Wednesday, December 12, 2007

The reason I'm always laughing...

It started out as a regular night~ the kids were actually cleaning up after dinner like they were supposed to!!!!

Then Cadence Evelina decided she wanted to get all dressed up and dance with her dad.

Well, no one gets all dressed up and not include "Miss Marla Hooch!!!" Especially when there is dancing involved!!!!
Then the fairy princess cast her magic spell upon Matt...

And the next thing I know, my son is being transformed! I don't even know what to say about this...

Or this...

It's was like a weird version of the village people at my house last night!!!
"Okay now I have to do something to make myself look cool after dressing up like a fairy princess for the entire internet to see!"


I've even provided what could possibly be the funniest video of Jacqui to date...




It's definitely never a dull moment around this place.

Monday, November 26, 2007

Black Jack for Chores

Last summer before we left San Diego, Ski and I decided to take one last trip to Vegas before we left that side of the country. Because my dad had just retired, he made the trip out to the west coast to watch all the kids for us. I don't think we were gone 10 minutes before he had the cards out and was teaching them black jack. That's just what Grandpa's do, they gamble with their grandkids. Anyway, tonight when we were done with dinner and dishes and showers we decided to get some chips from our neighbors and play a little black jack with the kids. Only in this game, the chips represented chores. They started out with 20 chips each and in the end, whoever had the most chips would give that many chores to their sibling.


As you can see Jacqui wasn't doing quite so well and in turn, wasn't taking it very well either.
She isn't what you would call a good loser and of course I took it upon myself to make sure I captured her delightful reaction to getting beat by her brother. I took no pleasure in this at all. Okay so I laughed a little bit. Don't judge me internet ~ she needs to learn she isn't going to win every time.

As you see by the look on his face, Matt never gloated in Jacqui's face or made comments to his sister about the fact that he kept doubling his chips with each bet.

My poor girl. It doesn't matter what board game or card game we all play together, she always loses to her brother.

Cadence got bored so we decided that she could help her mom be the bar maid and bring people refreshments. Matt gave me a tip so I slipped it into Jacqui's pile. She lost it the next hand.

Good Job Caders!!!! You see she matches well...

In the end, Matt had 30 chips and Jacqui had 9. She will be doing 21 of his chores for him.

She feels real good about it too.
I think she would have rather lost all of her money then have to do a single chore for him let alone 21. Sorry baby - that is the chance you take when playing!!!

Sunday, November 25, 2007

Hide and go seek!

My husband and neighbors are every kids dream. They are always outside playing basketball, football, wrestling, video games - you name it, they are up for it! So for Marines, playing hide and go seek in the dark is the perfect game. Especially since it means you can get all dressed up in your flight suits - even if they don't even fit you anymore...

Two dorks

Here they are making sure everyone knew all all the rules...
When all the kids got up that morning they all specifically put on black in anticipation for their hide and go seek in the dark game that night. All we heard all day was how they were going to be playing. They even ran around with walkie talkies - that is how serious this game was!!!

They are looking for Ski - rumor had it, he was on the roof...

I wonder what gave them that idea!!! Apparently he almost fell off this roof too! Not only that but he also rolled around in dog poop. Yes, my husband goes the distance when playing with the kids.

Saturday, November 24, 2007

Thanksgiving week!

Hope everyone had a great thanksgiving! We definitely did! My best friend Theresa came down for a visit with her two kids Jake and Trista - that means we had 5 kids in the house. The last time all the kids were together was two years ago when Theresa and her family came for Thanksgiving.

The girls had a lot of fun playing together - a few fights here and there over toys but overall they did really good!

Theresa and I took the kids to the movies to see "Fred Claus." Cadence stayed home with her dad because she won't sit still through a movie just yet.

