tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-286293262024-03-14T01:35:16.893-07:00Organized ChaosOrganized Chaoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07096792135498383704noreply@blogger.comBlogger1020125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28629326.post-90635248928575512102013-04-02T14:56:00.003-07:002013-04-02T14:56:55.868-07:00Easter 2013 <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPYRwqu3lhKUB78-jBD372-mgxMg4gq_KbUA0j5rP93DS3rURNRjKb1WOFxgnTRSYyP6fWsdAhk2KvrsIkxg6kMg7o0p-HmK86l2psnIGhNHerFvhJgmZT5dvgrbB1urlVc2sT/s1600/20130331_3993.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPYRwqu3lhKUB78-jBD372-mgxMg4gq_KbUA0j5rP93DS3rURNRjKb1WOFxgnTRSYyP6fWsdAhk2KvrsIkxg6kMg7o0p-HmK86l2psnIGhNHerFvhJgmZT5dvgrbB1urlVc2sT/s320/20130331_3993.JPG" /></a>Easter morning...Morgan is 4, Baileigh is 11, Brooke is 7 and Mckenna is 9 and has a fractured elbow from gymnastics. Organized Chaoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07096792135498383704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28629326.post-50046642583195119112013-03-26T19:24:00.000-07:002013-03-26T19:27:09.434-07:00Need a MiracleNo one reads this since I have abandoned it...so it seems like a safe place to vent.
Maybe vent isn't the right word.
I have a friend in the fight of her life. She is more then a friend...she has been a sister to me. She is a sister to me.
So watching her suffer absolutey sucks.
Since no one is reading I'll admit my faith is shaken. I'm not afraid to say I'm mad at God. I figure not voicing it is ridiculous...it's not like he doesn't know my innermost thoughts.
I'm mad. I'm confused. I'm broken. I'm sad.
Can God do miracles. Yes. That is part of my frustration. I'm waiting for a modern day miracle.
Waiting.Organized Chaoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07096792135498383704noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28629326.post-38941988851531863562012-08-28T12:07:00.000-07:002012-08-28T12:07:53.031-07:00Turning 9!Last week we celebrated Mckenna turning 9! She gathered with the girls from her third grade class at school for a night of bowling. <br />
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Ready to party...considering it was a rainy night I'm glad we went with bowling instead of a swim party! <br />
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Singing happy birthday... <br />
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Organized Chaoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07096792135498383704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28629326.post-42204528641448563362012-08-15T06:52:00.000-07:002012-08-15T06:52:07.824-07:00Back To School!Despite the fact it's only ten days into the month of August...we're starting school in the south! This northern can't get used to the 90 degree tempertures combined with new shoes and packing lunches! It was a fun summer and I always have mixed emotions on the first day of school...the organizer in me enjoys a schedule but I also miss those lazy mornings in our pjs snuggling on the couch. <br />
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Miss Morgan...ready for preschool and MORE then excited! <br />
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Brooke...cute new bob that she has been asking for...minus a tooth after our summer adventures and ready to conquer first grade! <br />
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I know Mckenna is ready for third grade...just not sure that third grade is ready for her! <br />
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The sign says fith grade...her height and shoe size says she is fifteen! Starting off the year at 5'1 and she size 8.5...wonder what she will be like at the end of the year...I think I may be looking up at her! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAT-9EXqM6Sa67gf8sGMu2zagVeGOWnBi6BVFYVG6vyTjkmrrQQW0993y0hCZCSZaNsVYZMF7n7zuWimJuLTFhAroUVKNUFOyUG9oZ52F33h8swSluv8dJaABdwOCFcLVjp_8j/s1600/20120810_1648.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAT-9EXqM6Sa67gf8sGMu2zagVeGOWnBi6BVFYVG6vyTjkmrrQQW0993y0hCZCSZaNsVYZMF7n7zuWimJuLTFhAroUVKNUFOyUG9oZ52F33h8swSluv8dJaABdwOCFcLVjp_8j/s400/20120810_1648.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>
Organized Chaoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07096792135498383704noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28629326.post-54744739330470826762012-07-17T21:04:00.000-07:002012-07-17T21:04:50.973-07:00Michigan TripWe just got back from 17 fun filled days in Michigan with friends...here are some pictures of our fun!
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Sweet Morgan...</div>
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Sleeping Bear Dunes...</div>
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All the kids...Joe, Quinn, Blake, my girls and Elizabeth</div>
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Liz and Baileigh</div>
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The family in Lake Charlevoix</div>
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Mckenna on Lake Huron</div>
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On the Parpart's boat enjoying tubing...</div>
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On the boat waiting for the 4th of July fireworks</div>
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My sweetie...</div>
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So sweet...Daddy and one of his girls</div>
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Tubing fun...all 4!</div>
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At Aunt Tricia's pool</div>
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We got a chance to stop by Taylor!</div>
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Even Ranger had a fun vacation!</div>
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Baileigh is getting so grown up looking!</div>
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My brown eyed girl</div>
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Time with Aunt Laurie in Port Huron</div>
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One of my highlights...getting lots of time with my sweet friends Shelly and Tricia</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin_qpFEjMQa1ep-2QN2_DriTEQlVaEUejqNlYrnvBiRvsKLvZOclwICRTos2qSL96qpc7D0DeuUa5pFxCyqBChMHkcavfCFbvnHaIYIni-NFrPSkEVwIwXz9lLzgEyVigvMoWy/s1600/20120712_1548.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin_qpFEjMQa1ep-2QN2_DriTEQlVaEUejqNlYrnvBiRvsKLvZOclwICRTos2qSL96qpc7D0DeuUa5pFxCyqBChMHkcavfCFbvnHaIYIni-NFrPSkEVwIwXz9lLzgEyVigvMoWy/s400/20120712_1548.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Organized Chaoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07096792135498383704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28629326.post-15616179869322438052012-06-17T20:33:00.000-07:002012-06-17T20:33:03.195-07:00Father's Day 2012We had a great day celebrating daddy! Last year Brad was in the "sandbox" so it was a bittersweet day as we didn't get to enjoy his company. As I took pictures of the girls with Brad today I recalled our photo from two years prior and thought I would compare.
