Time Travel Tuesday

Annie made this one easy as we are just traveling back to Thanksgiving! She asks...

What was your favorite part of the day?

What was the best thing you ate for dinner?

What are you most thankful for this year?

Before I get to Thanksgiving Day, I wanted to start on Monday, when I went to Joe's squadron's luncheon (which I briefly mentioned in my Grains of Gratitude post) It was obvious Kayla was missing her daddy.

We met our friends Kevin and Jackie there and as soon as Kayla saw Kevin she ran up to him and wrapped her arms around his legs to give him a big hug. He picked her up and she clung to him by wrapping her legs around his waist, her arms around his neck, and her head on his shoulder.

Kayla sat in between Kevin and me and I don't think she talked to me much at all! It was all, "Kevin, hey Kevin (as she tapped on his arm) look! A fork, spoon, napkin, knife" as she showed him all of her plastic utensils. She climbed in his lap, in Jackie's lap, my lap maybe once, but mostly she wanted Kevin's attention.

There are a handful of guys deployed from Joe's squadron and someone put together a collage of their pictures (I sent the one in my profile of Kayla and Joe from the night he deployed). The frame was on the wall at the front of the room and we were at the very back of the room. I hadn't taken Kayla up there yet to show her the picture. One of the ladies Joe works with, Connie, was walking by our table and saw Kayla. She stopped to say hi and then asked Kayla, "Did you see your daddy?" She might have said "did you see the picture of your daddy?" but I don't really remember. Either way, all Kayla heard was "see your daddy." Let me tell you the look of excitement that appeared on Kayla's face as she whipped her head around to scan the room and find her daddy. She thought Connie was telling her Joe was there. I could see her eyes looking around the room trying to pick her daddy out of all those guys in uniform. We tried to explain "no daddy isn't here, but his picture is up there, there is a picture of YOU and daddy" as we pointed to the front. She kept looking (I knew she couldn't see the frame up there on the wall as I could hardly see it!) - she looked towards the front door thinking he was going to come through there. You could just see the look of confusion cross her face.

Connie held her arms out and asked Kayla if she wanted to go with her to see the picture. Usually Kayla has no problems going with people. She had her head down and said no. She looked so crestfallen. My poor little girl.

A few minutes later she did say yes when I asked if she wanted to go with me. When we got up to the frame she immediately picked Joe out, "Daddy! Kayla!" and was in much better spirits after that.

This leads up to our Thanksgiving Day and it was obvious she was still wanting some attention from someone other than mommy!

We went to Jim and Jennifer's house for dinner. Jennifer's parents were also in town visiting. Kayla was calling them "grandma and grandpa" - it was so cute. I guess she figured that's what everyone else was calling them! One time Jennifer's mom left the living room and was going down the hallway when Kayla went running after her "grandma wait!"

After dinner the grownups were still sitting around the table while Kayla and Katelyn were playing in the living room. Kayla bumped her head on the entertainment stand. It sounded pretty bad; I was surprised she didn't start crying. She came over to me and just as I started to lean in to give her head a kiss she pulled away and said "Jim!" and went around the table to get comfort from Jim. She proceeded to make her way around the table for everyone to give her a kiss on the head - Jennifer's mom, dad, and then Jennifer. Then she was off towards the living room again. When did I become chopped liver!? I said to Kayla, "Hey wait! Don't you want a kiss from mommy too?" Luckily she saved my rapidly falling ego by running back to me so I could give her a kiss :)

When Katelyn would call for her daddy, Kayla even said "daddy" to Jim a couple of times. She really misses having him around.

Now to answer Annie's questions: My favorite part of the day (well the Packers won, so there's that!) but it would have to be that we were able to talk to Joe. Best thing I ate for dinner (besides everything?) candied yams - yummy! Most thankful for - my family and friends, and this new life I'm carrying. Even though Joe is gone I'm thankful he's safe and coming home soon.

Time Travel Tuesday

This week Annie is asking us all about adventure...Tell us the most adventurous thing you have ever done! What gave you the courage to do it or try it and how did you feel afterwards?

I have to admit I lead a pretty boring life! I'm not very adventurous at all; I don't like roller coasters, or heights, or thrill rides (too much motion sickness for me!) so I wasn't sure I had any adventurous tales to tell.