The big hit for all the kids this trip was all the lizards that are around here. All day long all they did was hunt for them and put them in the cooler as their pets. Jake even talked his mom into letting him take one home in her cooler. Even Cadence held them!
Not sure how this happened but we even found one in our house!!!!
Thanksgiving was great. Between me and our neighbor Ken, we cooked an awesome meal and had some people from Ski and Ambers shop over for dinner. One of the guys in Ambers shop is from Michigan. We got to talking and come to find out, he used to hang around with my stepbrother Jason and pretty much grew up at my dads house before he joined the Marine Corps. What a small world!!!





Theresa and I decided to do our Christmas with the kids while she was here. So after shopping all day long the day after Thanksgiving, we let them open presents.
I got Trista and Cadence these pajama's - aren't they cute

As always it was a great time and it was sad to see Theresa and the kids go. They all had a lot of fun together!!!!

Thursday, November 08, 2007

Back in 1775...

Today is the 232rd Marine Corps Birthday. It is a day of comradarie and a day to Honor our Corps. It is celebrated regardless of the circumstances and even in the middle of combat, you'll find Marines taking a second to recognize those that have gone before them and will continue to after.

On 28 October 1952, The Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen Lemuel C. Shepherd, Jr., directed that the celebration of the Marine Corps Birthday be formalized throughout the Corps. Traditionally, the first piece of Birthday cake is presented to the oldest Marine present and the second piece to the youngest Marine present. In edition to the cake cutting ceremony, there is a reading of Marine Corps Order No. 47, and the Commandant’s message to those assembled.

Not only that - there is a lot of alcohol.

Last night Ski and I went to the Marine Corps Ball here in Cherry Point. As always, watching the ceremony and hearing the Marines Hymn made my heart swell with pride. Being a Marine is something that no one can ever take away from me and I was proud to stand among the many men and women whose Esprit de corps set us apart from all the other branches.

I'd also like to thank all those of you in the other branches of the Armed Forces that have done your part! Happy Veterans Day!







Below is an email that Ski sent me the other day. It's VERY long but a really good read - and well worth it - especially for those of you that are Marines and have experienced these things. Either way, Happy Birthday Devil Dogs! Semper Fi!!!


On Nov. 10, the Marine Corps turns 232 years old. Ever since it was formed
in a Philadelphia bar in 1775, the Corps has given Marines countless reasons
to take pride in the heritage of their organization.

There is no shortage of instances in which Marine units and individuals have
distinguished themselves in battle, but the bragging rights earned over the
past 232 years weren’t all born on the battlefield.

The Corps’ culture sets it apart from other branches of the military in ways
that those who have never earned the eagle, globe and anchor find difficult
to fully understand. But what is obvious to even the most casual observer is
that Marines distinguish themselves through their unique appearance, spirit
and accomplishments.

To know the Corps is to love the Corps.

...and we all drank the kool-aid!


No question about it, Marines - this year there are 232 reason to love the
Corps.

1. Cpl. Jason Dunham. First Marine to receive the Medal of Honor since
Vietnam. If jumping on a grenade to save a buddy isn’t worth the top of the
list, nothing is.

2. Civilians have to find time to go to the gym. Marines get paid to go.

3. The National Museum of the Marine Corps. It’s like a Smithsonian of
Leatherneck.

4. There’s no such thing as an “ex” Marine.

5. Re-enlistment rates are higher IN the war zone.

6. Stink-proof socks. Well, almost. Systems Command is working on them.

7. Jalapeño cheese.

8. “Every Marine Into the Fight.”

9. Lump-sum re-enlistment bonuses up to $80,000. Many of you would consider
doing it for free.

10. New uniforms #1. Pixel-pattern cammies? Yeah, the Corps came up with
that.

11. “Doc.”

12. Flexed arm hang is harder than it looks. We tried it.

13. Barracks parties on non-payday weekends.
14. Marine Gunners.

15. The Wounded Warrior Regiment.

16. MarAdmin 266/07: Letting 18-year-old Marines drink on base at this
year’s birthday ball.

17. No receipt necessary for travel claim expenses less than $75.

18. The Lance Corporal underground.

19. Fallujah II.

21. Archibald Henderson’s couch, re-upholstered, is still in the
Commandant’s living room.

22. “No better friend, no worse enemy.”

