Family BEACH Trip!!!

The Family Reunion was sooo much FUN!!!!

We (my side of the family) all go for a week and just play in the sand, the waves, and the dunes. There were 15 adults and 13 kids, 2 houses, 7 cars, and an endless suply of sand. The only bad day weather wise was Sunday, and we ended up compeating in our indoor "Family Olympics" [Congrats T&V for being the winners this year...all I have to say is watch out when Ken is finaly able to come! :) ] Because I was still working, I was only able to hang out at the beach Friday-Tuesday. I had such a fun time seeing everyone & being able to just relax. The only thing that could have made the trip more fun was if my 'muffin' could have come. I missed you so much Ken at the beach- I know you would have had soo much fun as well... I know, next year.... Well, here are some pictures that my brother Todd took with his nice new camera and a few at the end that I took. I am sure you can tell the difference between them, his look really good! :)

So Ken could remember what I look like. :)

Here is most of the family on the last day.


Some of the kids playing. From morning to night its all play!

A sunrise & a beautiful day to fly a kite!

The view from out our houses.

Some more kids playing.... and bedtime isn't bedtime with out a story!

The kids had soo much fun in the waves! And so did I!

A Licence to KILL.... mosquitoes!

OK, here I am at work. To the left I am checking some water with my dipper to look for Larva. Some areas don't look like there is water- but sure enough there is. To the right, I am treating an area with a blower- a work 'life saver' on large areas. Lots of fun I know! This is my 6th summer working here so don't trust me when I say it's fun! Below is a picture of a larva sample and an abandoned pool in back of a foreclosed home. These types of pools are like the hot hang outs for mosquitoes (the Vegas of the mosquito world). So for all you who have decorative ponds or whatnot, keep and eye on them and clean them out every week! : )

We have been very busy at work because the rivers flooded and created lots of water pockets that have been breeding this past month or so. Also, this past week was SOOO HOT!!! in the high 90's and 100's! I have a great tan, but it is limited to my face, arms and a small triangle on my neck/chest (cause of our button up shirts!) Needless to say, I look funny when I go swimming!

Tae Kwon Do

So, here I am (don't I look tan?!) receiving my White Belt (below) from that days instructor. I also had to recite the student creed in front of the class. I was a little nervous about that, but did alright. I had asked someone to record a video clip, but somehow it never turned out-- sorry Ken! When I advance to a Gold Belt in August I will make sure that it is recorded. I try and go 6 days a week. This sure has made this past week really busy!!

When I started classes I hated them! I was really crappy at all the moves and felt so inadequate. However, that changed the third day when we were paired up, and I got this awesome partner. He gave me really good tips and encouragement, and now we're buddies. You maybe asking your self 'what made you sign up for Tae Kwon Do??' and I'm about to tell you. Well, a friend at work is a Purple Belt, and said I would have fun if i joined. I thought she would be in class with me, and I had been looking for an exercise partner, so I decided this would be my chance. I told Ken about it and he was SOOO excited, so I couldn't not do it. The next day, she told me that she actually wouldn't be in my class because she needs purple level classes. Oh how I wanted to not sign up so badly...but because I already told Ken, I decided that I would for the summer special. It didn't help that the first few classes didn't go well. However, I really enjoy class now & especially since I've made a few friends!

God Bless America!!!

HAPPY 4th of JULY!!!
THANK YOU TO OUR MILITARY!!!!!! God Bless you and your families!!!

Well, we had a wonderful national birthday! It sounded like Ken had some good July 4th fixin's. We both had BBQ chicken, and corn on the cob. He also had ribs & pork n' beans while we ate watermellon and fruit. I say 'we' because I had guests! Jared, Kristine, baby Paige, Ma and June came over for dinner! The weather was just perfect all day!

Paige just had the cutest outfit on! Look at her socks! Little flags on the ends! She was just adorable and I love when babies fall asleep while holding them! Or does that mean I am an awesome aunt?? : )

More Meow Machine and Its Magical Art

The Meow Machine is how i roll when days are slow at Bagram. I was fortunate enough to get this guitar for free and I've decided to decorate it with whatever comes to mind. Click on each picture to see it more closely. I particularly like my Darth Vader the most.

Crump Visits

Cory dropped by and paid me a visit before he flies onto Kuwait for his mid-tour leave. He's excited about seeing his wife and is looking forward to relaxing a bit. He posed with my guitar the "Meow Machine". Thanks to Marc and Kathy for the Bic markers so that i could decorate my melodic six string.

The New Girls in the Family

The new girls and their mommies... (L to R) Paige & Kristine, Hailey & Jill, and Morgan & Nicole. We all got together over Memorial Day weekend, had so much fun but, lots of stinky diapers! It was great, Morgan started crawling! Man, I love being an aunt!! Too bad Ken couldn't be here, he would have loved holding the babies! (click on the group pic. & look at Paige... & her famous frown!)

These 2 girls are only abour 4 weeks apart!

Finally, more girls in the family! Now its 6:7.

Crazy about Paige Nicole

It has been wonderful to have a baby near by! Paige is growing so much! The first image is the day she was born. Now she is 6 weeks old. I still haven't changed her diaper, but I am working my way up to that. It isn't like I have never changed one or anything, i'm just not in the mood to. Boy she likes to eat though! And sleep.

I've been hit, I've been hit!!

Well, as you can see, our car has a boo-boo.

I was looking for something to write about and post here, but not this... I will have it towed again to a body shop on Monday, and then be in a rental till this is taken care of. In case anyone was wondering it was NOT my fault. The lady who hit me wasn't looking when turning into a grocery store and made too wide of a turn, thus crunching into our car. She felt extra bad when she found out my husband is deployed, and that this was a new car we got for our wedding. Both of us were sad about our injured vehicles; we of course were both OK.

By the way, I have been working this past month at Mosquito Control again. It has been wonderful to have a job again and to (of course) be getting paid! The weather was cold for a bit, but is now heating up so we'll be busy soon. However, the skeeters are already out- I've been finding them! I'll add some pictures of them when i pick my new camera... That's a whole 'nother post!

Kabul From the Air

These photos were taken on an escort mission from Bagram to Kabul. The top photo is the Grand Mosque of Kabul under reconstruction. The second photo shows an ancient neighborhood in the center of the city. In the third photo you can see a lot people gathered around a blue mosque atop a hill. The people of Afghanistan were celebrating Nau Roz, the new year, by flying kites, having picnics and awards are handed out to artisans and farmers for their produce. Progress is being made!