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2010...my girls were only 8, 6, 4 and 15 months.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD06mec3N9zNXC9HBlUriKbVytOFltJ1e-Zlu4VqcFCVebNXbhy7nwVjPCkjuzyMhB678d1MQEc3Wtw27g2mzP7P8Dcwy-MOaBy1U9PTRbKAM3MW10VXzlg0qjCUwSVk2GnKmw/s1600/20120617_1081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD06mec3N9zNXC9HBlUriKbVytOFltJ1e-Zlu4VqcFCVebNXbhy7nwVjPCkjuzyMhB678d1MQEc3Wtw27g2mzP7P8Dcwy-MOaBy1U9PTRbKAM3MW10VXzlg0qjCUwSVk2GnKmw/s320/20120617_1081.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2012...now they are 10, 8, 6 and 3. It's going WAY too fast!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Organized Chaoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07096792135498383704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28629326.post-20991727113496804652012-06-04T13:02:00.003-07:002012-06-04T20:13:44.413-07:00The Olympics...2020?I think often about the parents of Olympic athletes. That may sound funny...but I wonder if <i>I</i> have what it takes to be the parent of an Olympian.<br />
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Usually when we think of the Olympics, we just think of the athletes themselves. But behind every one of those athletes was a person that loved them enough to sacrifice a lot of their own life to sit on bleachers and endure hours of practices each day so that a future Olympian could emerge.<br />
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My eight year old is a natural athlete and a gifted gymnast. She has been on a hiatus now for almost a year from competing that stems from our move to Texas in the fall and our mid year move to Mississippi. Unfortunately the closest gym to our current house is 45 minutes away. And practice at her level is already close to 12 hours a week! It seems like a nice gym and a pretty good program. My biggest hesitation now is figuring out how I make it fair to my other 3 children who also have their own interests that I want to consider and support. If I was just sacrificing my own schedule it would be another situation...but we're a large family and all my kids have a lot of potential that I want to be able to help cultivate.<br />
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This commercial brings me to tears every time. It's the blond haired blue eyed gymnast...I just see my 8 year old when they show her little face. I just wish I knew...what is her future as far as gymnastics? Should we make the drive and sacrifice time so this could be her future. I realize the odds are like winning the lottery, but you don't have a chance of winning the lotto if you don't buy a ticket...she'll never have a shot at any future in gymnastics, even a college scholarship, if she doesn't start training.<br />
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So I pray. And I look at my calendar. And I look into other activities for my other kids. And I stress. And I wonder. And I pray. And I ask my daughter, "are you SURE you're wanting to do this"...and I watch commercials like this and I wonder if <i>I</i> have what it takes!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/NScs_qX2Okk" width="560"></iframe>Organized Chaoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07096792135498383704noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28629326.post-53770000518556879382012-06-02T20:51:00.000-07:002012-06-02T20:51:10.721-07:00"Get Comfortable Being Uncomfortable"In March I accompanied Brad to a week long course designed to prepare commanders and their spouse for their new leadership role. We had the privilege of spending the week with several Generals and their spouses. Of all the things I took away with me from the week, it was a comment made by the spouse of one of the few 4 Star Generals in the Air Force. As this seasoned military wife shared stories of her experiences she said that one of the biggest things she has had to learn was to "<i><b>get comfortable being uncomfortable</b></i>!" Now her stories of being uncomfortable included state dinners, meeting the President, speaking in front of thousands, etc. My uncomfortable world is smaller...and this fact gave me the perspective that there is always someone out there who is probably just as uncomfortable as me if not more.<br />
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This entire post may surprise some who assume I'm rarely uncomfortable. That was my exact thought about Mrs. Rice, the wife of the 4 Star...she seemed very confident and secure. I admit that I try hard to give that same persona...and often it isn't a huge stretch in the sense that I don't mind groups or public speaking...but I confess that I have had to smile and walk into a room of strangers that seem to know what is going on several times this past month and pretend that it doesn't phase me one bit. I have seriously whispered to myself <b><i>"get comfortable being uncomfortable"</i></b> as I opened the door and stepped through into a room where I was truly not comfortable. <br />
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Just yesterday one of my girls was being shy and hesitant about socializing with some other kids in the neighborhood. We were sitting on the curb talking about the situation when I found myself saying to her, <i style="font-weight: bold;">"you need to get comfortable being uncomfortable"</i>. After elaborating about that saying she thought about it and said, "ok"...then she got up and went off to play with the kids she didn't know that well. It made me ponder that perhaps if I had learned to be comfortable being uncomfortable as a kid then I wouldn't truly ever be uncomfortable as an adult.Organized Chaoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07096792135498383704noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28629326.post-85370625502489229532012-05-26T20:30:00.000-07:002012-05-26T20:30:06.210-07:00Memorial Day<div style="text-align: center;">
Take time to remember those that have made the ultimate sacrifice...
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<br />Organized Chaoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07096792135498383704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28629326.post-47205587070121564072012-05-18T18:41:00.000-07:002012-05-18T18:41:07.373-07:00An Opportunity to Command...Yesterday was a special day for our family...Brad took command of the 48th Flying Training Squadron Possum Town Alleycats at Columbus Air Force Base, MS. This is a phenomenal opportunity for Brad and a real honor. I'm so proud of him and I know he'll do a great job in this role. I inherit some of my own responsibilities as a Commander's spouse. I'm fortunate to be in the midst of a great group of spouses that have things running well already.<br />
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The ceremony itself was very patriotic and a neat experience for the girls to witness...<br />
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The actual handing over of command to Brad...<br />
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Addressing the airman of the 48th...<br />
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Making his welcoming remarks...<br />
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Afterwards in a reception line...the girls did a great job with the entire morning<br />
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Pretty fun to have daddy's name on a plane...<br />
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It was nice that Grandma and Grandpa and Nana were able to attend<br />
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A new favorite picture...<br />
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Another picture I like a lot...<br />
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What is there to say about this...4 cute girls in red white and blue sitting on the wing of daddy's plane...it speaks for itself.<br />
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<br />Organized Chaoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07096792135498383704noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28629326.post-38156802927861340742012-05-16T13:21:00.000-07:002012-05-16T13:21:37.929-07:00Kindergarten GraduationBrooke's school had a cute kindergarten graduation to celebrate the end of the school year...cap and gown and all! She was all smiles...SO excited!<br />
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Her class saying the Lord's Prayer...too cute.<br />
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Receiving her diploma from Mrs. Howell...her teacher.<br />
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This was a great half of year for Brooke...considering she we did home school in the fall she did a great job making friends and getting all caught up with her classmates. She is very excited for First Grade!<br />
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<br />Organized Chaoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07096792135498383704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28629326.post-44148228365827469942012-05-15T20:47:00.001-07:002012-05-15T20:47:25.887-07:00Last Day of School...<div style="text-align: justify;">
Can't believe the school year is OVER! May 16 and we're out of school...completely foreign to this Midwest girl who is accustomed to starting school after Labor Day and getting out mid June. So we're off...summer 2012, wonder what is in store!
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First Day of School, 2011 Last Day of School, 2012<br />
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<br /></div>Organized Chaoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07096792135498383704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28629326.post-4696013524013260582012-05-14T11:10:00.000-07:002012-05-14T11:10:10.514-07:00Mother's DayThis Mother's Day was extra special because my mom was in town for the occasion! The girls haven't seen Nana in almost 7 months so they are enjoying having here visit for the week!
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I'm a very blessed mommy!</div>
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Daddy and all his girls!</div>
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<br />Organized Chaoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07096792135498383704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28629326.post-75970542377042515032012-05-10T19:34:00.003-07:002012-05-10T19:37:40.695-07:00<br />
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One week from today...</div>
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Colonel Steven H. Stater<br /> Commander, 14th
Operations Group<br />cordially invites you to attend a<br />Change of Command
Ceremony<br /> at which<br /><strong>Lieutenant Colonel Michael A.