23. Typhoons approaching Okinawa often spark islandwide beer runs.

24. Waivers.

25. Gen. James Jones, who followed his tour as commandant with appointment
as “supreme intergalactic overlord” (OK, it was Supreme Allied Commander,
Europe, but close).

26. 10 rounds from the 500-yard line.

27. Per diem.

28. To civilians, every Marine is recon.

29. Recruiting in Texas is like hunting at the zoo.

30. The “boat cloak.” Because every super hero needs a cape.

31. You can re-enlist in the IRR.

32. The wallet in your sock.

33. Motivating television commercials.

34. The “horseshoe” haircut, gone but not forgotten.

35. The global address list. Find your buddies and send them links to
MarineCorps Times.

36. Running cadences that mention napalm and Eskimos.

37. Stories that begin with, “So there I was ...”

38. Modified parade rest.

39. The transformation. Who you are when you join is not nearly as important
as who you become.

40. Lt. Gen. Jim Mattis getting a fourth star.

41. If you’ve been on liberty in Twentynine Palms, you’ve been on liberty in
Yuma and Barstow, too.

42. Grooming standards. Not only can you not act like a thug, you cannot
look like a thug.

43. It’s not the Army.

44. Women in Manhattan have all seen the Fleet Week episode of “Sex and the
City.”

45. Combat shotguns.

46. Combat Action Ribbons. IEDs count now, and should have counted all
along. Duh.

47. The occasional free beer. Wear your blues into a bar and see what
happens.

48. After decades of debate, there remains no resolution on whether sand
fleas trump “The Reaper.”

49. The Corps’ doesn’t call its officers, commissioned or not, “petty.”

50. Cpl. Gareth Hawkins, lying on a stretcher after an IED shattered his
leg, demanded re-enlistment before medical evacuation. And got it.

51. Whereas Army, Navy and Air Force jokes are funny, Marine jokes are
potentially dangerous.

52. The occasional friendly debate. Refer to a Marine staff NCO simply as
“Sergeant,” and see what happens.

53. That troublesome “10 percent,” making good Marines look great since
1775.

54. Everyone at a high school reunion is obliged to justify his last 10
years, except the guy wearing alphas.

55. As if ranks that include the words “Master” and “Gunnery” aren’t
intimidating enough on their own, the Corps uses them both. At once.

56. Soldiers have Hooah Bars. Marines have Ka-Bars. The second will
generally get you the first.

57. The dress code. You can wear your cammies to meet the Commandant or
repair a tank.

58. From “Aliens” to “Doom,” the future vision of warfare almost always
includes Space Marines.

59. The Corps was formed in a bar.

60. Marines predicted the WWII campaigns in the Pacific years earlier and
prepared for the inevitable. So when a Marine says, “Hey, I’ve been
thinking…” perhaps you should take notes.

61. Give a Marine some free time, and he’ll rip down your dictator’s statue.

62. If it ain’t raining, we ain’t training.

64. Duty station garden spots: Jacksonville, N.C.; Yuma, Ariz.; Bridgeport,
Calif.; Twentynine Palms, Calif. (Yes, we’re kidding.)

65. Making morning PT on time.

66. Recruiters who promise everything EXCEPT a rose garden.

67. Mustangs #1. It’s easier to take crap from a CO who went to boot camp.

69. Gen. Peter Pace, the first Marine Chairman of the Joint Chiefs. He left
his four-star insignia with his fallen comrades at the Vietnam Wall when he
retired. Classy move.

70. The people zapper. Using microwave energy to disperse a crowd sounds
like fun. Semper fry, Gunny.

71. Nothing says “Good morning” like a mouthful of Copenhagen and
freeze-dried coffee.

72. Nothing says “I love you” like a welcome home sheet hanging on a
chain-link fence.

73. Bill Barnes. In June, the former Marine beat the crap out of a
27-year-old pickpocket who tried to make off with his dough. Oh yeah, he’s
72.

