I love to swing!

Fwd: Look at me!

Look at me!

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Paityn and Ayden

Fwd:

Artist day downtown

Scoring! Were winning!

Scoring! Were winning!

Ayden onesies

Cousin getting married tomorrow have to go shopping for outfit

My coworker and I went on a scavenger hu

My coworker and I went on a scavenger hunt and ended up in a cemetary

Loving This!!

EverLife

Alena was so excited to hear that one of her favorites groups would actually be playing in Wichita!!! This was amazing to her since we've moved her none of groups she likes has come here. As anyone that has lived here knows you have to drive to do anything. So off we went for an afternoon of music in the park beautiful day and the biggest smile on her face. 

Apple Blossom Festival

Movie Sunday

In jammies all day, lounging on the couch and watching movies what a way to spend the day. I felt just a moment of guilt when I looked outside and saw that it was gorgeous but I got over it and went back to relaxing on the couch.

Twilight

sigh..........

Ayden Lane

Ayden Lane born Monday 16March2009 @ 0756 he's 6 lbs 13 oz 19"

this is Diesel (black) daddy and Zira mommy of the new puppies. This picture was taken a year ago they are both bigger but look pretty much the same. I have new ones of them but this one is just so cute.

We have puppies!

So Trina my son's girlfriend calls and says she thinks Zira is in labor but she's not exactly sure after she explains what's been happening I let her know that yep she sure is! So Trina loads up Zira in the truck and heads to town to pick up Alena from school we all kinda figure we have a little while before this happens. YAH right!

They get home around 3:20 and the first puppy was born close to 3:30 and about every 20-25 min after that a new puppy. Alena she's such a good girl, was right in the middle of it all helping and soothing Zira cleaning up the puppies and getting Trina extra towels and other things and watching Paityn too.

By the time I get home it's 5:30 and we have four puppies (2) red merles (2) black bi (just like daddy) and they are all BOYS! We had guessed around 3-4 puppies and being her first litter we figured that's a pretty good amount. So we are helping with the puppies and she's(Zira) is being such a mommy cleaning and being so protective of her puppies when people come over to see them.

I asked Trina to feel and make sure that she was done because I just didn't think she looked right, Paul feels and then I do and we all agree that her stomach shouldn't be so full still. So they decide to stay for dinner so that Zira can stay laying down and rest. So we get some dinner ordered I get laundry going and i'm playing with Paityn, Alena is getting ready for bible class and as I sit down to pet Zira I notice that her stomach starts to quiver and we know she's going to have another one. 6:30 and puppy #5 is here and it's a little blue merle girl!!! The little girl doesn't seem to want to breath very well and she's full of fluid and won't give even just a little squil so we are all on pins and needles waiting to hear something anything. Alena doesn't want to leave but really wants to go to bible class so I promise lots of text messages to keep her updated.

We eat, Alena goes to class and we are starting to clean things up and i'm looking for a box to get the puppies home in and clean towels to wrap them up and keep them warm cuz hey it's freezing here!!!

7:32 and puppy #6 arrives to the shock of us all! Another boy and he's black with a little white stripe down his face and white chest he's so cute.

So what an exicting evening all the puppies and mommy are doing fine.

Pictures not so great sorry. Alena participated in the blind fold speed stack competition she won if the picture was better you could see that her and her partner completed it in less than 24 sec.

CLO - Chief Laughing Officer

this will be a blast from the past for some of us. He was great to work with and work for. In my opinion one of the most amazing men I will ever know. Follow the link below to see a familiar face.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7DSAZmtVrQ

Twilight/Pocket Edward and Lauren

I read the Twilight books at Christmas LOVED them can't say that enough! I found myself completely immersed in the story line and OMG the characters are wonderful. Anyway, no one from work or in my family have read the book sooooo no one can really share my enthusiasm for this overwhelming addiction I have come to have. EXCEPT my wonderful friend Christy, she loved the books and has seen the movie uhm i'm not sure how many times and on her blog she posted a link to this blog about Pocket Edward. OMG you have to check it out its great and hilarious and makes me want to get myself a Pocket Edward. So go on click the link, read, laugh and follow the Adventures of Pocket Edward and Lauren!
http://www.laurensbite.blogspot.com/

One of the only really fun things about being here in KS is the fact that we get to spend all kinds of time with Miss Paityn. She is such a character and she adores her Auntie Alena, she is by far one of her favorite people in her little life. We spend weekends with them sometimes and this is how her and her Auntie spend a lot of their time in the playroom tonight grandma (that would be me) had to tuck them in and then put all the babies all around them. Paityn ever so carefully would show me exactly where she wanted each baby to be. Alena (the best little Auntie)sat quietly and patiently while Paityn made sure that everyone was where they needed to be.

This lasted all of about 5 min and then it was "Auntie comon" and with a little wave of her hand off they went onto something new.