O’Connor</strong> </span><br />
<span class="style1">will relinquish command<br /> of the 48th Flying Training
Squadron to<br /><strong>Lieutenant Colonel James B. Hall </strong></span><br />
<span class="style1">on Thursday,
the seventeenth day of May<br />two thousand and twelve<br />at eight forty-eight
o’clock in the morning<br />BLAZE Hangar<br />Columbus Air Force Base,
Mississippi<br />Reception to follow immediately in the
BLAZE Hangar<br />
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<br />Organized Chaoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07096792135498383704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28629326.post-85723130639895985662012-05-07T19:06:00.000-07:002012-05-07T19:15:40.242-07:00Returning to Columbus...surreal.Returning to Columbus has been surreal. It feels like coming full circle in a sense. For those of you unaware, Columbus was our first assignment in the Air Force. We were known as FAIPS (First Assignment Instructor Pilots). We came here in approximately August of 1998...we were young Lieutenants straight out of pilot training. Low man on the totem pole. We were newlyweds. We were young. We were enthusiastic. We were naive.<br />
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We moved away in the summer of 2001. I had earned my Masters degree. I was pregnant. We left a family of 4.5...hubby and wife, baby to be and our sweet Yellow Lab and Golden Retriever! It was pre the 9/11 days...things were so different. We were so different. We were young. We were enthusiastic. We were naive.<br />
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Fast Forward 11 years. Wow, things have changed. Times have changed. The Air Force has changed. We have changed! Base housing has changed (thank God!). So we return to where we began in so many ways...as a career, as a family etc. We now have 4 kids. We are down to one dog. We've endured years of TDY's and Deployments. Literally. We added "Colonel" behind our title of Lieutenant. Brad has gone from being the Executive Officer to the Commander of the Squadron, to being the Squadron Commander. We aren't as young. Perhaps a little less enthusiastic. Definitely not naive.<br />
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While surreal, coming back has been fun. AETC (Air Education and Training Command) bases are disproportionately young compared to many other air force bases due to the nature of their mission. This type of base trains new pilots...the majority being straight out of college or a service academy. A large number of those students remain at the base for additional three years to be instructors (FAIPS). In light of that there is a big demographic of "kids" here in their young to mid twenties. It makes me feel old and at the same time I'm hoping it keeps me young. I've enjoyed playing intramural volleyball for the first time in ten years. I'm supposed to play in a flag football tournament in a few weeks. It's that college campus type environment and activities that are one of the fun elements of being here and living on base.<br />
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So returning to Columbus has a sense of coming home. We're glad to be here. I'm not saying I wouldn't prefer moving Columbus to a metropolitan area a little further north...but then I guess it wouldn't be Columbus. We have lived places that are "cooler"...both literally and figuratively...but "cool" loses something when you're husband is constantly TDY or deployed for a year. So we're thankful to be together and we're glad to call this small town home for now and to call this community our family.<br />
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<br />Organized Chaoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07096792135498383704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28629326.post-44330485104211574882012-05-05T12:38:00.000-07:002012-05-05T12:39:32.893-07:00Finding Our NicheIt is hard to believe that Mississippi has only been home for less than 5 months! I suppose I should find this fact encouraging as I think about how adjusted life feels in that short amount of time. I already have several junk drawers in the kitchen...isn't that a sign of having lived somewhere awhile? <br />
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The girls are growing up too fast! Baileigh is ten in a half and 5 feet tall. I think by fifth grade I'll be looking her in the eye. Mckenna is 8 and still keeping things exciting! She has started guitar lessons and is still hoping we can figure out how to work gymnastics back into her life (closest gym is in a town 45 minutes away). Brooke is finally starting to read and I'm hoping that she doesn't regress this summer. Morgan,despite being three, keeps up with her older sister's schedule and pace. She is a roller coaster...more highs than lows thankfully.<br />
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A highlight to this move to MS is that the girls have been able to attend a small private Christian school. It is SO much like my school growing up that I attended K-12! It's crazy for me to think about the fact that I spent 13 years in one school and my ten year old is already on her third school in fourth grade (and it would be her fourth if I hadn't home schooled briefly this past fall!). The tight knit community and small environment of their school have been a good fit for the girls...instead of being eaten alive in a big pool they have quickly gained acceptance and have each seemed to find their own niche.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZI_j-PkVbSDmqxEqoJlYsFU4XDFyE2RycLDww3DUoSTm0cjeQlL4NnFroiwLpqVIglciGw9mIfCMMVN6EAQnNRWylbh7nComp3IsudiEA5_JrPSjJPk4xqyM1cbRyFIq78xGQ/s1600/20120408_0312.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZI_j-PkVbSDmqxEqoJlYsFU4XDFyE2RycLDww3DUoSTm0cjeQlL4NnFroiwLpqVIglciGw9mIfCMMVN6EAQnNRWylbh7nComp3IsudiEA5_JrPSjJPk4xqyM1cbRyFIq78xGQ/s400/20120408_0312.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Organized Chaoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07096792135498383704noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28629326.post-39253132116133555372012-05-03T20:01:00.000-07:002012-05-03T20:06:44.900-07:00I'm Back! Take Two!Okay...Take 2!
I know I posted a few months back saying I was back to blogging. And then, as you can see...I quickly failed!
I've spent all day contemplating my first post as I make my return...again...but I'm just so excited about the look of my new blog that I can't wait to be inspired. And, as you can see, I'm not inpired.
But I am excited, and I figured that is good enough. So I'm back in the blogging saddle. I know you're all thrilled...well, maybe just my mom! I know blogging has taken a backseat to Twitter and Facebook these days...but it is still unique in and of itself that it offers a format more similar to journaling.
My beautiful refaced blog is thanks to my talented friend, <a href="http://www.moritzfinedesigns.com/index.php">Heather</a>. She does lots of other great things so check out her site!