74. Leftwich Trophy. Heisman winners only think they know about leaving it
all on the field.

75. EOD. If you don’t know why this is on the list , defuse the next IED
yourself.

76. Tax-free combat pay. Doing what you signed up for and not having to give
Uncle Sam a dime back.

77. Montford Point Marines. The first African-American Marines know a little
something about honor, courage and commitment.

78. Front toward enemy. It’s not just a visual reference on a Claymore mine,
it’s a Marine Corps way of life.

79. Mustangs #2. You know at least three Marines who drive them. It’s like a
Ford dealership exploded on base.

80. Fred Smith, founder of FedEx. Only a former Marine could truly
appreciate the value of getting your mail on time.

81. CMC: The tallest member of the Joints Chiefs. OK, so we haven’t actually
measured, but he looks the tallest anyway.

82. No more spit shining boots.

83. Chuck Norris was in the Air Force. Steve McQueen was a Marine.

84. The Crucible.

85. 1/9, 2/9 and 3/9. Welcome back, fellas.

86. The FROG uniform. You are now sweat-wickin’ AND flame-lickin’.

88. The M4. More rifles in the fight is generally a win-win.

89. MRAPs. Trucks straight out of Mad Max. We still love a good Humvee, but
we loved jeeps, too. Things change.

90. Arty guys who do civil affairs. They blow it up, then they fix it.
Circle of life.

91. Service Charlies. They look so good, the Navy’s copying ’em.

92. Fake Marines. No one eats ’em up faster than real Marines.

93. John Lovell. A 71-year-old former Marine is sitting in a Subway
restaurant when two armed men try to rob the place. Lovell grabs his .45,
kills one and wounds the other. No word on how Lovell’s sandwich fared.

94. 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines. Six Navy Crosses so far. Six.

95. Staff Sgt. Lawrence Dean II, aka the “BadAss Marine.” He recites a poem.
He gets uploaded to YouTube. Thousands get motivated.

96. Gen. James Conway takes over as the new commandant . Among his demands:
a new PT uniform, new tattoo regs, a plan to add dress blues to the seabag,
a change-up in medals and 22,000 more Marines. Someone’s been thinking about
taking over for a while, huh?

97. Body-fat standards. Everyone hates them, until they see a fat Marine.

98. “Jarhead.” Only a former Marine could write a war story about not
fighting anyone and make it last for 200 pages, then get Jamie Foxx to star
in the movie.

99. The Stumps. The Rock. The Sandbox. Oh, the places you’ll serve.

101. Tattoos #2. Getting a fallen friend’s name tattooed on your other
forearm, and knowing the same.

102. The new PT running suit. Sure, the Army had them first, but the Army
gets most things first.

103. Marine Expeditionary Units: The cheapest cruise you’ll ever take.

104. Camp Lejeune: The closest interstate and the nearest good shopping mall
are both at least an hour away.

105. Camp Pendleton: There are roads and malls, but try affording a house
near the main gate.

106. Tattoos #3. Meat tags. Getting your blood type and other info inked on
your ribcage isn’t necessarily a bad idea.

107. The Marine Corps is getting bigger. The Navy is getting smaller.

109. 30 days’ paid vacation, plus federal holidays off, is obscene by
civilian standards.

110. Maj. Gen. Marion E. Carl, the Corps’ first fighter ace. First Marine to
fly a helicopter. Two Navy Crosses, five Distinguished Flying Crosses, 14
Air Medals. In 1998, the 82-year-old was killed during a home break-in when
he jumped in front of a shotgun blast aimed at his longtime wife, Edna.

111. Tattoos #4. Reaction to the new policy: Conway says sleeves are going
away, Marines run for the chair. Tattoo parlors never saw so much business.