Saturday with the W's.........oh and Heather

Went to drop off the Pampered Chef order to my friend in El Dorado had not intention of spending the entire day but we did and we enjoyed the change of pace. When I left KS I pretty much severed ties with just about everyone EXCEPT, the Comers' and the Carnes' funny huh n then me Campell lol ok im having a dork moment right now ;). Shortly before I moved back to KS so did my wonderful friends the Comers' which was phenominal news to me and didn't leave me feeling so untterly alone because my other wonderful friends the Carnes' only 2 short months before my return had packed up and moved to CA. The live in El Dorado which isn't far from Newton but being is KS it is an extremely boring drive but we both have made the trek back and forth to visit each other and it has been enjoyable.

I don't normally get adult conversation after 5:00 during the week and many times even during the weekend cuz it's normally just me and Alena so it's nice to sit and talk with another adult. Heather has 3 young boys and husband J.C. works a lot of hours so I think she enjoys the change of company and conversation too. Alena is not used to being around boys or younger children other than her neice Paityn, and she is so funny to watch with them and they are funny to watch with her too. It's that older girl thing going on ;).

Every time i'm with them that saying "boys will be boys" consistently comes to mind because they are such boys and I have to laugh because although I only had one son he always friends over so I remember boy do I remember the energy, activeness and constant movement.

So all three boys names begin with W which is cute to me all by itself, but to watch them together for some reason it makes it just that much more cute. They all are the perfect 50/50 split of both of their parents and every time I see them it amazes me how I can see both Heather and J.C. in each of their little faces.

Girls Night Out

Gonzalez Family Reunion

I volunteered to take on the Family Tree wow we have so many people now it's seems like I just competely lost site of the fact that we were already big and now all those cousins that are younger than me are now old enough to have children. I'm excited I hope that everyone will like what i've done I think it'll look good BIG but good. I'm taking print outs to the next meeting so we'll see.

spent the day at the Equifest saw so many beautiful horses. the day was wonderful, the girls had such a good time, there was so much to see and do.

These were a couple of the hundreds of horses we saw these two gorgeous creatures are Friesians they were huge and big babies too. The man standing on the side of his horse stood about 6'3" probably and the horse was just a bit taller than him.

The other horse was an american gypsy wonderful patient gorgeous but they cost as much as a vehicle!

Aunt Ramona

Ramona Sifuentez, our beloved great-great Aunt who has been very sick passed away this passed weekend. Since our return to Newton Alena and I only saw her once and she was extremely sick and going to the doctor I regret that I allowed for our lives that at the time seemed to very busy right now I realize really weren't that busy and we could have made the time to visit her.

I always loved going to her home, it wasn't anything fancy but we always walked in feeling like it was home, we were always greeted with open arms, smiles and laughter, there was music or talking and a constant buzz that was just comforting.

I know that she will be missed but I also know that she is okay now and with our Uncle Joe her wonderful husband.

Alena and the Moon

Alena has always had a fascination with the moon she loves to read about it watch it learn what the phases are, she felt so luck that this year for her big 10th birthday it was a full moon and she loved it so very much she believed it to be the second most beautiful moon she'd ever seen.
So for her i've added her glorious moon

Miss Paityn my wonderful little granddaughter has taken to singing, lol very loudly, offkey but full of passion and expression. She loves Pinks So What and Aleshia Keys, No One BUT on any given day she will belt out just about anything, the names of her dogs, all the animals, our animals everyone in the families names or just random words. Anyway she gives me a smile so i'd thought i'd share it hoping it give someone else a smile too.

Ugh me in a picture Part II but for good reason

In the wonderful picture from L to R you will see Phil, Anna, yours truly, Kevin and Levi (who we oh so lovingly refer to as Little Levi the LVER). Phil, Anna, Kevin and myself are DVOPs, Disabled Veteran Outreach Program Specialist...hold on why I catch my breath or how bout just veterans representatives and of course there's Little Levi our LVER the Local Veterans Employment Representative see why we just say LVER?!

So anyway, we just recently found out that the Vet Staff (that would be us :)) in Wichita has been awarded the Local Office of the Year, Phil has been awarded the DVOP of the year, and Levi the LVER of the year.

Now I know that i've only been with the office staff 4 months out of the year 2008 but I'm taking the attaboy right along with them!

whoohoo US!!!!

Ugh me in a picture part 1

Okay so i'm usually not one for pictures I hate them I think I look horrible, but considering this is the only picture of me in oh about 7 months I figured I'd share it and at least give my children and grandchildren something to look at. So here I am in all my glory that would be desk and nice cushy chair, yeah I have a window well three windows to be exact and are you ready........I have a door!!

What to do

How do you handle having family that believes they do no wrong! they blame everything that is wrong on everyone else adn will no take responsibility for anything they say or do and honestly they say things like "I really don't know what happened" and their the ones that did it or said or they were involved somehow!!! It's nuts crazy absolutely insane and here I am living in the middle of all their utter insaneness.
What the heck kinda family ignores the fact that family members are living, breathing existing less than 10 miles away.
I always believed that I came from a strong, loving, caring family was I so very wrong!!! Sadly I have to say that I was very wrong!