Maybe I'll gain some new readers off of FB...let me know if you visit. I figure if I build it they will come...so I'm building.Organized Chaoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07096792135498383704noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28629326.post-45802688129334268992012-01-14T11:41:00.000-08:002012-01-14T11:56:42.481-08:00A New Year, A New StateMy poor blog...so neglected. In my defense, life has been busy. Since my last post I was busy with: a surprise 40th anniversary party for Brad's parents, Thanksgiving, stomach bug, packing, moving, unpacking, holidays, unpacking, unpacking, new school, unpacking etc.<br /><br />These are both excuses and reasons why I haven't posted in so long. So now that I find myself with a rare twenty minutes (that I should be unpacking) I have decided to touch base with my blog. One more excuse is that I've been waiting on updating my header before I became faithful to my blog...but my creative friend who has done my blog also moved over the holidays and experienced short term apartment living as well so I completely understand why she has been too busy to worry about the look of my blog! <br /><br />So for any of those that are't aware of our changes via Facebook...we are now in Mississippi at Columbus Air Force Base. Returning to this base has been surreal...we were hear from 1998 to 2001. We were a very different family then...a family of 2 humans and 2 dogs. Now we're 2 humans, 4 kids and 1 dog. More and more this is starting to feel like home and we look forward to making more friends and getting plugged in at a church.<br /><br />I'm taking baby steps so that is all for this post. More to come soon...I hope!Organized Chaoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07096792135498383704noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28629326.post-37801675862501688072011-11-13T12:44:00.000-08:002011-11-13T12:56:31.912-08:00HalloweenI can't believe Halloween was already two weeks ago...seems like it was a few days ago.<br /><br />This year I had a karate kid...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4nNQIeLO0FFIaJnk3afKwkhWGhvH_dtTW3D2NxJPWxur9H0XuHQOnfja7rI36lmKX6aP8ToW0aylwlPR5zxQakv0BqzilILoF-dnl09Rvuq2T6SzneIZT6PcCCxDJdwkpKgW9/s1600/20111031_6085.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5674585167855186226" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4nNQIeLO0FFIaJnk3afKwkhWGhvH_dtTW3D2NxJPWxur9H0XuHQOnfja7rI36lmKX6aP8ToW0aylwlPR5zxQakv0BqzilILoF-dnl09Rvuq2T6SzneIZT6PcCCxDJdwkpKgW9/s400/20111031_6085.JPG" /></a> A hippy...<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqmy96Jswm-im825-zBSMFfdcELsvzP2iY-YvhJIDJ6XpO_Tlkq_x0K-AuaXXuumHdq69F8RlIMK7b3fyOxYo_h8jdXHVNU5ADahtn-fqEiNkpkayDmKKKIDsKUpKzZj-woWKI/s1600/20111031_6081.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5674585161214592338" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqmy96Jswm-im825-zBSMFfdcELsvzP2iY-YvhJIDJ6XpO_Tlkq_x0K-AuaXXuumHdq69F8RlIMK7b3fyOxYo_h8jdXHVNU5ADahtn-fqEiNkpkayDmKKKIDsKUpKzZj-woWKI/s400/20111031_6081.JPG" /></a>My bumble bee...<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJOCch9Ni87BFdi64fcQhtl890rIzBzdYXz4d1tOm_BsPsMYJCiTLjHVILOF5HVRUWYBYjm4l-KVfB_O0qbCIDvwJgBm-xYpP1GfPGVh5dOxqgBhQtLLkxO51DiJXg1ov4bcTP/s1600/20111031_6075.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5674585155013622978" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJOCch9Ni87BFdi64fcQhtl890rIzBzdYXz4d1tOm_BsPsMYJCiTLjHVILOF5HVRUWYBYjm4l-KVfB_O0qbCIDvwJgBm-xYpP1GfPGVh5dOxqgBhQtLLkxO51DiJXg1ov4bcTP/s400/20111031_6075.JPG" /></a> And a Michigan cheerleader...<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpkPNyqjUx9MCYCm0GOc5DD9qaufccDGwgq6C6YjwnwUCTOPf2okthyG8LXfAIPAW5fylYiUK1bN2I_fsKzz0V-PJq22rvBFfFUqE4_noNuR1aPot9a8zyBtM8PMd01qQ9Qjay/s1600/20111031_6073.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5674585152666374722" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpkPNyqjUx9MCYCm0GOc5DD9qaufccDGwgq6C6YjwnwUCTOPf2okthyG8LXfAIPAW5fylYiUK1bN2I_fsKzz0V-PJq22rvBFfFUqE4_noNuR1aPot9a8zyBtM8PMd01qQ9Qjay/s400/20111031_6073.JPG" /></a>My gang. Because we're living in an apartment right now we went to our church for their fall festival. The girls enjoyed playing the various carnival games to earn candy. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQt80G3N825Hr6kEGv3OLn3xZP48KrC3BgKzWwBB2eQrkZ16j5vUcNLYawzpcxfE9FEa5hyXUO198yizG1LwepgBNxjkrVY2YgkNdAq-iRHTbFlEi9ea5otpfhnc4CfSlTyLpe/s1600/20111031_6093.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 285px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5674585186190041458" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQt80G3N825Hr6kEGv3OLn3xZP48KrC3BgKzWwBB2eQrkZ16j5vUcNLYawzpcxfE9FEa5hyXUO198yizG1LwepgBNxjkrVY2YgkNdAq-iRHTbFlEi9ea5otpfhnc4CfSlTyLpe/s400/20111031_6093.JPG" /></a> Everyone was having a good time until we realized we had lost Morgan! We essentially walked away from her after a game...making us the parents of the year! She was only "missing" for about 2 minutes...but it was long enough that we all decided we were ready to go home afterwards! When we found her she just wanted to be held by Daddy.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCc_O4VfRszvpItmaGLd-oTx1wUq3xTrQQ3aJXyzF2KGRcd22-6ZL4x0UJp3d4smF1ET6IisxmKAIvM7BnE37uQc_U6AWtWfTEn30ooJ9IPwhfTk1-yVLaLtOJimlBLI92pH_h/s1600/20111031_6109.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5674586581331487186" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCc_O4VfRszvpItmaGLd-oTx1wUq3xTrQQ3aJXyzF2KGRcd22-6ZL4x0UJp3d4smF1ET6IisxmKAIvM7BnE37uQc_U6AWtWfTEn30ooJ9IPwhfTk1-yVLaLtOJimlBLI92pH_h/s400/20111031_6109.JPG" /></a></div></div></div>Organized Chaoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07096792135498383704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28629326.post-57423793207014875372011-10-17T22:10:00.000-07:002011-10-17T22:13:03.234-07:00Be Afraid...We're trying something new while we're in San Antonio...karate! All three girls were excited about the idea and were able to participate in the same class, so I was sold!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3AEG6TmZFPsWdGMt7T0AjGTacJygRN5_FlRGznk5IuRFrOwxNzfHL2TIcG0iJJeUuUkcivb2JNZ2ni9UmwSfvDvlXSX9QUkkAlUE6MeHuVlBfBK0Qs7dGdlVXQRJaWGQgKAwS/s1600/20111005_5486.