113. Guaranteed pay raises.

114. Marine Security Guard #1. Duty in the Bahamas.

115. Having a WWII Marine say he’s proud of you

116. Drew Carey used to be in the Marine Corps Reserve. Now, he’s the host
of “The Price is Right.”

117. Combatant diver pins. No more of that Navy crap.

118. A Red Stripe is a beer, mon. A Blood Stripe is a symbol of pride.

119. NMCI, if only they would remove the “MC.”

120. You watched “300,” and it reminded you of your unit.

121. The “Det One” .45 pistol. Designed by Marines, for Marines.

122. Combat marksmanship. You are creeping death. And you get graded on it.

123. Never lost six nukes on a plane.

124. CamelBaks. Water tastes like water again.

125. Give a Marine enough free time, and he’ll marry your Bahraini princess.

126. Go to YouTube. Type in “bored Marines.” Enjoy.

127. When the President gets on a helicopter, it’s not called “Army One.”

128. The opposite of the Peace Corps.

129. Camouflage. You can camouflage anything and make it cool.

130. No Fear #1. Marines aren’t scared of anything. Except apricots. And
Charms.

131. Combat optics on M16s. Leave the iron sights, just in case.

132. “Combat loss” amnesty for missing gear. It’s like pleading the fifth.

133. Riding a chartered Continental Airlines flight home from the war zone
with assault weapons stuffed in all the overhead compartments.

134. In combat, the division band becomes a heavy-machine-gun platoon.

135. What do headaches, broken bones, infectious diseases, missing limbs and
hurt feelings all have in common? Motrin. Thanks, Doc.

137. Global instability equals job security.

138. When NMCI goes down, and it will, it’s like having the day off.

139. The honor, privilege and responsibility of leading, mentoring and
caring for junior Marines.

140. Gunnery sergeants. Don’t know the answer? Ask the gunny. Need
something? Ask the gunny. In trouble? Avoid the gunny.

141. Because Gunny said so.

142. The line to get “tazed” at a military gear expo. Marines will do
anything for a free T-shirt.

143. Deployment reunions. Like reliving your wedding night. Sweet!

144. Gig lines. Even in khakis and a polo shirt.

145. Eight-point covers. Even the uniform stands at attention.

146. Marine Security Guards #2. They’re not cute and cuddly, but when they
greet you at the hatch, it’s like getting a great big hug from the United
States of America, no matter where you are.

147. The Mameluke sword. Distinctive.

148. The NCO sword. Earned, never given.

149. The World Famous Mud Run. Thousands of people pay good money to run
through 10 clicks of muck every year at Camp Pendleton.

150. John Philip Sousa. A Marine, the nation’s March King and composer of
“The Stars and Stripes Forever.” Ooh-rah.

151. MRE crackers. Hard as Milk Bones but much tastier. You can almost feel
your teeth getting cleaner as you eat ’em.

152. Jane Wayne Day. She’ll never ask about work again.

153. Shirt stays. Or garters. Whatever you call them, they’re a triple
whammy, keeping your shirt tucked, your socks up and removing all that
unwanted leg hair.

154. The slogans: “The Few, The Proud, The Marines.” “We’re Looking For a
Few Good Men,” “Once a Marine, always a Marine,” “Tell that to the
Marines.”If they could only purchase the rights to Hallmark’s “When You Care
Enough to Send the Very Best.”

155. Speaking of slogans, “The Few, The Proud, The Marines” beat out such
notables as Nike’s “Just Do It” and Burger King’s “Have It Your Way” for a
2007 spot on the advertising Walk of Fame. Better luck next year, losers.

157. Real duty station garden spots you can go an entire career without
being assigned to: Southern California; Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii ; Okinawa,
Japan.

158. Rear-party Marines. God bless them. Whatever reason they stay behind
injury, impending retirement or being volun-told they are indispensable.They
deserve medals for what they have to deal with while a unit is deployed.