My first thought was the time I went skiing. Then I realized that was an attempt at being adventurous and wasn't exactly being adventurous. I was about 26 yrs old, living in CO and had never been skiing before. Never even been on skis, yet I decided to go with 2 friends and give it a try. Ha! They took me up on a regular ski slope, not the bunny/kid slope. First I had trouble riding the ski lift to the top. Then it doesn't stop you know, it just slows down and you're supposed to gracefully glide off it on your skis. Helps if you know how to move around with skis on- yeah I fell getting off that thing. We're at the top of the ski slope/hill and they are telling me to just go down it! Oh my goodness! I have no clue what I'm doing and I could just picture my skis getting tangled up and tumbling head over skis all the way down. Needless to say I didn't get very far before they sent a snowmobile up to bring me down. I finally found the bunny slope and wow that was so much better! I stayed on it the rest of that weekend! Ok so I wasn't too adventurous there as I never conquered the bigger slope.

So the other time I could come up with for being adventurous was when Joe visited me in CO and we went to the Royal Gorge Bridge. I was a little leery about walking across the bridge knowing there was nothing below but the Arkansas river, but there were attractions to see on the other side, so I did it. And no, that wasn't the adventurous thing.

They have an Aerial Tram that you can take back across instead of going back over the bridge. I never thought I would ever find myself on one of those - this cable car suspended so high up on cables and nothing to catch you if a cable breaks. Its almost 1200 feet above the Arkansas river and 2200 feet across. Not my cup of tea.

Of course Joe wanted to go on it, but he said he didn't want to go on without me. I told him how deathly afraid I was to go on something like that so he could just go by himself and I would walk back across the bridge and meet him on the other side. Then he had to say he didn't want to go on it unless I went with him so he would just go back on the bridge with me. Of course that made feel guilty. I knew how much he wanted to go on it, even though he kept saying it wasn't a big deal if he didn't go, I thought he would be disappointed and regret not going, so I took a chance.

I didn't relax and "enjoy the view"...I was too busy clinging to Joe's neck and trying not to look down. My stomach was in knots and I had tears in my eyes because I was so sure we were going to plunge to our deaths. It was scary; for me anyway! So that was probably the most adventurous thing I've ever done!

I see they have a new attraction called the Skycoaster. Just read this description: Imagine a free-fall tower sweeping you 50 mph to hang momentarily over 1,200 feet above the Arkansas River. The Royal Rush Skycoaster is one of only 87 in the world, and was recently named the scariest Skycoaster of them all.

Uh, no thank you. If they had had this back when Joe and I were there, he would have had to go on that by himself and no amount of guilty feelings would have had me on that thing!

Time Travel Tuesday

This week Annie is asking us to travel back to our first home: ... was it your very own apartment, or a home with your new spouse? What memories do you have from that first home? How did you make that first house (or apartment) a home?

Ttechnically the first place I lived in without my parents was with a guy who eventually became my ex-husband. We moved from that apartment to base housing at Andrews AFB (it was actually pretty nice - it was off base in brand new 2-story town homes) and then to base housing at the Air Force Academy (AFA) in CO.

But those "first homes" aren't really memories I want to talk about or relive! LOL

So after my divorce is the first time I had a place all by myself, the first time I felt really free and independent and was responsible for everything.

I worked on the AFA so I wanted an apartment that was close to the base; I don't like to commute! It obviously needed to be something I could afford on my salary, in a decent area, and have washer/dryer hookups. I was taking the W/D with me and didn't want to have to worry about storing them or having to use a laundromat.

In the beginning my search was stressful and frustrating as everything that I thought was nice was too expensive for me, and the apartments I thought were decent and I could afford had no vacancies.

Finally I found it though - Centerpointe Apartments - it was really close to base, a 1 bedroom place with a fireplace in the living room. It was small, but it worked for me. I had a balcony and the view looked out to Pike's Peak - it was gorgeous! This picture doesn't do it justice, but this was from my balcony, trust me, it was beautiful!


My apartment was on the 3rd floor so I had no neighbors above me, but my arms sure got a work out when I did my grocery shopping!