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3AEG6TmZFPsWdGMt7T0AjGTacJygRN5_FlRGznk5IuRFrOwxNzfHL2TIcG0iJJeUuUkcivb2JNZ2ni9UmwSfvDvlXSX9QUkkAlUE6MeHuVlBfBK0Qs7dGdlVXQRJaWGQgKAwS/s400/20111005_5486.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664695528447747554" /></a>I figure this is good training in self defense for when they start dating.Organized Chaoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07096792135498383704noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28629326.post-51819034468666214022011-09-19T19:49:00.000-07:002011-09-19T20:12:07.572-07:00Back To School!This year is a first for us...home schooling! In order to spend the fall with Brad in San Antonio it obviously meant changing schools. Considering we would be moving again around Christmas we made the decision to home school this fall. It has allowed us the opportunity to see a lot of Brad the the flexibility to go to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Cleburne</span>, TX a lot to see Brad's family.<div><br /></div><div>Despite not being in a traditional classroom we had to take the obligatory "back to school" pictures! This fall starts Kindergarten for Brooke! Hard to believe...it will be sad to have her gone all day with her sisters in January. Morgan loves having all her sisters around to play with and she will have a rude awakening in a few months.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg18klte4yT54tabjOXdrBFrzFOkGIiJy-ote6DuuBHx10cZNXZZKeNpAYKqL6xODLj7r-mb8jyxPczkmz5blkoLGOcd0E6PcEimBDrF-F7mmrHs_j3e9nF-DzbShW8W-mC5Vca/s1600/IMG_1805.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg18klte4yT54tabjOXdrBFrzFOkGIiJy-ote6DuuBHx10cZNXZZKeNpAYKqL6xODLj7r-mb8jyxPczkmz5blkoLGOcd0E6PcEimBDrF-F7mmrHs_j3e9nF-DzbShW8W-mC5Vca/s400/IMG_1805.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654270283645836130" /></a>Brooke picked this lunch box because it had a matching ice pack that looked like the doggy...she was sold!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSXEmU23g_W_SnupJqkgUhdX5Bg5CaDYE1DGPz406pdGGHeStyTeqa2PrpMWpFbzRai3hULPFafRdaeiPJvIUWknXvXpO6IvyBK4AyTqix5GepW-uxxB9rdfaLPmV-C7x1y1jt/s1600/IMG_1806.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSXEmU23g_W_SnupJqkgUhdX5Bg5CaDYE1DGPz406pdGGHeStyTeqa2PrpMWpFbzRai3hULPFafRdaeiPJvIUWknXvXpO6IvyBK4AyTqix5GepW-uxxB9rdfaLPmV-C7x1y1jt/s400/IMG_1806.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654270287457294482" /></a><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Mckenna's</span> 2<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">nd</span> grade year! She just turned 8 and continues to keep us on our toes...next picture proving my point.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNVU9Y6Ml6Oc5T6TJBpVidUATRJ3SqiD2AWw2N0Y0k8LBUxUKcevn3T_djfJoudY_mow1YduuM1iq5cQ2xGdEoUPQ0fMo8fZvytRokxm4k3KDc3x34QlJdQ9-60MzhAfsY4pbv/s1600/IMG_1817.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNVU9Y6Ml6Oc5T6TJBpVidUATRJ3SqiD2AWw2N0Y0k8LBUxUKcevn3T_djfJoudY_mow1YduuM1iq5cQ2xGdEoUPQ0fMo8fZvytRokxm4k3KDc3x34QlJdQ9-60MzhAfsY4pbv/s400/IMG_1817.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654269390673751010" /></a>This is the result of her accident on August 1...rollerblading and kicked over a glass vase in the garage and fell on it. 14 stitches and now we're off to see a plastic surgeon tomorrow to see if there is anything more they can do to help its appearance.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzHG1ZVrreWS0MDdR5UbIa-nlGYgpIdBGjAFFVCIpSB5_JJALY5YpgXOI2_4ch-zM0h_lYdCZXOJXBShWrCLbN2ilgxaXj65Rlf_4rx0VCyTsLG7p2Z-XDJWw_S41bEwz7l67d/s1600/IMG_1821.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzHG1ZVrreWS0MDdR5UbIa-nlGYgpIdBGjAFFVCIpSB5_JJALY5YpgXOI2_4ch-zM0h_lYdCZXOJXBShWrCLbN2ilgxaXj65Rlf_4rx0VCyTsLG7p2Z-XDJWw_S41bEwz7l67d/s400/IMG_1821.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654270279565998226" /></a>Doesn't stop her spunk, beauty and enthusiasm...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju5A9ktn9fGd-DUsGJ73V4XT_EAWioGyLrH2R8lycK3ykq-gFc4zEUYz1_mNXAAyDfJjgtICtddaSHgAC7_ruYOcavaBbtjdot-7tgEkdwAOsET4epJGxzDfFea9QEKS1be9Ve/s1600/IMG_1816.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju5A9ktn9fGd-DUsGJ73V4XT_EAWioGyLrH2R8lycK3ykq-gFc4zEUYz1_mNXAAyDfJjgtICtddaSHgAC7_ruYOcavaBbtjdot-7tgEkdwAOsET4epJGxzDfFea9QEKS1be9Ve/s400/IMG_1816.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654269384969622434" /></a>Last but not least...my 4<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">th</span> grader! Almost 5ft and wearing a size 6 shoe, yet only 9!!!!! Imagine by her teen years. I am enjoying kissing her forehead while I can...soon I'll barely be able to kiss her chin.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAcOFvdxzsHv899VpOvvq_IcAEFi9Tjouj09v-BTlQov0zjc1O0_zIHf50dVlynCQvRcEeNfoRUfCkMwKdvNV3hJGxWFPz0SvZEaEFGkn1wLoTYQfZHwv7nfvHBFLv7L1fpP-2/s1600/IMG_1811.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAcOFvdxzsHv899VpOvvq_IcAEFi9Tjouj09v-BTlQov0zjc1O0_zIHf50dVlynCQvRcEeNfoRUfCkMwKdvNV3hJGxWFPz0SvZEaEFGkn1wLoTYQfZHwv7nfvHBFLv7L1fpP-2/s400/IMG_1811.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654269383357459234" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ_F66OWGqwjoshcQgYzTp9z2h6lzDHfbAh99IrQQGQkIlLRy8i0XewYzNMVpc9Nrv4Ofq9xVQZRNvUdk2Cq4SIa0c8gmJ2Zf1RQM1jKEV3dK9gD1vvZNtxFkiOmC-sglhvFj_/s1600/IMG_1808.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ_F66OWGqwjoshcQgYzTp9z2h6lzDHfbAh99IrQQGQkIlLRy8i0XewYzNMVpc9Nrv4Ofq9xVQZRNvUdk2Cq4SIa0c8gmJ2Zf1RQM1jKEV3dK9gD1vvZNtxFkiOmC-sglhvFj_/s400/IMG_1808.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654269375135187762" /></a>Three of the four...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifu1M3PUygtDuVADp_j1w08YMoEQPEb9s72RWhL09flv8XWwaG2wadNcA5xxoWMUJ7nuNN2PbWv2BzV_0IqLjhrAoldViBf3yUvalkNRfeH7KSQkfEcppf5Wycgct17PRp2bhu/s1600/IMG_1827.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifu1M3PUygtDuVADp_j1w08YMoEQPEb9s72RWhL09flv8XWwaG2wadNcA5xxoWMUJ7nuNN2PbWv2BzV_0IqLjhrAoldViBf3yUvalkNRfeH7KSQkfEcppf5Wycgct17PRp2bhu/s400/IMG_1827.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654269371475821458" /></a></div>Organized Chaoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07096792135498383704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28629326.post-4698018755300984552011-09-19T14:32:00.001-07:002011-09-19T15:37:08.430-07:00The presentI'm so far behind on this blog that I keep trying to figure out how and when to catch up...I finally decided today that there is no time like the present. Today. Now.