159. While field-grade officers are at the company office, company-grade
officers are in the field.

160. Colonels who can take a joke.

161. Free flu shots. And smallpox shots and anthrax shots …

162. Former Sgt. Chris Everhart. While camping with his three sons in June
2007, a bear snatched their cooler and made a play for his 6-year-old.
Everhart threw an 18-inch log at the bear’s head, cracking its skull before
it could attack and killing it instantly. Then, the park ranger gave him a
ticket for leaving the cooler where the bear could get it.

163. Standards. The Corps doesn’t lower the bar when recruiting gets tough.

164. Jim Nabors. “Gomer Pyle” becomes an honorary Marine in 2001 and makes
Lance Corporal. It takes him six years to pin on corporal. Talk about art
imitating life.

165. Vincent D’Onofrio. The other “Private Pyle” is doing pretty well on
“Law and Order: Criminal Intent.” He’s still weird, though.

166. If you ambush Capt. Brian Chontosh’s boys, he’s going to take off his
Navy Cross and kill you. Then, he’s going to pick up your rifle and kill
your buddies. Then, he’s going to pick up your buddy’s rifle and kill your
buddy’s buddies. Then, he’s going to pick up a rocket-propelled grenade
launcher …

167. Speaking of the Navy Cross, a combat award second only to the Medal of
Honor, Marines have earned 15 so far in Iraq, plus one in Afghanistan. Of
the six awarded to sailors for those combat zones, five went to SEALs, and
one went to a corpsman who exposed himself repeatedly to enemy fire to
evacuate and treat wounded Marines. Along with Chontosh, the other
recipients include:

168. Gunnery Sgt. Justin D. Lehew.

169. Lance Cpl. Joseph B. Perez.

170. Sgt. Scott C. Montoya.

171. Cpl. Marco A. Martinez.

172. Sgt. Willie L. Copeland.

173. Capt. Brent Morel (posthumous).

174. Sgt. Anthony L. Viggiani.

175. 1st Sgt. Bradley A. Kasal.

176. Cpl. Robert J. Mitchell.

177. Cpl. Dominic Esquibel.

178. Sgt. Jarrett A. Kraft.

179. Cpl. Jeremiah W. Workman.

180. Cpl. Todd Corbin.

181. Sgt. Aubrey L. McDade Jr.

182. Pfc. Christopher Adlesperger (posthumous).

183. Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Louis E. Fonseca.

184. Iwo JIMA. Japan might have changed the name to Iwo To, but that doesn’t
mean you have to acknowledge it.

185. Col. John Ripley. Received the Navy Cross for the destruction of the
Dong Ha bridge in Vietnam. The Corps takes care of its own. In 2002, with
Ripley near death, doctors finally found a donated liver for his much-needed
transplant. So the Marine Corps sent helicopters and Marines to Philadelphia
to retrieve it, and they personally rushed it back to Washington in time to
save his life.

186. Marine Corps Times isn’t a version of Navy Times anymore. How many
careers get their own newspaper?

188. Gatorade bottles wrapped in green, 100 mph tape so as not to offend the
sailors in the room.

189. Camaraderie. Marines will hook you up with their sisters, then punch
you in the mouth for doing what they knew would happen the whole time.

190. Ingenuity. MRE bombs, 101 uses for cleaning rods and iPods wired into
field radio speakers.

191. Getting off the ship.

192. Getting back on the ship.

193. No beach? No problem. Marines inserted 400 miles into landlocked
Afghanistan and created Camp Rhino using CH-53 Sea Stallions. Imagine what
you can invade with the Osprey.

194. Cases and cases of bottled water mean never having to stand behind a
water bull.

195. Race as a nonissue. It wasn’t always the case, but three black
Sergeants Major of the Marine Corps in a row show that the Corps has only
one color: green.

196. Every day in the Corps is another reason to celebrate. That’s why they
call them working “parties.”

197. Riddick Bowe had what it took to be boxing’s undisputed heavyweight
champ. He did not have what it took to be a Marine.