I was a little worried about living on my own and paying for everything with my salary - groceries, cable, phone, car insurance/payment, rent, and utilities. The living room, bedroom, and bathroom had their own little electrical heater unit in the wall and I think I kept my apartment just a tad bit too cold during the winter! Anyone who was brave enough to come visit me during the winter can attest to how cold I kept it - family, Nisa, Joe...

I was trying to be frugal, but it was downright cold! I would get up in the morning to use the bathroom and my b*tt cheeks would freeze to the seat! LOL Ok not that cold, but I would cringe when sitting down because I knew how cold that seat was going to be!

When I would climb into bed in my flannel pjs and socks I usually had a sweatshirt on too (which would come off sometime during the night). I would curl up into a ball to get warm and my teeth would chatter as I fell asleep. Didn't help that my bed was right under the window! When my family came for Christmas my step-father bought a plastic insulating kit to go over the window and help keep the draft out.

Joe bought me an electric blanket for Christmas and I would turn it on about 1/2 hr before I was going to bed so my sheets would be nice and toasty! Of course I would turn it off during the night cause I was trying to conserve energy remember?!

Oh the memories of those 2 years spent in that apartment! I am glad I had a chance to live on my own though and realize I could do it. When Joe retires and we figure out where we want to settle down we'll finally own our first home!

How We Spent Monday

Since Annie is asking us to travel back to yesterday and what we did, I'm just adding the Time Travel Tuesday banner to this post -since I already posted about what we did on Labor Day!

We took advantage of the holiday - no work and no school - and decided to get out of town for a few hours. We headed up the mountains to Ruidoso and then to Bonito Lake. We stopped off at the campsite/picnic area first for a little lunch.



then Kayla decided it was time to leave and go find the lake


and so we found it


and had a nice time!

Tuesday Miscellany

This week Annie is inviting us to travel back to the day you found out you were pregnant.

I've actually posted the stories of both pregnancies already and I think most of you have read them!

Here are the links just in case. When Mommy Talk was going on I did a post on when I found out I was pregnant with Kayla and how I told Joe.

In July I wrote a post on how I found out with this pregnancy and again, how I told Joe.

Miscellany:
Karen tagged me for this meme:

Accent: Growing up as a "military brat" and moving around so much I don't think I actually have an accent. When I moved to Germany my freshman year (after living in Massachusetts for almost 7 yrs) I was told I had a New England accent; but I think that is long gone now!

I don't drink: Coffee - blech

Chore I hate: I hate to iron. When Joe irons his uniform I used to ask him to iron a few shirts for me. Then I discovered Downy Wrinkle Releaser and I should invest in stock in this stuff! I love it and hardly need to iron my shirts anymore. I just spray this on and smooth out the wrinkles and I'm good to go!

Pets: We have 2 saltwater fish in our tank right now; but I guess those are really considered Joe's pets!

Essential Electronics: Well my computer of course!

Perfume: Rarely wear it.

Gold or Silver: I really don't have a preference; my wedding ring set is white gold (same as your Karen!)

Insomnia: Unfortunately, yes. There are many nights where I toss and turn and just can't fall asleep while Joe sleeps like a log - lucky him!

Job Title: I guess once you have a child this becomes "mom" doesn't it?! I'm also the Chief Financial Office for our household...along with all of those other domestic duties! I'm an Educational Consultant with Discovery Toys

Most Admired Trait: Geesh I have no idea! Loyalty maybe?

Kids: Well who reads my blog and doesn't know the answer to this one! LOL 1 daughter, Kayla, who is 4 and one due in Feb.

Phobia: Heights and roller coasters (or maybe I should just say amusement park rides!)

Religion: Christian

Siblings: I have one full biological brother. I have a half sister and a half brother. I technically have 2 step-sisters from my dad's marriage, but it's kind of odd actually to think of them as my "step-sisters"...when my dad married their mom we were all out of high school and in our 20s, so we didn't "grow up" together and I think I've only seen them once since our parents have been married!

Time I Wake Up: Whenever Kayla wakes up (usually between 6:30-7:00) but then I bring her back to my bed and snuggle. Sometimes she'll fall back to sleep until 7:30.

Unusual Talent/Skill: I don't think I have any unusual talent!

Veggie I Refuse To Eat: Brussel sprouts and beets

Worst Habit: Procrastinator and running out the door late!

X-Rays: Dental, one on my thumb when I had it slammed in a door, I think I had one of my stomach when I was young and swallowed a coin, and then ultrasounds when I've been pregnant.