<br /><br />Short summary.<br /><br />Brad has been home almost 2 months.<br /><br />One month ago we said goodbye to VA and we moved across country into our temporary home in San Antonio.<br /><br />I'm home schooling the girls until we make our "<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">permanent</span>" move to MS...sometime around mid to late December.<br /><br />We're keeping busy and enjoying the family time.<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Geesh</span>...two months in 4 sentences! Very uncharacteristic of me!<br /><br />Current day...Morgan is potty training/trained. She is doing great and I'm anxious to be past the phase where I'm visiting every bathroom in the greater San Antonio suburbs.<br /><br />Older 3 girls are doing karate twice a week and love it...pictures soon. Morgan takes a tumbling class and listens so well to her teacher.<br /><br />Brad is about to hit the flight line in the T-1...wrapping up academics and simulators.<br /><br />We're enjoying the time together as a family, but it feels like a vacation, not a move.<br /><br />We miss our VA friends.<br /><br />Here are a few pictures from Brad's return that I never posted...we were fortunate to have someone from Operation Love come to the homecoming and capture the moment. <div><br /></div><div>I also hope to have a few pictures from a going away party that friends threw for us...waiting on pictures from a friend (ahem...Desi!;)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLChKLd7Uk7BiBpdSTtpVX9nqMcsY1dcO_nI3DOy_Rn-D71RHkjWxitFv6n3tgmH3Hsy5M4AXqdY2jgCyaYo9UgbYm86SpMQX21e9xeln46Gba3KFAC7BeJ_GPS3IYA7HASdX_/s1600/072711_0022.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLChKLd7Uk7BiBpdSTtpVX9nqMcsY1dcO_nI3DOy_Rn-D71RHkjWxitFv6n3tgmH3Hsy5M4AXqdY2jgCyaYo9UgbYm86SpMQX21e9xeln46Gba3KFAC7BeJ_GPS3IYA7HASdX_/s400/072711_0022.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654192048533929730" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCe1Ew5zo9aW9uKVH2PQ5pjMwCgiHOkkA7WmbI-RWvGpgYYici3aJrG0qH5FqRTCW42szKY4DNp6vd4Tq5JSIwmuvqZUvhQsomU1UV3CCkKVasEjmzsbdIYzPT60RYJ7XJ8N0P/s1600/072711_0013.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCe1Ew5zo9aW9uKVH2PQ5pjMwCgiHOkkA7WmbI-RWvGpgYYici3aJrG0qH5FqRTCW42szKY4DNp6vd4Tq5JSIwmuvqZUvhQsomU1UV3CCkKVasEjmzsbdIYzPT60RYJ7XJ8N0P/s400/072711_0013.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654191368089844514" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkyCkl8obZb3h8FstieP6G9DogKqwuPyVDsGJSURP3nNZHk0JGCcAMGZQAyzRw7J5k7YUTJN5sDzsGZFybO9DAvbqiYiiCLBSWHs082qr5gGecM3InnidPRMXNd-GGpdbi7q8M/s1600/072711_0033.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkyCkl8obZb3h8FstieP6G9DogKqwuPyVDsGJSURP3nNZHk0JGCcAMGZQAyzRw7J5k7YUTJN5sDzsGZFybO9DAvbqiYiiCLBSWHs082qr5gGecM3InnidPRMXNd-GGpdbi7q8M/s400/072711_0033.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654192719086704850" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp6kzq0mo2KyDhYOOWnONm8O5U5okzKGrIUXUENViJQNpIxksVTRZrCSWJR5gb0pVzTHkGyZMg1Eo8QHOD5zwdIpV5ZycsLjkD8L7sj6D4s0RGENb0Te-zLLFXOmX-CGypnUPT/s1600/072711_0066.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp6kzq0mo2KyDhYOOWnONm8O5U5okzKGrIUXUENViJQNpIxksVTRZrCSWJR5gb0pVzTHkGyZMg1Eo8QHOD5zwdIpV5ZycsLjkD8L7sj6D4s0RGENb0Te-zLLFXOmX-CGypnUPT/s400/072711_0066.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654193437212741858" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDT6uGv_gqX3AC32TqyOKTxUssMcr3XgnTdnH27Qc74oB7JEPLVIwabj3rNQaToqNiIlg-iylnRg4ZmJu0hwIpG32PNBrEvx69leAVL-ghQBWTiXi4ivDIKOwhdtvvRQBT8bJX/s1600/072711_0347.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDT6uGv_gqX3AC32TqyOKTxUssMcr3XgnTdnH27Qc74oB7JEPLVIwabj3rNQaToqNiIlg-iylnRg4ZmJu0hwIpG32PNBrEvx69leAVL-ghQBWTiXi4ivDIKOwhdtvvRQBT8bJX/s400/072711_0347.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654194231565814850" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ3Nzii0rPLP5ktirXqe-wl60t7YxMOSXZL9I35wGdlYze55Rv_a3Bse41l7WHwL2Elft-XEWh5vAoIBdHyOFd61NReXYupP-eB59vo45BvE8ROSyqdpr1gqKDh-_c0wx5keDJ/s1600/072711_0371.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ3Nzii0rPLP5ktirXqe-wl60t7YxMOSXZL9I35wGdlYze55Rv_a3Bse41l7WHwL2Elft-XEWh5vAoIBdHyOFd61NReXYupP-eB59vo45BvE8ROSyqdpr1gqKDh-_c0wx5keDJ/s400/072711_0371.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654195344772918306" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><u><br /></u></span></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHnxWYL_y0oPxlRlg8Y3gPAlCfCMLM5IXHBW8xYVWk3F0yXy6Kb8XXXvIdq_GT4RvcgrOFi3wyPUZSS13wNOEvZzVBa5s9VMVtI666PQuSxaw1pFYgs7WA9EzI3mk8wdX0SyNH/s1600/072711_0407.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHnxWYL_y0oPxlRlg8Y3gPAlCfCMLM5IXHBW8xYVWk3F0yXy6Kb8XXXvIdq_GT4RvcgrOFi3wyPUZSS13wNOEvZzVBa5s9VMVtI666PQuSxaw1pFYgs7WA9EzI3mk8wdX0SyNH/s400/072711_0407.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654197782187860882" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUpB7SFzCjovf8pdBJb00mHtbR4J68RxgnOpOcXGMGsEwqV599w2on68E4GwIdDw2Xbo3XIXn6tGaidRXMI201Sr31i5QMspHIfGdzUlUY6OPs_YF0royWl7xEffqVW-YweI3Y/s1600/072711_0527.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUpB7SFzCjovf8pdBJb00mHtbR4J68RxgnOpOcXGMGsEwqV599w2on68E4GwIdDw2Xbo3XIXn6tGaidRXMI201Sr31i5QMspHIfGdzUlUY6OPs_YF0royWl7xEffqVW-YweI3Y/s400/072711_0527.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654197789641582594" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLf4q2OJdcoqLU_KpoUZb3HFLxvOP-PAaTtZoI9tmzk8c8zt5CrDeE8EurjD2tTZ1gcx5nl30Tzu_9kxGNnFkSBPjraFqg6mKG379u69usp5N0e9XnXj-00EYxbGdfv5hOr9tD/s1600/072711_0562.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLf4q2OJdcoqLU_KpoUZb3HFLxvOP-PAaTtZoI9tmzk8c8zt5CrDeE8EurjD2tTZ1gcx5nl30Tzu_9kxGNnFkSBPjraFqg6mKG379u69usp5N0e9XnXj-00EYxbGdfv5hOr9tD/s400/072711_0562.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654200696562239746" /></a><br /></div>Organized Chaoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07096792135498383704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28629326.post-18430545827110203132011-08-11T12:07:00.001-07:002011-08-11T12:20:54.620-07:00Welcome Home! Goodbye!I haven't published in several weeks for a few reason...the primary being that I couldn't! I was having problems with my blog and couldn't publish my posts.