198. The U.S. Army Band is called “Pershing’s Own.” The U.S. Marine Corps
Band is called “The President’s Own.”

199. “8th and I.” Ten bucks says you have no idea where the Army chief of
staff lives. Commandants don’t hide.

200. MRE “rat boxes.” How grunts trick-or-treat.

201. The poncho liner. It’s a blanket, it’s a tent, it’s a keeper.

202. Combat fit-reps. People say they’re equal to regular fit-reps. People
lie.
203. The “E-tool lean.” Sailors don’t know how good they have it.

204. Navy Lt. Vincent Capodanno, Medal of Honor recipient. If Marines have a
hot line to heaven, Father Capodanno — aka the Grunt Padre — would take the
call. His body peppered by shrapnel, his right hand nearly severed, the Navy
chaplain and priest crisscrossed a Vietnam battlefield Sept. 4, 1967, to
render last rites to his fallen Marines and corpsmen with 3rd Battalion, 5th
Marines, until 27 rounds from an enemy machine gun took his life. Last year,
the Vatican declared him a “servant of God.” Next step, sainthood?

206. Amphibious warfare means always being near the beach.

207. No Fear #2. Talk about the AV-8B Harrier’s troubled past all you like,
but brave jump jet pilots are flying missions in Iraq.

208. New Uniforms #2. Wash-and-wear combat uniforms mean no more starch, no
more dry cleaning.

209. Marine air-ground task force. Nothing like controlling the air and the
ground.

210. Slapping an eagle, globe and anchor on the back of your car and knowing
it’ll get you out of at least one speeding ticket.

211. The Navy wants to put Marines back on warships. It seems that Tomahawk
cruise missiles can’t do everything.

212. Liberty in Thailand.

213. Liberty in Australia.

214. Liberty, well, anywhere.

215. The Navy’s mascot is a goat. The Corps’ mascot is a bulldog. You don’t
need Michael Vick to tell you who wins that fight.

216. If you need another occupying land force, you can use the Marine Corps.
If you need another rapidly deployable, sea-based, front-door-kicking,
air-ground team, you can’t use the Army.

217. 1775 Rum Punch. Four parts dark rum, two parts lime juice, one part
pure maple syrup, grenadine to taste.

218. “It’s fun to shoot some people,” said Lt. Gen. Jim Mattis. He says what
he thinks.

219. The Beirut Memorial Wall. If you ever forget what you’re fighting for,
pay a visit.

221. “Son, we live in a world that has walls, and those walls have to be
guarded by men with guns. Who’s gonna do it? You? You, Lieutenant Weinburg?
I have a greater responsibility than you could possibly fathom. You weep for
Santiago, and you curse the Marines. You have that luxury. You have the
luxury of not knowing what I know. That Santiago’s death, while tragic,
probably saved lives. And my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible
to you, saves lives. You don’t want the truth because deep down, in places
you don’t talk about at parties, you want me on that wall. You need me on
that wall. We use words like honor, code, loyalty. We use these words as the
backbone of a life spent defending something. You use them as a punch line.
I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who
rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom that I provide, and
then questions the manner in which I provide it. I would rather you just
said thank you, and went on your way. Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a
weapon and stand a post. Either way, I don’t give a damn what you think you
are entitled to.” Jack Nicholson, “A Few Good Men.”

222. Maj. Meghan McClung, Marine public affairs officer, killed by a
roadside bomb in Iraq while escorting media. The PAO is more than just a
spokesman.

223. Sgt. Rafael Peralta. Like Dunham, he hugged a grenade to save his
buddies in Iraq. No Medal of Honor … yet.

224. Hearing an accidental discharge into the clearing barrel, then waiting
for the Lieutenant to walk inside.

225. Call signs like “Spider” and “Assassin,” and these guys were Generals.

227. Buttered noodles for breakfast.

228. “Every Marine should look like a Marine. But a Marine looks like a
Marine when he’s got a bayonet stuck in the enemy’s chest.” Gen. Robert
Magnus, assistant Commandant, discussing body-fat standards.