My Favorite Meal: I don't actually have any really "gotta have it" favorite meals. I do like my mom's beef stroganoff, my dad's breaded veal cutlets, my MILs sweet potato casserole, and Joe's quesadillas though!

I'll tag - whoever feels like doing this one!

Jodi, Amy, and Chelle have all given me the Nice Matters award. Thank you ladies so much, you all said such nice things about me and I'm flattered!

Time Travel Tuesday

Today we are traveling to the first day of school. Annie asks, "Do you remember your first day of school? Maybe your first child's first day of school was a memorable day. Did you cry? Did they?"

I don't have any really memorable first day of school stories for myself. I do remember my first day of 9th grade in Germany. The school seemed so huge to me ... 2 stories (well 3 really since there were classes in the basement). I worried how I was going to find my locker, my classes - and make it to each one before the bell rang! I worried if anyone would talk to me, if I would find anyone to sit with at lunch (and it didn't help that I was shy!) First days at new schools are hard, but obviously I survived!

It's fitting that Annie is asking about first days of school today as this is Kayla's first day back to preschool too! This was her first day last year when I picked her up. She did fine that first day, I think because it was all so chaotic and she didn't know what to expect or what was happening really. She didn't cry, just went off to play. But over the next few days she did cry when I would drop her off at school (and stop once they were in the classroom.) All of that stopped when she started taking the school bus...she LOVED the bus and didn't cry once!

I think it'll be a little bit of an adjustment this year. Kayla is 4 now and the 4-year olds go to preschool in the afternoon (12-3). Up until Saturday Kayla still took a nap around 1:30. Yes I know most 4 year olds aren't napping anymore, but she didn't seem to be "weaning" herself from a nap - she would just go right to sleep when I put her down. So we'll see how this goes!

This is her on the first day this year (look at how much she's changed compared to the above picture!) I can see the changes in her face that she looks older; which of course she is, but still!

On our way out the door - she was so excited saying "yay school!" (she really wanted to ride the bus, but I wanted to take her on the first day!)


Hanging up her backpack - she seemed to remember the whole routine.


They color while everyone has a chance to go to the bathroom and then they head out to lunch. She sent me off with a big hug, kiss, "bye mommy! bye bye!" and blew me kisses as I walked out the door.


Heading down the hallway on their way to lunch.


She knew I was in the hallway and kept turning around to wave at me and say "bye mommy!"


It wasn't as chaotic today as I thought it would be (I was the only parent who came in the room) and there were only 5 kids (8 are registered though). They started out with 4 on the first day last year but ended up with 14-16 by the end of the year.

She'll start taking the bus on Friday and I know she is so excited!

Time Travel Tuesday

This week Annie has us traveling back to when we met our spouse's. Joe and I met when were in high school in Germany. He asked me out. I turned him down. I actually did a post on this last Sept, so to read the rest of the story of How I Met My Honey just click on the link!

Sue of Living My Dream tagged me for "8 Things About Me & My Hubby" and since I'm talking about my hubby I figured I would do this now!

1. I'm 9 months older
2. He's the spender, I'm the saver
3. We both come from military families
4. We didn't take a honeymoon, but for our 1 yr anniversary we took a cruise - first time for both of us
5. We're both the first-born
6. We both would like to visit Australia some day (I just wish the flight over there wasn't so long!)
7. He falls asleep within minutes, I toss and turn (good thing he's a hard sleeper!)
8. We're both left-handed

She also awarded me with the Blogger Reflection Award...thank you so much for your kind words Sue! I was very touched by what you said!

Time Travel Tuesday

This week Annie has us traveling back to our wedding day. Technically Joe and I should be celebrating our 7th anniversary in just a couple days as we were legally married on July 5th; however, we celebrate it on Sept 16th!

When we got married it was a second marriage for both of us. We had already been through the big wedding hoopla before so we wanted something simple and non-nerve-racking!

Pretty much our whole dating relationship was spent long-distance. Joe was assigned to Korea for a 1-year remote tour. After he returned stateside he was stationed in NM. I had been living in Colorado Springs this whole time.

