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It is the day(really night) after my sister has left and I am so lonely! haha. No really though, I did not want her to go but put on my brave front up until the goodbye. I love her and she loves it when I pick on her…all the time! As soon as we walked through the door last night the kids said how they felt very sad and wanted to cry when Titi left. Then as I was tucking Hope in bed she says, “Mom, I want to go spend the night at grandma’s house tomorrow.” Having my mom and Tammy come here was just the beginning of the fastest summer on the planet for me and the kids. We all were looking forward to our visits and had so much fun it really flew by. I am very happy we did all the things we did, like go to the Pacific Science Center, shopped in Pike’s Place Market, saw the Woodland Park Zoo, walked around in downtown Seattle, went in the Space Needle, and lots of other things. Let me tell you that we still have not done or seen it all yet. So much to do here it is incredible. I was a little weary about Washington until this summer. I absolutely love it here. Now if only I could enjoy it with Sean, ha.
In VA we got to see most of my family and I was the maid of honor in Amanda and Duke’s wedding. That was really HOT…but very beautiful still. I could not of thought of a better guy for her and the girls. I took a lot of pictures and would love to post them but, doing that here is a pain in the butt. I am trying to find a faster way to do it and when I do, they are all going up here.
Another thing I wanted to mention was visiting with my cousins. They have lived on Whidbey Island for quite some time and I am telling you that place is absolutely beautiful. It is only an hour north of us and well worth it. Angela and Jason renewed their vows at a park near Deception Pass and it was gorgeous. I am happy to see them so happy. Isabel is an adorable little girl, her daddy better watch out for her! ha. My younger cousins, Richie and Daniel, are getting so big. I mean I was in shock at how much older Richie looks and sounds and he is turning 15 this week. Goodness.
As everyone can see our time is finally winding down for Sean’s deployment and we are so excited. The looks on the kids face when I talk about how soon it is is priceless. Everytime I talk to him, he tells me to tell everyone he misses them and loves them. He has sent some more pictures of himself and I barely recognize the man. Nonetheless, he is still my handsome husband. Not biased at all though. We will have plenty to fill in the time until Homecoming though. School starts in three weeks, Yay. From then it will be just around the corner. But for now time to go exercise!

First let me say, I will never feel old on my own birthday. When your youngest sibling turns 22 years old though…uh, yeah now I do. Anyway, we miss Uncle Joseph and hope to see him next month. We are hoping his underway is not too long and wonder what living on a submarine is like. Hope to hear about it soon.
I am not a very public person and a few select know that this past month has been rough but I am trying my hardest to hang in there. I know that God would not give me anything he did not think I could handle. Strength sometimes is not something you know you have until you are forced to have it. There are times when you just want to give up but you forge on anyway. Okay enough about that. Vague enough for you? haha.
So, we took an unexpected flight to Alaska to visit my sister in law last week. Who I will say feels more like a sister friend everytime we visit. It was a little stressful getting on the Space A flight but we made it. I was literally sweating by the time we got on the plane. The funny thing is that it was not because I was traveling alone with three kids! Anyhow, we both took a lot of pictures that I will post later this weekend. I miss my nephews so much already. I want to bug Noah with my kisses and let Cole play in as many puddles as he wants. Oh goodness. When we got off the plane from Alaska the kids wanted to go back to Alvindorf (Elemendorf). Alaska is definately beautiful and can take your breath away with the vastness of the mountains but I don’t ever want to live there. We are back in the cold and wet weather of Washington.
My momma and my sister are coming next week and we are so excited. It has been a long 8 months for us to say the least. Next week is also our Halfway Party! I think it is also halfway for my older brother too. Almost over the hump and working our way to the finish. Everytime I talk to Sean he sounds so tired and I know he misses sleep (and us too, I think). Thanks to you who have sent him packages. He appreciates it a lot. The post office employees have got to know my name by now. Too bad they don’t have a little card for me to get discounts like the grocery store does, I would rack up some savings. Which reminds me I made cake in a jar for the first time.(as in I will be sending them in packages) I also baked banana bread in a jar too. Anthony convinced me to eat some of the banana bread and it was GOOD. I am hoping Sean will like it too. Now that I got started I will make 101 different things in these jars to send out. Watch out bro some are coming your way too. What a good idea. Now, if I could just figure out how to get cookies in them…? Anyway, we miss everyone and look forward to seeing most everyone in July.

Geez where do I start? I feel like so much has been going on lately and I need a break. I am constantly reminded of how much better off we are having Sean around. I have been trying to be more patient with the kids and somewhere along the way forgot that being a pushover and having patience are two different things. I just remember all the times I would get into trouble as a child and seeing my parents with their hard looks and thinking, man are they mean and cruel or what? How I have adopted those same looks when punishing my own children and on the inside feeling so guilty and horrible. This has to be how they felt. Raising kids is probably one of the hardest jobs I can think of. I have been struggling these past few weeks with my three and don’t feel like there is an end in sight. Don’t get me wrong I love my children more that words can ever say but I just want them to be good kids for me. In the words of my very wise mother in law,”you are not raising good children, you are raising great adults.” I know she thinks I am not listening but I am always listening. I never thought of it that way. I can not tell her enough that I have an open ear for any advice she, my mom, or any other mother for that matter has to offer. Well, I guess I can say the struggle is more in myself than anything. I just have to put on my big mommy pants and be consistent(see I listen) and stop letting guilt dictate the behavior of my children.
Then there is school. So sick of it already. The sad part is I am thinking about switching my major…again. I am just the economic and finance loving nerd and don’t feel like business is not interesting in the least bit. It makes me think of driving my car off a bridge, haha. No really though, quite repetative and just plain old BORING. blah. Always so much to do in so little time and I am not going full time!
On a good note, Madison turned 6 years old last week. They grow up so fast. Hope keeps talking about turning 4 already. She sounds like a teenager getting ready to turn 16 and getting that license to drive. She knows that she will go to pre-K next year after she is 4 years old and can’t wait to go to school like her older sister and brother. I have realized that Madison is the saver of the bunch. It is funny because when Anthony gets any money it burns a hole in his pocket. He will find some way to spend it. Madison will just hold on to her money forever. My little penny pincher, just like her Daddy and Poppy. School is almost over and for us that means…Grandma comes! Whoo Hoo. We are so happy to see family again. We are really looking forward to our trip back home to VA though. We have missed everyone so much and can’t wait to see you guys this summer. Looking forward to our trip has helped us focus on something other than Sean’s absence. He is doing well though. Keeping very busy and tired still. He is seeing some different places and missing everyone like he is missed. If there are any specific pictures anyone would like to see let me know, he sends me some but just does not know what to send me. Til next time ya’ll. haha.

This is a video another ship made while out on deployment a year or two ago-not Sean’s-but I thought it was really funny. They must really get bored out there sometimes. There are more to watch if you wait til the very end, another funny one was the I Want To Sex You Up one. In the Move Along one you get to see how the guy is at editing everything together, he did an awesome job. Do you think I could get Sean to make one? Ha!
Enjoy.

I just added a new page, Out to Sea, to the site. These so far are pictures that another sailor has taken while out on the boat. If I think any thing I see is violating OSPEC I won’t post them here. I am working on Sean to take more pictures and send them to me. It is so awesome to see what they get to experience every now and again.