Oh the joy of taxes

I'm so nervous to file my taxes between unemployment and having two different jobs UGH! Crossing fingers that I won't owe

Pampered Chef

So to help my friend get lots more free stuff I booked a party UGH!!!!!! I have no idea why I barely know anyone here anymore the consultant sent me 40 invitations 40!!!!!! who in the heck am gonna send 40 invitations to even with family i'm still only at 18 geez. Then the woman calls like twice a week and not to mention the emails which if I had my choice would be my sole source of contact with her ever so chipper my life is so grand cuz I have all sorts of money peppy voice on the other end that makes me just want to vomit! So i cannot wait til this is over everyone else that I have invited is so excited to be coming and just can't wait oh yippy for them
i'm going to need a cigarette and a bottle of Jim to through this!

Evening with the Comer's

My house was clean my laundry every piece was washed, dried, folded and put away. My candles were lit and I get a phone call from my friend Heather. She wants to know if we want to get together it sounds like a great way to spend the evening so I say sure!
So I look and oh yeah I have everything to make enchiladas and black beans, Heather's making rice oh yummy!
Alena and I go to blockbuster, get a ton of movies cuz we just can't decide which one and a couple games for the WII they have 3 boys and Alena is so excited to be able to play her new WII with someone.
So they get here and uh well my enchililadas don't turn out have bad for rushing to throw it together my beans are so yummy tasty and Heathers rice is pretty good too! The kids are having a blast playing games and running from one of my house to another.
Oh those were the days of boys in my home.
We talked and laughed til and listened to our children play.
I had a really wonderful time and it goes down in my book as one of the best nights since i've been here.

I have absolutely nothing to say when I woke up this morning I was full of energy and just knew that I would have something great BUT as my day has droned on i've gotten things done yes and i'm grateful for that but my creativity has slowly seeped away and all my thoughts have clouded over.
well maybe later

Welcome 2009!

Hello and my sincere apologies for being so absent and not taking the time to keep this updated. School has been crazy and i've had extra training at work AND even more homework BUT with the new year i'm going to do my best to keep ya'll updated.
love you all and hope that 2009 has started out wonderfully for you.

First Volleyball game of the season

THEY WON!!!! they did so good Alena was a little nervous and didn't do so good on the first set but got warmed up and did great on the 2nd and 3rd. She served 4 straight and got a point every time. Hit the ball a few times and made it over the net for a couple points.
Both teams were really doing a fantastic job on serving and making the attempt to get the balls and help each other.
I think they are going to have a great year

GO BEARS!!!!!

GO Railers!!!

Alena had her big time in the spot light on the football field. The weather was fantastic just a little nip in the air great sweatshirt weather, the game was exciting and Alena had so much fun! They got to stand on the sidelines with the older cheerleaders and they would prompt them when to cheer. During the half time they did a little dance and cheer and they did little three girl lifts onto their knees boy did they think that was something!! They were all so cute with their little shirts on and jumping up and down, trying to do what the big girls were doing.
We had a really great time she was so happy out there.

Clothes

I'm sorry to all of you that have to wear normal clothes!! This is horrible getting up everyday or really I try to go through this horrible endeavor at night!
You gotta pick out the pants and the top does this go with that no that what about this, and then like that's not enough you gotta get the shoes.
Ugh I so miss my uniform my hardest decision was hmmm should I wear a jacket or sweater today and gosh do I miss my boots!
I know it'll take time to get used to this but geez i'm not sure i'll ever really like it.
whew okay I feel a little better

Raiders First Game

We get to the field 5 minutes late so we are both irritated gotta love those trains!!!! But she runs out, gets her flags and gets into position.

The game before her is running late so her coach and team have some extra time to talk and practice and calm down a little. I take a walk and look around the fields at the other teams and I notice two other teams that have one girl each, they were all so cute and i'm glad that Alena isn't the ONLY girl on the whole league and I think she'll be happy too.

game was suppose to start at 715 but didn't get started til 740.

So off we go the game is under way and they start with a bang!! Touchdown on the first play!

Alena seems to be okay doing what she's suppose to be doing blocking like a champ so much so that a couple times the play was over and she was so intent on what she was doing she didn't know it.

She snagged a few flags!!! She knew her job was to stop the GB from throwing that ball she got through and snagged that boys flag.

At one point a mom stops to talk to one of my friends that happens to be there and she tells him that her son came off the field saying "that girl hurt me" I had to laugh a little :)!

Last plays of the game and the coach gives Alena the chance to run the ball first time she gets down field a little not much but the next time she does pretty good and gets just a little farther.

She did great and I think she had a good time and They won!!!!!

We've started Awana's

Another activity is under way last night she started Awana's and she seemed to really enjoy it. She is tasked with learning and memorizing different passages and they have all kinds of children's activities during the evening last night they were all so cute it was some kind of obstacle night and they got to wear camoflauge stuff.
She knows a lot of the children from the bible school and there are some in her group so that made her happy.
Her first booklet that she has to get through has seven sections and each section has two passages from the bible that she must memorize and understand what they mean, I love it we lay in bed and read over the passages and then talk a little about what they mean to her.
Once she gets through this they she graduates into a larger book and gets her T and T tshirt that they are suppose to wear every week unless there's something going on that they get to wear something else.
Oh and by the way T&T is Truth and Training that is the level she is enrolled in.