We planned on getting married in Sept in Maryland where it would be easier for our parents to attend. Then we had this "bright" idea to get married in CO earlier than that - reason being was we thought Joe could get his orders amended to include me as his spouse and the military would move my stuff from CO to NM. Joe could also put his name on the base housing list since we were married.

I worked at the Cadet Chaplains Office at the Air Force Academy and I knew my fair share of chaplains! Ch Johnson married us, after work, on July 5th. We had 2 other friends in attendance and that was it. Only later did we find out there really was no reason to get married because the military wasn't going to move me after all. I had to have been on his orders before he moved from Korea for them to move me. Guess we should have looked into that first!

At the end of Aug I moved to NM and in Sept we flew to MD for our "wedding." I say "wedding" because we didn't file for a marriage license in MD - there was really no need since we were already married. What we basically had was a renewal of vows with family and friends.

And guess what? Remember I used to work with some chaplains? One of the chaplains was now stationed at Andrews AFB and he was able to perform the ceremony for us. So that made it special. It was my mom, step-father, sister, brother, dad, my mom's parents, my aunt, Nisa, and Joe's parents there with us.

I even borrowed Nisa's own wedding gown and veil.

Time Travel Tuesday

This week we are "travelling" back to our first blog post and telling how we started blogging.

If you look through my archives you'll find the very first post is this one; however that wasn't the very first one I actually wrote on this blog. I kept an online "journal" on our family website and when I started blogging I copied over the last few posts I did on the website. The first post that I created on this blog is Budding Artist with a picture of Kayla and her easel!

A while ago there was a meme going around listing the 5 reasons you blog, so I'll repost my answers for that as to how I started blogging:
1. I blog for my family and friends. We are in the military and have no family close by so they don't get to see Kayla "grow up." I created a family website for us, but then I found out about blogging and it just seemed easier, more fun, and more interactive. I still have the family website, but it's just languishing out in cyberspace now.
2. I started reading blogs about 1.5 yrs ago and while I could leave comments on some of them without having a blogger account, there were some that didn't allow anonymous comments. I got tired of lurking and decided to create my own account.
3. I used to keep diaries and journals and every great once in a while I enjoy looking through them and reading about the things that were going on in my life and remembering who I was then. I figured this would be another way to keep a journal and look back on. Hopefully it'll give Kayla a glimpse into her life too!
4. I try to subtly use my blog to be an advocate for not just my daughter, but all people with Down syndrome. I hope to raise awareness and acceptance and even if I only change one person's perspective, it's worth it.
5. And the last reason? Why not? "Everyone" was doing it!

Visit Annie to see more travellers!

Time Travel Tuesday

Annie from My Life As Annie has started "Time Travel Tuesday" and this week we're "traveling" back to when we were 18.

I turned 18 in 1991...what was going on in 1991? Well in Jan the Gulf War started, hmmm...look where we are now 16 years later...sigh...
Best Picture: Dances With Wolves. Record of the Year: Another Day in Paradise. Album of the Year: Back on the Block. Song of the Year: From A Distance.

Ok, technically in these pictures I was 17, but I turned 18 in Aug, 1.5 months after I graduated so this should count! Yes we still had the big bangs in the early 90s! Don't believe me? Just check out the pictures in my yearbook - I promise I'm not the only one with this hairstyle! It would have been nice if someone would have told me that I had about 4 inches of dead-end hair that I needed to cut off!


With my mom before going to the school for graduation. That's my little sister with my mom - she is graduating this year! Wow!


Not much happened when I was 18...I was working on base at the dining hall, making decent enough money. Several months after graduating I moved to MD to live with my mom. I finally got my driver's license (up until that point I just didn't take the test!) I bought my first car (with money I saved from working at the dining hall) a black, 2-door, 1988 Ford Escort, no power steering, no A/C...but hey! I had wheels and I paid for them myself!

My friend Michelle (whom I graduated with) then moved in with us and we both started working at the Child Development Center on base. I can't tell you how many times we were asked if we were sisters because we had the same name! Huh?

Ok if you want to play along and blog about what you were doing when you were 18 go visit Annie!

Today this sweet, precious boy is having his 2nd open heart surgery. I'm sure his momma would appreciate it if you could keep him, his family, the surgeons, in your prayers - if you have a moment go on over and leave a comment on his blog. I lift Gabe up in prayer and ask God to protect him as he goes through OHS. Amen.