink for the night. Beergarita! let me say, I am a HUGE fan! I added strawberries just because I like strawberries, but it was a perfect drink for the night. Easy to drink and nummy nummy nummy! I also made some jello shots (I know, I know, not really all that classy) that were sooo good. I made them with amaretto and orange jello, so good. I think us moms enjoyed the party more than our hubbies!!!!


The close knit neighbors. Garrett and Dianne have Ethan, Annie's boyfriend and the new baby, Kylie. Aaron (illegal alien) is single and is mister handy man and car junkie. Krista and Mark (purple savior) have three kiddos and are fun fun company. I am so lucky to have such great people that live right next to me. They all look after me when Adam's gone and make sure that I don't drown from taking care of the kids, dogs, house by myself. Some days it's a little more then I want to handle and to know they are there if I ever need them is just awesome. Adam wasn't able to attend this year, again, as he was working, again. I can't really complain though because he got Thanksgiving off!!!! YAY! Last year he worked every holiday that you could possibly think of.



Another neighbor fillin the keg pitcher. He was the purple savior.



Yes lots of fun had by all. I think I'm dancing in this picture, with my eyes closed! Too funny.

Corn Maze Day!

So earlier this week I took Annie to a corn maze since it was suppose to be the only nice and sunny day this week I wanted to spend it outside. Little did I know how scary corn mazes can be and how big 5 arhcers is!!! This is the start of the maze, she liked the pumpkins and said, "pum pins" every half a foot we went! Wanted to make sure I knew they were all "pum pins."


She didn't believe me that corn on the cob came from these big stalks. I showed her the corn still on the stalks which were kind of not so pretty looking and she didn't get it. Then I found a cob on the ground that had been peeled away so it looked like corn on the cob but the kernels were all dried and wrinkly looking and I said, "Annie look, corn on the cob!" And her response was oh so clear....."EEEEWWW!" I laughed so hard cuz yah, eeeww, I wouldn't want to eat that! That's yucky corn on the cob Mom!


So walking wasn't in Annie's agenda that day. I ended up carrying her quite a bit. She didn't want to get her pink cow girl boots dirty in the mud. She's so my child, doesn't like to be dirty, always washing her hands and "HURRY UP AND GET WHATEVER THAT TINY SPOT IS ON MY SHIRT OFF!" Likes to be clean and pretty!


LOTS of coaxing and mom in the corn pit to get Annie in there. I know, probably crawling with a bazillion germs but oh so much fun! Good thing I got my girls flu and H1N1 vaccines this week. I was one of a very few families that got the H1N1 vaccine at my clinic. It was total luck that we got them when we did. Our pediatrician just happened to call us to chat about Marceah and he's like, oh, by the way, H1N1 mist came in today, schedule for tomorrow to be sure you get one. So we did but Annie was at grandma and grandpa's house that day so I called the following day for Annie and believe it or not, she got the very last one!!!!! 2 days and they were out! Amazing. We are very blessed to have gotten it. Little more on edge since that little boy from Corcoran died (only like 8miles from my house). So far we haven't been too bogged down. Poor Marceah has gotten a beating though. She's got something and has been through the ringer with it. Hopefully tomorrow we'll have more answers to what's ailing her. (for mommy's sake).


So she did warm up a bit. Wouldn't go too far from the entrance where I was sitting watching. Later this weekend I'm taking Annie and Ethan to try it out again. Hopefully with Ethan's go go go personality Annie will feel more comfortable diving in. Little kids were making "corn angels" it was soooo cute! they had things you could bury in the corn and it was about as deep as my knee for sure. I think we had just as much fun watching the other kids have a ball! Although, I did catch Annie trying to put a kernel of corn up both nostrils!!!! I was like WHAT! That's what you think of doing, that's the first thing that comes to mind, hmmmm, I wonder if I can fit this up here?! ~Kids, what they won't think of next~

Fun Fun Fun

Little miss stinker got up here all by herself and while I was sitting right in front of her on the couch and I didn't even notice! Well, I was working on the computer but wow, she really got by me. She had tried to get in the basket on the couch next to me but I told her she had to use it on the floor otherwise she might get an ouchie. So ingenious child tried another way because the floor just wasn't appealing for some reason!



Lazy lazy dogs. They have been pretty good lately. No stealing my food off my plate, no peeing in the house, still eating the kids toys but otherwise staying out of trouble. I took them to the dog park twice in the last couple of weeks so I think they are happy again. Adam's taken them running twice too so getting some exercise besides the race around the back yard is doing them good. Turk has been extra cuddly lately. He's been jumping up on the couch next to me at night after the kids are in bed and just hanging out with me. It's nice since Adam has been gone a lot. I haven't let them sleep with me in a long time. I probably could now that I get up at the butt crack of dawn to get Marceah on the bus. The dogs use to wake me up and want to go outside early in the morning so that's why I didn't let them sleep with me. If I didn't get up someone would just decided to pee where ever and that was never fun to find!


Adam and Annie chill'in on an early morning watching "puppies" She is obsessed with Kipper movies. There's only 5 off them and she watches at least one a day. We went over to the neighbors house for a play date this morning (in our pj's) and the kids were going to watch a movie and Annie screamed PUPPIES PUPPIES! I tried to explain to her that puppies were at our house and she could watch a new movie. That was not an option to her so she decided she was not going to watch tv with her friend. She is so head strong sometimes, reminds me of me when I was little. :)



So Auntie Mariel came down for a visit. Since she and Steve moved to ND Auntie Mariel has been home three times to visit. it's been so nice. I know that Annie loves to see her aunties and Mommy loves the little break too. They played kitchen and watched puppies (obviously), tickled, and had lunch together. It was a great morning. Cannot wait for the next visit Auntie Mariel!!!


So last week amongst the craziness I had a last minute opportunity to go out on the town. I joined Erin and a few of her army wife friends for drinks. It was fun. Erin was so cute, she says to me, "YAH come out with us, you can come over to my house and we can get ready together!" I thought to myself, well, never thought I'd hear that from Erin of all people! You have to know the Erin that I know to understand I guess, but Erin was a major tomboy in college and us girls dressed Erin up to go out. It was pretty cute now that I look back on it. Now I look at her and think, Wow, we did a good job! She looked absolutely gorgeous that night. Even had jewelry to match! Yah, I didn't even have jewelry on! Erin's hubby is in Iraq right now and is doing well. Daylen and Rowan (Erin's kiddos) are also doing well, Daylen has pretty much potty trained herself! I told her she needed to talk to Annie and tell her how she did it!!! Rowan started Kindergarten and is loving it. I was helping him with his math homework but he got annoyed with me because he didn't need help! Too funny! So anyways we had a fun night, stopped at McDonalds and had french fries for a midnight snack and stayed up late talking. I think it was a night we both really needed and enjoyed.