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<br />But I'm back...obviously.
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<br />In the past two weeks Brad returned home! Yeah! Pictures to follow soon.
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<br />The reason I can't post pictures at the present moment is that the CD is in a box...
<br />because we're moving.
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<br />Thus the goodbye.
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<br />As I type the movers are loading the truck...ironically that means I finally have a few minutes to just sit and wait and as a result Brad had a chance to look at my blog and was able to correct the issues that had plagued me for weeks.
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<br />Tomorrow our residency in VA becomes history.
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<br />This move is very surreal at the moment. I've been "selling this house" since January...since I bought and assembled a new desk for Brad's office in anticipation of staging the house. Since I started shopping realtors in March. Since I started making sure that the garbage can was completely full every time I set the can at the corner in order to start the process of decluttering. Then the realtors. Meeting them. Interviewing them. Selecting them. Then the cleaning. The staging. The listing. The offers!
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<br />It truly has gone smoothly for the most part and we really couldn't ask for more. Brad's hard work payed off andthe house was easy to sell. But the process is still long and exhausting...and I am ready to be done with it...yet not ready to leave.
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<br />We've truly enjoyed these three years. This is Morgan's birthplace. This is the first move the older girls will really remember. This is the house we remodeled. This is where we've made great friends.
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<br />This is going to be hard to leave.
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<br />This is not goodbye...we like to say this is "until next time".
<br />Organized Chaoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07096792135498383704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28629326.post-35258522214681722902011-07-22T18:00:00.000-07:002011-08-11T12:06:55.459-07:00MI Vacation RecapOver the fourth of July I took the girls up to MI to visit friends and family. This is the third year we've had the priviledge of doing this trip...I'm not sure it will be possible next year once we move so I was soaking in every moment and enjoying it in spite of Brad's absence.
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<br />We took the scenic way to MI and made a visit to Taylor University. The girls have heard stories of my college years and it was really fun to spend time with them on campus.
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz0WAEGduaWJtmn7Wd9lTMpkG-AuQ03vUWWbSD0NQzJ5kx9Qlo3V-uimwEte1kmMiBa9_CN_ol-d0HiKZ6-y-fbe5GHciOL8X3xgZpUp2GXOCxV8g2BExMMDVjl_BVC9s0PpPf/s1600/IMG_1002.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632347437169695026" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz0WAEGduaWJtmn7Wd9lTMpkG-AuQ03vUWWbSD0NQzJ5kx9Qlo3V-uimwEte1kmMiBa9_CN_ol-d0HiKZ6-y-fbe5GHciOL8X3xgZpUp2GXOCxV8g2BExMMDVjl_BVC9s0PpPf/s320/IMG_1002.JPG" /></a>
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<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtqT8nesW7ISMsLG435-zsABxptm0AkRkxeQeK2hoV9qmj8QqRr1HKpr2QagznZZ3ugD5gGOTNqV2V4XrpFBV1yXaiz0lTm4F4KFluiw7Xly_n6e8dsoXyIqhRSB37Lpo39VaN/s1600/DSC_0644.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632347448828514210" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtqT8nesW7ISMsLG435-zsABxptm0AkRkxeQeK2hoV9qmj8QqRr1HKpr2QagznZZ3ugD5gGOTNqV2V4XrpFBV1yXaiz0lTm4F4KFluiw7Xly_n6e8dsoXyIqhRSB37Lpo39VaN/s320/DSC_0644.JPG" /></a>
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<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHE_pHX9V2j5bHqK-hb66A0_qCT9LtqxC-Jw26rwQYO7Fh4FchnEs0QsyN0MBRlrfmTxc3lcjT6BkpXevYBuO2ftkgjTiaadRqiqicJrikPjK9J0HH8gfARldGtGwaeRFjz2DX/s1600/IMG_1018.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632347452353509762" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHE_pHX9V2j5bHqK-hb66A0_qCT9LtqxC-Jw26rwQYO7Fh4FchnEs0QsyN0MBRlrfmTxc3lcjT6BkpXevYBuO2ftkgjTiaadRqiqicJrikPjK9J0HH8gfARldGtGwaeRFjz2DX/s320/IMG_1018.JPG" /></a>
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<br /><div>We enjoyed the fourth in my friend Tricia's new pool while watching the Blue Angels flying over...
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi5nvuXDNTKWHwHQCWKENIKUgRMNxTRKSHMEYg9VRvt57-o4dfh-u7tg44RFVjsdMu62xKN6OV1cZMwp0Rpb4uDPnUWSafHavja7J32EFyot_CA6jbcYk4IBzsHsRhgnHa7nHC/s1600/me+and+morgan.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632347462043991346" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi5nvuXDNTKWHwHQCWKENIKUgRMNxTRKSHMEYg9VRvt57-o4dfh-u7tg44RFVjsdMu62xKN6OV1cZMwp0Rpb4uDPnUWSafHavja7J32EFyot_CA6jbcYk4IBzsHsRhgnHa7nHC/s320/me+and+morgan.jpg" /></a>
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_r1BHM4ptBDmf4IqSXyQOLL716dBd9E8X5IF2HeyzimEUu8JTkaSX4W_8RcNHJ1xgk-URmvkTMmyrNdDaJvT-ESy1UlsMu8gYrHVBkaXrZFG_7igc9NG_QXJ-mS5iNtp7MjBI/s1600/IMG_1382.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632349204815532514" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_r1BHM4ptBDmf4IqSXyQOLL716dBd9E8X5IF2HeyzimEUu8JTkaSX4W_8RcNHJ1xgk-URmvkTMmyrNdDaJvT-ESy1UlsMu8gYrHVBkaXrZFG_7igc9NG_QXJ-mS5iNtp7MjBI/s320/IMG_1382.JPG" /></a> </div>
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<br /><div>The girls continue to love tubing and seem to never grow tired of it...