229. “Infantry” is the easiest job for recruiters to sell.

230. Being the youngest Marine at the ball.

231. Being the oldest Marine at the ball.

232. The Marine Corps appreciates all you do, all you did, and all you ever
will do. Happy birthday, Marines! Semper Fi.

Monday, November 05, 2007

Halloween 2007

I know - it's been a week and I'm just now posting Halloween pics. That is what complete laziness does to a person!!! We had a good Halloween though. Everyone decided at the last minute what they were going to be. Well Cadence pretty much had no choice in the matter. She was not to impressed by Elmo being on her head at all. Jacqui wanted to be a boy but then she realized that her daily outfits usually involve her brothers clothes anyway and it just wouldn't be that much of a costume! She went as a baby instead. I told her that her daily attitude usually involves being a baby too so that wouldn't be much of a costume either. She didn't find my humor very amusing. We tried to get Matt to wear an "Afro" wig and go as a girl but he refused. So Ski wore the wig instead. The man will do anything for candy! Matt put together two different costumes and well, I'm not really sure what you would call him


Yeah, he's a fun guy...

Cadence was old enough to actually say "Trick or Treat" and "Thank you" this year. We've also learned that she is a thief. One very nice couple gave out full candy bars. She grabbed two and put one in Cadences pumpkin bucket. Cadence took it upon herself to grab the other one, put it in her bucket as well and then walked away. The lady thought she was too cute to make her give it back. I have my suspicions that her daddy taught her that neat little trick!

"Mom will you make sure there are no needles in this piece?"

Most of the night she was a headless Elmo.

Tuesday, October 30, 2007

All about Cadence...now that she is 2!

My girl definitely has a personality all of her own. Especially now that she is 2 - and practically in college! She is a total girly girl who loves lotions and powder and dressing up. If I let her she'd eat all day long and now that she can get into the fridge I have to make sure it is filled with nutritious snacks like apples and grapes and cheese and Oreo's. Well that last one is for me. She hates when her hands are dirty so we have to have paper towel on hand to make sure she can wipe them off at a moments notice! One time she told me "Dirty" but I didn't understand her so I didn't get her a paper towel and she took it upon herself to get into her wipes. Hey, a girls got to do what a girls got to do! I am pretty sure she cleans up after herself better then her sister and brother do!

The other day at Waffle House she grabbed her napkin but noticed that there was a piece of sausage on it. She picked up the sausage and put it on her plate. Then she grabbed the napkin again and looked at my lap. I had crumbs all over my shorts and she started wiping them off for me. It was one of the sweetest things - and I feel much more comfortable about the fact that when I get older, she'll be there to take care of me!

Her biggest hobby lately is her love for drawing. Ski's dad and step mom Kathy got her an easel for her birthday and so her daddy bought her some dry erase markers to draw on it. Well apparently I need to watch her a little closer when she's using said markers!




Most little girls like to push their babies around in the stroller...not my daughter!!!


Jacqui and Matt decided on Saturday morning to make me a picture to show me their unconditional love. It involved glue. What a pleasant surprise to find that neither of them put the glue away after they were done with it...

Five minutes later...

The terrible two's have arrived my friends but she keeps me laughing all day long!

Monday, October 29, 2007

Carving pumpkins!

To my surprise, the kids didn't have school today...so we decided to carve pumpkins while Ski was at work. This way when there was a mess all over the entire kitchen, he wouldn't want to crawl out of his skin before it was cleaned up. After being married to someone for a while, you learn little tricks about keeping them from going crazy. This is one of them.

My daughter never over exaggerates situations.

Cadence thinks we have all gone completely crazy - and needed paper towel for her hands every few minutes!

Matt - well he's just Matt. He loves to make a mess.

It's pretty cool how I look like such a professional pumpkin carver in this picture!

The finished products
Only my kids find it necessary to pose with their pumpkins!!!!