State Fair

Mom worked her bum off during the fair and scored us some tickets whoohoo Alena and I got bored and took off Saturday evening to go to the fair! It was starting to get dark and lights of the rides were starting to glow, the music was playing and you could hear the screams of everyone already enjoying the rides. The smell of cotton candy, popcorn, corndogs and funnel cakes filled our noses and made our tummys growl and mmmmm yummy come out of both of us as we starting running to the ticket booth.
We bought our tickets and started walking round making a mental note of the rides that we wanted to go on. Alena of course picked the first fast, spinning thing she saw(my stomach and head already hurts), I pick this handglider ride and yes goes in a circle but not that fast AND THEN we both turn around and see the greatest ride ever! This ride looks like a pendulum there isn't swining back and forth almost to the point of flipping completely around but just when you think its going to it drops back the other way. We stand and watch for the ride to end and everyone seemed so pysched! The seats are positioned four to a side and there are 6 sides total so we are all facing inward if the sides would have been connected it would have been like a hexagon, so your bum is on the seat but your feet are hanging down. what Alena and I had missed was the fact that at the beginning of the ride you spin in a circle right in the middle and then slowly at first the ride starts to sway side to side, the spinning slows down but the intensity of the back and forth motion gets stronger. Right before you reach the highest point of the swing upwards you turn just a little so you are either facing straight up and looking at the sky OR you are facing straight down and looking at all these peoples faces looking up at you or maybe just the ground.
Okay so we decide that we are going to save that ride for last cuz it looks the best! We move on.
We see the boat that simply swings you back and forth which is cool and then we see this cute ride it has little cars that are shaped like mice and the tracks are hot pink Alena thinks this looks like a cute ride so she picks that as our first ride BOY were we WRONG!! We get on this thing and take off it's very slow and has resembles a roller coaster click, click click slowly up the track and wham it drops you down the other side you come to a bend which the people that are sitting on the outside seats are hanging over the edges the turn is extremely!!! sharp!!! and only happens seconds before the bend almost giving you the feeling that you are NOT going to turn. A couple more turns and dips and you think okay this is fun, but Wham another shocker your car starts to spin just before the turn so now you may or may not be facing forward when you make that sharp turn.

Anyway, it was a blast Alena and I had soooo much fun!!!

RAH RAH RAH

She's off to cheer clinic for the day, I walk into this gym filled with little girls bouncing everywhere! in shorts, skirts t-shirts and their all done up in ponytails high on top of their heads so when they bounce around their hair follows right along. Mom's sitting on the bleachers yelling and clapping cheering their little cheerleaders along.
Alena of course is shy and just tries the best she can to blend in and then they start to play a game to get the girls warmed up and involved break the ice a little and most of them get this look of utter fear on their face and you can tell they are all thinking please don't pick me!!!
So they form this big circle and the older cheerleaders start to chant, clap and dance around the circle and Wham they stop in front of a girl do a little clap or kick or jump whatever and then they are suppose to switch places and the girl from the circle is suppose to mimic what they did and then start clapping and moving around the circle until the chant stops and Wham they get to pick a victim, Ahem I ment next little girl.
But by the time the game is over almost all of them are laughing and participating so hey the game worked and most of the moms left.
So i'm off to clean and do laundry

Volleyball has begun

The first volleyball practice she's so excited and i'm happy for her really hope she likes this sport cuz I think she'll be good at it and it's one mom really likes! Her coach is nice some of the girls are a bit snotty but hoping they'll warm up they also have an advantage over some of the other girls because they went to a volleyball clinic over the summer. This can be good or bad cuz they do act like they know everything and they get annoyed when the coach is showing everyone what to do and they don't feel they need to be shown.
Alena did really well she can serve it's a little crooked at times, she can bump with her arms and return pretty well too. She needs to relax a bit so she move around a little more but hey its a work in progress and so far she loves it!

So all activities are in full swing and our calendar is FULL!
Mondays volleyball games, Tuesday football practice, Wednesday AWANAs, Thursday football games, Friday cheer at football game following volleyball practice, Sat cheerleading clinic followed by volleyball practice.
Sunday sleep, rest, clean, rest, eat, rest yah right she'll have that day filled with something soon i'm sure.

Flag Football

Today was the first practice for football, Alena was excited and nervous. The lady that signed her up said that normally there are a few girls that sign up to play so she's excited to see who might be on her team. Everyone starts to arrive, practice begins and guess what Alena is the only girl, I ask a couple of the parents if they know of any other little girls and they said no not on this team. I asked about the other teams and again no not on any of those either but there might be.
So with a little attitude she's out on the field and not so happy to be there. Her brother encourages her and gives her a thumbs up when she does a good job at something so she begins to warm up a little and by the end of the practice she's got a fan club going on on the side lines and not just her family some of the other parents are clapping when she catches a ball or runs it out.
She tells me that she may not want to finish the season she doesn't want to be the "ONLY girl" but she promises me that she will keep going to the practices and give it a chance then decide.
So we'll see how this goes.

First Day!