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwqJqvh9rsRBxar3b13eq-T_38sz07gLw-Bc52HV0Rj7N8inx_WPuDAZ5wcssoi_st63XT6d3RlPWRf4LzHwqgLvq6uVknPNpqevzzgmK4ilT6gBKilUQ-Y6NbMf2A92fc1bWI/s1600/IMG_1357.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632349198909189186" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwqJqvh9rsRBxar3b13eq-T_38sz07gLw-Bc52HV0Rj7N8inx_WPuDAZ5wcssoi_st63XT6d3RlPWRf4LzHwqgLvq6uVknPNpqevzzgmK4ilT6gBKilUQ-Y6NbMf2A92fc1bWI/s320/IMG_1357.JPG" /></a>
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<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-y6IjJDGvzYekqvc32nzZnBEkTdYe_bXUkI_qEX70QhNi_Ec744g64CgiFj-Sy-i7sWxGnYoHoDNxVSPdhdlBkJcMAur4aSUPp1D9FMRSyikQj6AgWlj2ML5yVIMCcSZWLVs9/s1600/IMG_1356.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632349196424584850" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-y6IjJDGvzYekqvc32nzZnBEkTdYe_bXUkI_qEX70QhNi_Ec744g64CgiFj-Sy-i7sWxGnYoHoDNxVSPdhdlBkJcMAur4aSUPp1D9FMRSyikQj6AgWlj2ML5yVIMCcSZWLVs9/s320/IMG_1356.JPG" /></a>
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<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPTPkhhA4FDrVVwO498eyi7CkIqbV2_utu3xn0actrMK6L-VG5zo3T8TKf6OCnwQZWajslKxFdarYhXm9tIDCjRWVN-x4WZP3MUIFo5F8W-Ghd9fG14Bs6nlgrWzitu38Y46mh/s1600/IMG_1182.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 213px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632349193052516978" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPTPkhhA4FDrVVwO498eyi7CkIqbV2_utu3xn0actrMK6L-VG5zo3T8TKf6OCnwQZWajslKxFdarYhXm9tIDCjRWVN-x4WZP3MUIFo5F8W-Ghd9fG14Bs6nlgrWzitu38Y46mh/s320/IMG_1182.JPG" /></a>
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<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH7uis6SurUSIW3Go18yskZAv4fEqWje3tQoNdjL-zONlg2Hs95W8BvzguoZ49hpHiiBmggdB9Gol6OXczPG_QxBxQoR6y1aZHsVh9QOx7Gh8EQ4ggtJnBO30e2zO7X6jmNvOs/s1600/IMG_1273.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632349187081701490" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH7uis6SurUSIW3Go18yskZAv4fEqWje3tQoNdjL-zONlg2Hs95W8BvzguoZ49hpHiiBmggdB9Gol6OXczPG_QxBxQoR6y1aZHsVh9QOx7Gh8EQ4ggtJnBO30e2zO7X6jmNvOs/s320/IMG_1273.JPG" /></a>
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<br />Organized Chaoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07096792135498383704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28629326.post-10466893938940592802011-07-13T17:47:00.000-07:002011-07-13T18:31:27.834-07:00FingerprintsI was a monster tonight! <br /><br />So much so that just moments ago I finished the "<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">good nights</span>" and felt the need to come straight to this keyboard to confess.<br /><br />My girls spent the final hour of the evening up in one of their bedrooms having a dance party. I made the decision at the time to let them carry on in exchange for some alone time. I can't say "quiet time" because all I could hear was the pounding bass of their music and so much stomping and pounding that I seriously thought my four young daughters must have somehow managed to sneak in dozens of Irish dancers through their bedroom window. <br /><br />When it was time for bed I discovered they had decorated for their dance party. I feel in part that I am partially to blame for their obsessive need to party prep, but despite both that strength and character flaw I was frustrated to discover much of my earlier efforts towards cleanliness had been destroyed. I confess it wasn't something that would take more than 10 minutes to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">rectify</span>, but based upon my dramatic reaction you would have thought that an exterior wall of the house was missing.<br /><br />My girls quickly scattered to escape the wrath of monster mama...I continued to rant and rave while tossing baby dolls in the air and kicking cute little party conversation areas apart like I was a big bad giant. While the creativity of the snack station that included tea cups filled with water and small saucers with crumbled up granola bars wasn't lost on me, all I could see was the bits and pieces of granola stuck in the carpet on the house we previously owned and now rent! For several minutes I continued my tirade. The girls all miraculously found their <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">pj's</span> and brushed their teeth and hid beneath their covers in record setting pace.<br /><br />During my <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">outburst</span> I found myself having one of those out of body type experiences you hear about. Maybe a better way to explain it was the visual of the good angel and devil on each shoulder. Part of me felt justified with my response and wanted to continue to unleash on my girls in a manner <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">unfitting</span> for the crime...the other part of me was being reminded of what a wise woman said to me over our recent vacation.<br /><br />While in MI for the 4<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">th</span> of July holiday we spent a little time with Nana II. Nana II was Mrs. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">Hovis</span> to me growing up...or even better known as Tricia's mom, one of my dearest friends. Last year my girls asked her what they should call her...she sweetly said, "you can call me Nana, too" since that is how her own two grandchildren refer to her. My girls <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">interpreted</span> that as Nana II since my own mom is Nana...so now we have Nana and Nana II. <br /><br />Nana II has always made her home feel like my home. And since I have almost 30 years of memories in her house it truly feels like home and holds more history for me than any other house in MI where I now visit. This was the first opportunity we've had to stay with her and as I crawled into bed in my friend's old childhood room I recalled several of our sleepovers in that very spot. I thought about how long ago that was and how it seemed like yesterday. I thought about the 6 months I've been a single parent in theory and how in 6 years I'm sure this period will seem so long ago and yet it will seem like yesterday. <br /><br />My mind went back to a moment earlier that day at lunch when I told one of my girls to keep her dirty hands of the window. Nana II quickly piped up and said not to worry about it at all...she said how she misses fingerprints on the windows. I've heard similar <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">phraseology</span> before...but at that moment I was suddenly silenced. A true feat if you know me.<br /><br />I thought about my reaction to fingerprints all over the window. Usually frustration or e<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">xasperation</span>. Not appreciation.<br /><br />Tonight as the mamma monster was unleashed a small voice inside my head was telling me to appreciate the fingerprints. To shrug off the sticky granola on the carpet. To smile at the decorations. To realize the fingerprints will be gone before I know it. A memory. Like this deployment. Perhaps not always a chapter I want to repeat, but at least the wisdom and acknowledgment that each phase has its beauty in its own way if I can just learn to look beyond the ugly.<br /><br />The good angel won tonight, after m<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">omma</span> monster had a private melt down and was dismissed in the confines of the laundry room. I went back to each daughter and laid on her bed and apologized. I explained that I have a lot of reasons for my frustrations but truly no excuses and I was wrong. If there is anything I want my kids to be able to say about me when they grow up is that I was able to admit when I'm wrong and say I'm sorry. I think its pretty empowering for a kid to hear their parents confess their own weaknesses. Each girl forgave me and also apologized. Of course these sweet tender moments at a time of shear emotional and physical <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">exhaustion</span> means lots of tears. And of course they are still kids ages 9, 7, 5 and 2 so the tender moments were <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">interrupted</span> by giggles about gas, comments about stinky breath, sheer random thoughts on how your body knows when to sneeze and complimentary boogers thoughtfully picked and offered to me by my two year old.<br /><br />While bedtime is usually my downfall in daddy's absence and a part of a routine I know the girls look forward to when he returns, I tried to step up my game to compensate for my earlier downfall and try to reassure my girls that they are loved. That they are cherished. That I appreciate their fingerprints.Organized Chaoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07096792135498383704noreply@blogger.com5