It started off really good up at 0545, out with my dogs in at 0600, in and out of the shower 0610, coffee made getting clothes on and my wonderful Alena up on her own at 0640. I'm doing good......right?!
Then without notice or any reason things started going down hill next thing I know it's 0705 and i'm not quit ready yet I still have a few things left to do and I HAVE to be out the door in less then 10 min so that I won't be late and neither will Alena she still needs to eat breakfast.
THEN......for no reason I start bawling just broke down uncontrollably and realize my little vacation and time with my daughter is over and it's time for me to be a grown up.
Anyway, i'm at a training conference now meeting dozens of people that I don't know and listening to a bunch of stuff that i'm trying to decipher so that I can understand....UGH :(.
My day is done and i'm hoping that tomorrow will be better and without tears.............okay well maybe not so many tears.

Changing of the earrings

The earrings are fine!! We made it through the 6 weeks and have changed them and all seems to be going great! crossing fingers that it stays that way

I Have a Job!!!

4 months and 3 weeks after officially filing my unemployment I have a JOB!!! I was offered a position with the state of KS as a Disabled Veterans Outreach Program Consultant, in short I will be assisting veterans. Pretty much a job right down my alley don't you think?!
I'm employed..........oh boy time to be a grown up again

Our goldfish has died

One more bad thing that we can add to our list of while in KS.........
It was just a little fish but it was Alena's valentines present and we enjoyed watching him it brought me peace and a calmness I can't really explain. It was also something that we had gotten in Colorado and now as silly as it may sound that's gone one more thing that is gone.

Alena's various sides

Alena has decided that she would like to play volleyball this year i'm happy it'll keep her busy and maybe she'll meet some new friends! Great!
So three days later Alena also decides that she would like to play flag football although i'm more thrilled about volleyball and don't get me wrong I do love football I am a little more leary about this decision, but okay I give i'll sign her up for football too, hey more active and maybe more friends.
The next week Alena has now decided that she would like to participate in the cheerleading clinic with the high school cheerleaders, this one not so thrilled about at all but she loves cheerleading and has always done clinics when they are available because i'm trying to be the supportive mom and let her explore all interests and hey even more active and maybe maybe more friends.
We are almost done this past week she found out that one of the girls in her class goes to AWANAs (church youth group) so NOW she would also like to be a part of that.
Whew OMG so to recap flag football, volleyball, cheerleading and AWANA's yep that's everything...............for now.
Now all I can hope for is that she meets lots of new friends and enjoys all these activities she has signed up for.

Got my grades

I have finished two more classes whoohoo I just got my grades on my finals and I got A's on both!!! So I completed both classes with A's, whew. I'm taking two more classes and one of them is a little harder but i'm crossing my fingers that I keep my grade point average up.

Ronald "Ronnie" Schmidt

This is the handsome, young, brave man that placed his life in harms way to fight for this country. His funeral will be held in a couple days and i'm finding out more and more as time goes by. We just found out that one of my mom's friends has been taking care of him for the past few years, he needed a family and a place to call home and he found it with them. The were notified of his death on Sunday morning, and I can't imagine the pain they must be feeling.

My thoughts and prayers go out to all the friends and family that know this young hero.

Today is good!

I had a fantastic morning I had an interview with a district court judge and he was so nice and made the interview so much fun. Anyway just wanted to share a really good moment for me!

One Month

It's been one month and I wish I could say i'm feeling better about being here, BUT i'm not. It's one of those emotions that I can't explain very well. I can only say that I feel bigger then this place, I have dreams and goals that seem larger then I can accomplish here. I feel suffocated, like I can't breath and when I look at tomorrow I don't see anything, not a better day, not a bigger dream, nothing.
Maybe i'm just being an over dramatic bitch cuz i'm living in a small town, but I feel like i'm just stuck in this small town. I do love small town living my biggest problem is this town there is no small town living it's just a town that won't grow.
I really do hope that when I get my job, please keep fingers crossed for me:), that these feelings will go away and I can find some peace especially for my daughters sake.
Alena seems to be doing well and i'm going to try to not be so negative because I know that some of my emotions will affect her and then it won't be the way she truly feels.

KIA from Newton

Paul text me this evening and told me that one of his buddies from high school was killed in Iraq. Don't really know the details right now and even though I don't know this young man I feel a small loss. Not only is he from the community that I live in, my son knew him but being in the military, I'm not sure that others feel the way I do but no matter what branch of the service I feel like we are all bonded like brothers and sisters.

Enrolled

We enrolled Alena for school Slate Creek Elementary I'm not sure that it's the one she wanted but it's the one that had the room and was in our district. She has also come to the realization that school here is so much different then in Aurora, they don't as many breaks and the school day is longer, and there are no buses. We get to meet her teacher and see her classroom a couple days before school starts which by the way is officially in 2 weeks. We'll keep you up to date on how things are going

UGH i'm in trouble

I get this phone call that Alena has won a prize she entered a contest a long time ago and she has won a prize for her entry, this should be great news right!?!? Well the contest was entered in Colorado through her school, and the big party is going to be on Wednesday, so I had to tell her and man is she NOT happy with me!!!
I contacted my friend and she's going to pick it up and mail it to her but boy that's just not the same thing!

Hello Again

We have been back for a week and a half and I have been overwhelmed with emotion, anger, depression, regret and excitement and I feel insane I go back and forth and still can't decide if us moving back was the right decision.
Just a small sign that this was even a good decision would be nice.

The ears are pierced.....................Again

Alena's first attempt at getting her ears pierced did not fare so well, there were put in crooked and got infected and after painful nights and swollen days we took them out and decided to try again later when she was older.
So later and older are here and my mom and her went to get them done tonight, grandma had to go first she did the second hole and then it was Alena's turn.
She did great! and she's extremely happy that she did it.

I've been up since early, i've taken the pictures off the walls and taken the big pile of junk to the trash and now i'm just sitting here looking at our home. Thinking of all the fun times Alena and I had here and how excited we always were when the family would visit bringing a small piece of home with them.
We were so excited to have a fireplace and remembering how hard it was to start the dam thing ha that higher elevation thing is nuts! Over the years i've gotten it down though roasting marshmellows, when we had no electricity bringing the pillows and blankets out and camping in front of it. Watchig the snow fall outside, making a huge pot of soup, getting a nice warm, fresh loaf of bread from Paneras(oh yeah only 3 1/2 minutes away) and hearing the fire snap.
Our little patio, When we had no furniture or plants nothing that was Alena's playground she was too scared to go play outside, so I bought her paint and chalk and she'd color and play with her dolls out there. Getting up early just to sit out there and drink my coffee before the day started, feeling that cool breeze. Once we got our little table we'd sit out there and have dinner, eat our popsicles or when it was snowing just watch the snow fall with our little white lights that made it glow so warm and inviting.
We've had parties for her friends, my friends, her first communion, birthdays, two Thanksgivings, Easter and many other celebrations just because.
Our home was the common meeting place for all her little friends, the popsicle house summer, spring, winter and fall they always knew Alena's mom has popsicles in the big freezer!
Sitting on the stoop downstairs with the other parents watching the kids play.
The blizzard that hit us hard in Dec 2006 Alena and my brother had barely made it out of the state the day before and I woke up feeling horrible, lonely, depressed and looked outside to a beautiful winter wonderland. THAT didn't end for 3 days by the time it did we had been snowed in for 3 days and had about 3 1/2 feet of snow on the ground. The city had pretty much shut down and you'd better hope you had food, wood and a shovel. Well I had two of the three, that's how I ended up meeting a bunch of new neighbors and we've been friends ever since.
It was a community effort we took turns with what few shovels we had, buckets, brooms or whatever you could find and started digging each other out BECAUSE our leasing office didn't have anyone to clear the parking lots. It was fun we'd all meet outside with our coffee or later in the day something a little stronger and start digging. By the end of day 2 we had the parking lot pretty much cleared and had made some really good friends.
There are so many wonderful memories we'll be taking with us and the joy of knowing that even though our lives may not have been perfect out here we had quit an adventure.

Remember when

So i've made it through Alena's closet, the hall closet, front closet and mine, taking down pictures and boxing up things to get ahead start. Looking through all our things it's been crazy between the laughter and tears. A week from today we'll be back in KS back to the one place I have always fought so hard to get away from.
Anyway, i've actually made a small dent haha well at least I think I have.

Last Day at Eastridge

Alena's last day of school at her beloved Eastridge. She's excited and sad she keeps talking about if I stay next year......or if I did come back for 4th gr..... I feel so horrible I only hope that i've made the right decision to move back and fight just a little harder to stay here.

"I look different"

Alena woke up today and decided she needed to be different today. She normally wears her hair up in a ponytail it's easier with school and she hates her hair being knotted up at the ended of the day.
She also loves earrings but her ears aren't pierced but she does have a couple pair of smaller clip ones. She's also always afraid of wearing any kind of jewelry she's petrified she'll lose it.
Today she decided she wanted to look different so she fixed her hair down and chose her pretty purple earrings and a silver chain with cute little bracelet.

After looking at herself in the mirror and making sure everything looked right, she turned and looked at me and said "I look different"

Pictures

I added the link to my blog but just wanted to write a bit about what i'm doing it's fun I really like it. Shutterfly has developed a create your own webpage for your pictures. so I started adding all my pictures, I wish I had more pictures of my dad's side scanned into the computer but now that I have a scanner I can start working on that.

Moving back to KS and closer to the family has just really gotten me to thinking that we have separated ourselves and it's sad.

I'm extremely happy to be so much closer to my family in Missouri and do look forward to being able to visit more often these past three years have been very hard on Alena and I not being to go and visit and spend time with Grandma and Aunt Cindy.

Music

http://www.playlist.com/user/19287780

I have the best memories of my childhood! I had two of the best uncles, they were young and fun, exciting, protective and made sure that we were always doing the right thing at the right time or ELSE! It didn't matter to us though we thought they were really great guys. My mom although stern would always lighten up when a great song came on the radio.

I remember bell bottoms, platform shoes, pretty girls, and really cool friends, my uncles getting ready for dates, proms, pinball machines and I just couldn't wait for my uncles to get home from school.

I remember laughter, tears, smiles for no reason and family gatherings that weren't even planned we just all ended up at the same place and we always had a fun time together. I knew we were strong and secure in who we were and I was always so proud of where I came from.

In the background of my most amazing life was MUSIC, always music! At our family get together (planned or not), out w/my uncles, and even Saturday morning cleanings with mom in her anjemima bandanna. There was unlimited music, dancing, and even singing (bad or good).

This play list is just a few of the songs that hearing them put a smile on my face, or make me laugh and sometimes cry because I miss the strength, and the love and the forgiveness, the loyalty to one another and the endurance of my family.

Super-Heros

Alena has been getting homework assignments on people that are considered real life super heros, people like Lance Armstrong a cancer survivor and champion cyclist, Chris Reeve after getting injured he established a research lab for spine injuries. So yesterday she had to pick a real life hero that she knew or knew of and at first she said me, can't lie I was thrilled and happy that my daughter considers me her hero, but I wanted her to take the time to think just a little more about others that she has heard of or read about.
So she finished her other page of homework and then without a comment walked over to a shelf that I keep a picture of a Navy Seal from Colorado his name is Danny Dietz he was killed the year we got here. His services were held the day I official arrived, and every year since then my command has been involved with his memorial and I have been extremely honored to be a part of that.
Okay so back to her homework she picked up Danny's picture and said I choose him, I want to write about him. At the end of her story she wrote "he was a brave, and very strong and he died so that others could be free".

Tobyn and the Toothfairy

Alena comes home from school and plays with her puppy Tobyn, today she stopped and after a quick game of fetch saw something in his favorite ball. After looking a little closer she realized it was a tooth at first she was a little shocked and concerned but I told her that puppies lose their teeth just like people do. She ran over picked him up and said oh boy Tobyn let's go put your tooth under your pillow so the toothfairy will come for you!

week 1

First week of school is officially over today whoohoo oh yeah!!! I got a 98 on my first quiz, it was open book but I only had to use the book for 2 of the fifteen questions!
Heading into week 2

count down

8 June 2008
23 days and a wake up man time is cruizin by!!!!

Going through stufff

So i've been trying to go through closets and rooms I live in an apartment so not like i've got a tone but boy it's shocking how much stuff I can fit.

So I find a picture that Alena had drawn for me the first few weeks we moved here. She was 6 when we moved and it was a simple stick figure picture, but Alena was/is always very colorful so even her stick figures were bright and tended to have all different color parts and pieces. This picture was nothing but a pencil drawing, no one smiling, no trees, grass no nothing! On the back was a note that said mommy i want to go back to kanzes. She would ask all the time when 3rd grade is over right mommy we get to go back?

Now shockingly now she says it'd be okay if we stay.

Danny Dietz

We were at Target and we were looking at books one book caught my eye because I saw that it was about the Navy and most specifically Navy Seals. So I picked it up and started reading and realized this was the story of an incredible man and his team and the sole survivor. I got a little choked up for a few reasons one I realized that in a few weeks it would be three years since his death June 28,and it made me think of his family, as a mom of a young man my heart broke for her, two it marked my arrival here in Colorado and it was a sad time for me and Alena as well and the day that I officially arrived at the command was his funeral. Alena came over and saw what I was looking at and her littl eyes got so big and said mommy that's him! that's the man in our apartment! I had to laugh cuz she almost made it sound like we were keeping him hostage and said yes that's the man in the Picture in our apartment. She was so proud she kept saying this is so cool I know who he is.

Alena's Day on the Town

It was a gorgeous day for Alena's field trip schedule for the day
8:00 leave the school to walk to the bus stop
8:15 catch the bus to the lightrail
8:30 lightrail to downtown Denver
9:20 arrive downtown walk to capital building
9:35 start climbing to the dome
10:05 leave capital building walk across Larimar Square to the Byers-Evans Home Museum
10:15 arrive museum begin "afternoon in the past"
11:30 leave for lunch
noon lunch at the Old Spaghetti Factory
1:00 head to the lightrail go back to the school
2:30 back to school and end of the day

so the schedule looks great and easy enough to follow YEAH right!!!

went a little more like this
8:07 left the school and RAN to the bus stop about 3 city blocks away with 26 children and 8 adults. 1/2 a block away we see the bus crossing the intersection....speed it up just a bit!
hold up the bus while we validate 34 bus vouchers oh the people just loved us
8:40 arrive at lightrail station and again RUN across a busy terminal and up two flights of stairs onto the lightrail platform where thank goodness sits the lightrail WHEW
9:35 arrive downtown and miss the free shuttle bus that will take us about two blocks closer to the capital building but now add those two blocks to yet another lovely run
9:45 get to the capital and cram our party through the metal detectors oh yeah the security guards loved us
begin our climb up to the dome and remember what is denver? oh yes the mile high city and please do not think that this bit of fact was left out of building the capital building.
So the climb to the base of the dome is approximately and I say approximate because I didn't count but the children in our group did and the approximate total was 145 stairs. We get to the base of the dome and meet our guide that gives us not only a needed breather but also a little information on the building we are in. Then off we go again to the mid section of the dome adding another 66 stairs.
We quickly ooh and aah out the windows and take pictures to save this moment in about 10 minutes give or take a minute or two.
Then we crammed back down narrow, windowless stairwell so we can leave the building and start across Larimar Square to our next destination
10:30 we are now 1/2 hr late but arrive at the museum and boogey to get the the skit and tour started
11:45 leave the museum and start the cross town walk to lunch the kids are all thirsty, tired and hungry this is a great combination!
12:05 YEAH food and liquid we are happy to see that our tables are set and there is a salad and drinks waiting for us.
We eat and everyone is happy
1:15 leave the restaurant and head to the lightrail and wouldn't you know it we see it pulling away sooooooo it's another 10-15 minutes for next one and we now have 26 rejuvinated children and 8 exhausted adults sitting in front of the downtown courthouse. The children are all over the place and screaming like indians.
1:40 onto the lightrail and back to the school and whoohoo we get to the terminal and the bus is waiting
2:15 onto the bus
2:35 back to school WHEW our day is done and we have made it back with all 26 children and 8 adults

the count down has begun

1 Jun 2008
30 days and a wake up

And the movers are coming

I made the call the call I didn't think i'd have to make again, they will be here the 27th. As i'm on the phone I start a list of good and bad. Here's the clean version of my lists

Bad thing I have to move back to Kansas
Bad thing I haven't gotten a job
Bad thing I still have my house in Kansas
Bad thing nothing to do in Kansas but watch for tornadoes and the grass die
Bad thing I will be close to my family, which for most i'm sure this should be a happy thing BUT for me i'm sick of watching my family tear themselves apart. There are those in my family that feel they do no wrong and refuse to apologize when in fact they do. Then there are those again admit it or not feel that others in the family have done more wrong then they have and hold unhealthy, extreme grudges. Oh and then there's favoritism, judgemental that's a huge one, sarcasm, rudeness, and selfishness. Here's what's so funny(that is written with complete sarcasm), if they were to read this there would be those that would definitely point the finger at everyone else when in truth i'm talking about them.
PLEASE don't get me wrong I do love my family I really do it's just they are so exhausting! I would so love to be around all of them
Bad thing the friends that I really do love so much are moving to CA don't get me wrong i'm so happy for them but geez they were my sanity

Good thing the military is moving me back to Kansas
Good thing Ill be closer to my granddaughter and son
Good thing i'm gonna try to put some closer to my life as I knew

the balance between good and bad is a little off but i'm staying positive that I will make something fantastic come out of it

Am I extraordinary

today I so do not feel like it

Only one month left

So Alena and I came to Colorado not quit knowing what was in store for us. Alena was counting the days down until the end of the 3rd grade because that's when my orders were due to be up and we were moving back to KS. Now it's almost that time and she's not counting the days anymore, she's actually questioning whether she wants to go back or not.

So she gets out of school in one month and one week after that we'll be making that drive back to KS and it will for the first time in 3 years be a one way trip.

Sir Tobyn Maximus

got a new puppy today he's a mini dachshund red dapple, he was born 2 Jan 2008 and is 3 months old.

Alena has wanted one of these dogs since she was about 4 yrs old. Trina helped me find one it was kind of an accident but anyway we went and looked at him and well we have a new puppy.

Almost the end

Okay so 13February2008 I will be discharged from the Navy. I can't exactly say what i'm feeling cuz I have about 130 feelings going on inside of me if that's possible and it's nuts.
I will get to retire but it will only be a reserve retirement but compared to what some people are getting this is really good. I do get some financial assistance so that's great and in 2 short years yep count'm 2 I can submit for retirement.

Happy Birthday Paityn

So my little granddaughter 1 year old. She's such a wonderful part of my life I didn't think i'd be okay with being a grandma and everything that was going with my son and me and me and trina. In the end it doesn't matter because she's beautiful and it absolutely makes my day to see her picture, hear her little voice and spend every moment that I can with her.

A Whole Rainbow

Alena and I watch Dog the Bounty Hunter and if you don't know they originated from Denver Colorado but film majority of their show in Hawaii and live there as well. So we are watching the show and they are in Hawaii and they show a picture of a rainbow and clear, huge beautiful rainbow and Alena says that's really pretty mommy. We go to bed and I don't even really remember and she looks at me and says mommy I wish I could see a whole rainbow. I didn't really understand at first and almost like she knew she said when we get rainbows we can't always see the whole thing we only see a small part of it or it's kinda faded and I said yeah that is true. She said maybe God will let me see a whole rainbow someday.Today we come home it's a little cloudy but a nice evening and Alena comes yelling up the stairs mommy mommy get the camera! I go flying out of the apartment thinking something is wrong and there she is on the stairs saying there's my rainbow it's BIG and I can see all the colors.With tears in my eyes and shock in my heart I run inside, get the camera and go downstairs. There it is the biggest clearest rainbow I think i've ever seen! She's so excited she's just running around saying isn't it pretty and telling all her little friends look look at my rainbow and really none of them seem to see the wonderment, they just see a rainbow.

The pictures I took do absolutely no justice to this beautiful gift from God to my daughter.